When is computer group policy applied

For more information on how to programmatically interact with group policy settings using this provider, see the Using Group Policy API topics. Skip to main content.

This browser is no longer supported. Download Microsoft Edge More info. Contents Exit focus mode. Note This is an overview topic for developers who are writing code that interact with Group Policy. In this blog, we will go through a detailed explanation of what Group Policies and GPOs are, and how system administrators can use them to help prevent data breaches. Please check your email including spam folder for a link to the whitepaper! GPOs can be associated with a single or numerous Active Directory containers, including sites, domains, or organizational units OUs.

The MMC allows users to create GPOs that define registry-based policies, security options, software installation and much more. Active Directory applies GPOs in the same, logical order; local policies, site policies, domain policies and OU policies.

Group Policy Objects can be used in a number of ways that benefit security, many of which will be mentioned throughout this article. Below are a few more specific examples:. The order at which GPOs are processed affects what settings are applied to the computer and user. The local computer policy is the first to be processed, followed by the site level to domain AD policies, then finally into organization units. When the Group Policy engine is about to apply user policy, it looks in the registry for a computer policy, which specifies which mode user policy should be applied in.

IT Connect. Search IT Connect:. Group Policy Loopback Support as described in MS whitepaper: Group Policy is applied to the user or computer, based upon where the user or computer object is located in the Active Directory. Figure 8. The Streetmarket domain When users work in their own workstations, they should have Group Policy applied to them according to the policy settings defined, based on the location of the user object.

With the Group Policy loopback support feature, you can specify two other ways to retrieve the list of GPOs for any user of the computers in the Servers OU: Merge mode. Select the Members tab and click the Add button. The following window opens. Click Object Types and make sure Computers is checked.

Now enter the names of the target computers mentioned above with a semicolon ; to separate them. Then click Check Names. If typed correctly, the names will display as shown below with a dash below them. Make sure all target computers are members of the group, then click OK to confirm. Log in to the Group Policy console. Select the policy you want to change and then enter the Scope tab.

Enter the name of the group that was created in the previous step. Click Check Names to make sure the typed name is correct, then click OK.