PowerShell® Workshop: Basics

Auditors and IT professionals work with large amounts of data, requiring the need for a variety of tools to help them obtain, review, analyze, and/or export this data. One of the most versatile (and free) tools for working with data is PowerShell®, which is included with the Windows OS. While designed as a systems administration tool, it also has powerful capabilities that auditors and IT professionals can use to greatly improve project outcomes and efficiency. 

This one-day hands-on virtual workshop is designed for students who want to learn how to use PowerShell in performing audits or data analysis projects. The core skills in working with PowerShell to analyze data are learning how to load data into PowerShell, reformat/analyze it, and export it to one or more files. This workshop covers these core skills through lessons and hands-on exercises. PowerShell, while designed for systems administrators to automate their administration duties, has data handling and analysis capabilities that auditors and IT professionals can use in accomplishing their projects.

This workshop is an excellent opportunity for those who are new to PowerShell to learn about this powerful tool. It’s also a great opportunity for those familiar with PowerShell to refresh and practice their skills.

Registration closes on October 3, 2024 @ 8pm.

Register Today!

 

Agenda

• Course Introduction
• Basics of using PowerShell commands
• Commands to import data from various sources, including:
  • CSV Files
  • Text Files
  • XML Files
  • Windows Logs
  • Active Directory
  • Websites
• Hands-on exercises to practice importing data.
• Commands to reformat and analyze data, including:
  • Preparing tables to export data in different layouts (e.g., reordering fields from a dataset)
  • Changing the presentation of dates (e.g., changing date formats, number formats)
  • Comparing two datasets
  • Summarizing data
• Hands-on exercises to practice reformatting and analyzing data.
• Commands to export data into:
  • CSV Files
  • Text Files
• Hands-on exercises to practice exporting data.
• PowerShell resources and recap

 

Additional Course Details

Hands-on Lab Exercises

Each student will be provided access to a Windows Server to use during the course. The server will be hosted on the Azure Lab Services platform.

The server will be accessed using Windows Remote Desktop. Therefore, on the course dates, students will need to use a Windows-based computer that permits use of the Remote Desktop protocol.

An email will be sent to each student this evening with instructions on accessing the virtual server. Students are encouraged to register and follow the instructions to access the virtual server prior to the start of the seminar.

Each lesson in the course has practice commands to use during the lesson and practice exercise to reinforce lesson concepts.  All lesson materials will be pre-loaded onto each student’s virtual server.

 

Materials Provided During the Seminar

Each student attending the seminar will be provided:

• Presentation materials
• PowerShell scripts for each lesson
• Access to the virtual server for up to 10 hours after the course ends for additional practice
• Link to the seminar recording, good for 30 days after the seminar

 

Instructor

 

Virtual Meeting Information

• This event will be presented through Zoom.  The instructor will send an email with the zoom link prior to the event.
• Prior to the event, participants must install the Zoom app on their respective devices. Participants using the web-based Zoom or calling via the phone may not be entitled to CPE credits.
• Participants must respond to all the poll questions via the Zoom polling feature or chat log in order to receive NASBA CPE credits.
• The ISACA Greater Washington, D.C. Chapter will not be responsible for the participant’s inability to respond to the polls.

 

Event Questions and Policies

Registration Questions

If you have any registration questions about this event, please contact the chapter using the Registration Contact Form.

If you have CPE questions after the event has concluded, please contact the chapter using the CPE Contact Form.

 

Cancellation and Refund Policy

Cancellation and refund for advance registrations is allowed if cancellations are submitted through the registration system. Refunds vary depending on the date of cancellation. See ISACA GWDC Event Policies for details.

If ISACA GWDC cancels the event, all registrants will be notified as soon as possible through email at the email address provided during registration. Full refunds will be provided.

 

Complaint Policy

The GWDC welcomes your comments, complaints, suggestions, questions, and other feedback concerning our website information and services. All complaints should be submitted through the Registration Contact Form.

 

CPE Information

Earn up to 6 Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credit in the area of Information Technology. The ISACA® Greater Washington, D.C. Chapter is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website: www.NASBARegistry.org

 

CPE Distribution and Evaluation Survey

CPEs will be distributed via e-mail along with the event evaluation survey after the completion of the event. Attendees must be present for the full event to receive full CPE credit.

 

Learning Objectives

After completing this course, students will have skills to use PowerShell in the performance of their audits and projects. Specifically, students will be able to:

• Import data from several types of data sources into PowerShell.
• Analyze data in PowerShell through comparing data and summarizing it.
• Reorder data and change its format.
• Export data into CSV and Text files.
• Create a basic PowerShell script to import, analyze, and export data.

 

CPE-Related Details

• Prerequisites: Students should be familiar with using Windows and using CSV files. Basic familiarity with PowerShell or other programming languages is beneficial.
• Advance Preparation:The instructor will provide materials in advance of the course. The instructor will also provide credentials to access a virtual server several days in advance of the course. Students should log onto the server and share any issues with the instructor in advance of the course.
• Program Knowledge Level: Basic
• Delivery Method:  Group Internet Based
• Field of Study:  Information Technology – Technical