I9001 Cyber Security : Windows Domain Network Services

Need Assignment help on Research Paper on Active Directory and its Security.

Answer:

Introduction

Active directory is a directory service developed by Microsoft corporation for windows domain network services (Edger Jr, 2015). It was invented by Microsoft and presently operates on Microsoft Windows server platform and Microsoft Azure which is the Microsoft cloud platform. It though can be used flawlessly to assimilate various versions of windows operating system, this is based on the fact that, Microsoft structured and designed it on open standards (Hassan, 2017). Active directory is therefore essential for ensuring windows security and improving performance on several other related operating systems upon incorporation. Windows server can be steadily hosted both in the clouds and on premises; this is made possible by the new features employed by the Active Directory Domain Services (ADDS) (Li, C. (2015)).

Active directory security is in terms of Administrative security, Account password and group security and Domain controller security.

Active directory has brought about dependable new features that have impressively made Microsoft cloud platform to be right-hand (Babin, R., & Halilovic, B. (2017)). The features such as Privileged Access Management (PAM) help in extenuating security disquiets for Active Security environments, especially the spear phishing theft techniques and bouts. It is through PAM that the solicitation of administrative policies and configuration was put into practice using Microsoft Identity Manager (MIM). Another feature is the Azure active directory join; this feature encompasses identity proficiency for enterprise or commercial customer experiences to customize personal devices (Hassan, N. A. (2017)).

Active directory also fetched on course the Microsoft passport feature for key based authentication methodology organization for users, this feature goes beyond passwords. It mostly relies on theft and phish-resistant badges. File Replication Services (FRS) has been saved from depreciating and total dis-functioning, windows server 2003 operating system is nowadays not functional, active directory helped in raising the non- braced windows server to  windows server 2008 hence preventing domain controller from being added to the environment. Distributed File Service replication is used to replicate System Volume (SYSVOL) innards amongst domain controllers. This has brought creditable improvements on the ease to upgrade domain controllers of various versions of windows operating system.

Window 10 securities is standard, but cyber-attacks cannot be ruled out, with the current advancements in the hacking and penetration field, Microsoft has not taken chance to expose any loophole for attacks (Hassan, N. A. (2017)). Attacks can be viruses, spyware, worms and adware. A Windows 10 security feature involves installation of the latest version of Microsoft defender anti-virus software that keeps malicious software off wherever an attack is eminent. Microsoft defender protects windows from an attack by prevention and also by detecting the virus then removing it.

Lab activity

When conducting a lab activity on windows security basing arguments on the role of active directory services, we first need a copy of windows server which can be downloaded. The second thing we need it some visualization software, preferably virtual box. After getting all the above; we will then open the visualization software, click on ‘network’ in the Virtual Box preferences.

Below is a screenshot of how the VM will look like:

We go ahead and click on hot-only network tab and then ‘add new network’ in the new network give it an IP address scheme, you can give any IP address. Now choose the VM you have created and edit settings to use the network you have just created.

After successively creating the VM network, now it is a turn to install windows using the windows server we just downloaded. After installing the windows server, we now install the domain controller role. The active directory domain service will be right inside the domain controller from where we can lunch it and study it.  From the foregoing, active directory is very important when it comes to matters system administration and security It is also a management solution that allows for easier management  all of the computers in a particular given  environment  and therefore an important system administration factor.

The various models should be implemented effectively in accordance with policies most so on system security to enhance better administration of a particular system.

References

Edger Jr, C. S. (2015). Active Directory. Enterprise Mac Administrator's Guide , pp. 91-134.

Hassan, N. A. (2017). Windows Security. In Digital Privacy and Security Using Windos, pp. 103-122.

Babin, R., & Halilovic, B. (2017). Cloud Computing e-Communication Services in the University Environment. Information Systems Education Journal, 15(1), 55.

Li, C. (2015). Penetration Testing Curriculum Development in Practice. Journal of Information Technology Education: Innovations in Practice, 14, 85-99.