pwshguy

Announcements!

• Microsoft Graph PowerShell SDK V2.26.1 Remains Flawed
  The developers rushed out Version 2.26.1 of the Microsoft Graph PowerShell SDK to fix some obvious issues. Alas, problems persist in PowerShell SDK cmdlets, including licensing failures and an issue that prevents the Connect-MgGraph cmdlet from being able to obtain an access token from Entra ID. My advice is to stay with V2.25 until Microsoft resolves the problems and generates a new stable version of the SDK.

Blogs, Articles, and Posts

• The not so simplified syntax of Where-Object in PowerShell
  PowerShell 3.0 introduced several notable improvements to its cmdlet library, with one of the most useful features in this release being the simplified syntax for the Where-Object cmdlet. This enhancement made filtering objects more efficient and user-friendly by introducing Property and Value parameters and a switch parameter for every comparison operator. This article explores how these changes work, their usefulness, and how to leverage them in your scripts.
• EntraFIDOFinder March Update
  We are in March, and looks like no new major changes. I may have to start sending this update out later in the week, as I’m wondering if Microsoft hasn’t updated their page yet. Some things I did notice were that a few of the YubiKey names slightly changed on the FIDO Alliance database
• Warp for Windows
  We have reviewed Warp's Mac and Linux versions multiple times, as it stands out as the top terminal application. The newly released Windows edition introduces AI-driven automation for PowerShell administrators.
• AI-powered Azure Function for querying Azure in natural language
  In this post, I introduce an AI-powered Azure Function that connects to the Azure OpenAI API. This Function allows you to execute queries in natural language to fetch Azure resource information without requiring a deep knowledge of the Azure Resource Graph Query Language (KQL).
• Retrieve End of Life information using PowerShell
  One of the things that I do when writing documents for customers is check if the products I advise or the customers use are still supported. The end-of-life date is essential, and in this blog post, I will show you how to retrieve that information quickly :)
• Practical Protection: Automating Inactive Account Blocking with PowerShell
  Inactive accounts aren’t glamorous, but they’re a real risk! In this episode of Practical Protection, we dive into the basics of inactive account blocking and share some PowerShell scripts to help automate this process.

Projects, Scripts, and Modules

• Announcing AI Shell Preview 2
  We are pleased to share a new preview release of AI Shell!
• Create Entra ID Guest invite using PowerShell and Graph API
  It’s easy to create an Entra ID guest account using the interface. But as usual, the automation and bulk are the challenges. In Entra ID, there is the option to create bulk invitations, but I still find it limited.
• Dayforce PowerShell Module
  A foundational Dayforce PowerShell Module to query Employee data.

Community

• PowerShell as a Defender’s Secret Weapon with Michael Haag
  In this episode of the PowerShell Podcast, we sit down with Michael Haag, Principal Threat Researcher at Splunk, to dive into PowerShell security, threat detection, and automation. Michael shares his journey from IT support to becoming a security expert, the role of PowerShell in modern cybersecurity, and his work on PowerShell Hunter and Atomic Red Team.

Events

• PowerShell + DevOps Global Summit 2025
  April 7-10, 2025 Bellevue, WA

Check out psweekly.dowst.dev for all past editions as well as a searchable archive.

Announcements!

• Microsoft Update changes for PowerShell 7
  This blog outlines the expected behavior of MU releases for PowerShell 7.
• v7.6.0-preview.3
  Start testing your scripts against the next gen now.

Blogs, Articles, and Posts

• Terminal Chat now included in GitHub Copilot Free
  Windows Terminal Canary users can now use Terminal Chat with the GitHub Copilot Free plan! GitHub Copilot Free is limited to 50 chat messages per month. This includes the usage of Copilot in the CLI, VS Code, and Visual Studio.
• Microsoft Graph PowerShell SDK Runs into Choppy Waters
  A bunch of problems with V2.26 of the Microsoft Graph PowerShell SDK V2.26 make the software unusable. Not only did Microsoft do a horrible job of testing the new release before making it available to customers, but they also failed to communicate the level of change in the new SDK and how it could impact Azure Automation runbooks.
• Practical Graph: Creating SharePoint News Items from an RSS Feed
  This article explains how to use the SharePoint Pages API to create new site pages with the Microsoft Graph PowerShell SDK after reading information from an RSS feed. Parsing the RSS feed to find article details is just one of the challenges encountered and solved to accomplish the goal.
• Practical PnP: Automating Teams Creation using Templates
  In this installment of Practical PnP, Sean McAvinue dives into how PnP PowerShell can help to improve automated Teams provisioning using templates and preset structures.
• Using Warp as PowerShell terminal
  This week, after the official Windows release of Warp on February 26th, I saw many YouTube clips of the new Terminal app. I decided to try it and see what it does differently from my trusty Windows Terminal app. This blog post will show you my first impression of the application.
• 25 Years of Active Directory and my PowerShell experience managing it
  This week, on the 17th of February, Active Directory celebrated its 25th birthday :) I will share my experience managing it with PowerShell in this blog post.
• Understanding OAuth: Coding the authentication flow yourself vs using an SDK
  Dive into Microsoft Graph authentication with PowerShell. In this blog we explore OAuth flows, PKCE security, and token handling. Learn how to build a secure auth flow from scratch and why the SDK might still be the best choice for automation.
• Export All App Registrations with Certificates and Secrets in Microsoft Entra
  Imagine spending your afternoon sifting through dozens of app registrations in Entra ID to determine which ones are still active, and which are relics from past projects. As an admin, you know that applications use certificates and secrets for app registrations to securely authenticate—but many of these credentials persist
• How to stringify nested Json in PowerShell and back to a PSObject
  Stringify dynamic child properties in Json with PowerShell I had a fun one yesterday that I want to share here. We have a database at work (new job at InSpark), in the database we have a table in which we can create a row ourselves by making a request via a put method. The row … Continue reading How to stringify nested Json in PowerShell and back to a PSObject

Projects, Scripts, and Modules

• supergenpass.ps1
  PowerShell script to generate passwords using SuperGenPass algorithm
• Warp, the intelligent terminal, now available on Windows
  Today, Warp’s AI-powered terminal is available on Windows. With this release, Warp’s agentic, modern, and collaborative experience is available to users of all major operating systems.

Community

• MS Graph and Stepping into Public Speaking with Morten Kristensen
  In this episode of the PowerShell Podcast, we sit down with Morten Kristensen, an automation specialist and PowerShell enthusiast, to discuss his journey with PowerShell, his experience working with the Microsoft Graph API, and his recent leap into public speaking. Morten shares insights from his first-ever technical talk, the challenges of working with Graph API, and how he's navigating his professional growth.

Events

• PowerShell + DevOps Global Summit 2025
  April 7-10, 2025 Bellevue, WA

Check out psweekly.dowst.dev for all past editions as well as a searchable archive.

Blogs, Articles, and Posts

• Processing Multiple Message Attachments with the Microsoft Graph PowerShell SDK
  Many examples are available online to explain how to add a single attachment to messages using the Microsoft Graph PowerShell SDK. Here we look at the principles behind how to add attachments (one or many) to messages before sending them with the Send-MgUserMail cmdlet. Get the principles right and you’ll never go wrong!
• A Mini Dive into the Microsoft Entra PowerShell Module: An Intune Administrator’s Perspective
  In this post, we'll analyse the Entra PowerShell module's authentication implementation and discuss whether it's necessary for your Intune automation needs if you're already using the Microsoft.Graph.Authentication module, part of the Microsoft Graph SDK, to handle your tokens.
• Retrieve blocked DNS queries from PiHole using PowerShell
  I use PiHole for Ad-blocking at home, and yes, sometimes that causes some issues if it blocks Microsoft (Or other) management addresses. In this blog post, I will show how you can live-track blocked DNS queries and get some insights while troubleshooting :)
• Practical PowerShell: Parameter Input Validation
  In previous Practical PowerShell articles, Michel discussed using parameters in advanced functions and utilizing dynamic parameters. In this article, we will dive in a bit deeper on a topic we touched on lightly in those articles, which is ways to validate parameter input.
• Automating Sysmon installation and configuration with PowerShell
  Introduction In today’s fast-paced digital world, quick response to security incidents is crucial. Sysmon (System Monitor) from Microsoft’s Sysinternals suite is an essential tool for detailed system monitoring and security analysis. However, traditional installation can be time-consuming, especially in urgent situations. This blog post introduces a PowerShell script that automates the download, extraction, and installation of Sysmon, along with applying a pre-configured setup.
• The Micromine Alastri Hub Launcher Tool that leverages a RAM Disk for Temporary Data
  I would like to introduce you to a PowerShell tool I originally created in early 2024, which was in the research and planning stage for about 12 months previous to that. If you or your customer runs Micromine Alastri Software, especially in a virtualised desktop platform from Vendors such as Citrix, Omnissa, Parallels, Microsoft and […]Author informationJeremy SaundersTechnical Architect | DevOps Evangelist | Software Developer | Microsoft, NVIDIA, Citrix and Desktop Virtualisation (VDI) Specialist/Expert | Rapper | Improvisor | Comedian | Property Investor | Kayaking enthusiast at J House ConsultingJeremy Saunders is the Problem Terminator. He is a highly respected IT Professional with over 35 years’ experience in the industry. Using his exceptional design and problem solving skills with precise methodologies applied at both technical and business levels he is always focused on achieving the best business outcomes. He worked as an independent consultant until September 2017, when he took up a full time role at BHP, one of the largest and most innovative global mining companies. With a diverse skill set, high ethical standards, and attention to detail, coupled with a friendly nature and great sense of humour, Jeremy aligns to industry and vendor best practices, which puts him amongst the leaders of his field. He is intensely passionate about solving technology problems for his organisation, their customers and the tech community, to improve the user experience, reliability and operational support. Views and IP shared on this site belong to Jeremy.TwitterFacebookGoogle+LinkedIn
• Preparing for Microsoft’s Strong Certificate Mapping Enforcement – What You Need to Know
  The post Preparing for Microsoft’s Strong Certificate Mapping Enforcement – What You Need to Know appeared first on PKI Solutions.

Projects, Scripts, and Modules

• How to Find Inactive Teams in MS Teams
  Since 2020, Microsoft Teams has taken the lead as the go-to communication tool in organizations. From chats to meetings, it’s become the collaboration hub for team projects. However, as projects come to an end, many of the teams gradually fade into inactivity.
• Get-PSChooseFileName
  A bridge to AppleScript's Choose File Name command
• PowerShell Bug Reproductions
  A small repo to reproduce PowerShell bugs in.
• DesktopManager
  DesktopManager is a C# library and PowerShell module that allows to play with desktop settings. It allows to get information about monitors, display devices, wallpapers and set wallpapers.

Books, Media, and Learning Resources

• Behind the PowerShell Pipeline
  Welcome to the Leanpub Launch video for Behind the PowerShell Pipeline: Discovering What You Didn't Know You Needed to Know
• Get Started with GitHub Copilot in VS Code
  If you want to learn how to use GitHub Copilot, the AI pair programmer that helps you write code faster and better, then this video is for you.

Community

• Building a Game in PowerShell from the Ground Up with Greg Martin
  In this episode of the PowerShell Podcast, we welcome Greg Martin, a longtime developer and PowerShell enthusiast, who has taken PowerShell beyond system administration and into the realm of game development. Greg shares his journey of building Eldoria, a terminal adventure game written entirely in PowerShell, and how his experience across multiple programming languages influenced his approach.

Events

• PowerShell + DevOps Global Summit 2025
  April 7-10, 2025 Bellevue, WA

Check out psweekly.dowst.dev for all past editions as well as a searchable archive.

Blogs, Articles, and Posts

• Primer: Using Exchange Online PowerShell in Azure Automation Runbooks
  In this primer, we cover how to create and execute Azure Automation Exchange Online runbooks (scripts) using cmdlets from the Exchange Online management module. Some setup is necessary before runbooks can process Exchange cmdlets, but once the necessary resources and permissions are in place, it’s all plain sailing.
• Custom Maester Tests: Validate Full Addresses Now and Cleaned Up Wording
  Added 3 new tests which I think the first two will be game changers. The first 2 are tests for validating locations, in which the user must have street, city, state, postal code, country, business phone, and company name the same as the valid location in the json.
• 02-14-2025 MSOnline and AzureAD PowerShell modules.. One last Valentine’s day card each
  If you haven’t seen the news already, MSOnline and AzureAD PowerShell modules will be no longer supported after March 30, 2025. So looks like this will be our last year to give them a Valentine’s day card for all the times they’ve been there for us in!
• Cline vs. Roo Code – Which VS Code extension is better for the AI-augmented IT pro?
  In a prior article, I showcased automating PowerShell management in natural language using the VS Code extension Cline. Roo Code (formerly Roo Cline) is a Cline fork that provides extra valuable features for the AI-enhanced IT pro. Roo Code remains comparable, and the insights I shared about working with MCP servers in Cline also apply to Roo Code. The main difference is that Roo Code serves system administrators more effectively, as it provides a mode more suitable for natural language use in a CLI. Additionally, Roo Code's support of VS Code's Code Actions feature makes it perfect for understanding and modifying a colleague's scripts.
• Using the PowerShell WinGet Client module to install your apps on your new computer
  Installing all your (management) apps on a new system always takes too much time. In this blog post, I will show you how to use PowerShell and the WinGet Client module to install them quickly.
• Not the Error I expected! Connect-NsxtServer
  Howdy! It’s been quite a while since I created a blog post. Not sure I would want to say exactly how long. However, today I had a brand new VM that I was using to write some automation with PowerShell/PowerCLI. It took me a few minutes to figure this one out. Maybe it was me?
• DPRK hackers dupe targets into typing PowerShell commands as admin
  North Korean state actor 'Kimsuky' (aka 'Emerald Sleet' or 'Velvet Chollima') has been observed using a new tactic inspired from the now widespread ClickFix campaigns.
• Behind the PowerShell Pipeline
  Welcome to Behind the PowerShell Pipeline a subscription-based newsletter that will dive deeply into the world of PowerShell.

Projects, Scripts, and Modules

• PowerShell-OpenAuthenticode
  Cross platform PowerShell implementation of Authenticode signing and verification.

Books, Media, and Learning Resources

• Building a Pokedex - ChatGPT vs. Gemini vs. DeepSeek vs. Claude
  Which model can build the best PowerShell Pokédex? ChatGPT vs. Gemini vs. DeepSeek vs. Claude - you will be as surprised as I was!

Community

• Building Secure PowerShell Solutions with Jake Hildreth
  In this episode of the PowerShell Podcast, we welcome back security-focused PowerShell expert Jake Hildreth for an insightful conversation about PowerShell, security tools, and his continued journey in the PowerShell community. Jake shares updates on Locksmith v2, his work with PowerPUG, and his experience learning new PowerShell techniques to refine and improve his tools.

Events

• PowerShell + DevOps Global Summit 2025
  April 7-10, 2025 Bellevue, WA

Check out psweekly.dowst.dev for all past editions as well as a searchable archive.

Announcements!

• Microsoft Entra PowerShell module now generally available
  Manage and automate Microsoft Entra resources programmatically with the scenario-focused Microsoft Entra PowerShell module.

Blogs, Articles, and Posts

• Automating Code Compliance: AI-Driven Code Style Enforcement for Pull Requests
  As teams increasingly rely on automation for code quality and compliance, ensuring consistent coding standards can be challenging during the pull request (PR) process. In this article, we explore how to build an AI-powered style enforcement pipeline using modern tools like GPT-4 and CI/CD workflows.
• PowerShell: How to find empty Attributes
  We are often looking for attributes, but what about the empty attributes? How can I find out if an attribute is empty? That is the focus of this article.
• Now you can use your own company standards with Maester custom tests
  I thought checking to see if they were filled in or even formatted correctly wasn’t enough.. now you can config the validation.json file in the Validating folder with your company standards to make only those values pass. Here are the fields so far, and will be adding more!
• Get All Teams Channels With External Members
  Channels in Microsoft Teams are the heartbeat of collaboration, designated to help teams organize conversations, files, and tasks around specific topics or projects. However, they also come with challenges—especially when external members are involved.
• Microsoft Entra PowerShell modules
  The new Microsoft Entra PowerShell modules are available, replacing the deprecated AzureAD modules. This blog post will highlight the installation, changes, and features.
• New Microsoft script updates Windows media with bootkit malware fixes
  Microsoft has released a PowerShell script to help Windows users and admins update bootable media so it utilizes the new "Windows UEFI CA 2023" certificate before the mitigations of the BlackLotus UEFI bootkit are enforced later this year.

Books, Media, and Learning Resources

• Monthly Update #116 for Office 365 for IT Pros
  Monthly update #116 (February 2025) is available for the Office 365 for IT Pros eBook. The refresh includes update #8 new files for the Automating Microsoft 365 with PowerShell eBook. We’ve also updated the print (paperback) version that’s sold on an on-demand basis through Amazon.com. Things keep on changing inside Microsoft 365 with agent management a new challenge that’s coming into view.
• Behind the PowerShell Pipeline
  Discover parts of PowerShell that lie under the surface that can make you a better PowerShell user and scripter. From one of the original PowerShell experts.

Community

• Exploring the Power of IoT and PowerShell with Mark Go
  In this episode of the PowerShell Podcast, we sit down with Mark Go, a PowerShell enthusiast and innovator, to discuss his exciting journey from the Navy to becoming a tech-savvy system administrator. Mark shares his experiences using PowerShell to make his work life better.

Events

• PowerShell + DevOps Global Summit 2025
  April 7-10, 2025 Bellevue, WA

Check out psweekly.dowst.dev for all past editions as well as a searchable archive.

Announcements!

• PowerShell v7.5.0
  The official v7.5 is out now!

Blogs, Articles, and Posts

• Build a Scalable PowerShell Pester Testing Framework
  Learn how to create a maintainable and organized Pester testing framework for PowerShell that scales with your needs. Perfect for large test suites.
• If Maester couldn’t get any better…Custom Test Collection now available
  The time has finally come. I have created a public repository to store custom Maester tests for everyone. As well as a website for deeper understanding where needed.
• Identifying Privileged Applications and Their Secret Passwords
  Securing applications in an Entra tenant is crucial, especially after recent attacks like Midnight Blizzard. This article reviews how to use PowerShell to help identify privileged applications, their permissions, as well as client Secrets.
• Practical Graph: Finding and Removing Underused Microsoft 365 Copilot Licenses from User Accounts
  Microsoft 365 Copilot licensing costs a lot of money. At $360 annually, it's important to make sure that everyone with a license makes full use of Copilot to become more productive and efficient. Usage data is available in the Graph, and some PowerShell can reveal who's using Copilot and who's not. With that data, you can decide whether to remove licenses for reassignment to other users.
• Exploring PowerShell Reflective Loading in Lumma Stealer
  One of the most common techniques I’ve seen used by threat actors to deliver Lumma Stealer payloads to victims is Reflective Loading, leveraging the .NET library. Reflective Loading is a technique…
• 10 Master PowerShell Troubleshooting Commands: Simplify System Diagnostics
  Discover 10 essential PowerShell troubleshooting commands. Learn what each command does, how to use them effectively for system diagnostics.

Projects, Scripts, and Modules

• Get-MacInfo
  This is a powershell module for PS on macOS that, as much as possible, replicates "Get-ComputerInfo".

Community

• Streamlining PowerShell Package Management with Fred Weinmann
  In this episode of the #PowerShell Podcast, we continue our deep dive with Fred Weinmann, a Microsoftie and PowerShell legend, as he shares more insights and tools that redefine productivity for PowerShell enthusiasts. Picking up where we left off in the last episode, Fred takes us through his journey of mastering PowerShell, collaborating with the community, and optimizing workflows with powerful custom modules.
• Inside IT Automation | E19
  Jakub Jares talks about PowerShell testing with Pester and more

Events

• PowerShell + DevOps Global Summit 2025
  April 7-10, 2025 Bellevue, WA

Check out psweekly.dowst.dev for all past editions as well as a searchable archive.

I really appreciate your understanding for the missed edition last week. To make up for it, this week’s issue is packed with even more tips, insights, and updates to level up your PowerShell skills.

Blogs, Articles, and Posts

• Final Days for the MSOnline and AzureAD PowerShell Modules
  After many twists and turns since August 2021, the MSOnline module retirement will happen in April 2025. The AzureAD module will then retire in the 3rd quarter. It's way past time to upgrade PowerShell scripts. The question is whether to use the Entra module or the Microsoft Graph PowerShell SDK. I know which option is best and say why in this article.
• PowerShell: How to execute PowerShell Scripts (*.ps1) on Remote Computers
  PowerShell scripts can be executed locally or remotely. In this article I will show how scripts can be executed remotely.
• Update to Entra FIDO Key Attestation Database
  What other keys are you looking to gain compatibility?
• VS Code extension Cline: AI-automated scripting and CLI administration – A PowerShell example
  In a previous post about the new AI features in the Warp terminal, I suggested that AI interfaces would eventually replace the CLI and facilitate the automation of script generation. The Cline extension for Visual Studio Code is a significant step in this direction, allowing you to create scripts using natural language, execute them with AI support in the terminal, rely on AI to analyze shell output and respond to errors. While the extension supports various shells, I'll demonstrate how to utilize Cline to automate PowerShell administration.
• Harnessing AI in PowerShell: Create a multi-model command-line AI assistant (Part 1)
  AI is virtually inescapable these days. From annoying website chat bots to the assimilation of the Microsoft product portfolio by Copilot, AI has been busy spreading its tentacles every which way it can. I must be honest – I’ve never been a fan of it. That is, until I started using GitHub Copilot.
• Find Groups with Disabled Users in Microsoft 365
  Offboarding users in Microsoft 365 involves more than just blocking sign-ins; there’s a hidden complication that many overlook. Disabled accounts tied to groups hinder group management by inflating group sizes, making it harder to track active members and maintain compliance with access policies.
• Fixing Windows 11 24H2 – No Internet Access Issue using PowerShell and Intune Remediation
  There are articles and forum posts from people who upgraded to Windows 11 24H2 and are experiencing Wi-Fi issues. In this blog post, I will show you an Intune Remediation script that might fix the problem for your devices.
• Powershell - Testing network connectivity and port accessibility
  Testing network connectivity and port accessibility with Powershell
• List all directory objects owned by a user in Entra with PowerShell
  Learn how to use Microsoft Graph PowerShell to list all directory objects, such as apps and groups a user owns in Microsoft Entra.
• PowerShell based Terraform Bootstrap Script
  Create a PowerShell script to bootstrap Terraform, handle installation, create project directories, and automate deployments across Windows, Mac, and Linux.
• Terminal profiles in IDEs
  I spend a significant part of my work day in a terminal. That's why I have it configured to suit my needs with a collection of several useful modules which I occasionally still extend. Although all IDEs I regularly use feature an integrated terminal which opens in repository root by default, I rarely used them because they didn't match my configuration. So I decided to check if there was a way to make them use my default PowerShell profile.

Continued in the comments...

Check out psweekly.dowst.dev for all past editions as well as a searchable archive.

Announcements!

• Pester v5.7.0
  Pester 5.7.0 is out, it adds new code coverage format Cobertura, and other fixes

Blogs, Articles, and Posts

• PowerShell Pester 101: A Practical Guide for Beginners
  Learn how to validate your PowerShell scripts with Pester testing. This hands-on guide shows you how to write tests that ensure your code works as intended.
• Automated Provisioning of Windows 365 Cloud PCs: Advanced Scripts
  We decided that we would create some more advanced scripts for admins, which would include some error handling, prompts for input, and more. You will be able to use these scripts to provision your Entra ID joined Cloud PCs for various scenarios, be it using a Microsoft Hosted network or an Azure Network Connection, Enterprise or Frontline builds, or choosing your Cloud PC image, language, or region etc.
• Using PowerShell to make bulk changes to DotNet .csproj files
  When working on a big DotNet team, it’s easy to create a library but forget to set a configuration property according to your team’s standards. Most people don’t spend a lot of time looking at their…

Projects, Scripts, and Modules

• All About the Office 365 for IT Pros GitHub Repository
  The Office365ITPros GitHub repository holds over 300 PowerShell scripts showing how to interact with Microsoft 365 and Entra ID. Anyone can contribute to Office365ITPros by forking the code to a copy of the repository and making changes to scripts there. If you want, you can push the changes back to us so that we can consider their inclusion in Office365ITPros. It's a great example of community in action.
• JsonFS
  Mount a Json file as PowerShell file system. Contribute to wgross/json-fs development by creating an account on GitHub.
• Icewolf.EXO.SpamAnalyze v2.0.14
  This is a Powershell Module that simplifies the Message Trace in Exchange Online (EXO).

Books, Media, and Learning Resources

• A PowerShell Teaser
  Somewhat ironically, since finishing our long series on Bash scripting I’ve been almost exclusively writing scripts in a completely different language, PowerShell! Being a Microsoft language you’d be forgiven for assuming that means I’ve moved to Windows and started trying to automate things there, but you’d be mistaken, I’m still very much a Mac user! So what gives? Despite what its origins may suggest, the core PowerShell environment is both open source and cross-platform, running just fine on the Mac and Linux as well as Windows.
• PowerShell in Azure: Adding Tags & Setting Location Restrictions
  In this tutorial, learn how to create and apply tags to Azure resources and enforce a location restriction policy using PowerShell. Effective resource tagging helps you organise and manage your Azure environment, while location restriction policies ensure compliance with regional regulations.
• Run Data Access Governance reports with PowerShell
  How to run Data Access Governance reports for SharePoint Advanced Management in PowerShell

Community

• Exploring PnP PowerShell Updates with MVP Gautam Sheth
  In this episode of the PowerShell Podcast, we’re joined by Gautam Sheth, Microsoft MVP and M365 developer extraordinaire, to explore the latest improvements to the PnP PowerShell module and how to get started with it. Gautam shares his unique perspective on automating SharePoint, working with Microsoft 365, and leveraging Microsoft Graph through PowerShell. We discuss practical use cases, best practices, and the significance of PnP PowerShell for modern IT and development workflows. From SharePoint tips to automation strategies, this episode is packed with insights for PowerShell enthusiasts and M365 developers alike. Whether you're just starting or looking for advanced techniques, Gautam provides actionable advice and plenty of inspiration!

Fun

• A little PowerShell humor
  I think we can all agree

Events

• PowerShell + DevOps Global Summit 2025
  April 7-10, 2025 Bellevue, WA

Check out psweekly.dowst.dev for all past editions as well as a searchable archive.

Blogs, Articles, and Posts

• Automated Deployment of a Zero Trust Azure Automation Environment
  A common and recommended security practice is only allowing access to an Azure Storage Account via a whitelisted IP address. While this is generally a good idea, a problem arises when you need an Azure Automation Account to access one of these Storage Accounts.
• PowerShell Reusable Sessions: A Guide to Persistent Remote Connections
  Learn how to leverage PowerShell reusable sessions to maintain persistent connections with remote systems. This tutorial shows you how to create, manage and effectively use PowerShell sessions for remote administration.
• PowerShell 7.5 new features
  Microsoft has unveiled the first release candidate of PowerShell 7.5, with the General Availability (GA) launch expected in January or February 2025. This release candidate provides the most accurate preview of the upcoming final production version of PowerShell 7.5. This new version includes hundreds of changes, ranging from minor adjustments to major new features. In the following sections, we will discuss the key changes in this major PowerShell update.
• PowerShell Pipeline Parameters: How to Create Pipeline-Ready Functions
  Learn how to enable pipeline input in your custom PowerShell functions using parameter binding. This tutorial shows you how to use ValueFromPipeline and ValueFromPipelineByPropertyName to create functions that work seamlessly with the PowerShell pipeline.
• Validate list of Email Addresses using PowerShell
  What if you have an extensive list of email addresses? And if you must validate them for syntax and check if there's an email server for that domain? PowerShell is your friend :) In this blog post, I will show you how to import, validate, and export the results of those email addresses.
• Automatically update PowerShell 7.4 with WSUS or SCCM
  Microsoft enabled automatic updates for PowerShell with the release of PowerShell 7.2; that continues now with PowerShell 7.4.
• Quickly Finding Previously Typed Commands With PowerShell
  How to find that extremely convoluted command you typed in three months ago that you can't find in your PowerShell history.

Projects, Scripts, and Modules

• EntraFIDOFinder v0.0.14 is Out with New Features!
  It’s the second to last Monday of the year, so figured I’d release a new version of the EntraFIDOFinder before the end of the year. Here are the main additions. New Features: I did some other cleanup and prepping for some future updates, but what do you think? Any other features we should add? Are […]
• Powershell - Testing name resolution (equivalent to nslookup)
  Powershell commands to test name resolution (equivalent to nslookup)

Community

• Holiday Special with Gilbert Sanchez: PSScriptAnalyzer, AST, and PowerShell Gifts
  In this special holiday episode of the PowerShell Podcast, we are joined by the incredibly talented Gilbert Sanchez. We dive into the world of PSScriptAnalyzer and use it as a gateway to explore and understand the Abstract Syntax Tree (AST) in PowerShell. Gilbert walks us through a live demo and highlights some powerful ways to leverage the AST to analyze and improve our PowerShell code. As a special holiday treat, Gilbert comes bearing gifts—several awesome PowerShell modules that listeners can start using today.
• Evgenij Smirnov Talks Certs, Security, and PowerShell Adventures
  In this episode of the PowerShell Podcast, we sit down with Microsoft MVP Evgenij Smirnov to explore his incredible journey from working as a forklift driver to becoming a PowerShell and security expert. We dive into his insights on certificates, security best practices, and the importance of identity in modern IT. Evgenij also shares his experiences with cross-platform PowerShell, highlights from his recent talks, and the value of community events like PowerShell Saturday. Along the way, we discuss his unique career path, his passion for the PowerShell community, and tips for those looking to grow in IT.

Fun

• 2024 Overview
  It’s 2025, so it’s time to reflect on 2024 :). In this blog post, I will highlight all the great PowerShell things that happened during the year.

Events

• PowerShell + DevOps Global Summit 2025
  April 7-10, 2025 Bellevue, WA

Check out psweekly.dowst.dev for all past editions as well as a searchable archive.

This is the final edition of PowerShell Weekly for 2024. Since this newsletter is hand-curated, I always take the last week of the year off to rest and reflect. I’ll return in the New Year with fresh content and my annual year-in-review, covering all the major PowerShell highlights from 2024.

Announcements!

• Announcing a free GitHub Copilot for VS Code
  We're excited to announce an all new free plan for GitHub Copilot, available for everyone today in VS Code. All you need is a GitHub account. No trial. No subscription. No credit card required.

Blogs, Articles, and Posts

• Processing Microsoft 365 Retention Labels with the Microsoft Graph PowerShell SDK
  Two types of retention labels are in use: Microsoft 365 retention labels and MRM retention tags. Clients hide the difference, but the Microsoft Graph PowerShell SDK cmdlets can only process Microsoft 365 retention labels for files stored in SharePoint Online and OneDrive for Business. EWS can manage MRM retention tags, but it's on a fast path to retirement in 2026.
• Complete Guide to Automate the Microsoft Intune Daily Tasks using of Graph X Ray
  This guide will help you to automate your Intune daily task with using Graph X Ray. This article will teach us how to use effectvly use Graph X-Ray to automate the Microsoft Intune Tasks.
• How to Use PowerShell Get-Date Cmdlet?
  In this tutorial, I will explain how to use the PowerShell Get-Date cmdlet to work with dates and times in your scripts. The Get-Date cmdlet allows you to retrieve the current date and time, format dates, and perform date calculations. As a system administrator or a developer, you should know how to use Get-Date
• Practical Graph: Understanding What Happens When the Connect-MgGraph Cmdlet Runs
  This article describes what happens when the Connect-MgGraph cmdlet runs in interactive and app-only sessions with the Microsoft Graph PowerShell SDK. A session is created and a context is established, and it's possible to use the session context to do real work.
• Try to Catch PowerShell Error Handling
  A guide to handling errors within PowerShell and the best approach

Projects, Scripts, and Modules

• PowerShell-Hunter
  PowerShell tools to help defenders hunt smarter, hunt harder.

Books, Media, and Learning Resources

• PowerShell Universal Christmas Edition - Adam Driscoll & Constantin Hager
  In this lecture, Adam Driscoll and Constantin Hager guide the audience through the PowerShell Universal Christmas edition, demonstrating the latest features and functionalities of version 5.1. The session is organized into two main demos, focusing on practical applications of PowerShell and how attendees can utilize these updates in their own projects. The first half of the presentation features Constantin who shares his user management application, utilizing the Request API to query and display user data in a seamless table format.

Community

• Miriam Wiesner on Identity Hygiene, Security Tools, and Finding Balance
  In this episode of the PowerShell Podcast, we sit down with Miriam Wiesner, a Senior Security Research Program Manager at Microsoft, to dive into the fascinating world of security and identity hygiene. Miriam shares her expertise on the GraphAPI and the critical importance of maintaining proper identity hygiene in today's digital landscape.

Events

• PowerShell + DevOps Global Summit 2025
  April 7-10, 2025 Bellevue, WA

Check out psweekly.dowst.dev for all past editions as well as a searchable archive.

Blogs, Articles, and Posts

• Install and integrate Microsoft AI Shell with a PowerShell module
  Microsoft’s new AI Shell integrates AI into command-line workflows, featuring the Azure OpenAI Agent and Copilot in Azure Agent for tasks like PowerShell scripting and cloud automation. You can install AI Shell (aish.exe) as a standalone app or PowerShell module to streamline coding, error resolution, and resource management on Windows, macOS, or Linux.
• Jingle All the Way to Savings: Automate Azure Bastion with Azure Automation!
  In my blog post contribution for this year’s Festive Tech Calendar, I’ll show you how to reduce Azure costs by automating the runtime of your Azure Bastion host(s) with Azure Automation.
• Setting Up VS Code for PowerShell Development: A Beginner’s Guide
  Learn how to set up Visual Studio Code (VS Code) for PowerShell development in this step-by-step guide. You'll learn how to install VS Code, configure the PowerShell extension, set up the integrated terminal, and explore key features to enhance your PowerShell scripting experience.
• How to Rename Multiple Files Using PowerShell?
  Recently, I got a requirement to rename numerous report files in a project. PowerShell script is the best option for it. In this tutorial, I will explain how to rename multiple files using PowerShell. Rename Multiple Files Using PowerShell Recently, I was working on a project for a client in New York City.
• PowerShell Function for the cmd.ms website
  I'm a big fan of the cmd.ms website because it has all the links to quickly jump to a specific blade in a portal instead of clicking multiple parts of a Microsoft Management portal to get there. In this blog post, I will show you how to use a PowerShell function to open one or multiple management websites from the command line.
• Prevent users from switching and migrating to new Outlook using PowerShell and Microsoft Intune
  Prevent future automatic migration to the new Outlook. In this post, I’ll share the PowerShell script I’m using to prevent users from migrating to the new Outlook if your environment isn’t quite ready for it.
• It's always DNS
  A story of when it was actually DNS.

Projects, Scripts, and Modules

• Checking to see if I've missed any episodes of the PowerShell podcast
  For the code to select and open a PowerShell podcast episode webpage with PowerShell

Books, Media, and Learning Resources

• Windows PowerShell Use Cases in 1 Hour
  In this video, dive into essential PowerShell use cases, including file management, system administration, and basic networking. Learn how to manage files, perform essential administrative tasks, and execute networking commands for tasks like testing up connections, all through PowerShell scripts. This tutorial is perfect for beginners aiming to improve their IT skills and handle various everyday tasks with PowerShell efficiently.
• PowerShell Collaboration Unleashed! [OC]
  Learn how to use JupyterHub to create shared environments for seamless scripting & collaboration—accessible from any browser.

Community

• PowerShell Evolution with Sean Wheeler: What's new in PS 7.5, AIShell, & More!
  In this episode of the PowerShell Podcast, we welcome back Sean Wheeler, Lead Documentarian at Microsoft for PowerShell, to catch up on the latest developments in the PowerShell ecosystem. Sean dives into the updates with PSResourceGet, the powerful enhancements in PowerShell 7.5, and the groundbreaking potential of the AI Shell project, designed to transform command-line experiences with artificial intelligence. We also get a recap of Sean’s experience at SpiceWorld, highlighting community insights and key takeaways from the event. Packed with expert tips and exciting news, this episode is a must-listen for PowerShell enthusiasts and IT pros alike!

Fun

• Feeling lucky?
  Would you like to play a game?

Events

• Turn PowerShell Into Your Excel Automation Machine
  Friday, December 13, 2024 - Join Doug Finke, the creator behind the PowerShell ImportExcel module (downloaded over 8 million times), for an exclusive dive into Excel automation. Learn from the creator himself and discover how to turn tedious Excel tasks into seamless PowerShell solutions, gaining insider insights directly from the source.
• PowerShell Conference Europe 2025 Call for Speakers
  Call closed on 15 Dec 2024

Check out psweekly.dowst.dev for all past editions as well as a searchable archive.

Hey c/PowerShell community!

I’m excited to announce the launch of my new YouTube series, PowerShell Collaboration Unleashed!.

In the first part, we dive into The Littlest JupyterHub— an awesome tool for creating shared environments on a single server. These environments are accessible from any web browser, allowing you to create, run, and share scripts effortlessly.

Here’s what you’ll learn in the first part of the series:

• An intro to JupyterHub and why it’s a game-changer for collaboration.
• How to provision an Ubuntu server for The Littlest JupyterHub.
• Installing and configuring The Littlest JupyterHub and support for dotnet and PowerShell.
• Setting up shared environments you can start using right away.

Future videos will cover topics like setting up SSH, adding AzureAD/Entra ID authentication, connecting to external resources, securing secrets, logging, and integration with source control.

If you’re passionate about scripting, automation, or simply improving team collaboration, this series is for you!

I would love to hear your thoughts, feedback, questions, or ideas for future topics in this series.