I use Win32 app in user context to deploy a Network Location (not a letter-mapped drive). I created the solution developed before pro-active remediations existed as a feature. I would love to have this built into a configuration template of some kind or shortcut/drive/network location deployment type.

<#
.SYNOPSIS
    Creates a proper Network Location
.DESCRIPTION
    This script will create/re-create a 'true' network location as opposed to a shortcut sitting within the Network Location's directory
.EXAMPLE
    PS C:\> <name_of_script>.ps1 -Name MyShortcut -Path \\server\folder -IconIndex 4
    Creates a Network Location with the name of 'MyShortcut' pointing to \\server\folder with an optional change to the icon
.PARAMETER Name
    String that will become the network location's display name. Mandatory.
.PARAMETER Path
    String containing the UNC or HTTP path to the resource. Mandatory.
.PARAMETER IconIndex
    Optional integer that specifies which Shell32.dll icon will be used for the shortcut. Default value is 4 (Folder Icon)
.OUTPUTS
    A network shortcut
.NOTES
    Will pave over a shortcut with the same name by deleting it
    Execute in the context of the user who needs the shortcut.
#>

[CmdletBinding()]
param (
    # Display Name for Network Location
    [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)]
    [ValidateNotNullorEmpty()]
    [string]
    $Name,
    
    # Network Location Path
    [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)]
    [ValidateNotNullorEmpty()]
    [string]
    $Path,
    
    # Shell32 Icon Index
    [Parameter(Mandatory = $false)]
    [ValidateRange(0, 328)]
    [int]
    $IconIndex = 4
)

# Paths
$NetworkShortcutsRoot = "$env:APPDATA\Microsoft\Windows\Network Shortcuts"
$NetworkShortcutPath = (Join-Path -Path $NetworkShortcutsRoot -ChildPath $Name)

# desktop.ini content
$IniFileContent = '[.ShellClassInfo]
CLSID2={0AFACED1-E828-11D1-9187-B532F1E9575D}
Flags=2
'

# Delete existing shortcut to allow 'updating'
if (Test-Path -Path $NetworkShortcutPath) {
    Remove-Item -Path $NetworkShortcutPath -Recurse
}

# Create folder and set required read-only attribute
New-Item -Path $NetworkShortcutPath -ItemType Directory
(Get-Item -Path $NetworkShortcutPath).Attributes = 'ReadOnly', 'Directory'

# Create target.lnk
$WScriptShell = New-Object -ComObject WScript.Shell
$Shortcut = $WScriptShell.CreateShortcut("$NetworkShortcutPath\target.lnk")
$Shortcut.TargetPath = $Path
$Shortcut.IconLocation = "$env:windir\System32\SHELL32.dll,$IconIndex"
$Shortcut.Save()

# Create desktop.ini
New-Item -Path $NetworkShortcutPath -Name 'desktop.ini' -ItemType File -Value $IniFileContent