How can an organization ensure compliance with security baselines for Windows PCs effectively?

Using Microsoft Group Policy is an effective way for an organization to ensure compliance with security baselines for Windows PCs because it allows for centralized management and configuration of operating system settings across all computers within a network. Group Policy enables administrators to define security settings and configurations that automatically apply to all machines in the designated organizational units. This framework helps maintain consistency in security settings, minimizes the risk of security misconfigurations, and helps enforce compliance with established security baselines without relying heavily on individual user actions or manual interventions.

Additionally, Group Policy can automate the enforcement of updates, apply necessary patches, and restrict user permissions, which further solidifies the security posture of an organization by ensuring that all Windows PCs adhere strictly to the defined security guidelines. This systematic approach to security management reduces the administrative overhead associated with compliance checks and increases the overall reliability of the network's security.

In contrast, the other methods, while useful, do not provide the same level of control or consistency. Assigning users to spot-check compliance may lead to gaps in coverage or missed compliance issues due to human error. Creating startup scripts may not be able to enforce settings as robustly as Group Policy and can be prone to misconfiguration. Periodically reviewing baselines with data owners, while important for alignment