New Microsoft Certified: AI Business Professional Certification
Do you use generative AI tools, like Researcher and Analyst in Microsoft 365 Copilot, to enhance your daily work, boost productivity, guide decisions, and drive business outcomes—without writing code or developing AI applications? Are you comfortable with AI fundamentals, prompt creation, and applying AI to real-world tasks? Do you produce professional content, summarize meetings, and collaborate across teams using Microsoft 365 apps? If this is your skill set, we have a new Microsoft Certification for you. The Microsoft Certified: AI Business Professional Certification validates your expertise in these skills. To earn this Certification, you need to pass Exam AB-730: AI Business Professional, currently in beta. This new Certification shows employers that you’re an AI-ready professional who can drive better outcomes in any business role, that you’re fluent in using AI in your day-to-day projects, including how to be more productive and creative as you work across Microsoft 365 apps, and that you understand how to use Copilot and agents to analyze data and automate tasks. Is this the right Certification for you? This Certification is designed for business professionals who want to apply AI tools to real business challenges. Whether you're in marketing, operations, project management, human resources, customer service, or another field, this Certification proves that you can unlock new levels of productivity and insight. As a candidate for the Certification, you should have a basic understanding of Microsoft 365 and should be comfortable navigating core apps, such as Outlook, Word, Microsoft Teams, PowerPoint, and Excel. You also need to be familiar with common business processes, including creating presentations, generating images, and managing documents. If you use generative AI tools, such as Microsoft Copilot, to draft emails, summarize documents, create presentations, or generate creative content, like images and text, this Certification could be a great fit for you. Ready to prove your skills? Take advantage of the discounted beta exam offer. The first 300 people who take Exam AB-730 (beta), on or before December 11, 2025, can get 80% off market price. To receive the discount, when you register for the exam and are prompted for payment, use code AB730Smore25. This is not a private access code. The seats are offered on a first-come, first-served basis. As noted, you must take the exam on or before December 11, 2025. Please note that this beta exam is not available in Turkey, Pakistan, India, or China. Get ready to take Exam AB-730 (beta): Review the Exam AB-730 (beta) exam page for details. The Exam AB-730 study guide explores key topics covered in the exam. Want even more in-depth, instructor-led training? Connect with Microsoft Training Services Partners in your area for in-person offerings. Need other preparation ideas? Check out Just How Does One Prepare for Beta Exams? Did you know that you can take any Microsoft Certification exam online? Taking your exam from home or the office can be more convenient and less stressful than traveling to a test center—especially when you know what to expect. To find out more, read Online proctored exams: What to expect and how to prepare. The rescore process starts on the day an exam goes live, and final scores for beta exams are released approximately 10 days after that. For details on the timing of beta exam rescoring and results, check out Creating high-quality exams: The path from beta to live. Ready to get started? Remember, the number of spots is limited to the first 300 candidates taking Exam AB-730 (beta) on or before December 11, 2025. Stay tuned for general availability of this Certification in February 2026. Learn more about Microsoft Credentials. Related announcements We recently migrated our subject matter expert (SME) database to LinkedIn. To be notified of beta exam availability or opportunities to help with the development of exam, assessment, or learning content, sign up today for the Microsoft Worldwide Learning SME Group for Credentials.Certifications refresh: AI-focused and fundamentals updates
As the age of AI reshapes the business landscape, organizations are embedding AI into every layer of their operations. Professionals, students, entrepreneurs, and others are learning to not only implement business solutions but also to design and integrate AI-powered apps and experiences, orchestrate autonomous agents, and govern ethical AI systems. To support these skill-building needs for learners in all career stages, Microsoft Learn is refreshing our Certification and training offerings with a focus on AI, Microsoft 365, Copilot, and agents. We’re also retiring some Fundamentals Certifications. New AI-focused Certifications and training opportunities Our upcoming Certifications provide today’s innovators with opportunities to thrive in an agent-first, AI-powered tomorrow. Watch for more details on these Certifications in the coming months. A new Fundamentals Certification to validate foundational AI skills and equip learners to confidently navigate and manage core Microsoft 365 services—including Copilot and agents—while building their understanding of identity, security, and compliance essentials in Microsoft Entra and Microsoft Purview. An expert Certification to validate AI-first expertise, including advanced skills in generative AI, multi-agent orchestration, and agentic design by using Microsoft Copilot Studio, Azure AI services, and Dynamics 365. We’re also introducing a series of beginner-level training courses over the next few months designed to help learners in functional roles understand how Copilot, agents, and AI embedded in business systems like Dynamics 365 can streamline their day-to-day work. These AI-focused courses will be released for sales, service, finance, and supply chain roles. Retirement of select Fundamentals Certifications We’re retiring the following Certifications: December 31, 2025 The Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365 Fundamentals (CRM) Certification (Exam MB-910: Microsoft Dynamics 365 Fundamentals (CRM)). The Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365 Fundamentals (ERP) Certification (Exam MB-920: Microsoft Dynamics 365 Fundamentals (ERP)). March 31st, 2026 The Microsoft 365 Certified: Fundamentals Certification (Exam MS-900: Microsoft 365 Fundamentals). The following questions and answers can help you determine how these retirements could impact your learning journey: Q. What if I’m studying for Exam MS-900, Exam MB-910, or Exam MB-920? A. If you’re currently preparing for Exam MB-910, or Exam MB-920, we strongly recommend that you take the exam before December 31, 2025, or March 31 st , 2026 in case of Exam MS-900. You won’t be able to take these exams after this date. Q. I’ve already earned one of these Certifications. What happens now? A. If you’ve already earned the Microsoft 365 Certified: Fundamentals, Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365 Fundamentals (CRM), or Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365 Fundamentals (ERP) Certification, it will stay on the transcript in your profile on Microsoft Learn. (Note: Fundamentals Certifications don’t expire.) Q. How do these Certification retirements affect partners? A. Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365 Fundamentals (CRM) (Exam MB-910: Microsoft Dynamics 365 Fundamentals (CRM)), and Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365 Fundamentals (ERP) (Exam MB-920: Microsoft Dynamics 365 Fundamentals (ERP)) are not included in the requirements for the Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program's (MAICPP’s) designations and specializations. Stay future-ready AI is changing the game, and so can you. Stay tuned for upcoming announcements on these new Microsoft Certification offerings to help you do just that. In the meantime, be sure to browse all Microsoft Credentials.New Microsoft Certified: AI Transformation Leader Certification
Are you a leader who is ready to transform your business with AI? Do you choose the right AI tools, plan AI adoption, streamline processes, and innovate with Microsoft 365 Copilot and Azure AI services? Can you identify the value of generative AI, along with the benefits and capabilities of Microsoft’s AI apps and services? If this is your skill set, we have a new Microsoft Certification for you. The Microsoft Certified: AI Transformation Leader Certification validates your expertise in these skills. To earn this Certification, you need to pass Exam AB-731: AI Transformation Leader, currently in beta. The new Certification shows employers that you understand the principles of responsible AI and governance, so your teams can innovate safely and ethically. It demonstrates that you can evaluate AI tools, assess return on investment (ROI), and scale adoption responsibly across the enterprise. It also shows that you can envision new ideas with Copilot and use AI to reimagine processes and unlock growth. Is this the right Certification for you? This Certification is designed for business leaders who are interested in driving transformation and innovation. It emphasizes AI fluency, strategic vision, and leadership in AI projects, but it doesn’t require coding or deep technical expertise. As a candidate for this Certification, you should be able to evaluate AI opportunities, encourage responsible adoption, and ensure alignment of AI strategies with your organization’s goals. You should be familiar with Microsoft 365, Azure AI services, and general AI concepts. Ready to prove your skills? Take advantage of the discounted beta exam offer. The first 300 people who take Exam AB-731 (beta), on or before December 11, 2025, can get 80% off market price. To receive the discount, when you register for the exam and are prompted for payment, use code AB731Markers25. This is not a private access code. The seats are offered on a first-come, first-served basis. As noted, you must take the exam on or before December 11, 2025. Please note that this beta exam is not available in Turkey, Pakistan, India, or China. Get ready to take Exam AB-731 (beta): Review the Exam AB-731 (beta) exam page for details. The Exam AB-731 study guide explores key topics covered in the exam. Want even more in-depth, instructor-led training? Connect with Microsoft Training Services Partners in your area for in-person offerings. Instructor-led training for this exam will be available starting December 16th, 2025. Need other preparation ideas? Check out Just How Does One Prepare for Beta Exams? Did you know that you can take any Microsoft Certification exam online? Taking your exam from home or the office can be more convenient and less stressful than traveling to a test center—especially when you know what to expect. To find out more, read Online proctored exams: What to expect and how to prepare. The rescore process starts on the day an exam goes live, and final scores for beta exams are released approximately 10 days after that. For details on the timing of beta exam rescoring and results, check out Creating high-quality exams: The path from beta to live. Ready to get started? Remember, the number of spots is limited to the first 300 candidates taking Exam AB-731 (beta) on or before December 11, 2025. Stay tuned for general availability of this Certification in February 2026. Learn more about Microsoft Credentials. Related announcements We recently migrated our subject matter expert (SME) database to LinkedIn. To be notified of beta exam availability or opportunities to help with the development of exam, assessment, or learning content, sign up today for the Microsoft Worldwide Learning SME Group for Credentials.New Certification for architects of agentic AI business solutions
Note: All beta seats with the 80% discount code have been claimed. You can still take the exam during the beta period by using any other discount codes you have or by paying the full price. We’re looking for architects of agentic AI business solutions to take our new beta exam. Do you have experience envisioning and implementing AI-driven architecture strategies, integrating agents into business solutions, and guiding organizations toward AI adoption? Are you skilled at designing, prototyping, and securing scalable AI solutions, analyzing technical requirements, and leading the end-to-end delivery of AI-centric solutions that align with business goals? If you excel at championing AI technologies, developing cohesive design application lifecycle management (ALM) and environment strategies, and driving enterprise transformation with agentic-first approaches, be sure to check out this exam. The new Microsoft Certified: Agentic AI Business Solutions Architect Certification validates your expertise in the skills listed in the previous paragraph and offers you the opportunity to prove your abilities. To earn this Certification, you need to have at least one active Associate-level Certification from the list of 11 AI business solutions Certifications and you must pass Exam AB-100: Agentic AI Business Solutions Architect, currently in beta. Is this the right Certification for you? This Certification could be a great fit if you’re an experienced solutions architect who specializes in designing and delivering AI-driven business solutions that transform organizations and foster innovation. You should be highly skilled in architecting agentic-first and multi-agent orchestrated solutions by using generative AI and Microsoft services, including Dynamics 365, Microsoft Power Platform, Microsoft Copilot Studio, Azure AI services, and Azure OpenAI. You should also be proficient in working with agents, prompts, and multiple language models, and you can adopt architectural frameworks to deliver measurable outcomes aligned with enterprise success metrics. Plus, you’re comfortable with open standards to help ensure interoperability and extensibility. Ready to prove your skills? Take advantage of the discounted beta exam offer. The first 300 people who take Exam AB-100 (beta) on or before November 18, 2025, can get 80% off market price. To receive the discount, when you register for the exam and are prompted for payment, use code AB100KBsunshine. This is not a private access code. The seats are offered on a first-come, first-served basis. As noted, you must take the exam on or before November 18, 2025. Please note that this beta exam is not available in Turkey, Pakistan, India, or China. Get ready to take Exam AB-100 (beta): Review the Exam AB-100 (beta) exam page for details. The Exam AB-100 study guide explores key topics covered on the exam. Want even more in-depth training? We’re creating new instructor-led training for this exam, Course AB-100: Architecting agentic AI business solutions, scheduled for release in January 2026. In the meantime, you can connect with Microsoft Training Services Partners in your area for other in-person offerings. Need other preparation ideas? Check out my blog post, Just How Does One Prepare for Beta Exams? Did you know that you can take any role-based exam online? Online delivered exams—taken from your home or office—can be less hassle, less stress, and even less worry than traveling to a test center, especially if you’re adequately prepared for what to expect. To find out more, read my blog post, Online proctored exams: What to expect and how to prepare. The rescore process starts on the day an exam goes live, and final scores for beta exams are released approximately 10 days after that. For details on the timing of beta exam rescoring and results, check out my post, Creating high-quality exams: The path from beta to live. Ready to get started? Remember, the number of spots is limited to the first 300 candidates taking Exam AB-100 (beta) on or before November 18, 2025. Stay tuned for general availability of this Certification by early January 2026. Learn more about Microsoft Credentials. Related announcements We recently migrated our subject matter expert (SME) database to LinkedIn. To be notified of beta exam availability or opportunities to help with the development of exam, assessment, or learning content, sign up today for the Microsoft Worldwide Learning SME Group for Credentials.New: Microsoft 365 Certified: Copilot and Agent Administration Fundamentals
Are you familiar with Microsoft 365, including its core services, security, identity and access, data protection, and governance, along with Microsoft 365 Copilot and agents? Are you able to perform basic administrative tasks for Copilot and agents? If this is your skill set, we have a new Microsoft Certification for you. The Microsoft 365 Certified: Copilot and Agent Administration Fundamentals Certification validates that you understand what's required to support and protect an AI-enabled Microsoft 365 environment. To earn this Certification, you need to pass Exam AB-900: Microsoft 365 Copilot and Agent Administration Fundamentals, currently in beta. The new Certification shows employers that you understand how to configure, secure, and govern Copilot and agents across Microsoft 365 to help keep your organization productive and compliant, that you know the fundamentals of identity, security, and compliance so you can support AI adoption, and that you not only know how to use AI but also how to enable and manage AI in the workplace. Is this the right Certification for you? As a candidate for this Certification, you should be familiar with the admin centers used to access Microsoft 365 workloads, such as Exchange Online, SharePoint in Microsoft 365, Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Entra, and Microsoft Purview. You need to have experience with AI-powered productivity tools and modern IT management strategies. You should also be able to identify the roles of the core features and objects available in Microsoft 365, such as users, groups, teams, sites, and libraries. And you must understand the core security features of Microsoft 365, such as authentication methods, conditional access policies, and single sign-on (SSO). Additionally, you need to be familiar with how to manage Copilot, including licensing and access control, billing and usage monitoring, prompt governance, and strategies for tracking and driving user adoption. You should also be familiar with configuring user access and permissions for agents; creating, editing, testing, and publishing agents; and managing agent approval and governance. Ready to prove your skills? Take advantage of the discounted beta exam offer. The first 300 people who take Exam AB-900 (beta), on or before January 3, 2026, can get 80% off market price. To receive the discount, when you register for the exam and are prompted for payment, use code AB900Goals26. This is not a private access code. The seats are offered on a first-come, first-served basis. As noted, you must take the exam on or before January 3, 2026. Please note that this beta exam is not available in Turkey, Pakistan, India, or China. Get ready to take Exam AB-900 (beta): Review the Exam AB-900 (beta) exam page for details. The Exam AB-900 study guide explores key topics covered in the exam. Want even more in-depth, instructor-led training? Connect with Microsoft Training Services Partners in your area for in-person offerings. Need other preparation ideas? Check out Just How Does One Prepare for Beta Exams? Did you know that you can take any Microsoft Certification exam online? Taking your exam from home or the office can be more convenient and less stressful than traveling to a test center—especially when you know what to expect. To find out more, read Online proctored exams: What to expect and how to prepare. The rescore process starts on the day an exam goes live, and final scores for beta exams are released approximately 10 days after that. For details on the timing of beta exam rescoring and results, check out Creating high-quality exams: The path from beta to live. Ready to get started? Remember, the number of spots is limited to the first 300 candidates taking Exam AB-900 (beta) on or before January 3, 2026. Stay tuned for general availability of this Certification in February 2026. Learn more about Microsoft Credentials. Related announcements We recently migrated our subject matter expert (SME) database to LinkedIn. To be notified of beta exam availability or opportunities to help with the development of exam, assessment, or learning content, sign up today for the Microsoft Worldwide Learning SME Group for Credentials.Microsoft Credentials roundup: In-demand news for in-demand skills May 2025 edition
Welcome to the May 2025 edition of our Microsoft Credentials roundup, where we highlight the latest Microsoft Credentials portfolio news and updates to inspire and support your training and credential journey. In this article What’s new with Microsoft Applied Skills? Exciting updates to the Applied Skills user interface Explore Applied Skills portfolio updates What’s new with Microsoft Certifications? Retiring Certifications Get the chance to win a free Certification exam voucher Have you taken a Microsoft Fundamentals Certification exam? Share your feedback! What’s new with Microsoft Applied Skills? Microsoft Applied Skills are credentials that you can earn by completing practical, interactive assessments which demonstrate real-world proficiency in specific tasks. Exciting updates to the Applied Skills user interface Based on your feedback, we’ve made some key updates to improve the lab experience, including: Full-screen lab view. Maximize the lab environment as a full-screen workspace so you have more space to work. Dark mode. Switch to dark mode to match your visual preferences. Improved time display. Check out your lab progress, with the remaining time more prominently displayed. Explore Applied Skills portfolio updates We keep Applied Skills aligned with the latest product updates and trends. Our commitment to helping you build relevant, in-demand skills means that we periodically update or retire older assessments as we introduce new ones. Assessments now available We’re pleased to announce that the scheduled maintenance for the following assessments has been successfully completed with refreshed labs: Build a natural language processing solution with Azure AI Language Configure secure access to your workloads using Azure networking Create an intelligent document processing solution with Azure AI Document Intelligence Deploy and configure Azure Monitor Develop an ASP.NET Core web app that consumes an API Implement security through a pipeline using Azure DevOps Secure Azure services and workloads with Microsoft Defender for Cloud regulatory compliance controls Secure storage for Azure Files and Azure Blob Storage We’ve scheduled more assessments for maintenance, and they’ll be available for you in the coming months. Browse Applied Skills. Retiring Applied Skills On April 30, 2025, we retired the following Applied Skills: Build distributed apps with .NET Aspire Configure SIEM security operations using Microsoft Sentinel Train and manage a machine learning model with Azure Machine Learning And on May 15, 2025, we’re retiring the following Applied Skill: Deploy and administer Linux virtual machines on Microsoft Azure Watch for new credentials in these areas. To continue building your skills, explore other Applied Skills. What’s new with Microsoft Certifications? Retiring Certifications As a reminder, the following Certifications are now retired or are being retired soon. To plan your learning journey, get more details at these links: Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Engineer Associate Certification (Exam DP-203) was retired on March 31, 2025. Get more information, including a Q&A, in Prove your in-demand data engineering skills and champion AI innovation. Microsoft Certified: Information Protection and Compliance Administrator Associate Certification (Exam SC-400) will be retired on May 31, 2025. Get more information, including a Q&A, in Validate critical information security skills with our new Certification. Track updates to our Certifications portfolio on our Certifications poster. Get the chance to win a free Certification exam voucher Join us for Microsoft AI Skills Fest, a 50-day AI skill-building adventure, which runs through May 28, 2025! Technical professionals can win one of 50,000 free Certification exams as part of the Microsoft AI Skills Fest Challenge by entering the Microsoft AI Skills Fest Challenge Sweepstakes. Be sure to join an AI Skills Fest Challenge! For all the details, check out the Microsoft AI Skills Fest Challenge and sweepstakes official rules. Have you taken a Microsoft Fundamentals Certification exam? Share your feedback! Whether you passed the exam or didn't quite make it, we want to hear from you. Your insights are incredibly valuable and can help shape the future of Microsoft credentialing experiences. 🕒 Just five minutes of your time!🕒 📅 Deadline: May 9, 2025📅 Share your feedback on the Microsoft Fundamentals Certification exam experience. Previous editions of the Microsoft Credentials roundup October 2024 June 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024Get help preparing for your Microsoft Certification exam with Course videos
According to the LinkedIn Learning Workplace Learning Report 2024, “Tomorrow’s success requires skills agility—harnessing the right skills at the right time for the right work.” And if you’re aiming to earn a Microsoft Certification, you’re building and validating just that—your skills agility. Earning a Microsoft Certification not only helps you stay current with the latest technology but can also equip you with the skills and best practices to effectively tackle real-world challenges in your chosen role. Certifications align to the job roles that organizations rely on most, enabling them to identify talent like yours and helping them to remain competitive. These Certifications can serve as a powerful testament to your dedication and proficiency and can help open doors to begin or advance your rewarding career in technology. How can you prepare to pass a Microsoft Certification exam? Start with Microsoft Learn for Organizations, where you can find Microsoft Learn training opportunities and resources curated for team members who want to skill up to earn Microsoft Credentials—including Microsoft Certifications. From skill-building playbooks and kits to thought leadership articles, Official Plans on Microsoft Learn, e-books, learning hubs, and more, Microsoft Learn for Organizations provides what you and your colleagues need to train and build your skills to earn a Certification. As you prepare for a Certification exam, you can especially benefit from Course Videos on Microsoft Learn. What do Course Videos offer? Although they don’t replace the need for training, the free, on-demand videos in this growing library can help elevate your learning as you deepen and reinforce your knowledge, regardless of your experience level, before you take a Certification exam. Recently refreshed with a new look and easier navigation, this collection of video sessions thoroughly covers Microsoft Official Course content. Microsoft Certified Trainers provide expert guidance and insights, offer in-depth explanations, and establish key concepts. Each video maps to specific modules, in manageable segments (typically ranging from 15 to 60 minutes), so you can absorb the information at your own pace, when it fits into your schedule. Which technology and roles do Course Videos cover? If you’re new to Microsoft technology, choose from beginner-friendly videos that cover exam content and offer the foundational knowledge you need to get up to speed. Explore the basics, and build fundamental skills on Azure, data and AI, Dynamics 365, Microsoft 365, Microsoft Power Platform, and Microsoft Security. After you've watched the videos, reinforced your skills, and become familiar with the technology, you can take the associated fundamentals exam. When you pass the exam, you earn a Fundamentals Certification that never expires. Then dive into more advanced content to deepen your expertise and take your skills to the next level. You can even find Course Videos by product and role. Select your role to discover a series of relevant videos, including: Azure infrastructure. Learn how to build and manage applications in the cloud, on-premises, and at the edge, whether as an Azure administrator, network engineer, or solutions architect. Azure data and AI. Find out how to build large-scale analytics solutions or manage your organization’s data and AI as an AI engineer, data analyst, database administrator, data engineer, data scientist, or developer. Azure digital apps and innovation. Discover how to migrate your organization’s applications to the cloud, build cloud-native applications that use cutting-edge technologies, such as AI and IoT, gain insights from data analytics, and quickly develop and deploy new applications as an AI engineer, developer, or DevOps engineer. Microsoft 365 Copilot. Find out how Copilot can help you efficiently draft documents, analyze data, manage communications, and automate routine tasks as an administrator, business user, or user enablement specialist. Microsoft Security. Learn how to plan and implement modern cybersecurity strategies, architecture, processes, and technology as a cybersecurity architect, identity and access administrator, or security engineer. What else does Microsoft Learn offer? In addition to the Certification exam prep, flexibility, and expert guidance offered by the video sessions, Microsoft Learn points you to supplementary opportunities and resources to support and reinforce your learning. These include popular learning hubs, training, community, and more—all aimed at helping you to deepen your knowledge and build confidence in your skills as you prepare to earn a Certification. You can even take Practice Assessments on Microsoft Learn to help gauge your exam readiness and identify further areas of study. Find more exam prep resources in the Exam Readiness Zone, where experts share tips, tricks, and strategies for your Certification exams. In each episode, trainers help you identify the key knowledge and skills measured on a given exam, explain how to allocate your study time, and point out objectives that test takers might find difficult. Explore the updated Course videos resources This collection of expert-led video content and supporting materials can help you solidify your knowledge and build your skills agility. Discover them at your own pace, and make the most of these curated resources as you gear up to take and pass an exam to earn a Microsoft Certification. Be sure to check out Course Videos on Microsoft Learn. After you’ve worked through the resources in this post and are prepared to take an exam, find specific exam and Certification information, including exam scheduling, on Microsoft Certifications. When you’ve passed the exam and earned your Certification, be sure to stay current on the latest technology and keep your Certification up to date by renewing within six months of the Certification expiration date.Q1 Recap: What’s new in Microsoft Security skilling
As we wrap up an exciting first quarter, we’re thrilled to share some of the latest updates, resources, and learning opportunities in the world of Microsoft Security. Whether you’re a developer, IT admin, or security professional, there is something here for everyone looking to level up their skills and stay ahead in our ever-evolving landscape. Microsoft Sentinel data lake is now live! Sentinel data lake is a centralized repository that allows you to store all your structured and unstructured data at any scale. This means better risk detection, faster investigations, and more powerful analytics for your security operations. To learn how to incorporate data lake into your security operations, visit our new collection of Sentinel data lake resources. Major updates to Microsoft learning paths and modules We’ve rolled out several new and updated modules to help you build expertise in the latest security technologies: Secure AI Interactions and Environments with Microsoft Purview Overview: Learn how to secure developer environments by discovering AI apps, assessing data access, and applying protection. Key skills: Detect generative AI usage, assign user risk levels, and enforce policies dynamically based on behavior and data sensitivity. Who should take it Developers and security pros working with AI in enterprise settings. Global Secure Access Overview: Global secure access provides secure, identity-based access to resources like SharePoint, Exchange, and OneDrive. Key skills: Learn how GSA verifies identity and device before granting access, and how to onboard and use GSA for secure resource access. Who should take it? IT admins and users transitioning to global secure access Plan, Implement, and Administer Conditional Access Overview: Optimize conditional access policies and leverage Microsoft Security Copilot for advanced simulations in Microsoft Entra. Key Skills: Set up and simulate conditional access scenarios, automate and enhance security operations. Who Should Take It: Security engineers and admins managing identity and access. Automate Identity Lifecycle Using Lifecycle Workflows in Microsoft Entra Overview: Configure and deploy lifecycle workflows for onboarding, role changes, and offboarding. Key skills: Customize workflows, monitor, and troubleshoot. Who should take It? Identity and access administrators. New Applied Skill: Microsoft Entra We’re excited to announce a new applied skill: Get started with identities and access using Microsoft Entra. This new Microsoft Applied Skill credential is designed for identity and access professionals who want to prove their hands-on abilities with Microsoft Entra. It’s not just about theory—this is your chance to demonstrate real-world skills that matter in today’s security landscape. What’s covered? You’ll be assessed on practical tasks like: Creating, configuring, and managing identities Assigning roles and licenses Managing groups and memberships Implementing password protection and self-service password reset (SSPR) Enabling and managing multifactor authentication (MFA) Managing application access and permissions Enhancing security with identity protection and governance features Why pursue this? Identity is at the core of Zero Trust. By earning this credential, you show you can confidently manage user access, protect sensitive data, and respond to evolving threats. The learning path is concise—typically under four hours—and includes hands-on labs and scenario-based exercises to ensure you’re ready for real-world challenges. Who should pursue it? Anyone responsible for identity and access management, from IT admins to security engineers, will benefit. It’s also a great way to prepare for more advanced certifications or to upskill quickly for new projects. How to get started? Complete the “Perform basic identity and access tasks” learning path, then take the assessment lab to earn your credential and showcase your expertise to your team and the broader community. New Microsoft Virtual Training Day: Strengthen Cloud Security with Microsoft Defender for Cloud This hands-on, instructor-led event is designed to help security professionals, cloud admins, and IT teams master the essentials of protecting cloud workloads with Microsoft Defender for Cloud. What’s included? Configuring Defender for Cloud: Enable enhanced security features for servers, set up virtual networks, and deploy monitoring agents. Centralized Monitoring: Create and configure Log Analytics workspaces to centralize compliance and security data. Just-in-Time VM Access: Implement just-in-time to reduce exposure to remote access attacks. Cloud security posture management: Explore dashboards for security posture, regulatory compliance, workload protections, and inventory. Hands-on Labs: Each module includes guided walkthroughs and labs, so you can practice what you learn in a real Azure environment. Governance and Automation: Assign governance rules, automate threat detection, and use Secure Score to track and improve your security posture. Who should attend? This virtual training day is perfect for Security Engineers, Cloud Administrators, Security Operations Teams, and anyone responsible for securing Azure resources and ensuring regulatory compliance. The content is accessible for those with a basic understanding of Azure services and security principles, but it’s also deep enough for seasoned professionals to gain new insights. What’s the experience like? Expect a mix of instructor presentations, live demos, and hands-on labs. You’ll get access to a sandbox environment to try out everything from enabling Defender for Cloud to running advanced security analytics. 🤖 New Security for AI Skilling Paper We’re also promoting our new paper on security for AI skilling, which explores best practices and strategies for securing AI environments. Please read this paper to prepare for the AI era. 🛡️ Security Hub Reminder And finally, don’t forget to visit the Security Hub for the latest resources, updates, and community discussions.New Certification on GitHub administration
We’re looking for people who have experience with GitHub administration to take our new beta exam. Do you have subject matter expertise in supporting GitHub Enterprise for users and key stakeholders, managing user identities and GitHub authentication, and describing how GitHub is deployed, distributed, and licensed? Are you responsible for managing access and permissions, enabling secure software development, helping to ensure compliance, and managing GitHub Actions? If this is your skill set, we have a new Certification for you. The GitHub Administration Certification validates your expertise in these areas and offers you the opportunity to prove your skills. To earn this Certification, pass Exam GH-100: GitHub Administration, currently in beta. Is this the right Certification for you? This Certification could be a great fit if you’re a system administrator, software developer, application administrator, or IT professional with intermediate-level experience in GitHub Enterprise administration. It highlights your expertise in repository management, workflow optimization, and efficient collaboration to support successful projects on GitHub, along with your ability to optimize and manage a healthy GitHub environment. Why earn a GitHub Certification? GitHub Certifications offer professionals, teams, and organizations a globally recognized way to validate GitHub expertise and to stand out in a rapidly shifting digital landscape. These credentials are a signal of deep technical proficiency, real-world readiness, and alignment with in-demand job roles across the tech ecosystem. Whether you're an individual looking to boost your career or an enterprise enabling team growth, GitHub Certifications allow you to verify critical skills across the GitHub platform—from foundational collaboration workflows to advanced DevOps practices. Where can you find GitHub exams and credentials? GitHub Learn and Microsoft Learn are working together to enhance your GitHub learning experience. Our GitHub exams are now available on Pearson VUE via Microsoft Learn, bringing a more unified and accessible experience to learners worldwide. If you already use Microsoft Learn, you can more easily discover and engage with GitHub topics. From exploring Certifications to registering, scheduling, and taking exams, everything is now streamlined through a single ecosystem. Plus, in August 2025, you’ll be able to push your GitHub credentials to your Microsoft Learn profile so you can find all of your credential records in one place. Ready to prove your skills? Take advantage of the discounted beta exam offer. The first 300 people who take Exam GH-100 (beta) on or before July 20, 2025, can get 80% off market price. To receive the discount, when you register for the exam and are prompted for payment, use code GH100Hoyt. This is not a private access code. The seats are offered on a first-come, first-served basis. As noted, you must take the exam on or before July 20, 2025. Please note that this beta exam is not available in Turkey, Pakistan, India, or China. Get ready to take Exam GH-100 (beta): Review the GitHub Administration Certification page for details. The Exam GH-100 study guide alerts you to key topics covered on the exam. Want even more in-depth training? Connect with our training partners, who are also trusted GitHub partners, offering best-in-class exam preparation to help you reach your full potential. Need other preparation ideas? Check out my blog post, Just How Does One Prepare for Beta Exams? Did you know that you can take any role-based exam online? Online delivered exams—taken from your home or office—can be less hassle, less stress, and even less worry than traveling to a test center, especially if you’re adequately prepared for what to expect. To find out more, read my post, Online proctored exams: What to expect and how to prepare. The rescore process starts on the day an exam goes live, and final scores for beta exams are released approximately 10 days after that. For details on the timing of beta exam rescoring and results, check out my post, Creating high-quality exams: The path from beta to live. Ready to get started? Remember, the number of spots is limited to the first 300 candidates taking Exam GH-100 (beta) on or before July 20, 2025. Related announcements Explore GitHub Learn, our new hub, offering the latest GitHub training resources and curated content for developers and organizations.
