Microsoft have recently released a new exam and certification based around Azure Virtual Desktop (AZ-140 Azure Virtual Desktop Speciality)

When this exam was first announced into beta I jumped at the opportunity to take it, as test my AVD knowledge.

As with other beta exams there was quite a long delay from taking the exam and finding out my results. Beta exams are not scored immediately and you will normally receive your results within 2 weeks of the exam live publication date.

You usually receive your exam score about two weeks after the exam becomes available worldwide (known as “live”)—this can be up to 16 weeks after you take the exam, depending on when in the beta period you took the exam. This time window reflects the comprehensive process used to evaluate the beta exam results, including statistically analysing the data to evaluate the performance of each question and reading and evaluating all comments provided during the beta exam. The rescore process starts on the day that exams go live, and final scores are released approximately 10 business days later.

Microsoft (Beta exams | Microsoft Docs)

The exam went live at the beginning of June and I was happy to learn that I had passed!

The purpose of this blog will be to advise on my experience with the exam and how it held up against the measured skills, as well as highlighting some resources to help with learning for the exam.

Exam Layout

The exam itself followed the standard Microsoft exam layout. There were standard multiple choice questions, a couple of case studies and some grouped scenarios questions, where you are asked a single question multiple times given a possible solution and have to choose whether it is appropriate or not.

I had about 60 questions in total including the case studies.

Being a beta exam, there were a few issues and some questions had duplicate answers or could be interpreted incorrectly due to the wording. However, these will likely be fixed in the live exam.

Measured Skills

I found that the exam was very good at covering the relevant sections noted in the exams Measured Skills.

The exam covered these areas very well and I would state it was a very fair selection of questions for each section.

Below I have added some links to documents/training that may help with each area.

Plan an Azure Virtual Desktop Architecture (10-15%)

Design the Azure Virtual Desktop architecture

• Assess existing physical and virtual desktop environment

Assess Windows Virtual Desktop for Azure – Cloud Adoption Framework | Microsoft Docs

Windows Virtual Desktop: Free Tool to See if WVD Is Right for You (lakesidesoftware.com)

Migrate Virtual Desktops to Azure – Microsoft Tech Community

How to migrate Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) to Azure and Windows Virtual Desktop – YouTube

• Assess network capacity and speed requirements for Azure Virtual Desktop

Network guidelines | Microsoft Docs

Windows Virtual Desktop Experience Estimator | Microsoft Azure

• Recommend an operating system for an Azure Virtual Desktop implementation

What is Azure Virtual Desktop? – Azure | Microsoft Docs

• Plan and configure name resolution for Active Directory (AD) and Azure Active Directory Domain Services (Azure AD DS)

Tutorial – Configure virtual networking for Azure AD Domain Services | Microsoft Docs

Manage DNS for Azure AD Domain Services | Microsoft Docs

AZ-140 ep02 | Configure Active Directory | Azure AD DNS – YouTube

• Plan a host pools architecture

Azure Virtual Desktop environment – Azure | Microsoft Docs

Azure Virtual Desktop for the enterprise – Azure Example Scenarios | Microsoft Docs

• Recommend resource groups, subscriptions and management groups

AZ-140 ep01 | Mgmt grp Subs Resource grp – YouTube

• Configure a location for the Azure Virtual Desktop metadata

Data locations for Azure Virtual Desktop – Azure | Microsoft Docs

• Calculate and recommend a configuration for performance requirements

Virtual machine sizing | Microsoft Docs

Azure VM assessments in Azure Migrate – Azure Migrate | Microsoft Docs

• Calculate and recommend a configuration for Azure Virtual Machine capacity requirements

Virtual machine sizing | Microsoft Docs

Design for user identities and profiles

• Select an appropriate licensing model for Azure Virtual Desktop based on requirements

Windows Virtual Desktop Pricing | Microsoft Azure

• Recommend an appropriate storage solutions (including Azure NetApp Files versus Azure Files)

Storage FSLogix profile container Azure Virtual Desktop – Azure | Microsoft Docs

Create an Azure Files file share with a domain controller – Azure | Microsoft Docs

FSLogix profile containers NetApp Azure Virtual Desktop – Azure | Microsoft Docs

• Plan for Azure Virtual Desktop client deployment

Azure Virtual Desktop user documentation | Microsoft Docs

AZ-140 ep10 | Plan AVD Clients – YouTube

• Plan for user profiles

AZ-140 ep08 | Plan FSLogix Profiles – YouTube

• Recommend a solution for network connectivity

Understanding Azure Virtual Desktop network connectivity – Azure | Microsoft Docs

• Plan for Azure AD Connect for user identities

Azure AD Connect sync: Understand and customize synchronization | Microsoft Docs

Azure AD Connect sync: Technical concepts | Microsoft Docs

Implement an Azure Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (25-30%)

Implement and manage networking for Azure Virtual Desktop

Azure Virtual Network | Microsoft Docs

AZ-140 ep12 | Implement AVD Network – YouTube

• Manage connectivity to internet and on-premises networks

Connect an on-premises network to a Microsoft Azure virtual network – Microsoft 365 Enterprise | Microsoft Docs

• Implement and manage network security

Azure network security groups overview | Microsoft Docs

Firewall Considerations – Windows Virtual Desktop (WVD) – Ryan Mangan’s IT Blog (ryanmangansitblog.com)

• Manage Azure Virtual Desktop session hosts by using Azure Bastion

Tutorial: Create an Azure Bastion host: Windows VM: portal | Microsoft Docs

Connect to a Windows VM using Azure Bastion | Microsoft Docs

• Monitor and troubleshoot network connectivity

AZ-140 ep12 | Implement AVD Network – YouTube

Azure Network Watcher | Microsoft Docs

Implement and manage storage for Azure Virtual Desktop

• Configure storage for FSLogix components

Create FSLogix profile container Azure Files Active Directory Domain Services – Azure | Microsoft Docs

Create an Azure Files file share with a domain controller – Azure | Microsoft Docs

Deploy a two-node Storage Spaces Direct SOFS for UPD storage in Azure | Microsoft Docs

FSLogix profile containers NetApp Azure Virtual Desktop – Azure | Microsoft Docs

• Configure storage accounts

Create a storage account – Azure Storage | Microsoft Docs

• Configure disks

• Create file shares

Create an Azure file share – Azure Files | Microsoft Docs

Create and configure host pools and session hosts

• Create a host pool using the Azure portal

Azure Virtual Desktop host pool Azure portal – Azure | Microsoft Docs

• Automate creation of Azure Virtual Desktop host and host pools by using PowerShell, Command-Line Interface (CLI), and Azure Resource Manager templates

Create Azure Virtual Desktop host pool PowerShell – Azure | Microsoft Docs

RDS-Templates/wvd-templates at master · Azure/RDS-Templates · GitHub

az desktopvirtualization hostpool | Microsoft Docs

• Create a host pool based on Windows client or Windows Server session hosts

• Configure host pool settings

Customize RDP properties with PowerShell – Azure | Microsoft Docs

Configure Azure Virtual Desktop load-balancing – Azure | Microsoft Docs

• Manage licensing for session hosts that run Windows client or Windows Server

Apply Windows license to session host virtual machines – Azure | Microsoft Docs

• Assign users to host pools

Azure Virtual Desktop personal desktop assignment type – Azure | Microsoft Docs

• Apply OS and applications updates to a running Azure Virtual Desktop host

Configure Windows Update for Business (Windows 10) – Windows Deployment | Microsoft Docs

Azure Automation Update Management overview | Microsoft Docs

• Apply security and compliance settings to session hosts

Using Azure Virtual Desktop with Microsoft Intune | Microsoft Docs

Using Azure Virtual Desktop multi-session with Microsoft Endpoint Manager | Microsoft Docs

Create and manage session host images

• Create a gold image

Prepare and customize a master VHD image – Azure | Microsoft Docs

• Modify a session host image

Update Session Hosts from Latest Image | Windows Virtual Desktop – #04 – YouTube

• Install language packs in Azure Virtual Desktop

Install language packs on Windows 10 VMs in Azure Virtual Desktop – Azure | Microsoft Docs

• Deploy a session host by using a custom image

Prepare and customize a master VHD image – Azure | Microsoft Docs

Image Management | Windows Virtual Desktop – #03 – YouTube

• Plan for image update and management

Update Session Hosts from Latest Image | Windows Virtual Desktop – #04 – YouTube

• Create and use a Shared Image Gallery

Create an Azure Shared Image Gallery using the portal – Azure Virtual Machines | Microsoft Docs

• Troubleshoot OS issue related to Azure Virtual Desktop

Troubleshoot Azure Virtual Desktop Agent Issues – Azure | Microsoft Docs

Manage Access and Security (10-15%)

Manage access

• Plan and implement Azure roles and role-based access control (RBAC) for Azure Virtual Desktop

Assign Azure roles using the Azure portal – Azure RBAC | Microsoft Docs

Built-in roles Azure Virtual Desktop – Azure | Microsoft Docs

• Manage local roles groups and rights assignment on Azure Virtual Desktop session hosts

Azure Virtual Desktop personal desktop assignment type – Azure | Microsoft Docs

• Configure user restrictions by using Azure AD group policies and AD policies

Create and manage group policy in Azure AD Domain Services | Microsoft Docs

Use Group Policy to Configure Domain Member Client Computers | Microsoft Docs

Manage security

• Plan and implement Conditional Access policies for connections to Azure Virtual Desktop

What is Conditional Access in Azure Active Directory? | Microsoft Docs

Plan an Azure Active Directory Conditional Access Deployment | Microsoft Docs

• Plan and implement multifactor authentication in Azure Virtual Desktop

Set up Azure multifactor authentication for Azure Virtual Desktop – Azure | Microsoft Docs

• Manage security by using Azure Security Center

Azure Virtual Desktop security best practices – Azure | Microsoft Docs

Protecting Windows Virtual Desktop environments with Azure Security Center | Azure blog and updates | Microsoft Azure

• Configure Microsoft Defender Antivirus for session hosts

Enable Azure Security Center’s integrated workload protections | Microsoft Docs

Microsoft Defender Antivirus Virtual Desktop Infrastructure deployment guide | Microsoft Docs

Manage User Environments and Apps (20-25%)

Implement and manage FSLogix

• Plan for FSLogix

FSLogix for the enterprise – Azure Architecture Guide | Microsoft Docs

FSLogix Overview – FSLogix | Microsoft Docs

AZ-140 ep08 | Plan FSLogix Profiles – YouTube

• Install and configure FSLogix

Install FSLogix Agent – FSLogix | Microsoft Docs

• Configure Profile Containers

Configure Profile Container Tutorial – FSLogix | Microsoft Docs

Configure Office Container Tutorial – FSLogix | Microsoft Docs

• Configure Cloud Cache

Configure FSLogix Cloud Cache Tutorial – FSLogix | Microsoft Docs

• Migrate user profiles to FSLogix

How to Migrate from UPD – UPM or Roaming Profiles to FSLogix Profile Container Profiles for Azure Virtual Desktop | christiaanbrinkhoff.com – Sharing Cloud and Virtualization Knowledge

FSLogix FRX Command-Line Reference – FSLogix | Microsoft Docs

Configure user experience settings

• Configure Universal Print

Modernize your print server environment. Learn how to configure and publish (via MEM) new Microsoft 365 cloud-service Universal Print to simplify the way you manage your printers | christiaanbrinkhoff.com – Sharing Cloud and Virtualization Knowledge

Universal Print | Microsoft Docs

• Configure user settings through group policies and Endpoint Manager policies

Assign device profiles in Microsoft Intune – Azure | Microsoft Docs

• Configure persistent and non-persistent desktop environments

Azure Virtual Desktop personal desktop assignment type – Azure | Microsoft Docs

Azure Virtual Desktop host pool Azure portal – Azure | Microsoft Docs

• Configure Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) Properties on a host pool

Customize RDP properties with PowerShell – Azure | Microsoft Docs

• Configure session timeout properties

Customize RDP properties with PowerShell – Azure | Microsoft Docs

• Troubleshoot user profile issues

Profile Container trouble shooting guide – FSLogix | Microsoft Docs

FAQ: FSLogix Troubleshooting Guide (microsoft.com)

• Troubleshoot Azure Virtual Desktop clients

Azure Virtual Desktop troubleshooting overview – Azure | Microsoft Docs

Troubleshoot Remote Desktop client Azure Virtual Desktop – Azure | Microsoft Docs

Install and configure apps on a session host

• Configure dynamic application delivery by using MSIX App Attach

Azure Virtual Desktop MSIX app attach portal – Azure | Microsoft Docs

Azure Virtual Desktop MSIX app attach PowerShell – Azure | Microsoft Docs

Configure Azure Virtual Desktop MSIX app attach PowerShell scripts – Azure | Microsoft Docs

Azure Virtual Desktop prepare MSIX app attach image – Azure | Microsoft Docs

Azure Virtual Desktop set up file share MSIX app attach – Azure | Microsoft Docs

• Implement application masking

Implement Application Masking Tutorial – FSLogix | Microsoft Docs

AppMasking The Windows Start Menu – James Kindon (jkindon.com)

• Deploy an application as a RemoteApp

Manage app groups for Azure Virtual Desktop portal – Azure | Microsoft Docs

New-AzWvdApplication (Az.DesktopVirtualization) | Microsoft Docs

• Implement and manage OneDrive for Business for a multi-session environment

Install the sync app per machine – OneDrive | Microsoft Docs

Use the sync app on virtual desktops – OneDrive | Microsoft Docs

Use OneDrive policies to control sync settings – OneDrive | Microsoft Docs

• Implement and manage Microsoft Teams AV Redirect

Microsoft Teams on Azure Virtual Desktop – Azure | Microsoft Docs

WVD Teams Optimization – TigheTec Cloud Consulting (wordpress.com)

• Implement and manage browsers and internet access for Azure Virtual Desktop sessions

Azure Virtual Desktop required URL list – Azure | Microsoft Docs

• Create and configure an application group

Manage app groups for Azure Virtual Desktop portal – Azure | Microsoft Docs

• Troubleshoot application issues related to Azure Virtual Desktop

Troubleshoot Azure Virtual Desktop Agent Issues – Azure | Microsoft Docs

Monitor and Maintain an Azure Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (20-
25%)

Plan and implement business continuity and disaster recovery

• Plan and implement a disaster recovery plan for Azure Virtual Desktop

Set up Azure Virtual Desktop disaster recovery plan – Azure | Microsoft Docs

DR Planning | Windows Virtual Desktop – #19 – YouTube

• Design a backup strategy for Azure Virtual Desktop

Quickstart – Back up a VM with the Azure portal – Azure Backup | Microsoft Docs

Create a snapshot of a virtual hard drive using the portal or PowerShell – Azure Virtual Machines | Microsoft Docs

About Azure Site Recovery – Azure Site Recovery | Microsoft Docs

• Configure backup and restore for FSLogix user profiles, personal virtual desktop infrastructures (VDIs), and golden images

Cloud Cache for resiliency and availability – FSLogix | Microsoft Docs

Back up Azure file shares in the Azure portal – Azure Backup | Microsoft Docs

Share VM images with Shared Galleries – Azure Virtual Machines | Microsoft Docs

Automate Azure Virtual Desktop management tasks

• Configure automation for Azure Virtual Desktop

Build Virtual Desktop The Easy Way – YouTube

RDS-Templates/wvd-templates at master · Azure/RDS-Templates · GitHub

• Automate management of host pools, session hosts, and user sessions by using PowerShell and Azure command-Line Interface (CLI)

An introduction to Azure Automation | Microsoft Docs

Az.DesktopVirtualization Module | Microsoft Docs

az desktopvirtualization | Microsoft Docs

• Implement autoscaling in host pools

Scale session hosts Azure Automation – Azure | Microsoft Docs

Monitor and manage performance and health

• Monitor Azure Virtual Desktop by using Azure Monitor

Use Monitor Azure Virtual Desktop Monitor – Azure | Microsoft Docs

• Monitor Azure Virtual Desktop by using Azure Advisor

Integrate Azure Virtual Desktop with Azure Advisor – Azure | Microsoft Docs

• Customize Azure Monitor workbooks for Azure Virtual Desktop monitoring

Azure Monitor Workbooks Overview – Azure Monitor | Microsoft Docs

Azure Monitor Workbooks Overview – Azure Monitor | Microsoft Docs

• Optimize session host capacity and performance

Performance Tuning Remote Desktop Session Hosts | Microsoft Docs

GitHub – The-Virtual-Desktop-Team/Virtual-Desktop-Optimization-Tool: The script and configuration files in this repository provide an easy method to customize and apply performance related settings to virtual desktop environments.

• Manage active sessions and application groups

Manage app groups for Azure Virtual Desktop PowerShell – Azure | Microsoft Docs

• Monitor and optimize autoscaling result

Scale session hosts Azure Automation – Azure | Microsoft Docs

Thoughts

My general thoughts on the AZ-140 were very positive. As someone who has been working with AVD from the WVD classic deployments through to the AVD rebrand, I feel it asked the kind of questions that you should know if you want to be a considered a specialist in this technology.

For anyone thinking of taking the exam I would advise that it would help to have a good deal of hands on experience with AVD. This is not an exam for someone that has had a quick dabble or read a few documents.

It is clearly designed at the architects and technology specialists. The questions asked are quite in-depth and require a high level of knowledge of the AVD components to answer. The exam expects knowledge on designing, implement and monitor all the various components.

A good deal of experience with FSLogix Containers is a must, as a lot of questions revolved around this for the Implement an Azure Virtual Desktop Infrastructure.