Please check the latest version of this guide at https://intunedin.net/2020/08/31/preparing-for-the-md-101-managing-modern-desktops-exam-august-2020-update/
In the previous post I put together some of the resources for the MD-100 Windows 10 (Beta) exam, which means that it’s logical to cover the MD-101 exam today. If you have already started researching what’s required for this exam you’ve probably already noticed that looks like a more up to date version of Exam 70-697: Configuring Windows Devices, as well as including updated content that might have been part of Exam 70-398: Planning for and Managing Devices in the Enterprise.
It’s been over three years since I sat both 70-697 and 70-398, so I’m not in a good position to compare what I thought of those exams in comparison to MD-101, except to say that the new exam feels more relevant to me, in terms of things that are included, as well as those that aren’t included. That doesn’t mean that the exam only covers things I personally care about, that’s not what I would expect. I always thought that 70-398 was a bit of a weird exam, especially considering that it was referred to as the EMS exam during development, but it had some core Windows 10 domain objectives as well, which made it strange for people not approaching the exam with Windows support technician type skills.
If you’re anything like me, preparation for the MD-100 exam was a great deal of revisiting topics that you’ve been looking at over the years, and a good reminder of some of the core functionality that Windows includes that may not really think about on a day to day basis. With MD-101, it was a bit different in that it was making sure that any of the changes in technologies I do work with on a more regular basis had major changes added that I wasn’t aware of, which is pretty easy these days. That’s one of the reasons why I prefer to use docs.microsoft.com while preparing to make sure I’m not just preparing for the exam, but also expanding knowledge that could be immediately beneficial.
For the latest updates to exam prep guides please check https://intunedin.net/exams
Deploy and Upgrade Operating Systems (25-30%)
- Plan a Windows 10 deployment
- assess infrastructure readiness
- evaluate and select appropriate deployment options (Endpoint Manager, MDT)
- plan upgrade and downgrade paths
- plan app compatibility
- plan for user state
- Plan and implement Windows 10 by using Windows Autopilot
- choose method based on requirements
- create, validate, and assign deployment profile
- extract device HW information to CSV file
- import device HW information to cloud service
- deploy Windows 10
- troubleshoot deployment
- Plan and implement Windows 10 using MDT
- choose configuration options based on requirements
- create and manage images
- deploy images (may include WDS)
- create and use task sequences
- manage application and driver deployment
- monitor and troubleshoot deployment
- Manage accounts, VPN connections, and certificates on Windows 10
- secure privileged accounts on Windows 10
- configure VPN client
- configure and manage certificates on client device
Manage Policies and Profiles (20-25%)
- Implement compliance policies for devices
- implement device compliance policies
- manage device compliance policies
- plan device compliance policies
- Configure device profiles
- implement device profiles
- manage device profiles
- plan device profiles
- control policy conflicts
- configure and implement assigned access or public devices
- Manage user profiles
- configure user profiles
- configure Enterprise State Roaming in Azure AD
- configure sync settings
Manage and Protect Devices (30-35%)
- Implement and manage device, application, and threat protection
- implement and manage Windows Defender Application Guard
- implement and manage Windows Defender Credential Guard
- implement and manage Windows Defender Exploit Guard
- plan and Implement Microsoft Defender for Endpoint for Windows 10
- integrate Windows Defender Application Control
- protect devices using Endpoint Security
- manage enterprise-level disk encryption
- implement and manage security baselines in Microsoft Intune
- Manage Microsoft Intune devices
- configure enrollment settings in Microsoft Intune
- configure Microsoft Intune automatic and bulk enrollment
- enroll non-Windows devices
- enroll Windows devices
- Review device inventory
- Monitor devices
- monitor devices using Azure Monitor and Desktop Analytics
- monitor device inventory reports using Endpoint Manger Admin Center
- Manage updates
- configure Windows 10 delivery optimization
- deploy Windows updates using Microsoft Intune
- monitor Windows 10 updates
Manage Apps and Data (10-15%)
- Deploy and update applications
- assign apps to groups
- deploy apps by using Microsoft Intune
- deploy apps by using Microsoft Store for Business/iTunes/Google Play
- deploy Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise using Microsoft Intune
- gather Microsoft 365 Apps readiness data
- Implement Mobile Application Management (MAM)
- implement App Protection policies
- manage App Protection policies
- plan App Protection Policies
- plan and implement App Configuration Policies (Windows Information Protection)
For the latest updates to exam prep guides please check https://intunedin.net/exams
intunedin.net 
Excellent outilne – Thanks! You were scheduled to take the test on the 7th, any updates you would recommend to the MD-101 outline?
LikeLike
Hi Dano – not at this stage,, I made a couple of small adjustments already when I found some better matches, but I’ll do some bigger changes in a few weeks once the exam goes live and we potentially see some wording changes in the exam page.
LikeLike
Thanks Mark, I am scheduled for January 15th so we shall see how it goes.
LikeLike
Hi folks,
do you know about exam test? how many time for prepering?
thanks
LikeLike
HI Frederic – The preparation time will depend on how much experience you have with the technologies.
LikeLike
not so much.
I got the 70-698 in the last december, and I would like to complete the mcsa, but I’m not sure to complete the study of 70-697 before to 31.03.2019.
Why Microsoft has removed 70-697 exam?
I read something about MD-101 exam and I understood that is different than 70-697.
What you raccomend? do I make a full-immersion for 70-697 exam or do you raccomendo to take MS-101 Exam?
thanks
Frederic
LikeLike
One of the problems with keeping older exams alive is that the product skills and focus change over time, and the 70-697 exam was released over 3 years ago. Sometimes it’s better to do a reset with a new exam, new objectives and new expectations because some of the concepts and technologies in the old exam don’t apply any more.
There’s no harm in doing the retiring exams, but I would be more focused on the newer certifications because they will be valid for longer and cover more current technologies. If you are already partway down the path of achieving another certification that you want, it’s not bad to get it before it becomes unavailable.
LikeLike
Oh Hi Mark!,
Great guide, love it.
One question, on the ‘Plan and implement Windows 10 by using dynamic deployment > Pilot Deployment’
I don’t get the link you suggest, could you explain it some more?
Regards
LikeLike
Hi Niklas – Towards the bottom of the page there is the Windows 10 deployment and proof of concept section with a couple of different deployment options.
LikeLike
Good work. It helped me much. Instead of searching on google I’ve gotten all the info I need in one place.
LikeLike
Can anyone recommend some good practice tests?
LikeLike
Hi Mark! I just wanted to thank you very much for this study guide! I used it to pass MD-101 (which I just took today for the first and only time).
I had wanted to wait until the Exam Ref MD-101 book had come out, but it doesn’t come out until August. And as someone who very recently took both 70-697 and 70-698 to get the MCSA: Windows 10, I didn’t want to also have to take MD-100 (as the ability to get the Microsoft 365 Certified Modern Desktop Administrator certification using 70-698 in place of MD-100 expires on July 31st).
Doing this without your guide would’ve been very tricky. Thanks again, man! If ever you’re near the Los Angeles area, beers are on me!
LikeLike
Congratulations Max! It’s been a few years since I did 697 and 698, the questions still included the Silverlight console, with some of the questions still focused on the PC agent instead of being pure MDM. I think it was a smart idea to get MD-101 done earlier, I think it’s a better strategy to try to get related exams done closer together if you can. I don’t think it’s the base knowledge as much for me, it’s the mental switch I have to make to go into exam preparation mode that can take some effort, but once it’s enabled I’m good to go.
LikeLike
Was really hoping to complete MCSE Mobility. I bit the bullet and failed it hard so I could go back with a bit more confidence to study. However, my prep for it fell off my radar. Now it looks like this exam is for another track. Not sure how I feel about that, but I just found out tonight and hope to get MD-101 beofre the cut off so I can plan my next move later. My company does VERY limited windows support, so I am wondering if I should even move forward on the next step after this. May wait for exam preps to come out for MS-100 and 101 before I dive into it.
LikeLike
I was trying to get sign off on doing a program/training with MS-100 and MD-101 being the focus exams, because the customer types weren’t really going down the DLP/compliance path just yet (thus no MS-101), and it needed to be non traditional Windows skills (hence no MD-100). Out of curiosity, is your company’s focus more MDM for devices, or devices in general just aren’t a big part of it?
LikeLike
Hi!
These might be interesting (free) courses to others who are preparing for this exam:
https://openedx.microsoft.com/courses/course-v1:Microsoft+MD-101.1+2019_T1/about
https://openedx.microsoft.com/courses/course-v1:Microsoft+MD-101.2+2019_T1/about
https://openedx.microsoft.com/courses/course-v1:Microsoft+MD-101.3+2019_T1/about
Unfortunately, I can’t find any official/viable practice tests to measure my progress.
LikeLike
Hello again!
One more really handy resource for preparing, a complete lab kit and some exercises along with it: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/enterprise/modern-desktop-deployment-and-management-lab
LikeLike
Looks extremely helpful. Thanks for this Mark. Wondering if I need to have completed any other exams before MD-100? I am a fresh (1 year large enterprise experience) CS graduate. Getting into a new role that requires MD-100/101 certs.
Any tips on how to prepare and approach these exams as a fresh graduate?
LikeLike
Hey Mark,
Wanted to just leave a note to let you know that I’m having issues with a couple of links in this document. I have at this point tested all of them an found the following three that seem to now be involved.
“Configure Windows Information Protection Settings”
“Switch Configuration Manger Workloads to Intune”
“Co-management for Windows 10 Devices”
I appreciate your leg work greatly. I was able to pass my MD-100 using your guide for it and will soon be challenging this exam. I didn’t purchase the Exam Ref for the MD-100 but chose to for MD-101 because there was a lot more information that was new to me in the MD-101 exam. I’m finding that this guide with the docs links is actually more helpful to me than the Exam Ref is though.
LikeLike
Thanks Al. I’ll get them updated later today.
LikeLike