Your company network includes Forefront Identity Manager (FIM) 2010 and Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS). All hotfixes have been applied to FIM 2010. FIM and AD DS servers run Windows Server…

Upgrading the FIM servers to Windows Server 2008 R2 would update the underlying operating system, but the FIM 2010 application's ability to enforce AD password history is primarily dependent on the capabilities of the domain controllers it connects to, rather than its own host OS version.

Upgrading domain controllers to Windows Server 2008 R2 provides the necessary Active Directory features, including schema extensions and enhanced password policy enforcement capabilities, which FIM 2010 leverages to accurately apply and verify AD DS password history during self-service resets.

Setting the `ADMAEnforcePasswordPolicy=1` registry value on the FIM Synchronization Service server explicitly instructs the Active Directory Management Agent (AD MA) to respect and enforce AD DS password policies, including history requirements, when FIM processes password changes.

Configuring fine-grained password policies in Active Directory creates *additional* and *different* password policies; the goal here is to ensure FIM SSPR matches the *existing domain's* password history setting, not to introduce new, potentially distinct policies.

Enabling LDAP over SSL (LDAPS) ensures secure communication between the FIM Synchronization Service and the domain controller, which is often a prerequisite for sensitive password-related operations and for FIM to reliably enforce AD DS password policies, including history, by securely accessing and modifying user attributes.