Netwrix Blog | Insights for Cybersecurity and IT Pros

This post first appeared on blog.netwrix.com and was written by Jonathan Blackwell.
Grep (Global Regular Expression print) command is a powerful text searching utility in Unix/Linux systems. Grep takes a pattern such as a regular expression or string and searches one or more input files for the lines that contain the expected pattern. Grep command can be significantly used for text searching and filtering, log analysis, code … Continued

This post first appeared on blog.netwrix.com and was written by Joe Dibley.
Introduction to NTLM and Kerberos Connecting all your company resources in a network for sharing is valuable, but you need a way to verify that only authorized users and devices can access these resources. Authentication serves this purpose by providing methods for users and devices to prove their identity. In Windows environments, two main authentication … Continued

This post first appeared on blog.netwrix.com and was written by Jonathan Blackwell.
Introduction to PowerShell Execution Policies In PowerShell, execution policies are a safety feature designed to control the conditions under which PowerShell scripts run on a system. These policies are not exactly a security mechanism but are intended to serve the following purpose: Execution policies play an important role in enhancing script security. They act as … Continued

This post first appeared on blog.netwrix.com and was written by Dirk Schrader.
Microsoft 365 Copilot is an AI-powered productivity assistant designed to integrate with the Microsoft 365 suite. It enhances user productivity and collaboration across multiple applications by providing intelligent suggestions, automating tasks, and delivering real-time insights for users. Copilot help users in drafting emails, creating presentations in PowerPoint or summarizing meetings in Teams. It helps save … Continued

This post first appeared on blog.netwrix.com and was written by Adam Laub.
Introduction to Copilot So what is Copilot. Well, figuratively, it is like having your own cognitive copilot to help you when performing digital tasks such as drafting emails, summarizing documents and analyzing data. Technically, it is a generative AI chatbot developed by Microsoft that is built on the GPT-4 series of large language models. It … Continued

This post first appeared on blog.netwrix.com and was written by Istvan Molnar.
The latest iteration of the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) just came into force, and there is much to discuss about how security professionals can get up to speed on meeting its requirements. Who is this blog for? Are you working for an organization that acts as a prime or subcontractor for the Department of … Continued

This post first appeared on blog.netwrix.com and was written by Adam Turner.
Certifications validate a professional’s knowledge and skills. As a result, they enhance career prospects by establishing credibility that individuals are equipped to handle evolving cyber threats. Earning the following certifications can significantly boost a professional’s ability to contribute to an organization’s cybersecurity posture: This article provides a deep dive into each of these certifications and … Continued

This post first appeared on blog.netwrix.com and was written by Jonathan Blackwell.
Introduction to Error Handling in PowerShell Many PowerShell scripts are designed to run unattended, so it is vital to ensure that they can handle errors smoothly. Proper error handling helps prevent a wide variety of issues, from incomplete operations and system downtime to data loss. Error handling needs to account for both terminating errors, which … Continued

This post first appeared on blog.netwrix.com and was written by James Anderson.
Organizations today collect and generate enormous volumes of sensitive data. Much of it is stored in SQL Server databases, making SQL Server security management crucial for protecting critical applications and services. Implementing strong Microsoft SQL Server security measures helps organizations defend against cyber threats and comply with regulations like GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI DSS. This … Continued

This post first appeared on blog.netwrix.com and was written by Adam Turner.
Cybersecurity professionals play an increasingly crucial role in protecting sensitive information and securing networks against evolving threats. Cybersecurity certifications validate an individual’s knowledge and skills, enhancing career prospects and credibility in the field. CompTIA Security+ and GIAC Security Essentials (GSEC) are two highly valued certifications: Read on for a detailed comparison of the two certifications … Continued

This post first appeared on blog.netwrix.com and was written by Jonathan Blackwell.
PowerShell is a cross-platform command-line shell and scripting language designed for system administrators. PowerShell commands can be combined into scripts to automate repetitive tasks and process large datasets effectively. Loops play an important role in scripting by providing a structured way to execute a block of code multiple times. This article provides a deep dive … Continued

This post first appeared on blog.netwrix.com and was written by Tyler Reese.
Microsoft Identity Manager (MIM) has long been a cornerstone of identity and access management for many organizations. It integrates seamlessly with on-premises systems like Active Directory, SAP, Oracle, and other LDAP and SQL platforms to ensure consistent user identities across multiple environments. However, with Microsoft’s focus shifting toward cloud-first solutions like Entra ID, MIM’s mainstream … Continued

This post first appeared on blog.netwrix.com and was written by Grady Summers.
I’m excited to share some big news with you today: We’re officially launching the Netwrix Community — a place where IT and cybersecurity professionals can connect, share knowledge and learn from peers who face the same challenges every day. The community will also bring the best of Netwrix to our users, and will be staffed … Continued

This post first appeared on blog.netwrix.com and was written by Jonathan Blackwell.
The foreach loop in PowerShell enables you to iterate through all the items in a collection and execute a block of code for each element. For example, you can use a foreach loop to create a list of all files in a directory for an audit, display all the processes running on the system, or … Continued

This post first appeared on blog.netwrix.com and was written by Jonathan Blackwell.
Introduction to PowerShell PowerShell is a command line shell and scripting language developed by Microsoft. The original version, Windows PowerShell, runs only on Windows and is no longer actively developed; it receives just bug fixes and security updates. The modern version is called simply PowerShell. Built on the .NET framework, it is open source and … Continued

This post first appeared on blog.netwrix.com and was written by Dirk Schrader.
Introduction to Brute Force Attacks A brute force attack is a trial-and-error technique used by cybercriminals to gain access to sensitive information such as passwords, encryption keys, or login credentials. Essentially, it involves systematically attempting every possible password combination until the correct one is found. It’s akin to a thief trying to open a combination … Continued

This post first appeared on blog.netwrix.com and was written by Jonathan Blackwell.
Why You Might Need to Pause or Delay in PowerShell Scripts The Start-Sleep cmdlet in PowerShell pauses the execution of a script and waits for a specified amount of time. Strategically using pauses can help ensure smooth functionality and prevent errors, especially in scripts that depend on external systems or events. Here are three of … Continued

This post first appeared on blog.netwrix.com and was written by Dirk Schrader.
If you have ever been to a Las Vegas casino, then you know that they are literally money-making machines as people bet money on a variety of games on a continuous basis. Modern casinos exemplify digitally transformed businesses, with customers engaging through multiple digital channels, from gaming systems to mobile apps and loyalty programs. The … Continued

This post first appeared on blog.netwrix.com and was written by Jonathan Blackwell.
A PowerShell function is a block of code designed to perform a specific task. Once a function is created and tested, it can be used in multiple scripts, reducing coding effort and risk of errors. Using well-named functions also makes scripts easier to read and maintain. And since functions can return values that can be … Continued

This post first appeared on blog.netwrix.com and was written by Jonathan Blackwell.
Introduction If you write Windows PowerShell scripts, it’s important to understand how to use PowerShell comments effectively. This article can help. It explains the key ways you can include comments in your scripts and provides guidance for when to use each method. It also explains popular use cases for comments and offers best practices to … Continued