Welcome to the GeekWolf website

This site aims to give insights, best practices and tips & tricks into the Microsoft stack with a particular focus on Identity, although I will no doubt drift into Entra ID, On-Premises, Microsoft 365, Google and Azure. Having been in the Microsoft stack for a long time and with a development background in my early years, you will see PowerShell, Graph and perhaps even some C# code. I have collated the blogs into Categories (which are shown in the menu on the left)(which are shown in the hamburger menu above) and Tags (which are shown in the tag cloud in the bottom left)(which are shown in the tag cloud at the bottom) I hope you enjoy the site, please feel free to comment on any post. If you want a regular update sent to you summarising the recently added posts, then please subscribe to the newsletter.

Here is a list of the most recent blogs:

Infrastructure versus user authentication

In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, securing both infrastructure and user authentication is critical to reducing the attack surface of an organisation’s IT environment. Traditionally, on-premises authentication has played a central role in managing access to applications, services, and servers. However, as threats have grown more sophisticated, it has become...

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Domain Controller placement: A modern perspective

The placement of domain controllers remains a pivotal consideration for maintaining an efficient and resilient IT infrastructure. While the advent of Entra Join and advancements in Windows 10/11 have shifted some dynamics, effective domain controller placement still hinges on balancing network latency, redundancy, and high availability. This blog will explore...

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Entra joining versus Intune enrolling

In the realm of device management and security, Entra and Intune are critical tools that serve different but complementary roles. Understanding their distinct functions and how they interact can help organisations better manage their IT infrastructure. Let’s dive into what each service does and how they interrelate. What is Entra...

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Choosing an Active Directory name

When setting up Active Directory (AD), one of the foundational decisions is selecting the right domain name. This decision impacts network architecture, security, and management. Whether you’re considering ‘.local’, using a subdomain of your corporate domain, or opting for a distinct registered domain, each choice has its implications. This guide...

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Entra ID Password protection overview

Introduction In today’s cybersecurity landscape, strong password policies are crucial for protecting against unauthorised access and cyberattacks. Entra ID Password Protection extends Azure Active Directory’s robust password security features to on-premises Active Directory environments. This integration helps organisations enforce consistent password policies across both cloud and on-premises systems. This blog...

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MFA for all users and the user experience impact

When recommending that Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) be configured for all users in Entra ID (formerly Azure Active Directory), one of the most common concerns you’ll encounter is, “How often will users be prompted to complete MFA?” This question often stems from a fear that MFA will disrupt daily workflows by...

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Entra ID Continuous Access Evaluation overview

With the rise of remote work and the increasing complexity of cyber threats, maintaining robust security without disrupting user productivity is a significant challenge for IT administrators. Microsoft’s Entra ID Continuous Access Evaluation (CAE) is a powerful solution designed to meet this challenge, providing a dynamic security posture that adapts...

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Entra Connect Sync versus Cloud Sync

In the realm of identity management, organisations often face the challenge of synchronising on-premises directories with cloud environments. Microsoft provides two primary tools to achieve this: Microsoft Entra Connect Sync and Microsoft Entra Cloud Sync. Both are designed to synchronise user identities between on-premises Active Directory (AD) and Microsoft Entra...

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Comparing Active Directory and AD LDS

When it comes to managing identities, access, and directory services within an organisation, Microsoft’s Active Directory (AD) and its variant, Active Directory Lightweight Directory Services (AD LDS), have been pivotal tools for IT professionals. With the evolution of cloud computing, Entra ID (formerly known as Azure Active Directory) has emerged...

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Remove BitTitan migrated mailbox items

Migrating mailbox data with BitTitan’s MigrationWiz is something that I have done many times, and I’m sure many others have as well. It works well, is reliable (as of date of writing this anyway :)), and it pretty fast. However if the mapping is wrong, it seems to migrate data...

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