Daniel Ratliff's Avatar

Daniel Ratliff

@potentengineer.com

Principal Systems Engineer with a focus on automation and AI for all endpoint technologies. #microsoft365 #msintune #configmgr #powershell #automation

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Latest posts by Daniel Ratliff @potentengineer.com

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Install Matrix At EUC World Amplify 2025, I gave a presentation titled “Transforming Chaos into Control: Mastering Windows App Deployments with Intune“. The presentation covered the ways I’ve been deploying applicat...

🆕 Introducing the Install Matrix an open source GitHub repo full of PowerShell scripts that help reduce duplicate work making it quick and easy to package apps and reducing overhead when updating them.

Check it out! thedxt.ca/2026/01/inst...

#PowerShell #Intune #EUC #GitHub #RMM

04.01.2026 21:51 👍 7 🔁 2 💬 1 📌 0
Tech Promised Everything. Did it deliver? | Scott Hanselman | TEDxPortland
Tech Promised Everything. Did it deliver? | Scott Hanselman | TEDxPortland YouTube video by TEDx Talks

Hey friends! I did a TEDx talk and it's now up on the TED Conferences YouTube. It's possibly the best and most important talk I've ever done.

I would ask that you watch it, and please SHARE it broadly and widely. Thank you! youtu.be/dVG8W-0p6vg #AI #Tech #TED

17.07.2025 17:37 👍 741 🔁 282 💬 55 📌 51
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Leveraging Log Analytics to Query Secure Boot Certificate Update Status Microsoft doesn't have a way to query registry keys for your entire PC environment. This solution uses PowerShell and Log Analytics to solve that problem.

Something fun came across my desk today so I did my best Ugur Koc impression and wrote this script which will capture data from your PCs to tell you which ones need to update to the new secure boot certificates by June before all chaos breaks loose! :scream:

mobile-jon.com/2025/12/19/l...

20.12.2025 04:31 👍 3 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
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Announcing Native NVMe in Windows Server 2025: Ushering in a New Era of Storage Performance | Microsoft Community Hub We’re thrilled to announce the arrival of Native NVMe support in Windows Server 2025—a leap forward in storage innovation that will redefine what’s possible...

ANNOUNCEMENT: Native NVMe in Windows Server 2025: Ushering in a New Era of Storage Performance

techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/windows...

16.12.2025 01:57 👍 16 🔁 4 💬 2 📌 0
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GitHub - StartAutomating/SearchScript: Search PowerShell Scripts Search PowerShell Scripts . Contribute to StartAutomating/SearchScript development by creating an account on GitHub.

Hey #PowerShell people and #CyberSecurity professionals:

I made a quick little module to search scripts, so we can find and fix potential CVE-2025-54100 related problems (or other dangerous anti-patterns, like Invoke-Expression).

Hope this Helps!

github.com/StartAutomat...

13.12.2025 02:24 👍 6 🔁 3 💬 0 📌 0
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Windows 10 Spotlight Images High resolution quality lockscreen images from Windows Spotlight

For those who like eyecandy, Windows Spotlight images since October 2016 are collected at the eponymous website. #WindowsInsiders #MVPbuzz windows10spotlight.com

06.12.2025 17:23 👍 2 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
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No extra license. No extra work. Intune just boosted your M365.

Microsoft is rolling advanced Intune features straight into M365 E3/E5. Remote Help, Advanced Analytics, EPM, Cloud PKI and more.
Stronger security, easier management, and better support out of the box.

#MSIntune #IntuneMVP #MVP

06.12.2025 14:01 👍 9 🔁 1 💬 2 📌 0
Microsoft “Improved” Notepad. I Un-Improved It.
Microsoft “Improved” Notepad. I Un-Improved It. YouTube video by Dave's Garage

This brought back some memories. Dave Plummer doing some vibe coding to retro Notepad. www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmBd... #programming #ai #vscode

02.12.2025 04:30 👍 2 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0

Oh no, not Contoso. #SaveContoso

02.12.2025 05:44 👍 7 🔁 2 💬 0 📌 0
dcgpofix documentation:

Recreates the default Group Policy Objects (GPOs) for a domain. To get to the Group Policy Management Console (GPMC), you must install Group Policy Management as a feature through Server Manager. Dcgpofix.exe is included with Windows Server and is located in the C:\Windows\system32\ folder.

dcgpofix.exe restores only the policy settings that are contained in the Default Domain Policy GPO and Default Domain Controller GPO. Dcgpofix.exe doesn't restore other GPOs that administrators create, it's only intended for disaster recovery of the default GPOs.

 Important: As a best practice, you should configure the Default Domain Policy GPO only to manage the default Account Policies settings, Password Policy, Account Lockout Policy, and Kerberos Policy. Additionally, you should configure the Default Domain Controllers Policy GPO only to set user rights and audit policies.

dcgpofix documentation: Recreates the default Group Policy Objects (GPOs) for a domain. To get to the Group Policy Management Console (GPMC), you must install Group Policy Management as a feature through Server Manager. Dcgpofix.exe is included with Windows Server and is located in the C:\Windows\system32\ folder. dcgpofix.exe restores only the policy settings that are contained in the Default Domain Policy GPO and Default Domain Controller GPO. Dcgpofix.exe doesn't restore other GPOs that administrators create, it's only intended for disaster recovery of the default GPOs. Important: As a best practice, you should configure the Default Domain Policy GPO only to manage the default Account Policies settings, Password Policy, Account Lockout Policy, and Kerberos Policy. Additionally, you should configure the Default Domain Controllers Policy GPO only to set user rights and audit policies.

There's no controversy around the idea that you should not modify the default domain & default domain controller GPOs in Active Directory (except for setting account policies). Did you know you can use dcgpofix to reset them when they have been...mangled? learn.microsoft.com/...

25.11.2025 19:42 👍 8 🔁 3 💬 0 📌 0
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Native Sysmon functionality coming to Windows | Microsoft Community Hub Learn how to eliminate manual deployment and reduce operational risk with Sysmon functionality in Windows.     

ANNOUNCEMENT: Sysmon coming to Windows 11 and Windows Server 2025

techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/Windows...

25.11.2025 09:48 👍 20 🔁 7 💬 1 📌 3
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Background Noises • Ambient Sounds • Relaxing Music | myNoise ® myNoise sets the standard for online background noise machines and interactive soundscapes.

Might I suggest mynoise.net. It is perfect for this, and even donating is absolutely worth it. Amazing work by the dev.

21.11.2025 22:30 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 1

The Power in PowerShell is YOU.
PowerShell makes YOU AWESOME!

21.11.2025 16:35 👍 14 🔁 1 💬 1 📌 0
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R.I.P. SCCM Technical Preview.

The rise and fall of SCCM Technical Preview

www.niallbrady.com/2025/11/20/t... #configmgr #sccm #memcm #msintune

21.11.2025 07:18 👍 3 🔁 3 💬 0 📌 0
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Weekly Newsletter - 15th of November to 21st of November 2025 - Windows 365 Community Welcome to the one-hundred-ninety-eighth (198th) edition of the Windows 365 Community newsletter!…

🗞 Want to know what's new in the world of #Windows365 #CloudPC?

Check out this week's newsletter⤵️

👉 w365community.com/weekly-newsl...
👏 @microsoft.com , @brinkhoffc.bsky.social , @philgerity.bsky.social

21.11.2025 09:11 👍 2 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
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There's a new boot image option available in #ConfigMgr 2509! #BlackLotus

14.11.2025 14:53 👍 8 🔁 3 💬 0 📌 0
Recast Version 5.11.2511.1804 | Recast Docs Recast Software Version 5.11.2511 includes new Right Click Tools Patching and Insights features, plus a wealth of bug fixes resulting from a weeklong Bug Bash.

Right Click Tools v5.11.2511 is out!

New in this release:
• Migrate apps from #ConfigMgr → #Intune
• Exclude external dependencies in deployment processes
• Insights support for HP G4/G5 docks
• Platform-wide stability + UX improvements

Full notes: docs.recastsoftware.com/help/recast-...

19.11.2025 22:51 👍 3 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0

One of my DCs is running on an old Optiplex 960, lol. I feel you on the old hardware.

20.11.2025 02:30 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Really easy, just a standalone exe. I used nssm that came with Grafana to setup a service. Uses a simple xml config if you need it, but out of the box worked for me. Stood it up in about 30 minutes.

My labs about the same, was running on my gaming PC cuz my old server wouldn't run Svr 2025.

20.11.2025 02:29 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
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Get ready, folks. 🌟

You’re about to witness ONE. BIG. BEAUTIFUL. ABSURDLY. EPIC. THREAD. 🧵🔥

Some say this might be the MOST EPIC and MOST RIDICULOUSLY LONG identity thread ever written

📗 Bookmark this

Honestly… the cover image alone deserves a like + retweet

DO IT 😂

19.11.2025 15:20 👍 14 🔁 7 💬 1 📌 0

Yes! I want the same. I just setup Prometheus and Grafana this week on my new NUC. Been resource constrained so hadn't been able to setup all these servers I want! Do not have any dashboard today. Will post updates.

19.11.2025 19:29 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0

Just about to do this myself. I am using UrBackup and just got a RPI5 for HA.

19.11.2025 13:29 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
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PowerShell Script Support Added for Win32 Intune App Deployment PowerShell script support has been added directly to the Intune app deployment Wizard. Learn why this is a great improvement.

#Intune finally supports native PowerShell scripts for Win32 app installs. No more wrapping scripts inside .intunewin files. You can update scripts without repackaging and choose 32 or 64 bit. Way cleaner and easier to manage.

17.11.2025 09:29 👍 7 🔁 2 💬 1 📌 1

I have a ton of work to do over there next year with as built documentation. These will save me so much time. 📄📄📄 Thanks for sharing Clate!

15.11.2025 14:00 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
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a cartoon of a man with horns on his head says they grow up so fast Alt: Hermes Conrad knows they grow up fast, but he couldn't possible calculate all the of the benefits PowerShell has brought over the past 19 years. Think of how much joy PowerShell has brought you, how much time it has saved you, how many things you've done with it, and then multiply it by however many millions of people now know PowerShell as a friend. Happy Birthday PowerShell! (and Happy Birthday Dad!)

Happy Birthday to #PowerShell !

It released 19 years ago today, and the shell has never been the same!

Share your shell stories and celebrate!

Release modules and scripts as presents!

Put em on #GitHub or #Tangled, share em on #BlueSky.

#MVPBuzz

Also, Happy Birthday to my Dad!

14.11.2025 20:59 👍 19 🔁 3 💬 1 📌 0

For the most critical things, we do usually validate from two sources, but that is pretty rare.

14.11.2025 19:14 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

First party all the way. ConfigMgr CMPivot, deployment status, and inventory. Intune deployment status. Some manual validation, some positive validation from end users where necessary.

We have had to rely on Splunk & MDE data for file/process/metering for things not easy to get with Intune/CM.

14.11.2025 19:13 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
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*Intune Community Tools 2025 Edition by #SCDudes*

< Intune Policy Comparison >
Compare your #MSIntune configuration policies to Microsoft Security Baselines with ease. Quickly spot differences and bring your policy set into alignment
www.systemcenterdudes.com/intune-commu...

13.11.2025 20:15 👍 6 🔁 3 💬 0 📌 0

Like for how long it takes to load a single page, query, or report? Because I wouldn't mind a progress indicator. lol

12.11.2025 22:12 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
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👋 Folks, I'm super excited to announce the launch of the Microsoft Zero Trust Assessment!

I've been working on this project for the past year at Microsoft with an extended team including our security researchers, product feature teams and docs

Here's what it does

12.11.2025 01:28 👍 30 🔁 10 💬 3 📌 2