Active Directory Administration for Windows Server 2025

Organizations still running Windows Server need AD skills even as cloud management expands—especially where on-premises systems, air-gapped networks, or hybrid environments make cloud-only controls unrealistic. This 7.3-hour beginner-level course is a practical assignment for Help Desk staff, junior admins, and Team Leads who need a stronger foundation in Active Directory administration for Windows Server 2025.

IT teams complete this training to standardize how they manage AD objects, design OUs that support Group Policy, apply GPOs for user and computer control, and build awareness of sites, trusts, forests, backup, recovery, and modern AD security. The change-management value is reducing “tribal knowledge” around AD by giving newer administrators a shared model for why OU design, policy inheritance, and recovery planning matter.

CBT Nuggets can support rollout with Playlists to pair this course with core Windows Server training, Virtual Labs for hands-on practice where available, and Team Reporting so IT Directors and Training Managers can track learner progress.

This training helps IT teams turn Active Directory from a fragile, admin-by-admin process into a more consistent operational practice. The course uses real administration scenarios, including managing objects through Active Directory Administrative Center, designing OUs around Group Policy needs, and using on-prem GPOs when cloud-based management is not available.

• Reduce configuration drift: Team members learn how GPOs can set or restrict user and computer settings instead of relying on end users to configure them.
• Support regulated or disconnected environments: The course explains why on-prem Group Policy still matters for air-gapped networks or parts of the business without reliable cloud connectivity.
• Improve AD structure decisions: Admins learn why default containers are limited, why OUs matter for GPO linkage, and why OUs are not security boundaries.
• Strengthen operational readiness: Coverage of sites, trusts, forest management, backup, recovery, and security helps teams prepare for day-to-day administration and incident response.

Knowledge

• How Active Directory Administrative Center is used to manage AD objects, and how it relates to the older AD Users and Computers tool.
• Why organizational unit design affects Group Policy flow and long-term manageability.
• The difference between OUs, containers, security identities, and security boundaries.
• Why on-premises Group Policy remains important in hybrid, disconnected, or air-gapped environments.
• Core concepts across AD sites, trusts, forest management, backup, recovery, and security.

Ability

• Manage common Active Directory objects using Windows Server 2025 administration tools.
• Plan an OU structure that supports policy application instead of creating avoidable complexity.
• Apply Group Policy strategy to configure or restrict user and computer behavior.
• Recognize when cloud-based management is not enough and on-prem GPOs are required.
• Contribute to AD administration, recovery planning, and security-focused operational practices.