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• Group Policy

  Group Policy is a hierarchical infrastructure that allows a network administrator in charge of Microsoft's Active Directory to implement specific configurations for users and computers. Group policy is primarily a security tool, and can be used to ... Continue Reading

• Windows Server cluster sets add more protection to workloads

  Microsoft stepped up its high availability game with its cluster sets technology in Windows Server 2019 to give on-premises workloads more cloudlike resiliency. Continue Reading

• Understand Azure Update Management basics

  Microsoft provides a variety of tools that IT administrators can use to simplify update deployment, including Azure Update Management. Find out if the service will work with your systems. Continue Reading

• How do you build Windows Server 2019 cluster sets?

  Microsoft debuted cluster sets in its Windows Server 2019 release. Here's a rundown on how to deploy this high availability feature in your organization. Continue Reading

• What Windows Server 2019 SDN features should I know about?

  Administrators in highly virtualized environments can tap into enhanced Windows Server 2019 SDN functionality to run Hyper-V VMs more efficiently. Continue Reading

• Definitions to Get Started

  • Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS)
  • active directory
  • blue screen of death (BSOD)
  • NTFS (NT File System)

  • Microsoft Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)
  • Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA) certification
  • Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM)
  • Microsoft Windows Azure Active Directory (Windows Azure AD)

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• What features make up Windows Server 2019 cluster sets?

  Windows Server 2019 takes clustering to a new level with the cluster sets feature that wraps another layer of high availability around critical VMs.Continue Reading

• Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI)

  Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) is a set of specifications from Microsoft for consolidating the management of devices and applications in a network from Windows computing systems.Continue Reading

• Windows Server 2019 features admins should explore

  This slideshow of Windows Server 2019 features highlights some of its key additions built to bring more flexibility and reliability to the enterprise.Continue Reading

• IT pros must adapt to Azure certification path changes

  Microsoft reworked its Azure certifications recently and offers an upgrade path for IT pros with older credentials, but there is little time before the transition tests expire.Continue Reading

• What advantages do Windows Server cluster sets offer?

  Administrators don't need to stress about workload uptime with a new Windows Server 2019 clustering feature, which makes sharing resources and moving VMs easier.Continue Reading

• Server Core vs. GUI: Is Server Core ready for prime time?

  IT Director Christopher Rivers says the Windows Admin Center is a step in the right direction to boost adoption of Server Core, but administrators will still encounter challenges.Continue Reading

• What are some common Windows Server 2019 SDN errors?

  The complexity of setting up and managing Microsoft SDN can increase the risk of administrators facing common networking errors that are difficult to troubleshoot.Continue Reading

• What key SDN features are in Windows Server 2019?

  Microsoft SDN capabilities got a boost in Windows Server 2019 to wrap more security around VMs and make networking tasks less painful to execute.Continue Reading

• How much does Azure Update Management cost?

  The Azure Update Management cost is free, but organizations that require the tool's advanced features might have to contend with additional fees.Continue Reading

• How to configure SSL on IIS with PowerShell

  SSL encryption is a necessary component when building an IIS website that communicates with the outside world. Use this PowerShell tutorial to streamline the deployment process.Continue Reading

• How well do you know open source PowerShell Core?

  Do you know how PowerShell Core differs from Windows PowerShell? Find out with this quiz on the open source PowerShell management utility.Continue Reading

• What are some Microsoft SDN features in Windows Server?

  SDN functionality helps administrators shape network traffic to reduce congestion and boost security. Discover what other SDN features Microsoft added to its Windows Server offerings.Continue Reading

• Q&A: Will Microsoft artificial intelligence change your job?

  Technical architect Jason Wynn says the data center is already on the path to a more autonomous future due to the acceleration of Microsoft artificial intelligence efforts.Continue Reading

• How does Azure Update Management handle integration?

  Azure Update Management works with other Microsoft administrative tools to give IT pros a more complete offering to patch operating systems.Continue Reading

• How to set up and enforce Azure multifactor authentication

  Azure Active Directory offers multifactor authentication to further secure login credentials. Get started with these instructions to set up this Microsoft cloud service.Continue Reading

• What OSes does Azure Update Management handle?

  Azure Update Management supports a large number of Windows and Linux systems on premises and in the cloud, but there are certain requirements to meet to utilize the service.Continue Reading

• Compliance with GDPR in Exchange requires extra effort

  Exchange administrators outside of the European Union might not think that GDPR affects them, but they should work toward compliance to avoid a stiff penalty if a violation occurs.Continue Reading

• System Insights

  System Insights is a feature that debuted in Windows Server 2019 that processes data and uses predictive analytics to warn administrators of potential issues with Windows Server deployments.Continue Reading

• How does Azure Update Management handle patching?

  Microsoft built Azure Update Management for administrators who require a centralized tool to automate patches for systems both on premises and in the cloud.Continue Reading

• Working with PowerShell module downloads from the gallery

  Learn how to get the most out of the PowerShell Gallery with some distinctions for administrators who use Windows PowerShell or PowerShell Core.Continue Reading

• Windows Admin Center lures IT pros with Azure integration

  If System Center is overkill for your needs and the older tools aren't up to task, then the Windows Admin Center just might be the tool to manage your data center.Continue Reading

• Exchange Online

  Exchange Online is the hosted version of Microsoft's Exchange Server messaging platform that organizations can obtain as a stand-alone service or via an Office 365 subscription.Continue Reading

• Stay in control with these Active Directory basics

  Administrators have an ever-increasing number of resources to handle and permissions to track, but they can cut this seemingly impossible task down to size with Active Directory.Continue Reading

• Unlock storage savings with Windows Server deduplication

  Windows Server comes with a data deduplication feature to reduce the organization's storage crunch, but it's important to plan around some potential drawbacks.Continue Reading

• Hyper-convergence forms core of Windows Server 2019 features

  The latest server OS release from Microsoft upgrades many of its software-defined features to make it easier to use a hybrid cloud model.Continue Reading

• Hunt down zombie VMs to trim Windows Server licensing costs

  Temporary workloads can cause organizations to buy more Windows Server licenses than they need, but admins can track down zombie servers to consolidate workloads and keep costs down.Continue Reading

• Use this Microsoft deployment tool for easier setups

  It's not new, but the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit tends to be overlooked when administrators need a way to set up Windows in an automated fashion. See why MDT is worth using.Continue Reading

• Resilient File System (ReFS)

  Resilient File System (ReFS) is a file system developed by Microsoft for use on the Windows operating system (OS) that's designed to overcome some of the limitations in the New Technology File System (NTFS).Continue Reading

• Monad Manifesto

  The Monad Manifesto is a document written by Jeffrey Snover in 2002 that outlined his idea for a new Windows systems administration tool named Monad, which was changed to Windows PowerShell.Continue Reading

• PowerShell Core 6.1 offers many small improvements

  New PowerShell Core functionality includes the addition of Windows PowerShell 5.1 modules, making this version worth a closer look for administrators.Continue Reading

• Why do admins need both powershell.exe and pwsh.exe?

  While the PowerShell development team wants IT to move on to the newer PowerShell version, the powershell.exe executable will remain to avoid breaking changes.Continue Reading

• How to use PowerShell JEA for task delegation

  System administrators don't have to do every mundane task themselves anymore with help from Just Enough Administration. Get started with these instructions using PowerShell.Continue Reading

• Can this Active Directory quiz stump you?

  How much do you know about Active Directory? Find out with this Active Directory quiz on the service's basics, structure and capabilities.Continue Reading

• Working with the VSCode PowerShell extension

  PowerShell ISE remains one of the more popular PowerShell editors, but admins should explore the capabilities of VSCode if they want to manage more than just Windows systems.Continue Reading

• Make IT infrastructure documentation a regular task

  Even though documenting IT processes might not be at the top of an admin's to-do list, they should not let it fall by the wayside. Learn documentation best practices here.Continue Reading

• Getting started with AWS Tools for PowerShell

  Want to make a move from on-premises systems? The AWS Tools for PowerShell module builds on your knowledge of handling Windows machines and carries it into the Amazon cloud.Continue Reading

• Best practices for using PowerShell ISE for scripting

  Administrators who want to break into PowerShell scripting need to work with an editor for a more effective workflow. Learn how to edit and manage scripts with PowerShell ISE.Continue Reading

• How to deploy a Windows Server 2016 domain controller

  Follow these tips to create a domain controller in Windows Server 2016 with these instructions, from server setup to adding users.Continue Reading

• Windows PowerShell Scripting tutorial for beginners

  Once administrators get comfortable with the PowerShell basics, it's time to start scripting. This PowerShell scripting tutorial for beginners will help you efficiently complete tasks.Continue Reading

• Explore the Cubic congestion control provider for Windows

  Microsoft made Cubic the default congestion control provider for Windows 10 and plans to do the same for Windows Server 2019. Learn what this means for your organization.Continue Reading

• How does AD DS differ from Microsoft Azure Active Directory?

  On-premises Active Directory or Azure AD? It doesn't have to be an either/or situation, as more cloud services are making their way into traditional data center environments.Continue Reading

• Learn the tricks for using Microsoft Teams with Exchange

  As Microsoft Teams gains prominence for business collaboration, administrators should investigate the integration options with their Exchange Online or on-premises Exchange setup.Continue Reading

• How to start using Ansible for Windows management

  Ansible is a configuration management offering that runs on Linux but controls Windows systems with PowerShell. Find out how to get the tool running in your data center.Continue Reading

• Understand Active Directory basics for enterprise success

  You can't get the most out of a tool unless you understand its features. This tip explains the basics of Active Directory and how it controls access and maintains order.Continue Reading

• Set up Office 365 alerts to keep threats at bay

  Office 365 offers administrators integrated tools to warn the IT staff about potential attacks or breaches of conduct. Find out what the options are and how to configure them.Continue Reading

• Microsoft Windows

  Windows is a personal computer operating system from Microsoft that, together with some commonly used business applications such as Microsoft Word and Excel, has become a de facto 'standard' for individual users in most corporations as well as in ...Continue Reading

• How a bastion forest limits exposure of admin privileges

  A Windows Server 2016 feature called a bastion forest is the centerpiece of Microsoft's privileged access management model that limits the exposure of admin rights.Continue Reading

• What are the Microsoft IRM requirements for Exchange 2016?

  Before a company can take advantage of information rights management on the Exchange 2016 platform, administrators must ensure the server setup meets the technical requirements.Continue Reading

• How do you use Outlook IRM to protect email content?

  The information rights management feature in Exchange prevents unauthorized parties from viewing sensitive content. Admins can tailor the settings to fit the company's needs.Continue Reading

• Authenticating email in Exchange for brand protection

  With help from the combined use of the SPF, DKIM and DMARC technologies, Exchange administrators can curb email spoofing to protect users and the company brand.Continue Reading

• What are the Windows Defender management tools?

  If you're using Windows Defender AV to protect your company, it's imperative to configure the malware protection properly. This tip lays out the management options for admins.Continue Reading

• Taking stock of Windows Server management tools

  Microsoft provides a mix of server management tools that administrators can choose from to control the machines that run the business. This comparison can help steer your decision.Continue Reading

• How is the future of PowerShell shaping up?

  Microsoft no longer develops PowerShell behind closed doors. While there are perks to the tool's move to open source, users must cope with the consequences of the shift.Continue Reading

• How to build a Packer image for Azure

  Packer is an open source tool that automates the Windows Server image building process to give administrators a consistent approach to create new VMs.Continue Reading

• How do I get access to Office 365 preview versions?

  Your power users will want to be the first in line to try out upcoming features through the Office 365 targeted release program. Set up early access with this step-by-step guide.Continue Reading

• What is the future for Microsoft Exchange Unified Messaging?

  As its cloud services have matured, Microsoft has adjusted the unified messaging features in Exchange Server. What will unified messaging look like on Exchange Server 2019?Continue Reading

• Kubernetes in Azure eases container deployment duties

  Using containers in the cloud will require an orchestration tool. Azure Kubernetes Service helps create and manage the clusters when running containers on the Azure platform.Continue Reading

• Windows Admin Center (formerly Project Honolulu)

  Windows Admin Center, formerly Microsoft Project Honolulu, is a browser-based utility that manages Windows Server and client operating systems, hyper-converged clusters and failover clusters.Continue Reading

• Windows event log

  The Windows event log is a detailed record of system, security and application notifications stored by the Windows operating system that is used by administrators to diagnose system problems and predict future issues.Continue Reading

• The top 5 unheralded Windows Server 2016 features

  Windows Server 2016 is still a novel operating system for many administrators. Check out some of its new and enhanced features that might have slipped under the radar.Continue Reading

• Will Exchange Server 2019 address admin issues?

  As Exchange Server 2019 draws closer, one administrator hopes Microsoft will incorporate some of the feature requests from the Exchange technicians in the field.Continue Reading

• How to protect PowerShell credentials in task automation

  When administrators use unencrypted credentials in PowerShell scripts, they expose sensitive information. Find out the ways to secure credential use with automated tasks.Continue Reading

• How do I avoid Windows Defender compatibility issues?

  Microsoft offers a free antimalware tool for client and server systems, but administrators need to tune the layers of protection to avoid problems.Continue Reading

• Exchange Online security setup requires joint effort

  A company that moves to Exchange Online must coordinate the efforts of its email administrators and its security team to maximize protections and meet compliance requirements.Continue Reading

• How do admins check the Exchange IRM setup?

  Testing Exchange information rights management functionality can be tedious, but Microsoft offers a dedicated cmdlet for Exchange 2016 administrators that streamlines the process.Continue Reading

• What are System Center DPM 2016 limitations?

  Not every tool is right for the job of backing up data. Find out what limits System Center DPM 2016 protection and which alternatives cover what it lacks.Continue Reading

• command line interface (CLI)

  A command line interface (CLI) is a text-based user interface (UI) used to view and manage computer files.Continue Reading

• Microsoft Outlook on the web (formerly Outlook Web App, OWA)

  Outlook on the web is the browser-based email client for users to access email, calendars, tasks and contacts from Microsoft's on-premises Exchange Server and cloud-based Exchange Online.Continue Reading

• System Restore

  System Restore is a utility to protect and revert the Windows client operating system to a previous state -- known as a restore point -- undoing system changes made since that time to avoid a reinstall of the operating system.Continue Reading

• Microsoft Connectivity Analyzer (MCA)

  The Microsoft Connectivity Analyzer (MCA) is a diagnostics tool for troubleshooting and testing connectivity to several Microsoft messaging products from a client machine on an organization's network.Continue Reading

• How do I keep Windows Defender definitions current?

  Administrators in charge of keeping antivirus software up to date have a few options to protect their servers. Learn about the methods and services to use with Windows Defender Antivirus.Continue Reading

• How does the Office Insider program work?

  The Office Insider program can benefit organizations that want as much lead time as possible to see what new features Microsoft plans to release for its Office 365 platform.Continue Reading

• How does Windows Defender Antivirus protect against malware?

  Microsoft offers Windows Defender Antivirus as its native tool to prevent malware attacks. Discover how it works and what advanced protections it provides.Continue Reading

• Microsoft Project Honolulu shows promise but needs work

  Microsoft Project Honolulu is still in the technical preview stage, but it needs to resolve a number of issues before it's a viable alternative to manage production machines.Continue Reading

• Cloud-based email security tools barricade entry to Exchange

  The pressure is on Exchange administrators to avoid a ransomware outbreak that cripples the on-premises email system. Cloud-based security tools can help blunt trending attacks.Continue Reading

• Azure AD B2B offers a secure way to grant external access

  Organizations that open up their resources to external users can restrict access using the Azure AD B2B service with minimal effort on the part of the administrators.Continue Reading

• PowerShell 6 expands reach but lags behind Windows version

  Cross-platform PowerShell arrived without all the functionality that's available in Windows PowerShell -- but it brings the ability to manage Linux and macOS systems.Continue Reading

• Using Microsoft Exchange certificates requires planning

  Exchange certificates typically require minimal management effort after they have been set up, and they offer a secure means of communication between different organizations.Continue Reading

• Creating PowerShell scripts for task automation

  At a certain point, administrators who run PowerShell commands from the console will find it more efficient to develop a script that does not require manual intervention.Continue Reading

• Windows Defender Credential Guard secures login data

  Windows Defender Credential Guard uses virtualization to isolate access to domain credentials and diminish the threat of attacks based inside the data center.Continue Reading

• CLI vs. GUI: Find the right admin tool for various scenarios

  Standard Windows and Linux command-line utilities oftentimes have niche, yet important functionality not available in GUI tools that require IT workers to make custom workflows.Continue Reading

• These PowerShell script examples help tidy up code

  Even the most grizzled scripting veterans might learn some new PowerShell tips and tricks to tighten their automation code or produce clearer error messages.Continue Reading

• What DPM monitoring options are there?

  Administrators tasked with checking the status of System Center Data Protection Manager have a few choices, some of which are better suited for larger DPM deployments.Continue Reading

• Future of Windows might involve significant weight loss

  The influence of containerized applications could sway Microsoft to introduce more far-reaching refinements to Windows Server and reduce the OS to the bare necessities.Continue Reading

• Five system administrator skills Windows admins should hone

  IT workers need to learn how to ride the wave of innovation and master these five technologies related to Windows Server that can ease their workload and help the business.Continue Reading

• Options for server management tools expand to meet IT needs

  Not only do admins have to contend with a mix of server OSes, there are diverse scenarios to complicate their management. Learn about the tools worth exploring for administration.Continue Reading

• How do I build data protection policies in SCDPM 2016?

  One size does not fit all when administrators develop a protection policy for specific applications. Learn about the configuration options in System Center DPM 2016.Continue Reading

• New Office 365 administrators grapple with challenges

  More enterprises mulling the move to Office 365 should factor in the adjustments necessary to get the IT department up to speed to manage the platform properly.Continue Reading

• Microsoft Windows Insider Program for Business

  Microsoft Windows Insider Program for Business is a service for IT professionals who want to test preview builds of Windows 10 and Windows Server in the enterprise before general availability.Continue Reading

• Office 365 labels help keep content under control

  Labels in Office 365 take data governance tasks out of the users' hands through the automatic designation of policies to meet regulations or internal procedures.Continue Reading

• Server Core management remains a challenge for some

  Server Core, the minimal Windows Server deployment, removes some admins from their GUI comfort zone, but its benefits reduce some chores associated with the full server OS.Continue Reading

• Compliance Manager tool aims to ease security audit process

  Administrators who wrestle with compliance tasks in Office 365 and Azure workloads might find some relief with Microsoft's dashboard platform, which automates part of the process.Continue Reading

• How does Data Protection Manager 2016 save and restore data?

  Data Protection Manager 2016 works with a wide range of enterprise applications, but administrators need to be aware that some backup types do not work with every program.Continue Reading

• Microsoft Windows Server OS (operating system)

  Microsoft Windows Server OS (operating system) is a series of enterprise-class server operating systems designed to share services with multiple users and provide extensive administrative control of data storage, applications and corporate networks.Continue Reading

• Microsoft Windows Server LTSC (Long-Term Servicing Channel)

  Microsoft Windows Server LTSC (Long-Term Servicing Channel) is a servicing option for Microsoft's server operating system that follows the familiar track of two to three years between feature updates.Continue Reading