AZ-1008: Administer Active Directory Domain Services

The AZ-1008: Administer Active Directory Domain Services course teaches IT professionals how to manage and maintain Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) infrastructure. This 8-hour hands-on course covers domain controller administration, user and group management, Group Policy Objects, replication, and security hardening of on-premises directory services. Esamatic srl, a Microsoft Learning Partner in Milan, delivers this course with Microsoft Certified Trainers.

• Applied Skills Credential: validates competency in administering Active Directory Domain Services
• Domain Controller Management: deployment, configuration, and maintenance of domain controllers
• User and Group Administration: creating, managing, and organizing users, groups, and organizational units
• Group Policy Objects: designing, implementing, and troubleshooting GPOs for enterprise policy enforcement
• Replication and Security: AD replication topology, security hardening, and disaster recovery planning

Course Overview: AZ-1008 Administer Active Directory Domain Services

Active Directory Domain Services remains the foundation of identity and access management in most enterprise environments, providing centralized authentication, authorization, and directory services. The AZ-1008 course provides practical experience managing domain controllers, administering users and groups, implementing Group Policy, configuring replication, and securing AD DS environments against modern threats.

Learning Objectives

1. Manage domain controllers and AD DS infrastructure — deploy, configure, and maintain domain controllers ensuring high availability and proper site topology
2. Administer users, groups, and organizational units — create and manage AD objects with appropriate delegation, permissions, and organizational structure
3. Implement and troubleshoot Group Policy — design GPOs for security, configuration management, and software deployment across the enterprise
4. Configure replication and security — manage AD replication topology, implement security best practices, and plan for disaster recovery

Who Should Attend

This course is ideal for IT administrators, identity engineers, and system administrators responsible for managing Active Directory environments in enterprise organizations.

Career Benefits

Active Directory expertise remains essential even in cloud-first organizations. The AZ-1008 Applied Skills credential validates practical ability to administer AD DS — a foundational competency for identity administrators, infrastructure engineers, and hybrid cloud architects.

Prerequisites

• Basic experience with Windows Server administration
• Understanding of networking concepts including DNS and DHCP
• Familiarity with identity and access management principles
• Knowledge of Group Policy fundamentals

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the AZ-1008 Applied Skills credential?

The AZ-1008 is a Microsoft Applied Skills credential that validates hands-on ability to administer Active Directory Domain Services. It is earned through a performance-based lab assessment.

Is this course about on-premises AD or Azure AD?

This course focuses on on-premises Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS). For cloud-based identity management with Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD), other courses are available.

Do I need Windows Server experience for AZ-1008?

Basic Windows Server familiarity is recommended. The course focuses specifically on AD DS administration skills rather than general server management.

Does the AZ-1008 credential expire?

Microsoft Applied Skills credentials are valid for one year from the date earned and can be renewed through reassessment.