Tutorials

Tutorials

• How to use ChatGPT with PowerShell to write code for admins

  Use of artificial intelligence tools is on the rise in many industries, and administrators can tap into these digital helpers to improve their scripting attempts.  Continue Reading

• Discover advanced regular expressions in PowerShell

  Learn how to develop more sophisticated regular expression techniques by understanding how to work with lookarounds with different operators.  Continue Reading

• How to set up PowerShell remoting over SSH

  Microsoft recommends using WinRM to manage Windows machines remotely, but OpenSSH offers other advantages, particularly in organizations that also use Linux systems.  Continue Reading

• How to execute a Windows Server 2012 file server migration

  The Storage Migration Service can reduce the stress involved with shifting the data from the outdated file server operating system to one with a newer version of Windows Server.  Continue Reading

• Learn by doing with these PowerShell regex examples

  When you must find specific text in a large file, such as a system log, regular expressions can come to the rescue. Learn how to add this skill to your administrative arsenal.  Continue Reading

• How to transfer FSMO roles with PowerShell

  You might need to shift Active Directory FSMO roles for a few reasons. If you need to do it more than once, there's a way to automate the procedure with PowerShell.  Continue Reading

• Using PowerShell for Azure service principal authentication

  With help from the Azure PowerShell module, you can avoid login prompts and automate the authentication process when using service principals on Microsoft's cloud platform.  Continue Reading

• Set up PowerShell script block logging for added security

  Learn how to set up your systems to capture abnormal PowerShell behavior as one way to shore up your defenses.  Continue Reading

• PowerShell Move-Item examples for file, folder management

  You can take the pain out of regular administrative tasks, such as migrating and organizing data from your users, with these advanced automation scripts.  Continue Reading

• How to avoid the double-hop problem with PowerShell

  IT pros who manage with PowerShell will run into the double-hop problem and use CredSSP to work around it. This tutorial offers a more streamlined way to avoid that roadblock.  Continue Reading

• Reveal Windows file server permissions with PowerShell's help

  An unauthorized permissions change on a file share could lock out other users. Learn how to automate a report that shows permissions on the server to find these problems fast.  Continue Reading

• Use PowerShell workflows when performance matters

  When time is of the essence, add parallel processing to your PowerShell scripts to perform tasks more efficiently by using the workflows feature in the automation tool.  Continue Reading

• Build a PowerShell logging function for troubleshooting

  A basic administrative skill is checking over logs to find out why something broke. Learn how to build a proper logging mechanism to catch errors for diagnostic purposes.  Continue Reading

• Best practices for using PowerShell ISE for scripting

  Administrators who want to break into PowerShell scripting need to work with an editor for a more effective workflow. Learn how to edit and manage scripts with PowerShell ISE.  Continue Reading

• How to build an Azure AD user report with Microsoft Graph

  Microsoft Graph will be the way forward to manage users and devices that connect to Office 365. Learn how to gather information and perform tasks, such as license assignments.  Continue Reading

• Learn to monitor group memberships with PowerShell

  Use PowerShell automation to build reports in local group memberships on a server and security groups in Active Directory to keep tabs on any irregular behavior.  Continue Reading

• How to build a vulnerability scanner with PowerShell

  What do you do if there's a zero-day threatening your organization? When you need to act fast, use PowerShell to uncover vulnerabilities hiding in your environment.  Continue Reading

• Learn to perform a DNS backup and restore

  DNS outages cause connectivity issues that prevent basic tasks from executing properly. Understand how to perform a restore for a DNS zone, which is not always intuitive.  Continue Reading

• Learn how to set up Windows Server 2022 SMB compression

  Microsoft added SMB compression to the new server OS to reduce bottlenecks when transferring files with Windows-based file shares.  Continue Reading

• How to set up Exchange Online modern authentication

  Microsoft plans to tighten up security on its hosted email platform to prevent attackers from gaining access to user credentials. Is your organization ready?  Continue Reading

• Query event logs with PowerShell to find malicious activity

  Every action on a Windows Server system gets recorded, so don't get caught by an avoidable security incident. Learn how to find potential security problems in event logs.  Continue Reading

• Avoid clock skew issues with external time source setup

  Configure Active Directory domain controllers to use an external NTP server to avoid Kerberos authorization issues and other problems in your Windows environment.  Continue Reading

• Get started with Azure AD entitlement management automation

  Identity governance tasks in Azure Active Directory can be overwhelming, but understanding how to use Microsoft Graph and PowerShell to work with these settings will help.  Continue Reading

• Activate Windows Server 2019 with KMS or the command line

  Running the Software License Manager from the command line or using Key Management Services for automatic activation can sidestep one hurdle to get going with Windows Server 2019.  Continue Reading

• Learn to adjust the AdminCount attribute in protected accounts

  It's critical to know how to change the settings for protected accounts and groups in Active Directory to avoid serious problems. PowerShell can make quick edits to keep order.  Continue Reading

• Build your knowledge of Azure AD conditional access policies

  The rapid pace of change in the modern workplace requires new methods to control who has access to what. This Azure Active Directory feature can help IT meet those security goals.  Continue Reading

• How to use PowerShell with the Azure REST API

  With PowerShell automation coupled with the Azure REST API, it's easy to build a script to create, power on and remove virtual machines in Microsoft's cloud platform.  Continue Reading

• How to perform Azure AD bulk operations with PowerShell

  Microsoft offers multiple ways to manage users and groups in Azure Active Directory. PowerShell is one option, but it requires knowing which module to use to handle coverage gaps.  Continue Reading

• Microsoft Teams lifecycle management with PowerShell and Graph

  A rushed Microsoft Teams deployment could lead to unintended gaps in security and governance. Here's how to use PowerShell and the Microsoft Graph to regain control.  Continue Reading

• Try these PowerShell Start-Job examples for more efficiency

  It might take some effort to rework scripts to take advantage of PowerShell jobs capabilities, but it will free you to handle other work while running code behind the scenes.  Continue Reading

• Slow Office 365 admin portal problems? Give PowerShell a try

  IT work is frustrating enough without having to deal with sluggish admin center performance. See how PowerShell makes Microsoft service management less of a chore.  Continue Reading

• Get up to speed with PowerShell and the Microsoft Graph API

  Microsoft plans to retire technologies that admins depend on to handle Office 365 and other cloud services via PowerShell. Learn how to start with this newer management method.  Continue Reading

• Learn to work with the Microsoft Graph Security API

  The API assists organizations that want to connect their security systems with a programmatic way to produce quicker results when performing investigations.  Continue Reading

• Working with the Microsoft Defender for Identity portal

  The security product, formerly Azure Advanced Threat Protection, taps into the cloud to uncover suspicious activity across the on-premises network.  Continue Reading

• How to assign Microsoft Teams policies with PowerShell

  The admin center lags behind PowerShell when it comes to Microsoft Teams policy management due to the automation tool's superior logging and visibility features.  Continue Reading

• Minimize headaches with these Office 365 PST migration tips

  A bulk email import into the hosted email service in Microsoft's cloud takes a little effort -- and some help from the AzCopy utility -- but it's a job you can handle yourself.  Continue Reading

• Working with PowerShell Secret Management and Secret Vault

  The two new PowerShell modules put API keys, credentials and other secrets under lock and key to protect sensitive information in automation and remoting scenarios.  Continue Reading

• Avoid data overflows with PowerShell Remove-Item

  The cmdlet helps delete misplaced files and outdated documents, but you should tune the code to optimize execution and avoid errors when the work entails many files and folders.  Continue Reading

• Use PnP PowerShell commands to fortify SharePoint management

  A new PowerShell module pares down the work required to handle administrative tasks on several Office 365 services, such as SharePoint Online and Microsoft Teams.  Continue Reading

• Generate a Windows file server audit via PowerShell

  Learn how to generate a detailed report that uncovers unusual activity by users on a Windows file share without having to manually investigate every file and folder.  Continue Reading

• Try default values in PowerShell parameters for flexibility

  When you lock down your code to work in specific conditions, your automation efforts can fall flat. Try these techniques to add more versatility to your PowerShell scripts.  Continue Reading

• Cut coding corners with return values in PowerShell functions

  In certain instances, a return keyword is a good option to exit the current scope of a function and to reduce the bloat from a PowerShell script.  Continue Reading

• Build a Windows Server 2019 file server cluster for stability

  Learn how to use the clustering tools provided by the Microsoft server OS to create a highly available file server to avoid downtime if disaster strikes.  Continue Reading

• Learn to use a PowerShell call function from another script

  Don't use the same lines of code in several places in your scripts. Learn how to use functions and reap the benefits of a more streamlined approach.  Continue Reading

• SharePoint Online PowerShell commands for admin tasks

  You can avoid the admin portal when you pick up your PowerShell game and learn how to manage cloud-based resources in Office 365, including the SharePoint collaboration platform.  Continue Reading

• Build a Power Automate flow using the Graph API

  Administrators of Office 365 or Azure platforms can benefit from using newer Microsoft software technologies to handle many jobs, such as automating tasks and generating reports.  Continue Reading

• Implement simple server monitoring with PowerShell

  Administrators who build a server monitoring framework with PowerShell can develop their own customized checks for deeper insights into their environment.  Continue Reading

• Try an Azure Site Recovery setup for DR needs

  Administrators who need some assurance that mission-critical workloads will stay up when trouble strikes can try out Microsoft's cloud-based disaster recovery service.  Continue Reading

• Learn how to create a scheduled task with PowerShell

  When you need a reliable way to create a scheduled task, you can use PowerShell’s automation capabilities to reduce the likelihood of keying in mistakes.  Continue Reading

• Lighten up and install Exchange 2019 on Windows Server Core

  Organizations looking to tighten up security in every aspect of their infrastructure now have the option to deploy their on-premises messaging system on Server Core 2019.  Continue Reading

• Find and lock down lax Windows share permissions

  With help from PowerShell, you can identify the shares that need adjustments across your infrastructure then use a script to fix them to protect sensitive data.  Continue Reading

• PowerShell ForEach-Object cmdlet picks up speed

  Administrators get extra incentive to switch to PowerShell 7 after an existing cmdlet acquires a performance enhancement to run multiple iterations in parallel.  Continue Reading

• Increase PowerShell security with help from AppLocker

  Learn how to curb the native abilities of the expansive scripting tool in the Windows OS to prevent your users from being unwitting participants in a cyberattack.  Continue Reading

• How to set up Windows Server 2019 virtual network encryption

  Microsoft tightens the security on its virtualization platform, even if a breach occurs, to prevent intruders from eavesdropping on traffic between VMs.  Continue Reading

• Using wsusscn2.cab to find missing Windows updates

  Avoid unnecessary security headaches by using the Windows Update offline scan file and PowerShell to ensure your systems have all their Microsoft patches.  Continue Reading

• Get back on the mend with Active Directory recovery methods

  Administrators should have a few of these data protection techniques up their sleeves to keep Active Directory from a total breakdown.  Continue Reading

• Learn PowerShell scripting using the PSKoans module

  Want to get started with PowerShell automation to manage your Windows systems? Try the PSKoans module to learn as you go through its exercises to build your scripting skills.  Continue Reading

• Azure Bastion brings convenience, security to VM management

  This cloud service gets around the problem associated with jump servers and cloaks the identity of your VMs to avoid potential security issues.  Continue Reading

• How to manage Server Core with PowerShell

  New PowerShell users will need to overcome a learning curve to work with Server Core, but the tool has some built-in aids to help you progress.  Continue Reading

• How to work with the WSUS PowerShell module

  The PoshWSUS module automates the process to synchronize and approve Windows updates. You can also use it to perform essential maintenance on the WSUS server.  Continue Reading

• Implement automated employee onboarding with PowerShell

  Your time is precious and you shouldn't waste it by clicking through menus to set up a new user. Look at these code examples to put together your own provisioning script.  Continue Reading

• Learn to set up and use PowerShell SSH remoting

  Remoting over SSH in PowerShell Core has some advantages over the traditional Windows PowerShell remoting method, but it will require a fair amount of manual configuration work.  Continue Reading

• How to automate patch management in Windows

  Automating Windows updates with PowerShell will ease some of the labor associated with the routine patch deployment process.  Continue Reading

• Using the Sysinternals Sysmon tool to check DNS queries

  A recent update to the Sysinternals Sysmon utility adds DNS query logging to give deeper insights into the connections made by your Windows machines.  Continue Reading

• Pester tests help pinpoint infrastructure issues

  The Pester testing framework gives IT pros a way to develop sophisticated and consistent testing routines that monitoring tools just can't duplicate.  Continue Reading

• Use PowerShell printer management for quicker setups

  Don't fiddle with printer configurations and tiresome upkeep work from the GUI when you can automate a lot of the tediousness with PowerShell.  Continue Reading

• Try these PowerShell networking commands to stay connected

  Ping has its place, but PowerShell gives you a way to dive deeper into a networking issue when a server drops its connection or starts to drop packets.  Continue Reading

• Painlessly deploy Azure File Sync with PowerShell

  Have you ever run low on file server capacity or struggled to access files? Setting up Azure File Sync can give your organization centralized file shares with local accessibility.  Continue Reading

• How to uninstall Exchange 2013 after a cutover migration

  Don't throw a retirement party for that Exchange 2013 server and pull the plug prematurely without going through this checklist to avoid any issues.  Continue Reading

• Set up users with key PowerShell Active Directory commands

  User management in Active Directory doesn't have to fill you with click-induced anxiety. Try these PowerShell tips for a more efficient way to get this work done.  Continue Reading

• How to configure SSL on IIS with PowerShell

  SSL encryption is a necessary component when building an IIS website that communicates with the outside world. Use this PowerShell tutorial to streamline the deployment process.  Continue Reading

• Working with PowerShell module downloads from the gallery

  Learn how to get the most out of the PowerShell Gallery with some distinctions for administrators who use Windows PowerShell or PowerShell Core.  Continue Reading

• How PowerShell Direct helps polish off those VMs

  PowerShell Direct offers administrators a remoting option that does not rely on a network connection to manage Hyper-V VMs, but be sure you meet the requirements for its use.  Continue Reading

• How to use PowerShell JEA for task delegation

  System administrators don't have to do every mundane task themselves anymore with help from Just Enough Administration. Get started with these instructions using PowerShell.  Continue Reading

• Tips to track down and neutralize PowerShell malware

  The benefit of PowerShell is its wide-ranging access to Windows systems, but industrious hackers can exploit its abilities to launch attacks from inside your data center.  Continue Reading

• How to manage Active Directory groups with 7 PowerShell commands

  Managing users, devices and other resources with Active Directory doesn't always require a GUI tool. Try PowerShell to streamline some of your administrative workload.  Continue Reading

• Getting started with AWS Tools for PowerShell

  Want to make a move from on-premises systems? The AWS Tools for PowerShell module builds on your knowledge of handling Windows machines and carries it into the Amazon cloud.  Continue Reading

• How to track Office 365 guest users

  Administrators should get familiar with the platform tools at their disposal to check Office 365 Groups access and ensure tenant security.  Continue Reading

• How to start using Ansible for Windows management

  Ansible is a configuration management offering that runs on Linux but controls Windows systems with PowerShell. Find out how to get the tool running in your data center.  Continue Reading

• PowerShell logging boosts security in the enterprise

  Want to track any suspicious PowerShell activity across your network? Use these PowerShell logging techniques to curb potential threats that originate from scripts.  Continue Reading

• Windows Server 2008 R2 Learning Guide

  Want to learn more about Microsoft's latest server OS? This guide has you covered. Here you'll find tips, videos and expert advice on all things Windows Server 2008 R2.  Continue Reading

• Set-ExchangeServer cmdlet can ease domain controller workloads

  Exchange Server can distribute workloads evenly among domain controllers, but external factors can cause them to become overworked . Executing Exchange Management Shell's Set-ExchangeServer command can help lessen domain controller workloads.  Continue Reading

• Exchange Performance Monitor tracks domain controller communication

  Using Performance Monitor counters is an effective way to keep an eye on Exchange Server health. Learn which Performance Monitor counters you should watch to ensure that your Exchange Servers are communicating effectively with your domain ...  Continue Reading

• Windows Distributed File System (DFS) Tutorial

  This short guide breaks down Microsoft's Distributed File System, with tips, articles and how-tos on topics ranging from DFS Namespace and DFS Replication to migration, we've got all the resources Windows admins need.  Continue Reading

• Enabling Unified Messaging mailboxes and users

  When Unified Messaging is deployed in an Exchange 2007 environment, the Exchange Recipient Administrator can configure UM mailbox-enabled users and begin to allow email, voicemail and faxes to be delivered to their Inboxes. In this excerpt from "...  Continue Reading

• Microsoft Group Policy Tutorial

  This guide introduces you to Group Policy. From the basics of using GP to run your environment to the changes you can expect after migrating to Windows Vista, we've got all the tips, article and how-to's administrators need to know.  Continue Reading

• How to test Exchange Management Shell commands

  Understand how to use the Exchange Management Shell parameters WhatIf and ValidateOnly in Exchange 2007 to preview and test EMS commands before executing them.  Continue Reading

• Control query results with Exchange Management Shell's Format command

  Get details on how to use Exchange Management Shell's Format command and Pipe symbol to perform complex queries in Exchange Server 2007.  Continue Reading

• How to install the Microsoft IIS Diagnostics Toolkit

  In this excerpt from "Inside the IIS Diagnostic Toolkit," contributor Tim Fenner explains the ways Windows admins can install the Toolkit so they can use it to tackle IIS-related issues.  Continue Reading

• How to use Debug Diagnostics to troubleshoot IIS issues

  Learn how to use the IIS Diagnostic Toolkit's Debug Diagnostics utility to troubleshoot performance issues in any Win32 user-mode process.  Continue Reading

• How to use Microsoft's IIS Diagnostics Toolkit

  In this resource guide, contributor Tim Fenner offers an overview of the seven utilities in the IIS Diagnostics Toolkit and provides instructions on how to download and use them.  Continue Reading

• How to use SMTP queues to troubleshoot mail flow

  Find out how you can use SMTP queues to diagnose and troubleshoot Exchange Server mail flow and email performance issues.  Continue Reading

• Active Directory Replication Guide

  This guide provides tips and resources on Active Directory replication, including info on replication basics, topology design and troubleshooting replication issues.  Continue Reading

• Active Directory Tutorial

  This guide helps Active Directory administrators better understand the basics of the Active Directory infrastructure, including design strategies, DNS, replication and security.  Continue Reading

• Step 3: Create an Edge Subscription

  An Edge Transport server needs an Edge Subscription to access Active Directory data. Learn how to set one up and caveats you need to watch out for before deploying.  Continue Reading

• A Windows administrator's guide to file management

  File management in Windows is not just about finding the right places for user data and application data, but also anticipating and planning for changes that may need to be made in how things are stored—all the while, dealing with quirks of ...  Continue Reading

• An overview of Microsoft Outlook email security features

  In the following tip from "8 tips in 8 minutes: A Microsoft Outlook email security tutorial," you'll gain an in-depth overview of Microsoft Outlook's email security features including security zone changes, the Outlook security update, S/MIME ...  Continue Reading