Course Overview

This 5-day course is intended to provide you with the knowledge and skills to manage your organization’s Windows 11 devices in both on-premises and cloud-based scenarios. 

By completing this course, you’ll be able to:

• Deploy and upgrade Windows operating systems
• Manage and synchronize user state across Windows devices
• Implement and troubleshoot networking, including managing remote access
• Manage device compliance and security features on Windows 11
• Implement conditional access, Windows Hello, and MFA
• Deploy and manage apps
• Configure devices using both Group Policy and Microsoft Intune
• Monitor and optimize Windows
• Troubleshoot and recover Windows 11

Audience profile

This course is aimed at support personnel working in organizations that have a continued Active Directory on-premises environment, but are also moving resources and devices to Microsoft 365. 

Before attending this course, you must: 

• Have configured Windows client operating systems, such as Windows 7 or newer
• Have some working experience with Windows Server on-premises environments
• Be familiar with cloud fundamentals and Microsoft 365 workloads in particular
• Be able to configure basic network settings on Windows client devices
• Understand basic security principles, such as authentication, authorization, exploit protection, and defense in depth

Skills gained

• Advanced Deployment: Automate Windows 11 installations and manage system images.
• Endpoint Security: Implement robust security features, including BitLocker, Credential Guard, and Windows Hello for Business.
• Deep System Management: Centrally configure and customize the OS using Group Policy and the Windows Registry.
• PowerShell Automation: Write and execute PowerShell scripts to automate repetitive administrative tasks.
• Storage & Networking: Manage advanced storage solutions, permissions, and secure remote access.
• Advanced Troubleshooting: Systematically diagnose and resolve complex boot, hardware, application, and network issues.

Course outline

Module 1: Managing Windows 11 in an Enterprise Environment

• Focuses on utilizing advanced administration tools, configuring remote management, and leveraging Windows PowerShell for system administration.

Module 2: Troubleshooting and Managing Network Connectivity

• Covers advanced network configuration, systematically resolving IPv4/IPv6 connectivity issues, and troubleshooting name resolution.

Module 3: Managing and Troubleshooting Security Settings

• Focuses on configuring network security features, managing Windows Defender Firewall, and diagnosing network-related security issues.

Module 4: Managing and Troubleshooting Storage

• Explores advanced disk configurations, managing Storage Spaces, and identifying and resolving storage-related failures.

Module 5: Managing and Troubleshooting Data Access

• Covers the intricacies of NTFS and share permissions, managing offline files, and resolving complex file access issues.

Module 6: Managing and Troubleshooting Applications

• Addresses the deployment, management, and troubleshooting of both traditional Desktop applications and Universal Windows Platform (UWP) apps.

Module 7: Troubleshooting Hardware and Device Drivers

• Provides structured techniques for diagnosing hardware failures, managing device drivers, and resolving driver incompatibilities.

Module 8: Troubleshooting System Security

• Focuses on securing the endpoint using advanced features like Credential Guard, BitLocker, and system auditing, as well as recovering encrypted drives.

Module 9: Troubleshooting Operating System Recovery

• Covers the Windows boot process, utilizing the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE), and restoring the OS after critical failures.

Module 10: Optimizing and Troubleshooting System Performance

• Explores built-in tools and methodologies for monitoring system health, diagnosing resource bottlenecks, and optimizing overall performance.

Module 11: Managing Mobility and Remote Access

• Focuses on configuring and troubleshooting secure VPN connections, remote access solutions, and mobility settings for remote workers.

Prerequisites

To ensure participants get the most out of this advanced course, they should have a solid foundation in IT support and systems administration.

The recommended prerequisites include:

• Windows Client Experience: Hands-on experience configuring, supporting, and troubleshooting Windows client operating systems (Windows 10 or Windows 11) in an enterprise environment.
• Networking Fundamentals: A strong understanding of core networking concepts, including TCP/IP, DNS (Domain Name System), and DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol).
• Windows Server & Active Directory: Familiarity with Windows Server administration, specifically working with Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) and managing Group Policy Objects (GPO).
• PowerShell Basics: Basic knowledge of Windows PowerShell, including an understanding of command-line syntax and how to execute simple scripts.
• Security Principles: A general understanding of fundamental IT security concepts, such as user authentication, permissions, and endpoint protection.

Recommended Background: Ideally, attendees should have at least 1 to 2 years of practical experience working in a Tier 1 or Tier 2 IT support role, or as an endpoint administrator.

There is no direct official Microsoft certification (exam) for the M55624A: Windows 11 Advanced Administration course.

• Focus on Practical Skills (M55624A): This is an advanced course from the "Specialist Courseware" portfolio, designed specifically to deliver deep, technical, and practical knowledge for real-world environments (scripting, automation, advanced configuration). Its primary goal is not exam preparation.
• Official Certification Path (MD-102): If obtaining an official Microsoft certification is a key priority for the client and their team, the right choice right now is the MD-102: Microsoft 365 Endpoint Administrator course. This course officially prepares candidates for the MD-102 exam, earning them the highly regarded Microsoft 365 Certified: Endpoint Administrator Associate certification.

If the team wants both, the best practice is often for them to first complete MD-102 to secure the certification and establish centralized management, and then take M55624A as a technical deep-dive to tackle specific, complex IT challenges.