Automating PowerShell Commands

Enable any user to run PowerShell commands using a drop-down menu from the PowerScripts Library.

PowerShell is Microsoft’s primary scripting language that allows administrators to make changes to their environment. Running PowerShell scripts against Exchange environments is also a great way to monitor availability and gather real-time performance metrics. As most Exchange admins probably already know, entering PowerShell scripts at the command line is inefficient and error-prone.

PowerScripts is a feature within VitalSigns that allows administrators to bypass the daunting process of manually running PowerShell scripts. PowerScripts includes a library of approved PowerShell commands that can securely executed from within VitalSigns. The PowerScripts library can easily be extended, allowing experienced administrators to customize their PowerShell terminal by publishing their own custom written scripts.

Normally, when a user writes a PowerShell script one of the first things they have to do is establish their credentials. If a junior admin is going to run a PowerShell script “natively” then they will also need the credentials. This poses a huge security risk because once a user has credentials, they can use them anyway they want. If a user runs a script in PowerShell IDE, using credentials given to them for another purpose, there will be NO RECORD of what they do with it. The security of any environment is increasingly at risk as more users gain credentials that will allow changes on a production system.

PowerScripts leverages Active Directory authentication to identify if the user is valid and what rights are associated with that user’s role. Using Active Directory for authentication streamlines the end-user experience with single-sign on but also improves overall security and management of terminated and rogue users.

Senior administrators can easily manage who has access to the PowerScripts feature and what rights they have using administrator roles with descending rights. Each role can be customized to fit the unique hierarchical order of your organization. Roles can be added, updated or deleted at any time using the Configurator. Watch the video below to learn more about Administrator Roles with Descending Rights in VitalSigns.

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Generate Audit Trails

Designed as a new approach to command line management, PowerScripts requires no prior understanding of PowerShell to execute commands. Users that have been assigned credentials can execute any script in the library, include custom scripts. Scripts can be run against users, mailboxes and servers from a simple drop-down menu located within health pages. The area within the health pages to execute commands is only visible to users with the PowerScripts user role.

PowerScripts enable organizations to delegate administrator tasks to junior administrators without compromising control of the environment. PowerScripts user roles can be easily granted and restricted to users in the VitalSigns Configurator.

View the PowerScripts that are currently available in VitalSigns out-of-the-box:

Watch this video or reach out to RPR Wyatt to learn more about using PowerScripts in Microsoft Exchange

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