A default installation of Microsoft Windows contains a number of configuration settings, components, and scheduled tasks that may not be required or are not desirable in a Horizon environment. This section will detail these settings, and provide instructions on how to make the recommended changes.

Many of these optimizations are implemented using Windows Group Policies, which can be applied to the master virtual desktop image prior to deployment, or by using domain-enforced Active Directory Group Policies. It is recommended to apply the majority of the policies directly to the master image when using linked clone and instant clone desktops. Doing this allows the Horizon pool maintenance operation to proceed more quickly, as the majority of the settings the desktop requires will already have been applied. Were the necessary policies to be applied using only domain-based Group Policy templates, a Horizon desktop or RDS server maintenance operation would be likely to take more time and resources to complete as each desktop must process the policy updates and make the necessary configuration changes. In addition, the desktops may require a reboot to fully implement the policy changes.