Michael has been an IT Pro since 1998. He has worked predominantly in the Windows world including client and server operating systems, on-prem systems engineering (AD, DNS, etc.), and over the last ten years or so has embraced and immersed himself in all things Microsoft 365 - including Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, Teams, OneDrive, and Microsoft Entra ID. He has written articles here on Petri based on these technologies. Michael strives to help other IT Pros with getting more efficient (especially with PowerShell) in their day-to-day tasks and offering solid assistance on larger projects.
Learn how to change DNS on Windows, using either the GUI or command-line with PowerShell. The most common scenario on enterprise computers is for DNS addresses to be handled by either DHCP servers or another IP address management solution. If you have not needed to change this configuration on one or more computers in a…
In this blog post, you’ll learn how Mobile Device Management (MDM) can be used to manage and secure all types of mobile devices, including laptops and smart phones. What is Mobile Device Management? MDM is a strategic framework that governs how mobile devices interact with corporate resources. Keeping track of thousands of mobile devices, like…
Last Update: Dec 02, 2025
Introducing Cayosoft Guardian Protector. As identity increasingly becomes the most important pillar for securing data and IT systems, security teams face increasing challenges keeping track of who is changing what and when. What is Cayosoft Guardian Protector? Guardian Protector is a free, agentless monitoring solution that delivers real-time insight across Active Directory, Microsoft Entra ID,…
If your graphics card suddenly stops working and Microsoft Windows displays error code 43, do not panic. What is device manager error code 43? Error code 43 is a generic hardware error in Windows 10 and Windows 11. It means the operating system detected that your GPU (or another device) reported a problem, and Windows…
Learn what a DHCP reservation is, its function, practical applications, and how you can leverage it effectively in your network. What is a DHCP reservation, and why does it matter? While DHCP’s dynamic nature is a blessing for general-purpose devices, there are specific instances where you need a particular device to always have the same…
Last Update: Nov 04, 2025
Microsoft has announced that extended support for Microsoft Identity Manager (MIM) will end in 2029. For many organizations, this feels like the closing of a long chapter. MIM has been the backbone of identity synchronization, certificate management, and self-service provisioning for well over a decade. But just as with Forefront Identity Manager (FIM) before it,…
Last Update: Dec 17, 2025
New-ADUser creates users at scale, sets attributes, places them in the right Organizational Units (OUs), assigns passwords, and even adds them to groups, all programmatically. Let’s get into how to learn more about New-ADUser and elevate your AD management skills from good to great. Create a new Active Directory user with New-ADUser Here’s the basic…
Last Update: Oct 22, 2025
In this post, I’ll explain what network monitoring tools are, why they’re important for keeping your IT systems running smoothly, how security plays a role, and how to choose and implement the right solution. I’ll cover key features, popular tools, best practices, and common mistakes to help you build a robust monitoring strategy. What are…
With the introduction of Sudo for Windows, Microsoft has brought a familiar Linux privilege escalation tool to Windows users. It enables administrators and power users to execute commands with elevated permissions without switching contexts, streamlining workflows, and enhancing security. This article examines how Windows Sudo operates, its advantages, configuration options, and its comparison to traditional…
This article provides a comprehensive comparison of the Command Prompt vs PowerShell, guiding you through the distinct features and ideal use cases for each tool, helping you make an informed decision for your specific needs. Command Prompt remains useful for quick, legacy tasks, but PowerShell stands as the superior, more versatile, and future-proof tool for…
In this post, we’ll dive into what a DHCP lease is, how it works, and why it matters for overall network management. What is a DHCP lease? A Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) lease is the temporary assignment of an IP address to a device. Instead of permanently giving a laptop the address 192.168.1.50, for…
Microsoft Entra Connect Health (formerly Azure AD Connect Health) is a tool designed to give you visibility and troubleshooting information over synchronization between on-premises Active Directory and Microsoft Entra ID in the cloud. Let’s dive into the basics of what it is and how it can benefit you. What is Microsoft Entra Connect Health? Microsoft…