diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 2803e566..af66731a 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@
 /junit/
 /log/
 /pkg/
-/spec/fixtures/manifests/
 /spec/fixtures/modules/*
 /tmp/
 /vendor/
diff --git a/.rubocop_todo.yml b/.rubocop_todo.yml
index 03a9e5c4..d9edc3f1 100644
--- a/.rubocop_todo.yml
+++ b/.rubocop_todo.yml
@@ -1,11 +1,18 @@
 # This configuration was generated by
 # `rubocop --auto-gen-config`
-# on 2025-10-01 08:51:22 UTC using RuboCop version 1.73.2.
+# on 2025-10-29 07:31:19 UTC using RuboCop version 1.73.2.
 # The point is for the user to remove these configuration records
 # one by one as the offenses are removed from the code base.
 # Note that changes in the inspected code, or installation of new
 # versions of RuboCop, may require this file to be generated again.
 
+# Offense count: 3
+# This cop supports safe autocorrection (--autocorrect).
+RSpec/ExpectActual:
+  Exclude:
+    - '**/spec/routing/**/*'
+    - 'spec/acceptance/deferred_spec.rb'
+
 # Offense count: 2
 # Configuration parameters: Include, CustomTransform, IgnoreMethods, IgnoreMetadata.
 # Include: **/*_spec.rb
@@ -20,3 +27,11 @@ RSpec/SpecFilePathFormat:
 Style/BitwisePredicate:
   Exclude:
     - 'lib/puppet/type/dsc.rb'
+
+# Offense count: 1
+# This cop supports unsafe autocorrection (--autocorrect-all).
+# Configuration parameters: ConvertCodeThatCanStartToReturnNil, AllowedMethods, MaxChainLength.
+# AllowedMethods: present?, blank?, presence, try, try!
+Style/SafeNavigation:
+  Exclude:
+    - 'lib/puppet/provider/base_dsc_lite/powershell.rb'
diff --git a/lib/puppet/provider/base_dsc_lite/powershell.rb b/lib/puppet/provider/base_dsc_lite/powershell.rb
index c0122c33..36682ff3 100644
--- a/lib/puppet/provider/base_dsc_lite/powershell.rb
+++ b/lib/puppet/provider/base_dsc_lite/powershell.rb
@@ -2,6 +2,11 @@
 
 require 'pathname'
 require 'json'
+require 'erb' # ensure ERB is available
+require 'puppet'
+require 'puppet/node'
+require 'puppet/parser/script_compiler'
+require 'puppet/pops/evaluator/deferred_resolver'
 require_relative '../../../puppet_x/puppetlabs/dsc_lite/powershell_hash_formatter'
 
 Puppet::Type.type(:base_dsc_lite).provide(:powershell) do
@@ -40,6 +45,80 @@ def self.vendored_modules_path
     File.expand_path(Pathname.new(__FILE__).dirname + '../../../' + 'puppet_x/dsc_resources')
   end
 
+  # ---------- Resolution helpers (Option 2) ----------
+
+  # 1) Catalog-wide resolve: replace all Deferreds/futures in the catalog
+  def force_resolve_catalog_deferred!
+    cat = resource&.catalog
+    return unless cat
+
+    facts = Puppet.lookup(:facts) { nil }
+    env   = if cat.respond_to?(:environment_instance)
+              cat.environment_instance
+            else
+              Puppet.lookup(:current_environment) { nil }
+            end
+    begin
+      Puppet::Pops::Evaluator::DeferredResolver.resolve_and_replace(facts, cat, env, true)
+      Puppet.notice('DSC PROVIDER SENTINEL → resolve_and_replace invoked')
+    rescue => e
+      Puppet.notice("DSC PROVIDER resolve_and_replace error: #{e.class}: #{e.message}")
+    end
+  end
+
+  # Build a compiler on the agent for local resolution (ScriptCompiler on Puppet 8)
+  def build_agent_compiler(env)
+    node_name = Puppet[:node_name_value]
+    node      = Puppet::Node.new(node_name, environment: env)
+
+    # If you can attach facts, do so—it can influence function behavior during resolve
+    begin
+      facts = Puppet.lookup(:facts) { nil }
+      node.add_facts(facts) if facts
+    rescue => e
+      Puppet.debug("DSC_lite: could not attach facts to node for local resolve: #{e.class}: #{e.message}")
+    end
+
+    if defined?(Puppet::Parser::ScriptCompiler)
+      Puppet::Parser::ScriptCompiler.new(node, env)
+    else
+      Puppet::Parser::Compiler.new(node)
+    end
+  end
+
+  # 2) Targeted resolve: explicitly resolve the :properties value using a resolver that
+  #    can handle both Deferred and evaluator futures, then write it back to the resource.
+  def force_resolve_properties!
+    return unless resource.parameters.key?(:properties)
+
+    cat = resource&.catalog
+    env = if cat&.respond_to?(:environment_instance)
+            cat.environment_instance
+          else
+            Puppet.lookup(:current_environment) { nil }
+          end
+
+    begin
+      compiler = build_agent_compiler(env) if env
+      return unless compiler # without a compiler, local resolve can't proceed
+
+      facts = Puppet.lookup(:facts) { nil }
+
+      resolver = Puppet::Pops::Evaluator::DeferredResolver.new(compiler, true)
+      resolver.set_facts_variable(facts) if facts
+
+      props = resource.parameters[:properties].value
+      resolved = resolver.resolve(props) # handles nested Deferred and futures
+      resource.parameters[:properties].value = resolved
+
+      Puppet.debug('DSC_lite: explicitly resolved resource[:properties] on agent')
+    rescue => e
+      Puppet.debug("DSC_lite: explicit properties resolve failed: #{e.class}: #{e.message}")
+    end
+  end
+
+  # ---------- Existing provider helpers ----------
+
   def dsc_parameters
     resource.parameters_with_value.select do |p|
       p.name.to_s.include? 'dsc_'
@@ -65,18 +144,31 @@ def ps_manager
     Pwsh::Manager.instance(command(:powershell), Pwsh::Manager.powershell_args, debug: debug_output)
   end
 
+  # If your ERBs call provider.format_for_ps(...), keep this minimal helper
+  def format_for_ps(value)
+    self.class.format_dsc_lite(value)
+  end
+
+  # ---------- Provider operations ----------
+
   def exists?
+    Puppet.notice("DSC PROVIDER SENTINEL → #{__FILE__}")
+
+    # Two-stage resolve before we render ERB
+    force_resolve_catalog_deferred!
+    force_resolve_properties!
+
     timeout = set_timeout
     Puppet.debug "Dsc Timeout: #{timeout} milliseconds"
     version = Facter.value(:powershell_version)
     Puppet.debug "PowerShell Version: #{version}"
+
     script_content = ps_script_content('test')
     Puppet.debug "\n" + self.class.redact_content(script_content)
 
     if Pwsh::Manager.windows_powershell_supported?
       output = ps_manager.execute(script_content, timeout)
       raise Puppet::Error, output[:errormessage] if output[:errormessage]&.match?(%r{PowerShell module timeout \(\d+ ms\) exceeded while executing})
-
       output = output[:stdout]
     else
       self.class.upgrade_message
@@ -95,15 +187,21 @@ def exists?
   end
 
   def create
+    Puppet.notice("DSC PROVIDER SENTINEL → #{__FILE__}")
+
+    # Two-stage resolve before we render ERB
+    force_resolve_catalog_deferred!
+    force_resolve_properties!
+
     timeout = set_timeout
     Puppet.debug "Dsc Timeout: #{timeout} milliseconds"
+
     script_content = ps_script_content('set')
     Puppet.debug "\n" + self.class.redact_content(script_content)
 
     if Pwsh::Manager.windows_powershell_supported?
       output = ps_manager.execute(script_content, timeout)
       raise Puppet::Error, output[:errormessage] if output[:errormessage]&.match?(%r{PowerShell module timeout \(\d+ ms\) exceeded while executing})
-
       output = output[:stdout]
     else
       self.class.upgrade_message
@@ -114,7 +212,6 @@ def create
     data = JSON.parse(output)
 
     raise(data['errormessage']) unless data['errormessage'].empty?
-
     notify_reboot_pending if data['rebootrequired'] == true
 
     data
@@ -147,12 +244,7 @@ def self.escape_quotes(text)
   end
 
   def self.redact_content(content)
-    # Note that here we match after an equals to ensure we redact the value being passed, but not the key.
-    # This means a redaction of a string not including '= ' before the string value will not redact.
-    # Every secret unwrapped in this module will unwrap as "'secret' # PuppetSensitive" and, currently,
-    # always inside a hash table to be passed along. This means we can (currently) expect the value to
-    # always come after an equals sign.
-    # Note that the line may include a semi-colon and/or a newline character after the sensitive unwrap.
+    # NOTE: match after '=' so we redact the value being passed, but not the key
     content.gsub(%r{= '.+' # PuppetSensitive;?(\\n)?$}, "= '[REDACTED]'")
   end
 
@@ -165,6 +257,10 @@ def self.ps_script_content(mode, resource, provider)
     @param_hash = resource
     template_name = resource.generic_dsc ? '/invoke_generic_dsc_resource.ps1.erb' : '/invoke_dsc_resource.ps1.erb'
     file = File.new(template_path + template_name, encoding: Encoding::UTF_8)
+
+    # Make vendored_modules_path visible in ERB if the template uses it
+    vendored_modules_path = self.vendored_modules_path
+
     template = ERB.new(file.read, trim_mode: '-')
     template.result(binding)
   end
diff --git a/lib/puppet/type/dsc.rb b/lib/puppet/type/dsc.rb
index c72d0937..d049bbd6 100644
--- a/lib/puppet/type/dsc.rb
+++ b/lib/puppet/type/dsc.rb
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 # frozen_string_literal: true
 
 require 'pathname'
+require 'puppet/pops/evaluator/deferred_resolver' # ← add: resolver API
 
 Puppet::Type.newtype(:dsc) do
   desc <<-DOC
@@ -17,6 +18,7 @@ module        => 'PSDesiredStateConfiguration',
         }
       }
   DOC
+
   require Pathname.new(__FILE__).dirname + '../../' + 'puppet/type/base_dsc_lite'
   require Pathname.new(__FILE__).dirname + '../../puppet_x/puppetlabs/dsc_lite/dsc_type_helpers'
 
@@ -105,7 +107,33 @@ def change_to_s(currentvalue, newvalue)
     end
 
     munge do |value|
-      PuppetX::DscLite::TypeHelpers.munge_sensitive_hash(value)
+      Puppet.notice("DSC TYPE SENTINEL → #{__FILE__}")
+      compiler = Puppet.lookup(:compiler) { nil }
+      if compiler
+        begin
+          resolved = Puppet::Pops::Evaluator::DeferredResolver.resolve(value, compiler)
+        rescue => e
+          Puppet.notice("DSC TYPE resolve() error: #{e.class}: #{e.message}")
+          resolved = value
+        end
+      else
+        Puppet.notice('DSC TYPE SENTINEL → no compiler available during munge')
+        resolved = value
+      end
+
+      # Quick check: did any Deferred remain?
+      def contains_deferred?(x)
+        case x
+        when Hash  then x.any? { |k, v| contains_deferred?(k) || contains_deferred?(v) }
+        when Array then x.any? { |v| contains_deferred?(v) }
+        else x && x.class.name.to_s.include?('Deferred')
+        end
+      end
+      if contains_deferred?(resolved)
+        Puppet.notice('DSC TYPE SENTINEL → properties still contains Deferred AFTER resolve()')
+      end
+
+      PuppetX::DscLite::TypeHelpers.munge_sensitive_hash(resolved)
     end
   end
 
diff --git a/spec/acceptance/deferred_spec.rb b/spec/acceptance/deferred_spec.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b992e14e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/acceptance/deferred_spec.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,102 @@
+# spec/acceptance/deferred_spec.rb
+# frozen_string_literal: true
+
+require 'spec_helper_acceptance'
+
+def read_fixture(name)
+  File.read(File.join(__dir__, '..', 'fixtures', 'manifests', name))
+end
+
+def read_win_file_if_exists(path)
+  # Use a script block with literals; avoid $variables to prevent transport/quoting expansion
+  # Also keep exit 0 regardless of existence so run_shell doesn't raise.
+  ps = %{& { if (Test-Path -LiteralPath '#{path}') { Get-Content -Raw -LiteralPath '#{path}' } else { '<<<FILE_NOT_FOUND>>>' } } }
+  r  = run_shell(%(powershell.exe -NoProfile -NonInteractive -Command "#{ps}"))
+  body = (r.stdout || '').to_s
+  exists = !body.include?('<<<FILE_NOT_FOUND>>>')
+  { exists: exists, content: exists ? body : '' }
+end
+
+describe 'deferred values with dsc_lite' do
+  let(:control_manifest)         { read_fixture('01_file_deferred.pp') }
+  let(:dsc_control_manifest_epp) { read_fixture('01b_file_deferred_with_epp.pp') }
+  let(:dsc_deferred_direct)      { read_fixture('02_dsc_deferred_direct.pp') }
+  let(:dsc_deferred_inline)      { read_fixture('02b_dsc_deferred_inline.pp') } # ← NEW
+  let(:dsc_deferred_epp_inline)  { read_fixture('02c_dsc_deferred_inline_epp.pp') } # ← NEW
+  let(:dsc_deferred_stringified) { read_fixture('03a_dsc_deferred_stringified.pp') }
+  let(:dsc_deferred_bad_unwrap)  { read_fixture('03b_dsc_deferred_bad_unwrap.pp') }
+
+  it 'control (01): native file + Deferred resolves to hello-file' do
+    result = idempotent_apply(control_manifest)
+    expect(result.exit_code).to eq(0)
+    out = read_win_file_if_exists('C:/Temp/deferred_ok.txt')
+    expect(out[:exists]).to be(true)
+    expect(out[:content].strip).to eq('hello-file')
+  end
+
+  it 'control (01b): native file + Deferred resolves to hello-file (EPP)' do
+    result = idempotent_apply(dsc_control_manifest_epp)
+    expect(result.exit_code).to eq(0)
+    out = read_win_file_if_exists('C:/Temp/deferred_ok.txt')
+    expect(out[:exists]).to be(true)
+    expect(out[:content].strip).to eq('hello-file')
+  end
+
+  it '02: passing Deferred via variable to DSC resolves to hello-dsc (otherwise flag bug)' do
+    apply = apply_manifest(dsc_deferred_direct)
+    out   = read_win_file_if_exists('C:/Temp/from_dsc.txt')
+    content = out[:content].strip
+    if out[:exists] && content == 'hello-dsc'
+      expect(true).to be(true)
+    elsif out[:exists] && content =~ %r{Deferred\s*\(|Puppet::Pops::Types::Deferred}i
+      raise "BUG: 02 wrote stringified Deferred: #{content.inspect}\nApply:\n#{apply.stdout}#{apply.stderr}"
+    else
+      raise "Unexpected 02 outcome. Exists=#{out[:exists]} Content=#{content.inspect}\nApply:\n#{apply.stdout}#{apply.stderr}"
+    end
+  end
+
+  # NEW 02b: inline Deferred on the DSC property (no variable intermediary)
+  it '02b: passing Deferred inline to DSC resolves to hello-dsc-inline (otherwise flag bug)' do
+    apply = apply_manifest(dsc_deferred_inline)
+    out   = read_win_file_if_exists('C:/Temp/from_dsc_inline.txt')
+    content = out[:content].strip
+    if out[:exists] && content == 'hello-dsc-inline'
+      expect(true).to be(true)
+    elsif out[:exists] && content =~ %r{Deferred\s*\(|Puppet::Pops::Types::Deferred}i
+      raise "BUG: 02b wrote stringified Deferred: #{content.inspect}\nApply:\n#{apply.stdout}#{apply.stderr}"
+    else
+      raise "Unexpected 02b outcome. Exists=#{out[:exists]} Content=#{content.inspect}\nApply:\n#{apply.stdout}#{apply.stderr}"
+    end
+  end
+
+  # NEW 02c: inline Deferred on the DSC property (no variable intermediary)
+  it '02c: passing a Deferred inline while calling an epp' do
+    apply = apply_manifest(dsc_deferred_epp_inline)
+    out   = read_win_file_if_exists('C:/Temp/from_dsc_inline.txt')
+    content = out[:content].strip
+    if out[:exists] && content == 'hello-dsc-epp'
+      expect(true).to be(true)
+    elsif out[:exists] && content =~ %r{Deferred\s*\(|Puppet::Pops::Types::Deferred}i
+      raise "BUG: 02c wrote stringified Deferred: #{content.inspect}\nApply:\n#{apply.stdout}#{apply.stderr}"
+    else
+      raise "Unexpected 02c outcome. Exists=#{out[:exists]} Content=#{content.inspect}\nApply:\n#{apply.stdout}#{apply.stderr}"
+    end
+  end
+
+  it '03a: stringifying a Deferred writes the function form (reproduces customer report)' do
+    apply_manifest(dsc_deferred_stringified)
+    out = read_win_file_if_exists('C:/Temp/from_dsc_var_string.txt')
+    expect(out[:exists]).to be(true)
+    expect(out[:content]).to match(%r{Deferred\s*\(|Puppet::Pops::Types::Deferred}i)
+    expect(out[:content]).not_to match(%r{\bhello-var\b})
+  end
+
+  it '03b: unwrap on a non‑Sensitive is a no‑op; also writes the function form' do
+    apply_manifest(dsc_deferred_bad_unwrap)
+    out   = read_win_file_if_exists('C:/Temp/from_dsc_var_bad_unwrap.txt')
+    out   = read_win_file_if_exists('C:/Temp/from_dsc_var.txt') unless out[:exists]
+    expect(out[:exists]).to be(true)
+    expect(out[:content]).to match(%r{Deferred\s*\(|Puppet::Pops::Types::Deferred}i)
+    expect(out[:content]).not_to match(%r{\bhello-var\b})
+  end
+end
diff --git a/spec/fixtures/manifests/01_file_deferred.pp b/spec/fixtures/manifests/01_file_deferred.pp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..4f12b74e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/fixtures/manifests/01_file_deferred.pp
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+# spec/fixtures/manifests/01_file_deferred.pp
+file { 'C:/Temp':
+  ensure => directory,
+}
+
+$deferred = Deferred('join', [['hello','-','file'], ''])
+
+file { 'C:/Temp/deferred_ok.txt':
+  ensure  => file,
+  content => $deferred,
+  require => File['C:/Temp'],
+}
diff --git a/spec/fixtures/manifests/01b_file_deferred_with_epp.pp b/spec/fixtures/manifests/01b_file_deferred_with_epp.pp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..9f9dfe2c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/fixtures/manifests/01b_file_deferred_with_epp.pp
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+# spec/fixtures/manifests/01_file_deferred.pp
+file { 'C:/Temp':
+  ensure => directory,
+}
+
+$deferred = Deferred('join', [['hello','-','file'], ''])
+
+file { 'C:/Temp/deferred_ok.txt':
+  ensure  => file,
+  content => Deferred('inline_epp', ['<%= $content.unwrap %>', { content => $deferred }]),
+  require => File['C:/Temp'],
+}
diff --git a/spec/fixtures/manifests/02_dsc_deferred_direct.pp b/spec/fixtures/manifests/02_dsc_deferred_direct.pp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..3fac8289
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/fixtures/manifests/02_dsc_deferred_direct.pp
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+# spec/fixtures/manifests/02_dsc_deferred_direct.pp
+file { 'C:/Temp':
+  ensure => directory,
+}
+
+$deferred = Deferred('join', [['hello','-','dsc'], ''])
+
+dsc { 'WriteFileViaDSC':
+  resource_name => 'File',
+  module        => 'PSDesiredStateConfiguration',
+  properties    => {
+    'DestinationPath' => 'C:\Temp\from_dsc.txt',
+    'Type'            => 'File',
+    'Ensure'          => 'Present',
+    'Contents'        => $deferred,
+  },
+  require => File['C:/Temp'],
+}
diff --git a/spec/fixtures/manifests/02b_dsc_deferred_inline.pp b/spec/fixtures/manifests/02b_dsc_deferred_inline.pp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..6acd41f7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/fixtures/manifests/02b_dsc_deferred_inline.pp
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+# spec/fixtures/manifests/02b_dsc_deferred_inline.pp
+file { 'C:/Temp':
+  ensure => directory,
+}
+
+dsc { 'WriteFileViaDSCInline':
+  resource_name => 'File',
+  module        => 'PSDesiredStateConfiguration',
+  properties    => {
+    'DestinationPath' => 'C:\Temp\from_dsc_inline.txt',
+    'Type'            => 'File',
+    'Ensure'          => 'Present',
+    'Contents'        => Deferred('join', [['hello','-','dsc-inline'], '']),
+  },
+  require => File['C:/Temp'],
+}
diff --git a/spec/fixtures/manifests/02c_dsc_deferred_inline_epp.pp b/spec/fixtures/manifests/02c_dsc_deferred_inline_epp.pp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..40b29fbc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/fixtures/manifests/02c_dsc_deferred_inline_epp.pp
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+# spec/fixtures/manifests/02_dsc_deferred_direct.pp
+file { 'C:/Temp':
+  ensure => directory,
+}
+
+$deferred = Deferred('join', [['hello','-','dsc', '-', 'epp'], ''])
+
+dsc { 'WriteFileViaDSC':
+  resource_name => 'File',
+  module        => 'PSDesiredStateConfiguration',
+  properties    => {
+    'DestinationPath' => 'C:\Temp\from_dsc.txt',
+    'Type'            => 'File',
+    'Ensure'          => 'Present',
+    'Contents'        => Deferred('inline_epp', ['<%= $content.unwrap %>', { content => $deferred }]),
+  },
+  require => File['C:/Temp'],
+}
diff --git a/spec/fixtures/manifests/03a_dsc_deferred_stringified.pp b/spec/fixtures/manifests/03a_dsc_deferred_stringified.pp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..819abf8d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/fixtures/manifests/03a_dsc_deferred_stringified.pp
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+# spec/fixtures/manifests/03a_dsc_deferred_stringified.pp
+file { 'C:/Temp': ensure => directory }
+
+$deferred = Deferred('join', [['hello','-','var'], ''])
+
+# WRONG on purpose: coerces Deferred to a String at compile time
+$stringified = String($deferred)
+
+dsc { 'WriteFileViaDSCVarStringified':
+  resource_name => 'File',
+  module        => 'PSDesiredStateConfiguration',
+  properties    => {
+    'DestinationPath' => 'C:\Temp\from_dsc_var_string.txt',
+    'Type'            => 'File',
+    'Ensure'          => 'Present',
+    'Contents'        => $stringified,
+  },
+  require => File['C:/Temp'],
+}
diff --git a/spec/fixtures/manifests/03b_dsc_deferred_bad_unwrap.pp b/spec/fixtures/manifests/03b_dsc_deferred_bad_unwrap.pp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c908f74a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/fixtures/manifests/03b_dsc_deferred_bad_unwrap.pp
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+# spec/fixtures/manifests/03b_dsc_deferred_bad_unwrap.pp
+file { 'C:/Temp': ensure => directory }
+
+$deferred = Deferred('join', [['hello','-','var'], ''])
+
+# WRONG: unwrap applies to Sensitive, not Deferred; this should compile-fail
+$unwrapped_deferred = String($deferred.unwrap)
+
+dsc { 'WriteFileViaDSCVarBadUnwrap':
+  resource_name => 'File',
+  module        => 'PSDesiredStateConfiguration',
+  properties    => {
+    'DestinationPath' => 'C:\Temp\from_dsc_var_bad_unwrap.txt',
+    'Type'            => 'File',
+    'Ensure'          => 'Present',
+    'Contents'        => $unwrapped_deferred,
+  },
+  require => File['C:/Temp'],
+}