Comparing Security Baselines in Endpoint Manager using PowerShell and Microsoft Graph API

April 6, 2022September 27, 2020 by Martin Bengtsson

Introduction

I just very recently discovered, that a new version of the Security Baseline for Windows 10 was made available in Microsoft Endpoint Manager Intune.

It’s been a while since the last version, more than a year in fact, so it was a pleasant surprise seeing an update on this area.

Security Baselines, and those for Windows 10 in particular, consist of a lot settings. So I wondered what’s changed and started browsing and comparing the various settings via the admin portal.

Then I realized how that’s not very optimal, and began looking for alternatives. I eventually got myself into trying something new, and went on to compare the Security Baselines Profiles using Powershell and the Microsoft Graph. The result of that journey is this post. 🙂

Windows 10 Toast Notification Script Update (Poolside Release): Dynamic Application deadline and custom action scripts updates

September 5, 2020September 4, 2020 by Martin Bengtsson

Introduction

This is just a minor release, with me making some few adjustments and further polishing of the script while being on vacation (hence the poolside reference). 😀

I’ve added the option to retrieve deployment deadline of applications dynamically, as well as reworked some of the custom scripts area.
Everything related to the script, is now located within the user’s profile in AppData\Roaming\ToastNotificationScript.
Custom scripts are moving away from ProgramData into AppData\Roaming\ToastNotificationScript\Scripts.

The script is now on version 2.0.2. Find all the details down below.

Improve your Windows as a Service process: Use Toast Notifications and Powershell App Deployment Toolkit to Upgrade Windows 10

October 14, 2020August 28, 2020 by Martin Bengtsson

Introduction

This is just a brief storytelling on, how you can add more user-friendliness and flexibility to your Windows as a Service process with Configuration Manager.

That be whether you fancy using Task Sequences or Feature Updates, this post will show you how you can wrap the process into an initial Toast Notification, which again sends the end-user into a PowerShell App Deployment Toolkit experience, which again will run either the Task Sequence or the Feature Update automatically.

Carrot on a stick: All the binaries used in these examples, are available for download throughout the post. That goes for PSADT as well as exported ConfigMgr applications.

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

August 24, 2020August 22, 2020 by Martin Bengtsson

Introduction

It’s here! The new and delicious version of my Windows 10 Toast Notification Script. The script is now being on version 2.0.0.

First off, a huge thank you to Chad Brower for his incredible contributions to this new version. Most of the new functionality here, is a direct incorporation of Chad’s work (yet I end up spending 20 hours+ on deciphering and rewriting code, testing functionality, writing blog and updating documentation. I learned a ton!). 🙂

This new version, obviously brings the option to run Software (Feature) Updates directly from the action button in the toast notification, but also removes the need to manually, and outside of the script, to create the custom protocols and scripts (those enabling you, to run anything custom from the toast notification action button).

Find all the nifty details down below.

Endpoint Analytics: Locate devices not enrolled with Windows Hello for Business

August 20, 2020August 20, 2020 by Martin Bengtsson

Introduction

As promised, another use-case and example of Proactive Remediations in the new Endpoint Analytics feature in Microsoft Endpoint Manager (Intune).

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

In this example, I’m locating all devices, which currently are not making use of Windows Hello for Business, and display its logged on user a Toast Notification to remind them to get started.

If and when any organization is promoting and requiring the use of Windows Hello for Business, you will want to make sure that the users indeed are setting this up – and if not, nag them continuously until done.

I have previously done something similar with Configuration Manager: Remind users to enroll into Windows Hello for Business using Toast Notifications and ConfigMgr

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. 🙂

Deploy RSAT (Remote Server Administration Tools) for Windows 10 v2004 using ConfigMgr and Powershell

November 24, 2020June 8, 2020 by Martin Bengtsson

Introduction

NOTE: Script has been updated for v20H2 (2009): https://www.imab.dk/deploy-rsat-remote-server-administration-tools-for-windows-10-v20h2-using-configmgr-and-powershell/

I’m a little late to the 2004 party this time around, but nevertheless, I just found time to update my Powershell script, which will enable you to install RSAT for Windows 10 v2004 automatically and unattended.

Windows 10 v2004 was released to MSDN users early in May and to VLSC customers 2 weeks later. True to tradition, I’m showing you how you can leverage my script to install the RSAT features with Configuration Manager.

The script received a minor update, and is now also logging its actions into a local log file in C:\Windows\Install-RSATfeatures.log.

The script has now moved away from TechNet Gallery into my GitHub page: https://github.com/imabdk

Use Powershell to create device collections in Configuration Manager for the new Microsoft 365 Apps update channels

May 29, 2020May 28, 2020 by Martin Bengtsson

Introduction

While brewing on another blog post, on how I’m preparing for the changes to update channels for Microsoft 365 Apps (formerly known as Office 365 ProPlus), I figured this post will do its justice as a decent opening post.

You may have collections configured for this already, or maybe you don’t. Either way, they probably need some updating before June 9, 2020, as this is the date where the new update channels will start appearing (with the exception of Monthly Enterprise Channel, which is live as we speak).

Also, I’m going to reference some of these collections in my other and upcoming post, so I might as well get this out there, as an help to get started. 🙂

Configure Microsoft Teams application settings using Configuration Manager and Powershell

May 15, 2020May 14, 2020 by Martin Bengtsson

Introduction

OK, so the story here is, that many organizations – including ourselves – has taken on the use of Microsoft Teams.

This means that management and configuration of application settings, becomes highly relevant and interesting. Microsoft Teams in its current state of the application for Windows, comes with 5 settings which potentially needs to be configured:

Auto-start application
Open application in background
On close, keep the application running
Disable GPU hardware acceleration
Register Teams as the chat app for Office

For this purpose I have created a Powershell script, which can be run with Configuration Manager (explained in this post) as well as Microsoft Intune (and probably other management systems as well).