Methods for Validating GPO Effectiveness Post-Isolation

Question

I am currently involved in a project that requires isolating a portion of the domain from the rest. The isolation process has been successfully completed. As an administrator, I now need to verify whether the Group Policy Objects (GPOs) are being properly applied to the computers or devices in the isolated region. Could you advise on the most effective methods for checking the status of GPO application or potential failures from a Domain Controller (DC) perspective?

It would be greatly appreciated if someone could provide a prompt response, as we are currently working under a very tight project deadline.

Answer 1

Kushagra,

To get you started, you have two options off the top of my head, without needing additional tools.

1. In Group Policy Management, scroll to the bottom and use Group Policy Modeling and Group Policy Results. Modeling is primarily used to test what would be applied in different situations, but can also reflect what should be applied in a specific setup. Group Policy Results is the same as gpresult cli and will show what is applied for a specific computer and user.
2. Your other option is an administrative terminal, gpresult /S computername /USER usernamethathasloggedintosystem /H C:\path\to\file.html

If you can find the time and have a subscription, install Advanced Group Policy Management. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-desktop-optimization-pack/agpm/ It is part of Microsoft's Desktop Optimization Pack https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-desktop-optimization-pack/.

Is this what you were asking for?

Issues I can think of would be trust relationships, depending on how the systems were isolated, especially if using a different domain. Another major issue is having all of the right firewall ports open to the isolated systems. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/troubleshoot/windows-server/active-directory/config-firewall-for-ad-domains-and-trusts. The firewall ports have been my biggest issue with Group Policy.

You can also remotely invoke the GPUpdate with something like the following:

$clients = Get-ADComputer -Filter 'Name -like "isolatedpcname*"'

$clients | ForEach-Object -Process {Invoke-GPUpdate -Computer $_.name -RandomDelayInMinutes 20}

Justin

Answer 2

Hello

Thank you for posting in Q&A forum.

Group policy Management have a function which can force update policy to client, and feedback you the result.

To do this, you can open Group policy Management and then right click the OU which you want to update, and then choose Group Policy update.

Best regards

Yanhong

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If the answer is helpful, please click "Accept answer" and upvote it

Answer 3

Hello

Thank you for posting in Q&A forum.

Group policy Management have a function which can force update policy to client, and feedback you the result.

To do this, you can open Group policy Management and then right click the OU which you want to update, and then choose Group Policy update.

Best regards

Yanhong

=====================================

If the answer is helpful, please click "Accept answer" and upvote it