Group Policy, Templates, Preferences, Loopback Policy, and Best Practices

Now that you’ve got the basics of creating and managing Group Policies and importing ADMX files down, it’s time to dig a bit deeper. Let’s talk about the different types of policies you can apply, how to structure them efficiently, and some best practices to keep your environment scalable and easy to manage.

For a step-by-step guide on creating OUs and GPOs, refer to this post. Additionally, for more information on working with ADMX files in Active Directory, check out this guide.

If you’re setting up Active Directory on Windows Server 2022, you can follow this comprehensive guide for a step-by-step walkthrough.

Difference Between Computer and User Administrative Templates

When you’re setting up Group Policies, you’ll notice two main sections: Computer Configuration and User Configuration. These correspond to two types of administrative templates, and knowing which one to use is key.

• Computer Administrative Templates:
  • These policies apply to computers, no matter who logs in.
  • Examples: Disabling USB ports, enforcing firewall rules, setting power configurations.
• User Administrative Templates:
  • These policies apply to users, regardless of which computer they use.
  • Examples: Setting a specific desktop wallpaper, limiting access to the Control Panel, or redirecting folders.

Recommendation: Before creating a policy, always decide whether it affects the computer or the user. If it’s something like security settings or system performance, go with Computer Configuration. If it’s about the user experience, like desktop settings, then choose User Configuration.

Difference Between Templates and Preferences

Group Policy gives you two main options for configuring settings: Administrative Templates and Preferences. Understanding the difference between them will help you make better decisions on which to use in different scenarios.

• Administrative Templates:
  • These are predefined settings that are locked down. Once applied, users can’t change them.
  • Examples: Disabling USB access, enforcing specific security rules, restricting software installations.
• Preferences:
  • Preferences allow administrators to set default configurations, but users can override them if needed.
  • Examples: Setting a default printer, creating desktop shortcuts, or mapping network drives.

Key Differences:

• Enforcement: Templates enforce settings that users can’t change, while Preferences suggest settings that users can override.
• Reverting Settings: If you delete or move an Administrative Template, the settings it applied will revert to their default values. However, with Preferences, the settings will remain as they were, so you’ll have to manually reset them if needed.

Recommendation: Use Administrative Templates as much as possible to maintain control and ensure compliance. Preferences should be reserved for settings where flexibility is okay, like allowing users to choose their own default printer.

Using Loopback Policy for Specific Scenarios

Sometimes you need to apply user-based settings to specific computers without affecting the user’s experience elsewhere. This is where the Loopback Processing policy comes into play.

The Loopback Policy allows you to apply User Configuration settings based on the computer the user is logging into, instead of the user’s account. It’s especially useful in situations like Remote Desktop Servers or specialized workstations.

Common Use Cases:

• Remote Desktop Servers: Apply user settings like folder redirection only when users log into a Remote Desktop Server, without these settings affecting their regular workstations.
• Specialized Workstations: Set specific configurations (like default printers or desktop layouts) when users are logged into certain workstations.

Loopback Policy has two modes:

• Merge Mode: Combines the computer’s Group Policy with the user’s existing Group Policy.
• Replace Mode: Replaces the user’s Group Policy with the computer’s Group Policy settings.

Example: Say you want folder redirection to only happen when a user logs into a Remote Desktop Server but not when they’re on their regular computer. You’d use Replace Mode in the Loopback Policy to enforce this.

How to Create and Activate a Central Store for Group Policy

A crucial component of efficient Group Policy management is using a Central Store for Administrative Templates (ADMX/ADML files). This ensures that all Group Policy editors in your domain use the same set of templates, avoiding inconsistencies.

Steps to Create and Activate a Central Store:

1. Log into your Domain Controller: You’ll need access to the SYSVOL directory.
2. Navigate to: C:\Windows\SYSVOL\domain\Policies\.
3. Create a folder called PolicyDefinitions in this directory. This folder will serve as the Central Store.
4. Copy ADMX and ADML files: From a machine with the latest ADMX templates (found in C:\Windows\PolicyDefinitions), copy the contents into the newly created PolicyDefinitions folder on your Domain Controller.
   • Don’t forget to include the correct language files (ADML files).
5. Verify Activation: Open the Group Policy Management Console (GPMC). It will automatically start using the Central Store templates without any extra configuration needed.

Why Use a Central Store?

• Consistency: All administrators will use the same set of ADMX templates, eliminating discrepancies.
• Simplified Updates: When new ADMX files are released (e.g., for new Windows versions), you only need to update the Central Store.
• Better Management: By centralizing templates, you ensure that all policies are up to date and consistent across the entire domain.

Group Policy Naming Conventions

As your organization grows, keeping track of multiple Group Policies can become a headache if they’re not named clearly. Avoid names like “Policy 1” or “GPO 2”—these aren’t helpful for anyone.

Examples of clear naming conventions:

• Computer Policy - USB Restrictions (or COMP - USB Restrictions)
• User Policy - Desktop Wallpaper (or USR - Desktop Wallpaper)

This makes it clear what each policy does and whether it applies to computers or users. Anyone managing the policies can easily understand their purpose at a glance.

Separating Group Policies for Better Management

Bundling too many settings into one giant Group Policy Object (GPO) is a common mistake. Instead, split your settings into smaller, more specific policies. For example, instead of creating one “All Computer Settings” GPO, break it into “USB Restrictions,” “Firewall Rules,” and “Power Settings.”

Why Separating Policies is Better:

• Reusability: A well-separated policy can be applied to multiple Organizational Units (OUs). For instance, the “USB Restrictions” policy can be reused across different OUs that need the same restrictions.

• Granular Control: Smaller policies are easier to troubleshoot and modify. If one policy causes issues, it’s simpler to adjust without impacting unrelated settings.

Performance Considerations:

There’s no performance penalty for having multiple small policies compared to one large policy. Group Policy processing is just as fast with many small policies, and it gives you more flexibility for management and troubleshooting. So go ahead and break those policies up—it’s easier in the long run!

Final Recommendations

• Use Administrative Templates for strict enforcement across your environment, and save Preferences for settings that users can customize.
• Keep your Group Policy names clear and descriptive so everyone knows what they’re for, and whether they apply to users or computers.
• Separate your policies for better reusability and easier management. It’s more efficient to have smaller policies you can apply to different OUs as needed.
• Leverage Loopback Policy for cases where you need to apply user-based settings to specific computers, like Remote Desktop Servers or specialized workstations.
• Activate a Central Store for Group Policy to maintain consistency across your environment and streamline management of Administrative Templates.

By following these best practices, you’ll make your Group Policies more organized, scalable, and easier to manage as your organization grows.