Table of Contents

1. Challenge

   Get Started in the Lab Environment

   Here are the initial instructions and explanation of the lab environment. Read this while your environment is busy creating itself from nothing. Yes, this violates physics; we know. How fun!

2. Challenge

   Import and Process an External XML File

   To start the lab, you will process XML data using PowerShell. Firstly, we will learn how to import XML files into PowerShell, and set the foundation for data processing. As you move forward, you will adapt PowerShell commands to extract relevant information from the XML content. Finally, you will put your skills to the ultimate test by converting the processed XML data into a detailed HTML report. By the end of this challenge, you will be able to work with XML data, transforming and reporting it using PowerShell.

3. Challenge

   Create a Reusable Script to Retrieve System Information

   This challenge will teach you to retrieve system metrics from memory, CPU utilization, OS details, and processes. You will create a script in PowerShell that seamlessly extracts this information. By the challenge's conclusion, you will have created a script ensuring you have a comprehensive snapshot of crucial system metrics when needed.

4. Challenge

   Automate the Process of Creating New Users in Active Directory

   You will learn how to automate the creation of new users in Active Directory using PowerShell. You will start by getting familiar with the Active Directory module in PowerShell, and its user management cmdlets. After that, you will develop a script to automate the user creation process, and ensure you accurately capture all the necessary attributes and details. Finally, you will integrate validation processes to verify the successful addition of users.

5. Challenge

   Check the Status of Specific Services

   You will be guided through monitoring services on a Windows server, breaking it into several critical stages. Firstly, you will gain an understanding of how Windows services work, which will be the foundation for performing automated health checks. Following that, you will create a script that will periodically check the status of specific services to ensure that they are always operational. If any of these services fail, your script will try to revive them and notify the designated administrator. By the end of this challenge, you will have gained the necessary skills to independently monitor, recover, and report any service interruptions on a Windows server.

6. Challenge

   Review the Windows Event Logs

   You will now delve into the Event Logs, focusing specifically on a 24-hour time span. The primary objective is to identify any failed login attempts, a task of significant importance in system security. Once identified, you will create a report grouping these attempts based on user accounts and their respective source IP. It not only aids in identifying potential threats but also helps trace back the source of these attempts. After this challenge, you'll have the skill set to effectively monitor, analyze, and report critical data from Windows Event Logs.

7. Challenge

   Retrieve Installed Software on a Remote Machine

   To finish up this lab, you will establish a secure remote connection to a workstation using PowerShell. After establishing a connection, you can retrieve a thorough list of installed software. Once done, the final step involves comparing and reporting. It means checking the list of retrieved software against a pre-approved list, and flagging any unauthorized applications. By completing this challenge, you'll gain the expertise to effectively monitor software compliance across a network using PowerShell.