Course Content

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1. Introduction to Active Directory

• 1.1 Overview of Directory Services

  • Definition and Purpose of Directory Services

  • Role of Active Directory in Enterprise Environments

  • Importance of Directory Services in Network Management

• 1.2 Evolution of Active Directory

  • Windows NT Domains vs. Active Directory

  • Historical Development and Versions of Active Directory

  • Key Features and Improvements over the Years

• 1.3 Active Directory Components

  • Understanding Forests, Domains, and Trees

  • Organizational Units (OUs) and their Role

  • Global Catalog and Schema

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2. Active Directory Installation and Configuration

• 2.1 Preparing for Installation

  • Hardware and Software Requirements

  • DNS Considerations and Best Practices

• 2.2 Installing Active Directory

  • Using the Active Directory Domain Services Installation Wizard

  • Promoting a Server to a Domain Controller

  • Configuring Additional Domain Controller Options

• 2.3 Configuring Forests and Domains

  • Creating and Configuring Forests and Domains

  • Understanding Domain Functional Levels

  • Considerations for Upgrading Domain Functional Levels

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3. Managing Users and Groups

• 3.1 Creating and Managing User Accounts

  • User Account Properties and Attributes

  • User Lifecycle Management

  • Best Practices for User Account Administration

• 3.2 Group Management

  • Security and Distribution Groups

  • Creating and Managing Groups

  • Group Nesting and Group Scope

• 3.3 Delegating Administration

  • Delegating Control in Active Directory

  • Customizing Administrative Roles

  • Best Practices for Delegation

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4. Organizational Units (OUs) and Group Policy

• 4.1 Understanding Organizational Units (OUs)

  • Purpose and Benefits of OUs

  • Designing an OU Hierarchy

  • Strategies for Organizing Objects in OUs

• 4.2 Group Policy Overview

  • Introduction to Group Policy Objects (GPOs)

  • Applying GPOs to OUs, Domains, and Sites

  • Troubleshooting Group Policy Application

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5. Active Directory Security

• 5.1 Securing Domain Controllers

  • Physical Security Considerations

  • Configuring DC Security Settings

  • Best Practices for Securing Domain Controllers

• 5.2 Authentication and Authorization

  • Kerberos Authentication Process

  • Configuring Access Control through Permissions

  • Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)

• 5.3 Auditing and Monitoring

  • Enabling and Configuring Auditing

  • Monitoring Tools (Event Viewer, Performance Monitor)

  • Responding to Security Incidents

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6. Active Directory Replication

• 6.1 Understanding Replication

  • Replication Topology

  • Inter-Site and Intra-Site Replication

  • Troubleshooting Replication Issues

• 6.2 Disaster Recovery Planning

  • Backup Strategies for Active Directory

  • Authoritative and Non-Authoritative Restores

  • Documenting and Testing Recovery Procedures

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7. Active Directory Federation Services (ADFS)

• 7.1 Introduction to ADFS

  • Single Sign-On (SSO) Concepts

  • ADFS Components and Roles

  • Implementing Federated Identity Management

• 7.2 Implementing ADFS

  • Configuring Trust Relationships

  • Integrating ADFS with Web Applications

  • Troubleshooting ADFS Issues

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