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Manage

Learn to apply best practices and optimize your operations.

• How to optimize Azure VMs for performance and cost savings

  Learn how to reduce the monthly cloud bill from Microsoft while, in some cases, also improving Azure workloads performance by using a storage pooling technique. Continue Reading

• How to use Ansible with Windows for server management

  Initially made for Linux, Ansible also manages Windows systems through playbooks that use declarative syntax. Learn how to set up a control node and add roles to Windows Server. Continue Reading

• How to deploy an Exchange Server cumulative update

  Cumulative updates give the Exchange Server platform stability and security. This guide explains how to perform this maintenance properly to avoid a major service disruption. Continue Reading

• Microsoft Purview Audit helps IT flush out bad behavior

  The auditing tool gives enterprises a way to find problems by examining logs from Microsoft 365 cloud services, such as Exchange Online, to see what actions were taken and where. Continue Reading

• Using PowerShell for monitoring SharePoint Online

  The scale and complexity of some SharePoint Online environments can make maintenance difficult. Learn to use automation scripts to keep tabs on the collaboration platform. Continue Reading

• Use diskpart to create, delete and modify disk partitions

  Diskpart is one of the oldest disk management tools in Windows, but it remains useful for its advanced capabilities in automation and granular control compared to other utilities.Continue Reading

• Boost Exchange Online automation with Azure Functions

  Admins can use the event-driven functionality in Microsoft's serverless offering and build event-driven workflows for a more efficient management approach.Continue Reading

• Manage Microsoft 365 users and groups with Azure Functions

  This Microsoft service performs large-scale admin jobs and also automatically reacts to certain conditions to execute predefined tasks with speed and consistency.Continue Reading

• Follow these steps to optimize Hyper-V performance

  Follow these best practices for Microsoft's virtualization platform to prevent unnecessary slowdowns with your VMs.Continue Reading

• Windows Server Update Services (WSUS)

  Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) is a Windows server role that can plan, manage and deploy updates, service packs, patches and hotfixes for Windows servers, client operating systems (OSes) and other Microsoft software.Continue Reading

• Streamline Microsoft 365 onboarding with PowerShell

  Learn how to simplify user provisioning in the cloud collaboration platform with faster results by seeing examples of scripts that work with Microsoft Graph.Continue Reading

• Automate Microsoft 365 user offboarding with PowerShell

  Automation is a good way for admins to handle all the tasks associated with removing a user from the organization's tenant in Microsoft's cloud-based productivity platform.Continue Reading

• How to use PowerShell for Exchange Online monitoring

  Many enterprises rely on Exchange Online for more than just email. Admins need to stay on top of this important service to pinpoint when problems occur to resolve them quickly.Continue Reading

• How to manage Microsoft 365 guest users with PowerShell

  The flexible automation tool used in conjunction with Microsoft Graph can give admins the right combination to quickly tackle a range of tasks related to guest user management.Continue Reading

• How to secure on-prem apps with Entra Application Proxy

  There's nothing wrong with using a VPN to securely connect to on-premises web apps, but Microsoft Entra Application Proxy is an alternative with a more streamlined approach.Continue Reading

• Using Microsoft AD Explorer for common admin tasks

  The utility makes it easier to navigate the Active Directory database and features snapshot capabilities with a comparison function to detect where a change caused a problem.Continue Reading

• How to use a Microsoft Entra ID emergency access account

  A break-glass account in Microsoft's identity and access management platform helps avoid disruptions in a crisis. Follow these best practices to keep these credentials safe.Continue Reading

• How to manage a migration to Microsoft Entra ID

  Thinking of leaving Active Directory behind? A successful move to Microsoft's cloud-based identity and access management platform hinges on how well you've prepared in advance.Continue Reading

• What should admins know about Microsoft Entra features?

  Microsoft Entra combines new and existing cloud-based products and packages them under a new name. Learn how this change affects identity access management in your organization.Continue Reading

• How to work with the new Windows LAPS feature

  Microsoft updated this automated method to manage and back up passwords for local administrator accounts on Windows desktop and server systems. See what's new with Windows LAPS.Continue Reading

• How to use Reliability Monitor to manage servers

  The utility gives administrators a way to look back over time to see what driver updates, software installations or hardware crashes might be related to the sudden instability.Continue Reading

• Exchange Online post-migration steps for admins

  A move to the hosted email platform is an opportunity to streamline how users work with other Microsoft 365 services. But it requires IT to stay current with the product roadmap.Continue Reading

• What's new with Microsoft 365 Apps on Windows Server 2022

  Not every organization can move to the cloud but using Microsoft Office apps on premises might not be an option beyond 2026. Are the days of the RDS role numbered?Continue Reading

• Get a grip on your infrastructure with a custom MMC

  Microsoft provides great administration tools, such as PowerShell and Server Manager. But don't neglect the venerable Microsoft Management Console for its flexibility.Continue Reading

• Tips to avoid a bumpy Exchange 2010 migration to Office 365

  Now that Exchange Server 2010 and Exchange 2013 are legacy products, administrators should make the push to migrate to avoid becoming the next ransomware target.Continue Reading

• Deploy WebJEA to empower your users with PowerShell

  Give your automation scripts a GUI that makes it easier for end users to get the information they need with a more streamlined approach.Continue Reading

• Improve IT efficiency with a PowerShell self-service portal

  You can jump over the technical barriers that impede automation efforts in your organization by exploring how to deploy a web-based portal that hosts your scripts.Continue Reading

• Microsoft Windows PowerShell DSC (Desired State Configuration)

  Desired State Configuration (DSC) is a feature in PowerShell 4.0 and above that helps administrators to automate the configuration of Windows and Linux operating systems.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

• How to create and run Windows PowerShell scripts

  Once administrators get comfortable with PowerShell basics, it's time to start scripting. This PowerShell scripting tutorial for beginners helps you efficiently complete tasks.Continue Reading

• How to copy files from source to destination in PowerShell

  Take a closer look at Copy-Item cmdlet coding examples to build advanced PowerShell scripts that copy files with safety measures to ensure the duplicates reach their destinations.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

• Why you should plan to migrate to Exchange 2019 soon

  An upgrade to the latest Exchange version will bring added functionality for end users and security enhancements. But it will also help ease the transition to Exchange vNext.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

• 5 PowerShell tools to help simplify admin tasks and support

  Learn how systems admins, software developers and engineers can use tools, such as Cimitra Software, to build better PowerShell scripts to manage and automate repetitive tasks.Continue Reading

• Speed up onboarding with Active Directory user templates

  Active Directory account templates are not difficult to make. But it helps to know how to use certain shortcuts, like variables, to create home directories and roaming profiles.Continue Reading

• How to build a Windows Server 2022 home lab and why

  It's possible to get to learn about the features in the latest Microsoft server OS in a cloud environment, but there are a few reasons to stay grounded with this approach.Continue Reading

• Consider Azure AD group-based licensing for Office 365 users

  Administrators who manage many users can go one step further toward streamlining license assignments by taking advantage of a new feature from Microsoft.Continue Reading

• Learn to work with Microsoft's New Commerce Experience

  With some extra effort in the planning stages, it's possible to control costs in Office 365 and Microsoft 365 with the new seat-based licensing model.Continue Reading

• Send automated messages with this Azure Logic Apps tutorial

  Learn to use the Microsoft cloud-based product to automatically send an email or a message from Microsoft Teams when you need to know if a task completed properly.Continue Reading

• How to set up automated log collection with PowerShell

  Gathering logs from on-premises Windows Server systems or Office 365 cloud services is a necessary but tedious job. Try a PowerShell script to ease the pain.Continue Reading

• Learn to work with the Office 365 unified audit log

  Administrators who need to check on suspicious activities in the Office 365 platform can perform a unified audit log search to help with their investigation.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

• Microsoft modern authentication deadline looms over Exchange

  Support for basic authentication will end this year, giving administrators who haven't switched to a newer authentication method little time to prepare for a smooth transition.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

• Deploy an information barrier policy for Microsoft Teams

  Mistakes happen, but can be costly when they involve compliance. Office 365 information barriers can prevent inadvertent sharing to protect the organization's sensitive data.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

• Paid and free Office 365 administration tools to consider

  Newcomers to Microsoft's cloud services can use the admin portal for most tasks, but you should investigate these options to reduce the work involved with tenant management.Continue Reading

• Network security gets a boost in Windows Server 2022

  Secured-core server is a major new security feature in Windows Server 2022, but Microsoft also introduced multiple ways to keep network connections protected in its new server OS.Continue Reading

• Windows Server 2022 storage features address security, speed

  Microsoft's release of Windows Server 2022 brings several notable updates to its storage and file services functionality to give new life to on-premises server systems.Continue Reading

• Why you should plan to upgrade to Azure AD Connect v2 soon

  Administrators who rely on an Azure AD Connect v1 version for hybrid identity with Office 365 should prepare for the impending retirement of several technologies in the utility.Continue Reading

• Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI)

  Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) is a set of specifications from Microsoft for consolidating the management of devices and applications in a network from Windows computing systems.Continue Reading

• Start managing with these Microsoft Graph API features

  Microsoft Graph offers several administrative advantages when handling jobs on Microsoft 365 and Azure AD, but be aware of some potential trouble spots when employing this technology.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

• These Office 365 migration tools cover more than just email

  Vendors have adapted their migration products to handle more than just email as an increasing number of enterprises see the value in shifting more data away from the data center.Continue Reading

• Fine-tune Exchange Online security for your organization

  After a move to Microsoft's hosted email service, Exchange admins must learn how to tailor the integrated and supplemental security features to cover several threat scenarios.Continue Reading

• Boost security with Office 365 privileged access management

  Understand how to thwart cyber attacks on privileged user accounts on Microsoft's collaboration platform to avoid becoming that next security breach statistic.Continue Reading

• What admins need to know about CMG client authentication

  A System Center cloud management gateway keeps your organization's devices in compliance and running as they should, but which authentication option would work best for you?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

• Get a grasp on using group managed service accounts

  When you create a group managed service account, it relieves some administrative duties and bolsters the security related to passwords for services in a Windows environment.Continue Reading

• Explore the benefits behind SCCM tenant attach

  When you plug your System Center Configuration Manager into the Microsoft cloud with this feature, you add more flexibility to your device management capabilities.Continue Reading

• Azure MFA NPS extension boosts authentication capabilities

  With help from the Network Policy Server extension, organizations can expand their on-premises authentication features by tapping into Microsoft's cloud.Continue Reading

• Azure File Sync service puts pep in hybrid storage setups

  Microsoft's Azure Files offering alleviates traditional support efforts and hardware costs. Using this additional service can improve performance and keep end users happy.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

• Stay in control with Azure AD Privileged Identity Management

  Rampant use of elevated privileges can prove hazardous to enterprises. Rein in access and manage resource access with help from this Azure Active Directory feature.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

• Explore multiple Office 365 PowerShell management options

  Why use PowerShell for Office 365 and Azure? In some instances, it's the only way to tap into some of the hidden management settings in these Microsoft cloud products.Continue Reading

• Remote possibilities: Out-of-band management admin options

  COVID-19 puts added strain on administrators who need to compensate for lack of personnel in data centers, which leads to the need for a remote access strategy.Continue Reading

• Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM)

  Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) is a Windows product that enables the management, deployment and security of devices and applications across an enterprise.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

• Windows Server System Insights steers admins from trouble

  The predictive analytics feature in Windows Server 2019 gives administrators a heads-up to potential problems to avoid the scrambling when help desk tickets start to pile up.Continue Reading

• Is SCCM in Azure right for your organization?

  System Center Configuration Manager still has a long life, which was further underscored by Microsoft supporting deployments of the endpoint management tool to Azure.Continue Reading

• Steer clear of trouble while following the Office 365 roadmap

  There are literally hundreds of changes coming to the collaboration platform that affect email and other services. Here's what IT can do to help ease the transition for end users.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

• Getting a handle on certificate management in Windows shops

  A certificate that isn't renewed by its expiration date will cause dire consequences for administrators who will need to find a fast remedy when systems can't communicate.Continue Reading

• Learn to manage Office 365 ProPlus updates

  The traditional Microsoft Office applications you get from Office 365 might appear to be the same on the surface, but how you administer them differs in several key ways.Continue Reading

• Active Directory nesting groups strategy and implementation

  Does your current Active Directory permissions setup spark joy? If not, then it's time to unscramble that confusing design into something that's easier to use and maintain.Continue Reading

• Find and filter Windows event logs using PowerShell Get-EventLog

  Use the Get-EventLog cmdlet in PowerShell to pinpoint problems among thousands of entries in Windows logs, on both local and remote systems.Continue Reading

• How to fortify your virtualized Active Directory design

  It takes a little work to fine-tune your Active Directory deployment, but the benefits will result in little to no service interruptions to your users if an outage occurs.Continue Reading

• Windows Server 2008 end of life means it's time to move

  Your organization has a few options to migrate from unsupported Windows Server 2008/2008 R2 systems to avoid becoming another cyberattack statistic.Continue Reading

• Using Azure AD conditional access for tighter security

  The cloud-based identity and access management service does not come with certain defensive features turned on by default, which administrators should rectify.Continue Reading

• How to navigate a ransomware recovery process

  If you find your systems locked up from a ransomware attack, what should you prioritize? Before you start your recovery, follow this plan to avoid additional trouble.Continue Reading

• How to manage Exchange hybrid mail flow rules

  Duplicating your existing transport rule collection won't work when you move to an Exchange hybrid deployment. Learn how to set up a proper mail flow with these tips.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

• Cloud adoption a catalyst for IT modernization in many orgs

  Sloppy and insecure IT procedures that had been overlooked before the cloud arrived must evolve with the times to prevent data exposure and system breaches.Continue Reading

• What are the Azure Stack HCI deployment, management options?

  While the Windows Admin Center is one way to manage the Azure Stack HCI platform, you can also use traditional, battle-tested tools.Continue Reading

• What are the Azure Stack HCI features?

  An Azure Stack HCI system relies on Windows Server 2019 to deliver the software-defined compute, storage and networking technologies that integrate with the OEM hardware.Continue Reading

• How to plan for an Azure cloud migration

  A Windows Server migration into the Microsoft cloud comes with several administrative benefits, but it also means there are new management aspects to worry about.Continue Reading

• How to rebuild the SYSVOL tree using DFSR

  Active Directory is the key component in many organizations to keep tabs on access and identity. If the SYSVOL directory disappears, these steps can get the system fixed.Continue Reading

• Know your Office 365 backup options -- just in case

  A move to Exchange Online in the Office 365 platform removes some administrative obligations but does require more work to set up proper email protections.Continue Reading

• How to handle service downtime in the cloud age

  You know what happens when you assume. Don't set and forget those critical IT infrastructure services in the cloud without putting together a contingency plan.Continue Reading

• Check Office 365 usage reports for user adoption insights

  Microsoft gives administrators access to many Office 365 reports to pinpoint ways to improve user adoption rates and tighten up potential security leaks.Continue Reading

• How to plot out an Office 365 tenant-to-tenant migration

  IT pros in organizations on Office 365 that undergo a merger or acquisition will have their work cut out for them to successfully execute a data migration plan between tenants.Continue Reading

• Construct a solid Active Directory password policy

  Most user authentication still relies on a strong password to keep attackers at bay. Here's how to keep your guard up without adding to your administrative workload.Continue Reading

• How to deal with the on-premises vs. cloud challenge

  Some tools and applications aren't a good fit outside of the data center. Try these tactics to cope as more tools and application vendors start to migrate to the cloud.Continue Reading

• How to manage Windows with Puppet

  Administrators can modernize their organization's management model for both Linux and Windows operating systems with Puppet, a code-based tool, and available community support.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

• Office 365 multiple tenants vs. single tenant considerations

  A migration to Office 365 will require the IT staff to adjust how it manages the collaboration platform, which can get complicated if more than one tenant is involved.Continue Reading

• How to locate privileged accounts in Active Directory

  IT administrators must be able to identify privileged accounts in Active Directory for a more secure enterprise; two methods can make the task easier.Continue Reading