Module 1: Introduction to IT infrastructure, Workgroup vs Domain environment

Learning Objective: In this module, you will learn about difference between workstations/ PCs and servers, why servers are required in Industry, windows operating systems, difference in workgroup and domain environments.

• Introduction to IT Infrastructure, client vs server OS and their requirements
• Installing and configuring windows server
• Understanding, installing and configuring domain environment
• Understanding workgroup vs domain environment
• Understanding windows roles and features and their differences

Module 2: Installing and configuring Active Directory and its objects

Learning Objective: In this module, you will learn how to install, configure and manage Active Directory and creating and managing its objects such as users and groups.

• Understanding and installing DNS, AD roles in windows server and their importance
• Understanding types of Domain Controllers (DC) in Windows Server
• Prerequisites of domain joining, connectivity, port numbers of DNS and AD, adding workstation to Domain
• Managing (creating, deleting, disabling, lifecycle of) users in Active Directory
• Understanding types of groups in AD
• Managing groups in AD, such as adding or removing users from groups
• Understanding group permissions

Module 3: Deploying file server, NTFS vs Share permissions, DFS and FSRM configuration

Learning Objective: In this module, you will learn how to install and configure File Server, share a folder/directory and manage it, types of folder sharing, configure Distributed File System (DFS) Namespace and DFS Replication to manage file server, configure different NTFS permissions and shared folder permissions.

• Installing File Server and creating a shared folder
• Understanding NTFS Permissions and Share Permissions and their difference
• Applying Share and NTFS Permissions on the Share Folder
• Installing FSRM (File Server Resource Manager) & applying quota and file screening to shared folder
• Creating Access Based Enumeration, sync center and shadow copy
• Checking Event ID Related to Quota and File Screening & logs in event viewer
• Creating Hidden Shared Folders using advanced sharing and understanding different types of sharing
• Installing DFS Namespace Role on the AD server and adding a shared folder to it
• Accessing DFS Namespace
• Installing DFS Replication Role and performing replication of shared folder
• Configure Replication Topologies and understanding DFS replication for DR (Disaster Recovery)

Module 4: Standalone vs Active Directory and Group Policies

Learning Objective: In this module, you will learn importance of Group Policy and application installation using GP.

• Understanding the requirement and working of group policy
• Types of Policies, user vs computer policies, default domain policy vs default domain controller policy
• Advantages of Organizational Units (OUs), creating OU, Applying Group Policy to OU
• Implementing different policies e.g. USB storage disabling, setting Desktop Wallpaper, Folder Redirection
• Configuring Loop Back Policy and other policies like applying restriction to control panel items
• Group Policy Processing Order and Precedence
• Blocking Inheritance and Enforcing Group Policies
• Backing Up and Restoring Group Policy Objects (GPOs)
• Linking and Unlinking Group Policy Objects (GPOs)
• Group Policy force implementation, troubleshooting and other commands related to GP

Module 5: Deploying DHCP and Internet Information Services (web server/ IIS) roles & ADCS

Learning Objective: In this module, you will learn how to install and configure DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) role for managing hosts/ devices by providing them automatic IP addresses. Requirement, importance, installation and configuration of Internet Information Services (IIS/ web server), importance, implementation of Certificate Authority services, integration with AD (ADCS) to secure websites using HTTPS.

• Understanding need/importance and working of DHCP server and DORA process
• Installing DHCP role and configure its scope
• Understanding and configuring reservation, IP exclusion, device/MAC exclusion
• Installation of IIS roles, hosting and accessing HTTP website & implement different authentication methods
• Understanding the need of SSL certificate
• Installing ADCS (Active Directory Certificate services) role and creating a CA (Certificate Authority) server
• Enterprise vs Standalone CA, creating & applying SSL certificate using CA, accessing an HTTPS website

Module 6: Implementing and configuring Hyper-V and Virtual Machines (VMs)

Learning Objective: In this module, you will learn what is virtualization, types of hardware virtualizations, installing Hyper-V, configuring networking and storage on Hyper-V hosts, installing and managing VMs on Hyper-V hosts.

• Understanding need/importance hardware virtualization and its types
• Understanding and installing Hyper-V
• Configuring storage and networking on Hyper-V hosts
• Installing and managing VMs
• Understanding nested virtualization, its requirements and installation

 Module 7: Types of Domain Controllers – PDC, ADC/BDC, RODC, CDC, TREE DC, Replication, Sites & Subnets

Learning Objective: In this module, you will learn about Primary Domain Controller (PDC), Additional Domain Controller (ADC)/ Backup Domain Controller (BDC), Read-Only Domain Controller (RODC), Child Domain Controller (CDC), TREE DC & how replication works in Active Directory. You will also understand how to configure Active Directory Sites and Subnets to optimize authentication.

• Advantages of ADC/ BDC, its deployment and configuration
• What is Active Directory Replication and Why Is It Needed
• Understanding Read-Only Domain Controllers (RODC) and Their Use
• Understanding, installing and configuring CDC, TREEs in a forest
• Creating and Configuring Active Directory Sites and Subnets
• Understanding Replication Schedules in Active Directory
• Intra-Site vs Inter-Site Replication
• Commands to Check Active Directory Replication Status and troubleshooting issues

Module 8: Active Directory and FSMO (Flexible Single Master Operation) Roles management

Learning Objective: In this module, you will learn about FSMO roles in Active Directory, how to transfer and seize roles, and understand Active Directory Partitions.

• Understanding importance and functioning of FSMO roles in AD
• Transferring Domain Level (RID, PDC, Infrastructure) and Forest Level (Domain naming, schema master) roles
• Performing FSMO Role Seizing in AD
• Understanding AD Partitions e.g. Database, configuration, schema, domain and application partitions

Module 9: Windows Server & AD backup and restore, Disaster Recovery Solutions

Learning Objective: In this module, you will learn how to implement disaster recovery in Active Directory by enabling the AD Recycle Bin to restore deleted objects and performing System State Backups to ensure domain controller availability.

• Understanding How Disasters Can Affect Active Directory
• Exploring Different Options to Handle an Active Directory Disaster
• Understanding Recovering process of Active Directory from Disaster Scenarios
• Implementing Active Directory Recycle Bin to Restore Deleted Objects
• Understanding Deleted Object Lifetime and Tombstone Lifetime in Active Directory
• Performing a System State Backup of a Domain Controller
• Understanding different types of Windows Server Bakcups, configuring and testing them

Module 10: DNS Records, Zones, Queries, Caching

Learning Objective: In this module, you will learn importance of DNS, DNS records, queries and working of DNS.

• What is DNS, why is it required
• Types of DNS records and how to create them
• Understanding DNS TTL Value and DNS cache
• Manual creating an Entry in Host file
• Introduction to DNS Zones and creating DNS Forwarders, configuring zone transfer
• Understanding Root Hint Servers and process of query resolution

Module 11: Introduction to Azure Cloud, Subscription, Resource Group, Region and Entra ID

Learning Objective: In this module, you will learn the azure cloud basic terms like instances, their sizes, regions, availability zones, resource groups, resources, virtual networks, subnets, subscriptions, creating vms. You will also learn implementing hybrid identities by on-premises AD integration with Azure Entra ID using Azure Entra ID connect.

• Introduction to Azure Cloud and different subscription models
• Introduction to Resource Groups and creating resources in resource groups
• Introduction to Azure Region and availability zones
• Introduction to Azure Virtual Network, creating subnet and creating a VM
• Integrating On-Premises AD with Azure Entra ID using Entra ID connect and understanding its options

Module 12: Server Updates/ Patching, Azure Backup and Restore, Hybrid Backup

Learning Objective: In this module, you will know how to configure automate patching process for Windows Servers using Azure Update Manager, and how to configure Azure Hybrid Backup and restore data and VM.

• Understanding server update and patching and schedule the update
• Understanding Azure Hybrid backup, configuring backup using MARS and Recovery services Vault

Module 13: Implementing Azure Hybrid File Services with Azure File Sync

Learning Objective: In this module, we will cover deploying, managing and optimizing Azure File Sync (AFS) to cache Azure file share to local servers, extending on-premises file servers to the Azure cloud using Azure File Sync, creating and configuring sync groups, connect on-premises file shares to Azure, centralize your organization’s share folder data in the Azure cloud and securing data with Azure files.

• Overview of azure files and hybrid storage options & need of Azure File Sync
• Deploying Azure File Sync Agent, creating Azure File Share
• Creating, configuring and managing Sync Groups
• Verifying Registered Servers in Azure portal
• Configuring Cloud Endpoint and Server Endpoint
• Performing Synchronization of On-Premises Shared Folders with Azure File Share
• Setting up and verifying Azure File Sync for Share Folder Disaster Recovery

Module 14: CLI/ Powershell tools to Administer and Automate AD; Task scheduler to automate tasks

Learning Objective: In this module, you will learn to how to create, manage, modify and delete AD objects and their attributes using command line and powershell and automate tasks using task scheduler.

• Creating, managing, modifying and deleting Active Directory Users, OUs, groups and their attributes
• Creating and verifying scheduled tasks using task scheduler and powershell script

Module 15: Resume building tips and tricks, job searching and interview cracking techniques

Learning Objective: Job searching, resume building and interview cracking are the techniques which most students are not aware of, so in this module you will learn the techniques to search jobs and tips to build an impressive resume.

• Jobs searching techniques
• Interview preparation techniques and tips
• Resume building tips