Managing Modern Desktops (MD-101)

The Modern Desktop Administrator deploys, configures, secures, manages, and monitors devices and client applications in an enterprise environment. Responsibilities include managing identity, access, policies, updates, and apps. The MDA collaborates with the M365 Enterprise Administrator to design and implement a device strategy that meets the business needs of a modern organization.

The Modern Desktop Administrator must be familiar with M365 workloads and must have strong skills and experience of deploying, configuring, and maintaining Windows 10 and non-Windows devices. The MDA role focuses on cloud services rather than on-premises management technologies.

Module 1: Planning an Operating System Deployment Strategy
This module explains how to plan and implement a deployment strategy. Students will learn about the concepts of supporting the desktop through it's entire lifecycle. This module also covers assessing an existing environment and the tools used to prepare a deployment strategy. Finally, students will be introduced to the tools and strategies used for desktop deployment.
Lessons

• The Enterprise Desktop
• Assessing Deployment Readiness
• Deployment Tools & Strategies

Lab : Practice Lab - Planning Windows 10 deployment
After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Describe the enterprise desktop lifecycle.
• Describe how to assess an existing environment.
• Describe methods for mitigating deployment blockers.
• Describe the different tools and methods for deployment.

Module 2: Implementing Windows 10
This module covers the modern methods of Windows deployment used in common scenarios such as upgrading and migrating to Windows 10, as well as deploying new devices and refreshing existing devices. Students will also learn about alternate methods of OS deployment as well as considerations when choosing methods of deployment.
Lessons

• Upgrading Devices to Windows 10
• Deploying New Devices and Refreshing
• Migrating Devices to Windows 10
• Alternate Deployment Methods
• Imaging Considerations

Lab : Practice Lab - Implementing Windows 10

• Creating and deploying provisioning package
• Migrating user settings
• Deploying Windows 10 with AutoPilot

After completing this course, learners should be able to:

• Develop an Operating System deployment and upgrade strategy.
• Understand the different methods of deployment.
• Understand which scenarios on-premise and cloud-based solutions can be used for.
• Deploy and migrate desktops to Windows 10.

Module 3: Managing Updates for Windows 10
This module covers managing updates to Windows. This module introduces the servicing options for Windows 10. Students will learn the different methods for deploying updates and how to configure windows update policies. Finally, students will learn how to ensure and monitor update compliance using Windows Analytics.
Lessons

• Updating Windows 10
• Windows Update for Business
• Introduction to Windows Analytics

Lab : Practice Lab - Managing Updates for Windows 10

• Manually configuring Windows Update settings
• Configuring Windows Update by using GPOs

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Describe the Windows 10 servicing channels.
• Configure a Windows update policy using Group Policy settings.
• Configure Windows Update for Business to deploy OS updates.
• Use Windows Analytics to assess upgrade readiness and update compliance.

Module 4: Device Enrollment
In this module, students will examine the benefits and prerequisites for co-management and learn how to plan for it. This module will also cover Azure AD join and will be introduced to Microsoft Intune, as well as learn how to configure policies for enrolling devices. The module will conclude with an overview of device inventory in Intune and reporting using the Intune console, Power BI and Microsoft Graph.
Lessons

• Device management options
• Microsoft Intune Overview
• Manage Intune device enrollment and inventory
• Managing devices with Intune

Lab : Practice Lab - Device Enrollment and Management
After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Describe benefits and methods for migrating to co-management.
• Deploy an MDM with Microsoft Intune.
• Configure device enrollment.
• Enroll desktop and mobile devices in Windows Intune.
• Configure and downloads inventory reports.

Module 5: Configuring Profiles
This module dives deeper into Intune device profiles including the types of device profiles and the difference between built-in and custom profiles. The student will learn about assigning profiles to Azure AD groups and monitoring devices and profiles in Intune. The module will conclude with an overview of using Windows Analytics for health and compliance reporting.
Lessons

• Configuring device profiles
• Managing user profiles
• Monitoring devices

Lab : Practice Lab - Managing profiles
After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Describe the types of device profiles.
• Create and assign device profiles.
• Configure user profile and folder redirection.
• Monitor and report on devices using Intune and Windows Analytics.

Module 6: Application Management
In this module, students learn about application management on-premise and cloud-based solutions. This module will cover how to manage Office 365 ProPlus deployments in Intune as well as how to manage apps on non-enrolled devices. The module will conclude with an overview of Enterprise Mode with Internet Explorer and Microsoft Edge and tracking your installed applications, licenses, and assigned apps using Intune.
Lessons

• Implement Mobile Application Management (MAM)
• Deploying and updating applications
• Administering applications

Lab : Practice Lab - Managing Applications
After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Describe the methods for application management.
• Deploy applications using Intune and Group Policy.
• Configure Microsoft Store for Business.
• Deploy Office365 ProPlus using Intune.
• Manage and report application inventory and licenses.

Module 7: Managing Authentication in Azure AD
In this module, students well be introduced to the concept of directory in the cloud with Azure AD. Students will learn the similarities and differences between Azure AD and Active Directory DS and how to synchronize between the two. Students will explore identity management in Azure AD and learn about identity protection using Windows Hello for Business, as well as Azure AD Identity Protection and multi-factor authentication.
Lessons

• Azure AD Overview
• Managing identities in Azure AD
• Protecting identities in Azure AD
• Managing device authentication

Lab : Practice Lab - Managing objects and authentication in Azure AD
After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Describe the capabilities of Azure AD.
• Manage users using Azure AD with Active Directory DS.
• Implement Windows Hello for Business.
• Join devices to Azure AD.

Module 8: Managing Device Access and Compliance
In this module, students will be introduced to managing device security. The module will cover securely accessing corporate resources and introduce concepts such as Always On VPN and remote connectivity in Windows 10. Students will learn how to create and deploy compliance policies and use compliance policies for conditional access. The module concludes with monitoring devices enrolled in Intune.
Lessons

• Microsoft Intune Overview
• Implement device compliance policies

Lab : Practice Lab - Managing Access and Compliance
After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Describe methods of enabling access from external networks.
• Deploy compliance and conditional access policies.
• Use Intune to monitor device compliance.

Module 9: Managing Security
In this module, students will learn about data protection. Topics will include Windows & Azure Information Protection, and various encryption technologies supported in Windows 10. This module also covers key capabilities of Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection and how to implement these capabilities on devices in your organization. The module concludes using Windows Defender and using functionalities such as antivirus, firewall and Credential Guard.
Lessons

• Implement device data protection
• Managing Windows Defender ATP
• Managing Windows Defender in Windows 10

Lab : Practice Lab - Managing Security in Windows 10
After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Describe the methods protecting device data.
• Describe the capabilities and benefits of Windows ATP.
• Deploy and manage settings for Windows Defender clients.

The Modern Desktop Administrator must be familiar with M365 workloads and must have strong skills and experience of deploying, configuring, and maintaining Windows 10 and non-Windows devices. The MDA role focuses on cloud services rather than on-premises management technologies. It is recommended students complete course MD-100, Windows 10, prior to taking this course.

MICROSOFT MD-101