Desktop Management Improved

To ensure that administrators can centrally manage Windows Vista computers, Microsoft has made substantial improvements to desktop management features such as Group Policy. Although these features have been a part of the OS since Windows 2000, the refinements can reduce the total cost of ownership of Windows. But using them still requires careful planning, because setting a policy for one purpose might impact other functions.

Improved Management Tools

With Vista, Microsoft has made substantial improvements to Group Policy, which provides an infrastructure for the centralized configuration of Windows and applications by allowing administrators to define per-computer and per-user Registry settings; the Task Scheduler, which can be used to start and control scheduled administrative tasks; and the Event Viewer, which allows administrators to examine event logs to monitor the health of systems and troubleshoot problems.

Group Policy Improvements

Group Policy allows an organization to define and implement a consistent set of software and settings across all the computers in their organizations. Changes can then be made from a central location without having to send a support technician to reconfigure each system. Improvements to Group Policy in Vista give administrators control over more settings, more efficient management of network connectivity, and the ability to apply and manage computer policies for global organizations.