Administering Windows Server

• A basic understanding of networking fundamentals.

• Basic knowledge of server hardware.

• Experience supporting and configuring Windows client operating systems such as Windows 10.

• Additionally, students would benefit from having some previous Windows Server operating system experience.

Target Audience

• IT professionals who are relatively new to Windows Server administration and related technologies.
• Service desk agents who need to extend their knowledge and experience with Windows Server operating systems.
• IT professionals who are experienced in other non-Microsoft technologies looking to cross-train on Windows Server 2019 and Windows Server 2022.

Important

This course may require the use of Multifactor Authentication (MFA). Please read this page and download the Microsoft Authenticator app (or similar app) prior to attending the course:

https://www.qa.com/resources/faqs/mfa-requirements/

Please see the below Microsoft article for further information on reasons for the MFA requirement:

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/entra/identity/authentication/concept-mandatory-multifactor-authentication

On this course, you will learn to install, configure, and manage Windows Server environments, including performing clean installations, setting up roles, and using Server Core. You will manage identities, groups, and storage, secure data with NTFS permissions and BitLocker, and configure essential network services like DNS, DHCP, and IIS. The course covers using tools such as Server Manager, Windows Admin Center, and PowerShell for efficient administration. Additionally, you will deploy and troubleshoot group policies, enhance server security, and maintain systems through monitoring, updates, and backups.

Module 1: Installing Windows Server

• Compare Windows Server editions.
• Identify hardware requirements.
• Perform clean installations.
• Complete initial configuration tasks.
• Exercise 1: Install Windows Server 2022 Desktop Edition.
• Upgrade and migrate.
• Configure Server Core.
• Add roles and features.
• Understand Windows server activation models.
• Exercise 2: Complete the installation of Server Core.

Module 2: Using administration tools

• Manage servers with Server Manager.
• Manage servers with the Windows admin center.
• Exercise 3: Manage multiple servers with Server Manager.
• Exercise 4: Install and configure Windows admin center.
• Install Remote Server Administration Tools.
• Configure and use remote desktop.
• Introduction to Windows PowerShell.
• Secure administration with least privilege.
• Exercise 5: Install Remote Server Administration Tools.
• Exercise 6: Manage servers with Windows PowerShell.

Module 3: Creating and managing identities

• Understand identities and identity management.
• Overview of Active Directory Domain Services.
• Identify Active Directory components.
• Deploy domain controllers.
• Overview of Entra ID and hybrid identity.
• Create and manage user accounts in Active Directory.
• Use the recycle bin.
• Manage computer accounts.
• Exercise 7: Create and manage user accounts.
• Exercise 8: Join computers to the domain and manage computer accounts.
• Understand managed service accounts.
• Delegate administration.
• Exercise 9: Create and use managed service accounts.
• Exercise 10: Delegate management of Active Directory objects.

Module 4: Creating and managing groups

• Overview of groups and group scopes.
• Understand default groups.
• Use special identities.
• Best practices for group management.
• Exercise 11: Create and manage groups.
• Exercise 12: Delegate management of groups and prevent accidental deletion.

Module 5: Managing storage

• Initialize and partition disks.
• GPT architecture.
• Overview of secure boot and trusted boot.
• Compare file systems.
• Maintain disks and volumes.
• Overview of network and cloud storage.
• Overview of storage spaces.
• Exercise 13: Configure disks for data storage.
• Exercise 14: Create a storage space.

Module 6: Configuring file security and network access

• Secure file systems with NTFS permissions.
• Provide network access to data using shared folders.
• Understand administrative shares.
• Configure SMB signing and encryption.
• Exercise 15: Secure data access with NTFS permissions.
• Exercise 16: Deploy network shares.
• Enable quotas and file screens using FSRM.
• Exercise 17: Control storage use with file quotas.
• Exercise 18: Control storage use with file screens.

Module 7: Managing group policy

• Overview of group policy.
• Create group policy objects.
• Apply group policies.
• Understand security filters.
• Configure settings using policies and preferences.
• Exercise 19: Create and link group policy objects.
• Exercise 20: Deploy preferences with group policy
• Administer group policy objects.
• Deploy administrative templates.
• Group policy reporting and troubleshooting.
• Exercise 21: Create a central store and add administrative templates.
• Exercise 22: Validate and troubleshoot group policy application.

Module 8: Configuring network services

• Administer the DHCP role.
• Create and manage DHCP scopes.
• Exercise 23: Create a DHCP scope and configure leases.
• Understand the role of DNS.
• Administer the DNS role.
• Create and manage DNS zones.
• Enable DNS forwarding.
• Exercise 24: Create a DNS zone and administer records.
• Install and configure the Web server role.
• Manage website properties.
• Exercise 25: Install IIS and configure the default website.

Module 9: Securing Windows Server

• Configure password and account lockout policies.
• Create and assign fine-grained password policies.
• Use Windows LAPS to secure local accounts.
• Exercise 26: Apply password policies for users and administrators.
• Exercise 27: Configure Windows LAPS.
• Understand encryption.
• Overview of Active Directory Certificate Services.
• Deploy trusted certificates.
• Protect data with BitLocker.
• Exercise 28: Configure and enable BitLocker.
• Configure Windows Firewall with Advanced Security.
• Deploy IPSec with connection security rules.
• Exercise 29: Secure communications with Windows Firewall and IPsec.

Module 10: Monitoring and maintaining Windows Server

• Configure and deploy updates.
• Audit Windows server.
• Manage event logs.
• Exercise 30: Configure event logging to audit server activities.
• Monitor background services.
• Schedule tasks.
• Back up and restore core service data.
• Exercise 31: Back up and restore server data.