Microsoft 365 Fundamentals (MS-900) is an entry-level certification exam that validates your understanding of the basic concepts of Microsoft 365 services, cloud computing, and the Software as a Service (SaaS) model. The exam is designed for individuals who want to build a career in the field of cloud computing or for those who want to understand how Microsoft 365 services can benefit their organization.
The exam covers the following topics:
- Describe Cloud concepts (5-10%)
- Describe Microsoft 365 apps and services (45–50%)
- Describe security, compliance, privacy, and trust in Microsoft 365 (25–30%)
- Describe Microsoft 365 pricing, licensing, and support (10–15%)
To prepare for the exam, you can take online training courses, read Microsoft 365 documentation, and practice using Microsoft 365 services. Microsoft also provides a free online learning path that covers all the topics included in the exam.
MS-900 – Job and Career Prospects
Passing the MS-900 exam will earn you the Microsoft 365 Fundamentals certification, which demonstrates your understanding of Microsoft 365 services and cloud computing concepts. This certification is a good starting point for anyone looking to build a career in cloud computing or Microsoft 365 services.
Earning the Microsoft 365 Fundamentals certification through passing the MS-900 exam can enhance your job and career prospects in several ways.
- First, the certification can serve as a strong foundation for individuals who want to start a career in cloud computing or Microsoft 365 services. It validates your understanding of the basic concepts and core services of Microsoft 365, which is a valuable skillset in today’s job market.
- Second, the certification can help individuals who are already working in IT or related fields to expand their knowledge and skills in cloud computing and Microsoft 365 services. It can also demonstrate to potential employers that you have a strong understanding of these technologies, which can increase your chances of landing a job or advancing in your current position.
- Third, the certification can also lead to higher earning potential. According to the Microsoft Certification website, certified professionals can earn up to 20% more than their non-certified peers.
Job roles that may benefit from the MS-900 certification include IT support specialist, cloud administrator, technical support engineer, and systems administrator, among others. The certification can also open up opportunities for roles related to sales, marketing, and business development in the technology industry.
Overall, earning the MS-900 certification can enhance your job and career prospects by validating your understanding of cloud computing and Microsoft 365 services, expanding your skillset, and potentially increasing your earning potential.
Before moving to the next section, let’s checkout some Sample Practice Tests on MS-900.
1. What is the main benefit of using Microsoft 365 over traditional on-premises software solutions?
a) Lower total cost of ownership
b) Increased security and compliance
c) More control over data and infrastructure
d) Better performance and scalability
2. What is the purpose of the Microsoft 365 Admin Center?
a) To manage user accounts and licenses
b) To view usage reports and analytics
c) To configure security and compliance settings
d) All of the above
3. Which Microsoft 365 service allows users to create and share documents, spreadsheets, and presentations in real-time?
a) Microsoft Teams
b) SharePoint Online
c) OneDrive for Business
d) Yammer
4. Which of the following is an example of a Software as a Service (SaaS) model?
a) Purchasing and installing software on individual devices
b) Hosting applications on virtual machines
c) Renting access to cloud-based software over the internet
d) Developing custom applications for in-house use
5. What is the purpose of Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) in Microsoft 365?
a) To improve user productivity and ease of access
b) To prevent unauthorized access to user accounts
c) To ensure compliance with security regulations
d) To provide additional storage capacity for user data
Answers:
- a) Lower total cost of ownership
- d) All of the above
- c) OneDrive for Business
- c) Renting access to cloud-based software over the internet
- b) To prevent unauthorized access to user accounts
Why should you take the MS-900 exam?
The MS-900 is worthwhile for junior professionals, but it may be too simplistic for IT professionals seeking in-depth cloud administration and configuration certification.
If your company is obsessed with buzzwords like SaaS and cloud service options but no one knows what they are, the MS-900 could be a great way to be the subject matter expert. However, if you work in a highly technical environment, there are probably more difficult and time-consuming Microsoft cloud administration certifications available. Here are the benefits of taking the exam –
Cloud Concepts Mastery with Microsoft 365 Fundamentals MS 900 Exam
You will be able to describe cloud concepts after passing the MS-900 exam. This includes defining the various types of cloud services available and their benefits. As well as factors that will encourage you to use the cloud rather than familiarize yourself with it.
Microsoft 365 Core Services and Concepts
Another great way MS-900 can help you advance your IT career is by commanding and identifying the core services and concepts for Microsoft 365. Your knowledge should include the ability to identify Microsoft 365 core services. As a result, you should comprehend what it means to deploy and support Windows and Office. You also need to be well-versed in investigation and collaboration solutions.
Privacy, security, trust, and compliance are all important considerations
The Microsoft MS-900 exam ensures that you understand the various features of Microsoft 365. For example, consider privacy, security, trust, and compliance. You’ll learn about security principles like zero-trust as well as management concepts for integrated endpoints. Other areas of expertise for this topic include threat protection—security center, service trust portal, and compliance manager. Also included in this data privacy are information protection and governance solutions.
Evidence of Competence and Expertise
The Microsoft certification ensures that the holder has some experience with and a thorough understanding of the Software as a Service Cloud model and general Cloud services. This Microsoft certification demonstrates the skills that organizations typically seek.
Competitive Advantage
Certified professionals are more likely to be considered for jobs. According to Microsoft, nearly 86% of hiring managers prefer candidates who already have an IT certification. MS-900 Microsoft 365 Fundamentals certified professionals are more likely to be promoted or hired for senior positions than non-certified colleagues.
The next step would be to get acquainted with prerequisites –
Exam Prerequisites
If you want to take the Microsoft MS-900 exam, you must first determine whether you are a good candidate for it. Microsoft 365 Fundamentals certifications, like any other Microsoft certification, have a specific target audience. Individuals looking for opportunities in Cloud services are the best candidates for the MS-900 Microsoft 365 Fundamentals exam.
Now you would want to know if you are a good fit for the exam, you can determine that through the concepts covered by the exam –
Exam Objectives
In the actual exam, applicants will have 60 minutes to complete 40-60 questions. You can schedule the exam through Pearson VUE and pay $99 for the exam fee. These are the subjects covered in the exam –
MODULE 1 – Describe Cloud Concepts (5-10%)
Describe the different types of cloud services available
- Describe Microsoft software as a service (SaaS), infrastructure as a service (IaaS), and platform as a service (PaaS) concepts and use cases (Microsoft Documentation – What is Platform as a service (PaaS)? , What is Infrastructure as a service (IaaS)?)
- Describe differences between Office 365 and Microsoft 365
Describe the benefits of and considerations for using a cloud , hybrid, or,on-premises services
- describe public, private, and hybrid models (Microsoft Documentation – What are public, private, and hybrid clouds?)
- compare costs and advantages of cloud, hybrid, and on-premises services (Microsoft Documentation – (Cloud storage vs. on-premises servers and Comparison of cloud and on-premises features)
- Describe the concept of hybrid work and flexible work
MODULE 2 – Describe Microsoft 365 Apps and Services (45-50%)
Describe productivity solutions of Microsoft 365
- Describe the core productivity capabilities and benefits of Microsoft 365 including Microsoft Outlook and Microsoft Exchange, Microsoft 365 apps, and OneDrive (Microsoft Documentation – Describe productivity solutions of Microsoft 365, Describe Microsoft 365 apps and services)
- Describe core Microsoft 365 Apps including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote (Microsoft Documentation – Office applications details, About Microsoft 365 Apps in the enterprise)
- Describe work management capabilities of Microsoft 365 including Microsoft Project, Planner, Bookings, Forms, Lists, and To Do (Microsoft Documentation – Microsoft 365 suite features, Microsoft Project, Planner, To Do, or the Tasks app)
Describe collaboration solutions of Microsoft 365
- Describe the collaboration benefits and capabilities of Microsoft 365 including Microsoft Exchange, Outlook, SharePoint, OneDrive, and Stream (Microsoft Documentation – Describe collaboration solutions of Microsoft 365, Collaborating with Teams, SharePoint, and OneDrive)
- Describe the collaboration benefits and capabilities of Microsoft Teams and Teams Phone (Microsoft Documentation – Welcome to Microsoft Teams, Use Microsoft Teams for collaboration, Phone System features)
- Describe the Microsoft Viva apps (Microsoft Documentation – Microsoft Viva service description, Viva Insights app in Teams and on the web)
- Describe the ways that you can extend Microsoft Teams by using collaborative apps
Describe endpoint modernization, management concepts, and deployment options in Microsoft 365
- Describe the endpoint management capabilities of Microsoft 365 including Microsoft Intune (Configuration Manager and co-management, Endpoint Analytics, and Windows Autopilot)
- Compare the differences between Windows 365 and Azure Virtual Desktop
- Describe the deployment and release models for Windows-as-a-Service (WaaS) including deployment rings (Microsoft Documentation – Overview of Windows as a service, Manage Windows as a service using Configuration Manager)
- Identify deployment and update channels for Microsoft 365 Apps (Microsoft Documentation – Overview of update channels for Microsoft 365 Apps, Change the Microsoft 365 Apps update channel)
Describe analytics capabilities of Microsoft 365
- Describe the capabilities of Viva Insights (Microsoft Documentation – Viva Insights app in Teams and on the web)
- Describe the capabilities of the Microsoft 365 Admin center and Microsoft 365 user portal (Microsoft Documentation – Overview of the Microsoft 365 admin center, Microsoft 365 feature descriptions)
- Describe the reports available in the Microsoft 365 Admin center and other admin centers (Microsoft Documentation – Microsoft 365 Reports in the admin center, Microsoft 365 Reports in the admin center – Microsoft 365 Apps usage)
MODULE 3 – Explain Security, Compliance, Privacy, and Trust in Microsoft 365 (25-30%)
Describe identity and access management solutions of Microsoft 365
- Describe the identity and access management capabilities of Microsoft Entra ID
- Describe cloud identity, on-premises identity, and hybrid identity concepts (Microsoft Documentation – What is hybrid identity with Azure Active Directory?, Azure Active Directory Hybrid Identity Design Considerations)
- Describe how Microsoft uses methods such as multi-factor authentication (MFA), self-service password reset (SSPR), and conditional access, to keep identities, access, and data secure
Describe threat protection solutions of Microsoft 365
- Describe Microsoft Defender XDR, Defender for Endpoint, Defender for Office 365, Defender for Identity, Defender for Cloud Apps, and the Microsoft Defender Portal (Microsoft Documentation – What is Microsoft 365 Defender?, Microsoft 365 Defender portal, Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, Microsoft Defender for Endpoint in Microsoft 365 Defender, Microsoft Defender for Office 365)
- Describe Microsoft Secure Score benefits and capabilities (Microsoft Documentation – Microsoft Secure Score)
- Describe how Microsoft 365 addresses the most common threats against endpoints, applications, and identities (Microsoft Documentation – Protect against threats, Threat investigation and response)
Describe trust, privacy, risk, and compliance solutions of Microsoft 365
- Describe the Zero Trust Model
- Describe Microsoft Purview and compliance solutions such as insider risk, auditing, and eDiscovery (Microsoft Documentation – Describe the eDiscovery and audit capabilities of Microsoft Purview)
- Describe Microsoft Purview Information Protection features such as sensitivity labels and data loss prevention (Microsoft Documentation – Protect your sensitive data with Microsoft Purview)
- Describe how Microsoft supports data residency to ensure regulatory compliance
- Describe the capabilities and benefits of Microsoft Priva (Microsoft Documentation – Learn about Microsoft Priva)
MODULE 4 – Describe Microsoft 365 Pricing, licensing, and Support (10-15%)
Identify Microsoft 365 pricing and billing management options
- Describe the pricing model for Microsoft cloud services including enterprise agreements, cloud solution providers, and direct billing (Microsoft Documentation – Cloud Solution Provider program, Cloud Solution Provider program guide, agreements, price lists, and offers)
- Describe available billing and bill management options including billing frequency and methods of payment (Microsoft Documentation – Understand your bill or invoice for Microsoft 365 for business)
Identify licensing options available in Microsoft 365
- Describe license management (Microsoft Documentation – Understand subscriptions and licenses in Microsoft 365 for business)
- Describe the differences between base licensing and add-on licensing (Microsoft Documentation – Microsoft 365 pricing, licensing, and billing options)
Identify support options for Microsoft 365 services
- Describe how to create a support request for Microsoft 365 services (Microsoft Documentation – Describe support offerings for Microsoft 365 services)
- Describe support options for Microsoft 365 services
- Describe service level agreements (SLAs) including service credits (Microsoft Documentation – Service Level Agreements (SLA) for Online Services)
- Determine service health status by using the Microsoft 365 admin portal or the Microsoft Entra Admin portal (Microsoft Documentation – check Microsoft 365 service health, Service health and continuity)
You can get more information about the MS-900 exam at TPT tutorials. Let us now move to the job prospects and salary trends –
Salary and Career Prospects
According to PayScale.com, you can expect to earn an average annual salary of $54,720. The remarkable jobs that become available after passing such a test are aligned with the administrator roles designed specifically for Microsoft 365. So, let’s take a look at some of the possible functions you could pursue after passing the MS-900 exam.
Exchange Administrator
Take on this role if you have experience viewing and managing user email mailboxes, as well as handling various service requests for Microsoft support. If you want to manage Microsoft 365 groups alongside Exchange Online, this is highly recommended.
Global Administrator
The following position is intended for those who use global access to major management aspects and data features across various Microsoft Certifications Exams. This is critical because a global administrator can access domains, reset user passwords, and manage service requests. To be eligible for this role, you must first sign up for Microsoft online services.
Readers Around the World
One of the primary responsibilities of this position is to view admin settings. It is given to those who cater in all admin centers managed by the general global admin. However, keep in mind that a global reader is only capable of viewing and performing audits, and thus cannot change any settings.
Service Administration
Another section that you might be interested in is the service admin, where you are tasked with creating service requests for Azure, Office 365, and Microsoft 365 services. This includes both viewing and sharing message center posts.
The administrator of the Helpdesk
If you want to focus on resetting passwords, assisting non-admin users, and managing service requests, this role may be for you. A helpdesk administrator is also responsible for assisting directory readers, message center readers, report readers, and other users.
Administrator of Users
User administrators manage the entire user function, from access to password resets. They are specifically tasked with administering users and groups, as well as assigning licenses, opening service requests, updating password expiration, and monitoring service health.
Service Administration Teams
Pursue the team service admin role to gain an advantage in supervising the Teams & Skype admin center. This function enables you to manage Microsoft 365 groups as well as open service requests through Microsoft support.
SharePoint Administrator
The final job role is SharePoint Admin, which is for those who want to gain access to the SharePoint admin center’s features. This includes, among other things, managing site collections, supervising user profiles, and labeling site collection administrators.
Companies that hire MS-900 Qualified –
These are the Top Companies that hire –
- Accenture
- Infosys Technologies
- Genpact
- IBM India
- TCS
- Cognizant Technology
- Intel Technology
- Dell International
Let us now look at the resources through which you can pass the exam –
Study Resources
These are some resources that will help you get through –
Tech Community for Microsoft 365
Join the Microsoft community to share best practices and stay up to date on the latest Microsoft 365 news. These forums can assist you with anything from technical support and break/fix issues to assistance and learning about relevant topics. Discuss your questions in groups with subject-matter experts, and stay up to date on exam developments.
Microsoft Learning Platform
Candidates can use the learning resources provided by Microsoft to learn more about the exam. These study resources for the Microsoft MS-900 exam are available from the official exam page. That is to say, you only need to search for the MS-900 exam and the necessary information will be provided to assist you in better understanding it. So, before you plan your study schedule, make sure you have a thorough understanding of the exam.
Documentation from Microsoft
Microsoft documentation is the next step that will be most beneficial. Candidates will be able to understand basic cloud concepts and Microsoft 365 services by using Microsoft Docs. Furthermore, this includes various modules that will guide you step by step, allowing you to better understand what is going on. Additionally, MS-900 Microsoft documentation will assist you in learning about cloud services, the Software as a Service (SaaS) cloud model, and implementing Microsoft 365 cloud service.
MS-900 Practice Exams
This is a critical component that will assist you in better preparing for the exam. That is to say, Microsoft MS-900 practice tests are important because they allow you to identify your weak and strong points. We are all aware that time is critical during the exam. So, by practicing, you will be able to improve your answering skills, resulting in significant time savings. Furthermore, the best time to begin doing practice tests is after you have completed one full topic, as this will serve as a revision component for you. So, look for Free Microsoft MS-900 Practice Exam Questions.
Last Words
What you do during preparation is crucial to passing the Microsoft MS-900 exam. So, give yourself enough time to go through all of the suggested resources if you want to ace the exam. Attaining that level of certification is a journey that requires your complete dedication.
If you do it correctly, you will be able to achieve the desired grade thanks to the practice test. And it’s not just about the results you get; it’s also about how this will help you get the Microsoft 365 Certified Fundamentals certification, as well as your current and future career.
