IT Unit ICTNWK427 - Configure Desktop Environments

The real-life scenario and the lab environment your college could adopt to provide job-ready learning resources

Installing and configuring a desktop operating system requires key skills and expertise. This includes applying the latest OS updates, maintaining user accounts, securing file and print services, and essentially keeping the network optimal, is one of the fundamental skills required for an IT professional to support any sized business.

Also, performing backup and recovery, in addition to monitoring, and troubleshooting the desktop environment, can be a daily task for some IT support personnel. Therefore, the skills taught in ICTNWK427 are not only fundamental, but considered necessary for students wanting to start their career in IT support.

To help equip colleges to prepare their teaching resources for ICTNWK427, eduLAB has developed a real-life scenario where students can learn the essential skills and knowledge to successfully configure a desktop environment. Skills that students can learn and master in ICTNWK427 are beneficial in careers as a:

• Helpdesk & IT Support Technician
• Systems Administrator
• Desktop Administrator
• Network Administrator

ICTNWK427 is relevant to the qualifications below:

• ICT40120 – Certificate IV in Information Technology
• ICT40118 – Certificate IV in Information Technology (superseded by ICT40120)

eduLAB’s ready to go lab environment for ICTNWK427 is based on the scenario and the diagram below. Additionally, Suggested Activities are included to help you design your workbook and assessment tools. These activities are suitable for students to demonstrate their ability to implement and migrate network servers.

Scenario

A small IT team within Maxmit College manages a corporate network. The college is facing the issues below and urgent attention is required to resolve them. The issues are:

• Some of the workstations have an outdated operating system which is susceptible to new vulnerabilities and associated attacks
• The organisation does not have the Active Directory optimally configured, and the IT team is overwhelmed by managing users, policies, and software on computers manually
• Staff password complexity is weak and susceptible to brutal force attacks
• Documents stored on computers are not backed up and can result in data loss if computers fail

The lab environment on eduLAB

eduLAB Virtual Labs Identifications

1. Active Directory and File Server: This server component takes the role of an identity management (staff and security groups) and organisational file server
2. Firewall: This network component enables access to the internet and is responsible for filtering malicious and inappropriate content
3. Research PC: Refers to one of the staff computers which is outdated and requires reinstallation
4. Executive PC: Refers to one of the staff computers which contains important data however, data has not been backed up

Lab diagram

Four virtual components on eduLAB

Possible activities – How the labs can be used in activities

Performance evidence required for unit ICTNWK427 includes:

• Install and configure at least one desktop operating system, including user accounts, file and print services and security
• Perform backup and recovery, monitor, and troubleshoot the desktop environment for one desktop operating system

Suggested activities:

• Create a user profile backup of the old workstation computer.
• Install a fresh operating system.
• Configure the network interface with a static IP address.
• Check workstations have internet access.
• Install the latest drivers and apply the OS cumulative updates.
• Restore documents back to the profile from the backup.
• Join the workstation to the Active Directory domain.
• Create user and group objects in the Active Directory.
• Create a file structure on the Data drive, apply security permissions and share the folders.
• Create a new Group Policy Object (GPO) and implement a network drive policy for desktop computers.
• Log in as a network user and confirm that network drives have been mapped automatically.
• Create a login script in PowerShell to start the application when a user logs in to a computer.
• Attach this created script in Group Policy Objects.
• Confirm when a user logs in to a computer that the script executed the network application.
• Create a PowerShell script to read the text file containing folder names. The script must create folders as per the text file.
• Enforce the password policy where passwords should contain at least 8 characters, must meet complexity requirements, and cannot be reused for the previous 4 passwords.
• Configure the organisational desktop wallpaper to be applied to all workstation computers. Staff should not have the ability to change the wallpaper.
• Enforce the control panel policy to show only Credential Manager, Date and Time, Devices and Printers, Fonts, Internet Options, Keyboard, Mouse, Taskbar and Navigation, User Accounts and Windows Defender Firewall.
• Modify the Start Menu layout (pin productivity applications such as word processor and calculator) and apply this layout for all workstations.
• Enable Remote Desktop for system administrators on workstation computers via GPO.
• Implement file backup software and configure for daily backup to the separate disk partition.
• Implement disk-to-disk-to-cloud backup strategy.
• Check that data backup set is healthy and demonstrate the restore.

About eduLAB

eduLAB provides virtual lab environments for courses requiring computer labs for practical activities such as Information Technology, Cyber Security and Engineering courses.  With eduLAB, students experience practical lab environment in the comfort of their home and class. eduLAB assist colleges and RTO consultants in designing learning resources and assessment tools by providing virtual lab environments that meet performance evidence requirements.

Copyright

This is a copyright free content. Colleges and consultants currently offering services for Certificate IV in Information Technology (ICT40120) or would like to in the near future may use this content.

How to access eduLAB

If you wish to use eduLAB for training or wish to experience the trial version, please send a request to [email protected]

About the author

Matt Jereb

• eduLAB lab designer and the co-founder of eduLAB Pty Ltd
• Co-founder of Celox Group Pty Ltd
• 13 years of experience in system integration of small, medium and large corporations in Australia and in Europe.
• Accredited Integration Specialist for HP ProLiant ML/DL/SL servers
• Accredited Systems Engineer for HP BladeSystem
• Red Hat Certified Engineer
• Sophos Certified Engineer