Install Lenovo Drivers and BIOS directly from Lenovo’s Driver Catalog during OSD using Configuration Manager

October 29, 2021October 26, 2021 by Martin Bengtsson

Introduction

This is something that I’ve wanted to do for a while; to always install the latest BIOS and drivers automatically during OSD.

Keeping BIOS and driver versions up to date, can be a tedious and time consuming task, and I wanted to take on a more cloud-like approach.

For that reason, I’ve spent some time on Lenovo Thin Installer as well as Lenovo System Update, but they didn’t quite live up to my expectations and need for flexibility.

Instead – and by coincident – I stumbled upon this awesome PowerShell module: jantari/LSUClient

It does exactly what Thin Installer and System Update offers, as well as giving you the flexibility of PowerShell. What’s not to like?

Remove desktop shortcuts for the current user and public profile using PowerShell and Proactive Remediations

October 11, 2021October 9, 2021 by Martin Bengtsson

Introduction

I think most IT-professionals who’s working with software delivery in some sort, has dealt with software and software installers in general, that puts a shortcut on the desktop by default. Annoying indeed.

Typically you’re in for a treat, when trying to figure out how to customize the installer, to prevent the shortcut on the desktop from being created. It’s not rare either, that the installer simply doesn’t support that.

And finally, we are all aware of the desktop-shortcut-mess, when using OneDrive PC folder backup (formerly known as ‘Known Folder Move’), where shortcuts are duplicated and synced between devices. Yikes.

Long story short, I was tired of spending time on desktop shortcuts, so I figured it was time to create my own solution to the problem.

Using Filters with Conditional Access: Protect your privileged users with an additional layer of security

September 7, 2021September 7, 2021 by Martin Bengtsson

Introduction

So, I’m quite far behind in my blogging schedule, and I’m merely picking up on a feature which released in preview back some time in May. Luckily, this doesn’t impact the importance of the topic, and therefore I’m still putting it out there.

A neat example of putting Filters to use with Conditional Access, is by protecting your privileged users, like your Global Administrators, with an additional layer, only allowing access to resources if coming from specific devices.

Curious? This post will walk you through how to achieve just that. 🙂

Configure Microsoft Teams application settings using PowerShell and Proactive Remediations in Microsoft Endpoint Manager

April 11, 2021April 11, 2021 by Martin Bengtsson

Introduction

Almost a year ago, I wrote a blog post on how to configure Microsoft Teams application settings using Configuration Manager and Powershell. For good measures, find this post in the link below:

Configure Microsoft Teams application settings using Configuration Manager and Powershell – imab.dk

Not too long ago, I started getting some reports on, that Teams is no longer picking up the changes made to the config.json and that Teams is hanging at the loading screen. I initially tried to reproduce, but was unable to.

I decided to invest some more time into the issue, and ended up being able to reproduce and find the cause. In the process of troubleshooting, I decided to try and move this into Proactive Remediations in Microsoft Endpoint Manager as well. The result made up this blog post.

Below a quick illustration of running the solution manually. The detection script detects that Microsoft Teams needs its settings configured, and the configure script carries out the configuration.

Windows 10 Toast Notification Script Update: Support for use with Endpoint Analytics Proactive Remediations

July 8, 2020July 5, 2020 by Martin Bengtsson

Introduction

I accidentally got to spend my entire weekend, toying around and testing the new Endpoint Analytics Proactive Remediations feature in Microsoft Endpoint Manager (Intune).

New to Endpoint Analytics? Then grab a quick peek at following docs: What is Endpoint analytics (preview)?

Long story short is, that Proactive Remediations is capable of running Powershell scripts on a schedule on your Windows 10 devices, similar to what we have done for years with Configuration Manager and scheduled tasks.

So, I needed my Windows 10 Toast Notification Script to work with this delicious new feature – and now it does, hitting a version of 1.8.0. All the details down below.

NOTE: You can’t really tell, but the examples below are indeed generated from using Proactive Remediations. My Toast Notification Script is triggered, if a certain device is not enrolled with Windows Hello for Business. Blog post incoming. 🙂

Apologies for the Danish nonsense. I was testing the multi-language portion (in the script) as well, coming from Proactive Remediations 🙂

Windows 10 Toast Notification Script Update: Multi-language support and easy switching of images

July 4, 2020July 3, 2020 by Martin Bengtsson

Introduction

I am back with another update to the Windows 10 Toast Notification Script, now hitting an astonishing and delicious version of 1.7.1. 😀

This version brings multi-language support, everything based on the local culture in Windows 10 of the device running the script, as well as new config options to more easily switch between the used images.

This time a huge thank you goes out to Matt Benninge @matbg, for taking the time to develop code for the multi-language support as well as sending me the pieces for me to incorporate.

Also, the script has finally made its long journey into GitHub. So for future downloads, please go to https://github.com/imabdk/Toast-Notification-Script.

Next update: I’m currently working on incorporating support for feature updates with Configuration Manager, so for those upgrading Windows 10 using this approach, something neat is coming up – I hope. 🙂

A first look into the new Antivirus Endpoint security policy experience in Microsoft Endpoint Manager

March 31, 2020March 30, 2020 by Martin Bengtsson

Introduction

Good news everyone!

Last week, a new Endpoint security policy experience in Microsoft Endpoint Manager was released. Among the new policies, you will find a brand new way of managing your Microsoft Defender Antivirus. This new policy type, offers the long-sought for tri-state configurations consisting of No, Yes and Not-configured, which simplifies things greatly.

I do think these new policies will make management a lot easier. Once all of your configurations eventually has transitioned away from regular device configuration profiles, the general view of security measures taken on your devices within Microsoft Intune, will improve by a lot.

This is not a typical A-Z guide, but rather my first and brief look into the new options. All of this of course, based on my own production environment. Curious? Read on. 🙂

Windows 10 Toast Notification Script Update: Run ConfigMgr applications directly from the action button

July 23, 2020March 18, 2020 by Martin Bengtsson

Introduction

Another update to the Windows 10 Toast Notification Script is a reality. Now being on version 1.6.

The feedback and questions related to the Windows 10 Toast Notification Script keeps coming and that’s amazing!

In my last post and update of the script, I added the option to natively and with help of a custom protocol in Windows, to run task sequences directly from the action button.

Since then, I was asked if the script is able to launch application directly from the action button as well, and sure thing. I just added that capability to the script and the details are explained below.

Find the original page for the Windows 10 Toast Notification Script here: https://www.imab.dk/windows-10-toast-notification-script

Securing your endpoints with Microsoft Intune, part 1: Exploit Guard Controlled Folder Access

March 5, 2020March 5, 2020 by Martin Bengtsson

Introduction

This is the first and initial blog post of an upcoming series, all concerning how one can secure their endpoints using Microsoft Intune.

The posts are meant to serve as titbits, quickly giving the reader an understanding of a specific feature.

The posts are not released in any particular order, and the topics discussed are based on what I’m currently looking into, in my own environment.

Therefore and as usual, this is not a typical and standard walk through, but more a look into how I’m initially taking on the discussed topic. Curios? Read on! 🙂

Require TLS with Exchange Online and a custom made NDR (Non-Delivery Report) with Powershell, Azure Automation and Conditional Access

February 24, 2020February 5, 2020 by Martin Bengtsson

Introduction

First things first: This is not a typical topic on this blog, but I do find it highly relevant to share regardless.

The main story here is, that if you want to comply with GDPR and other regulations, you might end up in a situation where you need to require TLS for outgoing e-mails. This is something that’s easily achievable by configuring the proper transport rules in Exchange Online, but what if the recipient doesn’t support receiving e-mails encrypted with TLS in transit? In that situation, the e-mail typically bounce back after 24 hours of retrying (At the time of writing, this timer is not configurable in Exchange Online) .

24 hours is a long time to wait for the Non-Delivery Report, especially for my industry which is the legal vertical, so I had to come up with something else.

Powershell and Azure Automation to the rescue (and also a little something on how to protect the accounts used with Conditional Access).

OBS: Apologies if there are more clever solutions out there to cater for this. I haven’t been able to find any, but I’m sharing regardless, as the use of this easily can be transferred to other needs. 🙂