Here's a breakdown of the tasks and steps required as per the exam instructions:

1. **Creating a New User Account:**

- Command to create a new user account named "john":
```bash
sudo adduser john
```

2. **Renaming the Username:**

- John has been promoted and needs his username changed to "jdoe":
```bash
sudo usermod -l jdoe john
sudo groupmod -n jdoe john
sudo mv /home/john /home/jdoe
sudo usermod -d /home/jdoe -m jdoe
```

3. **Managing Directories and Permissions:**

- Create a directory named "project_docs" within the user's home directory:
```bash
mkdir /home/jdoe/project_docs
```
- Configure the permissions for "project_docs":
```bash
sudo chown jdoe:jdoe /home/jdoe/project_docs
sudo chmod 700 /home/jdoe/project_docs
sudo setfacl -m g:projectgroup:r-x /home/jdoe/project_docs
```

4. **Samba Configuration:**
- Define the role of a Samba server:
Samba facilitates file sharing between Windows and Linux systems.
- Configure a directory named "shared_docs" for Samba:
- Create the directory:
```bash
mkdir /srv/samba/shared_docs
```
- Edit the Samba configuration file (`/etc/samba/smb.conf`) and add:
```bash
[shared_docs]
path = /srv/samba/shared_docs
browsable = yes
writable = yes
guest ok = yes
```
- Restart Samba services:
```bash
sudo systemctl restart smbd
 sudo systemctl restart nmbd
```

5. **Apache Web Server Setup:**

- Explain the purpose:
Apache is used for hosting websites and managing user authentication.
- Installation process:
```bash
sudo apt update
sudo apt install apache2
sudo systemctl start apache2
sudo systemctl enable apache2
```

6. **User Authentication and Directory Protection:**

- Role of `/etc/shadow` file:
It stores hashed passwords for user accounts.
- Protecting a directory named "secure_area" using Basic Authentication:
- Install necessary tools:
```bash
sudo apt-get install apache2-utils
```
- Create a password file:
```bash
sudo htpasswd -c /etc/apache2/.htpasswd user1
```
- Configure Apache to use this authentication:
Edit the Apache configuration file or the relevant virtual host file:
```apache
<Directory /var/www/html/secure_area>
AuthType Basic
AuthName "Restricted Content"
AuthUserFile /etc/apache2/.htpasswd
Require valid-user
</Directory>
```
- Restart Apache:
```bash
sudo systemctl restart apache2
```

7. **System Logs Maintenance:**

- Display the last 50 lines of the system log file:
```bash
tail -n 50 /var/log/syslog
```

8. **Firewall Configuration for SSH:**

 - Allow incoming traffic on port 22 (SSH):
```bash
sudo ufw allow 22
sudo ufw enable
```

9. **Setting Up a Secure Remote Connection:**

- Step-by-step outline for setting up a secure connection between two remote offices:
- Install OpenVPN:
```bash
sudo apt-get install openvpn
```
- Configure the server and client configurations:
Create server configuration file (`/etc/openvpn/server.conf`) and client configuration file accordingly.
- Start the OpenVPN service:
```bash
sudo systemctl start openvpn@server
```
- Ensure that the necessary firewall rules are in place to allow VPN traffic.

This summary should help address each of the tasks outlined in the exam paper.