diff --git a/lib/beaker/host/mac/exec.rb b/lib/beaker/host/mac/exec.rb
index b5330e8b95..33046a2526 100644
--- a/lib/beaker/host/mac/exec.rb
+++ b/lib/beaker/host/mac/exec.rb
@@ -35,4 +35,13 @@ def selinux_enabled?()
     false
   end
 
+  # Update ModifiedDate on a file
+  # @param [String] file Path to the file
+  # @param [String] timestamp Timestamp to set
+  def modified_at(file, timestamp = nil)
+    require 'date'
+    time = timestamp ? DateTime.parse("#{timestamp}") : DateTime.now
+    timestamp = time.strftime('%Y%m%d%H%M')
+    execute("touch -mt #{timestamp} #{file}")
+  end
 end
diff --git a/lib/beaker/host/pswindows/exec.rb b/lib/beaker/host/pswindows/exec.rb
index 40b009dba4..23a5479ae9 100644
--- a/lib/beaker/host/pswindows/exec.rb
+++ b/lib/beaker/host/pswindows/exec.rb
@@ -37,6 +37,28 @@ def mv(orig, dest, rm=true)
     execute("move /y #{orig} #{dest}")
   end
 
+  # Update ModifiedDate on a file
+  # @param [String] file Path to the file
+  # @param [String] timestamp Timestamp to set
+  def modified_at(file, timestamp = nil)
+    require 'date'
+    time = timestamp ? DateTime.parse("#{timestamp}") : DateTime.now
+
+    result = execute("powershell Test-Path #{file} -PathType Leaf")
+
+    if result.include? 'False'
+      execute("powershell New-Item -ItemType file #{file}")
+    end
+    execute("powershell (gci #{file}).LastWriteTime = Get-Date " \
+      "-Year '#{time.year}'" \
+      "-Month '#{time.month}'" \
+      "-Day '#{time.day}'" \
+      "-Hour '#{time.hour}'" \
+      "-Minute '#{time.minute}'" \
+      "-Second '#{time.second}'"
+    )
+  end
+
   def path
     'c:/windows/system32;c:/windows'
   end
diff --git a/lib/beaker/host/unix/exec.rb b/lib/beaker/host/unix/exec.rb
index 895a60316a..a80e8e48e5 100644
--- a/lib/beaker/host/unix/exec.rb
+++ b/lib/beaker/host/unix/exec.rb
@@ -2,9 +2,9 @@ module Unix::Exec
   include Beaker::CommandFactory
 
   # Reboots the host, comparing uptime values to verify success
-  # @param [Integer] wait_time How long to wait after sending the reboot 
+  # @param [Integer] wait_time How long to wait after sending the reboot
   #                            command before attempting to check in on the host
-  # @param [Integer] max_connection_tries How many times to retry connecting to 
+  # @param [Integer] max_connection_tries How many times to retry connecting to
   #                            host after reboot. Note that there is an fibbonacci
   #                            backoff when attempting retries so the time spent
   #                            waiting on this can grow quickly.
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ def reboot(wait_time=10, max_connection_tries=9, uptime_retries=18)
       current_uptime_str = parse_uptime current_uptime
       current_uptime_int = uptime_int current_uptime_str
       unless original_uptime_int > current_uptime_int
-        raise Beaker::Host::RebootFailure, "Uptime did not reset. Reboot appears to have failed." 
+        raise Beaker::Host::RebootFailure, "Uptime did not reset. Reboot appears to have failed."
       end
     rescue Beaker::Host::RebootFailure => e
       attempts += 1
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ def parse_uptime(uptime)
       return "0 min"
     end
     raise "Couldn't parse uptime: #{uptime}" if result.nil?
-    
+
     result[1].strip.chomp(",")
   end
 
@@ -101,6 +101,16 @@ def touch(file, abs=true)
     (abs ? '/bin/touch' : 'touch') + " #{file}"
   end
 
+  # Update ModifiedDate on a file
+  # @param [String] file Path to the file
+  # @param [String] timestamp Timestamp to set
+  def modified_at(file, timestamp = nil)
+    require 'date'
+    time = timestamp ? DateTime.parse("#{timestamp}") : DateTime.now
+    timestamp = time.strftime('%Y%m%d%H%M')
+    execute("/bin/touch -mt #{timestamp} #{file}")
+  end
+
   def path
     '/bin:/usr/bin'
   end
@@ -117,7 +127,7 @@ def get_ip
   # @param [String] dir The directory structure to create on the host
   # @return [Boolean] True, if directory construction succeeded, otherwise False
   def mkdir_p dir
-    cmd = "mkdir -p #{dir}"
+    cmd = "mkdir -p '#{dir}'"
     result = exec(Beaker::Command.new(cmd), :acceptable_exit_codes => [0, 1])
     result.exit_code == 0
   end
@@ -125,7 +135,7 @@ def mkdir_p dir
   # Recursively remove the path provided
   # @param [String] path The path to remove
   def rm_rf path
-    execute("rm -rf #{path}")
+    execute("rm -rf '#{path}'")
   end
 
   # Move the origin to destination. The destination is removed prior to moving.
@@ -134,7 +144,7 @@ def rm_rf path
   # @param [Boolean] rm Remove the destination prior to move
   def mv orig, dest, rm=true
     rm_rf dest unless !rm
-    execute("mv #{orig} #{dest}")
+    execute("mv '#{orig}' '#{dest}'")
   end
 
   # Attempt to ping the provided target hostname
diff --git a/lib/beaker/host/unix/file.rb b/lib/beaker/host/unix/file.rb
index aab32f6a00..a7a4c421b9 100644
--- a/lib/beaker/host/unix/file.rb
+++ b/lib/beaker/host/unix/file.rb
@@ -30,6 +30,10 @@ def chown(user, path, recursive=false)
     execute("chown #{recursive ? '-R ' : ''}#{user} #{path}")
   end
 
+  def chmod(mod, path, recursive=false)
+    execute("chmod #{recursive ? '-R ' : ''}#{mod} #{path}")
+  end
+
   # Change group ownership of a path
   #
   # @see http://pubs.opengroup.org/onlinepubs/9699919799/utilities/chgrp.html
diff --git a/lib/beaker/host/windows/file.rb b/lib/beaker/host/windows/file.rb
index 32dd574f8a..b76aa10a11 100644
--- a/lib/beaker/host/windows/file.rb
+++ b/lib/beaker/host/windows/file.rb
@@ -35,6 +35,9 @@ def chgrp(group, path, recursive=false)
     super(group, cygpath, recursive)
   end
 
+  # Not needed on windows
+  def chmod(mod, path, recursive=false); end
+
   # (see {Beaker::Host::Unix::File#ls_ld})
   # @note Cygwin's `ls_ld` implementation does not support
   #   windows-, DOS-, or mixed-style paths, only UNIX/POSIX-style.
diff --git a/spec/beaker/host/mac/exec_spec.rb b/spec/beaker/host/mac/exec_spec.rb
index 79d8acc789..4382c04877 100644
--- a/spec/beaker/host/mac/exec_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/beaker/host/mac/exec_spec.rb
@@ -31,5 +31,15 @@ def to_s
         expect(instance.selinux_enabled?).to be === false
       end
     end
+
+    describe '#modified_at' do
+      it 'calls execute with touch and timestamp' do
+        time = '190101010000'
+        path = '/path/to/file'
+        expect( instance ).to receive(:execute).with("touch -mt #{time} #{path}").and_return(0)
+
+        instance.modified_at(path, time)
+      end
+    end
   end
 end
diff --git a/spec/beaker/host/pswindows/exec_spec.rb b/spec/beaker/host/pswindows/exec_spec.rb
index c5d408dfef..c8fb64b499 100644
--- a/spec/beaker/host/pswindows/exec_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/beaker/host/pswindows/exec_spec.rb
@@ -50,6 +50,38 @@ def to_s
         expect( instance.mv(origin, destination, false) ).to be === 0
       end
     end
+
+    describe '#modified_at' do
+      before do
+        allow(instance).to receive(:execute).and_return(stdout)
+      end
+
+      context 'file exists' do
+        let(:stdout) { 'True' }
+        it 'sets the modified_at date' do
+          file = 'C:\path\to\file'
+          expect(instance).to receive(:execute).with("powershell Test-Path #{file} -PathType Leaf")
+          expect(instance).to receive(:execute).with(
+            "powershell (gci C:\\path\\to\\file).LastWriteTime = Get-Date -Year '1970'-Month '1'-Day '1'-Hour '0'-Minute '0'-Second '0'"
+          )
+          instance.modified_at(file, '197001010000')
+        end
+      end
+
+      context 'file does not exist' do
+        let(:stdout) { 'False' }
+        it 'creates it and sets the modified_at date' do
+          file = 'C:\path\to\file'
+          expect(instance).to receive(:execute).with("powershell Test-Path #{file} -PathType Leaf")
+          expect(instance).to receive(:execute).with("powershell New-Item -ItemType file #{file}")
+          expect(instance).to receive(:execute).with(
+            "powershell (gci C:\\path\\to\\file).LastWriteTime = Get-Date -Year '1970'-Month '1'-Day '1'-Hour '0'-Minute '0'-Second '0'"
+          )
+          instance.modified_at(file, '197001010000')
+        end
+      end
+    end
+
     describe '#environment_string' do
       let(:host) { {'pathseparator' => ':'} }
 
diff --git a/spec/beaker/host/unix/exec_spec.rb b/spec/beaker/host/unix/exec_spec.rb
index dc5bbeb1fb..6128c045dc 100644
--- a/spec/beaker/host/unix/exec_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/beaker/host/unix/exec_spec.rb
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ def to_s
 
       it "deletes" do
         path = '/path/to/delete'
-        expect( instance ).to receive(:execute).with("rm -rf #{path}").and_return(0)
+        expect( instance ).to receive(:execute).with("rm -rf '#{path}'").and_return(0)
         expect( instance.rm_rf(path) ).to be === 0
       end
     end
@@ -39,18 +39,28 @@ def to_s
       let(:destination) { '/destination/path/of/content' }
 
       it 'rm first' do
-        expect( instance ).to receive(:execute).with("rm -rf #{destination}").and_return(0)
-        expect( instance ).to receive(:execute).with("mv #{origin} #{destination}").and_return(0)
+        expect( instance ).to receive(:execute).with("rm -rf '#{destination}'").and_return(0)
+        expect( instance ).to receive(:execute).with("mv '#{origin}' '#{destination}'").and_return(0)
         expect( instance.mv(origin, destination) ).to be === 0
 
       end
 
       it 'does not rm' do
-         expect( instance ).to receive(:execute).with("mv #{origin} #{destination}").and_return(0)
+         expect( instance ).to receive(:execute).with("mv '#{origin}' '#{destination}'").and_return(0)
          expect( instance.mv(origin, destination, false) ).to be === 0
       end
     end
 
+    describe '#modified_at' do
+      it 'calls execute with touch and timestamp' do
+        time = '190101010000'
+        path = '/path/to/file'
+        expect( instance ).to receive(:execute).with("/bin/touch -mt #{time} #{path}").and_return(0)
+
+        instance.modified_at(path, time)
+      end
+    end
+
     describe '#environment_string' do
       let(:host) { {'pathseparator' => ':'} }
 
diff --git a/spec/beaker/host/unix/file_spec.rb b/spec/beaker/host/unix/file_spec.rb
index ceafb85fb2..e87fc45045 100644
--- a/spec/beaker/host/unix/file_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/beaker/host/unix/file_spec.rb
@@ -196,6 +196,28 @@ def logger
       end
     end
 
+    describe '#chmod' do
+      context 'not recursive' do
+        it 'calls execute with chmod' do
+          path = '/path/to/file'
+          mod = '+x'
+
+          expect( instance ).to receive(:execute).with("chmod #{mod} #{path}")
+          instance.chmod(mod, path)
+        end
+      end
+
+      context 'recursive' do
+        it 'calls execute with chmod' do
+          path = '/path/to/file'
+          mod = '+x'
+
+          expect( instance ).to receive(:execute).with("chmod -R #{mod} #{path}")
+          instance.chmod(mod, path, true)
+        end
+      end
+    end
+
     describe '#chgrp' do
       let (:group) { 'somegroup' }
       let (:path) { '/path/to/chgrp/on' }
diff --git a/spec/beaker/host_spec.rb b/spec/beaker/host_spec.rb
index 0850192910..77147c272b 100644
--- a/spec/beaker/host_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/beaker/host_spec.rb
@@ -325,7 +325,7 @@ module Beaker
         allow( result ).to receive( :exit_code ).and_return( 0 )
         allow( host ).to receive( :exec ).and_return( result )
 
-        expect( Beaker::Command ).to receive(:new).with("mkdir -p test/test/test")
+        expect( Beaker::Command ).to receive(:new).with("mkdir -p 'test/test/test'")
         expect( host.mkdir_p('test/test/test') ).to be == true
 
       end
@@ -337,7 +337,7 @@ module Beaker
         allow( result ).to receive( :exit_code ).and_return( 0 )
         allow( host ).to receive( :exec ).and_return( result )
 
-        expect( Beaker::Command ).to receive(:new).with("mkdir -p test/test/test")
+        expect( Beaker::Command ).to receive(:new).with("mkdir -p 'test/test/test'")
         expect( host.mkdir_p('test/test/test') ).to be == true
 
       end