About This Study Plan
This 30-day study plan breaks the MS-102 (Microsoft 365 Administrator) exam preparation into 4 focused study sessions with a total of 16 actionable tasks. The plan covers all 4 exam domains — Deploy and manage a Microsoft 365 tenant, Implement and manage Microsoft Entra identity and access, Manage security and threats by using Microsoft Defender XDR, Manage compliance by using Microsoft Purview — ensuring complete coverage of the exam blueprint. Balanced month-long plan for Microsoft 365 Administrator (MS-102).
Prerequisites
- Basic IT admin experience
- 45–75 minutes daily
Study Schedule
- Tenant setup, domain verification, and admin roles
- Entra ID: users, groups, dynamic membership, and licenses
- Directory sync: Entra Connect configuration and troubleshooting
- Authentication: MFA, SSPR, and password policies
- Conditional Access: named locations, device compliance, app controls
- Risk-based Conditional Access with Identity Protection
- Privileged Identity Management (PIM) and access reviews
- Identity governance and entitlement management
- Defender for Office 365: policies, quarantine, and simulation
- Defender XDR: incidents, advanced hunting (KQL basics)
- Defender for Endpoint: onboarding and threat remediation
- Secure Score optimization and security baselines
- Purview: sensitivity labels, DLP, and retention
- eDiscovery, content search, and audit logs
- Full practice exam #1 + review
- Practice exam #2, weak areas, and final prep
Study Tips
Create a lab tenant (Microsoft 365 Developer Program) for hands-on practice.
KQL basics for Defender advanced hunting appear on the exam.
Know the interaction between Conditional Access, device compliance, and Intune.
Recommended Microsoft 365 Study Resources
Supplement this study plan with Microsoft Learn's free MS-102 learning path, which provides interactive modules and sandboxed Microsoft 365 environments. The Microsoft Virtual Training Days programme also offers free instructor-led sessions with a 50% exam discount voucher upon completion.
Ready to Practice?
Put your study plan into action with Microsoft 365 Administrator practice questions.