7 PowerShell best practices to boost your MSP operations

As new-age MSPs start to transition from break/fix to "all-you-can-eat" business models, the emphasis on automation is now at an all-time high. Today, MSPs across the world use tools like PowerShell to automate repetitive administrative tasks like software installation, report creation, third-party integrations, etc.

There is an incredible upside to automating your workflows with PowerShell. So, if you are an MSP looking to leverage PowerShell to your advantage, this article is for you. Learn about the Windows PowerShell best practices here.

What is PowerShell?

PowerShell is a Microsoft task automation and configuration tool. It is both a command-line shell and a scripting language that lets you manage systems, automate tasks, and configure applications.

• Uses cmdlets (commands) to perform tasks.

• Returns objects instead of plain text for easier data handling.

• Works on Windows, macOS, and Linux.

• Integrates with Microsoft services like Active Directory and Azure.

Example command:

Get-Process

Lists all running processes on your system.

What are the best ways you can use PowerShell to enhance your MSP operations?

Let us now have a look at the Windows PowerShell best practices for MSPs: 

Manage updates and patches

PowerShell Gallery hosts all of PowerShell's scripts, modules and DSC resources, but perhaps the PSWindowsUpdate module is the most important one yet, especially if your MSP manages networks with thousands of Windows devices. 

Technicians can use this module as a one-stop-shop to manage and run Windows updates on all end-points. With PowerShell, MSPs can also push security patches (zero-day updates) quickly across clients.

Generate custom reports

MSPs handle a plethora of clients, the size and sector of which vastly differ from one another. So, it is no surprise that requirements vary with each client. However, the RMM tools MSPs use can only offer so much customisation when it comes to generating reports. 

PowerShell enables MSP admins to create custom reports (HTML) depending on client needs. Not just that, MSPs can also automate report generation and schedule it to be sent out as client emails.

API integration

Ticketing is a crucial functionality that runs MSPs rely on to serve customers. PowerShell Gallery contains various ticketing modules that can help technicians to not just create, but also search tickets. MSPs can also use PowerShell to perform additional queries on ticket data that can be further used to form reports. 

The ability to integrate PowerShell with your existing applications that handle features like ticketing, billing (Azure Billing) opens up opportunities for further extensive automation, reducing a lot of hassle.

Create insightful dashboards

The universal dashboard module in PowerShell allows technicians to create custom dashboards that are both functional and easy to understand. Using the web framework, MSPs can create websites, REST APIs, and dashboards completely built using PowerShell scripts. 

The command-lets in the module allow for the creation of elements like charts, tables, grids with ease.

Password encryption

A key challenge with running multiple scripts is to define access for specific users to run particular scripts. With PowerShell, MSPs can encrypt passwords, thereby allowing admins and technicians to create accounts (that work in tandem with the encrypted passwords) that allow the end-users to run scripts as they see fit, in a secure manner.

Automate routine maintenance tasks

PowerShell allows MSPs to automate repetitive system maintenance, which not only saves time but also ensures consistency across all client devices. Tasks like disk cleanup, temporary file removal, defragmentation, service restarts, and system reboots can be scheduled to run automatically on multiple endpoints. 

By scripting these operations, MSPs reduce the risk of human error, prevent system slowdowns, and maintain optimal performance across client networks. Additionally, automation frees up technicians to focus on higher-value tasks, improving overall operational efficiency.

Implement error handling and logging

In complex MSP environments, scripts can fail due to unexpected conditions, software conflicts, or network issues. PowerShell enables robust error handling through mechanisms like Try-Catch-Finally blocks, allowing scripts to gracefully respond to errors rather than crashing. Alongside this, MSPs can implement detailed logging that records events, warnings, and errors to central log files or dashboards. 

This provides a clear audit trail, simplifies troubleshooting, and helps ensure compliance with internal and client-facing IT policies. Well-logged and error-handled scripts increase reliability and trust in automated operations.

What are the benefits of using PowerShell automation?

PowerShell automation offers numerous advantages for IT professionals and MSPs, making system management more efficient, reliable, and scalable. Here are the key benefits:

1. Time savings and efficiency: Automating repetitive tasks like user account creation, updates, and backups reduces manual work and frees up technicians to focus on higher-value activities.

2. Consistency and accuracy: Scripts ensure tasks are performed uniformly across systems, minimizing human error and configuration inconsistencies.

3. Scalability: PowerShell can manage hundreds or thousands of devices simultaneously, making it ideal for large environments or MSPs with multiple clients.

4. Enhanced security: Automation enables secure handling of sensitive operations, such as password management and system configuration, reducing the risk of human mistakes or security breaches.

5. Custom reporting and insights: PowerShell can generate tailored reports and dashboards for system performance, compliance, and audits, helping decision-making and client communication.

6. Remote management: With PowerShell, administrators can manage systems remotely without logging in to each device, saving travel time and enabling faster problem resolution.

7. Integration with other tools: PowerShell integrates with cloud services, APIs, and existing IT management tools, allowing end-to-end automation of tasks like ticketing, billing, and system monitoring.

8. Error handling and logging: Scripts can include error handling and logging to ensure operations are tracked, issues are diagnosed quickly, and compliance requirements are met.

How can SuperOps help automate tasks using PowerShell scripts?

Managing many client devices can be tough, but PowerShell scripts in SuperOps make it easy. Scripts automate repetitive tasks, keep devices updated, and reduce manual work.

A module is a package of commands, functions, and workflows that makes scripts more powerful. SuperOps provides a module you can import to use its functions:

Import-Module $SuperOpsModule

Key functions

1. Add a file: Upload files directly from a script.

Import-Module $SuperOpsModule

1. Populate a custom field: Fill asset fields automatically (text, number, decimal).

Send-CustomField -CustomFieldName "CustomNumber1" -Value "TestData"

1. Send user alerts: Notify a logged-in user with a message.

Send-UserAlert -Message "Machine is going to shut down. Please save your work."

1. Capture a screenshot: Take a screenshot of the logged-in user.

Get-UsersScreenShot -DestinationPath "C:\working\test.png"

Using these functions, you can automate maintenance, alerts, and data collection across client devices- saving time and reducing errors.

The multitude of functionalities that come with PowerShell, if put into proper use, is a game-changer for any MSP. It is simply more about figuring out how Windows PowerShell best practices fits in to solve existing business problems than that of actually coding (cmdlets) scripts in the tool.

Frequently asked questions

1. What types of tasks can I automate with PowerShell?

PowerShell can automate system administration tasks like user account management, software installation, updates, backups, disk cleanup, service restarts, and log collection. It also works for cloud management, API integrations, reporting, and monitoring. Essentially, any repetitive or rule-based administrative task on Windows, Linux, or macOS systems can be scripted and automated using PowerShell.

2. Do RMM tools allow using PowerShell to write scripts?

Yes, most RMM (Remote Monitoring and Management) tools support PowerShell scripting. MSPs can write scripts to automate device management, deploy software, apply patches, and collect system information. RMM platforms often provide script repositories, scheduling, and remote execution capabilities, allowing technicians to streamline operations across multiple endpoints efficiently.

3. How to run a PowerShell script faster?

To improve script speed, minimize unnecessary loops, avoid excessive output, use cmdlets instead of external programs, leverage pipelines efficiently, and filter data early. Also, precompile or import modules once, disable verbose logging during execution, and run scripts with administrative privileges when needed. Efficient coding and avoiding redundant operations significantly reduce execution time.

4. Does PowerShell use UTF-8?

Modern PowerShell (PowerShell Core 6+) uses UTF-8 as the default encoding for output and file operations. Older Windows PowerShell versions defaulted to UTF-16LE for files. You can explicitly set UTF-8 using -Encoding UTF8 when reading or writing files to ensure consistent character encoding across systems and prevent issues with special characters.

4. What does $ _ mean in PowerShell?

In PowerShell, $_ represents the current object in the pipeline. It’s commonly used in loops or pipeline operations, such as ForEach-Object or Where-Object, to refer to the object being processed. For example: Get-Process | Where-Object { $_.CPU -gt 100 } filters processes with CPU usage over 100.

5. Is CMD faster than PowerShell?

For simple commands, CMD may appear slightly faster because it’s lightweight and executes basic commands without .NET overhead. However, PowerShell is more powerful, object-oriented, and capable of handling complex tasks efficiently. For large-scale automation and advanced management, PowerShell’s advantages outweigh the minor performance difference.

6. How to optimize a PC with PowerShell?

PowerShell can optimize a PC by automating disk cleanup, removing temporary files, clearing caches, managing startup programs, updating software, monitoring services, and analyzing performance metrics. Scripts can also handle memory management, disable unnecessary services, and automate defragmentation, improving system responsiveness and freeing up storage without manual intervention.

7. What can you add to a PowerShell script to handle errors during execution?

You can add Try-Catch-Finally blocks to handle errors gracefully. Try contains the main code, Catch handles exceptions, and Finally executes cleanup code. You can also use -ErrorAction to control error behavior and $Error or Write-Error to log issues. This ensures scripts continue safely or report issues without crashing.

8. What is trap in PowerShell?

Trap is a PowerShell statement used for handling terminating errors within a script or function. It specifies a block of code to execute when an error occurs, allowing custom error handling or recovery actions. Unlike Try-Catch, trap can automatically continue execution after handling the error if continue is used.