Knox Hutchinson
Cloud Computing & DevOps
Standardize your team across the Microsoft stack
Microsoft Certification Training & Courses for IT Teams
From AZ-900 fundamentals through SC-100 expert-level architecture, every Microsoft certification path comes with structured training and team admin reporting, with hands-on labs in the Windows Server, endpoint, and SQL Server paths. Cover Azure, Microsoft 365, Windows Server, security, data, and Power Platform — and prove the capability coverage your auditors and leadership ask for.
15
Certifications
6
Role paths
4
Levels
Microsoft-credentialed team
Built for teams running production Azure, M365, and Windows Server stacks.
CertificationsMicrosoft15 certs · Entry to Expert
Spotlight
Most popular Microsoft certifications
5 certificationsThe Microsoft certifications IT directors most often standardize their teams on. Each one comes with unlimited practice exams and team admin reporting included.
Microsoft 365 Certified: Administrator Expert (MS-102)
AssociateLabsPracticeMS-102
Device ManagementMobile Device Management (MDM)Cloud Services
The Microsoft 365 Certified: Administrator Expert certification validates the skills and knowledge of IT professionals to evaluate, plan, deploy, and manage Microsoft 365 services, including Microsoft 365 security, compliance, and governance. This certification is ideal for IT professionals who want to demonstrate their expertise in Microsoft 365 administration.
Exam investment: 165 USD
Endpoint Administrator Associate (MD-102)
AssociateLabsPracticeMD-102
Microsoft 365Endpoint managementDevice compliance
The Microsoft 365 Certified: Endpoint Administrator Associate validates the skills to deploy, configure, and manage devices and applications in a Microsoft 365 environment. This certification is ideal for endpoint administrators, desktop administrators, and IT professionals who want to demonstrate their expertise in managing and securing endpoint devices and applications.
Exam investment: 165 USD
Microsoft Certified: Security Operations Analyst Associate (SC-200)
AssociateLabsPracticeSC-200
Threat managementIncident responseSecurity operations
The Microsoft Certified: Security Operations Analyst Associate certification validates the skills and knowledge of security operations analysts to detect and respond to threats, and to configure and use threat detection tools, and who should pursue this certification are security operations analysts, security engineers, and security consultants.
Exam investment: $165 USD
Microsoft Certified: Cybersecurity Architect Expert (SC-100)
ExpertLabsPracticeSC-100
Designing Zero Trust strategiesEvaluating security postureDesigning security operations
The Microsoft Certified: Cybersecurity Architect Expert validates your skills in designing and maintaining a secure computing environment. This certification is ideal for cybersecurity architects who want to demonstrate their expertise in protecting Microsoft Azure, Microsoft 365, and hybrid environments. Pursue this certification to showcase your ability to design and implement solutions that meet the security and compliance requirements of an organization.
Exam investment: $165 USD
Windows Server Hybrid Administrator Associate (AZ-800 & AZ-801)
AssociateLabsPracticeAZ-800 and AZ-801
Windows Server managementHybrid environment configurationIdentity management
The Windows Server Hybrid Administrator Associate validates the skills and knowledge required to manage and maintain Windows Server hybrid environments, including on-premises and cloud-based infrastructure. This certification is ideal for IT professionals who want to demonstrate their ability to implement and manage Windows Server hybrid environments.
Exam investment: 165 USD per exam
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Entry10
Associate3
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ExpertEntry Level
1 certificationAzure Data Fundamentals (DP-900)
EntryLabsPracticeDP-900
Understanding core data conceptsKnowledge of relational and non-relational dataUnderstanding of data workloads on Azure
The Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Fundamentals (DP-900) validates the candidate's understanding of core data concepts, including data types, data processing, and data security. This certification is ideal for data professionals, data analysts, and data engineers who want to demonstrate their skills in designing, implementing, and managing data solutions on Azure.
Exam investment: 99 USD
Associate Level
6 certificationsMicrosoft 365 Certified: Collaboration Communications Systems Engineer Associate (MS-721)
AssociateLabsPracticeMS-721
Microsoft TeamsTelephonyCollaboration Solutions
The Microsoft 365 Certified: Collaboration Communications Systems Engineer Associate certification validates the skills and knowledge of IT professionals who design, implement, and manage Microsoft 365 collaboration and communication solutions. This certification is ideal for IT professionals who want to demonstrate their expertise in Microsoft 365 collaboration and communication solutions.
Exam investment: 165 USD
Azure Network Engineer Associate (AZ-700)
AssociateLabsPracticeAZ-700
Design and implement hybrid networkingDesign and implement core networking infrastructureDesign and implement routing
The Azure Network Engineer Associate certification validates the skills and knowledge of network engineers to design, implement, and maintaining Azure networking solutions. It is ideal for professionals who want to demonstrate their expertise in networking and Azure. This certification is suitable for network engineers, network architects, and IT professionals who want to enhance their skills in Azure networking.
Exam investment: $165 USD
Microsoft 365 Certified: Teams Administrator Associate (MS-700)
AssociateLabsPracticeMS-700
Microsoft Teams managementCollaboration solutionsSecurity and compliance
The Microsoft 365 Certified: Teams Administrator Associate certification validates the skills and knowledge of IT professionals in configuring, deploying, and managing Microsoft Teams, as well as managing chat, meetings, and calling features. This certification is ideal for IT professionals who want to demonstrate their expertise in Microsoft Teams administration.
Exam investment: $165 USD
Azure Database Administrator Associate (DP-300)
AssociateLabsPracticeDP-300
Azure SQLDatabase ManagementPerformance Tuning
The Microsoft Certified: Azure Database Administrator Associate validates the skills to implement and manage cloud-based relational databases, including data security, performance, and scalability. This certification is ideal for database administrators, database developers, and data architects who want to demonstrate their expertise in designing, implementing, and managing Azure database solutions.
Exam investment: 165 USD
Microsoft Certified: Identity and Access Administrator Associate (SC-300)
AssociateLabsPracticeSC-300
Identity and access managementAzure Active DirectoryConditional Access
The Microsoft Certified: Identity and Access Administrator Associate validates the skills to design, implement, and manage identity and access management systems, including identity protection, access management, and identity governance. This certification is ideal for identity and access administrators, security engineers, and consultants who want to demonstrate their expertise in identity and access management.
Exam investment: 165 USD
Microsoft Certified: Power BI Data Analyst Associate (PL-300)
AssociateLabsPracticePL-300
Data preparationData modelingData visualization
The Microsoft Certified: Power BI Data Analyst Associate validates the skills to design and build scalable data models, clean and transform data, and create reports and dashboards using Power BI. This certification is ideal for data analysts, business analysts, and data scientists who want to demonstrate their skills in data analysis and visualization.
Exam investment: 165 USD
Professional Level
3 certificationsFabric Analytics Engineer Associate (DP-600)
ProfessionalLabsPracticeDP-600
Data AnalysisMicrosoft FabricData Engineering
The Microsoft Certified: Fabric Analytics Engineer Associate validates the skills and knowledge of professionals who design and implement analytics solutions on Azure Fabric, ensuring efficient data processing and insights. This certification is ideal for data engineers, analytics engineers, and solution architects who want to demonstrate their expertise in fabric analytics.
Exam investment: $165
Microsoft 365 Certified: Copilot and Agent Administration Fundamentals (AB-900)
ProfessionalLabsPracticeAB-900
Microsoft 365CopilotAgent Administration
The Microsoft 365 Certified: Copilot and Agent Administration Fundamentals certification validates foundational skills in managing and deploying Microsoft 365 Copilot and agent services. It is designed for IT professionals and administrators who are responsible for managing Microsoft 365 environments and want to enhance their capabilities with AI-driven tools.
Exam investment: $99 USD
Microsoft Certified: Security, Compliance, and Identity Fundamentals (SC-900)
ProfessionalLabsPracticeSC-900
Security FundamentalsCompliance and GovernanceIdentity and Access Management
The Microsoft Certified: Security, Compliance, and Identity Fundamentals certification validates a candidate's understanding of security, compliance, and identity concepts, as well as their ability to identify and mitigate security threats. This certification is ideal for IT professionals, security analysts, and compliance officers who want to demonstrate their knowledge of security best practices and Microsoft security solutions.
Exam investment: $99
Customer outcome
Microsoft capability your team can prove on the job
IT Directors measure Microsoft training value in operational terms — cleaner audit trails for compliance, faster onboarding into Azure and M365 admin roles, and a shared Microsoft vocabulary across cloud, security, and endpoint teams. Those are the outcomes leadership cares about, not seat-time or completion percentages.
Role-based paths
Microsoft certifications by IT job role
Match Microsoft certs to the actual roles your team holds. Each path bundles the right certs plus the operational depth engineers need day-to-day.
Microsoft certs for Azure & Cloud Engineers
1 certificationCloud admins, network engineers, and security operators running production Azure workloads. AZ-500 is the associate-level security baseline; AZ-700 covers network engineering (ExpressRoute, Virtual WAN). AZ-900 establishes the team's shared cloud vocabulary.
Azure Network Engineer Associate (AZ-700)
AssociateLabsPracticeAZ-700
Design and implement hybrid networkingDesign and implement core networking infrastructureDesign and implement routing
The Azure Network Engineer Associate certification validates the skills and knowledge of network engineers to design, implement, and maintaining Azure networking solutions. It is ideal for professionals who want to demonstrate their expertise in networking and Azure. This certification is suitable for network engineers, network architects, and IT professionals who want to enhance their skills in Azure networking.
Exam investment: $165 USD
Microsoft certs for M365 & Endpoint Admins
4 certificationsFor teams managing Microsoft 365 tenants, Intune-deployed endpoints, and the collaboration stack. MS-102 covers the tenant administrator role; MD-102 covers Intune endpoint admin; MS-700/MS-721 covers Teams platform and collaboration communications.
Microsoft 365 Certified: Administrator Expert (MS-102)
AssociateLabsPracticeMS-102
Device ManagementMobile Device Management (MDM)Cloud Services
The Microsoft 365 Certified: Administrator Expert certification validates the skills and knowledge of IT professionals to evaluate, plan, deploy, and manage Microsoft 365 services, including Microsoft 365 security, compliance, and governance. This certification is ideal for IT professionals who want to demonstrate their expertise in Microsoft 365 administration.
Exam investment: 165 USD
Endpoint Administrator Associate (MD-102)
AssociateLabsPracticeMD-102
Microsoft 365Endpoint managementDevice compliance
The Microsoft 365 Certified: Endpoint Administrator Associate validates the skills to deploy, configure, and manage devices and applications in a Microsoft 365 environment. This certification is ideal for endpoint administrators, desktop administrators, and IT professionals who want to demonstrate their expertise in managing and securing endpoint devices and applications.
Exam investment: 165 USD
Microsoft 365 Certified: Teams Administrator Associate (MS-700)
AssociateLabsPracticeMS-700
Microsoft Teams managementCollaboration solutionsSecurity and compliance
The Microsoft 365 Certified: Teams Administrator Associate certification validates the skills and knowledge of IT professionals in configuring, deploying, and managing Microsoft Teams, as well as managing chat, meetings, and calling features. This certification is ideal for IT professionals who want to demonstrate their expertise in Microsoft Teams administration.
Exam investment: $165 USD
Microsoft 365 Certified: Collaboration Communications Systems Engineer Associate (MS-721)
AssociateLabsPracticeMS-721
Microsoft TeamsTelephonyCollaboration Solutions
The Microsoft 365 Certified: Collaboration Communications Systems Engineer Associate certification validates the skills and knowledge of IT professionals who design, implement, and manage Microsoft 365 collaboration and communication solutions. This certification is ideal for IT professionals who want to demonstrate their expertise in Microsoft 365 collaboration and communication solutions.
Exam investment: 165 USD
Microsoft certs for Security & Identity Engineers
4 certificationsDefenders running Microsoft Sentinel, Defender XDR, Entra ID, and the broader security stack. SC-200 is the SOC analyst associate; SC-300 is the identity & access administrator. SC-100 is the expert-level architect credential for teams signing off on Microsoft security architecture.
Microsoft Certified: Security Operations Analyst Associate (SC-200)
AssociateLabsPracticeSC-200
Threat managementIncident responseSecurity operations
The Microsoft Certified: Security Operations Analyst Associate certification validates the skills and knowledge of security operations analysts to detect and respond to threats, and to configure and use threat detection tools, and who should pursue this certification are security operations analysts, security engineers, and security consultants.
Exam investment: $165 USD
Microsoft Certified: Identity and Access Administrator Associate (SC-300)
AssociateLabsPracticeSC-300
Identity and access managementAzure Active DirectoryConditional Access
The Microsoft Certified: Identity and Access Administrator Associate validates the skills to design, implement, and manage identity and access management systems, including identity protection, access management, and identity governance. This certification is ideal for identity and access administrators, security engineers, and consultants who want to demonstrate their expertise in identity and access management.
Exam investment: 165 USD
Microsoft Certified: Cybersecurity Architect Expert (SC-100)
ExpertLabsPracticeSC-100
Designing Zero Trust strategiesEvaluating security postureDesigning security operations
The Microsoft Certified: Cybersecurity Architect Expert validates your skills in designing and maintaining a secure computing environment. This certification is ideal for cybersecurity architects who want to demonstrate their expertise in protecting Microsoft Azure, Microsoft 365, and hybrid environments. Pursue this certification to showcase your ability to design and implement solutions that meet the security and compliance requirements of an organization.
Exam investment: $165 USD
Microsoft Certified: Security, Compliance, and Identity Fundamentals (SC-900)
ProfessionalLabsPracticeSC-900
Security FundamentalsCompliance and GovernanceIdentity and Access Management
The Microsoft Certified: Security, Compliance, and Identity Fundamentals certification validates a candidate's understanding of security, compliance, and identity concepts, as well as their ability to identify and mitigate security threats. This certification is ideal for IT professionals, security analysts, and compliance officers who want to demonstrate their knowledge of security best practices and Microsoft security solutions.
Exam investment: $99
Microsoft certs for Windows Server Sysadmins
1 certificationFor sysadmin teams running Windows Server in hybrid configurations. The AZ-800/AZ-801 combo covers the full Windows Server Hybrid Administrator Associate credential — core hybrid infrastructure plus advanced services (clustering, DR, security).
Windows Server Hybrid Administrator Associate (AZ-800 & AZ-801)
AssociateLabsPracticeAZ-800 and AZ-801
Windows Server managementHybrid environment configurationIdentity management
The Windows Server Hybrid Administrator Associate validates the skills and knowledge required to manage and maintain Windows Server hybrid environments, including on-premises and cloud-based infrastructure. This certification is ideal for IT professionals who want to demonstrate their ability to implement and manage Windows Server hybrid environments.
Exam investment: 165 USD per exam
Microsoft certs for Data & AI Engineers
5 certificationsData engineers, BI analysts, and AI/Copilot administrators. Covers the DP-300 Azure DBA track, DP-600 Fabric analytics, PL-300 Power BI, and the Copilot/Agent administration credential (AB-900) that's becoming an IT-led initiative in most IT organizations.
Azure Database Administrator Associate (DP-300)
AssociateLabsPracticeDP-300
Azure SQLDatabase ManagementPerformance Tuning
The Microsoft Certified: Azure Database Administrator Associate validates the skills to implement and manage cloud-based relational databases, including data security, performance, and scalability. This certification is ideal for database administrators, database developers, and data architects who want to demonstrate their expertise in designing, implementing, and managing Azure database solutions.
Exam investment: 165 USD
Fabric Analytics Engineer Associate (DP-600)
ProfessionalLabsPracticeDP-600
Data AnalysisMicrosoft FabricData Engineering
The Microsoft Certified: Fabric Analytics Engineer Associate validates the skills and knowledge of professionals who design and implement analytics solutions on Azure Fabric, ensuring efficient data processing and insights. This certification is ideal for data engineers, analytics engineers, and solution architects who want to demonstrate their expertise in fabric analytics.
Exam investment: $165
Azure Data Fundamentals (DP-900)
EntryLabsPracticeDP-900
Understanding core data conceptsKnowledge of relational and non-relational dataUnderstanding of data workloads on Azure
The Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Fundamentals (DP-900) validates the candidate's understanding of core data concepts, including data types, data processing, and data security. This certification is ideal for data professionals, data analysts, and data engineers who want to demonstrate their skills in designing, implementing, and managing data solutions on Azure.
Exam investment: 99 USD
Microsoft Certified: Power BI Data Analyst Associate (PL-300)
AssociateLabsPracticePL-300
Data preparationData modelingData visualization
The Microsoft Certified: Power BI Data Analyst Associate validates the skills to design and build scalable data models, clean and transform data, and create reports and dashboards using Power BI. This certification is ideal for data analysts, business analysts, and data scientists who want to demonstrate their skills in data analysis and visualization.
Exam investment: 165 USD
Microsoft 365 Certified: Copilot and Agent Administration Fundamentals (AB-900)
ProfessionalLabsPracticeAB-900
Microsoft 365CopilotAgent Administration
The Microsoft 365 Certified: Copilot and Agent Administration Fundamentals certification validates foundational skills in managing and deploying Microsoft 365 Copilot and agent services. It is designed for IT professionals and administrators who are responsible for managing Microsoft 365 environments and want to enhance their capabilities with AI-driven tools.
Exam investment: $99 USD
Hands-on Microsoft practice
Human-led training is the point: engineers practice real skills with expert guidance, not just video playback.
Why CBT Nuggets
How CBT Nuggets is different for Microsoft teams
The platform features IT directors comparing training platforms ask about most often.
Practitioner-led
Microsoft training your team learns from
Built and taught by engineers who have spent decades running production Microsoft infrastructure — not crowd-sourced contributors.
James Conrad
IT Fundamentals & Systems Administration
Simona Millham
End-User Productivity & Project Management
Team outcome
Faster ramp for new hires
Curated playlists and team assignments make onboarding repeatable instead of relying on ad hoc shadowing and tribal knowledge.
Best fit for: managers scaling a team, backfilling a role, or standardizing skills across distributed engineers.
Frequently asked questions about Microsoft training
Common questions IT directors ask when evaluating Microsoft training for their team.
Which Microsoft certification should our team standardize on first?
It depends on your team's primary Microsoft footprint. For Azure-first teams, AZ-900 → AZ-104 is the baseline every cloud engineer should hold; AZ-305 sits above for the architect bench. For teams running M365 + Intune, MD-102 → MS-102 covers endpoint and tenant admin. For sysadmin teams operating hybrid Windows Server, the AZ-800/AZ-801 path is the modern track. Most IT Directors run all three programs in parallel against different role groups.
What's the difference between Fundamental, Associate, and Expert Microsoft certifications?
Role-based fundamentals (the 900-series — AZ-900, SC-900, MS-900, AI-900, DP-900, PL-900) validate vocabulary and conceptual fluency. Associate certs (AZ-104, MS-102, MD-102, SC-200, AZ-500, AZ-700) prove role-level operational competency. Expert certs (AZ-305, AZ-400, SC-100) prove architectural and strategic depth — the credentials leadership expects on principal-level engineers signing off on production Azure or security architecture. Note that Microsoft also ships Applied Skills credentials (the AB-prefix family, e.g. AB-900 for Copilot administration) — these are scenario-based and narrow-scope, positioned by Microsoft as complementary to but distinct from the role-based ladder above.
How do you measure ROI on Microsoft training for a team?
The metrics that matter aren't seat-time or completion percentages. For Microsoft teams, start with onboarding velocity for new hires, certification coverage by role, time-to-productivity on Azure or M365 admin tasks, and incident volume on Microsoft-managed services. CBT Nuggets gives managers the reporting surface to track completion and cert coverage while the training itself keeps engineers moving through the right Microsoft path.
Does this work for compliance training programs (SOC 2, HIPAA, PCI, FedRAMP)?
Yes. Team reporting helps managers document assigned training, completion, and cert coverage for internal governance or audit conversations. Teams in regulated industries pair Microsoft cert paths (AZ-500, SC-200, SC-300, SC-100) with the broader CBT Nuggets platform features designed for team visibility, access control, and reporting.
Microsoft renamed and restructured several tracks recently — is the training current?
Microsoft restructures the cert catalog regularly: AZ-303/304 collapsed into AZ-305, MS-100/101 collapsed into MS-102, the SC-200 was refreshed for Defender XDR, AB-900/AB-730/AB-731 are the new Copilot/AI tracks. CBT Nuggets updates Microsoft course titles and paths as the catalog changes so managers can keep team training plans aligned with the language Microsoft and your auditors actually use.
How does CBT Nuggets handle Microsoft cert refreshes?
Microsoft role-based certs require an annual free renewal assessment to stay current. CBT Nuggets helps managers keep refresh work organized through assigned training paths, progress visibility, and updated catalog content as Microsoft refreshes exam objectives. When Microsoft renames or restructures a track, updated courses stay aligned with the same team training plan.
Can our team learn Microsoft Azure or M365 without prior cloud experience?
Yes, and many teams use the 900-series role-based fundamentals (AZ-900, MS-900, SC-900, AI-900, DP-900) as on-ramps for engineers transitioning into cloud and M365 work. From fundamentals, the natural progression is the associate-level cert that matches the engineer's role (AZ-500 for cloud security, MD-102 for endpoint admins, etc.). Most teams budget 4–6 weeks for fundamentals and 2–3 months for associate-level prep from a cold start.