Microsoft MCSA: SQL 2016 Database Administration (70-764 & 70-765)

Enhance your database administration skills with this MCSA: SQL 2016 Database Development training. Learn to deploy, configure, and manage SQL databases using both Azure SQL and SQL Server. Master key areas like security, performance optimization, data access, and storage management to improve your SQL administration expertise. Ideal for database admins looking to deepen their practical skills and advance their careers.

Garth SchulteSystems Administration & Database Administration

Updated March 2019

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16Skills

151Videos

21Virtual Labs

18hTotal

Who This Course Is For

This MCSA: SQL 2016 Database Administrator training is considered associate-level Microsoft training, and was designed for database administrators. This MCSA: SQL 2016 Database Administrator course is valuable for new IT professionals with at least a year of experience with SQL databases, and experienced database administrators looking to validate their Microsoft skills.

Skills Your Team Will Gain

Microsoft Azure SQL database deployment: service tiers, creation of servers and databases, sysadmin account, elastic pools
SQL Server Installation: IaaS vs. on-premises, storage design, performance requirements
SQL Server instances deployment: templates, automation, VM provisioning, migration
Secure access configuration: firewall rules, encryption, dynamic data masking
SQL Server Instances management: database creation, file management, system database files
Storage management: overview, SMB file shares, service tiers, storage pools, storage recovery

Course Curriculum

One skill is free to watch — no signup needed. The other 15 premium skills unlock for your whole team with a CBT Nuggets plan.

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Microsoft MCSA SQL Server 2016 (70-764): Overview

Garth Schulte

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Microsoft MCSA SQL Server 2016 (70-764): OverviewFree14m · 5 videos
Premium skill.Microsoft MCSA SQL Server 2016 (70-764): Configure Encryption1h 8m · 16 videos · 1 lab
Premium skill.Microsoft MCSA SQL Server 2016 (70-764): Configure Data Access and Permissions1h 13m · 16 videos · 1 lab
Premium skill.Microsoft MCSA SQL Server 2016 (70-764): Configure Auditing57m · 14 videos · 1 lab
Premium skill.Microsoft MCSA SQL Server 2016 (70-764): Develop a Backup Strategy1h 15m · 18 videos · 1 lab
Premium skill.Microsoft MCSA SQL Server 2016 (70-764): Restore Databases57m · 16 videos · 1 lab
Premium skill.Microsoft MCSA SQL Server 2016 (70-764): Manage Database Integrity37m · 10 videos · 1 lab
Premium skill.Microsoft MCSA SQL Server 2016 (70-764): Monitor Database Activity40m · 12 videos · 1 lab
Premium skill.Microsoft MCSA SQL Server 2016 (70-764): Monitor Queries46m · 12 videos · 1 lab
Premium skill.Microsoft MCSA SQL Server 2016 (70-764): Manage Indexes39m · 12 videos · 1 lab
Premium skill.Microsoft MCSA SQL Server 2016 (70-764): Manage Statistics36m · 10 videos · 1 lab
Premium skill.Microsoft MCSA SQL Server 2016 (70-764): Monitor SQL Server Instances53m · 20 videos · 1 lab
Premium skill.Microsoft MCSA SQL Server 2016 (70-764): Implement Log Shipping34m · 8 videos · 1 lab
Premium skill.Microsoft MCSA SQL Server 2016 (70-764): Implement Always On Availability Groups54m · 14 videos · 1 lab
Premium skill.Microsoft MCSA SQL Server 2016 (70-764): Implement Failover Cluster Instances34m · 9 videos · 1 lab
Premium skill.Microsoft MCSA SQL Server 2016 (70-765)5h 42m · 114 videos · 7 labs

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For IT leaders

What IT leaders need to know before assigning this course

SQL Server administration creates risk when security, recovery, performance, and high availability practices vary by DBA or team. IT Directors can assign this intermediate Microsoft MCSA SQL 2016 Database Administration training to database administrators, SQL-focused IT Practitioners with about a year of experience, and experienced DBAs who need Microsoft skill validation across exams 70-764 and 70-765.

The course is a realistic team investment of about 17 hours, 39 minutes per learner, covering encryption, permissions, auditing, backup and restore, integrity checks, monitoring, indexing, statistics, log shipping, Always On Availability Groups, failover cluster instances, and SQL/Azure SQL provisioning topics. For change management, Team Leads can sequence modules around operational priorities: secure data access first, standardize backup/restore procedures next, then assign monitoring and availability topics to staff responsible for production uptime. CBT Nuggets Playlists, Practice Exams, and Team Reporting help Training Managers align assignments, validate readiness, and track completion.

Team Impact

How this training helps your team succeed

IT teams complete this training to standardize SQL Server 2016 administration practices that affect uptime, data protection, and operational confidence.

Reduce data-access risk: DBAs learn to configure encryption, permissions, and auditing so sensitive database access is controlled and reviewable.
Improve recovery readiness: Teams build backup strategies, restore databases, and manage database integrity so recovery procedures are not improvised during incidents.
Troubleshoot performance issues faster: IT Practitioners learn to monitor database activity, queries, SQL Server instances, indexes, and statistics to identify common sources of slow response.
Support availability requirements: DBAs review log shipping, Always On Availability Groups, and failover cluster instances for environments where database continuity matters.

After completion

Capabilities your team walks away with

Knowledge

SQL Server 2016 administration areas covered by Microsoft exams 70-764 and 70-765
How encryption, permissions, and auditing fit into database security and compliance operations
Backup, restore, and database integrity concepts for operational recovery
Query, index, statistics, activity, and instance monitoring concepts
High availability options including log shipping, Always On Availability Groups, and failover cluster instances

Ability

Configure data access controls and permissions for SQL Server databases
Apply encryption and auditing practices to support data protection requirements
Develop backup strategies and restore databases when needed
Monitor SQL Server activity, queries, indexes, statistics, and instances
Support availability planning with log shipping, Always On, and failover clustering concepts

Readiness check

Confirm prerequisite knowledge before training begins

A short placement assessment on the CBT Nuggets assessments platform measures whether a learner already has the foundation this course assumes. IT Directors use it to put the right people in the right training — and any learner can take it right now to make sure they'll get full value from day one.

Questions generated from this course's own video transcripts — what gets measured is exactly what gets taught
Instant, per-learner results that show whether the prerequisite foundation is in place
Results roll up into team readiness reporting, so training hours go where they change outcomes

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Using T-SQL to Manage Data, Query Data, and Program Databases

This intermediate T-SQL training prepares administrators to leverage SQL Server's extended functionality, enhancing control over instances. You'll learn to perform complex operations with T-SQL, including transaction control, exception handling, and ...

~7h

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Frequently Asked Questions

What's the underlying technology on the MCSA: SQL 2016 Database Administration?

The underlying technology on the MCSA: SQL 2016 Database Administration was administering and provisioning entire SQL database infrastructures. The two certifying exams for the MCSA: SQL 2016 Database Administration were 70-764 and 70-765. They covered basic SQL administration knowledge like setting up database systems and securing them, as well as advanced knowledge in deployment models, migrating databases and integrating Azure applications with external resources.

Are the MCSA: SQL 2016 Database Administration exams 70-764 and 70-765 retired?

Yes, both certifying exams for the MCSA: SQL 2016 Database Administration are retired. Microsoft retired both 70-764: Administering a SQL Database Infrastructure and 70-765: Provisioning SQL Databases on January 31, 2021. Microsoft didn't just retire exams 70-764 and 70-765, but they also retired the entire series of MCSA and MCSE certifications at the same time. It's no longer possible to take 70-764 or 70-765, and they won't be getting replaced.

What happened to the MCSA: SQL 2016 Database Administration certification?

The MCSA: SQL 2016 Database Administration is retired and won't be getting replaced. Microsoft retired the entire series of MCSA and MCSE certifications, and the MCSA: SQL 2016 Database Administration was included in the certs that got retired without replacement. The certification didn't get revoked, so if you earned it already, it'll remain on your transcript. But it's no longer possible to take 70-764 and 70-765 or earn the MCSA.

What certification should I take instead of MCSA: SQL 2016 Database Administration?

You should consider the Microsoft Certified: Azure Database Administrator Associate if you want to earn a certification like the MCSA: SQL 2016 Database Administrator. When Microsoft retired the MCSA: SQL 2016 Database Administration and its two exams (70-764 and 70-765), they didn't set up a replacement. Instead, they've transitioned to role-based exams like the Azure Database Administrator Associate or the easier Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Fundamentals.

Is this MCSA: SQL 2016 Database Administration (70-764 & 70-765) still valuable?

Yes, this MCSA: SQL 2016 Database Administration is definitely still valuable. Training in SQL administration is still valuable because Microsoft didn't withdraw support for SQL Server or any other database administration software, they just changed their certification requirements. So although this training was designed to help you pass 70-764 and 70-765, taking it can still provide you with deep familiarity with administering and provisioning databases with SQL Server 2016.

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