# Network Services Administration

> Master the administration, hardening, and exploitation of core enterprise network services like DNS, DHCP, SMB, and Active Directory.

Canonical: https://codelivly.com/learning-paths/network-services-administration
Last updated: 2026-09-03

| | |
|---|---|
| Level | Intermediate |
| Category | Networking |
| Rooms | 4 |
| Lessons | 18 |
| Estimated time | 2 h |

This comprehensive learning path bridges the gap between foundational networking and enterprise infrastructure security. You will learn to administer, configure, and secure the core services that keep organizations running, while understanding exactly how attackers abuse them. Topics include DNS architecture and enumeration, DHCP rogue server mitigation, SMB/NFS file sharing pitfalls, web server hardening, email anti-spoofing (SPF/DKIM/DMARC), Active Directory core services, and NTP log synchronization. The path culminates in a capstone lab where you will audit and harden a multi-service enterprise network. Essential for aspiring network administrators, blue team defenders, and red team operators.

## Rooms in this path

1. [DNS Administration & Security](https://codelivly.com/rooms/dns-administration-security) - Master DNS architecture, record types, zone transfers, and learn how to secure DNS against reconnaissance and tunneling…
2. [DHCP Administration and Security](https://codelivly.com/rooms/dhcp-administration-and-security) - Master the DHCP DORA process, scope configuration, and learn to defend against rogue DHCP servers and starvation…
3. [NTP and Time Synchronization](https://codelivly.com/rooms/ntp-and-time-synchronization) - Master Network Time Protocol (NTP) fundamentals, understand time synchronization mechanics, and learn to secure NTP…
4. [Load Balancing and Proxies](https://codelivly.com/rooms/load-balancing-and-proxies) - Master load balancing and proxy architectures. Learn to configure reverse proxies, exploit SSRF and cache poisoning,…

## Related

- [Career path: Network Engineer](https://codelivly.com/career-paths/network-engineer)
- [Wireless Networking Fundamentals](https://codelivly.com/learning-paths/wireless-networking-fundamentals)
- [Network Troubleshooting and Monitoring](https://codelivly.com/learning-paths/network-troubleshooting-and-monitoring)
- [Network Automation & Scripting](https://codelivly.com/learning-paths/network-automation-scripting)
