Microsoft is the globally recognized technology corporation which has consistently surprised the world with the new technologies that solve business and social problems.
However, many people don’t know that Microsoft is also a leading vendor of IT certifications and exams.
Currently, a large number of enterprises and PC owners use the latest Windows 10 Operating System which is designed to fit the ever-changing business environment.
In order to keep IT professionals tasked with the configuration of Windows 10 updated, Microsoft validates their knowledge and skills with specialized certifications.
IT credentials from Microsoft are important for career advancement because they cover the essential skills in your area of expertise.
So, which is the right path to follow?
Recently, Microsoft rolled out the role-based certifications to equip IT professionals with the skills and knowledge that are highly in demand in the IT industry:
- Microsoft Certified: Azure Security Engineer Associate
- Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365 Fundamentals
- Microsoft 365 Certified Fundamentals
- Microsoft 365 Certified: Enterprise Administrator Expert
- Microsoft Certified: PrepAway Practice Tests Azure Data Engineer Associate
How to obtain a certification from Microsoft? The process involves the following steps:
-
Get the skills
it is the first step you should take. The best way to acquire the required skills is to study with different training materials such as instructor-led video courses, exam dumps, study guides, and questions and answers from ExamSnap.
-
Pass exams
every Microsoft certification is made up of exams which IT professionals have to pass. To pass an exam, candidates need to get a passing score.
-
Get certified
once you have managed to pass the tests, you will get the relevant certification that will showcase your exclusive understanding of certain technology concepts.
Today, we would like to expound on a few points regarding the MCSA: Windows 10 certification.
It is the ideal credential to prove your exceptional skills in management, configuration, and maintenance of Windows 10 enterprise system.
Candidates must clear the following two exams in order to achieve the MCSA: Windows 10 credential:
- 70-698 –Installation and Configuration of Windows 10
- 70-697–Configuration of Windows Devices
Note that these two exams are going to retire soon, and you must ensure that you have enough time before the retirement date. 70-698 and 70-697 will be substituted by the following tests:
- MD-101 – Managing Modern Desktops
- MD-100 – Windows 10
The new replacement exams are part of the prerequisites for Microsoft 365 Certified: Modern Desktop Administrator Associate certification.
Now, it’s time for us to find out about the structure of 70-697 exam.
Microsoft 70-697 exam description
70-697 is a closed-book exam which assesses the candidates’ ability to perform tasks related to the management of Windows 10.
The test consists of 40-60 multiple-choice, drag-and-drop, hot area, build list, and other questions.
The candidates are required to pay a fee of $165 to register for 70-697 exam. To pass the test, you need to attain a minimum score of 70%. The main exam topics include:
- Managing Identity
- Planning Desktop and Device Deployment
- Planning and implementation of Microsoft 365 solutions
- Network Configuration
- Storage Configuration
- Data Access and Protection Management
- Remote Access Management
- Application Management
- Updates and Recovery Management
In order to gain a proper understanding of the above topics, you need to define a clear technique of preparation.
I did 70-697 exam and passed with flying colors. I believe that the techniques I used will be useful to every candidate intending to pass.
Use exam guides
Firstly, I decided to purchase a relevant study guide from the ExamSnap website.
It is important to prepare using a perfect study guide because the concepts tested in the exam are broad and diverse.
70-697 study guide from ExamSnap gives a clear insight into the main objectives which you are required to understand.
Besides, this material shows the limits of your training because 70-697 test covers only associate-level knowledge and skills related to Windows 10 device configuration.
Watch video lectures
Secondly, I chose to take the video course from ExamSnap because 70-697 exam involves hands-on skills which IT professionals should possess before doing the test.
Besides, the concepts covered in 70-697 exam are also designed to equip the candidates with the knowledge needed to solve real-world problems.
Therefore, video courses are very important because they illustrate every practical concept highlighted in 70-697 objectives.
Take practice exams
Practice makes perfect, isn’t it? Once you are trained enough to take 70-697 exam, you should gauge your readiness by taking practice tests which are set just like the actual 70-697 exam.
I took 70-697 practice test from ExamSnap to assess my understanding of Windows 10 configuration techniques.
As a result, I realized that there were some topics that I did not understand very well.
So, I revised my training material to make sure that I learned everything that I needed.
Join communities
You should always consider your friends or peers as sources of knowledge and understanding.
I decided to form 70-697 prep group. This was an important step because we shared our tricks and tips to nail Microsoft 70-697 exam easily.
We also enlightened each other about various concepts which are covered in 70-697 topics.
Don’t forget about revision
Finally, I used the last day of my preparation to go through the notes I have been making throughout the process.
This helped me in remembering the concepts I had covered during my preparation.
Career prospects
MCSA: Windows 10 certified professionals can work as System Administrators, Data Administrators, and Software Engineers.
According to ITCareerFinder, they can earn a basic salary of $80,000 per year.
Conclusion
Windows 10 is one of the most widely used Operating Systems in the world. Having proof of your proficiency in Windows 10 configuration guarantees you lots of job opportunities and a higher salary.
Get certified now and enjoy your career prospects tomorrow!