Microsoft Certified: Microsoft 365 Fundamentals (MS-900)¶
Overview¶
The Microsoft 365 Fundamentals certification validates foundational knowledge of Microsoft 365 services, productivity solutions, security, compliance, privacy, and trust principles. It's a non-technical entry-point for sales, support, business decision-makers, and IT professionals beginning their M365 journey.
Quick Reference¶
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Exam Code | MS-900 |
| Full Name | Microsoft Certified: Microsoft 365 Fundamentals |
| Provider | Microsoft |
| Format | Multiple choice, multiple response (no labs) |
| Duration | 65 minutes (~45 questions) |
| Cost | $99 USD |
| Validity | Does not expire (perpetual) |
| Passing Score | 700 / 1000 |
| Delivery | Online proctored or testing center |
📖 Official MS-900 page 📖 Microsoft Learn MS-900 study guide
Exam Domains¶
| # | Domain | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Describe cloud concepts | 10-15% |
| 2 | Describe Microsoft 365 apps and services | 30-35% |
| 3 | Describe security, compliance, privacy, and trust in Microsoft 365 | 25-30% |
| 4 | Describe Microsoft 365 pricing, licensing, and support | 25-30% |
Study Materials in This Guide¶
| File | Description |
|---|---|
| fact-sheet.md | Reference with high-yield facts and Microsoft Learn links |
| practice-plan.md | 3-week study plan |
| scenarios.md | 10 exam-style scenarios |
| notes/01-cloud-and-m365-overview.md | Cloud concepts, M365 vs Office 365, deployment models |
| notes/02-m365-apps-and-services.md | Office, Teams, SharePoint, OneDrive, Exchange, Power Platform, Copilot |
| notes/03-security-compliance-trust.md | Defender, Purview, Entra ID, Zero Trust, compliance |
| notes/04-licensing-pricing-support.md | M365 SKUs, licensing models, support plans, FastTrack |
Recommended Study Time¶
| Background | Estimated Prep Time |
|---|---|
| Existing M365 admin or user | 1-2 weeks |
| IT background, no M365 experience | 3-4 weeks |
| New to IT | 5-6 weeks |
MS-900 is foundational and high-pass-rate. Most candidates pass with 20-30 hours of study.
Hands-on Setup (optional but helpful)¶
- Microsoft 365 Developer Program - free 90-day E5 sandbox tenant
- Explore Microsoft 365 admin center, Teams, SharePoint, Outlook
- Try Copilot, Defender XDR, and Purview in the sandbox
Companion Materials¶
- AZ-900 Azure Fundamentals - Azure-side counterpart
- SC-900 Security/Compliance/Identity Fundamentals - deeper on security/compliance
- AI-900 AI Fundamentals - AI counterpart
After MS-900¶
Common next steps:
- MS-102 Microsoft 365 Administrator Expert - core M365 admin (Exchange, Teams, SharePoint, identity)
- AZ-104 Azure Administrator Associate - Azure-side admin
- SC-200 Security Operations Analyst - if security-focused
- MS-700 Teams Administrator Associate - Teams specialist