Skip to content
Digilink
All courses

DIGI-MS-AZ-FND-2D · intermediate · In person · 14 hours

Windows Server & Azure Infrastructure: Technical Foundations

Overview

A two-day, hands-on technical bridge course for IT professionals who already understand basic computers, networking and Windows administration. Participants build and troubleshoot working Windows Server and Azure lab environments, then learn how on-premises infrastructure connects to cloud services. This is not an introductory computer-literacy course.

Who should attend

  • IT support professionals moving into server or cloud administration
  • Junior and intermediate systems administrators
  • Network and infrastructure support technicians
  • Technical support teams responsible for hybrid environments
  • IT managers who want a practical understanding of their team's infrastructure

Recommended prerequisites: comfort using Windows, IP addresses, basic DNS and networking concepts, and experience with general IT support or basic server administration. Basic PowerShell familiarity is useful but not required.

What you will learn

  • Install and administer Windows Server roles and features, including Active Directory Domain Services, DNS and file services.
  • Create and manage domain accounts, groups, Group Policy settings and delegated access.
  • Build a Hyper-V virtual machine with virtual networking and storage.
  • Explain backup, recovery, replication, RPO and RTO, and test a simple restore.
  • Navigate Azure subscriptions, resource groups and key services.
  • Deploy and secure a basic Azure virtual machine, virtual network, storage and network security rules.
  • Administer Microsoft Entra ID users and groups and explain MFA and hybrid identity.
  • Map on-premises architecture to a simple, secure Azure or hybrid design.
  • Diagnose common permissions, DNS, networking and VM connectivity issues.

How it works

  • Short, focused instruction and demonstrations, with most of the time spent in guided labs
  • Each practical block follows Explain, Demonstrate, Build, Validate, Troubleshoot
  • Four hands-on labs covering Active Directory, Hyper-V, Azure resources and hybrid identity
  • Instructor-introduced faults to diagnose and fix
  • A final practical challenge deploying a secured cloud workload

What you take away

  • Working Windows Server and Active Directory practice configuration
  • Hyper-V virtualisation and restore evidence
  • Azure deployment checklist and network diagram
  • Entra ID access-control matrix
  • Hybrid infrastructure design worksheet
  • Lab workbook, troubleshooting checklist and further-study guidance

Assessment and certificate

  • Hands-on lab completion and validation: 40%
  • Final integrated scenario and troubleshooting explanation: 35%
  • Short knowledge and readiness assessment: 25%
  • Pass mark: 70%, plus participation in the practical labs
  • Successful participants receive a Digilink Certificate of Completion, not a Microsoft certification.

What to bring

  • A laptop capable of remote lab access, with a web browser and basic office editing.

Next step

Continue with Microsoft Enterprise Infrastructure: Windows Server + Azure Technical Bootcamp (3 days).

Modules

    1. 08:30–09:00 · Orientation and lab setup

      Baseline skills check, lab topology, remote access and evidence capture.

    2. 09:00–10:45 · Windows Server in practice

      Editions and roles; install and configure AD DS and DNS; users, groups and organisational units; domain join; Group Policy; file and share permissions.

    3. 11:00–12:30 · Virtualisation with Hyper-V

      Virtual switches, VM sizing, VHDX, checkpoints versus backups, guest networking, creating and managing VMs.

    4. 13:15–14:45 · Storage, backup and resilience

      Volumes, NTFS/SMB, storage choices, Windows Server Backup, restore validation, replication concepts and recovery objectives.

    5. 15:00–16:30 · Day 1 integrated lab

      Build a small branch-office domain with a server VM, a joined client, a secure share and a documented recovery approach.

    6. LabLab F1: Active Directory and file services

      • Goal: provide a controlled file share for Finance and Operations.
      • Deploy a Windows Server training VM and configure static networking.
      • Install AD DS and DNS and build a training domain.
      • Create user accounts, security groups and organisational units.
      • Join a client to the domain and apply a simple Group Policy setting.
      • Create a shared folder with appropriate share and NTFS permissions.
      • Fault challenge: diagnose a DNS or access-permission failure introduced by the instructor.
      • Evidence: topology screenshot, group membership, GPO result and permissions test.

    7. LabLab F2: Hyper-V and resilience

      • Create a Generation 2 VM with the appropriate virtual switch and disk.
      • Test connectivity between the VM and the training network.
      • Create a checkpoint, explain why it is not a replacement for backup, and verify recovery from a backup or provided restore set.
      • Document RPO/RTO for a simple business workload.
      • Evidence: VM configuration, network test, restore checklist and recovery decision.

Digilink completion certificate, not a vendor certification