PowerShell is a powerful scripting and automation tool for IT operations, but it also has some pitfalls that can cause errors, inefficiencies, or security risks. In this article, you will learn about some of the most common PowerShell automation pitfalls to avoid and how to overcome them with best practices and tips.
One of the most common PowerShell automation pitfalls is not using error handling to catch and handle exceptions that may occur during the execution of your scripts. If you ignore errors, you may end up with incomplete or inaccurate results, or worse, damage your systems or data. To avoid this, you should use try-catch-finally blocks, error variables, and error actions to handle different types of errors and perform appropriate actions, such as logging, retrying, or aborting.
PowerShell is a powerful automation tool, but like any technology, it has its pitfalls. Here are some of the most common PowerShell automation pitfalls to avoid: 1) Not Testing Thoroughly 2) Not Documenting Your Code 3) Ignoring Error Handling 4) Hardcoding Sensitive Information 5) Running Scripts from Untrusted Source 6) Overlooking Security 7) Not Using Version Control 8) Inefficient Code 9) Not Automating Routine Tasks 10) Lack of Backup and Recovery Plan 11) Poor Naming Conventions 12) Ignoring Best Practices 13) Not Monitoring and Maintaining
Another common PowerShell automation pitfall is not following naming conventions for your scripts, functions, variables, and parameters. Naming conventions help you and others to understand the purpose, scope, and usage of your code elements, and avoid confusion and conflicts. To avoid this, you should follow the PowerShell approved verbs and noun prefixes, use descriptive and consistent names, and avoid reserved words and special characters.
I'd say this depends on the size of the script, as long as the code is well documented it is fine. Anything long than a couple of functions should use the correct conventions.
A third common PowerShell automation pitfall is not using modules and functions to organize and reuse your code. Modules and functions help you to modularize and encapsulate your code, making it easier to maintain, debug, and share. To avoid this, you should use modules to group related functions and scripts, use functions to perform specific tasks and return values, and use parameters and attributes to define inputs and outputs.
Be careful using third party modules. Check their github, ensure they are maintained well and vetted by your security team. Fork their branch.
A fourth common PowerShell automation pitfall is not testing and debugging your code before deploying it to production. Testing and debugging help you to identify and fix errors, bugs, and performance issues in your code, and ensure that it works as expected and meets the requirements. To avoid this, you should use the PowerShell ISE or VS Code to write and run your code, use breakpoints and step-through debugging to examine your code flow and variables, and use unit testing and Pester to verify your code logic and output.
A fifth common PowerShell automation pitfall is not securing your credentials and data when running your scripts. Credentials and data are sensitive information that can be exploited by attackers or compromised by accidents. To avoid this, you should use secure strings and encrypted files to store your credentials, use splatting and secure parameters to pass your credentials, and use encryption and hashing to protect your data.
A sixth common PowerShell automation pitfall is not following best practices and standards for writing and maintaining your code. Best practices and standards help you to write clean, readable, and reliable code, and follow the principles and conventions of PowerShell. To avoid this, you should use indentation, spacing, and comments to format your code, use cmdlets and operators to perform common tasks, and use the PowerShell style guide and PSScriptAnalyzer to check and improve your code quality.
Always test your scripts in a safe environment before deploying them in a production setting. Familiarize yourself with PowerShell best practices, style guidelines, and module development standards to write clean and maintainable code. When performing automation tasks that involve data manipulation, ensure you have appropriate backup procedures in place to avoid data loss. Document your scripts thoroughly. Include comments, examples, and usage instructions to make it easier for others to understand and use them. Implement monitoring and alerting for your automated tasks. Make sure your script has the necessary permissions to perform the tasks it's designed for. Be mindful of script performance, especially for long-running tasks.