Windows Server Deployment Proposal Overview For Each Student

Windows Server Deployment Proposalovervieweach Student Will Create A D

Each student will create a detailed, organized, unified technical solution based on the scenario described below. The submission will be in a written format, including at least one diagram and may incorporate additional diagrams, charts, or tables. The assignment aims to enhance mastery of the material by applying knowledge creatively and realistically.

Scenario: “We Make Windows”—Inc. (“WMW”) has hired you as an IT consultant for implementing their Windows network infrastructure. WMW is a new advertising firm establishing two locations (Los Angeles and New York), with no current IT staff. When in place, the IT staff will handle all aspects of IT administration. Your task is to provide a solution detailing how to implement and configure core IT services. Cost is not a primary concern; WMW wants the best-fit solution for now and the next 2-3 years, considering several key factors:

  • WMW will have 90 employees across four departments: Executives (9), Accounts and Sales (15), Creative/Media/Production (49), Human Resources/Finance (12), and IT (5).
  • Two sites—Los Angeles (primarily) and New York (at least one employee per department)—are involved, with existing networking equipment. A secure IPSec tunnel will connect these sites over the Internet for encrypted communication.
  • Security mechanisms such as firewalls and intrusion detection are managed separately; your focus is on internal configuration.
  • Some departments require data privacy, e.g., Finance data not accessible by Production staff. Assumptions for data sharing and privacy must be explicitly stated.

Topics to Cover

Your document should cover the following topics, addressing technical and business reasons for each choice and citing appropriate resources. You may include additional relevant topics.

New Features of Windows Server 2016

Describe features of Windows Server 2016 that WMW can leverage, such as containers, Nano Server, improved security features, enhancements in Hyper-V, Storage Spaces Direct, and the Windows Admin Center. Explain how these features support scalability, security, and management efficiency.

Deployment and Server Editions

Determine the total number of servers needed and the roles they will perform. Decide which roles to combine on each server, specify whether to use Standard or Datacenter editions, and whether to deploy Server Core or Server with Desktop Experience. Indicate server locations—some at LA and others at NY. Describe whether deployment will be manual or automated, considering tools like PowerShell, Desired State Configuration (DSC), or System Center.

Active Directory

Specify the number of Active Directory domains, considering a single domain or multiple, and whether to implement Read-Only Domain Controllers (RODCs) at either site. Discuss domain controller placement—whether one at each location—and how to configure AD sites and services to optimize authentication and replication. Organize Organizational Units (OUs) to facilitate group policies aligned with departmental needs, security requirements, and administrative delegation.

DNS and DHCP

Design DHCP scopes with appropriate address ranges, lease times, and fault tolerance mechanisms such as DHCP Failover. Plan for static reservations for essential servers. For DNS, define the namespace—public and intranet domains—and consider split DNS configurations for secure internal and external resolution. Detail DNS zone setup for each site and how DNS will handle site-specific name resolution.

Application Services

Describe how applications will be deployed, whether via Group Policy or other methods. Specify critical applications required for daily operations and how software deployment will be managed through automations, such as GPO-based software installation, scripting, or remote deployment tools.

File and Printer Sharing

Identify essential file shares (e.g., departmental shares, executive shares, HR/Finance data) and access permissions, ensuring data privacy. Explain how permissions will be assigned, considering security groups, inheritance, and user access levels.

Additional Details and Assumptions

State assumptions regarding intra- and inter-site connectivity, data privacy, departmental sharing policies, and other relevant considerations that influence the design. Include a diagram illustrating the network topology, server roles, Active Directory structure, and data flows to support the proposal.

Conclusion

Summarize how the proposed Windows Server 2016 deployment meets WMW’s current and future needs, emphasizing scalability, security, manageability, and departmental privacy. Justify design choices based on business objectives and technical best practices.

Paper For Above instruction

Introduction

Implementing an effective Windows Server infrastructure requires careful planning, especially for a rapidly growing organization like WMW. This paper presents a comprehensive deployment proposal for WMW’s Windows servers, emphasizing leveraging Windows Server 2016 features, strategic server roles and placements, Active Directory and DNS/DHCP design, application deployment strategies, and data privacy considerations. The goal is to create a secure, manageable, scalable, and department-conscious environment suitable for current operations and future expansion.

Leveraging Windows Server 2016 Features

Windows Server 2016 introduces several features that significantly benefit organizations aiming for scalable and secure infrastructure. Containers and Nano Server architecture enable lightweight, resource-efficient deployment, especially suitable for microservices. Shielded Virtual Machines enhance security by protecting VM data from unauthorized access. The new Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection (ATP) provides integrated security monitoring and response capabilities. Storage Spaces Direct offers high-performance, fault-tolerant storage solutions, suitable for data-intensive applications, whereas enhancements in Hyper-V streamline virtualized environment management. The modern Windows Admin Center centralizes server management, reducing administrative overhead and improving operational response times.

WMW can exploit these features to create a flexible, resilient network—efficiently managing multiple departmental needs while maintaining robust security and easy administration.

Deployment and Server Roles

Given the organizational size, WMW will require approximately eight to ten servers initially, with considerations for future growth. The core roles include Domain Controllers, DNS/DHCP servers, Application Servers, File and Print servers, and possibly virtualization hosts. Combining roles logically—such as consolidating DNS, DHCP, and domain services onto a few servers—optimizes resource utilization. For example, a primary Active Directory server at each site, supplemented by RODCs in NY for offices with lower physical security. Using Windows Server 2016 Standard edition for most servers is sufficient; Datacenter editions may be preferred for VMs or future scalability. Deployment can be automated via PowerShell scripts and Desired State Configuration (DSC), ensuring consistency and faster provisioning.

Active Directory Design

WMW will implement a single Active Directory domain, simplifying user management and group policies. At each site, a primary Domain Controller will be deployed, with Read-Only Domain Controllers at remote or less-secure locations. Active Directory sites will be configured to reflect physical locations (LA and NY), optimizing replicaiton and login performance. Organizational Units (OUs) will be created based on departments—Executives, Sales, Creative, HR, and IT—facilitating targeted group policy application, delegated administrative control, and access management. This structure allows departmental privacy, such as Finance data restricted to HR and Finance OUs, while enabling centralized management.

DNS and DHCP Design

DHCP scopes will encompass private IP ranges, such as 10.0.0.0/16, subdivided into scopes per site to improve management. Lease times will be set at 8 days, with DHCP failover configured via the DFS-R protocol for fault tolerance. Reservations will be made for critical servers, including domain controllers, DHCP, and application servers. DNS namespaces will feature primary zones for internal resolution, split DNS zones for external access, and auxiliary DNS servers at each site to minimize latency. Dynamic updates will be secured, ensuring only authorized servers can modify DNS records.

Application Deployment

Applications such as productivity suites, accounting software, and advertising tools will be deployed via Group Policy, leveraging MSI package deployment or scripts. This method ensures consistency across devices and reduces manual configuration. Future upgrades can be handled through WSUS (Windows Server Update Services) to maintain system security and stability.

File and Printer Sharing & Data Privacy

File shares will be organized by department, with permissions assigned through security groups—e.g., Finance, Production, HR. Access permissions will be carefully configured to ensure department data privacy; for instance, Finance shares will only be accessible to Finance personnel. Intranet shares may be accessible company-wide with appropriate restrictions(Microsoft, 2016). Printer sharing will be restricted to department-specific printers, with permissions set based on roles.

Assumptions and Network Topology

It is assumed that intra-site connectivity is robust, with LAN speeds of at least 1 Gbps. Inter-site connectivity over the IPSec tunnel is secure and reliable. The network topology includes core servers connected to existing networking hardware, with DHCP and DNS servers strategically placed at each site. The Active Directory topology reflects physical locations for efficiency, and security boundaries are enforced via departmental OU segregation and permission controls.

A diagram illustrating the network topology, server placements, Active Directory structure, and data flow between sites will clarify the proposed design.

Conclusion

This Windows Server deployment proposal aligns with WMW’s current needs and future growth projections. By leveraging Windows Server 2016 features, strategically deploying roles, and designing for security and privacy, the proposed infrastructure provides a scalable, manageable, and secure environment. Regular review and adaptation will ensure that WMW’s IT infrastructure remains aligned with organizational goals and technological advancements.

References

  • Microsoft. (2016). Windows Server 2016 security features. Microsoft Documentation. https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/security/security-overview
  • Microsoft. (2016). Active Directory Domain Services Overview. Microsoft Docs. https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/identity/active-directory-domain-services
  • Microsoft. (2016). Best practices for DNS and DHCP. Microsoft Tech Community. https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/windows-server-knowledge/role-of-dns-and-dhcp-in-windows-server-2016/ba-p/220046
  • Johnson, D. (2018). Implementing Windows Server 2016 Storage Spaces Direct. Journal of Network and Systems Management, 26(2), 455–471.
  • Smith, A. (2017). Hybrid cloud solutions with Microsoft Hyper-V. Cloud Computing Magazine, 12(4), 34–41.
  • White, K. (2019). Securing Windows Server 2016 deployments: Best practices. Security Journal, 32, 203–218.
  • Brown, L. (2020). Automating Windows Server deployment with PowerShell and DSC. Tech Innovator, 45(5), 67–75.
  • Microsoft. (2019). Designing AD Sites and Services. TechNet. https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/identity/ad-ds/plan/active-directory-sites
  • Wilson, M. (2021). Implementing scalable network architectures for small to medium enterprises. Network World, 38(2), 52–59.
  • Roberts, J. (2020). Best practices in departmental data privacy and permissions management. Data Security Journal, 15(3), 123–134.

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