Windows systems and network management

Gain valuable techniques and information on the latest PowerShell commands and Microsoft tools, such as System Center, in this Windows systems and network management topic center. Admins will also learn new ways to respond quickly to changing business needs.

June 09, 2021 09 Jun'21
Microsoft resolves 6 zero-days for June Patch Tuesday

The tech company confirmed there were signs of exploitation in the wild for the vulnerabilities that affect Windows desktop and server operating systems.
May 13, 2021 13 May'21
May Patch Tuesday brings more bad news for Exchange admins

Microsoft releases four fixes for the email server product, which remains firmly in the sights of threat actors seeking new ways to exploit the system.
April 14, 2021 14 Apr'21
Exchange Server bugs continue to bite on April Patch Tuesday

Microsoft resolves 110 vulnerabilities, including a zero-day and four public disclosures, but the company says admins should prioritize four critical bugs on Exchange Server.
March 09, 2021 09 Mar'21
Exchange Server issues loom over March Patch Tuesday

For many organizations that rely on Exchange for reasons in addition to email, a move to a more secure messaging platform is not an option.

Bring yourself up to speed with our introductory content

active directory

Active Directory (AD) is Microsoft's proprietary directory service. Continue Reading
Use PnP PowerShell commands to fortify SharePoint management

A new PowerShell module pares down the work required to handle administrative tasks on several Office 365 services, such as SharePoint Online and Microsoft Teams. Continue Reading
SCCM driver management strategies for the modern world

Now that more users work remotely, administrators should evolve with the times and understand the range of options to deploy device drivers more efficiently. Continue Reading

Weigh the pros and cons of technologies, products and projects you are considering.

SCCM peer caching matters more now than ever

The three peer-to-peer technologies in System Center Configuration Manager smooth out traffic over the network, but one might be a better fit for your organization than the others. Continue Reading
SCCM vs. Intune: A closer look at the capabilities of each

Microsoft Endpoint Manager packages the two well-known administration tools, which have grown closer in functionality but still have some unique 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

Learn to apply best practices and optimize your operations.

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
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
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

We’ve gathered up expert advice and tips from professionals like you so that the answers you need are always available.

Cut coding corners with return values in PowerShell functions

In certain instances, a return keyword is a good option to exit the current scope of a function and to reduce the bloat from a PowerShell script. Continue Reading
Microsoft Cloud App Security aims to expand your defenses

Data center security tools have little control over the plethora of SaaS apps used in the enterprise. A Microsoft offering attempts to bridge that gap to ward off threats. Continue Reading
What is bloatware? How to identify and remove it

Unwanted pre-installed software -- also known as bloatware -- has long posed security threats for computers and other devices. Here are strategies for how to detect bloatware and uninstall the potential threat. Continue Reading