Managing Active Directory Users with Windows Powershell

It is possible to use windows Powershell to create users in the Active Directory, add them to groups and edit various roles. 

Adding Users through Powershell 

To add a user using Powershell start by opening Windows Powershell from the Taskbar. When the Powershell opens, type New-ADUSer-Name <Name>-DisplayName “Name to appear on the account” –GivenName <Add full name> -Path “Ou=Full Time Employees”. This commands adds a new user to the Full Time Employees Organizational Unit. The next step therefore is to set authentication information for the account. Use Set-ADAccountPassword <UserName> and enable the account with Enable-ADAccount <account user name>. To add the account to the Managers group, Add-ADGroupMember –Identity ManagersGroup –Members <UserName>. 

Compare and Contrast Using Windows command line and Powershell 

Windows command line and Powershell perform the same functions but they differ in some way. This is the reason one can choose one between the two. Windows Powershell unlike command, only executes scripts, allows users to execute, test and even run scripts (Stefanovic, & Kranjac, 2019). Also, for the new programmers and administrators, Powershell provides a simple and user friendly interface that gives the user some assistance in working with the scripts by suggesting for them some variables. Also, the roles of managers and administrators might require more advanced scripts that windows command line might find difficult executing. Using Powershell is mainly designed for the administrators’ points of work and therefore suitable for management of users in the AD. AD requires high level of security and therefore Powershell is important in performing security scripting for the server side commands. 

References 

Stefanovic, V., & Kranjac, S. (2019).  Identity with Windows Server 2016: Microsoft 70-742 MCSA Exam Guide: Deploy, configure, and troubleshoot identity services and Group Policy in Windows Server 2016 . Packt Publishing Ltd.