Network Operations, Security, and Virtualization

This capstone unit integrates server services, virtualization, backup, security, and operational processes for practical network administration. It builds on prior units to prepare students for industry certification and advanced administration tasks by emphasizing Windows Server services (DHCP/DNS), Hyper-V, backup strategies, wireless and human-centered security, documentation, and help-desk workflows.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze DHCP and DNS services on Windows Server 2019 to diagnose and resolve common addressing and name-resolution issues, including configuring DHCP servers and clients and managing Windows DNS records.
• Demonstrate deployment and management of Hyper-V virtual machines and implement file-based and cloud backup strategies, including validating backup media and verifying tape reliability.
• Apply security best practices to protect network operations and users by securing wireless access points, preventing unauthorized devices, enforcing licensing and compliance, and mitigating social-engineering risks (the human firewall).
• Create and evaluate comprehensive operational artifacts—network diagrams, documentation, logon scripts, spare-parts inventories, help-desk procedures, and performance surveys—to maintain continuity, support troubleshooting, and align with certification standards.