GPO/InTune Launch Guide - Everything You Need To Know
Updated 2 weeks ago
by
Corey Smith
Summary
Here's everything you need to know about launching the plain text signature into your employee's Outlook desktop app using one of two Microsoft tools: Group Policy or Intune. This deployment method provides a touchless employee onboarding experience.
Overview
Microsoft Endpoint Manager (Intune)
The device should be Azure AD-joined, and the user should be signed in using their Azure AD account.
Group Policy
The device should be domain-joined (on-premises), and the user should sign in using their domain user account.
GPO/Intune Script Deployment Explained
Applies the Opensense plain text signature block to Outlook desktop signature settings for users as scoped by a script. GPO/Intune are Microsoft tools. GPO is used for domain-joined computers, while Intune can be used for Microsoft 365
Deployment Pre-Requisites:
- On launch day, your System Admin will run a script for initial launch. Script can then be used for ongoing employee onboarding
- Coordinate deployment time and date with your IT department
Deployment Tips and Best Practices:
- We can supply you with a script, just ask your Customer Success rep.
- Best day to run script: any day, after peak email hours.
End User Experience:
- Nothing to do, as this is a touchless onboarding experience 🙌🏻
- The Opensense signature will be assigned as each user's default signature in their Outlook desktop app once the script is run (Confirm with your technical team if they have modified the script and what, if any, other behaviors to expect).
- The signature will appear as plain text in Outlook, and the recipient will always receive a beautiful email signature design that is centrally managed by Marketing. Your branded Opensense Signature Instructions document showcases this transformation.
Internal Launch Communications (send 3 days before launch)
Communicating the Opensense launch before it happens can make the difference between receiving a few support emails and way too many if it's done poorly or not at all. To make it as easy as possible for you to take flight, here's an email example to get you started with your launch communications!
This email template was submitted with love by one of our customers who have successfully launched their email signatures! It's a great place to start, but remember that your email communication should be customized to your unique use case before sending out. This is the best time to prevent confusion for the end user. Additionally, we have highlighted any items that need to be personalized before sending out.
To: All Employees
Subject: Standardized Corporate Email Signature
In an effort to present a stronger unified brand to our customers, we will be implementing a standardized email signature for all employees. Using a service called Opensense, the marketing team will now centrally manage the style and format of email signatures while employee contact information will be synced from our company directory. This ensures corporate email communications have a consistent appearance going forward.
This means your email signature on all emails will be beautiful and up to date with all of the latest messaging, and best of all there is nothing to do on your end! Our IT team will be enabling a policy starting on XX/XX/XX that will automatically update your email signature in Outlook the next time you log in.
Finally, due to contact information being synced with our company directory, any changes made directly to your signature block will be overwritten by directory info when sending email. If your signature contains incorrect info or you require any other assistance setting up your email signature, please contact our IT Helpdesk for support: help@ABC.com
Highlights of the new email signature block are:
Change Requests:
Do not add quotations, tag lines, former acquired company names, memes, videos, alternate legal disclaimers, Manufacturer logos, certifications etc. If you believe that you have a legitimate case for adding or changing something on your signature block please get approval from your manager, place an IT service ticket stating what you want and your request will be reviewed by Marketing for consideration. Do not make changes on your own. Thanks for your cooperation.
*Please note: The signature will appear as plain text when sending an email from Outlook. The recipient will always receive the beautiful, highly engaging email signature design that is centrally managed by Marketing. Your branded Opensense Signature Instructions document showcases this transformation.
Thank you!
-Announce on an all hands meeting for an engaging launch
-Reduce internal support requests by sending a reminder email (or two!) leading up to launch
-Support requests tend to subside after a week or so after launch
Optional: Push email signatures to Outlook Web Access (OWA)
If it's important to you to deploy signatures to Outlook Web Access, You can find out how to do this in our guide to pushing signatures to OWA. From the end user's perspective, this will be the same touchless experience they will have with Outlook Desktop. The only action required here is a page refresh if they are already logged in.
