Group Policy Central

So before you read this review of this book I have to be up front and say that I worked on this book… So… Of course its fantastic and you must buy it.  

But Seriously for the better part of last year I have been spending my spare time to be the Technical Editor for Jeremy Moskowitz latest book called “Group Policy Fundamentals, Security, and the Managed Desktop”.  This book is hands down the best Group Policy book that you can buy. What I really like about this book as it covers everything from the basics of Group Policy and how it works to some of the most advanced topic, heck, even I learnt a few things. So if you are just staring out with group policy or if you just want a great reference with heaps of example (and screenshots) this this is definitely the book to buy.

Even if you have had bought this book previously you will still find it very useful as it has been updated for Windows Server 2012 and of course all of the screenshots have been updated (mainly by me) to Windows 8.

Below is a list of the chapters of the book and you will even find that you can get a few bonus chapters if you end up buying the book…

• Chapter 1 – Group Policy Essentials
• Chapter 2 – Managing Group Policy with GPMC
• Chapter 3 – Group Policy Processing Behaviour Essentials
• Chapter 4 – Advanced Group Policy Processing
• Chapter 5 – Group Policy Preferences
• Chapter 6 – Managing Applications and Setting Using Group Policy
• Chapter 7 – Troubleshooting Group Policy
• Chapter 8 – Implementing Security with Group Policy
• Chapter 9 – Profiles: Local, Roaming, and Mandatory
• Chapter 10 – Implementing a Managed Desktop, Part 1: Redirected Folders, Offline Files, and the Synchronization Manager
• Chapter 11 – The Managed Desktop, Part 2: Software Deployment via Group Policy
• Chapter 12 – Finishing Touches with Group Policy: Scripts, Internet Explorer, Hardware Control, Deploying Printers, and Shadow Copies
• Appendix A – Group Policy and VDI
• Appendix B – Security Configuration Manager
• Appendix C – Windows Intune (And what it means to Group Policy Admins)

So… Buy it now keep it on your shelf as the ultimate reference… or just brush up with what is new in Windows Server 2012 what ever way this is one reference book that will not collect dust.

Amazon Link http://amzn.com/1118289404

ISBN-10: 1118289404

In this video, fellow Group Policy MVP Jermey Moskowitz recorded video interview at TechEd Atlanta. In this video he talks about what to expect with Group Policy in 2011 and he talks about his up coming release of PolicyPak v3.

Jeremy also talked about PolicyPak 3.0, the new update being released to PolicyPak, and what the benefits of the software are for busy administrators.

PolicyPak its a great third party add on to Group Policy that enabled to lock down and configured almost any third-party application such as FireFox, WinZip Adobe Reader via Group Policy. For more information check out his web site at http://www.policypak.com

Video Source: http://www.trainsignaltraining.com/videos/jeremy-moskowitz

Speaker: Jeremy Moskowitz

Source http://channel9.msdn.com/Events/TechEd/NorthAmerica/2011/WCL308

TechNet Live (Netherlands) have just released some videos of a presentation done by fellow Group Policy MVP Jeremy Moskowitz. Both these videos are a great watch and Jeremy’s style is as always very entertaining…

The first video “Troubleshooting Group Policy” is the much better version of the session I presented at the last minute at TechEd NZ 2010 (see here Troubleshooting Group Policy) due to Jeremy being quarantined with suspected swine flu.

The other session “Total workstation lockdown: You action plan” shows how you can use Group Policy to configure a lockdown computer configuration.

Source http://www.msteched.com/2010/NewZealand/CLI314