Configure Direct Access connections as a fast network connection
- Policy ID
- SlowLinkDefaultForDirectAccess
- Scope
- Computer Configuration
- Supported on
- At least Windows Server 2012, Windows 8 or Windows RT
- Source
- Administrative Templates (.admx) for Windows 11 2026 Update (26H2) (version 1.0)
- Category
- System › Group Policy
Description
This policy setting allows an administrator to define the Direct Access connection to be considered a fast network connection for the purposes of applying and updating Group Policy.
When Group Policy detects the bandwidth speed of a Direct Access connection, the detection can sometimes fail to provide any bandwidth speed information. If Group Policy detects a bandwidth speed, Group Policy will follow the normal rules for evaluating if the Direct Access connection is a fast or slow network connection. If no bandwidth speed is detected, Group Policy will default to a slow network connection. This policy setting allows the administrator the option to override the default to slow network connection and instead default to using a fast network connection in the case that no network bandwidth speed is determined.
Note: When Group Policy detects a slow network connection, Group Policy will only process those client side extensions configured for processing across a slow link (slow network connection).
If you enable this policy, when Group Policy cannot determine the bandwidth speed across Direct Access, Group Policy will evaluate the network connection as a fast link and process all client side extensions.
If you disable this setting or do not configure it, Group Policy will evaluate the network connection as a slow link and process only those client side extensions configured to process over a slow link.
Registry
- SlowLinkDefaultForDirectAccessREG_DWORD