IT operations and infrastructure management
Find tips related to deploying and maintaining the Microsoft-based infrastructure, such as Windows file servers, printers and VPN. Learn how to use PowerShell to automate deployment and troubleshooting tasks and perform bulk operations in the Windows environment.
Top Stories
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Tip
12 Dec 2024
See what's new in Desired State Configuration v3
Avoid unexpected surprises, and learn how to bring consistency to your on-premises infrastructure and cloud resources with the overhauled configuration management tool. Continue Reading
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News
10 Dec 2024
December Patch Tuesday shuts down Windows zero-day
Microsoft addresses 72 vulnerabilities, including 17 rated critical. Administrators should focus on patching the Windows OS to stop a flaw that has been exploited in the wild. Continue Reading
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Feature
25 May 2023
Learn about the Azure Stack HCI benefits for admins
The hyper-converged infrastructure offering promises to reduce the headaches associated with running virtualized workloads on hardware sourced from multiple vendors. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
18 May 2023
Learn how to use the PowerShell Trim method
With the Trim method in your PowerShell toolbox, you can write scripts to remove unwanted characters from strings without using regular expressions. Get started with this tutorial. Continue Reading
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Tip
17 May 2023
Improve automation skills with the AD Administrative Center
You might know that you can use PowerShell to handle repetitive Active Directory tasks. But were you aware the Active Directory Administrative Center can help write the code? Continue Reading
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Definition
15 May 2023
Microsoft Monitoring Agent (MMA)
Microsoft Monitoring Agent (MMA) is a service used to watch and report on application and system health on a Windows computer. Continue Reading
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Definition
12 May 2023
Active Directory domain (AD domain)
An Active Directory domain (AD domain) is a collection of objects within a Microsoft Active Directory network. Continue Reading
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Definition
11 May 2023
Active Directory functional levels
Active Directory functional levels are controls that specify which advanced Active Directory domain features can be used in an enterprise domain. Continue Reading
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News
09 May 2023
Light May Patch Tuesday will weigh heavily on Windows admins
A zero-day that targets the Secure Boot feature will require extensive work from sysadmins to protect Windows systems from the Black Lotus bootkit. Continue Reading
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Definition
08 May 2023
TCPView
TCPView is a Windows network monitoring utility that shows a graphical representation of all currently active TCP and UDP endpoints on a system. Continue Reading
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Definition
05 May 2023
Microsoft Azure Stack
Microsoft Azure Stack is an integrated platform of hardware and software that delivers Microsoft Azure public cloud services in a local data center to enable organizations to construct hybrid clouds. Continue Reading
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Definition
04 May 2023
FDISK
FDISK is a disk utility included in all versions of MS-DOS, Windows and Linux for formatting or partitioning a hard disk drive, or to delete different portions of it. Continue Reading
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Definition
24 Apr 2023
Energy Star
Energy Star is a government-backed labeling program that helps people and organizations save money and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by identifying factories, office equipment, home appliances and electronics that have superior energy efficiency. Continue Reading
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Definition
21 Apr 2023
Build, operate, transfer (BOT)
Build, operate, transfer (BOT) is a project management technique where a company hires a third-party firm to create a new subsidiary or product. Continue Reading
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Definition
20 Apr 2023
WinZip
WinZip is a software product used to archive, compress and encrypt files in a variety of archive formats for more efficient storage and distribution. Continue Reading
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Definition
19 Apr 2023
Microsoft Hybrid Configuration Wizard
The Microsoft Hybrid Configuration Wizard (HCW) is a tool provided by Microsoft to help organizations set up and configure a hybrid deployment between their on-premises Exchange Server and Exchange Online, which is part of Microsoft 365. Continue Reading
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Definition
18 Apr 2023
Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE)
The Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) is a certification that was offered by Microsoft for IT professionals who demonstrated expertise in designing, implementing, and administering Windows server infrastructure, as well as other Microsoft technologies. Continue Reading
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Definition
18 Apr 2023
Microsoft Cloud Witness
Microsoft Cloud Witness is a quorum witness for Windows Server Failover Clustering (WSFC) that uses Microsoft Azure as the arbitration point. Continue Reading
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Definition
17 Apr 2023
Microsoft Active Directory Migration Tool (ADMT)
The Microsoft Active Directory Migration Tool (ADMT) is a free utility administrators can use to move Active Directory objects, such as computers, users and groups, from one Windows Server Active Directory domain or forest to another. Continue Reading
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News
11 Apr 2023
Microsoft mends Windows zero-day on April Patch Tuesday
What's old is new again as multiple security updates from the past made a comeback this month to push the total number of vulnerabilities addressed to 102. Continue Reading
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Definition
10 Apr 2023
organizational unit (OU)
An organizational unit (OU) can refer to different things depending on the context, such as an organizational group within a company that is intended to accomplish a specific business function. Continue Reading
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Definition
06 Apr 2023
Windows CE
Windows CE is a version of Microsoft's Windows operating system (OS) that is designed for mobile and other space-constrained devices with small footprints. Continue Reading
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Definition
06 Apr 2023
Windows Admin Center
Windows Admin Center (WAC), formerly Microsoft Project Honolulu, is a browser-based management tool from Microsoft that allows administrators to manage Windows servers and clusters from a centralized, graphical user interface. Continue Reading
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Definition
06 Apr 2023
Resilient File System (ReFS)
A Resilient File System (ReFS) is a file system that Microsoft developed for use on a Windows operating system (OS) and is designed to overcome some of the limitations in the New Technology File System (NTFS). Continue Reading
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Definition
04 Apr 2023
Outlook Anywhere
Microsoft Outlook Anywhere is a software feature that lets clients using Outlook 2010, Outlook 2007, or Outlook 2003 connect to the Microsoft Exchange server and access their email from outside the corporate domain without having to use a virtual private network (VPN). Continue Reading
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Answer
29 Mar 2023
NFS vs. CIFS vs. SMB: What are the differences?
There are stark differences among file sharing protocols NFS, CIFS and SMB. Compare access, application deployment, configuration and security, among other key features. Continue Reading
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Tip
28 Mar 2023
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
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Tip
21 Mar 2023
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
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Definition
20 Mar 2023
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
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Feature
17 Mar 2023
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
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Definition
16 Mar 2023
IT operations management (ITOM)
IT operations management (ITOM) is a strategic approach to managing an organization's information technology needs. Continue Reading
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Definition
16 Mar 2023
USB 3.0 (SuperSpeed USB)
USB 3.0 is a Universal Serial Bus (USB) data transfer standard that is backwards compatible with USB 2.0 and USB 1.1 devices and is very commonly used for computer peripherals. Continue Reading
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Definition
16 Mar 2023
What is PowerShell and how to use it: The ultimate tutorial
PowerShell is an object-oriented automation engine and scripting language with an interactive command-line shell that Microsoft developed to help IT professionals configure systems and automate administrative tasks. Continue Reading
- Definition 15 Mar 2023
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Definition
15 Mar 2023
Group Policy Management Console (GPMC)
Group Policy Management Console (GPMC) is a Microsoft Management Console snap-in that provides a graphical user interface that enables Active Directory (AD) administrators to manage Group Policy Objects (GPOs) from one console. Continue Reading
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News
14 Mar 2023
Microsoft stops two zero-days for March Patch Tuesday
The company corrects actively exploited vulnerabilities that affected Microsoft Outlook and the Windows OS in this month's batch of security updates. Continue Reading
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Definition
14 Mar 2023
event stream processing (ESP)
Event stream processing (ESP) is a software programming technique designed to process a continuous stream of device data and take action on it in real time. Continue Reading
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Definition
14 Mar 2023
Windows event log
The Windows event log is a detailed record of system, security and application notifications stored by the Windows operating system that is used by administrators to diagnose system problems and predict future issues. Continue Reading
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Feature
13 Mar 2023
10 PowerShell courses to help hone your skills
Learn what popular online PowerShell courses -- including those from Udemy, Pluralsight and LinkedIn Learning -- offer for beginners and advanced systems administrators. Continue Reading
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Definition
10 Mar 2023
NDIS (Network Driver Interface Specification)
Network Driver Interface Specification (NDIS) is a Microsoft Windows specification for how communication protocol programs (such as TCP/IP) and network device drivers should communicate with each other. Continue Reading
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Definition
10 Mar 2023
early adopter
An early adopter refers to a person who embraces new technology or tries a new product before most others. Continue Reading
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Definition
07 Mar 2023
print server
A print server is a software application, network device or computer that manages print requests and makes printer queue status information available to end users and network administrators. Continue Reading
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Definition
06 Mar 2023
embedded systems programming
Embedded systems programming, also known as embedded programming, facilitates the development of consumer-facing devices that don't use conventional operating systems the way that desktop computers and mobile devices do. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
06 Mar 2023
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
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Definition
06 Mar 2023
URN (Uniform Resource Name)
A URN (Uniform Resource Name) is a permanent identifier for internet resources that employs the urn scheme. Continue Reading
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Definition
03 Mar 2023
computer system
A computer system consists of hardware components that have been carefully chosen so that they work well together and software components or programs that run in the computer. Continue Reading
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Feature
03 Mar 2023
Hone your PowerShell text manipulation skills
Retrieving content from and modifying content in text files with PowerShell are skills many administrators need to cultivate to aid their automation efforts. Continue Reading
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Definition
01 Mar 2023
million instructions per second (MIPS)
Million instructions per second (MIPS) is a measure of a processor's speed, providing a standard for representing the number of instructions that a CPU can process in 1 second. Continue Reading
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Definition
24 Feb 2023
memory dump
A memory dump is the process of taking all information content in RAM and writing it to a storage drive as a memory dump file (*.DMP format). Continue Reading
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Definition
24 Feb 2023
remote code execution (RCE)
Remote code execution (RCE) is when an attacker accesses a target computing device and makes changes remotely, no matter where the device is geographically located. Continue Reading
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Definition
24 Feb 2023
SMB 3.0 (Server Message Block 3.0)
SMB 3 (Server Message Block 3.0) is a protocol that provides a way for a computer's client applications to read and write to files from a server in a computer network. Continue Reading
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Tip
22 Feb 2023
Understanding Windows PowerShell function parameters
Parameters in Windows PowerShell can help admins better customize their functions, leading to improved input testing and more extensible commands. Continue Reading
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Feature
22 Feb 2023
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
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Definition
21 Feb 2023
diskpart (Disk Partition Utility)
Diskpart is a command line utility in Windows operating systems (OSs) that is used to manage disks, partitions, and volumes. Continue Reading
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Definition
16 Feb 2023
Microsoft Windows PowerShell Integrated Scripting Environment (ISE)
The Windows PowerShell Integrated Scripting Environment (ISE) is a graphical user interface and front-end hosting application for Windows PowerShell. Continue Reading
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News
15 Feb 2023
Microsoft remedies three zero-days on February Patch Tuesday
The company releases its security updates to shut down the vulnerabilities threat actors have been actively using for attacks in the wild. Continue Reading
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Definition
14 Feb 2023
boot
To boot (to boot up, to start up or booting) a computer is to load an operating system (OS) into the computer's main memory or random-access memory (RAM). Continue Reading
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Definition
13 Feb 2023
Universal Naming Convention (UNC)
The Universal Naming Convention (UNC) is a standard for naming resources -- such as files and devices -- that are shared by computers on a network. Continue Reading
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Definition
06 Feb 2023
failover cluster
In computing, a failover cluster refers to a group of independent servers that work together to maintain high availability of applications and services. Continue Reading
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Tip
02 Feb 2023
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
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Definition
30 Jan 2023
AV (audio/video)
AV, an abbreviation for audio/video, is frequently used as a generic term for the audio and video components and capabilities in home entertainment systems and related product descriptions and reviews. Continue Reading
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Tip
27 Jan 2023
EDR tools for Windows Server compared
Windows Server 2022 comes with native security technologies to protect the enterprise. But endpoint detection and response tools can be worth the price of admission. Continue Reading
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Definition
18 Jan 2023
cluster quorum disk
A cluster quorum disk is the storage medium on which the configuration database is stored for a cluster computing network. Continue Reading
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News
10 Jan 2023
Microsoft resolves Windows zero-day on January Patch Tuesday
The company also issues five corrections, all with a rating of important, to address vulnerabilities on its on-premises Exchange Server email platform. Continue Reading
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Tip
21 Dec 2022
How to use Microsoft Sentinel with Office 365 to find risks
The security product attempts to ferret out threats that originate from apps and services then assists the enterprise with an automatic response to head off trouble. Continue Reading
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News
13 Dec 2022
Microsoft addresses two zero days in December Patch Tuesday
December's Patch Tuesday features fixes for 48 new bugs, including several critical vulnerabilities and two zero days, one of which is currently being exploited in the wild. Continue Reading
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Tip
12 Dec 2022
How to fix Active Directory account lockouts with PowerShell
With more apps and credentials to juggle, users can get blocked from their accounts after too many login attempts. Learn to use PowerShell to find and fix these issues. Continue Reading
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Tip
09 Dec 2022
Compare these PowerShell front-end GUI tools
These offerings provide portals to avoid security issues and other stumbling blocks that hamper organizations from providing more wide-ranging use of PowerShell. Continue Reading
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Definition
02 Dec 2022
User Principal Name (UPN)
In Microsoft Active Directory, a User Principal Name (UPN) is a username and domain in an email address format. Continue Reading
- Definition 02 Dec 2022
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Tip
09 Nov 2022
Follow these steps to remove the last Exchange Server
Organizations that were unable to uninstall their last Exchange Server from the on-premises environment can now do so if they fulfill the requirements. Continue Reading
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News
08 Nov 2022
Microsoft resolves 6 zero-days on November Patch Tuesday
Two Exchange Server zero-days discovered in September get security updates this month along with four Windows vulnerabilities that had been actively exploited. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
07 Nov 2022
Manage Kubernetes clusters with PowerShell and kubectl
Learn how to use the Kubernetes tool kubectl in PowerShell, including setting up aliasing and tab-completion, parsing JSON output and searching logs with the Select-String cmdlet. Continue Reading
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Tip
04 Nov 2022
16 PowerShell commands for network troubleshooting
These 16 Windows PowerShell cmdlets, including Get-NetIPAddress and Test-Connection, help network administrators troubleshoot their network environments. Continue Reading
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Tip
02 Nov 2022
Kusto Query Language primer for IT administrators
Administrators who use Microsoft cloud services, such as Microsoft Sentinel and Microsoft 365, can learn how to pull information from those products with KQL queries. Continue Reading
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Tip
26 Oct 2022
How to perform an AD group membership backup and restore
You can fix some problems with Active Directory with a few clicks, but things get difficult when they involve many layers of group membership. Here's a few ways to avoid trouble. Continue Reading
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Tip
13 Oct 2022
How to avoid common GPO backup and restore problems
Group Policy Objects help admins maintain control of the enterprise environment, but it takes some planning to understand how to properly protect and recover GPOs to avoid trouble. Continue Reading
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News
11 Oct 2022
Microsoft resolves Windows zero-day on October Patch Tuesday
The company released mitigation instructions for two Exchange Server zero-days discovered late last month but had no security updates to close the flaws on the email platform. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
28 Sep 2022
How to use file server reporting in FSRM
File server reporting within File Server Resource Manager can help admins identify problems and then troubleshoot Windows servers. This tutorial outlines how to generate reports. Continue Reading
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Definition
22 Sep 2022
non-uniform memory access (NUMA)
Non-uniform memory access, or NUMA, is a method of configuring a cluster of microprocessors in a multiprocessing system so they can share memory locally. Continue Reading
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News
13 Sep 2022
Windows zero-day quashed for September Patch Tuesday
A relatively light patching workload awaits admins this month, but a "wormable" threat should increase the sense of urgency to rapidly deploy Microsoft's batch of fixes. Continue Reading
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Tip
01 Sep 2022
DNS server troubleshooting for Linux and Windows
Steps in DNS server troubleshooting include checking the DNS status, looking at zone configurations and evaluating logs. Follow these best practices for Windows and Linux servers. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
30 Aug 2022
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
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Tip
30 Aug 2022
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
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Tutorial
25 Aug 2022
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
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Tutorial
22 Aug 2022
How to implement file classification in file servers
File classification with File Server Resource Manager enables admins to classify and organize data. This tutorial shows how to implement and manage file classifications. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
10 Aug 2022
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
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News
09 Aug 2022
DogWalk zero-day squashed on August Patch Tuesday
In addition to a long-simmering bug in the Microsoft Support Diagnostic Tool, Microsoft corrects a sizeable number of flaws in its Azure Site Recovery product. Continue Reading
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Tip
03 Aug 2022
Explore print server alternatives to avoid IT headaches
Increased difficulties related to printing have many organizations exploring their options. See what these third-party print management alternatives have to offer. Continue Reading
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Definition
19 Jul 2022
purple screen of death (PSOD)
A purple screen of death (PSOD) is a diagnostic screen with white type on a purple background that's displayed when the VMkernel of a VMware ESXi host experiences a critical error, becomes inoperative and terminates any virtual machines (VMs) that are running. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
15 Jul 2022
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
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News
12 Jul 2022
4 critical flaws among 84 fixes in July Patch Tuesday
Microsoft's Patch Tuesday release for July brought dozens of fixes for security flaws in Windows, an Azure disaster recovery tool and the problematic Print Spooler service. Continue Reading
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Definition
30 Jun 2022
File Allocation Table (FAT)
File Allocation Table (FAT) is a file system that Microsoft developed to support small disks and simple folder structures. Continue Reading
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Tip
16 Jun 2022
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
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News
14 Jun 2022
Microsoft fixes Follina zero-day for June Patch Tuesday
A Microsoft Support Diagnostic Tool flaw disclosed on May 30 and exploited in the wild gets resolved in this month's batch of security updates. Continue Reading
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Tip
23 May 2022
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
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Tutorial
17 May 2022
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
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News
10 May 2022
Microsoft corrects Windows zero-day for May Patch Tuesday
Administrators should plan on extra testing after deploying this month's patches due to the heavy concentration of fixes in three distinct areas of the Windows OS. Continue Reading
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Tip
29 Apr 2022
5 basic network commands for Linux and Windows
Linux and Windows use different network commands to run tasks that are common in both environments, such as network connectivity testing. But the commands often share similarities. Continue Reading
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Definition
29 Apr 2022
SharePoint Online
Microsoft SharePoint Online is a collection of cloud- and web-based technologies that make it easy for organizations to store, share and manage digital information. Continue Reading
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Definition
18 Apr 2022
built-in administrator account
In the Windows operating system, the built-in administrator account -- the first account created when the OS was installed -- has the highest permissions of any profile on the computer system. Continue Reading
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Definition
14 Apr 2022
RPC over HTTP
Remote Procedure Call over HTTP (RPC over HTTP) is a Microsoft protocol that enables Microsoft Outlook clients to access Microsoft Exchange servers over HTTP. Continue Reading