Windows
Server Foundations & Hybrid Identity
1.
Introduction to Hybrid Windows Environments
- Hybrid infrastructure concepts
- When hybrid is useful
- Tools we will use (all free or
trial)
2. Windows
Server Core Administration
- Installing Windows Server
evaluation edition
- Configuring roles & features
- Basic server authentication and
domain concepts
- Hands-on: Install AD DS using trial
OS
- Hands-on: Manage server via Windows
Admin Center
3. Windows
Admin Center (WAC) Setup & Usage
- Installing Windows Admin Center
- Adding servers to WAC
- Managing roles, updates,
certificates
- Event viewer, performance, services
(all within WAC)
- Hands-on lab
4. Hybrid
Identity with Azure AD
- Azure AD Free Tier capabilities
- Installing Azure AD Connect
- Syncing on-prem identities to Azure
AD
- Hands-on: Hybrid join (Azure AD
Join + on-prem AD)
- Verifying sync & sign-in logs
5. Hands-On
Labs
Hybrid
Networking, Open-Source VPN, Storage & Virtualization
1.
Networking in Hybrid Environments
- WireGuard (open-source VPN) to simulate site-to-site hybrid
connectivity
- Configuring Windows Server
networking
- DNS hybrid design basics
- Hands-on
- Hands-on
2.
Azure-based Management
- Manage VMs with Azure VM agent
- Using free Azure monitoring
features:
- Activity logs
- Basic metrics (CPU/memory/disk)
3. File
& Storage Services
- Storage Spaces setup
- SMB shares
- NTFS permissions
- ACL best practices
- Hands-on
- Hands-on
4.
Virtualization & Replication
- Hyper-V
- Hyper-V Replica
- Hands-on: Set up VM replication
between two trial servers
Hybrid
Management, Security, Monitoring & Troubleshooting
1.
Lightweight Azure Arc-like Management
- Overview of Azure Arc
- Registering server in Arc
- Viewing servers in Azure
- Hands-on: Use WAC → Connect to
Azure
2. Security
in Hybrid Setup
- Local security baselines
- GPO hardening
- Microsoft Security Baselines
- Windows Firewall
- Azure AD password protection
- MFA for Azure AD
- Privileged Identity Management
Modules:
- Hardening Windows Server
- Implementing MFA
- Secure administrative roles with
free-tier controls
- Hands-on
3.
Monitoring & Troubleshooting
- Event Viewer
- WAC performance dashboard
- Azure Activity Logs
- Azure VM metrics
Modules:
- Troubleshooting identity sync
- Troubleshooting VPN (WireGuard)
- Analyzing server performance
- Hands-on
4. Final
Hands-On Lab
