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LSA 6: Describe Local Policy

Local Policy refers to a set of system settings and configurations applied to an individual Windows computer that govern how the system behaves and how users interact with it. These settings can be applied to the machine itself (affecting all users) or specifically to the users who log into the system. Local policies help administrators control a wide range of system behaviors, such as user permissions, security settings, and user environment configurations.

Local policy settings are stored locally on the computer and are independent of Active Directory Group Policies, though they can complement or be overridden by domain-based Group Policies in an enterprise environment.

Subsets of Local Policy

Local policy is divided into two main subsets, each addressing different aspects of the system’s configuration:

  1. User Configuration
  2. This subset contains policy settings that specifically affect individual user accounts when they log onto the computer. These policies govern aspects related to the user’s environment, preferences, and security settings. Examples of user-level configurations include:
    • Desktop Environment: Configurations like wallpaper, screen saver settings, and start menu preferences.
    • Account Restrictions: Policies such as login hours, password complexity requirements, and account lockout settings.
    • Software Restrictions: Control over which applications users can run, restricting access to specific programs or applications.
    • User Rights Assignment: Determines what permissions individual users have, such as being able to log on locally or remotely.

  3. Purpose: The user configuration ensures that user-specific settings, such as personal preferences, security measures, and access rights, are applied and enforced when the user logs on. These settings are useful for managing user environments in shared or multi-user systems.

  4. Computer Configuration

  5. The computer configuration subset defines policy settings that affect the computer itself, regardless of which user is logged in. These policies control system-wide settings that influence the computer's security, behavior, and network settings. Examples of computer-level configurations include:
    • Security Settings: Policies like password complexity, auditing settings, and user rights assignments that affect the security of the entire system.
    • Startup/Shutdown Scripts: Configuration of scripts that are run when the computer starts or shuts down, applicable to all users of the computer.
    • Network Configuration: Control over network settings such as network security, firewall settings, and the ability to configure the network adapter’s behavior.
    • System Services: Management of system services that determine which services start automatically when the system boots and what their configurations are (e.g., disabling unnecessary services for security).
  6. Purpose: The computer configuration ensures that the machine itself is managed in terms of security, system performance, and network connectivity. It helps administrators secure the device and manage its resources in a consistent way across all users.

How Local Policy Affects Users and Computers

Local policies provide a powerful method of controlling system behavior on individual computers. These policies can be used in standalone systems (where the computer is not part of a domain), or they can work in tandem with domain-based Group Policies in Active Directory environments. In a domain, domain policies generally take precedence over local policies, but local policies are still used for configurations that are not defined at the domain level.

For example: - A user configuration policy might define a specific set of desktop wallpaper preferences or screen timeout settings, ensuring that the user sees the same desktop environment every time they log in. - A computer configuration policy could require that a specific antivirus software be installed and running on the system, or that the computer is restricted from accessing certain network resources.

Benefits of Local Policy Configuration

  • Flexibility and Control: Administrators can use local policies to enforce settings on individual systems without needing to rely on a centralized domain or network connection.
  • Consistency: Local policies ensure that even if a computer is not connected to the network or domain (e.g., for remote users), the system will still adhere to predefined configurations.
  • Security: By applying security settings at the computer level (e.g., password policies, screen lock settings), administrators can enhance the security of the machine, particularly in environments where network-based management might not be possible.

Local policies play an important role in providing control and consistency over the settings and configurations of both user accounts and computer systems, offering essential management capabilities for administrators managing standalone or domain-joined Windows computers.