The administrator of a server has multiple obligations. Indeed, one of them is to prohibit users from accessing or not accessing apps within the system. Since this way the security of the system is improved. As far as Windows Server is concerned, there are components that are very sensitive to its operation. For example, the Firewall. Additionally, the control panel is of paramount importance within the system. Inasmuch as, from there you can manage essential parameters and configurations for the computer. Consequently, its erroneous manipulation can compromise the operation of the system. For this reason, today we will see how to prevent access to the Control Panel using GPO in Windows Server 2019/2016.
Setting up a new GPO to prevent access to the control panel.
The first thing you have to do is open the Group Policy Manager. With this in mind, press the Win+R combination and run the following command:
gpmc.msc
Before continuing, it is important to make a clarification. When creating a group policy, there are two areas of application. In the first place you can create a group policy at a general level for all users. To do this, select the Default Domain Policy option. On the other hand, you can create a policy for a certain group of users. With this in mind, select the particular organizational unit. This time we will create the policy for the organizational unit. With this in mind, right click on it. Then click on Create a GPO in this domain, and Link it here:
Then assign the name to the new policy.
Back to the previous screen, you can see the new policy already created.
Editing the policy values.
After creating the policy it is time to edit it so that it meets the objectives. With this in mind, right click on it and then on Edit.
Then select the next route: User configuration>Policies>Administrative Templates>Control Panel. Once there, double-click on Prohibit access to the Control Panel and PC settings.
You must then enable it to enforce the ban.
Back to the editor, you can see the rule actually enabled.
At the end of the day we learned how to prevent access to the Control Panel using GPO in Windows Server 2019/2016. In this way it is possible to increase control over the safety of the system. I hope I have dispelled your doubts. Stay tuned for the latest news and technology tutorials. Bye!
