PowerShell + DevOps Global Summit 2024 Sessionize Event

Automation + DevOps Summit Sessionize Event

Chicago PowerShell Conference

I presented one session:

Presentation Title: Rapid Function Development
Presentation Abstract:
When you are first starting with PowerShell, determining when and how to get your code into a function quickly can be challenging. Let’s talk about when code should be moved into a function, and how to build scalable, maintainable code quickly.

In this talk, we will cover some “gut checks” to know when it might be time to move your code into a function, how to build a scalable, maintainable functional library using dot sourcing, and how to “scaffold” functions using repeatable patterns to support rapid development.

Attendees can expect to learn the criteria for when it is appropriate to move their code to a function. And when they do move their code, the speakers will share some function “scaffolding” (templates) for good performance, scale, and compatibility. Attendees will also learn how to create a function library and dot-source scripts to make their code more reusable and maintainable.

April Chicago PowerShell Users Group (CPUG) Virtual Meetup

Presented two sessions:

Session #1:
Presentation Title: Exotic PowerShell: Running PowerShell in Interesting Places
Presentation Abstract:
You may have heard of Azure Cloud Shell – which allows you to run PowerShell within a Linux container hosted in Azure. But there are lots of other cool places to run PowerShell: macOS, ARM computers, Raspberry Pis, and even Frank’s arcade machine. In this quick demo, Frank will show off some of these “exotic” ways to put PowerShell to work.

Session #2:
Presentation Title: Making Copies of Objects in PowerShell – More Difficult Than You Think!
Presentation Abstract:
$x = $y; $x is now a copy of $y, right? Nope!

Ever try and make a copy of an object in PowerShell and then write changes to the copy, only to find out that those changes messed up the original object? You are not alone. PowerShell uses the equals sign to assign a pointer to an object, not to make a copy of it as you might expect. In this talk, you will see why copying objects in PowerShell is very confusing and unexpectedly tricky, and knowing how to use backward-compatible and reliable code for dealing with this problem.

Frank will share code written to allow you to copy objects in PowerShell reliably; he will give a demonstration of it in this talk.

1st Quarter Chicago PowerShell User Group

Presented one session:

Presentation Title: Get Started with PowerShell (Beginner Session)
Presentation Abstract:
In this 10-minute lightning talk, Frank will show five things that everyone needs to know to be successful in learning PowerShell.

ChiCyberCon (Formerly Known as ForenSecure) 2014

I presented two sessions:

Session #1:
Presentation Title: Practical AD Security - How to Secure Your Active Directory Network Without Breaking It
Presentation Abstract:
IT professionals everywhere strive to secure their network, but it can be a daunting task. Luckily, Microsoft provides some boilerplate templates to get you started. In this session, Frank will demonstrate how to get started with Microsoft's security templates, and give you some tips on settings that he frequently needs to change in customer environments to maintain compatibility with existing applications or common configurations.

Session #2:
Presentation Title: Implementing a Modern, Effective PKI on Windows Server 2012 R2
Presentation Abstract:
The infrastructure that deploys and manages digital certificates, known as a Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), is often the center for cryptography in an organization. It is also in service for 10+ years, which means that one must carefully consider design options before implementation. In this presentation, Frank will cover modern standards for cryptography, how they apply to a Microsoft PKI infrastructure, and share recommendations based on he has seen in the field.