Windows Server 2025 for administrators

This course is designed for professionals who are responsible for managing identity, networks, storage, and computing resources using Windows Server and who need to understand the scenarios, requirements, and options available and applicable to Windows Server.

1. Overview of Windows Server Administration

This module describes the differences between various editions of Windows Server and techniques for deployment, maintenance, and activation. The module also introduces Windows Server Core and compares it to the Desktop Experience edition. The module describes tools and concepts for managing Windows Server, such as Windows Admin Center, PowerShell, and permission delegation.

Lessons

• Introduction to Windows Server
• Overview of Windows Server Core
• Overview of Windows Server Management Principles and Tools
• Windows Admin Center

Lab: Deploying and Configuring Windows Server

• Deploying and Configuring Server Core
• Implementing and Using Remote Server Management

2. Identity Services in Windows Server

This module provides an introduction to identity services and describes Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) in a Windows Server environment. The module describes how domain controllers are deployed in AD DS, as well as Azure Active Directory (AD) and the benefits of integrating Azure AD with AD DS. The module also covers the basics of Group Policy and how Group Policy Objects (GPOs) are configured in a domain environment. Finally, the module describes the role of Active Directory Certificate Services and the use of certificates.

Lessons

• AD-DS Overview
• Deploying Windows Server Domain Controllers
• Implementing Group Policy
• Implementation of Trust Relationships

Lab: Implementing identity services and group policies

• Configuring Group Policy
• Explain the basics of Group Policy and configure GPOs in a domain environment
• Configuring a Global Structure Trust
• Configuring Windows LAPS

3. Network Infrastructure Services in Windows Server

This module describes how the most important network infrastructure services are implemented in Windows Server. The module covers the deployment, configuration, and management of DNS and IPAM.

Lessons

• Setting Up and Managing DHCP
• Setting Up and Managing the DNS Service

Lab: Implementing and configuring network infrastructure services in Windows Server

• Setting Up and Configuring DHCP
• Set up and configure DNS

4. File Servers and Storage Management in Windows Server

This module describes how to configure file servers and storage in Windows Server. The module covers file sharing and the use of Storage Spaces technology. The module describes the implementation of data deduplication, iSCSI-based storage in Windows Server, and, finally, the use of DFS.

Lessons

• Volumes and File Systems in Windows Server
• Implementing Shares in Windows Server Implementing Storage Areas in Windows Server
• Implementing Data Deduplication
• Implementing iSCSI: Deploying a Distributed File System

Lab: Implementing storage solutions in Windows Server

• Implementing Data Deduplication
• Configuring iSCSI storage
• Configuring Redundant Storage Areas
• Implementing Storage Spaces Direct

5. Hyper-V Virtualization

This module describes the implementation and configuration of Hyper-V VMs and the setup of a Hyper-V failover cluster. The module covers the most important features of Hyper-V in Windows Server, describes VM settings, and explains how to configure VMs in Hyper-V. The module also covers security technologies used in virtualization, such as shielded VMs and the Host Guardian Service. In addition, it covers failover clustering with Hyper-V.

Lessons

• Hyper-V in Windows Server
• Management Tools
• Configuring VMs
• Securing Virtualization in Windows Server
• Storage Solutions for Hyper-V
• Hyper-V Failover Clustering: Disaster Recovery Solutions with Hyper-V VMs

6. High Availability in Windows Server

This module describes the current high-availability technologies in Windows Server. The module covers failover clustering and considerations for its implementation, as well as how to create and configure failover clustering. The module also explains stretch clusters and options for achieving high availability with Hyper-V VMs.

Lessons

• Planning the Failover Clustering Implementation
• Creating and Configuring Failover Clusters
• Overview of Stretch Clusters

Lab: Implementing Failover Clustering

• Configuring Storage and Creating a Cluster
• Deploying and configuring a highly available file server
• Validation of the Deployment of the High-Availability File Server

7. Disaster Recovery in Windows Server

This module describes the disaster recovery technologies in Windows Server and how to implement them. The module covers how to configure and use Hyper-V Replica and describes Azure Site Recovery. The module also covers the implementation of Windows Server Backup and describes the Azure Backup service.

Lessons

• Hyper-V Replica
• Backup and Recovery Infrastructure in Windows Server

Lab: Implementing Hyper-V Replica and Windows Server Backup

• Hyper-V Replication
• Implement Implementing Backup and Restore with Windows Server Backup

8. Windows Server Security

This module describes the security features of Windows Server and how they are implemented. The module covers the credentials used in Windows Server and explains how protection against privileged access is implemented. In addition to describing methods and technologies for hardening Windows Server security, the module explains how to configure Just Enough Administration (JEA) and secure SMB traffic. Finally, the module covers Windows Update, its deployment, and management options.

Lessons

• Credentials and Protection of Privileged Access
• Hardening Windows Server
• JEA in Windows Server
• Capturing and Analyzing SMB Traffic
• Windows Server Update Management

Lab: Configuring security in Windows Server

• Configuring Windows Defender Credential Guard
• Identifying Problematic Accounts
• Implementing Windows LAPS
• BitLocker
• AppLocker

9. RDS in Windows Server

This module describes the key features of the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) and Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) in Windows Server. The module covers how session-based desktops are deployed and describes personal and pooled virtual desktops.

Lessons

• Overview of RDS
• Configuring a Session-Based Desktop Deployment
• Overview of Personal and Pooled Virtual Desktops

Lab: Implementing RDS in Windows Server

• Implement RDS
• Configuring Session Collection Settings and Using RDC
• Configuring a Virtual Desktop Template

10. Remote Access and Web Services in Windows Server

This module describes the implementation of virtual private networks (VPNs) and Network Policy Server (NPS). The module covers the Always-On VPN feature as well as the configuration of NPS.

Lessons

• Implementing VPNs
• Overview of Always On VPN
• Implement NPS

Lab: Deploying Network Workloads

• Setting Up a VPN in Windows Server
• Deploying and Configuring a Web Server

11. Server and Performance Monitoring in Windows Server

This module describes how to implement service and performance monitoring and how to troubleshoot issues in Windows Server. The module highlights the monitoring tools and describes how to monitor performance, including event logging, and how to monitor event logs for troubleshooting purposes.

Lessons

• Overview of Windows Server Monitoring Tools
• Using Performance Monitor
• Monitoring Event Logs for Troubleshooting

Lab: Monitoring and Troubleshooting Windows Server

• Setting Up a Performance Baseline
• Identifying the Cause of a Performance Issue

12. IIS Web Server

This module describes how to install and configure the IIS web server. It covers the topics of configuring websites and FTP sites. It also covers module extensions such as PHP and the binding of TLS certificates.

Lessons

• Installing IIS
• IIS Configuration
• Configuring Host Headers
• Certificate Binding
• Module Extension

Lab: Installation and Configuration of the IIS Web Server

• Installing IIS
• IIS Configuration

13. Active Directory Certificate Services (ADCS)

This module describes how to set up a Microsoft PKI environment. It covers the installation of Active Directory Certificate Services, the configuration of certificate templates, and the issuance of certificates for users s and computers.

Lessons

• PKI Overview
• Installing AD CS
• Configuration of certificate templates
• Issuance and Management of Certificates
• Troubleshooting Certificate Errors

Lab: Installing and Configuring AD CS

• Standalone Root CA Installation
• Enterprise Sub CA Installation
• Configuration of certificate templates
• Issuance of Certificates

Requirements: 

• Some knowledge and experience with Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) concepts and technologies in Windows Server
• Experience with and understanding of key networking technologies such as IP addressing, name resolution, and the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP)
• Experience with and understanding of Microsoft Hyper-V and the basic concepts of server virtualization
• Awareness of fundamental, proven security procedures
• Experience working hands-on with Windows client operating systems such as Windows 10 or Windows 11
• Basic experience with Windows PowerShell