Best Examples of PowerShell Scripts for Utilizing LAPS in a Windows Environment

Introduction: In this article, we will explore the importance of utilizing Local Administrator Password Solution (LAPS) in a Windows environment. LAPS is a Microsoft solution that helps organizations manage the local administrator passwords of their domain-joined computers securely. We will discuss the benefits of using LAPS and provide practical examples of PowerShell scripts and commands to demonstrate its usage in the Windows environment.

Examples:

1. Installing and Configuring LAPS: To begin, we need to install and configure LAPS on the domain controller and client machines. The following PowerShell commands can be used to achieve this:

• Install the LAPS management tools:

  Install-WindowsFeature AdmPwd.PS

• Import the LAPS module:

  Import-Module AdmPwd.PS

• Configure the LAPS Group Policy:

  Set-AdmPwdPolicy -ComplexityEnabled $true -LengthOfPassword 12

2. Retrieving the Local Administrator Password: Once LAPS is installed and configured, we can retrieve the local administrator password for a specific computer using the following PowerShell script:

$computerName = "COMPUTER_NAME"
$password = Get-AdmPwdPassword -ComputerName $computerName
Write-Host "The local administrator password for $computerName is: $password"

3. Resetting the Local Administrator Password: In some cases, it might be necessary to reset the local administrator password. The following PowerShell script can be used to reset the password:

$computerName = "COMPUTER_NAME"
Reset-AdmPwdPassword -ComputerName $computerName
Write-Host "The local administrator password for $computerName has been reset."

Conclusion: Utilizing LAPS in a Windows environment is crucial for maintaining strong security practices. By implementing LAPS and leveraging PowerShell scripts, organizations can ensure that local administrator passwords are regularly changed and securely managed. The examples provided in this article serve as a starting point for administrators to effectively utilize LAPS and enhance their overall security posture.