Group Policy Automation Engine
Automate Group Policy changes at scale with a PowerShell-driven engine
Group Policy Automation Engine provides a PowerShell and .NET interface for reading, writing, and searching settings across domain and local Group Policy Objects (GPOs). It provides IT teams with the missing automation layer for Group Policy, enabling configuration changes to be scripted, versioned, and executed consistently. The tool supports most core policy areas, such as Administrative Templates, security settings, Group Policy Preferences, folder redirection, and more, enabling full automation of policy delivery.
By integrating Group Policy Automation Engine scripts with existing DevOps workflows, you will:
- Reduce operational effort by automating recurring Group Policy updates and eliminating manual touchpoints.
- Improve consistency and reduce configuration drift through scripted, repeatable reads and writes to GPO settings.
- Accelerate deployments by integrating with existing PowerShell automation and configuration workflows.
For faster, safer, and more reliable Group Policy operations, consider Change Manager for Group Policy and Intune to ensure tight change control. Moreover, when combined with Change Manager, which itself has a rich library of PowerShell automation, the Group Policy Automation Engine enables true end-to-end automation of GPO changes. Add GP Reporting Pak on top of that to identify areas for improvement in GPO settings.
- Automate reads and writes of GPO settings across domain or local GPOs using PowerShell
- Automates changes to Group Policy settings across most policy areas, including Administrative Templates, Security Settings and Preferences (including Item-level targeting)
- Leverage PowerShell (or .Net) to automate GPO changes
- Current Version: 4.1.4
- Datasheet: GPAE Datasheet
- Product Video: GPAE Part 1 – Introduction
- Product Video: GPAE Part 2 – Referencing a GPO
- Product Video: GPAE Part 3 – Exploring the SDM GP Object
- Product Video: GPAE Part 4 – Containers
- Product Video: GPAE Part 5 – Settings
- Documentation: GPAE User Guide
- Case Study: Case Study: PacStar
- Operating Systems Supported for Installation: Microsoft® Windows® 10 and 11, Windows Server 2016, 2019, 2022 and 2025.
- .Net Framework 4.6.2 or greater installed on the system where you install the product. Windows PowerShell 4.0 or greater is required.
FAQ
What is Group Policy Automation Engine?
Group Policy Automation Engine is a PowerShell and .NET SDK that automates reading, writing, and searching Group Policy settings across domain and local GPOs. It is designed for developers and IT teams that want to automate policy changes at scale.
Which policy areas does GPAE support?
Group Policy Automation Engine covers most core Group Policy areas, including administrative templates, most security settings, Group Policy preferences (with item-level targeting), folder redirection, scripts, and software installation.
Can GPAE automate changes across multiple GPOs?
Yes. Group Policy Automation Engine can automate reads and writes across local or domain GPOs, making it suitable for bulk updates, environment-wide configuration changes, and standardized deployments.
How does GPAE fit into a broader governance workflow?
A: Group Policy Automation Engine handles automation. For controlled change processes, you can pair it with Change Manager for Group Policy and Intune to ensure approvals and rollbacks, or with GP Reporting Pak to identify duplicates, conflicts, or required cleanup before applying automated changes.
Does Group Policy Automation Engine support command-line automation?
A: Yes. Group Policy Automation Engine is explicitly designed for command-line and script-driven automation using Microsoft PowerShell or .NET.