PowerShell Desired State Configuration (DSC) allows you to define the desired state of Windows machines declaratively and enforce that state automatically. This guide covers the basics of PowerShell DSC in 2026 — how to write configurations, apply them and use them for enterprise compliance enforcement. What is PowerShell DSC? DSC is a PowerShell platform that … Read more
BitLocker is Windows’ built-in drive encryption tool that protects data on laptops and desktops from unauthorised access. This guide covers how to enable and manage BitLocker on Windows 10 and Windows 11 via the GUI, PowerShell and Group Policy for enterprise environments in 2026. Prerequisites Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise or Education — BitLocker is not … Read more
SCCM hardware inventory collects detailed information about hardware components across all managed devices — CPU, RAM, disk, graphics card, BIOS version and more. This guide covers how to extend the default hardware inventory with custom WMI classes and how to create custom inventory reports in 2026. Understanding SCCM Hardware Inventory SCCM hardware inventory uses WMI … Read more
Windows Firewall with Advanced Security is a powerful built-in firewall that can be managed centrally across your entire organisation via Group Policy. This guide covers how to configure Windows Firewall rules via Group Policy in 2026 — including creating inbound and outbound rules, blocking applications and deploying rules to domain-joined machines. Open Windows Firewall Group … Read more
WSUS (Windows Server Update Services) allows IT administrators to manage and approve Windows updates centrally, controlling exactly which updates are deployed to which machines and when. This guide covers how to install and configure WSUS on Windows Server 2019 and 2022 in 2026. Prerequisites Step 1 — Install the WSUS Role Step 2 — Run … Read more
Stale computer accounts accumulate in every Active Directory environment over time — decommissioned PCs, laptops that have left the business and VMs that no longer exist. Cleaning them up improves security, reduces noise in reports and keeps your AD organised. This guide covers how to find and remove stale computer accounts using PowerShell in 2026. … Read more
Many older applications and Windows features require .NET Framework 3.5, which is not installed by default on Windows 10, Windows 11 and Windows Server. This guide covers how to install and enable .NET Framework 3.5 and 4 using PowerShell, DISM and SCCM in 2026. Check Which .NET Versions Are Installed Install .NET 3.5 Online (Internet … Read more
When SCCM deploys software updates or applications that require a reboot, it can force a restart at inconvenient times. This guide covers how to delay, cancel or suppress the SCCM client reboot using PowerShell in 2026. Check if a Reboot is Pending Cancel a Pending SCCM Reboot Clear Reboot on Multiple Machines Remotely Suppress Reboots … Read more
Windows Delivery Optimization allows Windows to share update downloads between PCs on your local network and in some cases over the internet. In enterprise environments this can cause unexpected WAN traffic and compliance concerns. This guide covers how to disable Windows Update sharing via Group Policy, registry and PowerShell in 2026. What is Windows Delivery … Read more
Getting a list of all users in an Active Directory group is a common task for IT administrators — for audits, access reviews, licence management and security checks. This guide covers how to get all members of an AD group using PowerShell, including nested group members, in 2026. Get All Members of an AD Group … Read more
Windows 11 can slow down over time due to startup programs, visual effects, background services and accumulated temporary files. These 12 proven tips will make a noticeable difference to performance in 2026 — whether you have a new PC or an older machine struggling with recent updates. 1. Disable Startup Programs Too many programs launching … Read more
Every time you type a website address into your browser, DNS (Domain Name System) silently translates that human-readable name into an IP address your computer can use to connect. Without DNS you would need to memorise a string of numbers for every website you visit. This guide explains how DNS works, the different types of … Read more