This Active Directory (AD) for Admins training is designed to help IT administrators effectively deploy, manage, secure, and troubleshoot Microsoft Active Directory environments. The course covers AD architecture, domain services, users and groups, Group Policy, authentication, authorization, replication, security hardening, and operational best practices. Participants will gain hands-on knowledge to administer enterprise-grade Active Directory infrastructures reliably and securely.

• Understand the architecture, directory services capabilities, and identity management features of Active Directory for enterprise system  administration.
• Set up and configure the Active Directory environment, domains, organizational units, users, and group policies for administrative  workflows.
• Design domain structures, user management policies, access controls, and directory service configurations using Active Directory  administration approaches.
• Implement authentication, authorization, group policy management, replication, and directory service integration workflows effectively.
• Debug, test, and optimize directory services, access controls, and system performance for scalability, reliability, and security.
• Build secure, scalable, and production-ready identity and access management solutions using Active Directory best practices.

 • System and Windows administrators
 • IT infrastructure and operations engineers
 • Identity and access management administrators
 • Helpdesk and support leads
 • Professionals managing enterprise Windows environments

 • Basic understanding of Windows operating systems
 • Familiarity with networking fundamentals such as DNS and TCP/IP
 • Interest in identity, access, and directory services administration

 • Understanding Active Directory architecture and components
 • Managing domains, forests, and organizational units
 • Administering users, groups, and computers
 • Implementing Group Policy for centralized control
 • Managing authentication and authorization
 • Monitoring replication and directory health
 • Applying Active Directory security best practices
 • Troubleshooting common AD issues

By the end of this training, participants will be able to administer, secure, and maintain Active Directory environments confidently. Learners will gain strong operational and security foundations to support reliable identity and access management across enterprise Windows infrastructures.

Introduction to Active Directory & Architecture
 • Evolution of directory services
 • Active Directory components and terminology
 • Domains, forests, and trusts
 • Role of DNS in Active Directory

Installing & Configuring Active Directory Domain Services
 • Domain controller roles
 • New domain and forest setup
 • AD installation considerations
 • Functional levels overview

Managing Users, Groups & Computers
 • User and group account management
 • Group scopes and types
 • Computer account administration
 • Delegation of administrative control

Organizational Units & Administration Models
 • Designing OU structures
 • Administrative delegation
 • Role-based administration
 • Best practices for OU design

Group Policy Fundamentals
 • Group Policy architecture
 • GPO creation and linking
 • Processing order and inheritance
 • Common administrative GPOs

Advanced Group Policy Management
 • Security filtering and WMI filters
 • Troubleshooting GPO issues
 • Starter GPOs
 • Change management best practices

Authentication & Authorization
 • Kerberos and NTLM overview
 • Logon processes
 • Access control concepts
 • User rights and permissions

Active Directory Replication & Sites
 • AD replication concepts
 • Sites and subnets
 • Replication troubleshooting
 • Monitoring directory health

Active Directory Security & Hardening
 • Securing domain controllers
 • Privileged account management
 • Password and account policies
 • Reducing attack surface

Backup, Recovery & Disaster Scenarios
 • AD backup concepts
 • Authoritative and non-authoritative restores
 • Tombstone and recycle bin awareness
 • Disaster recovery planning

Monitoring, Maintenance & Troubleshooting
 • Monitoring tools and logs
 • Common AD issues and fixes
 • Performance considerations
 • Health check best practices

Hybrid & Modern AD Awareness
 • Hybrid identity overview
 • On-premises and cloud integration concepts
 • Identity synchronization awareness
 • Modern identity considerations

Active Directory Administration Workshop & Best Practices
 • Managing a real-world AD environment
 • Applying security and policy controls
 • Troubleshooting common issues
 • Final workshop review and best practices

• Active Directory Setup & Directory Services Architecture
• Domains, Organizational Units & User Management
• Group Policies, Access Control & Authentication
• Replication, Security & System Integration
• Testing, Debugging & Performance Optimization
• End-to-End Active Directory Administration Project

Participants will be evaluated through hands-on Active Directory administration exercises, practical Group Policy and troubleshooting tasks, instructor-led reviews, and a final assessment focused on managing and securing an AD environment.

Participants will receive course materials, slides, reference materials, exercises and access to resources for further learning.

Upon successful completion of the training, participants will receive an AcadNXT Certificate of Completion for Active Directory (AD) for Admins. This digital, verifiable certification validates practical Active Directory administration skills, identity management knowledge, and enterprise Windows infrastructure expertise and can be shared on LinkedIn and included in professional profiles to strengthen system administration career credibility.