PowerShell Basics: Automate Like a Cloud Security Pro

1. Why PowerShell? A Beginner’s Intro

PowerShell is like a Swiss Army knife for Windows — it does everything your graphical interface (like File Explorer) can, but faster and smarter. I’ve used PowerShell to automate tasks, secure systems, and save time — like cutting deployment times by 30% with scripts at my last gig. For beginners, it’s a game-changer: no more clicking through menus to grab system info or manage files. Type a command, get results — simple yet powerful.

Take this: want today’s date? Open PowerShell (Start > Search “PowerShell” > Run as Administrator) and type:

Get-Date

My first PowerShell command — quick and easy!

Boom - your date and time pop up in the terminal. No clicks, just text. From here, you can download files, check network settings, or even secure Azure resources — all with a single line or script. Let’s start with the basics.

2. Where Am I? Finding Your Folder

Forget clicking around in File Explorer - PowerShell lets you navigate with words. To see your current folder (aka “working directory”), type:

Get-Location

This spits out your “Path” — like a digital address (e.g., C:\Windows\System32). I use this daily to jump around systems I’m securing. Fun fact: C: is usually your starting point — your hard drive’s root.

Moving Around:

• Go up one folder: cd ..

• Enter a folder: cd Users

Try it: from C:\Windows\System32, type cd .., then cd .. again. You’re now at C:\. Then cd Users — you’re in C:\Users. Simple, right? (Note: pwd isn’t a PowerShell thing — it’s a Linux habit I picked up; stick with Get-Location.)

Navigating folders — faster than clicking!

3. Jumping to New Spots

Need to move somewhere specific? Use Set-Location:

Set-Location C:\

This zaps you to C:\ — the root. From there, try:

Set-Location C:\Users\Username

Now you’re in your user folder (swap “Username” for your name). I’ve used this to hop into Azure config directories in seconds. Quick shortcuts:

• cd ~ or cd $HOME — straight to your home directory (e.g., C:\Users\TETTEI).

Jumping to my home folder — handy for quick moves.

4. What’s Inside? Listing Files

Want to peek inside a folder? PowerShell’s got you:

dir

This lists everything — files, folders, all of it. I’ve run this to audit system directories for security checks. Coming from Linux? ls works too — it’s an alias for Get-ChildItem, PowerShell’s native command:

Get-ChildItem

Need specifics? Use wildcards:

dir *.exe

This shows only executable files. Try *.ps1 for scripts or *.png for pics — super useful when I’m hunting for specific Azure script files.

Listing files — spotting executables in seconds.

5. Making New Stuff

Create files without a mouse? Easy:

New-Item hello.txt

A blank hello.txt appears — size 0 bytes, ready for content. I’ve used this to whip up logs or test files on the fly. Not just text — try . .docx, .pdf, or .jpg. For folders:

New-Item -ItemType Directory -Name NewFolder

Boom — a new folder. At work, I’ve scripted folder creation for Azure resource setups — saves tons of time.

Made a file from scratch — no GUI needed!

6. Copying Files

Need a duplicate? Use Copy-Item:

Copy-Item hello.txt hello2.txt

This copies hello.txt to hello2.txt in the same spot. For folders (including everything inside):

Copy-Item -Recurse .\OldFolder .\NewFolder

-Recurse grabs subfolders too — I’ve copied entire configs this way for backups.

Copied a file — doubling up made easy.

7. Deleting Files (Carefully!)

Time to clean up? Remove-Item is your friend — but it’s permanent (no Recycle Bin):

Remove-Item hello2.txt

Gone forever. Folders too:

Remove-Item OldFolder

If it’s got stuff inside, add -Force:

Remove-Item OldFolder -Force

I’ve used this to purge test files, but be cautious — once it’s gone, it’s gone. Pro tip: Make a file read-only to avoid accidents:

(Get-Item hello.txt).Attributes = "ReadOnly"

Now Remove-Item hello.txt fails — unless you force it.

Deleted a file — watch out, it’s permanent!

8. Digging Up System Info

PowerShell isn’t just file tricks — it’s a goldmine for system details. Try:

Get-ComputerInfo

This dumps everything — OS version, RAM, you name it. I’ve used it to audit systems before securing them. Want just the OS name?

(Get-ComputerInfo).OsName

Handy for scripts — like when I needed OS versions for Azure reports. Running programs?

Get-Process

Lists all active processes — great for spotting suspicious activity.

Grabbing system info — key for security checks.

9. PowerShell Hacks for Newbies

• Command History: Hit the up arrow — scroll through past commands. Down arrow moves forward. Press Enter to rerun — saves me retyping daily.

• Clear the Screen: Too much clutter?

Clear-Host

Or just Clear — same deal. I use Ctrl + L too — clears but keeps scrollback.

• Chain Commands: Run multiple at once:

cd $HOME; dir *.txt; New-Item files.txt

Goes home, lists text files, makes a new one — automation in one line.

• Stop a Command: Long process (e.g., dir C:\Windows\system32)? Hit Ctrl + C — stops it cold.

Chaining commands — less typing, more doing.

10. Automation Magic with Scripts

Why type commands daily? Scripts automate it. I’ve saved hours — like automating 20+ Azure resources with one file. Open Notepad (or VS Code), write:

Get-Date
Get-ChildItem *.txt
New-Item -ItemType Directory -Name TextFiles

Save as automate.ps1. Run it:

.\automate.ps1

Running my first script — automation made simple!

It shows the date, lists text files, and makes a “TextFiles” folder — all at once. At my job, I’ve scripted system checks and Azure deployments — scripts are a time-saver every beginner can master.

Wrapping Up: PowerShell in the Real World

That’s your crash course in PowerShell basics — from navigating folders to automating tasks. I’ve used these tricks to secure systems, cut deployment times by 30%, and keep cloud environments humming. This is just the start — PowerShell can do so much more, like auditing systems or managing Azure resources (my specialty!). Want to dig deeper? Check out my other tutorials on mshardey.com/blog, where I share practical cloud security tips from the field. Whether you’re a beginner or a pro, there’s always a command to make life easier—keep exploring!