Scripting with PowerShell and Microsoft Graph PowerShell

PowerShell Overview

In PowerShell, administrative tasks are generally performed by cmdlets, which are specialized .NET classes implementing a particular operation. These work by accessing data in different data stores, like the file system or registry, which are made available to PowerShell via providers.

• PowerShell Overview
• Brushing up on objects
• PowerShell Versions
• Windows PowerShell versus PowerShell Core
• Concepts and Terminology
• Getting Commands
• Getting Help
• Providers and Drives
• LAB: PowerShell Overview

Core Concepts

The PowerShell design integrates concepts from many different environments. Several of them are familiar to people with experience in specific shells or programming environments, but very few people will know about all of them. Looking at some of these concepts provides a useful overview of the shell.

• Viewing Object Structure
• Object Pipeline
• Using Format Cmdlets to Change Output
• Export Data with Out Cmdlets
• Using Variables to Store Objects
• LAB: Core Concepts

Object Pipeline Processing

PowerShell contains a bunch of commands that allow you to manipulate your objects using the pipeline. These cmdlets will help you to filter, sort, group, ... any object.

• Where-Object
• Foreach-Object
• Select-Object
• Sort-Object
• Measure-Object
• Compare-Object
• Group-Object
• Tee-Object
• LAB: Object Pipeline Processing

Working with Objects

PowerShell provides full access to COM, WMI and .NET, enabling administrators to perform administrative tasks on both local and remote Windows systems.

• Files and Folders
• Registry Keys and Values
• COM Objects
• WMI Objects
• .NET Objects
• Static Classes
• LAB: Working with Objects

Extending PowerShell Functionality

A module is a set of related PowerShell functionalities, grouped together as a convenient unit (usually saved in a single directory). By defining a set of related script files, assemblies, and related resources as a module, you can reference, load, persist, and share your code much easier than you would otherwise.
PowerShell Package Manager allows you to find, install and remove software all from within PowerShell from various repositories on the Internet and without having to search around the Internet or your network to find software installers.

• Modules
• Package Manager
• PowerShell Gallery
• PowerShell Profiles
• Operators and Expressions
• LAB: Extending PowerShell Functionality

PowerShell Security

The execution policy is part of the security strategy of PowerShell. It determines whether you can load configuration files and run scripts, and it determines which scripts, if any, must be digitally signed before they will run.

• PowerShell Execution Policy
• Script Signing
• Security Sensitive Information in Scripts
• LAB: PowerShell Security

PowerShell Scripting

PowerShell includes a dynamically typed scripting language which can implement complex operations using cmdlets imperatively. The scripting language supports variables, functions, branching, loops, structured error/exception handling and closures/lambda expressions, as well as integration with .NET.

• Foreach
• For
• While -do while - do until
• If - Switch
• Break - Continue
• LAB: PowerShell Scripting

Microsoft Graph Overview

Microsoft Graph is an API that gives you access to all Microsoft 365 services.

• Microsoft Graph Overview
• Microsoft Graph Benefits
• Graph Explorer
• Graph X-Ray
• LAB: Working with the Graph Explorer

Microsoft Graph PowerShell

The Microsoft Graph PowerShell SDK is built on top of the Microsoft Graph API. It exposes many PowerShell commands to manipulate the Microsoft 365 services.

• Microsoft Graph PowerShell Overview
• Install Microsoft Graph PowerShell
• Microsoft Graph Permissions and Authentication
• Microsoft Graph Find Commands
• Microsoft Graph Queries
• Limitations of Microsoft Graph PowerShell
• LAB: Working with Microsoft Graph PowerShell

Microsoft Entra ID

The Graph modules for Entra ID allow you to create users and groups with PowerShell. You can assign roles to users, get insights in the sign in activity for your organization and list the devices that are registered or joined to Entra ID.

• Create and Manage Users
• Create and Manage Groups
• Create Dynamic Groups
• Assign Roles to Users and Groups
• Assign Licenses to Users and Groups
• View Sign In Events for Users
• LAB: Use Microsoft Graph PowerShell with Microsoft Entra ID

Microsoft Intune

The Graph modules for Microsoft Intune allow you to report on the devices in your organization. You can get insights in the software installed, the operating systems in use and whether devices are compliant with organizational policies.

• Device Configuration
• Compliance Policies
• App Configuration Policies
• Device Reporting
• LAB: Use Microsoft Graph PowerShell with Microsoft Intune