Can you describe your experience with Active Directory and how you have used it in your previous roles?

 In my over 8 years of experience in IT infrastructure and systems administration, I've worked extensively with Active Directory (AD) across multiple roles, from on-premises deployments to hybrid environments integrated with Azure. It's been a cornerstone for managing user identities, security, and resource access in enterprise settings.

In my most recent role as a Senior Systems Administrator at [Company Name], I led the management of an AD environment supporting over 5,000 users in a multi-domain forest. I handled day-to-day tasks like user provisioning and deprovisioning using tools such as Active Directory Users and Computers (ADUC) and PowerShell scripting. For instance, I automated onboarding processes with scripts that created user accounts, assigned group memberships, and applied fine-grained password policies—reducing manual effort by 40% and minimizing errors.

Earlier, as an IT Support Engineer at [Previous Company], I focused on troubleshooting and security. I configured Group Policy Objects (GPOs) to enforce company-wide settings, like restricting USB devices and deploying software updates via WSUS integration. During a domain migration project following a company acquisition, I used the Active Directory Migration Tool (ADMT) to transfer users and groups seamlessly, ensuring zero downtime for critical services. I also monitored AD health with tools like DCDiag and Repadmin, identifying and resolving replication issues between domain controllers.

In a hybrid setup, I've synced on-premises AD with Azure AD (now Entra ID) using Azure AD Connect, enabling single sign-on for cloud apps like Microsoft 365. This was crucial in a project where we implemented conditional access policies to enhance security against potential breaches.

Overall, AD has taught me the importance of least-privilege access and regular audits—I've used Microsoft Defender for Identity to detect anomalies. I'm always eager to stay updated, recently exploring AD's role in zero-trust architectures. I'd love to bring this expertise to your team—how does AD fit into your current infrastructure?