Ad-Challenge

Day Five covers key AD admin tasks - user and group creation, GPO management, and domain joins—using PowerShell with a security-focused approach.

This post digs into Group Policy, Active Directory privileges, and built-in groups. I break down who has silent power, how attackers exploit User Rights, and what defenders can do to lock it down. Expect practical cheatsheets, tools, and battle-tested hardening tips.

This post digs into Active Directory user accounts, local vs. domain context, and why SYSTEM access is a bigger deal than you think. You’ll learn where users live, how machines act like users, and how attackers use this to map, move, and mischief.

From Kerberos to NTLM and LDAP to DNS, this deep-dive unpacks the core Active Directory protocols attackers love — and defenders must understand. With analogies, examples, and red team insights, this is your protocol playbook.

Active Directory powers most enterprise networks — and attackers love it. This guide simplifies AD with real-world analogies and attacker-focused insights to help you learn, enumerate, and exploit it effectively.