Windows PowerShell is a new command-line shell and scripting language built on .NET. It can be used to administer SharePoint by allowing execution of multiple commands at once using cmdlets, unlike Stsadm which only accepts one command at a time. Permissions are required to use PowerShell for SharePoint, including being a member of the SharePoint_Shell_Access role and the WSS_ADMIN_WPG local group. Common tasks that can be performed with PowerShell include deploying solutions, managing features, backup/restore of content databases, and other site collection and site management operations.