Active Directory Fundamentals

Virtualized AD DS time sync: VMIC vs AD — Definitive somparison

Time is the quiet dependency that keeps Active Directory honest. Kerberos tickets rely on it. Replication relies on it. Auditing and security controls rely on it. Virtualization adds the hypervisor’s clock to the mix, creating a strategic choice: should virtualized domain controllers follow the hypervisor (VMIC/VM tools), or the Active Directory hierarchy? Definition: Virtualized AD DS time…
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Virtualized AD DS Time Sync: A hands-on implementation playbook (VMIC vs AD)

If you run domain controllers as VMs, time is a design decision—not a default. This Virtualized AD DS time sync playbook gives you a clean, production-ready path to make the AD hierarchy your single authority, avoid conflicts with VMIC/VM Tools, and automate a safe boot/restore hand-off. Active Directory/Virtualization/Time Sync On this page Definition Goals & Guardrails Implementation…
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Active Directory Fundamentals

What’s new in Active Directory (2025): Availability, supportability & security enhancements

Active Directory 2025 security, availability, and supportability are now the defining pillars of enterprise identity resilience. Sneak-peek Here we talk about the latest changes that improve three pillars—availability (staying online), supportability (seeing and fixing issues fast), and security (withstanding and recovering from attacks). Together they reshape how you design, operate, and…
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Active Directory FundamentalsRecent Posts

What is an N-Day Exploit? Definition, Mechanism & Security Risks

An n-day exploit targets a vulnerability after public disclosure, weaponizing the delay between a vendor’s fix and enterprise patch adoption. Definition (snippet-friendly): An n-day exploit is a cyberattack that targets a known software vulnerability after it has been publicly disclosed. Attackers leverage the period when patches or mitigations exist but are not yet widely applied. Table of…
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Active Directory FundamentalsTop Read Articles

How to raise AD forest functional level

What are Functional Levels? An Active Directory functional level determines what capabilities of Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) are available for a particular forest or domain. The functional levels are specified in terms of Windows Server versions, as each version update brings with it a host of new AD DS functionalities. Functional levels have to be specified because their…
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Active Directory Fundamentals

How to schedule a process remotely via WMI

Remote task scheduling is a critical competency for system administrators managing a network of Windows machines. This article provides a comprehensive guide on how to schedule a process remotely using Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI), without relying on PowerShell. The focus is on using the WMIC tool and the Windows Task Scheduler to execute and manage tasks on remote machines. If you…
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Active Directory Fundamentals

How to create a process via WMI remotely

Creating a Remote Process via Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) In the realm of system administration, the ability to remotely manage and automate tasks on Windows machines is crucial. This article provides a detailed guide on how to create a process remotely via Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI), specifically using the Command Line Interface (CLI). This guide is intended for…
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Active Directory Fundamentals

How to create a task via WMI

Creating a task via Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) involves a series of steps that leverage WMI’s powerful framework for managing Windows-based systems. This article is intended for system administrators and technical professionals who are familiar with Windows operating systems and seek to automate and manage tasks using WMI, excluding the use of PowerShell. Introduction to Windows…
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Active Directory Fundamentals

WMI classes and categories

Listing every class in Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) would be extensive, as WMI includes hundreds of classes that cover a wide range of functionalities. However, I can guide you on how to find a comprehensive list of all WMI classes and offer a general overview of some of the key categories these classes fall into. Finding All WMI Classes and categories To get a complete list of…
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Active Directory Fundamentals

Find a user's last logon time

Ensuring the security and maintenance of Active Directory user accounts is a critical aspect of system administration. One key piece of information is the last logon time for a user, which helps administrators identify inactive accounts and ensure the security of the network. In this guide, we will explore the process of finding a user’s last logon time in Active Directory using…
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