Desktop Authority Management Suite vs Group Policy Preferences

Group Policy Preferences
In Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista Service Pack 1, Microsoft introduced a Group Policy‐based technology called Group Policy Preferences (GPP) derived from Policy Maker, a product acquired with Desktop Standard in 2006. This technology adds new Group Policy Extensions that provide extraWindows workspace configuration settings so Group Policy can be used, for example, to set up drive mappings and printer connections on a user’s desktop. GPP also introduces "targeting", a technology that allows GPP settings to be selectively applied based on a range of user and computer properties. 

Desktop Authority Management Suite
Desktop Authority Management Suite provides admins the ability to proactively provision and manage a productive, secure and flexible Windows user environment that automates users’ access to resources and applications. This bundle can create a secure, consistent environment for each user automatically, package and test applications consistently and ensure that applications run only with the privileges and access needed. 

This Document
The addition of GPP in Windows demonstrates Microsoft’s recognition of the cost savings and other benefits possible through centralized desktop configuration. This technical brief will explore the differences and overlapping functionality of Desktop Authority (DA) vs. Microsoft’s GPP, and the benefits each one offers.