Exam MD-101 : Managing Modern Desktops

With the rapid change in technology, several opportunities have cropped up. This has led to a highly competitive employment industry. To survive in this cut throat competitive world and climb up your career ladder you need a relevant certification. Hence, certifications help demonstrate your competency and advance your career. 

Microsoft has launched various certification opportunities for everyone. They are intended to equip professionals to take on tech’s ever-evolving job roles. Providing the same essence in their MD-101 Microsoft Managing Modern Desktops, Microsoft aims for validating your expertise. Further, certifications from Microsoft are among the most highly regarded in the IT field. They validate your skills with a globally-recognised badge of honour, and also illustrate your commitment to your profession.

Given the exam’s vast syllabus, preparations can be difficult. To solve that out, we present you with tutorials and preparatory guide that will aid your journey towards this certification.

What is Microsoft MD-101?

The Microsoft MD-101 Managing Modern Desktops is for Administrators who deploy, configure, secure, manage, and monitor devices and client applications in an enterprise environment. This exam equips you with the skills to manage identity, access, policies, updates, and apps. As an Administrator, you will typically collaborate with the Microsoft 365 Enterprise Administrator to design and implement a device strategy that meets the business needs of a modern organisation. This exam is a stepping stone for you to become a Microsoft 365 Certified: Modern Desktop Administrator Associate.

Why choose Microsoft MD-101?

Microsoft exams help you differentiate yourself and validate your knowledge and skills. These certifications provide you can extra edge over your competitors. The Microsoft MD-101 Managing Modern Desktops offers the following benefits

Validates your skills

This certification validates your mastery in managing and deploying devices and client applications in an enterprise environment. It demonstrates your expertise and knowledge.

Enhances Employability

This certification proves your skills and therefore enhances your employability by making you job ready.

Higher growth opportunities

This certification guarantees higher growth opportunities. About 23% of Microsoft certified professionals reported receiving up to a 20% salary increase. It also helps you chase further advanced goals in the field of IT.

Provides competitive edge

Microsoft Certifications provide you with a competitive edge over non certified candidates. It is estimated that certified employees earn 15% more than those without certification and are nearly 20% more productive.

Brings recognition            

You’ll make immediate impact as a Microsoft Certified Professional. This credential will help you in getting noticed and bring recognition.

Additionally, once you’re certified you will be able to share your achievements through your Microsoft Badge. This Microsoft Badge can be shared online within your professional network as it trusted and verifiable. It also helps find jobs easily and increases your salary potential.

Certification Details : Microsoft MD-101

With the successful completion of MD-100: Windows 10 and MD-101: Managing Modern Desktops you will earn the certification of Microsoft 365 Certified: Modern Desktop Administrator Associate.

Exam Details : Microsoft MD-101

Before venturing into your preparations it’s important to know the exam details. Familiarising yourself with the exam policies is definitely going to help you crack the exam.

The Microsoft MD-101 Managing Modern Desktop Exam is a prerequisite for Microsoft 365 Certified: Modern Desktop Administrator Associate. The exam covers 40 to 60 multiple choice and multi-response questions. The time duration is 120 minutes and the Microsoft MD-101 passing score is 70%.

Prerequisites for the Microsoft MD-101

There are no prerequisites for the Microsoft MD-101 Managing Modern Desktops Exam. However you must be familiar with Microsoft 365 workloads. Additionally, you must be proficient and experienced in deploying, configuring, and maintaining Windows 10 and non-Windows devices and technologies.

How to register for the exam MD-101 exam?

Follow the steps written below to register for the exam:

• Go to the Microsoft site and find your certificate in the list. Then select schedule exam, to register.
• If the certificate will be available for your country then you will be able to select the exam during the registration process.
• You will also select the language of the greeter, proctor, and proctoring software.

Applying student status through your account profile

• Sign in with your Microsoft account credentials.
• Select Profile settings from the Account menu at the top of the page.
• In the Job function menu, select, or ensure that you have selected, “Student.”
• Look for the academic pricing notice that appears next to the Job function menu. If your student status has not yet been validated, click “Get verified” to verify your status.

Applying student status when registering for an exam

• Sign in with your Microsoft account credentials.
• On the exam for which you want to register, click Schedule exam.
• On the Confirm your exam registration details page, ensure that the Job function field displays “Student – Verified.” If it does not, click “Get verified” to validate your status, or click Edit to change your status.

Verifying your academic status

• Select the method you wish to use to verify your status. The methods include:
• School-issued email account
• School network credentials
• International Student Identity Card (ISIC)
• Verification code from a Microsoft representative or your institution’s administrator
• Documentation

Exam retake policy

If you were not able to clear the exam in the very first attempt, then remember it’s not the end of the road but just a small bump. Microsoft allows you 5 attempts per year for a specific exam. The exam retake policy is as follows-

• If a candidate is not able to clear the exam in the first attempt, the candidate must wait at least 24 hours before retaking the exam.
• If a candidate does not clear the exam the second time, candidate must wait at least 14 days before retaking the exam a third time.
• A 14-day waiting period is also there for the fourth and fifth subsequent exam retakes.

Cancellation and Reschedule Policy: MD-101

Microsoft allows free cancelling of the Exam within 24 hours prior to your scheduled appointment.

But, if you fail to show up on your exam day without rescheduling or cancelling your exam, Microsoft reserves all rights to forfeit your entire exam fee.

Rescheduling and Cancellation of your scheduled exams can be done through the Certification Dashboard.

Check out the MD-101 Interview Questions to prepare for your interview.

Exam FAQs : Microsoft MD-101

In order to qualify the MD-101 examination, you must have clarity about all the exam policies.  For further queries visit Microsoft MD-101 Exam FAQs

Exam Course : : Microsoft MD-101

Understanding the course outline of Microsoft MD-101 exam is the next important step. It familiarises you with the exam framework. The exam course includes 4 domains. Further, the Percentage against each domain represents its weightage in the exam. Also, these domains are divided in to subtopics to provide further insights about the exam course.

MD-101 Exam Course outline was updated on February 3, 2023.

1. Deploy Windows client (25–30%)

Plan a Windows client deployment

• Assess infrastructure readiness by using Endpoint Analytics (Microsoft Documentation: What is Endpoint analytics?)
• Select a deployment tool based on requirements (Microsoft Documentation: Windows 10 deployment scenarios and tools)
• Choose between migrate and rebuild (Microsoft Documentation: Windows upgrade and migration considerations)
• Choose an imaging and/or provisioning strategy (Microsoft Documentation: Windows 10 deployment considerations, deployment scenarios)
• Plan and implement changes to Windows edition by using subscription activation or MAK license management (Microsoft Documentation: Windows subscription activation, Deploy Windows Enterprise licenses)

Plan and implement Windows client provisioning by using Windows Autopilot

• Choose an Autopilot deployment method based on requirements, including user-driven mode, self-deploying mode, autopilot reset, and pre-provisioning (Microsoft Documentation: Windows Autopilot self-deploying mode, Windows Autopilot user-driven mode, Windows Autopilot for pre-provisioned deployment)
• Configure device registration for Autopilot (Microsoft Documentation: Windows Autopilot registration overview)
• Create, validate, and assign deployment profiles (Microsoft Documentation: Configure Autopilot profiles, Create a device profile in Microsoft Intune)
• Set up the Enrollment Status Page (Microsoft Documentation: Set up the Enrollment Status Page)
• Provision Windows devices by using Autopilot
• Troubleshoot an Autopilot deployment (Microsoft Documentation: Troubleshooting overview)

Plan and implement Windows client deployment by using Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT)

• Plan and implement an MDT deployment infrastructure (Microsoft Documentation: Prepare for deployment with MDT, Get started with MDT)
• Choose configuration options based on requirements, such as boot images, OS images, upgrade packages, task sequences, and drivers (Microsoft Documentation: Task sequence steps, Manage drivers in Configuration Manager, Manage boot images with Configuration Manager, Manage OS images with Configuration Manager)
• Create, manage, and deploy images
• Plan and implement PXE boot by using Windows Deployment Services (WDS) (Microsoft Documentation: Configure a PXE server to load Windows PE)
• Create and use task sequences (Microsoft Documentation: Manage task sequences)
• Manage application and driver deployment (Microsoft Documentation: Manage drivers in Configuration Manager, Get started with MDT)
• Customize an MDT deployment by using customsettings.ini and bootstrap.ini
• Monitor and troubleshoot deployment (Microsoft Documentation: Deployment Monitoring Tool)
• Plan and configure user state migration (Microsoft Documentation: Getting started with the User State Migration Tool (USMT))

2. Manage identity and access (10–15%)

Manage identity

• Register devices in and join devices to Microsoft Azure Active Directory (Azure AD), part of Microsoft Entra (Microsoft Documentation: Azure AD registered devices, Azure AD joined devices)
• Enable users and groups from Azure AD to access Windows client (Microsoft Documentation: Assign users and groups to an application)
• Manage AD DS and Azure AD groups (Microsoft Documentation: What is Azure Active Directory Domain Services?)
• Manage AD DS and Azure AD users
• Configure Enterprise State Roaming in Azure AD (Microsoft Documentation: Enable Enterprise State Roaming in Azure Active Directory)

Plan and implement conditional access policies

• Plan conditional access (Microsoft Documentation: What is conditional access)
• Set up conditional access policies (Microsoft Documentation: Building a Conditional Access policy)
• Determine which users are affected by a conditional access policy (Microsoft Documentation: Conditional Access: Users, groups, and workload identities, Conditional Access: Conditions)
• Troubleshoot conditional access (Microsoft Documentation: Troubleshooting Conditional Access policy changes)

3. Manage compliance policies and configuration profiles (10–15%)

Implement device compliance policies

• Plan device compliance policies (Microsoft Documentation: Use compliance policies to set rules for devices you manage with Intune)
• Implement device compliance policies
• Manage notifications for device compliance policies (Microsoft Documentation: Use compliance policies to set rules for devices you manage with Intune)
• Monitor device compliance (Microsoft Documentation: Monitor results of your Intune Device compliance policies)
• Troubleshoot device compliance policies

Plan and implement device configuration profiles

• Plan device configuration profiles (Microsoft Documentation: Create a device profile in Microsoft Intune)
• Implement device configuration profiles
• Monitor and troubleshoot device configuration profiles (Microsoft Documentation: Monitor device configuration profiles in Microsoft Intune)
• Configure and implement assigned access on public devices, including kiosks and dedicated devices (Microsoft Documentation: Set up a single-app kiosk on Windows 10/11, Set up a multi-app kiosk on Windows 10 devices, Prepare a device for kiosk configuration)

4. Manage, maintain, and protect devices (25–30%)

Manage device lifecycle

• Configure enrollment settings in Intune (Microsoft Documentation: Set up automatic enrollment for Windows 10/11 devices)
• Configure automatic and bulk enrollment in Intune (Microsoft Documentation: Bulk enrollment for Windows devices)
• Configure policy sets (Microsoft Documentation: Use policy sets to group collections of management objects)
• Restart, retire, or wipe devices (Microsoft Documentation: Remove devices by using wipe, retire, or manually unenrolling the device)

Monitor devices

• Monitor devices by using Azure Monitor (Microsoft Documentation: Azure Monitor overview)
• Monitor device hardware and software inventory by using Endpoint Manager Admin Center
• Monitor devices by using Endpoint Analytics (Microsoft Documentation: What is Endpoint analytics?)

Manage device updates

• Plan for device updates (Microsoft Documentation: Feature updates for Windows 10 and later policy in Intune)
• Create and manage quality update policies by using Intune (Microsoft Documentation: Update rings for Windows 10 and later policy in Intune)
• Create and manage feature update policies by using Intune
• Create and manage iOS/iPadOS update policies by using Intune (Microsoft Documentation: Manage iOS/iPadOS software update policies in Intune)
• Manage Android updates by using device configuration profiles
• Monitor updates
• Troubleshoot updates in Intune
• Configure Windows client delivery optimization by using Intune (Microsoft Documentation: Delivery Optimization settings in Microsoft Intune)
• Create and manage update rings by using Intune (Microsoft Documentation: Update rings for Windows 10 and later policy in Intune)

Plan and implement endpoint protection

• Plan endpoint security (Microsoft Documentation: Microsoft Defender for Endpoint)
• Implement and manage security baselines in Intune (Microsoft Documentation: Use security baselines to configure Windows devices in Intune)
• Create and manage configuration policies for Endpoint Security including antivirus, encryption, firewall, endpoint detection and response, and attack surface reduction
• Onboard devices into Microsoft Defender for Endpoint (Microsoft Documentation: Onboard devices and configure Microsoft Defender for Endpoint capabilities)
• Monitor Microsoft Defender for Endpoint (Microsoft Documentation: Microsoft Defender for Endpoint)
• Investigate and respond to threats (Microsoft Documentation: Threat investigation and response)

5. Manage apps (10–15%)

Deploy and update applications

• Deploy apps by using Intune (Microsoft Documentation: Windows 10/11 app deployment by using Microsoft Intune)
• Configure Microsoft 365 Apps deployment by using Office Deployment Toolkit or Office Customization Tool (Microsoft Documentation: Overview of the Office Deployment Tool)
• Manage Microsoft 365 Apps by using Microsoft 365 Apps Admin Center (Microsoft Documentation: Overview of the Microsoft 365 Apps admin center)
• Deploy Microsoft 365 Apps by using Intune (Microsoft Documentation: Add Microsoft 365 Apps to Windows 10/11 devices with Microsoft Intune)
• Manage Office app settings by using group policy or Intune (Microsoft Documentation: Policies for Office apps)
• Deploy apps by using Microsoft Store for Business, Apple store, and Google store (Microsoft Documentation: Distribute apps using your private store)

Implement app protection and app configuration policies

• Plan app protection policies (Microsoft Documentation: App protection policies overview)
• Plan app configuration policies for iOS and Android (Microsoft Documentation: App configuration policies for Microsoft Intune)
• Implement app protection policies
• Implement app configuration policies for iOS and Android (Microsoft Documentation: App configuration policies for Microsoft Intune)
• Manage app protection policies
• Manage app configuration policies

Microsoft MD-101 Study Guide

The key to successfully pass an exam is by preparing right. Preparations require expect guidance and proper training for you to succeed. There are plenty resources available, for your preparations. You must have the right information and tools to crack the exam. Just relax, because we have got you covered. We present you our specially curated preparatory guide to help you pass the Microsoft MD-101 Certification in the very first attempt. Let’s discuss step by step.

Step 1- Refer the Official Exam Guide

Firstly, you must download and refer to the official guide of the Microsoft MD-101 certification exam. Familiarising yourself with all the objectives and course domains of the exam is an important step before moving forward with your preparations. . Devote enough time to each topic and have in depth knowledge of the subject by tailoring your study focus around the course domains. The official guide acts as a blueprint for the exam, hence always remember to refer it.

Step 2- Devise a Study Plan

The next step is to strategize a study plan for your preparations. While devising the plan keep in mind the course topics and time duration left for the real exam. Remember to begin with strengthening your weaker sections. Moreover, devote enough attention to topics which have a higher weightage in the exam. Following your plan will help you remain consistent and also help in avoiding distractions. The key to excel is to start early, hence begin with your preparations and stay motivated.

Step 3- Books your ultimate friends

Books are the most important ingredient of preparation. There are a vast variety of books available in the market which you can use to prepare for the Microsoft MD-101 Exam. Therefore, our suggestion to you would be to find books for the Microsoft MD-100 exam from genuine sources. 

We recommend you the Exam Ref MD-101 Managing Modern Desktops by Andrew Bettany, Andrew Warren book offered at the Microsoft Press Store. This book focuses on the critical thinking and decision-making acumen needed for success at the Microsoft Certified Associate level.

Step 4- Go for a Training Course

Microsoft offers their training courses to provide you with the necessary tools and resources. These Microsoft MD-101 training courses aid your preparations by providing you the practical experience and hands on training. Microsoft offers two types of training courses

Instructor Led Training

Microsoft offers Course MD-101T00-A: Managing Modern Desktops as a part of its instructor led training.

Skills gained in this course include-

• Plan, develop, and implement an Operating System deployment, upgrade, and update strategy.
• Understand the benefits and methods of co-management strategies.
• Plan and implement device enrolment and configuration.
• Manage and deploy applications and plan a mobile application management strategy.
• Manage users and authentication using Azure AD and Active Directory DS.
• Describe and implement methods used to protect devices and data.

Online Training Course

Microsoft also offers the online learning course to assist your self- paced learning. These courses help you gain the skills needed to become certified.

Modernize your workplace with Microsoft 365 and Surface for Business

Microsoft 365 – Modernize your enterprise deployment with Windows 10 and Microsoft 365 Apps

Manage your enterprise deployment with Microsoft 365

 Step 5- Attempt Practice Tests

Finally, it is time to check your preparations. Self-Evaluation is the key and hence your next step is to go for Microsoft MD-101 practice tests. The more you’re going to practice, the better for you. Moreover, these practice tests provide you with the real exam environment and also help you analyse areas that need improvement. Strengthening your weaker domains will surely help you pass with flying colours. Therefore, attempt as many practice tests as you can. Start using Microsoft MD-101 practice tests now.

 Step 6- Join the Community

Online forums and study groups are indeed a great way to prepare for the MD-101 Exam. The best way to get in touch with other candidates is through study forums or online groups. Moreover, you can ask a question related to the topic you’re having difficulty with.

Also, such groups provide regular insights about the exams. The discussions are really beneficial for you to excel the exam.

Boost your career with a Microsoft certification and qualify the Microsoft MD-101 Managing Modern Desktops Exam. Start Preparing Now!