(Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate)-MCSA

MCSA (Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate) is a certification program intended for people who seek entry-level jobs in an IT (information technology) environment. MCSA is a prerequisite for more advanced Microsoft certifications. Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate or MCSA is a beginner level credential from Microsoft that establishes an individual’s expertise and validates knowledge on Microsoft technologies. MCSA is also a pre-requisite to attaining higher certifications in order to achieve better proficiency in a subject. It is the first of the MCP (Microsoft Certified Professional) certifications, and quite necessary in the corporate world to demonstrate technical knowledge of a Microsoft product or service

Types of MCSA certifications

Microsoft certification programs have historically evolved to reflect changes in technology. Hence MCSA certifications tied to older Microsoft products, such as Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008, have been retired. The MCSA certifications that Microsoft is currently offering include the following:

MCSA: BI Reporting

MCSA: Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Operations

MCSA: SQL 2016 BI Development

MCSA: SQL 2016 Database Administration

MCSA: SQL 2016 Database Development

MCSA: SQL Server 2012/2014

MCSA: Universal Windows Platform

MCSA: Web Applications

MCSA: Windows Server 2012

MCSA: Windows Server 2016

MCSA: Windows Server 2017

MCSA: Windows Server 2018 to 22

MCSA certification training

There are two basic options for preparing for MCSA certification exams. The first option is self-study. A wide variety of resources exist for those who choose the self-study approach. For instance, there are books, video courseware and independent resources, such as YouTube videos. There are also vendors who offer practice exams.

The other option is instructor-led training. Microsoft-authorized training centers offer live and online courses for most of the MCSA exams. These are Microsoft-authorized courses that align directly with the exam material.

Microsoft certification roles

Microsoft has cantered its new certification scheme around Azure, grouping its certs into nine roles: administrator, developer, solutions architect, devops engineer, security engineer, data engineer, data scientist, AI engineer, and functional consultant. Most are self-explanatory, with functional consultant covering Dynamics 365 and the Power Platform.

Each certification role offers options at the Fundamentals, Associate, and Expert levels. Some also offer Specialties such as Azure IoT Developer, Azure for SAP Workloads, and the new Azure Virtual Desktop Specialty. Several top-level roles group together multiple paths, as noted below:

ROLE     ROLE PATHS

Administrator     Microsoft 365 Messaging; Microsoft 365 Modern Desktop; Microsoft 365 Security; Microsoft 365 Teamwork; Teams; Identity and Access; Information Protection; Enterprise; Azure Stack Hub

AI engineer         Azure

Data engineer    Azure

Data scientist     Azure

Developer           Azure; Dynamics 365; Microsoft 365; Power Platform

DevOps engineer              Azure

Functional consultant     Dynamics 365 Business Central; Dynamics 365 Customer Service; Dynamics 365 Field Service; Dynamics 365 Financial; Dynamics 365 Manufacturing; Dynamics 365 Marketing; Dynamics 365 Sales; Dynamics 365 Supply Chain; Power Platform

Security engineer             Azure; Identity and Access; Information Protection; Security Operations Analyst

Solution architect            Azure; Dynamics 365; Dynamics 365 plus Power Platform; Power Platform

Several new certifications have been added recently, as Microsoft works through the job task analysis for those roles. There’s a new Microsoft Teams Support Engineer Associate certification for support engineers that’s still in beta, and the exam for the Azure Network Engineer Associate will be available soon.

You can get a feel for the breadth of roles Microsoft is trying to cover with certifications by looking at the 20-plus roles you can use to filter the list of qualifications. These include app maker, business analyst, business owner, business user, data analyst, database administrator, network engineer, risk practitioner, student, and technology manager, in addition to the nine roles specified as paths above.

List of Top 10 Highest Paying Microsoft Certifications in 2021-2022

AZ-104: Microsoft Azure Administrator

AZ-900: Microsoft Azure Fundamentals

DA-100: Analysing Data with Microsoft Power BI

AZ-303: Microsoft Azure Architect Technologies

AZ-500: Microsoft Azure Security Technologies

AZ-204: Developing Solutions for Microsoft Azure

AZ-400: Microsoft Azure DevOps Engineer

AZ-304: Microsoft Azure Architect Design

DP-200: Implementing an Azure Data Solution

DP-201: Designing an Azure Data Solution

Will MCSA expire?

MCSA doesn’t expire. MCSE expires in 3 years. But technically is only valid for the lifetime of the technology the certification is for.

This is really important for an IT graduate to keep up with the latest developments and advances in the technology to explore enough opportunities for excelling at the highest level. There are different certifications that can add the desired value to your career and profile. It obtains hard to select the better one for your work profile. Companies are looking for industry experts for filling the critical IT roles. Apart from the job experience, they are searching for well-known certifications which include MCSA vs CCNA

MCSA Course

Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA) certification is designed for IT professionals looking to increase their knowledge of Microsoft systems, servers and data warehousing techniques., the MCSA Certification forms the basis of expert-level implementation, administration, configuration of Microsoft products.

MCSA Benefits

1. DNS Training

This training teaches you to manage DNS zones, conduct DNS zone transfers and troubleshoot DNS issues.

2. Active Directory Knowledge

Active directory is a basis of Microsoft systems. Absorb how to implement deploy database solutions, virtualized domain controllers, administer active directory services, and manage credentials

3. Privacy and Policy Skills

Obtain training in policy of password and configuring managed service accounts, user lockout settings, and also having knowledge about the the role of Group Policy across Microsoft servers.

4. Remote Access and Security Solutions

Advance knowledge of remote access roles and policies along with the skills which are used to manage and set up the proxy services and VPN connections.

Once you have completed MCSA Training, then you will have to complete three exams which include 70-410, 70-411 and 70-412 and the score required is 700

Which is better MCSA or CCNA?

MCSA provides you both scopes and opportunities. But the CCNA certification provides you more credibility and awareness if you are thinking to pursue a career in networking and security and moreover you have to pass examinations to earn these certifications.

What is the highest Microsoft certification?

Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE)

The Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE) is the highest certification awarded by Microsoft and is intended for IT professionals aiming to validate multifaceted technical abilities. On par with the MCSE in terms of rank is the MCSD, or Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer.

The Scope in MCSA

MCSA certifications open new career paths for the learners and equip them to work with the server and Windows-related products. The IT professionals can choose the certification as per their area of expertise. All the certifications teach the professionals related skills. Once completed, the learner can work in his/her chosen IT field.

MCSA certifications are the most sought-after certifications in the IT field and are really helpful when it comes to appraisals and incentives. The training and experience give the certificate holder a recognition of their work profile.

MCSA Eligibility

MCSA course is designed for IT and networking professionals. There are no eligibility criteria for doing this course. The course is best for those who are looking for entry-level jobs in the IT field

MCSA Syllabus

It depends on the certification. If one is doing MCSA: Universal Windows Platform certification, the syllabus includes HTML5, SQLite, CSS3, JavaScript, and ASP.NET MVC. For MCSA: Web applications, the syllabus comprises visual studio, .NET, Framework 4.5, mobile apps, and C#.

REAL-TIME MCSA Interview Questions & Answers

MCSA job interviews are always brainstorming and significant for the applicants. Having being unbeaten in the MCSA interview questions denotes that the candidate has found the carrier to their dream career. Job interviews are always stressful. Therefore, to minimize the tension and nervousness caused before the interviews; the MCSA specialists, MCSA experts, and MCSA trainers of APTRON who have put their quality skill and considering while developing the MCSA interview questions and answers for freshers, and experience hopefuls. If MCSA job seekers pursue the MCSA interview questions provided below, their pressure can be minimized to zilch.

1: What is MCSA?

Answer: MCSA stands for Microsoft Certified Solution Associate. Microsoft has developed this program to enhance your skills in different advanced technology fields.

2: Explain what is Windows Server?

Answer: Windows server is a series of Server Operating System developed by Microsoft Corporation.

3:  What is an Active Directory?

Answer: Windows server is a series of Server Operating System developed by Microsoft Corporation. Active Directory is a directory service launched and developed by Microsoft that stored various information related to objects in a particular network. It is also present in many of the server operating systems as a set of services and processes. Business organizations depend on Active Directory to maintain servers, users and computers in a particular order.

4: What do you understand by Domain Controller?

Answer: Domain controller is one of the most crucial servers designed by Microsoft. This is a computer server that is responsible for responding to security authentication requests within a Windows domain. It is also defined as a centerpiece of the Windows Active Directory service. There are three roles in domain controllers, and they are:

Domain Controller

Operation Server

Global Catalogue Server

5: What is a tree in MCSA?

Answer: A Windows tree is a usually a set of one or more trusted Windows domains with adjoining DNS domains. In this case, “Trusted” connotes the idea that a validated account from one domain is not eliminated by another domain. “Contiguous DNS domains” is simply that they all have the similar root DNS name.

6: What is Schema in MCSA?

Answer: Objects, rules, attributes, and classes in the Active Directory are described as the Schema in MCSA.

7: What is DNS?

Answer: Name resolution services are known as Domain Name Service (DNS).

8: What is OU?

Answer: OU is the Organizational Unit’s abbreviation. It is the subpart of Microsoft’s Active Directory.

9: Explain what is LDAP?

Answer: Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) is an internet protocol to look up for information on a Server, e-mail or any other program.

10: Explain NTFS or FAT on a local server.

Answer: For local users FAT (File Allocation Table) and FAT32 provides security, while NTFS ( New Technology File System) provides security for domain users as well as local users. NTFS provides file level security which is not possible through FAT32.

11: What Is An Rd Gateway?

The RD Gateway is a remote-desktop gateway that allows the users from a private network to join the Internet using the remote-desktop connection.

12: How many types of queries DNS does?

Answer: There are two types of DNS queries:

1. Iterative Query

2. Recursive Query.

13: Brief Application Partitioning in your own words.

Answer: Application partitioning is the process of creating applications that distribute the application logic among two or more computers in a network. In the simplest case, the application can run on a single PC, as a remote service, and send task requests for execution to a server.

14: Explain emulation drivers

Answer: The emulation drivers are mainly devices that imitate another program. In simple terms, emulation drivers are a trick to fool the device that it is some other sort of a device.

15: What does Forest do?

Answer: A Windows Forest is, in general, a set of one or more reliable Windows trees. The trees do not necessarily require an adjacent Domain Name System (DNS) name. A forest allocates a work plan and global catalogue servers. A lone tree can also be named a forest.

16: Explain Knowledge Consistency Checker (KCC).

Answer: The Knowledge Consistency Checker (KCC) is a Windows element that instinctively creates and manages the intra-site and inter-site copying topology.

17: What Is Passing Through Discs?

Answer: A pass-through disc is a physical disc used for storing virtual discs and it has a disc format and file system.

18: What Is Application Partition?

Answer: Application partitions are directory partitions that are replicated to domain controllers. These are part of the Active Directory system. Domain controllers included in the process of directory partitions have a replica of that partition. The values and attributes of application partitions can lessen replication traffic. The application partitions can focus only on one domain in the domain area unlike the domain directory partitions. This makes them more available and redundant.

19: Explain what is the major difference between NTFS (New Technology File System) or FAT (File Allocation Table) on a local server?

Answer: For local users FAT (File Allocation Table) and FAT32 provides security, while NTFS (New Technology File System) provides security for domain users as well as local users. NTFS provides file level security which is not possible through FAT32.

20: Explain if it is possible to connect Active Directory to other 3rd party Directory services?

Answer: Yes, you can connect other vendors directory services with Microsoft version. By using dirXML or LDAP to connect to other directories.

21: Explain what is SYSVOL folder?

It is a set of files and folders that is stored on the local hard disk of each domain controller in a domain and are replicated by the FRS (File Replication Service). These files contain group or user policy information.

22: What does it mean by “tattooing” the Registry?

Answer: “Tattooing” the registry means user can modify and view user preference that are not stored in the maintained portions of the Registry.  Even if the group policy is changed or removed, the user preference will still persist in the registry.

23: Define Forests, Trees, and Domains.

Answer: A logical group of network objects for example computers, users, devices, etc. which share the same active directory database is known as a domain.

The collection of one or more domains is known as a tree. This may also include a contiguous namespace linked in a transitive trust hierarchy

24 What is Global Catalogue Server?

Answer: Domain Controller has distributed data storage that is popularly known as the Global Catalogue Server. You can find objects in Active Directory with the help of it.

25 What is the definition of the Site?

Answer: Site is the umbrella association of subnet that sometimes also has custom planned sets applied to them.