MD-100 Exam Prep — Windows Client Study Guide & MD-102 Path

If you're looking for MD-100 exam prep, here's the first thing to know: the MD-100 (Windows 10) exam was retired by Microsoft in June 2023. It's been replaced by the MD-102 (Microsoft 365 Endpoint Administrator) exam. If you're preparing for Microsoft endpoint certification, MD-102 is the current path.

That said, the core Windows Client skills tested on MD-100 — device deployment, configuration, management, and troubleshooting — are still tested on MD-102 and remain highly relevant for any IT administrator role managing Windows environments. This guide covers the MD-100 legacy material, how it maps to MD-102, and how to prepare for the current Microsoft endpoint certification path.

What MD-100 Covered — and Why It Still Matters

The MD-100 exam focused on four core competency areas for Windows Client administration:

1. Deploy Windows (25-30%)

This included both legacy deployment methods (bare metal installation, in-place upgrade, refresh/replace scenarios) and modern deployment approaches (Windows Autopilot provisioning, Subscription Activation, provisioning packages). The shift from on-premises imaging to cloud-based Autopilot provisioning was a central theme of MD-100 and remains central to MD-102.

2. Manage Devices and Data (20-25%)

This covered both traditional Windows administration (local users and groups, storage management, file system permissions, printing) and modern management via Intune (device configuration profiles, compliance policies, conditional access). The balance between on-premises and cloud management is the defining challenge of modern endpoint administration.

3. Configure Connectivity (15-20%)

Network configuration for Windows clients: IPv4 and IPv6 addressing, name resolution, VPN configuration, Wi-Fi profiles, proxy settings, and certificate-based authentication. Enterprise Wi-Fi configuration and certificate deployment via Intune were high-frequency topics.

4. Maintain Windows (15-20%)

Windows Update for Business, Windows Servicing channels (General Availability, Long-Term Servicing Channel), Update Compliance in Azure Monitor, and patch management strategy. This area maps directly to the current reality: organizations managing update rings via Intune rather than WSUS.

5. Configure Storage and Apps

Storage Spaces, disk management, NTFS and ReFS file system fundamentals, app deployment (MSIX, traditional MSI, Microsoft Store apps, line-of-business apps via Intune). The Intune app deployment coverage in this section was the most heavily tested area.

MD-100 to MD-102: What Changed

The MD-102 exam consolidates the content from MD-100 and MD-101 into a single certification. Here's how the material shifted:

• More Intune, less on-premises: MD-100 covered traditional Windows administration alongside Intune. MD-102 is significantly more Intune-focused, reflecting where enterprise endpoint management has moved.
• Added Windows 365 and Azure Virtual Desktop: Cloud PC scenarios are now explicitly in scope — MD-102 tests your ability to manage Windows endpoints in a cloud-first environment.
• Autopilot prominence increased: Windows Autopilot scenarios — including Autopilot Reset, pre-provisioning, and self-deploying mode — are heavily represented in MD-102.
• Endpoint security integration: Microsoft Defender for Endpoint and its integration with Intune conditional access is more prominent in MD-102 than it was in MD-100.

If you prepared for MD-100, roughly 60-70% of your study material transfers directly to MD-102 prep. The gaps are primarily in cloud PC administration and advanced Intune security features.

How to Prepare for the Current Windows Client Certification Path

If your goal is the Microsoft 365 Certified: Endpoint Administrator Associate credential, here's how to approach prep for MD-102:

Start With Microsoft Learn

Microsoft Learn has a free MD-102 learning path that covers all exam objectives. It's the authoritative source and the best starting point. The learning path runs approximately 20-25 hours if you work through all modules.

Get Hands-On with Intune

MD-102 is an applied exam — scenario questions require you to know not just what policies exist, but how to configure them correctly. If you don't have an Intune environment at work, create a free Microsoft 365 developer tenant (available through the Microsoft 365 Developer Program) and practice creating device configuration profiles, compliance policies, app deployments, and Autopilot deployments.

Theory without hands-on experience is the most common reason candidates fail MD-102. The exam rewards people who've actually used the tools, not just read about them.

Use Practice Tests Strategically

Work through topic-specific practice tests before taking full-length timed exams. Start with the areas where your knowledge is weakest.

The MD-100 User Account Management practice test covers identity management and local account configuration — foundational knowledge that applies directly to MD-102 scenarios involving Entra ID and Intune enrollment. The MD-100 Security and Authentication practice test is critical prep for the endpoint protection sections, which are heavily weighted on both the legacy exam and MD-102.

For storage and file system scenarios, the MD-100 File System and Storage practice test covers NTFS permissions, storage management, and related topics that appear in multiple sections of the current exam.

If you're new to modern device management concepts, the FREE MD-100 Modern Device Management practice test builds the foundational Intune and cloud management knowledge you'll need throughout the exam.

Career Value of Windows Client Certification

The Microsoft 365 Certified: Endpoint Administrator Associate credential is well-regarded in enterprise IT, particularly in organizations that have adopted Microsoft 365 and are moving device management to Intune. Job postings for endpoint administrator, modern workplace specialist, and device management engineer roles frequently list this certification as preferred or required.

Salary premium for Microsoft certifications varies by market and role. In general, the Endpoint Administrator Associate pairs well with the Microsoft 365 Certified: Security Administrator Associate credential for a comprehensive M365 administration profile. Many candidates pursuing this track also go on to the MD-102 and then the SC-300 or MS-500.

Start your prep with the FREE MD-100 Windows 10 practice test to benchmark your current knowledge level, then work through topic-specific tests in the areas where you're weakest.