Merge pull request #284963 from AbhishekMallick-MS/Aug-19-2024-Freshness

Freshness - AD support matrix

Author: prmerger-automator[bot]

articles/backup/active-directory-backup-restore.md

@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 title: Back up and restore Active Directory 
 description: Learn how to back up and restore Active Directory domain controllers.
 ms.topic: conceptual
-ms.date: 08/09/2023
+ms.date: 08/20/2024
 author: AbhishekMallick-MS
 ms.author: v-abhmallick
 ms.custom: engagement-fy24
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@ This article outlines the proper procedures for backing up and restoring Active
 
 ## Best practices
 
+Before you start protection of Active Directory, check the following best practices:
+
 - Make sure at least one domain controller is backed up. If you back up more than one domain controller, make sure all the ones holding the [FSMO (Flexible Single Master Operation) roles](/windows-server/identity/ad-ds/plan/planning-operations-master-role-placement) are backed up.
 
 - Back up Active Directory frequently. The backup age should never be older than the tombstone lifetime (TSL) because objects older than the TSL will be "tombstoned" and no longer considered valid.
@@ -38,13 +40,13 @@ This article outlines the proper procedures for backing up and restoring Active
 >
 >For information about performing an authoritative restore of SYSVOL, see [this article](/windows-server/identity/ad-ds/manage/ad-forest-recovery-authoritative-recovery-sysvol).
 
-## Backing up Azure VM domain controllers
+## Back up Azure VM domain controllers
 
 If the domain controller is an Azure VM, you can back up the server using [Azure VM Backup](backup-azure-vms-introduction.md).
 
 Read about [operational considerations for virtualized domain controllers](/windows-server/identity/ad-ds/get-started/virtual-dc/virtualized-domain-controllers-hyper-v#operational-considerations-for-virtualized-domain-controllers) to ensure successful backups (and future restores) of your Azure VM domain controllers.
 
-## Backing up on-premises domain controllers
+## Back up on-premises domain controllers
 
 To back up an on-premises domain controller, you need to back up the server's System State data.
 
@@ -54,7 +56,7 @@ To back up an on-premises domain controller, you need to back up the server's Sy
 >[!NOTE]
 > Restoring on-premises domain controllers (either from system state or from VMs) to the Azure cloud is not supported. If you would like the option of failover from an on-premises Active Directory environment to Azure, consider using [Azure Site Recovery](../site-recovery/site-recovery-active-directory.md).
 
-## Restoring Active Directory
+## Restore Active Directory
 
 Active Directory data can be restored in one of two modes: **authoritative** or **nonauthoritative**. In an authoritative restore, the restored Active Directory data will override the data found on the other domain controllers in the forest.
 
@@ -65,7 +67,7 @@ During the restore, the server will be started in Directory Services Restore Mod
 >[!NOTE]
 >If the DSRM password is forgotten, you can reset it using [these instructions](/previous-versions/windows/it-pro/windows-server-2012-r2-and-2012/cc754363(v=ws.11)).
 
-### Restoring Azure VM domain controllers
+### Restore Azure VM domain controllers
 
 To restore an Azure VM domain controller, see [Restore domain controller VMs](backup-azure-arm-restore-vms.md#restore-domain-controller-vms).
 
@@ -78,7 +80,7 @@ If you're restoring the last remaining domain controller in the domain, or resto
 >[!NOTE]
 > Virtualized domain controllers, from Windows 2012 onwards use [virtualization based safeguards](/windows-server/identity/ad-ds/introduction-to-active-directory-domain-services-ad-ds-virtualization-level-100#virtualization-based-safeguards). With these safeguards, Active directory understands if the VM restored is a domain controller, and performs the necessary steps to restore the Active Directory data.
 
-### Restoring on-premises domain controllers
+### Restore on-premises domain controllers
 
 To restore an on-premises domain controller, follow the directions in for restoring system state to Windows Server, using the guidance for [special considerations for system state recovery on a domain controller](backup-azure-restore-system-state.md#special-considerations-for-system-state-recovery-on-a-domain-controller).