Resources available and accessing Microsoft Learn
Earlier in this chapter, some of the resources that are available for preparing for the exam were mentioned. Microsoft Learn was mentioned, along with Microsoft Docs, but Microsoft Learn requires its own section due to the amount of free content that it provides to help you prepare for the exam.
Accessing Microsoft Learn
Microsoft Learn is a great resource to get your learning path started. All the content on Microsoft Learn is free. When you create an account on Microsoft, your learning progress is tracked and you can acquire badges along the way. In addition, Microsoft creates learning challenges periodically with prizes, such as free exam vouchers. Creating a free account can be done by selecting the icon at the top right of the page and selecting Sign in, as shown in the following screenshot:
Figure 1.2 – Microsoft Learn site profile – Sign in
You can sign in with an existing Microsoft account or create one to get started, as indicated here:
Figure 1.3 – Create or sign in to a Microsoft account
You can get to Microsoft Learn by going to the following link: https://www.microsoft.com/learn.
Finding content on Microsoft Learn
Content on Microsoft Learn can be found in various ways. You can search for specific products, roles, or certifications. These options can be found on the selection ribbon at the top of the Learn home page, as shown in the following screenshot. The home page also provides several recommendations so that you can start your learning journey:
Figure 1.4 – Learn content navigation
From the Learn content navigation tabs, select a drop-down arrow to filter for content in the specific Products, Roles, or Certifications areas:
Figure 1.5 – Filter categories under the Products drop-down menu
Once you have selected an area of interest, or simply chosen Browse all paths, you can search for specific topics and filter for individual courses or learning paths, as shown in the following screenshot:
Figure 1.6 – Browse all content in Microsoft Learn
This section has shown you how to access Microsoft Learn and browse for modules and learning paths. The next section will assist you in finding content specific to the SC-900 exam.
Exam pages on Microsoft Learn
Another common area within Microsoft Learn is the exam pages. For any exam provided by Microsoft, there is an exam page and a certification page that is located within Microsoft Learn. These pages provide an overview of the exam or certification, the roles of individuals that may be interested in the exam, the objective areas for the exam, scheduling the exam, and the Microsoft Learn learning path to prepare for the exam. These pages are extremely helpful when you are preparing for an exam rather than just learning to gain general technical knowledge. The following screenshot shows us searching for the SC-900 exam, where you can see sc-900 being typed in the search box:
Figure 1.7 – Browse for the SC-900 exam
The following screenshot shows the exam page for the SC-900 exam:
Figure 1.8 – SC-900 exam page
As you continue to prepare for the SC-900 exam, it is recommended that you use this exam page as a reference.
You should now have access to log in and browse the content on Microsoft Learn. The next section will show you how to sign up for a trial subscription to Microsoft 365 services and sign up for a month of free Azure services.
