The MD‑102 certification verifies that you can deploy, configure, protect, manage, and monitor devices and client applications across Microsoft 365 environments using the latest tools and platforms. It is fundamentally about enabling secure, consistent, and scalable device management across modern hybrid environments. The exam structure reflects real-world roles rather than textbook scenarios, so preparation involves both conceptual understanding and hands‑on fluency.
The Candidate’s Responsibility Landscape
As an endpoint administrator, your responsibilities span identity, policies, updates, apps, and compliance across Windows, Apple, and Android endpoints. Key technologies include Microsoft Intune, Windows Autopilot, Windows 365, Azure AD, and Defender for Endpoint. The exam assesses your ability to:
- Deploy Windows clients using Autopilot or traditional imaging tools
- Register and manage device identities in Azure AD
- Configure compliance and conditional access policies
- Monitor endpoint health and security posture at scale
- Protect resources using Microsoft Defender and audit alerts
- Manage app lifecycle and policies across varying endpoint families
This combination of responsibilities mirrors enterprise workflows where administrators must align technical deployments with governance, security, and usability.
Deployment Strategies: Comparing Autopilot, MDT, and Imaging
One critical flexibility tested on the exam is choosing the right deployment method for Windows clients. Autopilot simplifies cloud-first scenarios through device registration, profile assignment, and zero-touch provisioning. Key steps include ESP configuration, profile assignment, and user-driven deployment.
In contrast, the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit approach offers deeper customization and control on-premises: building and optimizing images, configuring MDT infrastructure, and transferring user data with User State Migration Tool. Success hinges on selecting the right method based on customer needs—whether cloud readiness, hardware availability, or migration complexity.
Decision-making questions focus less on features and more on rationale: Why choose Autopilot for a remote workforce? How do you tailor MDT infrastructure for network-constrained sites? Evaluating these scenarios is a core capability reflected in real-world roles.
Identity, Access, and Compliance Foundations
Next, exam candidates must demonstrate mastery over identity configuration and compliance policy implementation. Windows Hello for Business and passwordless authentication are central to modern endpoint security—alongside Azure AD join and hybrid identity in Intune.
Configuring RBAC within Intune, LAPS for Azure AD–joined devices, and role-based device group membership are all vital elements. On top of that, monitoring compliance, implementing and troubleshooting conditional access, and configuring policy notifications all serve to ensure devices meet organizational standards before granting access.
Monitoring and Endpoint Security Using Intune and Defender
Endpoint protection is another major domain within MD‑102. You must know how to onboard devices to Defender for Endpoint, apply security baselines, and configure attack surface reduction features. Understanding how these policies map to device risk posture, how automated responses can be triggered, and interpreting dashboards are essential diagnostic skills.
Endpoint analytics and Adoption Score provide insight into device performance and update readiness. Knowing how to interpret trends, identify deployment bottlenecks, or escalate unhealthy device clusters is part of daily operations—and part of exam simulations.
The Importance of Application Lifecycle Management
Finally, app deployment and configuration policies shape user productivity and security. The exam evaluates your ability to deploy Microsoft 365 apps via Intune or the Office Deployment Tool, apply app protection policies for iOS and Android, and configure conditional access and app configuration policies.
Best practice scenarios may include deploying a fixed version of Office to remote devices, enabling app PIN enforcement for corporate apps, or isolating work data in managed app containers. These capabilities help administrators ensure both functionality and compliance, especially in BYOD environments.
Why Conceptual Fluency Beats Memorization
The MD‑102 exam goes beyond rote recall. It presents scenarios around poor Autopilot failures, conflicting compliance and app policies, or update rings that break patch cycles. Success requires reasoning through error conditions, explaining decisions clearly, and leveraging diagnostics within tools like Intune or Windows Admin Center.
Candidates are often asked not only what to configure, but why: choosing Autopilot rather than MDT, enabling attack surface reduction rather than only antivirus, or enforcing compliance notifications before access grant. These real-world decision points underscore the practical value of earning an Endpoint Administrator credential.
Understanding Device Deployment Strategies
Modern device deployment has shifted from traditional imaging techniques to cloud-native methods. The MD-102 exam reflects this evolution by focusing on cloud-driven, automated deployment approaches. Autopilot and Microsoft Intune are central tools for deploying Windows devices in modern workplaces.
Deployment methods include user-driven and self-deploying Autopilot profiles, which enable zero-touch provisioning. Devices can be shipped directly to users and provisioned via the cloud. This eliminates the need for IT staff to manually image or configure devices on-site. Profiles are assigned through the Intune portal and tied to Azure Active Directory.
Enrollment methods include manual, bulk, and automatic. Automatic enrollment is typically configured via Microsoft Entra integration. This allows users signing into their Azure AD accounts on Windows 10 or 11 to automatically enroll into Intune.
Preparing Devices for Deployment
Before deployment begins, administrators must register devices with Autopilot. This includes collecting the device’s hardware hash and uploading it into Intune. Once uploaded, devices can be assigned to user-driven or pre-provisioned profiles. Devices must also be joined to Microsoft Entra ID or hybrid joined depending on the organization’s directory model.
Autopilot profiles contain configurations such as whether to allow user account creation, privacy settings, and deployment mode. Self-deploying profiles are useful for kiosk or shared scenarios, while user-driven profiles are common for knowledge workers.
Intune’s Enrollment Status Page (ESP) helps monitor and control the deployment process. Administrators can ensure that critical policies and applications are installed before users reach the desktop, reducing post-deployment issues.
Configuration Profiles and Device Settings
Once devices are enrolled, configuration profiles help administrators enforce settings. Profiles can be built using the Settings Catalog, administrative templates, custom OMA-URI settings, or templates for specific platforms.
The Settings Catalog allows granular control over features such as Windows Update, power settings, and device restrictions. Administrative templates replicate traditional group policy settings, allowing a smoother transition from on-premises management.
Custom OMA-URI profiles offer advanced control but require knowledge of CSPs. These are useful for configuring settings not available through the standard UI. Profiles can target devices or users using dynamic groups and assignment filters.
Templates such as VPN, Wi-Fi, email, and endpoint protection help configure key connectivity and security settings. Each platform, including Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android, has unique profile types and capabilities.
Managing Applications and App Policies
MD-102 includes responsibilities for deploying and managing applications across managed devices. Applications can be deployed through Microsoft Store, Win32 apps, line-of-business (LOB) apps, and Microsoft 365.
Win32 app deployment is handled through Intune by creating app packages, defining installation and detection rules, and assigning them to groups. MSI installers are easier to configure, but EXE files may require custom command lines and detection logic.
App deployment involves configuring dependencies, supersedence, and return codes. Administrators can assign apps as required or available and monitor installation status using the Intune reporting dashboard.
Mobile application management (MAM) extends data protection policies to unmanaged devices. App protection policies enforce conditions like data encryption, copy-paste restrictions, and selective wipe for applications like Outlook and Teams on BYOD smartphones.
Enforcing Compliance with Device Policies
Compliance policies help ensure devices meet organizational security and performance standards. These policies define conditions such as requiring encryption, blocking rooted or jailbroken devices, and enforcing minimum OS versions.
Each policy has a set of actions for noncompliance, such as sending notifications, locking devices, or retiring them. Administrators can use compliance reports to track device posture and troubleshoot noncompliant devices.
Compliance integrates with conditional access policies in Entra ID. For example, access to Exchange Online or SharePoint can be restricted unless the user’s device is compliant. This allows granular enforcement of security requirements without interfering with user productivity.
Managing Updates and Feature Deployment
Keeping devices up to date is critical to security and performance. Intune provides update ring configurations for managing Windows feature and quality updates. Administrators define servicing channels, deferral periods, deadlines, and restart behaviors.
Update rings are assigned to pilot, broad, or critical groups. This approach allows staged rollout and testing of new updates before full deployment. Feature updates can be targeted to devices with specific versions, allowing better control of upgrade paths.
Expedited updates are used to patch critical vulnerabilities quickly. Intune also allows rollback of feature updates within the supported timeframe. Monitoring tools track update status, identify devices that failed to install updates, and help troubleshoot update errors.
For organizations using Windows Update for Business, administrators configure update policies via Intune or group policy. These policies manage telemetry, driver updates, and reboot behavior to reduce disruption.
Security Baselines and Endpoint Protection
Security baselines are predefined groups of policies that align with Microsoft-recommended security configurations. These baselines are available for Windows, Microsoft Edge, and Microsoft Defender. Administrators can customize baselines to fit organizational needs and deploy them through Intune.
Endpoint protection profiles manage BitLocker encryption, Windows Defender Antivirus, firewall rules, and attack surface reduction. BitLocker policies ensure data encryption at rest. Antivirus settings control scan frequency, remediation actions, and threat alerts.
Firewall configurations help define rules based on application, port, or IP address. Attack surface reduction rules protect against ransomware, exploits, and malicious scripts. Application control features restrict what software can be run on endpoints.
Defender for Endpoint integration enhances visibility and threat protection across managed devices. It enables administrators to isolate machines, collect forensic data, and respond to incidents proactively.
Monitoring Device Health and Compliance
Monitoring is essential to effective endpoint management. Intune provides dashboards and reports that summarize deployment status, compliance, application installation, and configuration profile success.
Endpoint analytics provides additional insights into device performance, boot times, user experience, and application reliability. It helps identify trends that can be addressed through better policy or hardware upgrades.
Administrators can use built-in reports or integrate Intune with Log Analytics and Microsoft Sentinel for advanced analysis. Alerts can be configured to notify administrators when policies fail or devices fall out of compliance.
Troubleshooting tools include the Intune Troubleshooting pane, Windows Event Viewer, and diagnostic logs. The Windows Update log, Autopilot diagnostics, and sync status reports are valuable resources during investigation.
Remote Management and User Support
Remote actions in Intune allow administrators to manage devices without physical access. Common actions include remote wipe, lock, restart, sync, and password reset. Devices can also be retired from management or deleted if lost or replaced.
Remote help capabilities include integration with Microsoft Quick Assist and other remote support tools. Administrators can start sessions, view user screens, and assist with application configuration or error resolution.
Self-service options like the Company Portal app enable users to install available apps, sync their devices, or perform remote actions on their own devices. This reduces IT workload and enhances user empowerment.
Managing BYOD and Corporate Devices
Organizations must manage a mix of corporate and personal devices. Intune supports both device-based and app-based management models. Corporate-owned devices are enrolled fully and receive all policies, while BYOD devices can use MAM without full enrollment.
Enrollment restrictions ensure the right users and device types are enrolled. Administrators can block specific platforms or enforce device ownership conditions. Dynamic groups allow targeting based on device attributes, reducing manual configuration.
App protection policies are especially useful for BYOD scenarios. These policies allow corporate data to be wiped selectively from apps like Outlook or Teams without affecting personal content.
Compliance and conditional access help ensure that only secure devices access corporate resources, even when those devices are not fully enrolled.
Addressing Policy Conflicts and Deployment Failures
Policy conflicts occur when multiple profiles apply contradictory settings. For example, one policy may allow Bluetooth while another blocks it. Intune applies policies based on a layered model and resolves conflicts using the last-write-wins approach.
Administrators must test configurations in pilot groups before broad deployment. Assignment filters can fine-tune targeting to avoid applying policies to unintended devices. Intune’s error messages and logs help diagnose and resolve deployment issues.
Deployment failures may also arise from expired tokens, connectivity issues, or misconfigured policies. Regular auditing and validation of group assignments, profile scopes, and compliance rules are necessary to maintain a stable environment.
Managing User Identity and Authentication
In a modern endpoint management framework, identity is the control plane. The MD-102 exam includes managing identities through cloud-based and hybrid environments. Azure Active Directory, now part of Microsoft Entra, is central to identity-based access control.
User authentication can be configured for single sign-on, multifactor authentication, and passwordless access. Devices enrolled in Intune are often automatically joined to Entra ID or hybrid-joined if they are domain-joined on-premises and synced using tools like Azure AD Connect.
Conditional Access plays a major role in identity security. These policies evaluate multiple signals, such as device compliance, user risk, and app sensitivity, to determine access permissions. For example, a policy might block access to company resources from non-compliant devices or from outside geographic boundaries.
User groups are organized dynamically based on attributes such as department, location, or device ownership. This allows fine-tuned targeting of applications, policies, and compliance requirements. Role-based access control ensures administrative access is scoped appropriately to avoid over-permissioned users.
Device Compliance and Conditional Access
Compliance policies are configured in Intune to ensure that devices meet organizational security requirements. Policies may include encryption enforcement, antivirus status, OS version checks, and device health attestation.
Non-compliant devices can be automatically quarantined, notified, or removed from accessing resources. These policies integrate directly with Conditional Access to restrict access until compliance is restored.
Compliance state is monitored continuously, and administrators can define grace periods, remediation actions, and detailed reporting. Devices are tagged based on compliance status, and the enforcement of these policies is central to a zero trust security model.
Compliance settings are also different depending on the platform. For example, Android and iOS require different evaluation metrics compared to Windows or macOS. Intune allows per-platform customization to ensure consistent enforcement regardless of device type.
Using Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
The MD-102 exam places significant emphasis on security, particularly on endpoint detection and response capabilities. Microsoft Defender for Endpoint provides enterprise-grade threat protection, post-breach detection, and automated response.
Defender integrates seamlessly with Intune to enforce security configurations. These include enabling antivirus scanning, firewall rules, attack surface reduction rules, and network protection. Defender can isolate compromised endpoints from the network, collect forensics, and automatically initiate remediation actions.
Administrators can onboard devices to Defender via Intune using security baselines or configuration profiles. Once onboarded, data from these devices is streamed into the Microsoft 365 Defender portal for centralized visibility.
Advanced threat analytics, behavioral indicators, and threat intelligence feed into Defender’s decision engine. Devices are scored based on exposure and compliance, and these scores are used to prioritize remediation efforts.
Attack Surface Reduction and Exploit Guard
Attack surface reduction is a key topic in endpoint security and a core feature of Microsoft Defender. Rules can be enabled to block malicious scripts, suspicious app behaviors, and known exploits.
Exploit Guard enhances security through memory protection, network protection, and controlled folder access. These configurations prevent unauthorized apps from accessing sensitive locations or communicating over risky protocols.
Policies for attack surface reduction are managed via Intune, and organizations can run them in audit mode to analyze the potential impact before enforcement. Logs are captured in Defender’s security console for investigation and tuning.
Controlled folder access allows protection of user folders from unauthorized changes, which is useful against ransomware attacks. Trusted applications can be added to the allow list to maintain usability while still enforcing protection.
Data Protection Using Encryption and DLP
Protecting corporate data is a critical component of MD-102. BitLocker encryption is the primary method for securing data at rest on Windows devices. Intune policies can enforce encryption requirements, configure recovery key storage in Entra ID, and monitor encryption compliance.
Data Loss Prevention (DLP) policies extend protection to data in transit. These policies apply to Microsoft 365 apps like Outlook, OneDrive, SharePoint, and Teams. They prevent accidental or malicious sharing of sensitive information.
Admins can create DLP rules to detect patterns such as credit card numbers, medical records, or internal project names. Depending on severity, actions can include blocking the action, auditing it, or requiring user justification.
Endpoint DLP also monitors clipboard operations, printing, screen capture, and file transfers on managed devices. This granular control ensures that even when users are productive, sensitive data is still protected.
Mobile Device and App Management (MDM and MAM)
Organizations support a diverse range of mobile devices, both corporate-owned and BYOD. The MD-102 exam evaluates the ability to manage both using MDM and MAM strategies.
MDM is used when full device management is needed. This includes enforcing device-wide settings, deploying apps, and controlling access. MAM, on the other hand, is focused on managing the apps and data without requiring full device control.
App protection policies under MAM allow data encryption, control over copy-paste behavior, blocking save-as functions, and remote wipe of corporate data. This is particularly effective in scenarios where employees use personal phones to access work resources.
Enrollment restrictions can be used to block unapproved platforms or enforce security policies during enrollment. For example, administrators might restrict enrollment to corporate-issued iPhones or block Android devices below a certain OS version.
Application Control and Deployment
Managing applications is a major part of endpoint administration. Intune supports various app types including Win32, Microsoft Store apps, LOB apps, iOS/Android packages, and web links.
For Windows environments, Win32 app deployment is powerful and customizable. Admins define install and uninstall commands, detection methods, and requirements such as OS version or disk space.
Application supersedence allows upgrading older apps to newer versions during deployment. Dependencies can be managed to ensure that prerequisites like .NET or Visual C++ are installed first.
Application control policies, such as those offered through Windows Defender Application Control (WDAC), restrict which binaries can run on a system. These policies can be used to enforce allowlists, reduce exposure to malware, and ensure only authorized applications are used.
Supporting Users and Troubleshooting Devices
Providing support is another key responsibility for endpoint administrators. Intune offers several remote management capabilities that allow administrators to assist users without physical access to their devices.
Remote actions include device wipe, sync, restart, password reset, and remote lock. These are initiated from the Intune portal and applied almost instantly to managed devices.
Remote Help is a newer feature that integrates with Microsoft’s secure infrastructure to provide live support. IT staff can initiate sessions with users, request elevation, and securely troubleshoot issues.
Troubleshooting tools in Intune include the Troubleshooting + Support blade, which provides a user-centric view of their devices, app installs, policies applied, and compliance status. Event logs, diagnostic reports, and enrollment logs further assist in resolving issues.
Windows built-in tools like Event Viewer, dsregcmd, and mdmdiagnosticstool are useful for examining sync issues, enrollment failures, and compliance errors.
Endpoint Analytics and User Experience
MD-102 includes monitoring and performance optimization as part of ongoing device management. Endpoint analytics in Intune provides visibility into device boot times, app reliability, and policy impact.
Admins can use analytics data to identify bottlenecks, unnecessary startup items, or frequently crashing applications. This data helps in designing a better user experience and reducing IT support tickets.
Startup performance score, recommended software updates, and proactive remediation scripts are available as part of Endpoint Analytics. These scripts can automatically fix common issues, such as resetting policies or clearing app caches.
The Work From Anywhere dashboard evaluates whether a device is cloud-ready, compliant, secure, and productive. This feature is especially useful for hybrid organizations supporting remote workers.
Managing Configuration Drift and Policy Conflict
Configuration drift occurs when devices deviate from their intended state due to conflicting policies, user modifications, or external factors. Intune’s policy evaluation model helps detect and correct drift by regularly enforcing profiles.
Conflicts can arise when multiple profiles attempt to configure the same setting differently. The most recently applied profile usually wins, but proper testing and assignment planning help reduce these issues.
Assignment filters in Intune allow better targeting by filtering devices based on attributes such as OS version, manufacturer, or group membership. This helps apply only relevant configurations and avoids unintended consequences.
Administrators should use a layered deployment approach: test, pilot, and production phases. This staged model ensures safe rollout of policies, applications, and updates without affecting all users at once.
Integration with On-Premises and Hybrid Environments
While modern management leans heavily on cloud-based tools, many organizations still maintain on-premises infrastructure. The MD-102 exam includes managing hybrid identities, co-management, and migration strategies.
Co-management enables devices to be managed by both Configuration Manager (ConfigMgr) and Intune. Workloads such as compliance, app deployment, and updates can be shifted gradually to Intune.
Windows Autopilot Hybrid Join allows devices to be domain-joined to on-prem AD while still leveraging cloud provisioning and policy enforcement. This model requires additional network configuration and domain connectivity during setup.
Migration tools and assessment scripts help identify which devices are ready for modern management. Intune MDM migration can be done in stages using group targeting and gradual policy application.
Enhancing Identity and Access Control
Modern endpoint security begins with identity management. The MD-102 exam emphasizes strong identity control measures using Microsoft Entra ID. Devices can be joined to Entra ID or hybrid joined with on-premises directories to enforce centralized access control.
Entra ID Conditional Access plays a crucial role. It allows policies that restrict access based on user risk, device compliance, location, and application. For example, access can be allowed only from compliant devices or blocked from unfamiliar locations. These conditions are enforced in real time, making identity the primary security boundary.
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) adds a layer of defense against compromised credentials. When combined with Entra ID’s risk-based conditional access, MFA is triggered based on user behavior anomalies. This ensures user access is continuously evaluated, not just during login.
Role-based access control (RBAC) within Intune helps restrict administrative privileges. Only necessary roles such as Policy Administrator or Application Manager are assigned. This principle of least privilege reduces the attack surface across device management environments.
Managing Authentication and Credential Protection
Credential protection is fundamental to endpoint security. The MD-102 exam evaluates how to deploy and manage features like Windows Hello for Business. This authentication method uses biometric or PIN credentials tied to a user’s device, providing resistance to phishing and credential theft.
Windows Hello for Business can operate in key trust, certificate trust, or cloud trust modes. The cloud trust model integrates closely with Entra ID and is ideal for modern cloud-native environments. Enrollment can be enforced via Intune policies, ensuring all users adopt secure sign-in methods.
Credential Guard provides hardware-isolated protection for domain credentials. It leverages virtualization-based security to isolate secrets from the operating system. Enabling it via device configuration profiles or security baselines ensures elevated protection on supported hardware.
LSA protection and Secure Boot further protect credentials from low-level malware. These settings can be deployed using Intune or Group Policy, depending on the device management model.
Protecting Data on Managed Devices
Data protection is a core responsibility for endpoint administrators. BitLocker encryption ensures that data stored on devices remains protected even if a device is lost or stolen. MD-102 expects familiarity with deploying and monitoring BitLocker using Intune.
BitLocker policies allow administrators to enforce encryption on fixed and removable drives. Settings include encryption method, key protection, and recovery options. Recovery keys can be backed up to Entra ID and retrieved by administrators when users lose access.
Windows Information Protection (WIP) separates corporate data from personal content on devices. It applies to apps like Outlook and Word, ensuring corporate files remain encrypted and protected. When users attempt to copy protected data to unmanaged apps, WIP blocks the action or prompts for justification.
Data Loss Prevention (DLP) integrates with Microsoft Purview to prevent data from being shared outside the organization. DLP policies apply across Windows endpoints, email, and cloud storage. Endpoint DLP extends these capabilities by monitoring file activity on local drives and network shares.
Controlled Folder Access protects critical directories from unauthorized modifications. It prevents ransomware and malicious apps from changing files in protected locations. Admins can define allowed applications to ensure legitimate processes are not blocked.
Application Control and Software Restriction
Application control mechanisms prevent unauthorized or malicious applications from executing. Intune supports several methods including AppLocker, Windows Defender Application Control (WDAC), and Microsoft Defender SmartScreen.
WDAC is a hardware-enforced policy-based control mechanism. It uses code integrity policies to define trusted applications. Policies can be deployed via Intune and enforced in audit or enforcement mode. Audit mode helps test policies before full deployment.
AppLocker allows control of executable files, scripts, Windows Installer files, and packaged apps based on publisher, path, or hash. AppLocker is suitable for organizations using Group Policy or hybrid management models.
Microsoft Defender SmartScreen helps prevent users from running potentially malicious apps downloaded from the internet. It integrates with Microsoft Edge and Windows and is configurable through endpoint protection profiles in Intune.
Application control reduces exposure to unapproved or risky software, supports compliance requirements, and enhances the overall security posture of the organization.
Monitoring Security and Compliance
Continuous monitoring is critical to maintaining a secure device environment. Microsoft Intune offers dashboards that display device compliance, update status, and policy application success. The MD-102 exam focuses on interpreting these reports to ensure environments remain healthy.
Security baselines are key tools for monitoring adherence to recommended configurations. Intune baselines can be customized and version-controlled. Administrators can compare deployed settings against baselines to detect drift and remediate misconfigurations.
Endpoint analytics in Intune provides operational insights, such as boot performance, app reliability, and user experience metrics. These analytics help identify underperforming devices or software bottlenecks that impact productivity.
The Integration of Intune with Microsoft Defender for Endpoint enables advanced threat protection. Defender provides a centralized threat dashboard, automated investigation and remediation (AIR), and endpoint detection and response (EDR). Threats can be isolated, remediated, or escalated based on severity.
Alerts generated by Defender for Endpoint can be forwarded to Microsoft Sentinel or third-party SIEM systems for deeper analysis. Administrators can trace attack vectors, assess device exposure, and respond to incidents more effectively.
Managing Remote Access and VPN Connections
MD-102 assesses understanding of secure remote access. Organizations must balance user productivity with network security. VPN configuration profiles in Intune support third-party clients or Windows-native VPNs. Profiles can include Always On VPN, split tunneling, and traffic rules.
Remote desktop services and remote management capabilities should be secured using conditional access and network-level authentication. Administrators should configure firewall and endpoint protection policies to limit exposure of RDP ports.
Conditional Access ensures only compliant, authenticated users access VPN or internal apps. It prevents lateral movement and privilege escalation from compromised devices.
Modern remote access also includes cloud-based solutions like Microsoft Entra application proxy or secure access service edge (SASE) models. While not deeply emphasized in MD-102, familiarity with secure connectivity trends can improve practical performance.
Device Recovery and Reset Mechanisms
MD-102 includes scenarios for device recovery, re-provisioning, and secure wipe. Intune provides several options to return devices to a known-good state. These include wipe, retire, reset, and Autopilot reset.
The Wipe action removes all data and settings from the device and is typically used when decommissioning or repurposing. Retire removes Intune policies and leaves user data intact, ideal for personal device offboarding.
Fresh Start reinstalls Windows and removes OEM apps while preserving user data. Autopilot Reset returns the device to a ready-to-use state with original Autopilot profile settings. This is useful for reassigning devices within the same department or team.
Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) and cloud reset options provide fallback mechanisms when local repair fails. Intune administrators can initiate remote recovery actions, reducing dependency on physical IT intervention.
Enforcing Updates and Patch Compliance
Patch management is an essential part of endpoint protection. Intune enables administrators to configure Windows Update rings and monitor installation status. Devices can be assigned to pilot, broad, or fast track rings to validate updates before wide-scale rollout.
Feature updates and quality updates are deployed based on servicing channels and deployment schedules. Update deferrals, deadlines, and restart grace periods help balance user experience with update compliance.
Expedited updates can be deployed when critical vulnerabilities emerge. Intune allows targeting specific CVEs and pushing patches to devices immediately. Update compliance dashboards show which devices are missing updates or experiencing install issues.
Administrators should combine update policies with reporting tools to ensure 100 percent patch compliance across managed devices. Devices falling out of compliance can be targeted with Conditional Access policies or isolated using Defender for Endpoint.
Implementing Endpoint Hardening Measures
Endpoint hardening minimizes exploitable attack surfaces. MD-102 assesses administrators’ knowledge of configuring baseline security settings, including reducing unnecessary services and ports, enabling protections like ASR (Attack Surface Reduction), and securing administrative interfaces.
ASR rules block behaviors commonly associated with malware, such as executable content in email attachments or Office macros spawning child processes. These rules can be enforced through Defender Antivirus policies in Intune.
Device control policies help restrict removable storage and peripheral device access. Administrators can define allowed USB devices or block external media to prevent data exfiltration or malware introduction.
Advanced network protections such as Defender Firewall rules and exploit protection policies further reduce the risk of compromise. These can be managed at scale through Intune security baselines or custom configuration profiles.
Supporting Users in Hybrid and BYOD Environments
Modern endpoint management must accommodate a variety of user scenarios. Hybrid and bring-your-own-device (BYOD) environments require flexible policy models that secure data without disrupting users.
Mobile Application Management (MAM) policies protect corporate data on personal devices. These policies enforce encryption, selective wipe, and data transfer restrictions without requiring full device enrollment.
Enrollment restrictions in Intune prevent unauthorized device types from accessing corporate resources. Combined with Conditional Access and compliance policies, these restrictions ensure that only supported, secure devices are used.
User support is enhanced through remote assistance tools such as Quick Assist, Help Desk integration, and Intune’s troubleshooting pane. Users can install apps, sync policies, and resolve common issues through the Company Portal.
Administrative efficiency improves through automation tools like remediation scripts, PowerShell, and proactive monitoring. These tools enable endpoint administrators to support diverse environments without scaling operational overhead.
Conclusion
Endpoint administration has evolved significantly from the days of manual imaging and static group policy enforcement. The MD-102 certification recognizes this evolution by preparing administrators to manage devices across cloud-native, hybrid, and mobile-first environments.
The core principles of the MD-102 exam are rooted in security, automation, and user empowerment. Endpoint administrators are no longer focused solely on device imaging or patching. They are now key contributors to identity protection, compliance enforcement, and modern workplace enablement. With tools like Intune, Autopilot, Entra ID, and Defender for Endpoint, administrators are equipped to secure devices regardless of location or ownership.
Advanced identity features like Conditional Access and MFA ensure that only trusted users access corporate resources. Data protection techniques such as BitLocker, WIP, and DLP safeguard sensitive information, even on unmanaged or personal devices. Application control and attack surface reduction policies harden systems against modern threats.
Monitoring, analytics, and automated remediation elevate the role of device management from reactive to proactive. Administrators use reporting dashboards, endpoint analytics, and SIEM integration to maintain continuous visibility. Remote actions and help desk tools reduce downtime and improve user satisfaction.
MD-102 also emphasizes the importance of adaptability. Whether managing Windows desktops, BYOD smartphones, or remote workstations, the endpoint administrator must be agile. This includes supporting multiple platforms, aligning policies with business objectives, and troubleshooting complex issues in distributed environments.
By mastering the domains covered in the MD-102 exam—deployment, configuration, security, compliance, and monitoring—administrators become central to organizational resilience. Their ability to secure devices, support users, and maintain operational efficiency ensures success in today’s dynamic digital workspace. This certification validates not only technical skills but also strategic readiness to thrive in an ever-changing IT landscape.