AZ-040: Automating Administration with PowerShell

Course Description

Take control of Windows Server and cloud environments by automating administration with PowerShell. In this five-day, instructor-led course, IT pros learn to streamline routine operations, manage configurations, query directory services, and orchestrate system tasks across servers and Azure using PowerShell cmdlets and scripting. Through strong emphasis on automation best practices and real-world scenarios, you'll enhance efficiency while minimizing manual steps.

Target Audience

This course is designed for:

• IT Administrators, Systems Engineers, and Cloud Architects seeking to automate Windows Server and Azure tasks with PowerShell

• Professionals with foundational knowledge of Windows Server, networking, Azure, or Microsoft365 systems

Prerequisites:

• Experience in Windows administration (on-premises or cloud)

• No prior scripting required—PowerShell beginners welcome 

Course Outline

Module1: Getting Started with Windows PowerShell

• Install and configure consoles including PowerShell Core and ISE

• Understand PowerShell syntax, cmdlet structure, aliases, and tab completion

• Utilize Get-Help and Show-Command for command discovery 

Module2: Administer Local Systems with PowerShell

• Identify and run cmdlets for AD DS, network, firewall, and server management

• Manage local resources and roles using structured scripting 

Module3: Master the PowerShell Pipeline

• Implement the pipeline to filter, sort, measure, and format output

• Perform advanced enumeration and data manipulation across pipelines 

Module4: Use PSProviders and PSDrives for Storage Access

• Leverage PSProviders to access registry, certificates, and file systems

• Employ PSDrives for seamless navigation of structured data 

Module5: Query System Information via WMI/CIM

• Explore CIM and WMI classes for system configuration and hardware inventory

• Execute remote queries using CimSession for cross-machine administration 

Module6: Automate with Variables, Arrays, Hash Tables

• Use complex data structures to manage script state and logic

• Build dynamic scripts using loops and conditionals for automation 

Module7: Write Robust PowerShell Scripts

• Structure scripts with functions, modules, error handling, and digital signing

• Import and process data files (CSV, JSON, XML) effectively 

Module8: Administer Remote Computers

• Establish PowerShell remoting, implicit remoting, and persistent sessions

• Manage multiple servers in parallel and perform remote configuration 

Module9: Manage Azure and Microsoft 365 with PowerShell

• Use Azure PowerShell modules and Cloud Shell to automate cloud resources

• Manage Azure VMs, storage, subscriptions, and Microsoft 365 identities with PowerShell 

Module10: Automate Background & Scheduled Jobs

• Use background jobs and scheduled tasks to run unattended scripts

• Implement automation workflows that run on demand or via triggers 

HandsOn Experience

Expect 40–50% of the course to be interactive, featuring live demos, guided scripting exercises, and real-world automation tasks to reinforce key PowerShell skills.

Skills You’ll Gain

After completing AZ-040, you'll be able to:

• Discover and execute PowerShell cmdlets for system administration

• Write advanced pipelines and data manipulation scripts

• Automate admin tasks across local, remote, and cloud-based environments

• Manage Azure and Microsoft365 resources using PowerShell

• Implement scheduled and background automation for increased efficiency