Automating repetitive file transfer tasks via PowerShell scripts can save IT Pros a ton of time and eliminate human error, but you need to follow these best practices.
Powershell Can Get You There, But it May be Painful
Automating repetitive file transfer tasks via PowerShell scripts can save IT Pros a ton of time and eliminate human error. However, in order to create effective scripts, you will have to follow the same guidelines that developers use when creating enterprise software:
- Good planning: Fully understand and document the requirements of the script, including end-to-end encryption if files contain sensitive data
- Build for the long haul: Write the script in a flexible way that will make it easy to update as your infrastructure evolves
- Error handling: Does the script gracefully handle error conditions? What if the server is down? What if the network is down?
- Logging: Sometimes a file transfer doesn't happen as it should. You'll need an audit trail for troubleshooting.
Powershell expert, Adam Betram, explains the best practice, "If you enjoy writing scripts, and enjoy learning a language like Powershell, and have a boss who sees the benefits. GO FOR IT. Script everything. But if you're not a Powershell guru, and don't have the time to become one, buying software to accomplish file transfer automation makes more sense."
Companies often maintain a large library of scripts automating different IT functions, with little documentation as to what they do. With legacy scripts driving file transfer it can be nearly impossible to track down why a file transfer fails, let alone re-write the script to avoid errors in the future. To increase IT agility, many companies turn to software solutions for file transfer automation, such as Ipswitch's MOVEit Automation.
MOVEit Automation provides a simple but powerful user interface for defining business workflows that anyone on your IT team can use. With MOVEit Automation you can automate tasks like pushing and pulling files to/from any FTP server based on events or schedule, manipulating/transforming file content, managing files for transfer, storage or deletion.