Need for a Microsoft Security Certification for End-users
Hello Learning Community! I'm a Security Skilling Portfolio manager at Microsoft and looking for community feedback on an idea for a new certification. What if Microsoft offered a certification specifically for an organization's business users/end-users on cybersecurity best practices and how to be a security first/responsible business user. The cert could cover Cybersecurity basics, data security best practices, keeping your devices and data safe from malware, protect your info from phishing scams, defending against ransomware, and more. This certification would not be as exhaustive as our technical certifications, uniquely targeting the business/end-user audience. Would you or your organization benefit from this type of certification? All feedback welcome, thanks!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.Want to Assist with Exam, Assessment, or Learning Development?
We recently migrated our SME database to LinkedIn. Even if you were a member of our previous database, you need to sign up. If you want to be notified of beta exams and/or have an interest in exam, assessment, or learning development, join our SME database: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13561088/.
