---
title: Gathering the Information You Need (Windows 10)
description: Gathering the Information You Need
ms.assetid: 545fef02-5725-4b1e-b67a-a32d94c27d15
ms.reviewer: 
ms.author: dansimp
ms.prod: w10
ms.mktglfcycl: deploy
ms.sitesec: library
ms.pagetype: security
ms.localizationpriority: medium
author: dansimp
manager: dansimp
audience: ITPro
ms.collection: M365-security-compliance
ms.topic: conceptual
ms.date: 08/17/2017
---

# Gathering the Information You Need

**Applies to**
-   Windows 10
-   Windows Server 2016

Before starting the planning process for a Windows Defender Firewall with Advanced Security deployment, you must collect and analyze up-to-date information about the network, the directory services, and the devices that are already deployed in the organization. This information enables you to create a design that accounts for all possible elements of the existing infrastructure. If the gathered information is not accurate, problems can occur when devices and devices that were not considered during the planning phase are encountered during implementation.

Review each of the following topics for guidance about the kinds of information that you must gather:

-   [Gathering Information about Your Current Network Infrastructure](gathering-information-about-your-current-network-infrastructure.md)

-   [Gathering Information about Your Active Directory Deployment](gathering-information-about-your-active-directory-deployment.md)

-   [Gathering Information about Your Devices](gathering-information-about-your-devices.md)

-   [Gathering Other Relevant Information](gathering-other-relevant-information.md)