Building a Windows Active Directory Lab from Scratch

Building a Windows Active Directory Lab from Scratch

A Hands-On Guide to Enterprise Authentication Using Windows Server 2019

Learn Active Directory the Way Real Administrators Do - By Building It

If you’ve ever wondered how companies manage thousands of users, computers, permissions, and security policies, the answer is Active Directory.

This book doesn’t just explain Active Directory - it walks you step by step through building a real, enterprise-style Windows domain from scratch, using Windows Server 2019 and Windows 10 clients in a safe virtual lab.

No shortcuts. No theory-only explanations.

You will build, configure, break, and fix a real environment just like professionals do.

Who This Book Is For

This guide is perfect for:

• IT students and beginners who want hands-on AD experience
• Aspiring system administrators and helpdesk professionals
• Cybersecurity learners who need strong Windows fundamentals
• Anyone preparing for real-world enterprise environments or Microsoft certifications

✅ No prior enterprise experience required

✅ Everything is explained from the ground up

What You Will Build

By the end of this book, you will have a fully functional Active Directory lab, including:

• A Windows Server 2019 Domain Controller (DC01)
• Integrated DNS and static IP configuration
• Multiple Windows 10 domain-joined client machines
• Realistic organizational units (OUs) and users
• Security groups following enterprise best practices
• Group Policy Objects (GPOs) for passwords, desktops, and scripts
• Department-based file shares with correct NTFS permissions
• A professional troubleshooting mindset

This lab mirrors what exists in real corporate environments - just on a smaller, safe scale.

What You’ll Learn

You will learn how to:

• Install and configure Windows Server 2019
• Promote a server to a Domain Controller
• Understand and properly configure DNS for Active Directory
• Create and manage users, groups, and OUs
• Join Windows PCs to a domain correctly
• Apply Group Policy to enforce security and standards
• Configure file servers and permissions using security groups
• Diagnose and fix common AD, DNS, and GPO issues

These are real, transferable skills used daily in enterprise IT roles.

How This Book Works

Each chapter follows a clear, professional structure:

• Objective – What you’ll accomplish
• Why It Matters – Real-world relevance
• Step-by-step instructions – Easy to follow
• Verification steps – Know when it’s working
• Common mistakes & troubleshooting tips – Learn like a pro

All exercises are performed in a virtual lab, so you can experiment freely without risk.

Why This Book Is Different

Most tutorials show fragments of Active Directory.

This book gives you:

• A complete end-to-end build
• Real enterprise best practices
• Clear explanations without unnecessary complexity
• A mindset focused on structure, security, and scalability

You won’t just know how to do things — you’ll understand why they’re done that way.

What You Get

• A comprehensive hands-on Active Directory ebook
• Step-by-step lab instructions
• Enterprise-style design and workflows
• A foundation you can expand into advanced AD, security, and cloud identity

Learning Active Directory is a gateway skill in IT, cybersecurity, and system administration.

If you can build and troubleshoot a Windows domain confidently, you already think like an administrator.

This book is your guide to getting there.