Exam 70-243:

Administering and Deploying System Center 2012 Configuration Manager

Published:April 16, 2012
Language(s):English
Audience(s):IT Professionals
Technology:Microsoft System Center 2012 Configuration Manager
Type:Proctored Exam

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We recommend that you review this preparation guide in its entirety and familiarize yourself with the FAQs and resources on the Microsoft Certification website before you schedule your exam.
Audience Profile
This exam is designed for candidates that have System Center Configuration Manager 2012, Windows Server, security, and networking experience in an enterprise environment, candidates should also have basic Microsoft SQL Server and Windows PowerShell knowledge, mobile device management, and application configuration experience. These candidates may be the System Center Configuration Manager Administrator, Active Directory Administrator, Exchange Administrator, Windows Server Administrator, or Enterprise Desktop Administrator for their organizations.
Credit Toward CertificationWhen you pass Exam 70-243: Administering and Deploying System Center 2012 Configuration Manager, you complete the requirements for the following certification(s):
MCTS: Administering and Deploying System Center 2012 Configuration Manager
Note This preparation guide is subject to change at any time without prior notice and at the sole discretion of Microsoft. Microsoft exams might include adaptive testing technology and simulation items. Microsoft does not identify the format in which exams are presented. Please use this preparation guide to prepare for the exam, regardless of its format.
Skills Being MeasuredThis exam measures your ability to accomplish the technical tasks listed below.The percentages indicate the relative weight of each major topic area on the exam.The higher the percentage, the more questions you are likely to see on that content area on the exam.

The information after “This objective may include but is not limited to” is intended to further define or scope the objective by describing the types of skills and topics that may be tested for the objective. However, it is not an exhaustive list of skills and topics that could be included on the exam for a given skill area. You may be tested on other skills and topics related to the objective that are not explicitly listed here.
Design and Plan System Center Configuration Manager Infrastructure (10-15%)
  • Plan System Center Configuration Manager hierarchy and site system roles.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: pre-installation requirements, examining the current computing environment, CAS, primary and secondary sites, branch cache, designing and recommending System Center Configuration Manager server architecture, extending the Active Directory schema (DNS service records, WINS), managed providers, discovery methods, and planning migration
  • Plan and configure security.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: PKI or self-signed certificates, HTTP or HTTPs implementation, NAP, FEP, and planning role-based security
  • Define the Business Continuity Plan (BCP).
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: disaster recovery and site maintenance
Manage Operating System Deployment (OSD) (10-15%)
  • Configure the OSD environment.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: configuring WDS, configuring PXE, configuring the VM build environment, and integrating with MDT
  • Build and capture an image.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: updating base images, task sequences
  • Deploy an image.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: new (bare metal) and upgrade images, VHD deployment
  • Manage images.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: drivers, servicing
Deploy Applications and Software Updates (10-15%)
  • Create an application.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: defining deployment types, deploying applications to RDSH, MSI, and App-V, and converting a package
  • Deploy an application.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: user device affinity, compliance settings, Software Center, and task sequences
  • Monitor application deployment.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: resolving issues, managing application distribution points, distribution point groups, Content Library, SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS), log files, and In Console Monitoring
  • Manage the software library and application catalog.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: web portal configuration, work schedule, and definition of primary machines for users
  • Create and monitor software updates.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: Automatic Deployment Rules (ADR), SSRS, creating update groups, creating deployment packages, log files, and In Console Monitoring
  • Configure FEP clients by using System Center Configuration Manager.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: creating and managing policy by using Configuration Manager, configuring definitions within the client policy, exporting from Configuration Manager, choosing which template to use, and select exclusions
Manage Compliance Settings (10-15%)
  • Build a Configuration Item (CI).
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: creating a CI, importing a CI, setting CI versioning, and remediation rules
  • Create and monitor a baseline.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: importing a configuration pack, building a custom baseline, SSRS, log files, In Console Monitoring, deploying a baseline
Manage Sites (10-15%)
  • Manage collections.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: setting maintenance windows, defining rules for collections (collection membership, query-based collections), collection-specific settings
  • Monitor site health.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: SSRS, log files, In Console Monitoring, Toolkit
  • Configure software updates.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: sync schedule, catalogs, products, WSUS, and superseded updates
  • Manage site communications.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: configuring bandwidth settings for a site address, configuring senders, secondary sites (file-based replication, SQL replication paths), resolving DP connections
  • Manage boundary groups.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: creating boundary groups, using boundary groups in more than one DP, client roaming, Internet-based clients
  • Manage role-based security.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: security scopes, custom roles, cloned security roles and permissions
Manage Clients (10-15%)
  • Deploy clients.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: GPO, WSUS, logon scripts, manual, client push, OSD task sequence, monitoring client health
  • Manage mobile devices.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: enrolling mobile devices, Exchange Connector, AMT enrollment point (out-of-band management), and wiping mobile devices
  • Manage client agent settings.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: desired configuration settings, mobile device client agent, NAP client agent, configuring power management, configuring remote control agent, hardware inventory agent, software inventory agent, software metering agent, advertised programs agent, computer agent
Manage inventory (10-15%)
  • Manage hardware inventory.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: configuring MOF, export and import settings, enabling or disabling WMI classes, extending hardware inventory to other client assets, WMI or registry reporting
  • Manage software inventory.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: standardized vendor name, list of tracked inventory, report inventory data, asset intelligence, software metering (enable or disable rules, report software metering results)
  • Monitor inventory data flow.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: client-to-site, site-to-site
Manage Reports and Queries (10-15%)
  • Build queries.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: console queries, WQL, sub-selects
  • Create reports.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: cloning and modifying reports, creating custom reports, import and export reports
  • Manage SSRS.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: configuring security, configuring caching, configuring subscriptions
Preparation Tools and ResourcesTo help you prepare for this exam, Microsoft Learning recommends that you have hands-on experience with the product and that you use the following training resources. These training resources do not necessarily cover all of the topics listed in the "Skills Measured" tab.
Learning Plans and Classroom Training
Microsoft E-Learning There is no Microsoft E-Learning training currently available.
Microsoft Press Books There are no Microsoft Press books currently available.
Practice Tests There are no practice tests currently available.
Microsoft Online Resources
Microsoft Online Resources
  • Product information: Visit the Windows Server 2008 Web site for detailed product information.
  • TechNet: Designed for IT professionals, this site includes how-to instructions, best practices, downloads, technical resources, newsgroups, and chats.
  • MSDN: Designed for developers, the Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) features code samples, technical articles, downloads, newsgroups, and chats.
  • Microsoft Learning Community: Join newsgroups and visit community forums to connect with your peers for suggestions on training resources and advice on your certification path and studies.
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