How to set system preferences globally?

Hello!
I am trying to change preferences for all users who log into a system. For example, I want the screen saver to timeout at 10 minutes and require a password immediately after the screensaver starts. When a new user is logged in, this defaults back to 15 minutes and not to require a password after the screensaver is active.
I have modified the default user 'profile' but the settings do not stick for new users. How can I force settings in System Preferences to apply to all accounts, current and future? These systems are in an enterprise environment, but since they account for 0.001% of our entire system inventory, we do not run Open Directory and they will not be managed via AD. I would like to configure them as locally (and simply, most technicians here have no experience with OSX) as possible.
Thanks for any and all input!

Creating a new user account on the machine requires a Admin account, so while there, set everything else up too and create a cheat sheet to expidite the process later.
Mac's are consumer machines, not for enterprise level use, they allow a certain degree of personalization.
Even in General User one is allowed to change the Desktop background and screensaver time.
If you want to lock the machines down. use something like DeepFreeze and set a nightly shutdown time and morning reboot. Everything will be set back to what you set it up like.
Apple uses that on their store machines, save files to NAS or external.
After awhile the users will avoid making changes to their machine and of course hate your guts.

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