Understanding Group Policy Delegation

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 90 views

Introduction

Group Policy (GPO) is a powerful tool in Windows Server that allows administrators to manage and configure various aspects of a Windows environment. However, managing GPOs can be a complex task, especially in large-scale environments. In this article, we will explore the options available in Windows Server 2019 to delegate GPO tasks, allowing non-administrators to create, edit, and delete GPOs while requiring administrator approval before linking them in a production environment.

Understanding Group Policy Delegation

Group Policy delegation involves granting specific permissions to users or groups to perform certain tasks on GPOs. This can be achieved through the use of Group Policy Objects (GPOs) and the Delegation of Control Wizard. The Delegation of Control Wizard allows administrators to grant permissions to users or groups to perform specific tasks on GPOs, such as creating, editing, and deleting GPOs.

Option 1: Using the Delegation of Control Wizard

The Delegation of Control Wizard is a built-in tool in Windows Server 2019 that allows administrators to delegate permissions to users or groups. To use the Delegation of Control Wizard to delegate GPO tasks, follow these steps:

Open the Group Policy Management Console (GPMC) on your Windows Server 2019 machine.
Navigate to the Group Policy Objects container.
Right-click on the Group Policy Objects container and select "Delegate Control."
In the Delegation of Control Wizard, select the users or groups you want to grant permissions to.
Select the permissions you want to grant, such as "Create, Edit, Delete" or "Read" permissions.
Click "Next" and then "Finish" to complete the wizard.

Option 2: Using Group Policy Preferences

Group Policy Preferences (GPP) is a feature in Windows Server 2019 that allows administrators to create and manage GPOs using a more user-friendly interface. To use GPP to delegate GPO tasks, follow these steps:

Open the Group Policy Management Console (GPMC) on your Windows Server 2019 machine.
Navigate to the Group Policy Objects container.
Right-click on the Group Policy Objects container and select "New Group Policy Object."
In the New Group Policy Object Wizard, select the "Group Policy Preferences" option.
In the Group Policy Preferences window, select the users or groups you want to grant permissions to.
Select the permissions you want to grant, such as "Create, Edit, Delete" or "Read" permissions.
Click "OK" to complete the wizard.

Granting Non-Admins Create/Edit/Delete Permissions

To grant non-admins create, edit, and delete permissions for GPOs, follow these steps:

Open the Group Policy Management Console (GPMC) on your Windows Server 2019 machine.
Navigate to the Group Policy Objects container.
Right-click on the Group Policy Objects container and select "Delegate Control."
In the Delegation of Control Wizard, select the users or groups you want to grant permissions to.
Select the "Create, Edit, Delete" permissions option.
Click "Next" and then "Finish" to complete the wizard.

Requiring Administrator Approval

To require administrator approval before linking a GPO in a production environment, follow these steps:

Open the Group Policy Management Console (GPMC) on your Windows Server 2019 machine.
Navigate to the Group Policy Objects container.
Right-click on the Group Policy Objects container and select "Delegate Control."
In the Delegation of Control Wizard, select the users or groups you want to grant permissions to.
Select the "Read" permissions option.
Click "Next" and then "Finish" to complete the wizard.

Conclusion

In this article, we explored the options available in Windows Server 2019 to delegate GPO tasks. We discussed the use of the Delegation of Control Wizard and Group Policy Preferences to grant non-admins create, edit, and delete permissions for GPOs while requiring administrator approval before linking them in a production environment. By following the steps outlined in this article, administrators can effectively delegate GPO tasks and manage their Windows environment more efficiently.

Best Practices

Always use the Delegation of Control Wizard to grant permissions to users or groups.
Use Group Policy Preferences to create and manage GPOs.
Grant non-admins create, edit, and delete permissions for GPOs while requiring administrator approval before linking them in a production environment.
Regularly review and update GPO permissions to ensure they are accurate and up-to-date.

Troubleshooting

If you encounter issues with delegating GPO tasks, check the event logs for errors.
Verify that the users or groups you are granting permissions to have the necessary permissions.
Use the Group Policy Management Console to troubleshoot GPO-related issues.

Additional Resources

Microsoft documentation on Group Policy delegation: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/identity/group-policy/delegate-control-of-group-policy
Microsoft documentation on Group Policy Preferences: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/identity/group-policy/group-policy-preferences
Microsoft documentation on Group Policy Management Console: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/identity/group-policy/group-policy-management-console
Is there any option in Windows Server 2019 to delegate GPO tasks? ===========================================================

Q&A: Delegating Group Policy Tasks in Windows Server 2019

Q: What is Group Policy delegation?

A: Group Policy delegation involves granting specific permissions to users or groups to perform certain tasks on Group Policy Objects (GPOs). This can be achieved through the use of the Delegation of Control Wizard.

Q: How do I use the Delegation of Control Wizard to delegate GPO tasks?

A: To use the Delegation of Control Wizard to delegate GPO tasks, follow these steps:

Open the Group Policy Management Console (GPMC) on your Windows Server 2019 machine.
Navigate to the Group Policy Objects container.
Right-click on the Group Policy Objects container and select "Delegate Control."
In the Delegation of Control Wizard, select the users or groups you want to grant permissions to.
Select the permissions you want to grant, such as "Create, Edit, Delete" or "Read" permissions.
Click "Next" and then "Finish" to complete the wizard.

Q: Can I use Group Policy Preferences to delegate GPO tasks?

A: Yes, you can use Group Policy Preferences to delegate GPO tasks. To use Group Policy Preferences to delegate GPO tasks, follow these steps:

Open the Group Policy Management Console (GPMC) on your Windows Server 2019 machine.
Navigate to the Group Policy Objects container.
Right-click on the Group Policy Objects container and select "New Group Policy Object."
In the New Group Policy Object Wizard, select the "Group Policy Preferences" option.
In the Group Policy Preferences window, select the users or groups you want to grant permissions to.
Select the permissions you want to grant, such as "Create, Edit, Delete" or "Read" permissions.
Click "OK" to complete the wizard.

Q: How do I grant non-admins create, edit, and delete permissions for GPOs?

A: To grant non-admins create, edit, and delete permissions for GPOs, follow these steps:

Open the Group Policy Management Console (GPMC) on your Windows Server 2019 machine.
Navigate to the Group Policy Objects container.
Right-click on the Group Policy Objects container and select "Delegate Control."
In the Delegation of Control Wizard, select the users or groups you want to grant permissions to.
Select the "Create, Edit, Delete" permissions option.
Click "Next" and then "Finish" to complete the wizard.

Q: How do I require administrator approval before linking a GPO in a production environment?

A: To require administrator approval before linking a GPO in a production environment, follow these steps:

Open the Group Policy Management Console (GPMC) on your Windows Server 2019 machine.
Navigate to the Group Policy Objects container.
Right-click on the Group Policy Objects container and select "Delegate Control."
In the Delegation of Control Wizard, select the users or groups you want to grant permissions to.
Select the "Read" permissions option.
Click "Next" and then "Finish" to complete the wizard.

Q: What are some best practices for delegating GPO tasks?

A: Some best practices for delegating GPO tasks include:

Always use the Delegation of Control Wizard to grant permissions to users or groups.
Use Group Policy Preferences to create and manage GPOs.
Grant non-admins create, edit, and delete permissions for GPOs while requiring administrator approval before linking them in a production environment.
Regularly review and update GPO permissions to ensure they are accurate and up-to-date.

Q: What are some common issues that can occur when delegating GPO tasks?

A: Some common issues that can occur when delegating GPO tasks include:

Users or groups not having the necessary permissions to perform tasks.
GPOs not being applied correctly due to incorrect permissions.
Administrator approval not being required before linking GPOs in a production environment.

Q: Where can I find additional resources for delegating GPO tasks?

A: Additional resources for delegating GPO tasks can be found on the Microsoft website, including:

Microsoft documentation on Group Policy delegation: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/identity/group-policy/delegate-control-of-group-policy
Microsoft documentation on Group Policy Preferences: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/identity/group-policy/group-policy-preferences
Microsoft documentation on Group Policy Management Console: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/identity/group-policy/group-policy-management-console