How to Pass the Microsoft SC-300 Exam - Complete Study Guide 2024

Certification Guide

SC-300 Study Guide

EXAM COST

$165 USD

PASSING SCORE

700 / 1000

STUDY TIME

40-80 hours

EXAM OVERVIEW

The SC-300: Microsoft Identity and Access Administrator certification validates your expertise in designing, implementing, and operating Azure AD (now Microsoft Entra ID) identity and access management solutions.

Who should take SC-300: Identity administrators, security engineers, Azure administrators looking to specialize in identity, and anyone managing Microsoft Entra ID in production environments.

Exam Objectives Breakdown

The SC-300 exam covers four main domains. Here’s the current weighting:

Domain	Weight	Topics
Implement identities in Azure AD	25-30%	Users, groups, external identities, hybrid identity
Implement authentication and access management	25-30%	MFA, Conditional Access, password protection
Implement access management for applications	10-15%	App registration, enterprise apps, app consent
Plan and implement identity governance	25-30%	Entitlement management, access reviews, PIM

Domain 1: Implement Identities in Azure AD (25-30%)

Key Topics

👤

User Management

---

Create, configure, and manage users. Bulk operations, administrative units, deleted users restoration.

👥

Groups

---

Security groups, Microsoft 365 groups, dynamic membership rules, group-based licensing.

🌐

External Identities

---

B2B collaboration, guest users, identity providers for external users, cross-tenant access.

🔄

Hybrid Identity

---

Azure AD Connect, cloud sync, password hash sync, pass-through auth, federation.

What You Must Know

User Management:

• Create users via portal, PowerShell, and Graph API
• Configure user properties and profile attributes
• Manage deleted users (30-day soft delete window)
• Administrative Units for delegated administration

Group Management:

Dynamic group rule examples:
- All employees: (user.department -eq "Engineering")
- All guests: (user.userType -eq "Guest")
- Mailbox users: (user.mail -ne null)

Hybrid Identity Decision Tree:

Do you need SSO to on-premises apps?
├── Yes → Federation (AD FS) or Pass-through Auth
└── No → Password Hash Sync (recommended)

Do you need password writeback?
├── Yes → Enable in Azure AD Connect
└── No → One-way sync only

Hands-On Practice

1. Create users via Azure Portal and PowerShell
2. Configure a dynamic group with membership rules
3. Set up Azure AD Connect in a lab environment
4. Invite a guest user and configure cross-tenant access

Domain 2: Implement Authentication and Access Management (25-30%)

Key Topics

MFA & Auth Methods

Multi-Factor Authentication:

• Configure MFA settings (per-user vs. Conditional Access)
• Authentication methods policy
• FIDO2, Microsoft Authenticator, OATH tokens
• Self-service password reset (SSPR)

Know the difference:

Per-User MFA	Conditional Access MFA
Legacy, all-or-nothing	Policy-based, contextual
Enabled/Disabled/Enforced states	Grant controls in policies
No exclusions possible	Rich conditions and exclusions
❌ Not recommended	✅ Recommended approach

MFA Best Practices Guide →

Conditional Access

Conditional Access is the core of SC-300!

Policy Components:

• Users/Groups: Who does this apply to?
• Cloud Apps: What resources are protected?
• Conditions: When does this apply? (location, device, risk)
• Grant Controls: Allow, block, require MFA, compliant device
• Session Controls: App enforced restrictions, sign-in frequency

Common Policy Patterns:

Policy: Require MFA for admins
├── Users: Directory roles → Global Admin, Security Admin
├── Apps: All cloud apps
└── Grant: Require MFA

Policy: Block legacy authentication
├── Users: All users
├── Apps: All cloud apps
├── Conditions: Client apps → Other clients
└── Grant: Block access

Policy: Require compliant device for sensitive apps
├── Users: All users
├── Apps: SharePoint, Exchange
├── Conditions: Device platforms → Windows, iOS, Android
└── Grant: Require device compliance

Conditional Access Guide →

Password Protection

Azure AD Password Protection:

• Global banned password list (Microsoft-managed)
• Custom banned password list (org-specific)
• Password protection for on-premises AD
• Smart lockout thresholds

Self-Service Password Reset (SSPR):

• Authentication methods required (1 or 2)
• Registration enforcement
• On-premises writeback requirements
• Combined registration with MFA

Hands-On Practice

1. Create Conditional Access policies for common scenarios
2. Configure authentication methods policy
3. Set up SSPR with password writeback
4. Test Named Locations and device filtering

Domain 3: Implement Access Management for Apps (10-15%)

Key Topics

App Registration vs. Enterprise Apps:

App Registration	Enterprise Application
Developer-focused	Admin-focused
Configure app identity	Assign users and groups
Set redirect URIs, secrets	Configure SSO (SAML/OIDC)
Define API permissions	User consent settings
Multi-tenant configuration	Provision users (SCIM)

Critical Concepts:

• API Permissions: Delegated vs. Application permissions
• Consent Framework: User consent, admin consent, consent workflow
• Single Sign-On: SAML configuration, attribute mapping
• Provisioning: SCIM 2.0, attribute mapping, scoping filters

App Consent Scenarios

Scenario: Third-party app requests permissions

Low-risk (user can consent):
- openid, profile, email, offline_access
- User.Read (delegated)

High-risk (admin consent required):
- User.Read.All (application)
- Mail.ReadWrite
- Any "All" scopes

Hands-On Practice

1. Register an app and configure redirect URIs
2. Configure SAML SSO for a gallery app
3. Set up SCIM provisioning for a supported app
4. Configure admin consent workflow

Domain 4: Plan and Implement Identity Governance (25-30%)

This is the Highest-Weighted Domain!

📦

Entitlement Management

---

Access packages, catalogs, connected organizations, access package policies, lifecycle workflows.

✅

Access Reviews

---

Review group membership, app assignments, Azure AD roles. One-time vs. recurring reviews.

👑

Privileged Identity Management (PIM)

---

Just-in-time access, eligible vs. active assignments, approval workflows, access reviews for roles.

📋

Identity Protection

---

Risk policies (user risk, sign-in risk), risk remediation, MFA registration policy.

Privileged Identity Management (PIM)

Key PIM Concepts:

Concept	Description
Eligible assignment	User CAN activate the role when needed
Active assignment	User HAS the role permanently
Activation	Eligible user requests the role
Approval	Required approval for activation
Justification	Reason required for activation
Time-bound	Role automatically expires

Common PIM Configuration:

Global Administrator:
├── Max activation: 8 hours
├── Require justification: Yes
├── Require approval: Yes (Security Admin approves)
├── Require MFA on activation: Yes
└── Require ticket: Optional

Application Administrator:
├── Max activation: 4 hours
├── Require justification: Yes
├── Require approval: No
├── Require MFA on activation: Yes
└── Require ticket: No

Identity Protection

Risk Levels:

Risk Level	User Risk Example	Sign-In Risk Example
High	Credentials confirmed leaked	Impossible travel + unfamiliar location
Medium	Anomalous user activity	Suspicious inbox rule creation
Low	Minor anomaly detected	Anonymous IP address

Risk Policies:

User Risk Policy:
├── Risk level: High
└── Action: Require password change

Sign-In Risk Policy:
├── Risk level: Medium or higher
└── Action: Require MFA

Hands-On Practice

1. Create an access package with approval workflow
2. Configure an access review for a group
3. Set up PIM for Azure AD roles
4. Configure user risk and sign-in risk policies

Study Resources

Official Microsoft Resources (Free)

Resource	Link	Notes
Microsoft Learn	SC-300 Learning Path	Official, free, comprehensive
Exam Skills Outline	SC-300 Skills Measured	Know exactly what’s covered
Azure Free Account	Create Free Account	$200 credit for hands-on labs

Recommended Study Path

1

Week 1-2: Learn Fundamentals

Complete Microsoft Learn SC-300 path. Focus on understanding concepts, not memorization.

2

Week 3-4: Hands-On Labs

Set up Azure free account. Build everything: users, groups, Conditional Access, PIM, etc.

3

Week 5: Practice Tests

Take practice exams. Review wrong answers deeply. Identify knowledge gaps.

4

Week 6: Final Review

Re-read documentation for weak areas. Take final practice test. Schedule exam.

Practice Test Strategy

• Microsoft Official Practice Test: Available on Microsoft Learn
• MeasureUp: Official practice tests (paid but high quality)
• Whizlabs: Budget-friendly alternative with good coverage

How to use practice tests:

1. Don’t memorize answers — understand WHY each answer is correct
2. Read all answer explanations, even for questions you got right
3. Note patterns in what you’re missing
4. Retake tests until consistently scoring 85%+

Exam Day Tips

Before the Exam

• Verify exam appointment and check-in requirements
• Test your computer and internet (for online proctored)
• Clear your desk and testing area
• Have valid ID ready
• Get a good night’s sleep

During the Exam

Tip	Why It Matters
Read carefully	Microsoft questions have specific wording
Watch for “NOT” and “LEAST”	These reverse the correct answer
Flag and move on	Don’t spend 10 minutes on one question
Answer every question	No penalty for guessing
Review flagged questions	Use remaining time to reconsider

Question Types

• Multiple choice: One correct answer
• Multiple select: “Choose 2” or “Choose 3”
• Drag and drop: Order steps or match concepts
• Case studies: Multi-question scenarios (read carefully!)
• Labs: Hands-on tasks in Azure portal (if included)

Common Exam Topics

Based on exam feedback, pay extra attention to:

Topic	Why It’s Important
Conditional Access policy order	Policies are OR’d together, not ordered
PIM eligible vs. active	Know when to use each
B2B vs. B2C	Completely different use cases
Azure AD Connect sync options	PHS vs. PTA vs. Federation
Dynamic group rules	Syntax and common patterns
Access package policies	Lifecycle and expiration rules

After Passing

Once you pass SC-300:

Update Your Profile

Add certification to LinkedIn, Microsoft Transcript, and resume.

Consider Next Certs

SC-200 (Security Operations) or SC-400 (Information Protection) complement SC-300 well.

Stay Current

Microsoft updates Azure AD frequently. Keep learning through Microsoft Learn and docs.

Join Community

Engage with Azure AD community on Reddit, Twitter, and Microsoft Tech Community.

Related Certifications

Certification	Focus	Complements SC-300
AZ-104	Azure Administrator	Broader Azure context
SC-200	Security Operations	SOC/SIEM integration
SC-400	Information Protection	Data security
MS-102	M365 Administrator	Full M365 identity picture

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