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This course significantly altered my perspective on how I thought a digital environment could be protected. I thought I had a good understanding of simply controlling computer and user accounts, but now I see how intricate everything is linked. It’s not just a matter of clicking through options but comprehending how Active Directory, for instance, functions as the thinking part of an organization where each item affects not just functionality but security.

The technical skills I obtained can all be put to immediate use. I have learned how to build a secure directory, make and repair Group Policies to enforce policies consistently in one spot, and how to employ new tools available for handling matters with no increased risk. I have learned that all administrative tasks, including setting up programs and making accounts, have a side effect on security. I have learned that proper system administration is both proactive and strategic. Attention to creating a solid, well-managed environment in which security is not an afterthought but rather a consideration from day one is a mentality and skillset with which I will carry forward in regards to bettering Windows environments in my career.