Exam 70-345: Designing and Deploying Microsoft Exchange Server 2016

The Microsoft 70-345, Designing and Deploying Microsoft Exchange Server 2016 exam is geared towards administrators that have a minimum of three years of expertise working with Exchange. As a matter of fact, the Microsoft 70-345: Designing and Deploying Microsoft Exchange Server 2016 exam is the one and only Exchange 2016 exam demanded to get the Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE) Productivity Certification. Besides, in this article, we are discussing the preparatory guide for Microsoft 70-345: Designing and Deploying Microsoft Exchange Server 2016 exam. 

Microsoft 70-345: Designing and Deploying Microsoft Exchange Server 2016 exam is the only exam for Exchange Server 2016, which is a new approach by Microsoft from the previous versions of Exchange that each had two certification examinations. As already mentioned, passing exam 70-345 earns you credit towards the MCSE (Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert) certification.

The major of Microsoft 70-345: Designing and Deploying Microsoft Exchange Server 2016 exam includes:

• Deploy and troubleshoot mailbox databases, client admittance services, and transport services.
• Manage Exchange foundation, compliance,  recipients, and security, archiving, eDiscovery, and auditing.
• Secure your Exchange Server 2016 support and user accounts.

Target Audience

The Designing and Deploying Microsoft Exchange Server certification are mainly targeted to those applicants who want to make their career in Microsoft Exchange Server 2016 field. Further, the globally accepted standard for IT professionals (MCSE) – Productivity Solutions Expert examination confirms that the candidate holds the fundamentals. 

Candidates for this exam are IT experts or senior administrators who act as the technical guidance over a team of administrators. Also, applicants should be familiar with the specifications for integrating Microsoft Exchange Server. 

Furthermore, candidates should have at least three years of experience in designing and managing Exchange servers and who is accountable for the Exchange 2016 messaging conditions in an enterprise environment.

Basic Details 

The Microsoft 70-345 exam which is known as Designing and Deploying Microsoft Exchange Server 2016 exam provides 4 hours to complete the exam. The format of the exam is Multiple Choice and Multi-Response Questions and the total number of questions will range in between 40-60. Also, the exam is available in the English, Chinese (Traditional), French, German, Japanese, Portuguese (Brazil) languages. Moreover, refer to the following table for more information. 

Course Outline 

The course outline is the section which discusses the objectives i.e. topics which a candidate needs to prepare in order to clear the examination successfully. Also, these domains have their sub-topics which a candidate requires to understand and prepare for the exam. Thus, the course outline is a very important step in the preparatory guide for the Microsoft 70-345: Designing and Deploying Microsoft Exchange Server 2016 exam. So, let’s take a look at the domains and their topics. 

Domain 1: Plan, Deploy, Manage, and Troubleshoot Mailbox Databases (15-20%) 

• Planning, deploying and managing mailbox databases (Microsoft Documentation: Manage mailbox databases in Exchange Server)
• Planning, deploying and managing high availability resolutions for mailbox databases
• Planning, deploying and managing a site-resilient Database Availability Group (DAG) (Microsoft Documentation: High availability and site resilience)
• Monitoring and troubleshooting mailbox databases (Microsoft Documentation: Get-MailboxDatabaseCopyStatus cmdlet)
• Planning, deploying and managing backup and recovery solutions for mailbox databases (Microsoft Documentation: Backup, restore, and disaster recovery)

Domain 2: Plan, Deploy, Manage and Troubleshoot Client Access Services (15- 20%)

• Planning, deploying and managing Client Access services (Microsoft Documentation: Client Access services)
• Planning, deploying and managing mobility solutions (Microsoft Documentation: Understanding Microsoft enterprise mobility solutions)
• Planning, deploying and managing load balancing (Microsoft Documentation: Plan a Load-Balanced Cluster Deployment)
• Monitoring and troubleshooting client connectivity (Microsoft Documentation: Troubleshoot agent connectivity issues in Operations Manager)
• Planning, deploying and managing a site-resilient client access services solution

Domain 3: Plan, Deploy, Manage, and Troubleshoot Transport Services (15-20%) 

• Planing, expanding and managing transport services (Microsoft Documentation: Transportation management overview)
• Troubleshooting and monitoring transport services (Microsoft Documentation: Exchange services on Exchange servers)
• Making, deploying message hygiene (Microsoft Documentation: Manage message hygiene using Exchange Online)
• Planning and manage site resilience transport services (Microsoft Documentation: Plan for high availability and site resilience)

Domain 4: Plan, Deploy and Manage Exchange Infrastructure, Recipients, and Security (15-20%) 

• Planning and configuring Active Directory (AD) Domain Services for Exchange and Organizational settings (Microsoft Documentation: Prepare Active Directory and domains for Exchange Server)
• Creating and configuring mail-enabled objects (Microsoft Documentation: Manage mail-enabled security groups in Exchange Server)
• Managing mail-enabled purpose permissions (Microsoft Documentation: Manage mail-enabled security groups)
• Planning, deploying, maintaining, and troubleshooting Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) (Microsoft Documentation: Role-based access control (RBAC))
• Planning an assurance security strategy  (Microsoft Documentation: Security documentation)
• Planning, deploying, managing, and troubleshooting IRM with Active Directory Rights Management Services (AD RMS) or Azure RMS  (Microsoft Documentation: Azure Rights Management)

Domain 5: Plan, Deploy and Manage Compliance, Archiving, Discovery, and Auditing (10-15%)

• Planning and configuring Data Loss Prevention (DLP) solutions (Microsoft Documentation: Data loss prevention)
• Configuring and controlling Archiving and Message Records Management (MRM) (Microsoft Documentation: Messaging records management in Exchange Server)
• Configuring and perform eDiscovery (Microsoft Documentation: In-Place eDiscovery)
• Maintaining a compliance solution (Microsoft Documentation: Microsoft 365 solution catalog)
• Planning, managing and using mailbox and administrative auditing (Microsoft Documentation: Manage mailbox auditing)

Dorman 6:Implement and Manage Coexistence, Hybrid Scenarios, Migration, and Federation (10-15%) 

• Troubleshooting coexistence with Office 365 (Exchange Online) 
• Planning, expanding, managing, and troubleshooting Exchange federation (Microsoft Documentation: Exchange Server hybrid deployments)
• Troubleshooting on-premises concurrence with earlier supported versions of Exchange (Microsoft Documentation: Exchange Server supportability matrix)
• Migrating from earlier supported versions of Exchange (Microsoft Documentation: Ways to migrate multiple email accounts)

Exam Policies

If you have any doubt or want information about the certification exam, You can visit Microsoft 70-345, Designing and Deploying Microsoft Exchange Server 2016 exam page where they have provided exam related information. Moreover, there are many websites which resolve your queries and even provide detailed information about the exam collected from users only.

Exam Scheduling

Microsoft scheduling process is not that hectic. To know this please check the below steps,

• Visit Microsoft portal and register yourself.
• Schedule your exam by clicking on the “schedule exam” link.
• On the next page, you will be asked to fill all your details.
• Then there you can select the exam delivery option on the page of Pearson VUE.
• Lastly, your need to pay the exam fees and your registration will be completed.

In the next step, you will learn about the exam retake policy.

Exam Retake:

If you want to take the exam again then yes it is possible. However, Microsoft has some rules and policy for giving the exam again.

Above all, you need to note that,

• If anyhow you are not able to achieve a passing score in the Microsoft 70-345, Designing and Deploying Microsoft Exchange Server 2016 exam, then you have to wait for at least 24 hours before rescheduling.
• Moreover, if you cancel or reschedule your exam within 5 business days of your registered exam then it is subject to a fee. Otherwise, you can also lose your entire fee.
• Above all, you are only allowed to take the exam for more than five times per year.
• Most importantly, if you pass the exam then you cannot give the exam again.

For information regarding the Microsoft 70-345, visit the FAQ page here!

Step By Step Preparatory Guide  for Microsoft Exam 70-345

Microsoft Certifications or exams validate on-the-job exposure and product knowledge. Additionally, to gauge the willingness to take an exam, the candidate can use this preparatory guide to assist to check the understanding of the skills measured by the exam. Also, define the topics that they acknowledge well and the areas in which the candidate needs more knowledge. Moreover, to help the candidate refresh their skills in specific areas. Also, this Microsoft 70-345 study guide was designed to help the candidates to find materials to study and succeed in the exam. 

Understand the Objectives 

Objectives are the most essential step in the preparatory guide for Microsoft 70-345. When a candidate understands the objectives and its applications, then it becomes very easy for them to successfully pass the exam with good grades. However, objectives are already mentioned in the above course outline, but the candidate can consider the following:

The exam covers six objective domains:

• Plan, deploy, manage and troubleshoot mailbox databases
• Plan, deploy, manage and troubleshoot client access services
• Plan, deploy, manage and troubleshoot transport services
• Plan, deploy and manage an Exchange infrastructure, recipients, and security
• Together with, plan, deploy and manage compliance, archiving, eDiscovery, and auditing
• Implement and manage coexistence, hybrid scenarios, migration and federation 

Refer the Exam Guide 

Exam guide or blueprint is the one necessary element which provides all the relevant information regarding the particular exam. The Microsoft AZ-345 exam study guide discusses the objectives, exam basic details, weightage, structure etc. Also, the candidate can download the study guide for the official site of Microsoft. 

Instructor-led Training Program 

Training programs and online courses are very helpful for exams like Microsoft 70-345, Designing and Deploying Microsoft Exchange Server 2016 preparation. Also, there are several online platforms available which provide training programs. Further, the candidate can also opt for the official training programs by Microsoft. 

Course 20345-1-B: Administering Microsoft Exchange Server 2016/2019

• Module 1: Deploying Exchange Server
• Module 2: Managing Exchange Server 2016 storage
• Module 3: Managing recipient objects
• Module 4: Managing recipients and Exchange servers by using Exchange Server cmdlets
• Module 5: Implementing client connectivity
• Module 6: Managing high availability in Exchange Server

Course 20345-2-B: Designing and Deploying Microsoft Exchange Server 2016/2019

• Module 1: Planning Exchange Server deployments
• Module 2: Planning and deploying Exchange Server Mailbox services
• Module 3: Planning message transport
• Module 4: Planning and deploying client access
• Module 5: Designing and implementing high availability
• Module 6: Maintaining Exchange Server
• Module 7: Designing messaging security
• Module 8: Designing and implementing message retention and archiving
• Module 9: Designing and implementing messaging compliance
• Module 10: Designing and implementing messaging coexistence
• Module 11: Upgrading to Exchange Server 2019
• Module 12: Planning a hybrid Exchange Server deployment

Study Material 

Finding the correct study material is also a task, so the candidate has to find such books and guides which help them throughout the preparation for the Microsoft 70-345 exam. Further, for assisting, here we are mentioning some books and guides which the candidate can refer to:

• Exam Ref 70-345 Designing and Deploying Microsoft Exchange Server 2016 1st Edition by Paul Cunningham and Brian Svidergol. 
• Mastering Microsoft Exchange Server 2016 2nd Edition by Clifton Leonard. 
• Microsoft Exchange Server 2016 PowerShell Cookbook – Fourth Edition: Powerful recipes to automate time-consuming administrative tasks by Jonas Andersson, Nuno Mota, Mike Pfeiffer. 
• Exchange Server 2016: The Administrator’s Reference by William Stanek. 

Practice Test 

Practise test is another necessary element in the preparation guide for the Microsoft 70-345 exam. Further, the candidate can choose to practise tests from various websites. Further, the free practise test is also available on many websites. This step can assure the candidate about their preparation and try them to recognize their weak areas and work on them. 

Make your resume stand out and become a Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert. Practice and pass successfully!