What is a Group Policy Object (GPO)?

A Group Policy Object (GPO) is fundamentally a group of settings created using the Microsoft Management Console (MMC). GPOs are applied to users and computers within an Active Directory environment, allowing administrators to manage and enforce specific configurations and policies across multiple systems. This can include everything from security settings to software installation, desktop environments, and user permissions.

Using the MMC, administrators can create and modify GPOs, which are then linked to Active Directory containers such as sites, domains, or organizational units (OUs). When a GPO is applied, the settings it contains affect all applicable users and computers, allowing for centralized management and consistent configurations across the network. This is crucial for maintaining security, compliance, and uniformity in an organization’s IT infrastructure.

The focus on GPOs being groups of settings signifies their use as an administrative tool that impacts multiple users and systems, which distinguishes them from other types of objects or protocols.