Infrastructure-as-code framework for Active Directory objects and Group Policy. Sanitized from production deployment for public sharing.
Admins-01 GPO
GUID: Auto-created on first Apply-GPOBaseline.ps1 run
Linked to: OU=ExampleAdmins,DC=example,DC=internal
Scope: User Configuration (HKCU) -- Administrative Templates only
This GPO applies to delegated administrator accounts in the ExampleAdmins OU. Unlike Users-01, it does NOT restrict access to management tools (regedit, cmd, Run, etc.). Instead it focuses on session security and accountability.
Settings
Session Security
| Setting | Value | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| ScreenSaveActive | 1 | Enable screensaver (required for lock timeout) |
| ScreenSaveTimeOut | 600 | Lock screen after 10 minutes idle |
| ScreenSaverIsSecure | 1 | Require password to unlock |
Accountability
| Setting | Value | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| EnableScriptBlockLogging | 1 | Logs all PowerShell script blocks to event log |
| EnableTranscripting | 1 | Full transcript of all PowerShell sessions |
Taskbar Cleanup
| Setting | Value | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| TurnOffWindowsCopilot | 1 | Disables Windows Copilot |
| TaskbarDa | 0 | Hides Widgets |
| SearchboxTaskbarMode | 0 | Hides Search box |
Design Rationale
Admins need unrestricted access to system tools. The policies here enforce:
- Session security -- unattended admin sessions auto-lock after 10 minutes
- Audit trail -- all PowerShell activity is logged for forensic review
- Clean workspace -- distracting taskbar elements removed
Actual admin privileges come from membership in the DelegatedAdmins security group, not from this GPO.