What I've Learned This Week #6. AI, Intune Profiles, DevOps

Background

This week we have some tips and tricks for using AI, to work with profiles in Intune, being more efficient with powershell, and how to use extensions in Azure DevOps!

Use AI to create easy SOPs and guides

This week I found a smart tool for creating guides and step-by-step guides.

There is a product called Scribe, that allows you to record the steps you take while doing stuff.

They have a plugin for Edge/Chrome and also a desktop app.

The tool records what you do while do you it, and when you are done you get a draft guide with steps, screenshots and instructions.

Now you just need to review the results and edit some text, and you have a finished document!

I created a guide for a colleague, and it took about 40 seconds to get it done!

https://scribehow.com/workspace

How to duplicate profiles in Microsoft Intune

This has been available for some time, but it is not mentioned in the docs, as far as I can tell.

It is very simple when you figure out where to go.

As long as you go through the platform view, you will have the duplicate option on the policy.

Go to Devices and click the device type you want. Make sure to use the platform view.

Click Configuration profiles and then the ellipsis to the right. Click Duplicate on the relevant policy!

Give the policy the new name and you are good to go!

Create device profiles in Microsoft Intune | Microsoft Learn

Using garbage collector to reclaim used memory

I was working on a solution that became quite large and after running for a while it ran out of memory!

I didn’t know what this is, but after doing some research and talking to a colleague, I figured it out.

In PowerShell, the garbage collector (GC) is a process that periodically runs to release memory that is no longer being used by the system. When the GC runs, it identifies objects no longer in use and releases the memory they were occupying. This can help to improve system performance by freeing up memory that would otherwise be wasted. The GC also compacts the memory to minimize fragmentation, improving performance.

The GC should run automatically, but if you need to force it, you can do it with this cmdlet.

[System.GC]::Collect()

Thanks to @5tefan for showing me this!

How to filter in Intune based on Device Trust Type

This one if from the community. Thank you @scottduf for sharing!

You can now filter devices in Intune based on the trust type, for example Azure AD Joined or Hybrid joined.

Supported filter device properties and operators in Microsoft Intune | Microsoft Learn

How to Install extensions to Azure DevOps

I was looking for some tabs in Azure DevOps that I had worked with before but could not find.

At first, I thought it was because they were licensed features, that I couldn’t use right now.

After doing some digging, it turns out they were installed from the Marketplace.

The marketplace can be found in the top-right corner, next to the work items button and Search field.

Extensions for Visual Studio family of products | Visual Studio Marketplace

Summary

This week we focused on Powershell, Microsoft Intune and Azure DevOps.

How to use the garbage collector in powershell.
How to use extensions in Azure DevOps.
How to filter in Intune, based on trust type.
How to use AI to create Guides, SOPs, and instructions.

Resources