Course Description

This LIVE Online Training is designed to give you a fast, practical jumpstart into modern Microsoft IT environments and help you build confidence early in your career. Your instructors are Johan Arwidmark (Microsoft MVP), and industry expert Andrew Johnson. 

You’ll learn how Microsoft identity, devices, policies, networking, updates, and PowerShell fit together, with a strong focus on understanding system behavior, reading signals, and troubleshooting real-world issues. Instead of step-by-step click paths, this course teaches how to think like a support technician and junior admin, so you can diagnose problems, communicate clearly with senior engineers, and resolve issues more effectively.

By the end of the program, you’ll be better prepared for real support scenarios, more confident in your day-to-day work, and positioned to grow from entry-level support into more advanced endpoint or cloud-focused roles, while connecting with peers on the same career path.

Note: If you already have an All Access Pass subscription, this course has been added to your account.

This LIVE Online Training runs for six weeks and includes:  

  • Weekly live webinars with recordings and Q&A
  • Weekly assignments to reinforce key concepts
  • Access to a peer community learning alongside you
  • Live interaction with Johan Arwidmark (Microsoft MVP) and Andrew Johnson (Solutions Architect)


This LIVE Online Training is for YOU if you want to:

  • Understand how Microsoft technologies fit together
  • Troubleshoot Windows devices with confidence
  • Build practical PowerShell skills for support roles
  • Develop habits that help you grow beyond entry-level IT
  • Start building your professional network early in your career


Prerequisites:
Basic understanding of networking concepts such as TCP/IP and DNS is helpful but not required. Familiarity with Windows operating systems is beneficial. No prior Systems Management or PowerShell experience is necessary.

Course Schedule

Date and Time for Live Webinars

Dates and start time for the live two-hour webinars:

  • Module 1: Monday, April 20, 10:00 AM-12:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)
  • Module 2: Monday, April 27, 10:00 AM-12:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)
  • Module 3: Monday, May 11, 10:00 AM-12:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)
  • Module 4: Monday, May 18, 10:00 AM-12:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)
  • Module 5: Wednesday, May 27, 10:00 AM-12:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)
  • Module 6: Monday, June 1, 10:00 AM-12:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)

Course Outline

Module 1: Networking and Name Resolution Basics

  • Speaking the Same Language as Your Network Team
  • Understanding TCP/IP Addresses and Routing
  • Setting Up Switches, Network Gateways, and Routers
  • Understanding DNS Resolution and Common Record Types
  • Using Standard Networking Troubleshooting Tools
  • Understanding Common Network-related Failure Patterns
  • Understanding VPN Fundamentals and Common Issues


Module 2: Identity Foundations – Active Directory and Entra ID

  • Understanding the Difference between Active Directory and Entra ID
  • Explaining AD Join, Entra Join, Hybrid Join, and Register
  • Working with Users, Groups, Computers, and Organizational Units
  • Understanding How Identity Impacts Sign-in and Access
  • Identifying Common Identity-related Issues and Misconfigurations
  • Applying Basic Identity Troubleshooting Techniques


Module 3: Policy Fundamentals – Group Policy and Intune

  • Understanding Group Policy Processing and Precedence
  • Working with Group Policy Inheritance, Enforcement, and Link Order
  • Using gpupdate and gpresult, and Understanding Policy Refresh Behavior
  • Understanding Entra Conditional Access Concepts and Components
  • Introduction to Intune Configuration Profiles
  • Understanding Policy Conflicts between GPO and Intune


Module 4: Application Deployment Fundamentals

  • Understanding Application Installation Types and Contexts
  • Comparing MSI, EXE, and Store Applications
  • Understanding System vs. User Installs
  • Introduction to Application Detection Logic
  • Packaging and Wrapping Applications for Deployment
  • Introduction to the PowerShell App Deployment Toolkit (PSAppDeployToolkit/PSADT)


Module 5: Software Updates and Endpoint Security 

  • Understanding Windows Quality Updates and Feature Updates
  • Understanding Update Scan, Download, and Install Phases
  • Understanding Windows Restart Behavior and Pending Reboot Indicators
  • Recognizing Common Windows Update Failure Symptoms
  • Understanding Microsoft Defender Antivirus Basics
  • Understanding Microsoft Defender for Endpoint at a High Level
  • Verifying Endpoint Protection Status and Health


Module 6: PowerShell, Troubleshooting, and AI-assisted Support

  • Understanding Core PowerShell Concepts for Support Scenarios
  • Working with Objects, Filtering, and Formatting
  • Performing Everyday Support Tasks with PowerShell
  • Applying a Structured Troubleshooting Methodology
  • Using Built-in Windows and Sysinternals Troubleshooting Tools
  • Using AI as a Troubleshooting Assistant
  • Avoiding Common AI-related Mistakes in Support Scenarios

Instructors

Johan Arwidmark

Johan Arwidmark is a consultant, author, speaker, and all-around geek specializing in Enterprise Windows Deployment Solutions and Systems Management. Johan speaks at several conferences each year, including MMS and Ignite around the world. He is also actively involved in the deploymentresearch.com community, and he has been awarded Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) since 2005. Johan is known for his energetic and humorous style, tackling complex concepts using simple "Real World" scenarios and lots of live demos. His areas of expertise include Enterprise Windows Deployment Tools and Management Systems: Intune, MDT, WinPE, WDS, and ConfigMgr (SCCM).

Johan Arwidmark

Technical Fellow

Andrew Johnson

Andrew has served in various technical and leadership roles in IT for over 15 years, spending most of his time in higher education. He's always looking for new ways to perform tasks more efficiently and share knowledge with others. His three favorite technology areas are Endpoint Management, Automation, and Monitoring. When he's not working with tech - professionally or in his home lab - you'll likely find him building the latest Star Wars LEGO set with his family. If you'd like to chat ConfigMgr, Intune, Azure AD, Office 365, Disney World or Star Wars, you can always find him on Twitter, @AndrewJNet.

Andrew Johnson

Solutions Architect, ADM Solutions