PowerShell-free Active Directory user management

Attributes of Active Directory users can be updated using the Set-ADUser cmdlet. Here is a sample script to update the description of a user using this cmdlet:

Set-ADUser -Identity "JamesPatrick" -Description "Member of the sales team"

The Set-ADUser cmdlet can also be used to modify the attributes of multiple users at once by importing a CSV file containing the updated user attributes. Here is a sample script to update a user's description using a CSV file and the Set-ADUser cmdlet:

Import-usermod.csv | foreach 
                    {Set-ADUser -Identity $_.sAMAccountName -Description"testing description"}pre>
                    

ADManager Plus simplifies the entire process of user modification by delivering predefined options and templates that help you modify users in bulk promptly. Here are some reasons why you should choose ADManager Plus over the Set-ADUser PowerShell cmdlet:

• Seamless user modification: ADManager Plus provides commonly user modification tasks such as password resets, group membership modification, and more as predefined tasks that can be easily accomplished using CSV files.
• Enhanced productivity: ADManager Plus delivers predefined templates and allows CSV-based modification facilitating modification of multiple users in one go.
• Reduced administrator burnout: ADManager Plus enables administrators to granularly delegate bulk modification tasks and templates to junior technicians and non-admin personnel, alleviating the burden off administrators.

Passwords can be changed in PowerShell using the Set-ADAccountPassword PowerShell cmdlet. Here's a sample script that can be used to change users' passwords

Set-ADAccountPassword -Identity "James Patrick" -NewPassword (ConvertTo-SecureString -AsPlainText "newpassword" -Force) -Reset

ADManager Plus comes with predefined actions that enable you to reset passwords in an instant. Additionally, it features a dedicated help desk password reset console that lets you reset the passwords of Active Directory users as well as unlock locked-out Active Directory accounts—from a single place. ADManager Plus also enables you to trigger an organization-wide password reset activity with simple automation. Here's how you can benefit by choosing ADManager Plus for resetting passwords over the Set-ADAccountPassword PowerShell cmdlet:

• Automated password resets: Schedule password reset triggers and effectively implement security policies.
• Increased employee productivity: Respond to Active Directory password resets quickly from integrated help desk applications that reduce employee waiting time.
• Secure delegation: Securely delegate password reset tasks to junior technicians without affecting their permissions in Active Directory.

Active Directory users can be enabled and disabled using the Enable-ADAccount and Disable-ADAccount cmdlets in ADManager Plus. Here are a few sample scripts to perform these actions.

To enable an Active Directory user, use this command:

Enable-ADAccount -Identity "Jim Scott"

To disable an Active Directory user, use this command:

Disable-ADAccount -Identity "James Patrick"

ADManager Plus lets you enable and disable user accounts in multiple ways. Users can be enabled or disabled by fetching a predefined report that lists the user account status or by scheduling a simple automation. Additionally, users can be enabled or disabled in bulk using just CSV files. These are some advantages of enabling and disabling users using ADManager Plus:

• Streamlined account management: Enable and disable Active Directory users in bulk by uploading just a CSV file.
• Automated management: Automatically disable user accounts after N days by configuring customized automation policies.
• Enhanced visibility: Generate reports on user account status and enable or disable users on the fly.

Active Directory user profiles can be deleted using the Remove-ADUser cmdlet in PowerShell. Here's a sample script to delete an Active Directory user using PowerShell:

Remove-ADUser -Identity "John Doe" 

Active Directory users can be automatically deleted in ADManager Plus by scheduling an cleanup automation or using ADManager Plus' built-in Delete/Disable policy. Active Directory users can also be removed in bulk using CSV files or the predefined Delete Users option. Here are a few benefits for using ADManager Plus over PowerShell to delete user profiles in Active Directory:

• Automated Active Directory cleanup: Schedule and periodically perform automatic Active Directory cleanup to remove dormant user accounts or move them to a different OU.
• Enhanced security posture: Gain insights into how dormant and inactive accounts are affecting your security stature and delete them on the fly.
• Reduced manual effort: Delete multiple user accounts in bulk by uploading a CSV file with the relevant headers and eliminate the manual effort required for deleting users individually.

Active Directory users can be moved across containers using the Move-ADObject cmdlet. Here is a sample script:

Move-ADObject -Identity "CN=John Doe,OU=Users,DC=domain,DC=com" -TargetPath "OU=NewOU,DC=domain,DC=com"

ADManager Plus provides predefined actions that can be used to move Active Directory users in bulk. Additionally, automations can be scheduled to move users between containers. Here's why you should choose ADManager Plus for moving users:

• Bulk movement: Move multiple users between containers in one go by uploading a CSV file.
• Automated cleanup: Automatically move stale and dormant users to OUs and optimize directory structure.
• Seamless migration: Seamlessly move users between OUs using predefined and on-the-fly management actions.

PowerShell offers a wide range of scripts to manage the users' group attributes. The Add-ADGroupMember cmdlet is used to add members to an Active Directory group. Here is a sample script using this command:

Add-ADGroupMember -Identity "Managers" -Members "John", "James"

The Remove-ADGroupMember cmdlet in PowerShell can be used to remove users from Active Directory groups. Here is an example using this command:

Remove-ADGroupMember -Identity "Administrators" -Members "George", "Steve"
                            

Users can be automatically added and removed from groups using ADManager Plus. Additionally, group attributes can be modified in bulk by uploading a CSV file with the desired members. You can benefit in the following ways by choosing ADManager Plus for group management:

• Just-in-time access: Add users to groups and automatically remove them after a certain period, granting temporary permissions as and when needed.
• Streamlined management: Manage group attributes of multiple users using CSV files and templates, reducing administrative overhead and simplifying group management.
• Enhanced security: Modify group membership and manage the primary group of users using predefined options, eliminating syntax errors.

Locked-out Active Directory accounts can be unlocked using the Unlock-ADAccount cmdlet in PowerShell Here is a sample script that can be used:

Unlock-ADAccount -Identity "Joey"

ADManager Plus provides a user-friendly interface and automation capabilities for unlocking users' accounts. Administrators can unlock user accounts individually or in bulk and can also automate unlock operations, enabling scheduled or triggered unlocks based on predefined conditions or reports. Here are a few benefits for choosing ADManager Plus over the Unlock-ADAccount PowerShell cmdlet:

• Seamless account unlock: Unlock accounts of multiple users simultaneously and save time and effort.
• Enhanced visibility: Run reports and learn about locked-out accounts in your Active Directory and take informed decisions.
• Automated unlocks: Unlock user accounts automatically by running reports periodically.

Logon hours of users can be configured using the Set-ADUser cmdlet in PowerShell. Here is a sample script:

Set-ADUser -Identity "John" -Replace @{logonHours = $logonHours}

ADManager Plus enables you to manage the logon hours of users effortlessly with predefined actions. Here are some benefits:

• Bulk management: Manager logon hours of multiple users at once by importing a CSV file.
• Customized management: Define the time frame by specifying the days and hours.
• User-friendly interface: Manage logon hours with intuitive actions.

Restoring deleted Active Directory users is a two-step process in PowerShell. The deleted Active Directory objects are first retrieved using the Get-ADObject cmdlet and then the desired objects are recovered using the Restore-ADObject cmdlet. Here's a sample script to fetch and recover deleted Active Directory users:

Get-ADObject -Filter 'isDeleted -eq $true' -IncludeDeletedObjects
                                                Restore-ADObject -Identity <ObjectID>

ADManager Plus provides backup and restoration capabilities that ensure users are securely backed up and seamlessly restored without any data loss. Here are few benefits for choosing ADManager Plus over PowerShell for restoring Active Directory objects:

• Object and attribute-level restoration: Restore users or only the required attributes of the user granularly, allowing for precise recovery.
• Restart free recovery: Recover users without restarting your servers, minimizing downtime and disruption.
• One-click recovery: Recover users in one click without using extensive scripts and multiple steps, simplifying the restoration process significantly.