Automate Administration with PowerShell (AZ-040)

Module 1: Introduction to Windows PowerShell

This learning path introduces Windows PowerShell and provides an overview of the product's functionality. It explains how to open and configure Windows PowerShell, run commands, and use its built-in Help system.

Lessons:

• Review Windows PowerShell
• Understand command syntax in Windows PowerShell
• Find commands and Get-Help in Windows PowerShell

Module 2: Maintain system administration tasks in Windows PowerShell

This learning path covers cmdlets that are commonly used for system administration tasks related to Active Directory, network configuration, server administration, and Windows 10 device administration.

Lessons:

• Manage Active Directory Domain Services using PowerShell cmdlets
• Manage network service settings for Windows devices using PowerShell cmdlets
• Manage Windows Server settings using PowerShell cmdlets
• Manage settings for a local Windows machine using PowerShell cmdlets

Module 3: Working with the Windows PowerShell pipeline

This learning path explains the purpose and use of the PowerShell pipeline and use the pipeline to sort, filter, enumerate and display output data for PowerShell cmdlets. It also explains how to pass pipeline objects.

Lessons:

• Understanding the Windows PowerShell pipeline
• Select, classify, and measure objects using the pipeline
• Filter objects outside the pipeline
• Enumerate objects in the pipeline
• Sending and passing data as output from the pipeline
• Passing pipeline objects

Module 4: Working with PowerShell providers and PowerShell units in Windows PowerShell

This learning path explains two technologies: PowerShell providers and PowerShell drives, which let you work with many forms of storage by using the commands and techniques that you use to manage the file system.

Lessons:

• Connecting to data stores using PowerShell providers
• Using PowerShell units in PowerShell

Module 5: View management information using the Common Information Model and Windows Management Instrumentation

This learning path covers Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) and Common Information Model (CIM). These technologies help to access information about a computer. Additionally, both technologies provide local and remote access to management information from the operating system, computer hardware, and installed software.

Lessons:

• CIM and WMI Review
• View configuration information using CIM and WMI
• Querying and manipulating repository objects using CIM and WMI methods

Module 6: Using variables, arrays, and hash tables in Windows PowerShell scripts

This learning path explains how to work with variables, arrays, and hash tables in Windows PowerShell scripts.

Lessons:

• Managing variables in Windows PowerShell scripts
• Working with arrays and hash tables in Windows PowerShell scripts

Module 7: Create and modify scripts using Windows PowerShell

This learning path explains how to create and modify scripts. It covers useful scripting techniques including importing data from a file, accepting user input, and handling errors.

Lessons:

• Create and run scripts using Windows PowerShell
• Working with scripting constructs in Windows PowerShell
• Importing data in different formats for use in scripts by using Windows PowerShell cmdlets
• Using methods to accept user inputs in Windows PowerShell scripts
• Troubleshooting script problems and handling errors in Windows PowerShell
• Using functions and modules in Windows PowerShell scripts

Module 8: Administering remote computers using Windows PowerShell

This learning path covers remoting mainly in its default configuration, using HTTP on port 5985. It describes how to configure remoting to allow for—or require—encryption based on Secure Sockets Layer (SSL).

Lessons:

• Manage one or more computers using Windows PowerShell remote communication
• Using advanced Windows PowerShell remote communication techniques
• Manage persistent connections to remote computers using Windows PowerShell sessions

Module 9: Manage cloud resources using Windows PowerShell

This learning path explains how to install the necessary modules for cloud services management and use PowerShell commands to perform simple administrative tasks on cloud resources such as Azure virtual machines, Azure storage accounts, and Azure subscriptions. The learning path also covers how to use the Azure Cloud Shell environment to perform PowerShell-based or Bash-based administration directly from the Azure portal.

Lessons:

• Review the Azure PowerShell module
• Review the features and tools of Azure Cloud Shell
• Manage Azure resources with Windows PowerShell

Module 10: Manage Microsoft 365 services using Windows PowerShell

This learning path explains how to efficiently manage the most commonly used services in Microsoft 365, such as Microsoft Entra ID, Microsoft Exchange Online, Microsoft SharePoint Online, and Microsoft Teams.

Lessons:

• Manage users, groups, and licenses in Microsoft Login ID using Windows PowerShell
• Managing Exchange Online using Windows PowerShell
• Managing SharePoint Online using Windows PowerShell
• Managing Microsoft Teams using Windows PowerShell

Module 11: Create and manage background and scheduled jobs in Windows PowerShell

This learning path explains the jobs feature of Windows PowerShell. Jobs are an extension point in Windows PowerShell, and there are several types of jobs. Each type works slightly differently and has distinct capabilities.

Lessons:

• Create and manage background jobs using Windows PowerShell
• Create and manage scheduled jobs using Windows PowerShell