Administering System Center Configuration Manager

Administering System Center Configuration Manager

Course Code: 20703

Duration: 5 days

Prerequisite: 

• Networking fundamentals, including common networking protocols, topologies, hardware, media, routing, switching, and addressing. 
• Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) principles and fundamentals of AD DS management. 
• Installation, configuration, and troubleshooting for Windows-based personal computers. 
• Basic concepts of PKI security. 
• Basic understanding of scripting and Windows PowerShell syntax. 
• Basic understanding of Windows Server roles and services. 
• Basic understanding of the configuration options for iOS, Android, and Windows Mobile device platfors.

Students who attend this training can meet the prerequisites by attending the following courses or by obtaining equivalent knowledge and skills through hands-on activities:

• Course 20697-1: Installing and Configuring Windows 10 
• Course 20697-2: Deploying and Managing Windows 10 Using 
• Enterprise Services 
• Course 20411: Administering Windows Server 2012

Course Description:

This five-day course describes how to use Configuration Manager and its associated site systems to efficiently manage network resources. In this five-day course, you will learn day-to-day management tasks, including how to manage applications, client health, hardware and software inventory, operating system deployment, and software updates by using Configuration Manager. You also will learn how to optimize System Center Endpoint Protection, manage compliance, and create management queries and reports. Additionally, this course, in conjunction with Microsoft Official Course 20703-2A, helps certification candidates prepare for Exam 70-703: Administering System Center Configuration Manager and Cloud Services Integration.

Course Objectives:

After completing this course, students will be able to:

• Describe the features Configuration Manager and Intune include, and explain how you can use these features to manage PCs and mobile devices in an enterprise environment. 
• Analyze data by using queries and reports. 
• Prepare a management infrastructure, including configuring boundaries, boundary groups, and resource discovery, and integrating mobile-device management with Microsoft Exchange Server. 
• Deploy and manage the Configuration Manager client. 
• Configure, manage, and monitor hardware and software inventory, and use Asset Intelligence and software metering. 
• Identify and configure the most appropriate method to distribute and manage content used for deployments. 
• Distribute, deploy, and monitor applications for managed users and systems.
• Maintain software updates for PCs that Configuration Manager manages. 
• Implement Endpoint Protection for managed PCs. 
• Manage configuration items, baselines, and profiles to assess and configure compliance settings and data access for users and devices. 
• Configure an operating-system deployment strategy by using Configuration Manager. 
• Manage and maintain a Configuration Manager site.

Intended Audience:

This course is for experienced information technology (IT) professionals, typically described as Enterprise Desktop Administrators (EDAs). These EDAs deploy, manage, and maintain PCs, devices, and applications across medium, large, and enterprise organizations. A significant portion of this audience uses, or intends to use, the latest release of Configuration Manager to manage and deploy PCs, devices, and applications. This course also is for individuals who are interested in taking Exam 70- 703: Administering System Center Configuration Manager and Cloud Services Integration. Courses 20703-1A and 20703-2A, or equivalent knowledge and skills, are necessary to prepare for this exam.

Course Outline:

Module 1: Managing computers and mobile devices in the enterprise 

• Overview of systems management by using enterprise management solutions 
• Overview of the Configuration Manager architecture 
• Overview of the Configuration Manager administrative tools 
• Tools for monitoring and troubleshooting a Configuration Manager site

Module 2: Analyzing data using queries and reports 

• Introduction to queries 
• Configuring Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS)

Module 3: Preparing the management infrastructure to support PCs and mobile devices 

• Configuring site boundaries and boundary groups 
• Configuring resource discovery 
• Configuring the Exchange Server Connector for mobile device management 
• Configuring user and device collections

Module 4: Deploying and managing clients 

• Overview of the Configuration Manager client 
• Deploying the Configuration Manager client 
• Configuring and monitoring client status
• Managing client settings in Configuration Manager

Module 5: Managing inventory for PCs and applications

• Overview of inventory collection 
• Configuring hardware and software inventory 
• Managing inventory collection 
• Configuring software metering 
• Configuring and managing Asset Intelligence

Module 6: Distributing and managing content used for deployments 

• Preparing the infrastructure for content management 
• Distributing and managing content on distribution points

Module 7: Deploying and managing applications 

• Overview of application management 
• Creating applications 
• Deploying applications 
• Managing applications 
• Deploying virtual applications by using System Center Configuration Manager (Optional) 
• Deploying and managing Windows Store apps

Module 8: Maintaining software updates for managed PCs 

• The software updates process 
• Preparing a Configuration Manager site for software updates 
• Managing software updates 
• Configuring automatic deployment rules 
• Monitoring and troubleshooting software updates

Module 9: Implementing Endpoint Protection for managed PCs 

• Overview of Endpoint Protection in Configuration Manager 
• Configuring, deploying, and monitoring Endpoint Protection policies

Module 10: Managing compliance and secure data access 

• Overview of Compliance Settings 
• Configuring compliance settings 
• Viewing compliance results 
• Managing resource and data access

Module 11: Managing operating system deployment 

• An overview of operating system deployment 
• Preparing a site for operating system deployment 
• Deploying an operating system 
• Managing Windows as a service

Module 12: Managing and maintaining a Configuration Manager site 

• Configuring role-based administration 
• Configuring Remote Tools 
• Overview of Configuration Manager site maintenance 
• Backing up and recovering a Configuration Manager site