Everyone is responsible for security, and we are all in this together. It's also common knowledge that humans are the weakest link in the cybersecurity chain. You are the weakest link, regardless of how strong your Intrusion Detection/Prevention System (IDS/IPS), Firewalls, encryption systems, or endpoint-protection solutions are. We've entered the second phase of digital transformation, and enterprises are increasingly adopting the ZERO TRUST approach to provide a safe infrastructure. Every human element, from security guards to technical and non-technical personnel to a company's CEO, can be a target for attackers. One of the most important parts of obtaining cybersecurity assurance is appropriately spreading awareness, educating, and training every human connection.
With these considerations in mind, Microsoft released 5 new cybersecurity certifications this year. It's not that Microsoft didn't offer security certificates previously, but this time they're providing role-based cybersecurity certifications that are tailored to your specific role within the company. It's also essential to pick and train for these certifications based on where you're at in your cybersecurity path.
For the longest time, Microsoft has been one of the largest producers of software products and services; now, I can confidently claim that Microsoft is also one of the leading security businesses; this was not the situation five years ago. I'm pretty pleased to see Microsoft making strides in this area by introducing various fundamental security tools, services, and several security certification examinations.
Read along to know more about all four exams.
Candidates who want to learn the principles of security, compliance, and identity (SCI) across cloud-based and related Microsoft services should pursue this certification. Exams in the 900 series are at the fundamental level. AZ-900T00: Microsoft Azure Fundamentals, MS-900T01: Microsoft 365 Fundamentals, PL-900T00: Microsoft Power Platform Fundamentals and AI-900T00: Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals are only a few of Microsoft's existing core certification exams. MB-900 Microsoft Dynamics 365 Fundamentals, DP-900T00: Microsoft Azure Data Fundamentals.
Business stakeholders, new or experienced IT workers, or students interested in Microsoft security, compliance, and identity solutions make up the target audience.
Candidates should be familiar with Microsoft Azure and Microsoft 365 and wish to learn how Microsoft security, compliance, and identity solutions can be used to deliver a holistic and end-to-end solution across these solution areas.
Skills measured
Describe the capabilities of Microsoft compliance solutions
Describe the capabilities of Microsoft security solutions
Describe the capabilities of Microsoft identity and access management solutions
Describe the concepts of security, compliance, and identity
Microsoft Certified: Security Operations Analyst Associate (SC-200)
The certification training is for SOC analysts who use threat management, monitoring, and other SIEM tools to communicate with various stakeholders to reduce organizational security risk. Using Microsoft Azure Sentinel, Azure Defender, Microsoft 365 Defender, and third-party security tools, the position primarily investigates, responds to, and hunts for threats. This test assesses your technical skills in threat mitigation with Microsft 365 Defender, Azure Defender, and Azure Sentinel.
SOC Analysts, Security Researchers, and Service Desk technical personnel interested in pursuing a career in cybersecurity but are not restricted to these.
SC-200 has no prior tests or certifications, but candidates who are fundamentally strong in the subjects of:
Skill Measured
Mitigate threats using Azure Sentinel
Mitigate threats using Azure Defender
Mitigate threats using Microsoft 365 Defender
Microsoft Certified: Identity and Access Administrator Associate: (SC-300)
One of the most critical aspects of the ZERO Trust Architecture is identity. This test verifies that you have the necessary skills to develop, build, and operate Aure AD-based IAM systems for enterprises. It also ensures that the enterprise's Authorizations and Authentications are managed.
IAM Administrators for hybrid infrastructure are the target audience, although they are not the only ones.
SC-300 has no previous tests, but applicants should thoroughly understand how hybrid infrastructure works.
Skill Measured
Plan and implement an identity governance strategy
Implement access management for apps
Implement an authentication and access management solution
Implement an identity management solution
Microsoft Certified: Information Protection Administrator Associate (SC-400)
Our security procedures are designed to protect an organization's data and information. The SC-400 assesses your technical abilities to execute information protection, data loss prevention (DLP), and information governance.
Anyone was putting policies with various stakeholders to protect the information in cloud-native or hybrid architecture.
Although technical people with experience in policymaking, governance, or cybersecurity foundations will find it simple to comprehend, there are no requirements.
Skill Measured
Implement information governance
Implement data loss prevention
Implement information protection
The Microsoft cybersecurity architect has subject matter expertise in designing and evolving the cybersecurity strategy to protect an organization’s mission and business processes across all aspects of the enterprise architecture.
Candidates for this exam should have advanced experience and knowledge in a wide range of security engineering areas, including identity and access, platform protection, security operations, securing data, and securing applications. They should also have experience with hybrid and cloud implementations.
Skills measured
Design a Zero Trust strategy and architecture (30–35%)
Evaluate Governance Risk Compliance (GRC) technical strategies and security operations strategies (20–25%)
Design security for infrastructure (20–25%)
Design a strategy for data and applications (20–25%)
Microsoft's Other Security Certificates
Because the newly announced certifications examinations are role-based, Microsoft has additional security exams that are expected to remain unaltered.
Conclusion
Security is constantly changing. The only way to succeed in this industry is to be as dynamic as cybersecurity. The key is to 'LEARN, APPLY, and REPEAT.' I wish you continued success in setting new records every day. Let's take everything we've learned about technology and apply it to the actual world to make it a better place for ourselves and future generations!