Windows Networking Prerequisite

Windows Networking Prerequisite (2025 Edition)
Before beginning this course and series, you should have a working knowledge of the following:

• The key features and user interface of the Windows 11 operating system, including Settings, Windows Security, PowerShell, and Windows Terminal.
• The tools and utilities used for common administrative tasks in Windows 11, such as Computer Management, Task Manager, Device Manager, and Windows Admin Center.
• The types of user accounts in Windows 11, including Microsoft accounts, local accounts, and Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) accounts, along with an understanding of User Account Control (UAC) and role-based access control (RBAC).
• The core networking protocols and technologies supported by Windows 11, such as TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, and SMB (Server Message Block).
• The structure and function of the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) suite, including concepts such as IPv4/IPv6 addressing, subnetting, NAT, and routing.
• The current requirements for Internet connectivity, wireless and VPN configuration, and the fundamentals of web security, including firewall configuration, endpoint protection, Windows Defender, and zero trust principles.

Before starting this course and series, you should be familiar with the following concepts and technologies as they apply to enterprise environments using Active Directory and Microsoft Intune:

• The core features and user interface of the Windows 11 Enterprise edition, including administrative access through Settings, Windows Terminal, PowerShell, and Group Policy Editor.
• The tools and platforms used for enterprise administration, including:
  • Active Directory Users and Computers (ADUC)
  • Group Policy Management Console (GPMC)
  • Windows Admin Center
  • Microsoft Endpoint Manager (Intune portal)
• The types of user accounts in an enterprise setting, including domain accounts, hybrid Azure AD-joined devices, and Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD)-based identity models.
• The principal security and compliance features of a Windows 11 enterprise environment, such as:
  • BitLocker drive encryption
  • Windows Defender Antivirus and Exploit Guard
  • Conditional Access
  • Multi-factor Authentication (MFA)
  • Role-based access control (RBAC)
• The networking protocols used in Windows 11 managed environments, including TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, SMB, and Kerberos authentication in Active Directory.
• The structure and function of TCP/IP, including IPv4/IPv6, DNS resolution, subnetting, network routes, and VPN/Always On VPN configuration for remote access.
• The requirements and best practices for enterprise-grade Internet access and web security, such as:
  • Microsoft Defender for Endpoint integration
  • Firewall rules configured via Intune or GPO
  • Windows Hello for Business
  • Enterprise Wi-Fi profiles and certificates
  • Endpoint compliance and configuration profiles deployed through Intune

Like any communication system, computer networks rely on a set of standards that allow communicators to send, receive, and interpret messages. For the Internet, Windows networks, and virtually all other computer networks, that underlying set of standards is the suite of protocols known collectively as Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), the core of which is IP. This course discusses the fundamentals of TCP/IP and how to configure Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2 to connect to TCP/IP networks.
If you do not have the skills listed here, consider taking the Windows 2000 Networking and OS Essentials Series.
In the next lesson, the requirements for this course will be discussed.