# Active Directory Fundamentals

> Master the crown jewel of enterprise networks. Understand AD architecture, core protocols (Kerberos, LDAP, NTLM), and the foundational concepts required for domain exploitation.

Canonical: https://codelivly.com/rooms/active-directory-fundamentals
Last updated: 2026-07-17

| | |
|---|---|
| Level | Intermediate |
| Category | Cybersecurity |
| Lessons | 5 |
| Estimated time | 30 min |
| XP | 200 |

Amateurs treat Active Directory (AD) as a black box. They run automated enumeration scripts, get overwhelmed by thousands of lines of JSON output, and blindly throw exploits at Domain Controllers without understanding the underlying architecture. When things break, they have no idea how to troubleshoot, pivot, or maintain access.

Professionals know that Active Directory is the nervous system of over 95% of Fortune 500 companies. To compromise an enterprise, you must first understand how it breathes. You must know the difference between a Domain and a Forest, understand the mechanics of Kerberos authentication, and map the trust relationships that bind the network together.

In this foundational module, we strip away the complexity of AD and build a rock-solid mental model of its architecture. You will learn the core components (Domains, OUs, Domain Controllers), master the critical authentication protocols (NTLM, Kerberos, LDAP), and understand the hierarchical trust models that dictate how attackers move laterally. This is the absolute prerequisite knowledge required before you can execute advanced attacks like Kerberoasting, Pass-the-Hash, or Golden Tickets.

## Lessons

1. What is Active Directory & Why It's Every Attacker's Target (30 min)
2. AD Structure — Domains, Forests, OUs, GPOs (30 min)
3. Kerberos Authentication (30 min)
4. Common AD Attack Surface Overview (30 min)
5. Guided Lab: Enumerating a Live AD Environment (30 min)

## Related

- [Learning path: Active Directory Attacks](https://codelivly.com/learning-paths/active-directory-attacks)
- [All rooms](https://codelivly.com/rooms)