This Global Knowledge Enhanced course - currently the only offering in the market devoted to Group Policy training - teaches you how to reduce costs and increase efficiencies in your network.

In this Global Knowledge-enhanced course-currently the only offering on the market devoted to Group Policy training-you will learn how to reduce costs and increase efficiencies in your network. You will discover how to consolidate the administration of an enterprise IT infrastructure with Group Policy, and you will learn to control and manage computer systems and domain users running Windows Server 2003, Server 2008 R2, XP, and Windows 7. You will learn to create Group Policies, implement administrative and security templates, and determine best practices when deploying software packages. Walk away with the experience and tools needed to optimize your enterprise systems and networks.

What You'll Learn

Design and deploy security policies for all your Windows 2003 and Windows 2008 R2 servers, workstations, member servers, and XP and Windows 7 clients
Delegate Administrative Control of Group Policies
Back up and restore Group Policy Objects (GPOs) through Group Policy Management Console (GPMC)
Easily roll out selected software updates and operating system patches from your network environment
Tips for troubleshooting Group Policy

Course Outline

1. Introduction to Group Policy

What Group Policy Is
Group Policy Scenarios
Overview of Group Policy
New Features for Server 2008 and Windows Vista
What's New in Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7

2. Group Policy Management Tools

Local vs. Domain Policies
Editing Local Policies
Group Policy Management Console (GPMC)
Installing the GPMC
Using the GPMC
Group Policy Refresh

3. Designing a Group Policy Infrastructure

Overview of Active Directory
Design Phases
Planning Your Group Policy Design
Designing Your Group Policy Solution
Deploying Your Group Policy
Managing Your Group Policy Solution

4. Group Policy Processing Architecture

Group Policy Infrastructure

5. Group Policy Object (GPO) Troubleshooting and Backup

Group Policy Troubleshooting Tools
Command-Line Tools
Integration of Resultant Set of Policy (RSoP) Functionality
Logging Options
GPO Backup and Restore
Migration Tables

6. Using PowerShell with Group Policy

Introduction to PowerShell
Creating Policies with PowerShell
Managing Policies with PowerShell
PowerShell-Based Logon Scripts

7. Implementing Security Using Group Policy

Security Architecture
Securing User Accounts
Hardening Computer Accounts
Domain Security

8. Configuring the Desktop Environment

Using Scripts
Desktop, Start Menu, and Taskbar
Control Panel
Windows Components
Printer Management and Printing
Computer Network Settings

9. Roaming Profiles and Folder Redirection

User Profiles
Folder Redirection
Using Folder Redirection and Roaming Profiles Together

10. Assigning and Publishing Software Packages

MSI Packages
Group Policy as a Software Deployment Method
Software Deployment
Setting Up Distribution Points
System Center Configuration Manager

11. AppLocker and Software Restriction Policies

What a Software Restriction Policy Is
Creating a Software Restriction Policy
Additional Rules to Identify Software
Effective Software Restriction Policies
Using AppLocker in Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7

12. Creating and Deploying Administrative (ADM) Templates

Overview of ADM Templates
Standard ADM Templates
Custom ADM Templates
Using New ADMX Templates
Creating Custom ADMX Templates
Using the ADMX Central Store

13. Managing Group Policy Preferences

Overview of Group Policy Preferences
Comparing Preferences and Policy Settings
Configuring Preferences Settings
Advanced Configuration of Group Policy Preferences

Labs

Lab 1: Introduction to Group Policy

Launching the Alpha VM
Preparing XP for Domain Policies
Preparing Vista for Domain Policies
Preparing Windows 7 for Domain Policies

Lab 2: Group Policy Management Tools

Working with Multiple Local Policies
Installing the GPMC on Windows XP
Installing the GPMC on Vista
Installing the GPMC on Windows 7
Basic Group Policy Management

Lab 3: Designing a Group Policy Infrastructure

Creating an Organizational Unit (OU) Structure for Group Policy
Delegating GPO Management
Creating Starter GPOs
Installing and Configuring Advanced Group Policy Management (AGPM)

Lab 4: Group Policy Processing Architecture

Working with Multiple GPO Levels
Using the Enforce and Block Inheritance Options
Implementing Security Filtering
Creating a WMI Filter
Working with Loopback Processing

Lab 5: GPO Troubleshooting and Backup

Using Tools for Troubleshooting
Backing Up and Restoring GPOs
Group Policy Management Scripts

Lab 6: Using PowerShell to Manage Group Policy

Introduction to Using Windows PowerShell
Using PowerShell to Manage GPOs

Lab 7: Implementing Security Using Group Policy

Installing the Microsoft GPOAccelerator
Configuring Enterprise Auditing through Group Policy Deployment
Configuring Standard Password Policies
Configuring Fine-Grained Password Policies
Configuring Restricted Groups
Using Security Templates

Lab 8: Configuring the Desktop Environment

Using Logon Scripts
Configuring Desktop Settings
Managing Windows Components
Configuring Printers with Group Policy
Managing Network Settings

Lab 9: Roaming Profiles and Folder Redirection

Preparing for Profiles and Folder Redirection
Configuring Folder Redirection
Managing Roaming Profiles

Lab 10: Assigning and Publishing Software Packages

Preparing for Distribution
Creating Custom Software Packages
Repackaging Applications
Deploying Software Packages

Lab 11: AppLocker and Software Restriction Policies

Enforcing Software Restriction Policies
Using AppLocker to Restrict Software

Lab 12: Working with ADMX Templates and the Central Store

Importing ADMX Files
Converting Legacy ADM Files
Creating a Custom ADMX File
Implementing the ADMX Central Store

Lab 13: Managing Group Policy Preferences

Preparing Legacy Clients for Preferences
Implementing Computer Preferences
Implementing User Preferences

Classroom Dates and Locations

Date	Location Details
Sep 21 - 24, 2010	Dallas, TX	Register
Sep 28 - Oct 1, 2010	Chicago (Schaumburg), IL	Register
Oct 12 - 15, 2010	New York, NY	Register
Oct 25 - 28, 2010	Houston, TX	Register
Nov 2 - 5, 2010	Atlanta, GA	Register
Nov 9 - 12, 2010	Morristown, NJ	Register
Nov 16 - 19, 2010	Washington, DC	Register
Nov 16 - 19, 2010	San Jose, CA	Register
Nov 30 - Dec 3, 2010	Chicago (Schaumburg), IL	Register
Dec 7 - 10, 2010	Raleigh, NC	Register
Dec 20 - 23, 2010	Dallas, TX	Register
Jan 4 - 7, 2011	Orlando, FL	Register
Jan 11 - 14, 2011	New York, NY	Register
Jan 18 - 21, 2011	Washington, DC	Register
Feb 1 - 4, 2011	Atlanta, GA	Register
Feb 15 - 18, 2011	San Jose, CA	Register
Feb 22 - 25, 2011	Chicago (Schaumburg), IL	Register
Mar 1 - 4, 2011	Morristown, NJ	Register
Mar 8 - 11, 2011	Boston, MA	Register
Mar 22 - 25, 2011	Washington, DC	Register
Mar 29 - Apr 1, 2011	Dallas, TX	Register
Apr 5 - 8, 2011	Raleigh, NC	Register
Apr 19 - 22, 2011	New York, NY	Register
Apr 26 - 29, 2011	Houston, TX	Register
May 10 - 13, 2011	San Jose, CA	Register
May 17 - 20, 2011	Chicago (Schaumburg), IL	Register
May 31 - Jun 3, 2011	Washington, DC	Register
Jun 7 - 10, 2011	Atlanta, GA	Register
Jun 14 - 17, 2011	Los Angeles, CA	Register
Jun 28 - Jul 1, 2011	Dallas, TX	Register