Introduction
Managing users, groups, and other Active Directory (AD) objects is a core responsibility for system administrators. PowerShell provides a powerful and efficient way to automate these tasks, saving time and reducing errors. This course will teach you how to leverage PowerShell for managing users, groups, organizational units (OUs), and other Active Directory objects. From creating and modifying accounts to automating group memberships and permissions, you’ll learn how to streamline administrative tasks using PowerShell. This course will also cover best practices for automating common AD management tasks, troubleshooting PowerShell scripts, and ensuring the security of your AD environment.

Prerequisites

• Basic understanding of Windows Server and Active Directory
• Familiarity with PowerShell basics
• Knowledge of user and group management concepts

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
   1.1 Overview of Active Directory and its Components
   1.2 PowerShell Cmdlets for Active Directory Management
   1.3 Setting Up the Active Directory Module for PowerShell
   1.4 PowerShell Remoting and Active Directory Integration
2. Managing Active Directory Users with PowerShell
   2.1 Creating New Users in Active Directory
   2.2 Modifying Existing User Attributes
   2.3 Deleting Users and Managing Accounts
   2.4 Bulk User Management Using CSV Import
   2.5 Managing User Passwords and Account Lockout Policies
3. Managing Active Directory Groups
   3.1 Creating, Modifying, and Deleting Groups
   3.2 Managing Group Memberships
   3.3 Automating Group Assignment Based on User Attributes
   3.4 Nesting Groups and Group Scope Management
   3.5 Managing Security and Distribution Groups
4. Managing Organizational Units (OUs) and Containers
   4.1 Creating and Organizing Organizational Units (OUs)
   4.2 Moving Users and Groups Between OUs
   4.3 Delegating Administrative Control Over OUs
   4.4 Automating OU Structure and Group Policy Assignment
5. Active Directory Permissions and Access Control
   5.1 Managing User Rights and Permissions(Ref: PowerShell for System Administrators: Task Automation and Configuration Management)
   5.2 Automating Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)
   5.3 Managing Delegated Administrators and Permissions
   5.4 Auditing and Reporting on AD Permissions and Access
6. Automating User and Group Management Tasks
   6.1 Automating User Account Creation for New Employees
   6.2 Assigning Group Membership Based on User Departments
   6.3 Bulk Updating User Attributes with PowerShell
   6.4 Scheduling User Account Expirations and Deletions
   6.5 Automating User Lockout and Password Expiration Reports
7. Using PowerShell to Manage AD Users in Bulk
   7.1 Importing and Exporting Bulk User Data with CSV Files
   7.2 Bulk Modifications: Updating Attributes for Multiple Users
   7.3 Bulk Group Membership Updates and Modifications
   7.4 Managing User Accounts Using Templates for Standardization
8. Troubleshooting Scripts
   8.1 Common Errors When Managing AD with PowerShell
   8.2 Debugging and Error Handling in PowerShell Scripts
   8.3 Using PowerShell Logs for Auditing and Troubleshooting
   8.4 Best Practices for Safe and Effective Script Management
9. Securing Active Directory with PowerShell
   9.1 Managing Administrative Accounts and Security Groups
   9.2 Automating Security Audits and User Access Reviews
   9.3 Ensuring Compliance with Active Directory Best Practices
   9.4 Protecting Sensitive AD Information with PowerShell
10. Reporting and Documentation with PowerShell
    10.1 Generating Active Directory Reports
    10.2 Automating Report Generation and Distribution
    10.3 Documenting AD Changes and User Management Actions
    10.4 Using PowerShell to Audit Active Directory Changes
11. Advanced Its Techniques
    11.1 Creating Custom Cmdlets for AD Management
    11.2 Managing Complex AD Environments with PowerShell
    11.3 Using PowerShell with Group Policy Objects (GPOs)
    11.4 Extending PowerShell with Active Directory-Related Modules
12. Real-World Projects and Use Cases
    12.1 Automating Onboarding and Offboarding of Employees
    12.2 Managing Group Memberships for Large Teams and Projects
    12.3 Scheduling and Automating Periodic User Reviews and Cleanup
    12.4 Implementing PowerShell Scripts for Disaster Recovery in AD

Conclusion
By mastering course management, you will be equipped to automate and streamline common administrative tasks, ensuring greater efficiency and security in managing users, groups, and other AD objects. This course will provide you with the necessary skills to automate user and group management, configure permissions, and implement best practices for secure and compliant Active Directory environments. Upon completion, you will be able to confidently manage AD objects, troubleshoot scripts, and generate detailed reports, making you a more efficient and effective system administrator.

Reference