Creating and deploying a URL shortcut policy with GPO:
Create a new Group Policy Object (GPO)
- Open
the Group Policy Management Console (GPMC).
- Create
a new GPO and give it a descriptive name.
Link the GPO to an organizational unit (OU)
- Right-click
on the newly created GPO and select "Link an Existing GPO".
- Choose
the OU that contains the computers you want to deploy the shortcut to.
Configure the URL shortcut policy
- Edit
the GPO and navigate to User Configuration > Preferences > Windows
Settings > Shortcuts.
- In the
"Shortcut Properties" window, enter the following settings:
- Action:
Update
- Name:
Give the shortcut a descriptive name.
- Target
type: URL
- Location:
Desktop
- Target
URL: Enter the full URL of the website.
- Icon
file path: (Optional) Enter the path to the icon file.
Save and deploy the GPO
- Save
the GPO and close the GPMC editor.
- Wait
for the Group Policy update to propagate.
- The
shortcut will appear on the desktops of all affected computers.
