Active Directory Policies

GPO to detect application installations and prompt for Elevation

In an enterprise environment, controlling software installation is vital to maintain system integrity, security, and compliance. Group Policy in Windows provides a powerful way to manage this. One effective approach is to create a Group Policy Object (GPO) that detects application installations and prompts for administrative elevation. This ensures that only authorized applications are installed…
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Active Directory Policies

Automatically deny elevation requests from standard users via GPO

In enterprise environments, maintaining strict control over user privileges is key to ensuring network security and operational efficiency. One aspect of this is managing elevation requests – particularly, automatically denying such requests from standard users. This article will guide system administrators through the process of creating a Group Policy Object (GPO) to achieve this, thereby…
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Active Directory Policies

Configure UAC Behaviour for Admin Approval Mode via GPO

User Account Control (UAC) is a fundamental security feature in Windows environments. It helps mitigate the impact of malware by requiring approval for changes to the system, even when made by administrators. This article provides a comprehensive guide for system administrators on creating a Group Policy Object (GPO) to configure UAC to request approval for elevation, even for administrators…
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Active Directory Policies

Configuring Windows Defender Network Protection via Group Policy

In an increasingly interconnected world, network security is paramount for any organization. Windows Defender Network Protection is a critical feature that helps prevent employees from accessing dangerous domains that might host phishing scams, exploits, and other malicious content on the Internet. Configuring this feature across an enterprise environment can be efficiently managed using Group…
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Active Directory Policies

GPO to block malicious site access on Microsoft Edge

In a digital landscape where web-based threats are constantly evolving, securing the web browsing experience is a top priority for system administrators. Microsoft Edge, being a commonly used browser in many organizations, needs to be configured to safeguard against access to malicious sites. This article provides a detailed, step-by-step guide on creating a Group Policy Object (GPO) to block…
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Active Directory Policies

GPO to block unverified downloads on Microsoft Edge

In today’s digital landscape, one of the key challenges for system administrators is securing web browsers against potentially harmful downloads. Microsoft Edge, a widely used browser in corporate environments, allows administrators to enhance security by blocking unverified downloads. This article will guide you through the process of creating a Group Policy Object (GPO) to block unverified…
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Active Directory Policies

How to prevent users override certificate errors on Microsoft Edge using GPO

In the management of an enterprise IT environment, ensuring secure web browsing is crucial. One aspect of this is managing how users interact with security warnings, especially those related to SSL/TLS certificate errors. System administrators can enforce security protocols by preventing users from overriding certificate errors in Microsoft Edge using Group Policy. This article provides a detailed…
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Active Directory Policies

How to enable Windows Defender to analyze mail bodies and attachments via group policy

In an era where email remains a primary vector for cybersecurity threats, it’s crucial for system administrators to ensure that all possible precautions are taken to protect networked systems. One effective measure is configuring Windows Defender, the integrated antivirus solution in Windows, to thoroughly analyze mail bodies and attachments for malicious content. This article provides a…
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Active Directory Policies

How to delegate permissions to create GPOs in Windows

Group Policy is a feature in Windows that provides centralized management and configuration of operating systems, applications, and users’ settings in an Active Directory environment. Delegating permissions to create GPOs is essential for distributing administrative tasks while maintaining security and compliance. This article offers a step-by-step guide for system administrators on how to…
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Active Directory Fundamentals

How to schedule a process remotely via WMI

Remote task scheduling is a critical competency for system administrators managing a network of Windows machines. This article provides a comprehensive guide on how to schedule a process remotely using Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI), without relying on PowerShell. The focus is on using the WMIC tool and the Windows Task Scheduler to execute and manage tasks on remote machines. If you…
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