This Free Upskill Challenge (UC) provides a high-level introduction to PowerShell and its role in security. PowerShell was invented by Jeffrey Snover to help administrators manage Windows environments at scale, replacing repetitive manual workflows with automation and scripting. Over time, it evolved into a powerful shell and automation framework that is now deeply embedded in Windows systems and widely used across IT and security teams.
For people working in security, PowerShell shows up everywhere — in incident response, configuration management, automation, and detection work. It is also commonly used by attackers, simply because it is already present in many environments and often left in a default configuration. Understanding PowerShell at a high level helps security practitioners recognize what they’re seeing, ask better questions, and make more informed decisions.
Rather than teaching scripting or advanced techniques, this UC focuses on giving you context: what PowerShell is, why it exists, and why it’s worth understanding as part of a broader security skill set. Future UCs and courses will build advanced skills, but let’s first start with a solid foundation.
Price = FREE!
Goals for UC – PowerShell
By the end of this UC, you should be able to:
- Describe what PowerShell is at a high level – Understand it as a shell, scripting language, and automation framework, and why it was created.
- Explain why PowerShell is prevalent in Windows environments – Understand that PowerShell is installed by default on Windows, how it integrates with the operating system, and why it’s frequently encountered in security work.
- Identify common ways PowerShell appears in cybersecurity – Recognize how both attackers and defenders use it and get an introduction to the security features available to detect and prevent abuse.
- Take your first steps – Know where to start, which commands matter first, and how to begin experimenting with PowerShell without feeling overwhelmed.
What’s an Upskill Challenge (UC)?
A UC is a CTF-style, bite-sized lesson from the JHT Team, our courseware developers as well as “friends” of JHT. They are meant to be short and to the point. UCs focus on a single tool or concept and are helpful in quickly providing useful skills that might be prerequisites for other types of educational content on the platform.
A UC should be 10 – 30 minutes of student time and have no VMs. There are quizzes to make sure that the content is understood.
Prerequisites for UC – PowerShell
UCs assume no knowledge at all! They’re meant to be completely self-contained, so all of the answers are in the lesson. No outside research is required.
