The Microsoft MS-500 course is also known as the Microsoft 365 Security Administrator. This is a fundamental course because it equips the candidates with knowledge in implementing, monitoring, and managing compliance and security solutions for hybrid environments and Microsoft 365. The students spend most of their time managing Microsoft access and identity, identifying synchronization, understanding threat intelligence, managing mobile devices, protecting identity and password, preventing the loss of data, encrypting, securing cloud applications, governing data, managing access, archiving and retention, and decryption, among many others. These are the essential duties that can be studied and performed by candidates that choose this course. These sections effectively prepare candidates for the MS-500 test at the end of the course. Should students pass the course, they are entitled to earn a Microsoft 365 certificate of Security Administrator Associate. Below are some of the important aspects of the MS-500 course.
Who is this Course For?
The MS-500 course is a critical course for people who want to become Microsoft 365 Security Administrators. In this career, the professionals will work for hand in hand with business stakeholders, Microsoft 365 Enterprise Administrators, and different workload administrators. They plan and implement different security strategies as well as ensure the solutions arrived at complying with the regulations and policies of an organization. This course also imparts knowledge in securing Microsoft 365 enterprise environments. The key responsibilities include threat response, implementation, and monitoring and managing compliance and security solutions for any Microsoft 365 environment. In short, this person will actively respond to investigations, incidents, and enforcement of the governance of data.
People who pursue this course, i.e., Microsoft 365 Security administrator, will be familiar with the diverse concepts of Microsoft 365 workloads. On top of that, they will possess exceptional experience and skills in identity protection, threat protection, information protection, data governance, as well as security management.
Therefore, this course is for the determined candidates who wish to focus their roles on any Microsoft 365 environment, which includes hybrid environments.
The Prerequisites
Candidates that are fully committed to taking Microsoft’s MS-500 course should possess several essential skills before starting this course. These skills are meant to help them understand the different concepts that they will encounter during the course duration. Some of these skills are stated and discussed below.
The candidates must have the basic conceptual knowledge of Microsoft Azure. Microsoft Azure equips people with knowledge in cloud computing services which are very essential to candidates of MS-500 course. It gives them an upper hand in integrating the new concepts and cloud computing services.
The candidate should also have extensive experience with windows 10 devices. Windows 10 is the most recent and most used window in the world. A lot of applications and services primarily depend on windows 10 to function optimally. Therefore, it is important for candidates to understand many, if not, all windows 10 devices to make their course easily comprehensible once they start it.
They should also have a thorough knowledge of the use of Office 365. Microsoft Office 365 has essential programs such as MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, and MS OneNote. These are the basic yet very crucial programs that are used by MS-500 professionals in their day-to-day tasks. Knowledge of these concepts enables the candidates to have an easy time handling the units that make up the entire course.
Candidates should also have a basic understanding of authentication and authorization. These are important elements because these skills enable professionals to encrypt or decrypt data as well as gain access to different cloud and network platforms. Integrating these to the MS-500 course will ensure the candidate protects information against any possible threat.
Candidates should also have a basic understanding of computer networks. The MS-500 course relies on the constant exchange of data, which requires the basic knowledge of computer networks. A computer network allows different computers connected on the same network to send and receive data with each other either through a cable connection or wireless media.
Finally, the candidates are required to have knowledge and experience in the management of mobile devices. Mobile devices are actively revolutionizing the processing of data in this era. The coming up of smartphones has led to the development of Microsoft products and applications that are supported by smartphones. Ms-500 course, therefore, requires a basic understanding of how mobile devices work, including their operating system as well as management of their data.
Here are the Course Objectives of Every MS-500 Course Candidate
These objectives serve as the guiding formula for candidates who successfully complete the course. The students who take the MS-500 course should be able to carry out the following tasks efficiently once they complete the program.
The students should be able to administer the group and user security in Microsoft 365 as well as manage passwords in the same. The security of information is paramount to everyone and should therefore be upheld every time.
They should be able to manage GDPR data subject requests and conduct audit log investigations. Audit log investigations reveal the possible threats or breaches to information and give the candidates an upper hand in preventing and managing them.
They need to be able to manage and create an eDiscovery investigation and implement Azure information protection for Microsoft 365. Major companies in the world exchange tones of information with their business partners as well as within their institutions. It is the responsibility of the Microsoft 365 Security Administrators to ensure these kinds of data are kept secure from any type of breach, whether wireless or cabled.
They should also be able to deploy and plan data retention and archiving systems and configure all the policies for data loss prevention. Data retention and archiving are essential because it offers a safe storage platform for vital information. Such kind of data can easily be retrieved by Microsoft 365 Security Administrators when needed by the owners. This data is protected through encryption and retrieved through decryption by the professional Microsoft 365 Security Administrators.
They also should be capable of describing and handling cyber-attacks, Microsoft 365’s security solutions, and features of Azure Identity Protection.
On the other hand, the graduates should also be able to deploy and plan Mobile Device Management and secure all the information in Office 365.
Qualified candidates should be able to implement Advanced Threat Analytics and services geared towards advanced threat protection for Microsoft 365. Each company is different and requires different strategies to manage its data and keep it safe. Microsoft 365 Security Administrators should be able to develop suitable strategies that effectively lead to the prevention of cyberattacks and protection of data.
They should also be able to develop and implement federal identities, Azure AD Connect, and oversee email retention through the exchange. Email is yet another most-commonly used means of communication by many people and companies. The data shared through emails need to be secured and therefore Microsoft 365 Security Administrators must be able to do so.
These are just some of the objectives that are tied to the MS-500 course. These objectives are useful not only to graduates but also to those joining the program because it gives them a bar that they have to cross before being accepted in the professional field once they graduate.
Get to Learn the MS-500 Course Content
The MS-500 course is made up of four major units. These units are often referred to as the four-MOC packaged set and they are aligned to the Microsoft 365 test or exam. Candidates are taught MS-500T01: Managing Microsoft 365 Identity and Access, MS-500T04: Administering Microsoft 365 Built-in Compliance, MS-500T03: Implementing Microsoft 365 Information Protection, and MS-500T02: Implementing Microsoft 365 Threat Protection.
In conclusion, the MS-500 is a critical course in the modern day and should be taken up by most people as a career.