PowerShell sounds like something you would find in Super Mario Brothers or Mario Kart.
If you are familiar with PowerShell, this may be how you feel. It makes you feel like you have something to solve any problem. (By the by, here’s a Mario Powershell theme so you can even have sound effects.
If you aren’t using PowerShell and you work with Microsoft platforms, you should. PowerShell can be used for more than just configuring SharePoint.
Here are some reasons why PowerShell is worth your time and where it could lead you in the future.
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Start trainingPowerShell: Only the Basics
PowerShell is a platform that uses the.NET framework to automate tasks in a Windows environment. PowerShell users most often execute tasks using cmdlets, or commands. PowerShell can also integrate into other applications or tools via API.
Although PowerShell has been around for about a decade now, it became open-source and cross-platform this year.
We have many resources to help you get up to speed on PowerShell, no matter if you are a seasoned user, or just starting out.
Microsoft’s Recent PowerShell Push
PowerShell, the first core component of Windows, was released in 2005. It quickly gained popularity due to its obvious time-saving and task-simplifying capabilities.
However, PowerShell has become more popular in recent years for some tasks that could be done via a GUI. Tech publications started publishing pieces in 2008 about PowerShell-only tasks.
Many current Microsoft server products require admins to use PowerShell for common management tasks. PowerShell 5.1 is even considered the missing link in a DevOps environment.
Starting with Windows 10, Microsoft replaced the basic Command Prompt in certain parts of the operating systems with PowerShell. Although Microsoft isn’t eliminating the Command Prompt completely from Windows, the fact that PowerShell has replaced the default shell launched via File Explorer is a sign that PowerShell is more in the forefront.
So why is this push? Microsoft has been pushing cloud-first messaging for several years. PowerShell is just one example of the company’s increasing focus on cloud infrastructure. Simon Bisson stated that “You can’t point & click in the GUI for every one of the millions of virtual and physical servers.” Instead, automate every action by creating scripts and services that can manage infrastructures and applications at scale.
Security and PowerShell
There has been much discussion about PowerShell security and the increased attention it receives from the attackers. Also, how PowerShell can be used to improve security in an environment.
PowerShell’s vast capabilities can make it attractive to malicious intent users who want to exploit them. PowerShell has its own execution policy that prevents scripts from being executed automatically. This protects against certain vulnerabilities. Administrators should be aware of additional security measures, such as AppLocker security policies and delegating limited admin rights.
PowerShell’s full potential can be used to automate or execute complex or laborious security tasks. The Security Module includes cmdlets that allow you to manage basic Windows security features. PowerShell can be used by administrators to access security event logs and audit Windows security policy settings.
The Future of PowerShell
Microsoft announced in 2016 that PowerShell was now open-source and available on Linux (alongside Windows).