Reddit reviews Group Policy: Fundamentals, Security, and the Managed Desktop

When i was first learning here is the book i found most valuable.

Group Policy: Fundamentals, Security, and the Managed Desktop 3rd Edition
by Jeremy Moskowitz
ISBN-10: 1119035589
ISBN-13: 978-1119035589

Check out Jeremy Moskowitz latest edition of: Group Policy: Fundamentals, Security, and Managed Desktop. I have the previous iteration which was highly informative. The latest version includes content for Windows 10.

http://www.amazon.com/Group-Policy-Fundamentals-Security-Managed/dp/1119035589/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1462452657&sr=8-1&keywords=Group+Policy

I like the following meaty tomes:


AD:
https://www.amazon.com/Active-Directory-Designing-Deploying-Running/dp/1449320023/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=active+directory&qid=1568884370&s=gateway&sr=8-2

GP:
https://www.amazon.com/Group-Policy-Fundamentals-Security-Managed/dp/1119035589/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=group+policy&qid=1568884382&s=gateway&sr=8-1

https://www.amazon.com/Group-Policy-Fundamentals-Security-Managed/dp/1119035589
This is the definitive book on Group Policy in the enterprise. Read this book, now in its 3rd Edition, do the exercises and labs an you will surprise a lot of folks when the Group Policy issues come up. It is not just about knowing how Group Policy works, but how you can use it. It is updated for Windows 10 and WinSrv 2016.

First, read our Wiki. It is very thorough and answers a lot of these common questions such as

day to day? The Practice of System and Network Administration
And the topical reference books listed below.

Books to help in shaping a sysadmin? The above &:
The Phoenix Project
Time Management for System Administrators


Topical Books I see mentioned often and have been very helpful to me:
Powershell in a month of lunches
Learn Python the hard way
Unix and Linux System Administration Handbook
Windows Server 2016: Inside Out

Group Policy
AbsoluteBSD
FreeBSD mastery:ZFS
CCNA
RHCSA/RHCE
Pro Puppet
SSH Mastery

On my docket:
FreeBSD Mastery: Advanced ZFS

Michael W. Lucas and Thomas Limoncelli are very good sysadmin writers, you can't go wrong with a topic they have chosen to write about.

Most of the *nix stuff assumes a baseline knowledge of how to use a unix-based system. I learned as I went but did pick up an old copy of Unix Visual Quickstart Guide not too long ago at a used books sale, which seems like a good starting place for someone overwhelmed with sitting at a terminal and being productive.
I notice I don't have any Virtualization books, perhaps someone else can fill in good books. Most of my knowledge regarding virtualization and network storage has been a mix of official docs, video training, and poking at it. Seems innate but it isn't.

Jeremy Moskowitz's book (and training) are excellent if you're looking for an in-depth resource.

http://www.amazon.com/Group-Policy-Fundamentals-Security-Managed/dp/1119035589/

This book on Group Policy: https://www.amazon.com/Group-Policy-Fundamentals-Security-Managed/dp/1119035589/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1539909607&sr=8-2&keywords=group+policy

I also second setting up a home lab. It isn't actually that difficult to set up a domain controller and some client VMs, and there is no better way to gain practical knowledge than by doing.

As for the MCSA, definitely start with 70-698 and not 70-697 if you are going to be doing on premise opposed to cloud (Azure) AD.