Bolstering Network Security : Use of GPO settings
Network security is of utmost importance for the safety of data and prevention of malicious access of the data by hackers over a network. Recent times have seen more hackers and more network related attacks with the growth and influence of the Internet increasing. A network breach is a situation in which a network is left vulnerable by actions such as non-implementation of security procedures. For instance, if a hacker or an unauthorized person gains access to a network, this situation can be described as a security breach.
A network administrator uses the GPO group policy to configure settings for a network. The GPOs, in turn, link the network to appropriate domains as well as active directories to determine the computers and the users to which the settings will apply. Once the administrator sets up GPO settings, the settings are executable in the next logins. However, for some GPOs they become executable after two to three logins. For these types of situations, the delay is caused by the type of operating system run by the user. The GPO group settings ensure that unauthorized people are kept off the network (Roth, 2005).
Scenario one, the use of login scripts to bolster security. People use login scripts to enhance network security. These scripts run every time the computer system on a network is run. These scripts prove insecure as they might delay on login. However, with GPO group policy, one can use log-off scripts to enhance security. These are setup to run every time a computer system is logged off. Scenario two; using windows update and automatic update settings to ensure enhanced security is not effective in a corporate setting with multiple users and simultaneous network access. GPO group settings allow use of a distributed update mechanism as well as windows update services to control the update process (Roth, 2005). This process ensures that network security is enhanced and kept at an optimum level.
References
Roth, E. (2005). 10 ways to manage desktops with group policy. WindowsITPro. Retrieved from: http://windowsitpro.com/systems-management/10-ways-manage-desktops-group-policy
