Top 5 PowerShell Modules for Managing M365, Azure, Entra ID, Exchange Online and Active Directory

PowerShell has become an essential tool for IT administrators managing Microsoft 365 (M365), Azure, Entra ID, and Active Directory. With its rich set of modules, PowerShell provides powerful capabilities for automating and streamlining administrative tasks. Here are the top five PowerShell modules that every IT pro should consider to effectively manage these environments

1. Azure PowerShell Module (Az)

Overview

The Az module is designed to manage Azure resources efficiently. It provides a set of cmdlets that allow for resource creation, modification, and deletion within Azure.

Key Features

• Manage Azure resources (VMs, databases, storage).
• Automate deployment tasks using scripts.
• Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) for managing permissions.

Installation

To install the Az module, follow these steps:

# Open PowerShell as an administrator
Install-Module -Name Az 

To update the module, use:

Update-Module -Name Az

2. Microsoft Graph PowerShell SDK

Overview

The Microsoft Graph PowerShell SDK allows administrators to interact with Microsoft 365 services through the Microsoft Graph API, facilitating user and resource management.

Key Features

• Unified API access for users, groups, and devices.
• Extensive functionality for user management and reporting.
• Support for asynchronous operations.

Installation

To install the Microsoft Graph PowerShell SDK, run:

# Open PowerShell as an administrator
Install-Module -Name Microsoft.Graph

To update the SDK, use:

Update-Module -Name Microsoft.Graph

3. Azure Active Directory PowerShell Module (AzureAD)

Overview

The AzureAD module is focused on managing Azure Active Directory (AAD). While Microsoft encourages transitioning to the Microsoft Graph SDK, AzureAD is still widely used.

Key Features

• Efficient user and group management.
• Detailed reporting and auditing capabilities.
• Conditional access policies management.

Installation

To install the AzureAD module, execute

# Open PowerShell as an administrator
Install-Module -Name AzureAD

To update the module, use:

Update-Module -Name AzureAD

4. Exchange Online PowerShell Module

Overview

The Exchange Online PowerShell module allows administrators to manage Exchange Online settings, mailboxes, and features.

Key Features

• Manage mailbox creation, modification, and permissions.
• Generate reports on mailbox usage and compliance.
• Configure security settings, including spam filters.

Installation

To install the Exchange Online PowerShell module, use:

# Open PowerShell as an administrator
Install-Module -Name ExchangeOnlineManagement

To update the module, use:

Update-Module -Name ExchangeOnlineManagement

5. Active Directory Module for Windows PowerShell

Overview

The Active Directory module allows administrators to manage on-premises Active Directory (AD) environments, making it essential for hybrid setups.

Key Features

• Comprehensive management of AD objects.
• Group Policy management capabilities.
• Monitoring and management of AD replication and sites.

Installation

To install the AD PowerShell module, use:

$RSATActiveDirectory = get-windowscapability -name RSAT* -Online | Select-Object -Property Displayname, Name, State  | where Name -Like "*ActiveDirectory*"
Add-WindowsCapability -Online -Name $RSATActiveDirectory.Name

Please note that the above script will install the Active Directory Domain Services RSAT feature which includes the AD PowerShell Module.

Conclusion

PowerShell modules are vital for efficiently managing modern IT environments, particularly with Microsoft’s cloud services. By leveraging the Az, Microsoft Graph, AzureAD, Active Directory, and Exchange Online modules, IT administrators can streamline operations and enhance productivity. The installation steps provided will help you get started quickly, allowing you to take full advantage of these powerful tools.