If you are planning to prepare for the Microsoft 365 Security Administration MS-500 Exam and are unsure how much effort you will need to put in to pass the exam. Then, to help you plan better, go over the MS-500 exam outline and Microsoft documentation that is available. Because the MS-500 exam is an intermediate-level exam, it does necessitate proper preparation.
Let us know How to become a Microsoft 365 Security Administrator!
About Microsoft 365 Security Administrator
Candidates for the Microsoft 365 Security Administration (MS-500) exam should be familiar with the implementation, maintenance, and monitoring of security and compliance solutions for Microsoft 365 and hybrid environments. In addition, the Microsoft 365 Security Administrator secures Microsoft 365 enterprise situations proactively, responds to threats, conducts investigations, and enforces data governance.
Furthermore, the Microsoft 365 Security Administrator works with the Microsoft 365 Enterprise Administrator, marketing stakeholders, and other workload administrators to design and implement security policies and ensure that the solutions adhere to the organization’s procedures and regulations.
Target Audience
The MS-500: Microsoft 365 Security Administration Exam is designed for IT Professionals who work in the role of a Microsoft 365 security administrator. This role works with the Microsoft 365 Enterprise Administrator, business stakeholders, and other workload administrators to plan and implement security strategies while ensuring that the solutions adhere to the organization’s policies and regulations.
Let us now move on to the main point of the article –
How to become a Microsoft 365 Security Administrator?
The MS-500 Microsoft 365 Security Administration exam is designed for those who are well-versed in anti-virus, anti-malware, and other security solutions for Microsoft 365 servers and client computers. Let us get started with planning of how to become a Microsoft 365 Security Administrator –
Step 1 – Know in-depth about the exam syllabus
Below mentioned is the detailed course outline for the exam along with the documentation and whitepapers offered by Microsoft –
Microsoft has divided the syllabus into various sections. Exam MS-500 Microsoft 365 Security Administration includes its objectives and sub-topics in it. The detailed course outline is mentioned below:
Course Outline for Microsoft MS-500 Exam was updated on November 4, 2022.
1. Implement and manage identity and access (25-30%)
Plan and implement identity and access for Microsoft 365 hybrid environments
- Choose an authentication method to connect to a hybrid environment (Microsoft documentation: Choose the right authentication method for your Azure AD Hybrid)
- Plan and implement pass-through authentication and password hash sync (Microsoft documentation: Implement password hash synchronization, Pass-through Authentication)
- Plan and implement Azure AD synchronization for hybrid environments (Microsoft documentation: Configure hybrid Azure AD join, Plan your hybrid Azure Active Directory join implementation)
- Monitor and troubleshoot Azure AD Connect events (Microsoft documentation: Troubleshoot Azure AD Connect connectivity issues, Troubleshoot object synchronization with Azure AD Connect sync)
Plan and implement Identities in Azure AD
- Implement Azure AD group membership (Microsoft documentation: Create a basic group and add members using Azure Active Directory)
- Implement password management, including self-service password reset and Azure AD password protection (Microsoft documentation: Plan an Azure Active Directory self-service password reset deployment)
- Manage external identities in Azure AD and Microsoft 365 workloads (Microsoft documentation: External Identities in Azure Active Directory)
- Plan and implement roles and role groups
- Audit Azure AD
Implement authentication methods
- Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) by using conditional access policies (Microsoft documentation: Conditional Access: Require MFA for all users)
- Manage and monitor MFA (Microsoft documentation: Manage user authentication methods for Azure AD Multi-Factor Authentication)
- Plan and implement Windows Hello for Business, FIDO, and passwordless authentication
Plan and implement conditional access
- Plan and implement conditional access policies (Microsoft documentation: Plan a Conditional Access deployment)
- Plan and implement device compliance policies (Microsoft documentation: Use compliance policies to set rules for devices)
- Test and troubleshoot conditional access policies (Microsoft documentation: Troubleshooting Conditional Access using the What If tool)
Configure and manage identity governance
- Implement Azure AD Privileged Identity Management (Microsoft documentation: Azure AD Privileged Identity Management)
- Implement and manage entitlement management (Microsoft documentation: Azure AD entitlement management)
- Implement and manage access reviews (Microsoft documentation: Azure AD access reviews)
Implement Azure AD Identity Protection
- Implement user risk policy (Microsoft documentation: Configure and enable risk policies)
- Implement sign-in risk policy (Microsoft documentation: Use risk detections for user sign-ins to trigger Azure AD Multi-Factor Authentication)
- Configure Identity Protection alerts (Microsoft documentation: Azure Active Directory Identity Protection notifications)
- Review and respond to risk events (Microsoft documentation: Remediate risks and unblock users)
2. Implement and manage threat protection (30-35%)
Secure identity by using Microsoft Defender for Identity
- Plan a Microsoft Defender for Identity solution (Microsoft documentation: Plan capacity for Microsoft Defender for Identity)
- Install and configure Microsoft Defender for Identity (Microsoft documentation: Install the Microsoft Defender for Identity sensor)
- Manage and monitor Microsoft Defender for Identity (Microsoft documentation: Microsoft Defender for Identity monitored activities)
- Secure score
- Analyze identity-related threats and risks identified in Microsoft 365 Defender
Secure endpoints by using Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
- Plan a Microsoft Defender for Endpoint solution (Microsoft documentation: Plan your Microsoft Defender for Endpoint deployment)
- Implement Microsoft Defender for Endpoint (Microsoft documentation: Set up and configure Microsoft Defender for Endpoint Plan 1)
- Manage and monitor Microsoft Defender for Endpoint (Microsoft documentation: Microsoft Defender for Endpoint)
- Analyze and remediate threats and risks to endpoints identified in Microsoft 365 Defender
Secure endpoints by using Microsoft Endpoint Manager
- Plan for device and application protection (Microsoft documentation: App protection policies overview)
- Configure and manage Microsoft Defender Application Guard (Microsoft documentation: Application Guard Application Guard testing scenarios)
- Configure and manage Microsoft Defender Application Control (Microsoft documentation: Windows Defender Application Control management with Configuration Manager)
- Configure and manage exploit protection (Microsoft documentation: Enable exploit protection)
- Configure and manage device encryption (Microsoft documentation: Overview of BitLocker Device Encryption in Windows)
- Implement application protection policies (Microsoft documentation: How to create and assign app protection policies)
- Monitor and manage device security status using Microsoft Endpoint Manager admin center (Microsoft documentation: Walkthrough Microsoft Intune admin center, Manage devices with endpoint security in Microsoft Intune)
- Analyze and remediate threats and risks to endpoints identified in Microsoft Endpoint Manager (Microsoft documentation: Enforce compliance for Microsoft Defender, Overview of automated investigations)
Secure collaboration by using Microsoft Defender for Office 365
- Plan a Microsoft Defender for Office 365 solution
- Configure Microsoft Defender for Office 365 (Microsoft documentation: Microsoft Defender for Office 365)
- Monitor for threats using Microsoft Defender for Office 365 (Microsoft documentation: Threat investigation and response)
- Analyze and remediate threats and risks to collaboration workloads identified in Microsoft 365 Defender (Microsoft documentation: Threat investigation and response)
- Conduct simulated attacks using Attack simulation training (Microsoft documentation: Get started using Attack simulation training in Defender for Office 365)
Detect and respond to threats in Microsoft 365 by using Microsoft Sentinel
- Plan a Microsoft Sentinel solution for Microsoft 365 (Microsoft documentation: What is Microsoft Sentinel?)
- Implement and configure Microsoft Sentinel for Microsoft 365 (Microsoft documentation: Onboard Microsoft Sentinel)
- Manage and monitor Microsoft 365 security by using Microsoft Sentinel
- Respond to threats using built-in playbooks in Microsoft Sentinel (Microsoft documentation: Use playbooks with automation rules in Microsoft Sentinel)
Secure connections to cloud apps by using Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps
- Plan Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps implementation (Microsoft documentation: Get started with Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps)
- Configure Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps (Microsoft documentation: Microsoft Defender for Endpoint integration with Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps)
- Manage cloud app discovery (Microsoft documentation: Set up Cloud Discovery)
- Manage entries in the Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps catalog (Microsoft documentation: Working with App risk scores)
- Manage apps in Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps (Microsoft documentation: Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps overview)
- Configure Microsoft Defender Cloud Apps connectors and OAuth apps (Microsoft documentation: OAuth app policies)
- Configure Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps policies and templates (Microsoft documentation: Get started with Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps)
- Analyze and remediate threats and risks relating to cloud app connections identified in Microsoft 365 Defender
- Manage App governance in Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps
3. Implement and manage information protection (15-20%)
Manage sensitive information
- Plan a sensitivity label solution (Microsoft documentation: Learn about sensitivity labels)
- Create and manage sensitive information types (Microsoft documentation: Create custom sensitive information types in the Compliance center)
- Configure sensitivity labels and policies. (Microsoft documentation: Create and configure sensitivity labels and their policies)
- Publish sensitivity labels to Microsoft 365 workloads
- Monitor data classification and label usage by using Content explorer and Activity explorer (Microsoft documentation: Get started with content explorer, Get started with activity explorer)
- Apply labels to files and schematized data assets in Microsoft Purview Data Map (Microsoft documentation: Labeling in the Microsoft Purview Data Map)
Implement and manage Microsoft Purview Data Loss Prevention (DLP)
- Plan a DLP solution (Microsoft documentation: Learn about data loss prevention)
- Create and manage DLP policies for Microsoft 365 workloads (Microsoft documentation: Create a DLP policy from a template)
- Implement and manage Endpoint DLP (Microsoft documentation: Learn about Endpoint data loss prevention)
- Monitor DLP
- Respond to DLP alerts and notifications (Microsoft documentation: Configure and view alerts for data loss prevention polices, Send email notifications and show policy tips for DLP policies)
Plan and implement Microsoft Purview Data lifecycle management
- Plan for data lifecycle management (Microsoft documentation: Get started with data lifecycle management)
- Review and interpret data lifecycle management reports and dashboards (Microsoft documentation: How to use the Microsoft data classification dashboard)
- Configure retention labels, policies, and label policies (Microsoft documentation: Create and configure retention policies)
- Plan and implement adaptive scopes
- Configure retention in Microsoft 365 workloads (Microsoft documentation: Manage data retention in Microsoft 365 workloads)
- Find and recover deleted Office 365 data (Microsoft documentation: Recover deleted messages in a user’s mailbox in Exchange Online)
4. Manage compliance in Microsoft 365 (20- 25%)
Manage and analyze audit logs and reports in Microsoft Purview
- Plan for auditing and reporting (Microsoft documentation: Auditing solutions in Microsoft Purview)
- Investigate compliance activities by using audit logs (Microsoft documentation: Microsoft Purview Audit (Premium), Search the audit log in the compliance portal)
- Review and interpret compliance reports and dashboards (Microsoft documentation: Improve your regulatory compliance, How to use the Microsoft data classification dashboard)
- Configure alert policies (Microsoft documentation: Alert policies in Microsoft 365)
- Configure audit retention policies (Microsoft documentation: Manage audit log retention policies)
Plan for, conduct, and manage eDiscovery cases
- Recommend eDiscovery Standards or Premium (Microsoft documentation: Microsoft Purview eDiscovery solutions)
- Plan for content search and eDiscovery (Microsoft documentation: Create a content search, Microsoft Purview eDiscovery solutions)
- Delegate permissions to use search and discovery tools (Microsoft documentation: Assign eDiscovery permissions in the compliance portal, Assign eDiscovery permissions in Exchange Online)
- Use search and investigation tools to discover and respond
- Manage eDiscovery cases (Microsoft documentation: Create and manage an eDiscovery (Premium) case)
Manage regulatory and privacy requirements
- Plan for regulatory compliance in Microsoft 365 (Microsoft documentation: Microsoft 365 guidance for security & compliance, Microsoft Purview Compliance Manager)
- Manage regulatory compliance in the Microsoft Purview Compliance Manager (Microsoft documentation: Get started with Compliance Manager)
- Implement privacy risk management in Microsoft Priva (Microsoft documentation: Learn about Priva Privacy Risk Management)
- Implement and manage Subject Rights Requests in Microsoft Priva (Microsoft documentation: Learn about Priva Subject Rights Requests)
Manage insider risk solutions in Microsoft 365
- Implement and manage Customer Lockbox (Microsoft documentation: Microsoft Purview Customer Lockbox)
- Implement and manage communication compliance policies (Microsoft documentation: Create and manage communication compliance policies)
- Implement and manage Insider risk management policies (Microsoft documentation: Get started with insider risk management)
- Implement and manage information barrier policies (Microsoft documentation: Get started with information barriers)
- Implement and manage privileged access management (Microsoft documentation: Learn about privileged access management)
Step 2 – Know about the Exam Format
Another thing that the candidate should be aware of is the exam’s fundamentals.
- The Microsoft MS-500 exam will consist of 40 to 60 questions, with a time limit of 120 minutes. To attempt all of the questions, you must be extremely quick.
- There will also be no negative marking in the exam. As a result, you should be able to answer all of the questions without difficulty.
- The fee for the Microsoft MS-500 exam is $165 USD.
- In addition, the passing score for the Microsoft MS-500 exam is 700. (on a scale of 1-1000)
- In addition, the MS-500 exam questions will be multiple-choice and multiple-response. We recommend that you employ the elimination and selection technique. As a result, try to eliminate options that do not meet the criteria and focus on the best match.
Step 3 – Gather all other important details about the exam
These are some policies of which you should be aware of when you will be taking this exam –
Registration policy
- Navigate to the Microsoft website and look for your certificate in the list. Then, to register, click Schedule Exam.
- If your country is eligible for the certificate, you will be able to select the exam during the registration process.
- You’ll also get to choose the language of the greeter, proctor, and proctoring software.
Retake Policy
If you do not pass the exam on the first try, you must wait at least 24 hours before retaking it. Furthermore, If you pass the exam, you will not be able to retake it. If you do not pass the exam on your second attempt, you must wait at least 14 days before retaking it. This is the same procedure for failing on the third, fourth, or fifth attempt. You will be limited to taking the exam no more than five times per year. This year’s 12-month period begins with your failure on the fifth attempt. If you want to take the exam for more than 5 months per year, you must contact Microsoft.
Step 4 – Refer to the best Resources
Different resources have distinct sets of knowledge and comprehension. However, in academic life, revision should be done on a case-by-case basis. As a result, matching the type of revision you do on your source material is essential.
- Microsoft Learning Platform – Microsoft provides recommended learning paths; the candidate should visit Microsoft’s official website. On the official website, the candidate will find all relevant information. The candidate will find numerous learning paths and documentations for this exam. Finding relevant content on the Microsoft website is a breeze. You can also find study guides.
- Microsoft Documentation – When studying for exams, Microsoft Documentation is a valuable resource. The candidate will be able to find documentation on every topic related to the specific exam.
- Instructor-Led Training– The training programmes offered by Micorosft are available on their website. Instructor-led training is a must-have resource for anyone preparing for a Microsoft 365 Security Administration exam (MS-500).
Course MS-500T00-A: Microsoft 365 Security Administration
- Online Tutorials– The Microsoft 365 Security Administration (MS-500) Online Tutorial expands your knowledge and gives you a thorough understanding of the exam concepts. They also go over exam specifics and policies. As a result, learning with Online Tutorials will help you prepare better.
- Evaluate yourself with Practice Test– Practice tests are the ones that ensure the candidate’s preparation. The practise test will assist candidates in identifying their weak points so that they can work on them. There are numerous practise tests available on the internet these days, so the candidate can select which one they prefer. We at Testprep training also provide practise tests, which are extremely beneficial to those who are preparing.
Step 5 – Take the exam in accordance with the Expert’s Advice
When you don’t need an MCSE or MCTS certification, you can use this certification on your resume in place of them. If you prepare for this exam with complete dedication, you will be able to pass it with ease. Take practice tests seriously and try to solve as many as you can.
You’ll also be able to estimate your timings with the assistance of practice tests. Furthermore, it is a major factor in determining a candidate’s success in professional exams. Attend the exam with complete confidence. Now is the time to take the Microsoft MS-500 Free Practice Test!
