What is the best way to apply a policy to computers added to the default location for computer accounts?

Applying a policy to computers added to the default location for computer accounts can effectively be achieved by adding those computers to an organizational unit (OU). Organizing computers into OUs allows for more granular control over policies, which can be targeted specifically to groups of computers based on different criteria such as department, function, or other organizational needs.

When you create an OU and place the computer accounts within it, you can then apply group policies specifically to that OU. This means that any configured settings will automatically inherit for all computers within that OU, enhancing management efficiency and flexibility. By doing so, you can ensure that these computers adhere to specific security settings, software installation rules, or other necessary configurations without affecting other computer accounts that may reside elsewhere in the domain.

Assigning the policy to the default domain would apply it to all objects within the domain, which may not be desired if there are different policies needed for various groups or functions. Applying local group policies only affects the single machine it’s applied to, which does not allow for centralized management across a fleet of computers. Creating a new domain is an unnecessary complexity and diverges from the goal of applying policies efficiently within an existing structure. Hence, using an organizational unit is the most effective strategy.