User Account templates make the process of creating user accounts fast and efficient. By creating a user template, you can make a copy of it when you need to create a new user account. Many of the attributes of the user template, such as group membership, will be copied to the new user account. This eliminates the need for you to configure all the account properties each time you have to create a new user account.

If you plan to implement user templates, I would recommend creating a user template for each category of user on your network. For example, you could create a user template for standard users and another one for Help Desk type accounts.

Creating a user template involves creating a new user account. You can create a user account by opening Active Directory Users and Computers. Right click the Users container, point to New, and click User. Enter the user’s name and logon name. Click Next to configure a password for the account. Select the password options you want to use. Click Next to review your selections and click Finish.

In the next installment of this tip I’ll show you how you can use the template to create new user accounts.

Tags: windows server 2003, user account template, diana huggins, microsoft