An Expert-Led Design Thinking & Business Innovation Program
Identity with Windows Server 2016 (20742)
Build enterprise-ready IT skills with a structured Identity with Windows Server 2016 training course designed to develop hands-on expertise in Active Directory Domain Services, Group Policy management, AD FS configuration, and certificate services for modern Windows environments.
—————————————————————————————————————————-
Managing identity in an enterprise environment is one of those things that looks straightforward until something breaks. A misconfigured Group Policy. A certificate that nobody renewed. A federation trust that quietly stopped working. These aren’t edge cases; they happen in real organisations, to real administrators, on real Mondays.
This Identity with Windows Server 2016 course exists because knowing about Active Directory isn’t the same as knowing how to run it. The 20742 curriculum is hands-on, scenario-driven, and built around the situations IT professionals actually face, not textbook theory that evaporates the moment you close the laptop.
- UK Licensed
- Global Standards
- Expert Instructor
- 5 Day Training
- Overview
Course Overview
This programme covers the full identity stack in Windows Server 2016. You’ll work through Active Directory Domain Services from deployment to day-to-day management, get into Group Policy management in real depth, and build practical skills in Active Directory Federation Services and Active Directory Certificate Services.
AD DS configuration, site topology, replication, trusts, it’s all here. So is AD FS configuration for single sign-on scenarios, and the certificate side of things: how to configure certificate authority hierarchies, manage templates, and handle certificate revocation lists without creating more problems than you solve.
The Active Directory Administrative Centre gets proper attention, too. It’s one of those tools that administrators either love or haven’t used enough yet. By the end of this course, you’ll be in the first camp.
If your day involves Active Directory management in any form, or you want it to, this is the course that fills the gaps.
- Goals
Course Goals
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
- Deploy and manage Active Directory Domain Services across enterprise environments
- Handle AD DS configuration, including replication, sites, and trust relationships
- Navigate and use the Active Directory Administrative Centre confidently
- Build and maintain Group Policy management structures, including Group Policy Preferences
- Set up and troubleshoot Active Directory Federation Services and AD FS configuration
- Deploy Active Directory Certificate Services and configure certificate authority environments
- Manage certificate revocation lists and certificate templates in production
- Manage users and access in Windows Server across complex organisational structures
- Support and plan Active Directory deployment in both greenfield and existing environments
- Key Points
Who Should Attend?
This course works well for:
- IT administrators managing Windows Server 2016 Active Directory day to day
- Systems engineers taking on identity and access responsibilities
- Help desk professionals moving into infrastructure roles
- IT managers wanting structured Active Directory training for themselves or their teams
- Professionals looking for Windows Server administration training aligned to current Microsoft standards
- Anyone preparing for a Microsoft certification in identity management
- Teams are investing in professional development training courses across their IT function
- Key Benefits
Key Benefits of the Course
- Practical, lab-heavy Windows Server 2016 training, not just slides
- Real confidence in Active Directory Domain Services management
- Clear understanding of AD FS configuration and when federation makes sense
- Hands-on Active Directory Certificate Services deployment experience
- Stronger Group Policy management skills across complex environments
- Better ability to manage users and access in Windows Server securely
- A recognised certificate of completion supporting career development
- Direct applicability skills you can use the week you get back
- Outline
Course Outline
Day 1: Active Directory Domain Services & Deployment
- We start with the foundations, not because they're boring, but because most AD problems trace back to them. Active Directory Domain Services architecture, forests, domains, sites, and replication topology get proper coverage here. Participants also work through Active Directory deployment scenarios and get hands-on with AD DS configuration in a live environment.
- The Active Directory Administrative Centre is introduced on Day 1 as well. It's the primary management interface for Windows Server 2016 Active Directory, and getting comfortable with it early makes everything else smoother.
- Participants also explore domain controller promotion and demotion processes, understanding what happens under the hood when you add or remove a DC from your environment, and why getting this right matters from day one.
Day 2: User, Group & Access Management
- This day is about the work that actually fills most administrators' queues. How to manage users and access in Windows Server, building group structures that make sense, delegation of control, and organisational unit design that supports rather than complicates your security model.
- Windows Server 2016 fine-grained password policies, account lockout behaviour, and role-based access control principles are all covered. Active Directory management at this level is where theory meets the reality of a 2,000-user directory.
- The day also covers bulk user management and automation basics because nobody should be creating hundreds of accounts by hand, and understanding where scripting fits into Active Directory management is a practical skill every administrator needs.
Day 3: Group Policy Management
- Group Policy management gets a full day because it deserves one. Creating and linking GPOs is the easy part; understanding inheritance, precedence, filtering, and troubleshooting is where the real skill lies.
- Group Policy Preferences are covered in depth: registry settings, drive mappings, printer deployment, and environment configurations. Participants work through real scenarios, including software deployment, security baseline enforcement, and logon script management in Windows Server 2016.
- Participants also work through Group Policy Results and Group Policy Modelling tools, two features that are genuinely underused in most organisations, but make troubleshooting Group Policy management issues dramatically faster and less painful.
Day 4: Active Directory Federation Services
- Federation confuses people until it suddenly makes complete sense. Day 4 takes Active Directory Federation Services from concept to configuration. Claims-based authentication, relying party trusts, attribute stores, and participants work through AD FS configuration hands-on, including integration patterns with cloud services.
- Common troubleshooting scenarios are built into the lab work. Because in the real world, Active Directory Federation Services rarely break in simple ways.
- The day also covers Web Application Proxy as a companion to AD FS configuration, how it sits in the DMZ, how it publishes applications securely, and why understanding both together gives administrators a much more complete picture of federation in practice.
Day 5: Active Directory Certificate Services & Wrap-Up
- PKI gets a bad reputation for being complicated. Some of that reputation is earned. But Active Directory Certificate Services becomes much less intimidating once you understand the design decisions involved, root vs subordinate CAs, certificate templates, auto-enrolment, and the operational discipline around certificate revocation lists.
- Day 5 covers how to configure certificate authority environments properly and manage the certificate lifecycle without creating security gaps. The day closes with a review of next steps, certification pathways, and resources for ongoing Active Directory training.
- Participants also work through Online Responder configuration as part of managing certificate revocation lists, understanding the difference between CRL and OCSP, and how to choose the right revocation method for different environments and certificate types.
- Terms
Training Methodology
Sessions are delivered through:
- Instructor-led discussion grounded in real operational experience
- Hands-on labs in a live Windows Server 2016 environment
- Scenario-based exercises covering AD DS configuration and AD FS configuration
- Practical Group Policy management and certificate services tasks
- Group troubleshooting sessions reflecting real-world problems
Delivered under the corporate training portfolio of GI Intelligence. Global Industries Intelligence specialists in infrastructure, cybersecurity, and enterprise technology education.
- Achievements
Certification
Participants receive a recognised certificate of completion upon finishing the course. The programme directly supports preparation for Microsoft identity and access management certifications and sits comfortably within a broader path of professional development training courses in Windows infrastructure.
- Case Study
Case Study Example
A mid-sized logistics company had grown fast. Too fast, really. Their Active Directory deployment had evolved organically over several years, which is a polite way of saying it was a mess. Group Policy Objects were layered on top of each other with no clear ownership. Certificate services had been set up years ago by someone who’d since left. Nobody was quite sure what was enforcing what.
After putting their IT team through Windows Server 2016 training, the organisation rebuilt their AD DS configuration from a documented baseline, restructured Group Policy management with clear inheritance and ownership, and deployed Active Directory Certificate Services properly, including a working process for managing certificate revocation lists. Onboarding time dropped. Security audit findings dropped faster.
Good training doesn’t just teach tools. It changes how people think about the environments they manage.
- Why Choose
Why Choose This Program?
- Built on Microsoft’s official 20742 curriculum
- Genuinely hands-on Windows Server administration training labs, not lectures
- Covers the complete identity stack: AD DS, AD FS, Group Policy, and certificates
- Relevant for both new administrators and experienced professionals
- Delivered by GI Intelligence with instructors who’ve managed these environments themselves
- Available as open scheduled sessions or tailored in-company delivery
- Recognised by professionals holding or pursuing CMRP certification as a strong complement to their technical development portfolio
- Part of a wider portfolio of training courses in infrastructure and security
- Connect
Contact Us
For more information on upcoming training sessions, or to register for professional development opportunities, contact us today!
Begin with structured front-end developer boot camp courses and career-oriented web development learning courses for actual industry success.
- FAQs
Fequently Asked Questions
What does this course actually cover?
It covers Identity with Windows Server 2016 end-to-end Active Directory Domain Services, AD DS configuration, Group Policy management, Active Directory Federation Services, AD FS configuration, and Active Directory Certificate Services, including how to configure certificate authority environments and manage certificate revocation lists.
Is this course suitable for beginners?
It’s designed for IT professionals with some existing Windows Server experience. If you’re already working in an admin role and want structured Active Directory training to fill gaps or formalise your knowledge, it’s a strong fit.
Does the course cover AD FS in detail?
Yes. A full day is dedicated to Active Directory Federation Services, including hands-on AD FS configuration, claims-based authentication, and real integration scenarios.
How do I book a place?
Check our 2026 calendar for upcoming dates. For team bookings or for more details contact us now. The GI Intelligence team will help you find the right format for your organisation.
Ready to Level Up Your Skills?
Take your next step with our learning and development programs designed to build real-world skills and unlock new career opportunities.
Course Schedule
Select your preferred date & venue
10 Feb -- 14 Feb
USA
GBP 4595/Person
26 May -- 30 May
Bahrain
GBP 4595/Person
18 Aug -- 22 Aug
Italy
GBP 4595/Person
30 Nov -- 4 Dec
Canada
GBP 4595/Person
GBP 3595/Person
10 Feb -- 14 Feb
USA
GBP 3595/Person
26 May -- 30 May
Bahrain
GBP 3595/Person
18 Aug -- 22 Aug
Italy
GBP 3595/Person
30 Nov -- 4 Dec
Canada
GBP 3595/Person
Duration
5 Days