New and Free Azure Arc Applied Skill Credential

Microsoft recently launched a brand new Applied Skill Credential related to deploying and managing Azure Arc enabled servers. Here's me talking about it:

An applied skill is a hands on test where you perform a set of real world tasks based on a couple of scenarios.

Azure Arc is a set of technologies from Microsoft that extends Azure management and services to workloads in multi-cloud and on-premises environments. Using Arc, you can manage and govern on-premises, edge, and multi-cloud environments from a single control plane in Azure.

Taking this 60 minute long free practical exam gives you a credential that’s useful if want to demonstrate that you have proficiency in connecting Windows Server computers in hybrid environments to Azure Arc, as well as using Arc to secure, manage, and maintain those connected computers.

Specific skills include:

• Deploy Azure resources by using an Azure Resource Manager template.
• Implement the operating system prerequisites for connecting Azure VMs to Azure Arc.
• Prepare for connecting on-premises servers to Azure Arc.
• Connect a Windows Server to Azure Arc by using Windows Admin Center.
• Connect Windows servers to Azure Arc non-interactively at scale.
• Create a policy assignment for Azure Arc-enabled Windows servers.
• Evaluate results of the policy assignment.
• Configure Microsoft Defender for Cloud-based protection of Azure Arc-enabled Windows servers.
• Review the Microsoft Defender for Cloud-based protection of Azure Arc-enabled Windows servers.
• Configure VM Insights for Azure Arc-enabled Windows servers.
• Review the monitoring capabilities of Azure Arc-enabled Windows servers.
• Configure Update Manager for Azure Arc-enabled Windows servers.
• Review Update Manager capabilities for Azure Arc-enabled Windows servers.

You can prepare for this credential by working through a seven module learning path on Microsoft Learn. The final module in this learning path involves creating a hands on lab and using your own Azure subscription to configure and manage Arc enabled servers. You can find the learning path here: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/training/paths/deploy-manage-azure-arc-enabled-servers/

When you are ready to take the credential, you can do so for free by navigating to the following page:

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/credentials/applied-skills/deploy-and-manage-microsoft-azure-arc-enabled-servers/

Thanks for your attention and good luck on achieving the credential!