PowerShell Weekly for February 2, 2024

Announcements!

• Deprecation of Search-AdminAuditLog and New-AdminAuditLogSearch cmdlets
  We are writing to inform you about an upcoming change that will affect the way you access and manage your Exchange Online audit logs. Starting from April 30, 2024, we will be deprecating the following four cmdlets in the Exchange Online V3 module:
• Windows Terminal Preview 1.20 Release
  Happy New Year! The Windows Terminal team is back with our first preview release of the year! Windows Terminal Preview 1.20 introduces several changes such as the automatic deferral of package updates while Windows Terminal is running, support for colorful and crazy line styles, changes to the way search results are highlighted and LOTS of usability updates and bug fixes!

Blogs, Articles, and Posts

• Active Directory Database: PowerShell Monitoring Made Easy
  Find the ntds.dit location and monitor your Active Directory database using PowerShell.
• Mastering PowerShell Parameter Validation with Dynamic Methods
  Boost Your Scripting Skills! Dive into Dynamic PowerShell Parameter Validation for Efficient and Robust Coding. A Must-Read for PowerShell Excellence.
• Add updates (.msu) offline into Windows images (.wim)
  Before deployment, Microsoft ISO's install .wim or custom images should be updated. With the DISM module in PowerShell, you can add .msu updates, apps, and drivers to a Windows image offline without the need to boot it up.
• Connect an Azure Function or Web App to a Key Vault to retrieve secrets with PowerShell
  Azure Functions often require access to sensitive information. It is a security risk to store credentials in code or configuration files. Thus, protecting sensitive information like connection strings, API keys, or passwords is crucial. This is where Azure Key Vault comes in, offering secure and centralized storage for all your secrets. In this article, I will explain how to retrieve secrets from the Key Vault within an Azure Function using PowerShell.
• PowerShell: How to ping multiple Computers at once
  You want to ping multiple computers at once? Can’t? Yes you can, with PowerShell. In this post I’ll show you a few examples of how you can ping multiple computers.
• Using the PowerShell Profiler module
  The Profiler module was mentioned in the episode on January 15th of the PowerShell Podcast from PDQ (My favorite!), and it did not cross my path earlier. In this blog post, I will show you how it works and why it's a great tool to optimize your script performance!
• How to Convert Multiline String to Array in PowerShell?
  Do you need to convert multiline strings into arrays in PowerShell? In this PowerShell tutorial, I will explain to you different methods to convert a multiline string into an array in PowerShell. To convert a multiline string into an array in PowerShell, you can use the -split operator with a newline character as the delimiter.
• Embracing UEFI Booting and Secure Boot in ESXi Environments
  Transitioning from BIOS to UEFI booting in ESXi environments is a pivotal step toward enhancing system security and performance. UEFI, with its advanced features like faster boot times and Secure Boot, ensures a robust and secure operating environment. Secure Boot, in particular, plays a crucial role by allowing only signed software to run, thus protecting systems against unauthorized firmware and drivers.
• How to Report the MFA Status for Entra ID User Accounts
  Microsoft doesn't provide a PowerShell cmdlet to return an accurate MFA status for Entra ID user accounts, but by combining data from multiple sources we can write a script to generate a report showing details of user password settings and MFA status.
• Tagging Virtual Machines with the CISTag Module in PowerShell
  In this blog post, we’ll explore the process of assigning tags to multiple VMs using the CIStag module in PowerShell. This becomes necessary when the conventional PowerCLI module for tagging VMs fails, as was the case for me.

Projects, Scripts, and Modules

• Update Windows 10 to 22H2 via Enablement Package
  Developed a script to push to 6000+ endpoints using NinjaRMM that will helps update Windows 10 computers to 22H2 using the enablement package. Ninja has been having issues with getting all these computers patched, so wrote this to help bring all devices up to 22H2 which is the last serviced Windows 10 version until EOL.
• GitHub - cdhunt/httpunitPS: A PowerShell port of httpunit
  A PowerShell port of httpunit. The goal of this module is to utilize Net.Http.HttpClient to more closely simulate a .Net client application. It also provides easy access to the Windows Certificate store for client certificate authentication.
• helium v 1.1.8
  Assorted Utilities to make your day happier than inhaling a party balloon.
• PSWeave v 0.1.1
  PowerShell module that innovates automation with AI to make you more productive

Community

• PowerShell and Education: A Deep Dive with Jim Tyler, Director of Technology
  In this episode of the PowerShell Podcast, we have the pleasure of hosting Jim Tyler (@PowerShellEngineer). In this episode, Jim shares insights into PowerShell in K-12 education, his book and YouTube channel, Miscripts.org, and his various projects and passions. Join us as we delve into Jim's background, his journey into PowerShell, and the unique challenges and rewards of working in the K-12 sector. We discuss the impact of AI on education, the birth of Miscripts.org, and Jim's creative ventures, from YouTube tutorials to self-publishing a PowerShell book. Get ready for a conversation packed with valuable insights, practical advice, and a touch of Disney magic.

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