The MD-100 exam was updated late last month, so it’s time to jump back in and see what’s changed, and discuss the implications of some of those changes. In terms of additions, there’s acknowledgement that Azure Active Directory and Active Directory experience is a requirement for many, and the inclusion of Windows Admin Center shows the shift away from from some of the existing management tools. All up though, this is mostly still a traditional Windows desktop exam, and those of you have done earlier Windows exams should know what to expect.
What if you haven’t done a Windows exam previously, where does that leave you? If you are someone who has spent time supporting and troubleshooting Windows devices, this should mostly be pretty straightforward for you, but it does assume that you have skills that you would normally acquire in a corporate or education environment, not just supporting consumer features.
The exam that I know this exam can be tougher for is those who need to do it in order to get the Microsoft 365 Certified: Modern Desktop Administrator Associate certification for their employer, but have come into the world of modern management via managing and supporting other operating systems, such as MacOS, Android and iOS. MD-101 tends to be an easier exam if you fall into that category, but preparing for this exam will help to fill in some of your Windows knowledge gaps that should help you to better understand how Windows works.
Deploy Windows (15-20%)
- Install Windows 10
- Perform a clean installation
- Perform an in-place upgrade (using tools such as MDT, WDS, ADK, etc.)
- Select the appropriate Windows edition
- Perform post-installation configuration
- Configure Edge and Internet Explorer
- Configure mobility settings
- Customize the Windows desktop
- Troubleshoot activation issues
- Configure printers and external devices
- Configure Windows 10 by using provisioning packages
- Configure Microsoft Store settings
- Configure application settings
- Configure and manage services
Manage Devices and Data (25-30%)
- Manage users, groups, and devices
- Manage local groups
- Manage local users
- Manage users, groups, and devices in Active Directory Domain Services
- Manage users, groups, and devices in Azure Active Directory
- Configure sign-in options
- Configure devices by using local policies
- Implement local policy
- Troubleshoot group policies on devices
- Configure Windows 10 settings by using group policy
- Manage Windows security
- Configure user account control (UAC)
- Configure Windows Defender Firewall
- Implement encryption
- Configure Windows Defender Antivirus
Configure Storage and Connectivity (15-20%)
- Configure networking
- Configure client IP settings
- Configure mobile networking
- Troubleshoot networking
- Configure data access and protection
- Configure NTFS permissions
- Configure shared permissions
- Configure local storage
- Manage and optimize storage
- Configure file and folder permissions
- Configure OneDrive/OneDrive for Business
Maintain Windows (30-35%)
- Configure system and data recovery
- Perform file recovery
- Recover Windows 10
- Troubleshoot startup/boot process
- Create and manage system restore points
- Manage updates
- Troubleshoot updates
- Select the appropriate servicing channel
- Configure Windows update options
- Plan for Windows Updates
- Configure updates by using Windows Update for Business
- Monitor and manage Windows
- Configure and analyze event logs
- Manage performance
- Manage Windows 10 environment
- Configure local registry
- Schedule tasks
- Configure remote connectivity
- Manage Windows 10 remotely by using Windows Admin Center
- Configure remote assistance tools including Remote Assist and Quick Assist
- Manage Windows remotely by using Windows Remote Management and PS remoting
- Configure remote desktop access