Active Directory Deployed in the Cloud (Azure)

This tutorial outlines the implementation of Active Directory within Azure Virtual Machines.

Environments and Technologies Used

• Microsoft Azure (Virtual Machines/Compute)
• Remote Desktop
• Active Directory Domain Services
• PowerShell

Operating Systems Used

• Windows Server 2022
• Windows 10 (21H2)

High-Level Deployment and Configuration Steps

• Set up Client and Domain Controller Virtual Machines on Azure
• Install Active Directory
• Create administrative and user accounts in Active Directory

Deployment and Configuration Steps

First, I created a domain controller virtual machine (Windows Server 2022) on Azure and created a client virtual machine (Windows 10) and made sure both VM's were on the same virtual network. I also set the the Domain controllers virtual NIC private IP address to static so it doesn't change and set the DNS for the client VM to use the same IP address that the domain VM has. Then logged in to client virtual machine to ping the domain controllers private IP (10.0.0.5) address with ping-t to check to ensure connectivity between the client and the Domain controller virtual machines.

Next, I installed active directory on server manager to set up the domain on the domain controller virtual machine.

Then, I created Organizational Units (_ADMINS and _EMPLOYEES) within active directory and created an employee and an admin account. Then I used Powershell and ran a script that created new accounts on active directory. Finally, I logged into the client virtual machine as one of the accounts I created.