Course Description
Get expert instruction and hands-on
practice administering and configuring Windows 8.1 in this 5-day Microsoft
Official Course. This course is designed for experienced IT professionals who
have knowledge and experience administering Windows PCs and devices in a domain
environment with managed access to the Internet. You will learn the skills you
need to administer Windows 8.1 in a Windows Server domain environment and also
provide secure, managed access to users from their non-domain joined Windows
devices. You will learn how to install and customize Windows 8.1 operating
systems and apps, integrate and control access to domains and cloud services,
and migrate and synchronize settings across multiple devices. In addition, you
will learn how to implement mobile security and customize configurations using
Windows management tools including Group Policy and Windows PowerShell cmdlets.
You will also learn how to configure user settings and profiles, local and
remote network connectivity, Client Hyper-V, virtual apps, and Internet
Explorer 11. Finally, you will learn how to optimize security and provide
controlled access from Windows 8.1 PCs and devices to specified resources
through Workplace Join services and Work Folders. This course is also designed
to prepare certification candidates for Exam 70-687, Configuring Windows 8.1.
As part of the learning experience, you will perform hands-on exercises in a
virtual lab environment. NOTE: This course is based on Windows 8.1 Enterprise
Edition with domain services provided by Windows Server 2012 R2.
At Course
Completion
After completing
this course, students will be able to:
·
Describe solutions and features related to
managing Windows 8.1 in an enterprise network environment.
·
Determine requirements and perform the
tasks for installing and deploying Windows 8.1.
·
Manage profiles and user state between
Windows devices.
·
Determine the most appropriate management
tools to configure Windows 8.1 settings.
·
Configure disks, partitions, volumes, and
device drivers in a Windows 8.1 system.
·
Configure network connectivity.
·
Configure resource connectivity for both
domain-joined and non-domain joined PCs and devices.
·
Implement Windows 8.1 technologies to
secure network connections.
·
Configure file, folder, and printer access.
·
Implement tools and technologies that can
help secure Windows 8.1 PCs and devices.
·
Configure and control desktop apps, Windows
Store apps, and virtual apps.
·
Optimize and maintain Windows 8.1 PCs and
devices.
·
Configure mobile computer settings and to
enable remote access.
·
Determine how to recover Windows 8.1 from
various failures.
·
Describe and configure Client Hyper-V.
Prerequisites
Before attending this course, students
should have:
·
At least two years of experience in the IT
field
·
Knowledge of networking fundamentals,
including Transmission Control Protocol /Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), User
Datagram Protocol (UDP), and Domain Name System (DNS)
·
Knowledge of Microsoft Active Directory
Domain Services (AD DS) principles and fundamentals of AD DS management
·
Understanding of the certificate security
and working knowledge of the fundamentals of Active Directory Certificate
Services (AD CS)
·
Understanding of Windows Server 2008 R2 or
Windows Server 2012 fundamentals
·
Understanding of Microsoft Windows Client
essentials; for example, working knowledge of Windows XP, Windows Vista,
Windows 7 and/or Windows 8
·
Basic understanding of Windows PowerShell
syntax
·
Basic awareness of Windows deployment tools
(Windows ADK components: Windows PE, Windows SIM, VAMT, ImageX, USMT, and DISM
concepts and fundamentals) but no actual prerequisite skills with the specific
tools are assumed
Course Outline
Module 1: Windows 8.1 in an Enterprise
Environment
Windows client operating systems are
essential to the functionality of almost every enterprise environment. Most
users perform the bulk of their computing tasks in the Windows client
interface, including editing documents, sending email, interacting with
applications, and numerous other tasks. Managing these clients, then, is an
important task for enterprise information technology (IT) administrators. You
must manage Windows clients to ensure that operating systems and any
applications are operating properly. Providing adequate security measures,
deploying new clients when required, maintaining an inventory, and monitoring
Windows clients in your environment are all essential tasks for IT
administrators. This module introduces you to Windows 8.1 and provides an
overview of how you can manage Windows 8.1 computers in your environment to
meet common enterprise IT challenges.
Lessons
·
Managing Windows 8.1 in an Enterprise
Environment
·
Overview of Windows 8.1
After completing this module, students will
be able to:
·
Explain the different options for managing
Windows 8.1 in an enterprise environment.
·
Describe Windows 8.1 and its UI.
Module 2: Installing and Deploying Windows
8.1
The Windows 8.1 operating system builds on
the core functionality of Windows 8 and Windows 7 to provide a stable client
experience across many device form factors and processor architectures. In this
module, you will learn about the features that are available in different
Windows 8.1 editions. This module introduces planning considerations and
hardware requirements for a Windows 8.1 installation. You also will learn about
the importance of device driver compatibility and application compatibility
during installation. This module describes how you can perform a clean
installation of Windows 8.1. It also describes how you can upgrade or migrate
to Windows 8.1 and the upgrade paths that are supported. You will learn about
the tools and technologies that you can use to customize an installation. You
also will learn about Windows 8.1 activation and the different activation
options.
Lessons
·
Preparing to Install and Deploy Windows 8.1
·
Installing Windows 8.1
·
Customizing and Preparing a Windows 8.1
Image for Deployment
·
Volume Activation for Windows 8.1
Lab : Installing Windows 8.1
·
Planning to install Windows 8.1
·
Performing a Clean Installation of Windows
8.1
Lab : Customizing and Capturing a Windows
8.1 Image
·
Creating an Answer File and Performing an
Unattended Windows 8.1 Installation
·
Viewing Install.wim Information and
Capturing a Windows 8.1 Image
Lab : Deploying a Windows 8.1 Image
·
Performing Offline Servicing and Deploying
a Windows 8.1 Image
After completing this module, students will
be able to:
·
Prepare to install and deploy Windows 8.1.
·
Install Windows 8.1.
·
Customize and prepare a Windows 8.1 image
for deployment.
·
Describe volume activation for Windows 8.1.
Module 3: Tools Used for Configuring and
Managing Windows 8.1
The Windows 8.1 operating system
provides several methods to configure operating system components while signed
in locally or connected remotely. This module describes the primary management
tools in Windows 8.1 and the scenarios for using them.
Lessons
·
Tools Used to Perform Local and Remote
Management of Windows 8.1
·
Using Windows PowerShell to Configure and
Manage Windows 8.1
·
Using Group Policy to Manage Windows 8.1
Lab : Using Management Tools to Configure
Windows 8.1 Settings
·
Planning Management of Windows 8.1
Computers
·
Managing Windows 8.1 by Using Group Policy
·
Implementing Windows PowerShell Remoting
After completing this module, you will be
able to:
·
Identify the tools used to perform local and
remote management of Windows 8.1.
·
Use Windows PowerShell to configure and
manage Windows 8.1.
·
Use Group Policy to manage Windows 8.1.
Module 4: Managing Profiles and User State
in Windows 8.1
User profiles store user settings and data.
For users working on a single computer, profiles can be stored locally.
However, for users who roam between multiple computers, the user profile, or at
least some parts of it, should be available on the network. This module
describes the different user profile types. It also describes Microsoft User
Experience Virtualization (UE-V), which you can use to synchronize settings
between computers without using roaming user profiles. The operating system
itself provides user profiles, whereas UE-V is a separate product that is part
of the Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack. In this module, you will learn
about UE-V features and how to deploy and configure it on your network. You
also will learn how to migrate user state and settings to computers that run
Windows 8.1 operating systems.
Lessons
·
Managing User Profiles
·
Configuring User State Virtualization
·
Migrating User State and Settings
Lab : Configuring Profiles and User State
Virtualization
·
Configuring Roaming User Profiles and
Folder Redirection
·
Implementing and Configuring UE-V
Lab : Migrating User State by Using USMT
·
Creating and Customizing USMT XML Files
·
Capturing and Restoring User State to a
Target Computer
After completing this module, you will be
able to:
·
Manage user profiles.
·
Configure User State Virtualization.
·
Migrate user state and settings.
Module 5: Managing Disks and Device Drivers
Although most computers that run Windows
8.1 have a single physical disk that is configured as a single volume, this is
not always the case. For example, there might be times when you want to have
multiple operating systems on a single computer, or you might want to have
virtual memory on a different volume. Therefore, it is important that you
understand how to create and manage simple, spanned, and striped volumes. You
also might be interested in implementing the Storage Spaces feature. In
addition to traditional storage, you can use Windows 8.1 to create and access
virtual hard disks from within the operating system installed on a physical
computer. To help maintain and optimize file system performance, you must be
familiar with file system fragmentation and the tools that you can use to
defragment a volume. Additionally, a good understanding of disk quotas is
helpful if you are managing available disk space on installed volumes.
Lessons
·
Managing Disks, Partitions, and Volumes
·
Maintaining Disks, Partitions, and Volumes
·
Working with Virtual Hard Disks
·
Installing and Configuring Device Drivers
Lab : Managing Disks
·
Creating Volumes
·
Configuring Disk Quotas
·
Managing Virtual Hard Disks
Lab : Configuring Device Drivers
·
Installing Device Drivers
·
Managing Device Drivers
After completing this module, you will be
able to:
·
Manage disks, partitions, and volumes.
·
Maintain disks, partitions, and volumes.
·
Explain how to use virtual hard disks.
·
Install and configure device drivers.
Module 6: Configuring Network Connectivity
Network connectivity is essential in
today’s business environment. An increasing number of computer users want to
connect their computers to a network. These users might be part of a business
network infrastructure, a home office, or they might need to share files and
access the Internet. The Windows 8.1 operating system provides enhanced
networking functionality compared with earlier Windows client operating
systems, and it provides support for newer technologies. By default, Windows
8.1 implements both TCP/Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) and TCP/Internet
Protocol version 6 (IPv6). Understanding IPv4, IPv6, and the operating system’s
access capabilities will help you configure and troubleshoot Windows 8.1
networking features.
Lessons
·
Configuring IPv4 Network Connectivity
·
Configuring IPv6 Network Connectivity
·
Implementing Automatic IP Address
Allocation
·
Implementing Name Resolution
·
Implementing Wireless Network Connectivity
Lab : Configuring a Network Connection
·
Enabling Automatic IPv4 Configuration
·
Configuring IPv4 Manually
Lab : Resolving Network Connectivity Issues
·
Creating a Simulated Network Connectivity
Problem
·
Resolving a Network Connectivity Problem
After completing this module, you will be
able to:
·
Describe how to configure IPv4 network
connectivity.
·
Describe how to configure IPv6 network
connectivity.
·
Implement automatic IP address allocation.
·
Implement name resolution.
·
Implement wireless network connectivity.
Module 7: Configuring File Access and
Printers on Windows 8.1 Clients
This module provides the information and
tools that you need to manage access to shared folders and printers on a
computer that is running the Windows 8.1 operating system. Specifically, the
module describes how to share and protect folders, configure folder
compression, and how to install, configure, and manage printers. Additionally,
this module introduces Microsoft OneDrive (formerly known as SkyDrive)
functionality. To maintain network or local file and printer systems, it is
essential to understand how to safeguard these systems and make them operate as
efficiently and effectively as possible. This includes setting up File
permissions (previously known as NTFS permissions), compressing and managing
shared folders and files, and configuring printers.
Lessons
·
Managing File Access
·
Managing Shared Folders
·
Configuring File Compression
·
Configuring File Access
·
Managing Printers
Lab : Configuring File Access
·
Creating a Shared Folder for the Marketing Group
·
Configuring File and Folder Compression
Lab : Configuring Printers
·
Creating and Sharing a Local Printer
After completing this module, you will be
able to:
·
Implement file access management in Windows
8.1.
·
Configure and manage shared folders.
·
Configure file compression in Windows 8.1.
·
Describe the purpose and functionality of
OneDrive.
·
Configure and manage printers.
Module 8: Implementing Network Security
When computers are connected to a network,
they are exposed to potential security threats. You need to formulate a
strategy to protect your computers. User policies, antivirus software,
encrypted network traffic, and other protective measures work together to help
shield your Windows 8.1 computers from security threats. It also is important
to identify possible threats and to optimize appropriate Windows-based network
security features, such as Windows Firewall and Windows Defender.
Lessons
·
Overview of Threats to Network Security
·
Configuring Windows Firewall
·
Securing Network Traffic by Using IPsec
·
Guarding Windows 8.1 Against Malware
Lab : Configuring Inbound and Outbound
Firewall Rules
·
Creating an Inbound Windows Firewall Rule
·
Creating an Outbound Firewall Rule
Lab : Configuring IPsec Rules
·
Creating and Configuring IPsec Rules
Lab : Configuring Malware Protection
·
Configuring Windows Defender
After completing this module, you will be
able to:
·
Describe the threats to network security.
·
Configure Windows Firewall.
·
Secure network traffic by using Internet
Protocol security (IPsec).
·
Guard Windows 8.1 against malware.
Module 9: Configuring Resource Access for
Domain-Joined Devices and Devices That Are Not Domain Members
Before you can start working on a computer
that is running the Windows 8.1 operating system, you must sign in. Signing in
to a computer is a mandatory step, and based on your computer membership, you
can sign in with a local account, a domain account, or a Microsoft account. In
an Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) environment, you typically would
use a domain account exclusively because it has many benefits. However, in
today’s world, users are not restricted to using company-owned computers only.
They commonly use their own devices for accessing company data. Windows 8.1 and
Windows Server 2012 R2 have several new features such as Workplace Join, Work
Folders, and Remote Business Data Removal that are useful in such Bring Your
Own Device (BYOD) scenarios. In this module, you will learn about the benefits
of domain accounts and Windows 8.1 features that are useful when administrators
need to control resource access for devices that are not domain members. You
also will learn how to configure and use Workplace Join and Work Folders.
Lessons
·
Configuring Domain Access for Windows 8.1
Devices
·
Configuring Resource Access for Devices
That Are Not Domain Members
·
Configuring Workplace Join
·
Configuring Work Folders
Lab : Configuring Resource Access for
Devices That Are Not Domain Members
·
Implementing Workplace Join
·
Configuring Work Folders
After completing this module, you will be
able to:
·
Configure domain access for Windows 8.1
devices.
·
Configure resource access for devices that
are not domain members.
·
Configure the Workplace Join feature in
Windows 8.1.
·
Configure the Work Folders feature in
Windows 8.1.
Module 10: Securing Windows 8.1 Devices
Users are becoming increasingly computer
literate, and they expect more from the technology that they use at work. They
expect to be able to work from home, from branch offices, and on the road
without a decrease in their productivity or a loss of access to the programs
and applications that they need most. As the needs of users have changed, the
demands on information technology (IT) support professionals have increased.
Today, support professionals need to provide more capabilities and to support
greater flexibility while continuing to minimize security risks. In this
module, you will explore features of the Windows 8.1 operating system that you
can use to maintain a secure computer environment for your users, such as
Encrypting File System (EFS), BitLocker Drive Encryption, and User Account
Control (UAC).
Lessons
·
Authentication and Authorization in Windows
8.1
·
Applying Security Settings by Using Group
Policy
·
Securing Data with EFS and BitLocker
·
Configuring and Testing UAC
Lab : Implementing Local GPOs
·
Restricting the Use of Registry Editing
Tools
Lab : Securing Data by Using BitLocker
·
Protecting Files with BitLocker
Lab : Configuring and Testing UAC
·
Modifying UAC Prompts
After completing this module, you will be
able to:
·
Implement authentication and authorization
features in Windows 8.1.
·
Use Group Policy Objects (GPOs) to apply
security settings.
·
Describe how to secure data with EFS and
BitLocker.
·
Describe how to configure UAC.
Module 11: Configuring Applications for
Windows 8.1
Computer users require applications for
every task they perform, such as editing documents, querying databases, and
generating reports. As part of administering the Windows 8.1 operating system,
you need a strategy for deploying and managing the applications that users in
your organization will run on their new Windows 8.1 computers and devices.
Based on the specific needs of your organization, you can choose from a variety
of methods to deploy and manage applications—from manual deployment methods to
fully automated management technologies. You also need a strategy to handle the
application compatibility issues that might arise when you try to run
applications that were designed for older versions of Windows operating
systems.
Lessons
·
Application Deployment Options in Windows
8.1
·
Managing Windows Store Apps
·
Configuring Internet Explorer Settings
·
Configuring Application Restrictions
Lab : Configuring Internet Explorer
Security
·
Configuring Internet Explorer
Lab : Configuring AppLocker
·
Configuring AppLocker Rules
·
Testing the AppLocker Rules
After completing this module, you will be
able to:
·
Describe application deployment options in
Windows 8.1.
·
Install and manage Windows Store apps.
·
Configure and secure Internet Explorer.
·
Configure application restrictions.
Module 12: Optimizing and Maintaining
Windows 8.1 Computers
Users have high expectations of technology.
Therefore, performance is a key issue in today’s business environment, and it
is important to consistently optimize and manage your systems’ performance. The
Windows 8.1 operating system includes several monitoring and configuration
tools that you can use to obtain information about computer performance, to
maintain reliability, and to configure operating system and app updates.
Lessons
·
Optimizing Performance in Windows 8.1
·
Managing the Reliability of Windows 8.1
·
Managing Software Updates in Windows 8.1
Lab : Optimizing Windows 8.1 Performance
·
Creating a Performance Baseline
·
Introducing Additional Workload
·
Measuring System Responsiveness Under Load
Lab : Maintaining Windows Updates
·
Configuring Windows Update
After completing this module, you will be
able to:
·
Optimize performance in Windows 8.1.
·
Manage the reliability of Windows 8.1.
·
Manage software updates in Windows 8.1.
Module 13: Configuring Mobile Computing and
Remote Access
Mobile computers are available in many
types and configurations. This module includes descriptions of various
available mobile devices and describes how you can synchronize them with a
computer that is running the Windows 8.1 operating system. Additionally, this
module describes various power options that you can configure in Windows
8.1.Windows 8.1 helps end users become more productive, regardless of their
location or that of the data they need. For users who want to use virtual
private networks (VPNs) to connect to enterprise resources, new features in
Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2 create a seamless experience. You can
use DirectAccess, VPN, and Remote Desktop functionality to enable users to
access their work environments from anywhere they are connected.
Lessons
·
Configuring Mobile Computers and Device
Settings
·
Overview of DirectAccess
·
Configuring VPN Access
·
Configuring Remote Desktop and Remote
Assistance
Lab : Configuring a Power Plan
·
Creating and Configuring a New Power Plan
Lab : Implementing DirectAccess by Using
the Getting Started Wizard
·
Configuring DirectAccess
·
Validating the DirectAccess Deployment
Lab : Implementing Remote Desktop
·
Configuring a Remote Desktop Connection
After completing this module, you will be
able to:
·
Configure mobile computers and device
settings.
·
Configure DirectAccess.
·
Configure VPN access.
·
Configure Remote Desktop and Remote
Assistance.
Module 14: Recovering Windows 8.1
It is important to protect data on your
computer from accidental loss or corruption. To recover from a problem,
typically it is easier to restore system settings than to reinstall an
operating system and apps. The Windows 8.1 operating system provides a number
of features that you can use to protect important data files, in addition to
tools that you can use to recover a computer that will not start or that starts
with errors. You can use features such as File History, System Protection, and
synchronization with Microsoft OneDrive (formerly known as SkyDrive) to protect
your data. To support your users, it is important that you understand how to
use these features and tools.
Lessons
·
Backing Up and Restoring Files in Windows
8.1
·
Recovery Options in Windows 8.1
Lab : Recovering Windows 8.1
·
Configuring and Using File History
·
Exploring Windows 8.1 Recovery Options
·
Introducing a Simulated Problem
·
Resolving a Problem
After completing this module, you will be
able to:
·
Back up and restore files in Windows 8.1.
·
Explain the use of recovery options in
Windows 8.1.
Module 15: Configuring Client Hyper-V
Hyper-V is the primary platform for
infrastructure virtualization. Hyper V enables multiple operating systems to
run in individual virtual machines that share the same physical platform.
Virtual machines can be isolated or connected to a network. This module will
introduce you to Client Hyper V in Windows 8.1 and explain the fundamentals of
working with virtual machines in a Client Hyper V environment.
Lessons
·
Overview of Client Hyper-V
·
Creating Virtual Machines
·
Managing Virtual Hard Disks
·
Managing Checkpoints
Lab : Configuring Client Hyper-V
·
Installing Client Hyper-V
·
Creating a Virtual Switch, a Virtual Hard
Disk, and a Virtual Machine
After completing this module, you will be
able to:
·
Describe the functionality and benefits of
using Client Hyper V.
·
Create virtual machines.
·
Manage virtual hard disks.
·
Manage checkpoints.
