10 Windows Admin Center Best Practices

Windows Admin Center is a powerful tool for managing Windows Server and Windows 10 systems. It provides a single, unified console for managing and monitoring all of your Windows systems. With Windows Admin Center, you can quickly and easily deploy, configure, and manage Windows systems from a single, intuitive interface.

In this article, we will discuss 10 best practices for using Windows Admin Center. We will cover topics such as security, performance, and scalability, as well as how to get the most out of the Windows Admin Center.

1. Use a dedicated server for Windows Admin Center

Using a dedicated server for Windows Admin Center ensures that the performance of your other servers is not impacted by the resource usage of Windows Admin Center. It also allows you to easily manage multiple servers from one central location, and it provides an extra layer of security since all of your administrative tasks are being done on a separate machine. Additionally, using a dedicated server makes it easier to keep track of changes made in the environment, as well as any potential issues or errors.

2. Install the latest version of Windows Admin Center

The latest version of Windows Admin Center contains the most up-to-date features and bug fixes. This means that you can take advantage of new capabilities, such as improved performance or security enhancements, while also avoiding any potential issues with older versions. Additionally, Microsoft regularly releases updates to Windows Admin Center, so it’s important to stay on top of these in order to ensure your system is running optimally.

3. Enable HTTPS and configure SSL certificates

HTTPS is a secure protocol that encrypts data sent between the server and client. This ensures that any sensitive information, such as passwords or other credentials, are not exposed to potential attackers. Configuring SSL certificates also helps ensure that the connection is authenticated and trusted by both parties.

To enable HTTPS in Windows Admin Center, you’ll need to generate an SSL certificate and configure it on your server. Once this is done, you can access the admin center securely over HTTPS.

4. Configure Windows Firewall rules to allow access to Windows Admin Center

Windows Admin Center is a web-based management tool that allows you to manage Windows servers remotely. To do this, it needs access to the server’s ports and services. Without proper firewall rules in place, Windows Admin Center won’t be able to connect to the server.

To configure Windows Firewall rules for Windows Admin Center, open the Windows Firewall with Advanced Security console and create an inbound rule allowing traffic on port 443 (HTTPS). You can also add additional rules to allow other ports or services as needed. Once the rules are configured, restart the Windows Firewall service to apply the changes.

5. Create an Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) application registration

Azure AD is a cloud-based identity and access management service that helps you manage user identities and control access to your applications. By creating an Azure AD application registration, you can use Windows Admin Center with single sign-on (SSO) authentication. This makes it easier for users to log in and access the admin center without having to remember multiple passwords.

Creating an Azure AD application registration also allows you to set up multi-factor authentication (MFA), which adds an extra layer of security to protect your data. With MFA enabled, users will need to provide additional verification before they can access the admin center.

6. Add users to your tenant’s directory

By adding users to your tenant’s directory, you can easily manage user access and permissions for all of the resources in your environment. This makes it easier to control who has access to what, as well as ensuring that only authorized personnel have access to sensitive data or systems.

Additionally, by adding users to your tenant’s directory, you can also set up multi-factor authentication (MFA) for added security. MFA requires users to provide two or more pieces of evidence when logging into a system, such as a password and a code sent via text message. This helps protect against unauthorized access and ensures that only those with the correct credentials are able to access your environment.

7. Assign roles to users in your tenant’s directory

By assigning roles to users, you can control who has access to the Windows Admin Center and what they are allowed to do. This helps ensure that only authorized personnel have access to sensitive data or settings, which is essential for security purposes.

You can assign roles in the Azure Active Directory portal by going to Users > Roles. From there, you can select a role from the list of available roles and assign it to one or more users. You can also create custom roles if needed. Once roles are assigned, users will be able to log into the Windows Admin Center with their credentials and perform tasks based on the permissions granted to them.

8. Set up single sign-on with Azure AD

Single sign-on (SSO) allows users to access multiple applications with a single set of credentials. This eliminates the need for users to remember and manage multiple usernames and passwords, which can be difficult and time consuming. SSO also helps ensure that only authorized users have access to sensitive data and resources.

By setting up Windows Admin Center with Azure AD, you can easily enable SSO for your organization. This will make it easier for users to access their accounts and help keep your network secure.

9. Connect servers to Windows Admin Center

When you connect servers to Windows Admin Center, it allows you to manage them from a single interface. This makes it easier to monitor and troubleshoot issues across multiple servers at once. It also provides an easy way to deploy updates and patches to all connected servers in one go.

Additionally, connecting servers to Windows Admin Center gives you access to powerful tools like PowerShell scripts, which can be used to automate tasks and streamline processes. This helps reduce the amount of time spent on manual administration tasks, freeing up resources for more important projects.

10. Manage servers from Windows Admin Center

Windows Admin Center provides a single, unified console for managing Windows servers. It allows admins to quickly and easily manage multiple servers from one place, without having to switch between different consoles or tools.

Windows Admin Center also offers powerful features such as remote desktop access, PowerShell scripting, performance monitoring, and more. This makes it easier for admins to troubleshoot issues, deploy updates, and configure settings across multiple servers in an efficient manner. Additionally, Windows Admin Center is free and easy to install, making it the perfect tool for any Windows server administrator.