The Microsoft SC-300 exam aims to calibrate your skills in designing, implementing, and operating an enterprise’s identity and access management systems with the use of Azure Active Directory. The main objective of the test is to support Security Engineers and IAM Administrators in their pursuit of IAM excellence. The evaluation caters to either a single individual or a key member of a bigger team. So, whatever your position is, you can pursue this path and showcase your technical expertise.

Relevant Information About The Associated Certification

The Microsoft SC-300 exam serves as the primary requirement of the Microsoft Certified: Identity and Access Administrator Associate certification. This exam is designed to check your skills in working with the IAM systems of a particular organization by using the Azure AD. Earning this prestigious accreditation demonstrates your ability to deliver secure access, authorization, and authentication to applications within the enterprise. It also confirms that you are ready to perform technical tasks like providing adaptive access and seamless governance across all users. Furthermore, the certification proves that you are proficient in the crucial aspects of the IAM environment, from troubleshooting to monitoring to reporting.

Core Information About Microsoft SC-300 The Exam

The Microsoft SC-300 exam measures your proficiency in the ins and outs of the IAM solutions, identity governance strategies, as well as authentication and access management features. These are the essential points that are incorporated into the exam questions. The test format and number of questions aren’t revealed by Microsoft. However, according to the experience of the previous test-takers, you can expect around 40-60 questions that are to be completed within 100 minutes. The minimum score that you need to achieve to pass the evaluation is 700 points out of 1000 available. You are given plenty of language options for the exam, including English, German, Portuguese, Korean, Italian, among others. The registration for the test requires you to pay an entry fee of $165. The pricing may vary depending on the country where you sit for the exam. You can check the actual cost for your location on the exam webpage.

Main Exam objectives To Study

To grasp the technicalities of the exam, you need to look through the official SC-300 exam skills outline. The primary sections that you should study diligently are described below.

• Implementing identity management solutions (25-30%)

  This topic is about identity management solutions. Thus, you are required to initially configure the Azure AD. The skills covered include your understanding of directory roles, delegation, custom domains, device registration options, and tenant-wide settings. After that, you need to focus on the creation, configuration, and administration of identities, particularly users, groups, and licenses. The other two major areas included in the exam section are the implementation and management of both external identities and hybrid identities. Some skills highlighted here are managing external collaboration settings, inviting external users, configuring identity providers, as well as working with Azure Active Directory Connect, Azure AD Connect cloud sync, Pass-Through Authentication, Password Hash Synchronization, and Single Sign-On, among others.

• Implementing authentication and access management solutions (25-30%)

  The second domain comprises the sections when dealing with authentication and access management solutions. This starts with the planning and implementation phase of Azure Multifactor Authentication, which encompasses your understanding of the MFA deployment, key settings, and settings for users. Subsequently, you are introduced to the management of user authentication. The core points highlighted here are authentication methods, self-service password reset, tenant restrictions, password protection, and utilization of Windows Hello for Business. Furthermore, it’s important that you know the workings when handling conditional access, from its planning to implementation and administration. The last crucial area is your ability to manage the Azure AD Identity Protection features.

• Implementing app access management (10-15%)

  The next section tackles the operation of access management for apps. There are two significant subsections here, starting with the integration of Enterprise Apps for Single Sign-On. The primary subjects covered are consent settings, MCAS/ ADFS app report, app management roles, on-premises apps, custom SaaS apps, and pre-integrated (gallery) SaaS apps, among others. Besides, the chapter hones your skills in implementing app registrations, emphasizing business application registration strategy, application registrations, application permissions, application authorization, and multi-tier application permissions.

• Designing and implementing identity governance strategies (25-30%)

  The last area of the certification test revolves around the identity governance strategy. Here you will learn more about entitlement management and its pivotal aspects such as catalogs, access packages, entitlements, terms of use, and external user’s lifecycle. Furthermore, you will acquire expertise in access reviews and gain insights on how to create such for groups apps, monitor related findings, handle licenses, automate management tasks, and so on. Then, take your time learning the technicalities of privileged access, specifically when configuring Privileged Identity Management (PIM), assigning roles, analyzing PIM audit reports, and handling break-glass accounts. Lastly, the section checks your ability to supervise and maintain Azure AD.

Career Benefits With your Microsoft Certifications

Generally, Microsoft certification holders enjoy better job opportunities. If you have the Microsoft Certified: Identity and Access Administrator Associate accreditation on your profile, it means your monetary worth is way higher compared to your non-certified colleagues. Thus, according to PayScale.com, IAM administrators get around $67,745 per year, while Security Engineers can earn at least $94,406 annually. More than your financial benefits, you have to take into account that having this certification indicates your ability to efficiently work hand in hand with other crucial professionals within the organization. This allows you to expand your professional network and accelerate your career growth.

Career Path To Follow After Earning The Certification

If you want to further enhance your skills, there’s no better way than to pursue another role-based accreditation. The Microsoft Security Engineer certification path consists of Microsoft Certified: Identity and Access Administrator Associate, along with other significant accreditations. Since there is no expert-level accreditation for IAM at this moment, you may focus on related certifications available. The first one on the list is the Microsoft Certified: Information Protection Administrator Associate, which focuses on honing your expertise in information protection, information governance, and data loss prevention. If you’re interested in wading through the security aspects and the Azure technicalities, you may opt for the Microsoft Certified: Azure Security Engineer Associate or Microsoft Certified: Security Operations Analyst Associate designations.