Ansible Automation for Windows Systems and EX417 Prep

Automating Windows infrastructure at scale can be challenging, but using Ansible simplifies configuration management, patching, and provisioning across your entire enterprise. This text-based course guides you from the fundamental concepts of Windows automation to the practical skills needed to manage Windows environments and prepare for the EX417 specialist exam. You will learn how to write clean, maintainable playbooks that automate repetitive administrative tasks safely and efficiently. By the end of this course, you will be able to confidently configure WinRM, manage Windows updates, control system services, and automate Active Directory objects using declarative code. What you will learn: - Understand the core architecture of Ansible Windows automation and WinRM connectivity. - Configure secure authentication and win_shell execution environments. - Manage Windows registry keys, files, directories, and system packages. - Automate Active Directory domain services, user accounts, and group policies. - Apply modern security practices, credential management, and Ansible Vault encryption. - Practice writing structured playbooks to automate Windows patching and system reboots. This course begins with essential Windows automation terminology and connection protocols before progressing to step-by-step playbook construction and exam-focused scenarios. It is designed for system administrators, DevOps engineers, and IT professionals who are new to automating Windows with Ansible and want to build a solid foundation. Start reading today to transform your manual Windows administration into scalable, automated infrastructure.