WSA M18: PowerShell Automation Lab

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GUI Lab Complete!

You've mastered PowerShell automation tools!

Take the Quiz → PowerShell Lab

Lab Tasks

1. Create a Scheduled Task
Open Task Scheduler and create a new basic task for daily script execution.
2. Write a Script in ISE
Switch to PowerShell ISE and create a simple automation script.
3. Run the Script
Execute your script and verify the output in ISE.
4. View DSC Status
Open the DSC panel and view the current configuration status.
5. Apply DSC Configuration
Apply a DSC configuration to fix compliance drift.
6. Set Task Trigger to Weekly
Configure a scheduled task with a weekly trigger and select the day.
7. Configure Task Action
Set up a task action with a program path and arguments.
8. Set Task Run-As Account
Configure the account under which a task runs.
9. Enable Task History
Turn on task execution history to track past runs.
Automation Tools:
Task Scheduler - Schedule recurring scripts
PowerShell ISE - Develop and test scripts
DSC - Enforce desired configurations
Tip: Use the -WhatIf parameter when testing scripts to see what actions would be taken without actually making changes.
Task Scheduler (Local)
Task Scheduler Library
Microsoft
Windows
NameStatusTriggersNext Run TimeLast Run Time
GoogleUpdateTaskMachineCore Ready At system startup N/A 1/30/2026 8:00 AM
Windows Defender Cache Maintenance Ready One time 2/1/2026 12:00 AM 1/25/2026 12:00 AM
Disk Cleanup Disabled Weekly N/A 1/20/2026 3:00 AM
Untitled.ps1
PS C:\>

Local Configuration Manager Pending

Configuration Mode: ApplyAndAutoCorrect
Refresh Mode: Push
Reboot if Needed: False
Last Configuration: 1/29/2026 2:00 PM

Current Configuration: SecureServer Drift Detected

  • WindowsFeature: Web-Server Present (Compliant)
  • WindowsFeature: Telnet-Client Present (Should be Absent)
  • Service: WinRM Running (Compliant)
  • Registry: DisableGuestAccount Present (Compliant)
  • File: C:\Scripts\Maintenance.ps1 Modified (Drift)
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