The MS-700: Managing Microsoft Teams certification exam is a professional credential designed for IT administrators and specialists who manage Microsoft Teams environments in an organizational context. This exam is part of the Microsoft 365 Certified: Teams Administrator Associate certification and validates the ability to deploy, configure, and manage Microsoft Teams for effective communication and collaboration.
Microsoft Teams is a powerful collaboration platform that integrates chat, meetings, calls, and file sharing. It is part of the Microsoft 365 suite and is widely adopted by organizations of all sizes to enable modern workplace communication. As a Teams Administrator, it is essential to ensure that all components of Teams are configured and operating according to organizational needs and compliance requirements.
The MS-700 exam measures various technical skills across planning, configuring, and maintaining a Teams environment. A strong foundational knowledge of Microsoft 365 services such as SharePoint Online, Exchange Online, Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure Active Directory), and OneDrive for Business is essential for exam success. In addition, familiarity with PowerShell scripting, network configurations, and Microsoft compliance features further enhances your ability to manage Microsoft Teams effectively.
Importance of MS-700 Certification
Achieving the MS-700 certification serves multiple purposes, both for individual professionals and the organizations they serve. From a career standpoint, the certification helps IT professionals demonstrate their proficiency in managing Teams and integrating it with Microsoft 365 workloads. It also signals to employers that the certified individual possesses the technical expertise to manage collaboration tools that are increasingly central to business operations.
For organizations, hiring certified Teams administrators ensures that Teams environments are deployed securely and efficiently. Certified professionals are more likely to be aware of Microsoft’s best practices, security and compliance features, and ways to troubleshoot performance or connectivity issues.
This certification can also be a stepping stone toward more advanced Microsoft 365 roles or other specialized paths in security, compliance, or voice engineering. It is recognized globally and helps professionals stand out in a competitive job market.
Beyond the professional growth, the MS-700 certification ensures administrators are well-equipped to manage and optimize a Teams deployment, reducing operational issues, improving user satisfaction, and supporting business continuity.
Who Should Take the MS-700 Exam
The MS-700 exam is ideal for individuals who work as Microsoft Teams Administrators or in similar roles such as Collaboration Administrators, Office 365 Administrators, and Unified Communications Specialists. These roles typically require hands-on experience in configuring and managing Teams workloads, including chats, channels, meetings, live events, calling features, and app integrations.
Candidates for this certification are responsible for implementing governance, security, and compliance strategies for Microsoft Teams. They work with other workload administrators to ensure Teams integrates well with email (Exchange), document storage (SharePoint and OneDrive), and user identity and access management (Microsoft Entra ID).
It is not required to have formal prerequisites, but practical experience using Microsoft Teams in a business environment is strongly recommended. Familiarity with administrative portals like Microsoft 365 admin center, Teams admin center, and PowerShell command-line tools is necessary to perform many of the exam tasks.
The exam is also suitable for professionals planning or currently managing enterprise-level Teams deployments, including those migrating from Skype for Business. It is ideal for IT professionals who aim to align collaboration technologies with organizational goals and compliance requirements.
Overview of the Exam Format
The MS-700 exam consists of between 40 and 60 questions and has a time limit of 120 minutes. The exam includes a variety of question formats to evaluate both theoretical knowledge and practical skills. Candidates may encounter multiple-choice questions, drag-and-drop scenarios, hot area questions, case studies, and questions that require selecting the best solution among several correct options.
The passing score for the MS-700 exam is 700 on a scale of 1 to 1000. The exam is available in multiple languages, including English, Japanese, Chinese (Simplified), and Korean. The exam costs approximately 165 USD, although academic pricing may be available for verified students.
The exam questions are aligned with real-world administrative tasks and emphasize practical application over rote memorization. Candidates should expect scenario-based questions that assess their ability to configure settings using both the Microsoft Teams admin center and PowerShell.
Exam delivery is flexible. You can take the exam either online with a remote proctor or at a certified testing center. Online exams require a reliable internet connection, a quiet and private environment, and a computer with a webcam. Proctors ensure test integrity by monitoring the session.
Key Domains Covered in the Exam
The MS-700 exam is divided into four major domains, each focusing on different aspects of Microsoft Teams management. Understanding these domains helps candidates allocate their study time effectively and ensures comprehensive coverage of the exam topics.
The first domain, which carries the most weight, is about configuring and managing the Teams environment. This includes network planning, security and compliance settings, and governance configurations. Candidates are expected to understand how to optimize bandwidth for Teams meetings, configure conditional access, apply retention and sensitivity policies, and set up Microsoft 365 group governance.
The second domain focuses on managing chat, channels, and apps. This area includes configuring messaging policies, managing Teams apps, handling app permission policies, and overseeing Teams usage for internal and external collaboration.
The third domain involves managing meetings and calling capabilities. This includes configuring meeting policies, setting up Teams live events, managing audio conferencing, and handling call routing and phone system configurations.
The fourth domain deals with monitoring and troubleshooting. Candidates must be familiar with Microsoft’s monitoring tools, collecting logs, interpreting analytics reports, and resolving client issues. They should understand how to evaluate meeting quality, diagnose sign-in problems, and troubleshoot audio/video performance.
By mastering these domains, candidates demonstrate not only their technical abilities but also their understanding of collaboration strategies and governance requirements in a business context.
Skills Measured in the Exam
The MS-700 exam evaluates a combination of skills that reflect real-world administrative tasks in Microsoft Teams. One of the essential skills is the ability to plan and implement a scalable Teams deployment. This includes evaluating network readiness, calculating bandwidth requirements for voice and video, and ensuring proper port configurations.
Another important skill area is managing security and compliance features. Candidates should understand how to apply sensitivity labels, create retention policies, enable data loss prevention, and configure conditional access rules to ensure secure collaboration.
Operational governance is also a critical skill. Candidates must know how to assign policy packages, manage team lifecycle settings like expiration and naming policies, and control Microsoft 365 group creation rights. This helps maintain an organized and compliant Teams environment.
The exam also emphasizes administrative efficiency. Skills in managing Teams via PowerShell and using the Microsoft Graph API are increasingly important. Candidates should be able to perform batch operations, automate policy assignments, and extract usage data using scripts.
Monitoring and reporting are core skills as well. Candidates must understand how to use Teams usage reports, Quality of Service analytics, and audit logs to identify and resolve performance or security issues.
By assessing this wide array of skills, the MS-700 exam ensures that certified administrators are capable of handling both the strategic and operational demands of a Microsoft Teams environment.
Eligibility and Prerequisites
There are no formal prerequisites for taking the MS-700 exam, but certain knowledge areas and experience are highly recommended. Ideally, candidates should have one or more years of experience working with Microsoft Teams or other Microsoft 365 workloads in an administrative capacity.
A good understanding of Microsoft 365 core services is essential, particularly Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, and OneDrive for Business. Experience with identity management through Microsoft Entra ID and knowledge of security and compliance tools in Microsoft 365 are also advantageous.
Practical familiarity with the Teams admin center and PowerShell scripting is crucial. Many tasks in the exam require performing administrative actions using cmdlets or applying policy configurations that are only accessible via PowerShell.
While not mandatory, completing Microsoft’s official MS-700 course or equivalent instructor-led training can significantly improve a candidate’s preparedness. This training covers all exam objectives and provides hands-on labs for practice.
For students and educators, academic pricing may be available. To access this, candidates need to verify their student status by linking their Microsoft account with an educational institution or providing valid proof of academic enrollment.
Overall, while anyone can attempt the MS-700 exam, those with hands-on experience and a solid grasp of Microsoft Teams’ architecture and management tools will be best positioned to succeed.
Managing Chat and Collaboration Settings
Microsoft Teams offers a rich set of chat and collaboration features, which must be carefully configured and governed to meet organizational requirements. As a Teams Administrator, your role includes configuring messaging policies, managing Teams and channels, enabling collaboration with external users, and ensuring Teams apps are used securely and effectively.
Configuring Messaging Policies
Messaging policies in Microsoft Teams control which chat and messaging features are available to users. These policies define whether users can edit or delete messages, use chat, employ GIFs, memes, stickers, and whether translation features are enabled.
Administrators can manage these policies in the Teams Admin Center or via PowerShell. You can assign messaging policies globally, per user, or through policy packages.
Key settings include:
- Chat: Enables or disables private 1:1 and group chats.
- Giphy settings: Filters Giphy content based on content rating.
- Read receipts: Allow users to see if their messages were read.
- Priority notifications: Allows users to mark messages as urgent.
Best practice: Create custom messaging policies tailored to departments, and apply stricter settings for sensitive roles (e.g., legal, HR).
Managing Teams and Channels
Teams consist of channels where collaboration happens. Channels can be standard (open to the whole team), private (invite-only), or shared (collaborate with users across teams or organizations).
You should know how to:
- Create and manage teams using the Teams admin center or PowerShell.
- Control team creation by limiting who can create Microsoft 365 Groups.
- Set up naming policies, expiration policies, and sensitivity labels.
- Enable or disable features like @mentions, connectors, and tabs.
Admins can use policies to control who can create private channels or shared channels. It’s crucial to strike a balance between enabling productivity and maintaining governance.
Team templates can be used to standardize team structure across departments. These templates include pre-defined channels, tabs, and apps for consistent deployment.
External Access and Guest Access
External access (federation) allows Teams users to communicate with people in other domains using Teams, Skype for Business, or Skype. You configure which domains can connect and whether users can find each other by email.
Guest access allows users from outside your organization to participate in your Teams environment with access to chat, files, and apps. Guests must have a Microsoft Entra ID or a Microsoft Account.
Configuration steps:
- Enable guest access in the Teams admin center.
- Adjust sharing settings in Microsoft Entra ID and SharePoint Online.
- Apply sensitivity labels and policies to control what guests can access.
- Use access reviews and conditional access to ensure compliance.
Best practice: Regularly review guest access via the Microsoft 365 security center or Azure AD Access Reviews.
App Permission Policies
Teams supports a wide range of apps—from first-party Microsoft apps to third-party and custom apps. As an admin, you can control which apps are available to users by configuring:
- App permission policies: Control who can use which apps.
- App setup policies: Pre-pin apps to users’ Teams interface.
- Custom app policies: Manage publishing of custom-developed apps.
Use Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps (formerly MCAS) to monitor app usage and block risky or non-compliant applications.
Managing Meetings and Live Events
Meetings in Teams are central to productivity. Admins must configure policies, audio conferencing options, and ensure high-quality experiences.
Meeting Policies
Meeting policies control the features available to users before, during, and after meetings.
Key policy settings include:
- Who can bypass the lobby?
- Recording permissions.
- Meeting chat availability.
- Screen sharing and attendee roles.
You can assign meeting policies globally or per user. Always test new policies in a pilot group before rolling them out broadly.
Advanced options include watermarking, preventing copying of shared content, and enabling end-to-end encryption for sensitive meetings.
Audio Conferencing
Microsoft Teams provides a dial-in conferencing option for users who cannot join via the app. This requires:
- Audio Conferencing licenses.
- Assignment of dial-in numbers (shared or dedicated).
- Configuration of conferencing bridges and PINs.
Admins can customize the audio conferencing bridge with company greetings and hold music. Monitoring audio conferencing usage is crucial to ensure compliance and billing control.
Live Events
Teams Live Events supports webinars, broadcasts, and town hall meetings. They allow up to 10,000 attendees (or more with Teams Premium).
Admin tasks include:
- Enabling live events and selecting production methods (Quick Start or External Encoder).
- Assigning user roles: organizer, presenter, and producer.
- Configuring recording policies, attendee engagement features, and eCDN options.
Compliance policies (e.g., retention, DLP) also apply to live event content. Training users to manage large-scale events effectively is part of the admin’s responsibility.
Managing Calling in Microsoft Teams
Teams integrates enterprise-grade calling features, replacing traditional PBX systems. Admins configure phone systems, call routing, and voice policies.
Phone System Overview
Microsoft Phone System provides:
- Voicemail.
- Auto attendants and call queues.
- Direct Routing (SBC integration).
- Calling Plans (Microsoft PSTN services).
You can choose among:
- Microsoft Calling Plans (in select countries).
- Direct Routing (third-party PSTN via certified SBC).
- Operator Connect (partner-provided PSTN without SBC management).
Call Policies and Voice Routing
Calling policies control:
- Call forwarding, simultaneous ringing.
- Call park and retrieve.
- Private calling and voicemail.
Voice routing policies define how calls are routed to the PSTN. With Direct Routing, you’ll configure:
- Voice routes and dial plans.
- PSTN usage.
- Trunks and SBCs.
Admins must verify that SBCs are correctly certified and secured (TLS/SRTP). In hybrid environments, Teams can coexist with Skype for Business or legacy PBXs.
Emergency Calling and Location Services
In compliance with regulations, Microsoft Teams supports emergency calling. Admins must configure:
- Emergency calling policies.
- Dynamic E911 with location info (using LIS or network-based detection).
- Location-based routing for certain regions.
Testing emergency configurations thoroughly is essential, especially in hybrid environments or large campuses.
Monitoring and Reporting in Microsoft Teams
Monitoring ensures that your Teams environment is healthy and secure. Microsoft provides several tools for admins.
Teams Usage Reports
Use the Microsoft 365 admin center to access usage analytics:
- Active users over time.
- Teams activity reports (chat, calls, meetings).
- Device usage trends (Windows, macOS, mobile).
These reports help understand adoption and usage trends, allowing admins to take action to boost engagement or enforce compliance.
Call Analytics and Call Quality Dashboard
For call and meeting troubleshooting, use:
- Call Analytics: Investigate user-specific call quality.
- Call Quality Dashboard (CQD): Analyze trends across the org.
CQD provides insights on:
- Poor-quality calls.
- Network issues.
- Device-related problems.
Admins can customize CQD reports with Power BI integration for detailed visualizations.
Audit Logs and Compliance Reporting
Teams events (message edits, meeting joins, file access) are logged in the Microsoft Purview audit log. Admins can search logs to investigate suspicious behavior or respond to legal inquiries.
Key compliance features:
- Audit logging (requires E5 or equivalent license).
- Insider risk management alerts.
- DLP and eDiscovery cases.
All data in Teams, including chat messages and call metadata, can be searched and exported for legal compliance.
Troubleshooting Teams Issues
Admins are expected to resolve a variety of issues across meetings, chat, calling, and device setups.
Troubleshooting Tools
- Microsoft Teams Admin Center: Device health, user diagnostics, policy configurations.
- PowerShell: Query user policies, perform bulk actions, reset settings.
- Network Assessment Tool: Evaluate latency, packet loss, and jitter.
- Service Health Dashboard: Identify if a Microsoft service outage is causing the issue.
Common Issues and Solutions
User can’t sign in:
- Check network connectivity and DNS settings.
- Validate credentials in Microsoft Entra ID.
- Check for conditional access or license issues.
Call quality is poor:
- Review Call Analytics and CQD.
- Check endpoints (mic/headset) and network health.
- Ensure QoS tagging is enabled on corporate networks.
Missing Teams features:
- Confirm correct policies are assigned.
- Use Get-CsTeamsMessagingPolicy or Get-CsTeamsMeetingPolicy in PowerShell.
- Validate licensing (Teams Premium may be needed for some features).
File sharing problems:
- Check SharePoint and OneDrive permissions.
- Validate sensitivity labels and external sharing settings.
Best Practices
Administering Microsoft Teams requires a blend of technical, governance, and user-focused skills. By understanding the components covered in this part of the guide, you’ll be well prepared to:
- Manage chat, channels, and app usage.
- Configure and govern meetings, live events, and calling.
- Use analytics tools to monitor health and usage.
- Troubleshoot common issues across various workloads.
Best practices include:
- Start with pilot deployments for new features.
- Use policy packages and templates for consistency.
- Regularly review Teams analytics and service health.
- Educate users through training and in-product guidance.
Managing Security and Compliance in Microsoft Teams
Security and compliance are critical responsibilities for Microsoft Teams administrators, especially in regulated industries or large enterprises. Teams integrates with Microsoft 365 compliance features to support data protection, auditing, and regulatory obligations.
Information Protection with Sensitivity Labels
Sensitivity labels allow you to classify and protect sensitive content within Teams. When applied to Teams or Microsoft 365 Groups, these labels can:
- Control whether a team is public or private.
- Restrict access to external users.
- Define device access rules.
To configure sensitivity labels:
- Create labels in the Microsoft Purview Compliance Portal.
- Publish them to users or groups.
- Make sure Microsoft Entra ID and Teams are properly integrated.
Admins can enforce conditional access and auto-labeling policies depending on the label configuration.
Data Loss Prevention (DLP)
DLP policies prevent sensitive data from being shared inappropriately within Teams chats and files. You can apply DLP policies to:
- Chat messages (1:1 and group chats).
- Channel conversations.
- Files shared via SharePoint or OneDrive.
Set up DLP policies by:
- Creating a policy in Microsoft Purview.
- Selecting Teams as a location.
- Defining rules for sensitive information types and user actions.
You can configure DLP to notify users, block messages, or restrict file sharing. Testing in audit mode before going live is recommended.
Retention and eDiscovery
Retention policies ensure that Teams data is preserved or deleted according to your organization’s legal and compliance requirements.
You can apply retention to:
- Teams chats.
- Channel messages.
- Files shared through Teams.
eDiscovery in Microsoft Purview allows legal teams to find, hold, and export data from Teams. The typical eDiscovery process involves:
- Creating a case.
- Adding custodians and defining search parameters.
- Exporting data or placing it on hold.
Retention policies can be time-based or event-based, such as retaining content for a specific duration after user departure.
Governance and Lifecycle Management
Governance helps manage the creation, usage, and end-of-life of Teams in your organization.
Group Naming, Expiration, and Access Reviews
Microsoft 365 Groups, which underpin Teams, support policies for:
- Naming: Apply prefixes or suffixes (like “HR_”) and block certain words.
- Expiration: Automatically delete inactive groups, with renewal options for owners.
- Access Reviews: Periodically validate group membership, especially for guests.
You can manage these settings through Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD). For example, set an expiration policy to delete unused Teams after 180 days or prompt owners to renew access.
Access reviews are particularly useful for regulatory compliance and reducing unnecessary external access.
Team Lifecycle Management
A well-managed Teams lifecycle includes:
- Provisioning: Use templates or automation to create Teams with consistent settings.
- Monitoring Usage: Track active/inactive teams and member engagement.
- Archiving/Deletion: Automatically archive or delete teams that are no longer used.
Tools that help include:
- Teams Admin Center (for archiving, deleting, and policy management).
- Microsoft Graph API and PowerShell (for automating lifecycle events).
- Power Platform and third-party provisioning solutions.
It’s a good idea to develop a company-wide policy on when to retire or archive Teams.
Automating Microsoft Teams Administration
Automation reduces repetitive work and improves consistency across large Teams environments.
PowerShell for Teams Administration
Using PowerShell with the MicrosoftTeams module allows administrators to perform a wide range of tasks, including:
- Creating and managing teams and channels.
- Assigning and configuring policies.
- Managing user settings and team memberships.
Examples of PowerShell commands:
powershell
CopyEdit
# Install and connect
Install-Module -Name MicrosoftTeams
Connect-MicrosoftTeams
# List all Teams
Get-Team
# Assign a messaging policy to a user
Grant-CsTeamsMessagingPolicy -PolicyName “NoGiphyPolicy” -Identity “user@domain.com”
PowerShell is especially helpful for bulk operations using CSV files.
Microsoft Graph API
Microsoft Graph provides REST APIs that let you manage Teams programmatically. You can:
- Create or archive teams.
- Manage team members and channels.
- Retrieve audit logs and team properties.
Graph API supports automation via:
- Azure Logic Apps.
- Power Automate.
- Custom scripts or apps.
It is a powerful tool for integration and provisioning at scale.
Using Power Automate and Logic Apps
Power Automate enables no-code/low-code workflows. You can create flows that:
- Post adaptive cards or messages to Teams channels.
- Notify users when files are uploaded or events occur.
- Automate approvals or reminders.
Example use cases:
- Automatically create a channel for every new project.
- Archive channels when they haven’t been used for 90 days.
- Send daily updates from SharePoint into Teams.
These tools can improve efficiency and reduce manual effort for IT teams.
Preparing for the MS-700 Exam
Success on the MS-700 exam requires both theoretical understanding and hands-on experience with Microsoft Teams.
Skills Measured
The exam covers four main areas:
- Planning and configuring a Microsoft Teams environment.
- Managing chat, calling, and meetings.
- Managing Teams and app policies.
- Monitoring and troubleshooting Microsoft Teams.
Each domain requires familiarity with the Teams Admin Center, Microsoft Purview, PowerShell, and Microsoft Entra ID.
Study Resources
Use a mix of official and supplemental resources:
- Microsoft Learn (free learning paths aligned to exam objectives).
- Exam Ref MS-700 book.
- Hands-on practice in a Microsoft 365 developer tenant.
- Third-party practice tests and flashcards.
Microsoft’s official MS-700 exam page always has the latest outline and links to learning content.
Monitoring and Reporting in Microsoft Teams
To ensure Microsoft Teams is operating smoothly, administrators need tools to track usage, performance, and call quality. Monitoring helps detect issues early and supports better decision-making for optimization and adoption.
Using the Teams Admin Center for Monitoring
The Teams Admin Center is the primary interface for managing Teams settings and viewing usage data. It allows administrators to:
- Track user activity, such as messages sent and meetings organized.
- View trends in app usage across your organization.
- Access individual user call records for quality troubleshooting.
- Monitor team-level statistics, including owner/member counts and recent activity.
Reports are filterable by date and can be exported for further analysis or integration with external tools.
Insights from Microsoft 365 Usage Reports
The Microsoft 365 Admin Center includes cross-service reporting that provides broader insight into how Teams fits into the overall Microsoft 365 environment. This includes:
- Trends in active users over time.
- How users interact with Teams via desktop, mobile, or web clients.
- Usage comparisons between Teams and other collaboration tools like SharePoint or Exchange.
These insights can inform adoption strategies and help identify underutilized features.
Investigating Call Quality with Call Analytics
Call Analytics is useful for troubleshooting voice and video quality issues for individual users. It presents data such as:
- When a user joined or left a meeting.
- The type of network used and its performance (like latency and packet loss).
- Devices used for meetings and calls (microphones, speakers, cameras).
- Session-level diagnostics to pinpoint issues.
Admins can use this tool when users report poor call quality or technical difficulties in meetings.
Tracking Trends with the Call Quality Dashboard (CQD)
CQD gives a broader, organization-level view of call and meeting performance. It helps you identify patterns and recurring issues by aggregating data. It’s especially helpful for:
- Assessing call quality across different office locations or network segments.
- Comparing call performance over time to identify negative trends.
- Investigating specific device or network problems that affect multiple users.
Admins can improve reporting by uploading location and subnet data, making it easier to pinpoint where problems occur.
Troubleshooting Issues in Microsoft Teams
When users encounter problems in Teams, administrators should use structured troubleshooting methods and available tools to diagnose and resolve issues.
Tools Available for Troubleshooting
Several tools are provided to help admins investigate problems in Teams:
- Built-in diagnostics in the Admin Center that automatically test for known issues.
- Client logs, which users can generate manually by using keyboard shortcuts. These logs include technical details about connectivity, errors, and usage.
- Advanced diagnostics and escalation through Microsoft Support for unresolved or backend-related issues.
- Network testing tools that verify if the network supports the bandwidth and latency requirements for Teams.
These tools help pinpoint whether the issue lies with the user’s device, the network, or the Teams service itself.
Common Issues and How to Address Them
Some of the most frequently reported problems include:
- Sign-in problems: Check that the user’s license is active, that multi-factor authentication isn’t causing a failure, and that necessary endpoints aren’t being blocked by the firewall.
- Audio or video quality problems: Look at Call Analytics for network stats and check if the user is using certified audio devices.
- Guests unable to join meetings: Ensure guest access or external access is properly enabled in Teams settings. Also, check whether the user’s domain is allowed.
- Missing Teams or channels: Verify if the Team was archived or deleted, and whether the user is still listed as a member.
Effective troubleshooting usually involves verifying policies, testing connectivity, reviewing logs, and applying Microsoft’s documentation and support tools.
Managing Applications in Microsoft Teams
Teams supports apps that enhance collaboration. These include Microsoft-developed apps, third-party apps, and custom solutions built by organizations. Admins control what users can install and how these apps behave.
Controlling App Access and Availability
Teams provides two key policy types for managing apps:
- App permission policies define which apps users are allowed to install or use. This helps you restrict access to only approved apps.
- App setup policies control which apps appear by default and are pinned in the Teams sidebar. This ensures users can easily access essential tools.
Admins can assign different policies to different user groups to support various business roles and departments.
Managing Third-Party and Custom Applications
Admins have several options when it comes to controlling external and internal apps:
- Enable or disable third-party app usage for the entire organization or specific users.
- Approve or block specific apps based on compliance and business requirements.
- Upload custom-developed internal apps for use within the company.
It’s recommended to conduct security reviews before enabling third-party or custom apps, particularly when dealing with sensitive or regulated data.
Managing Teams-Compatible Devices
Teams is compatible with a range of hardware devices, including phones, meeting room systems, displays, and peripherals. Admins are responsible for managing these devices to ensure quality collaboration experiences.
Managing Devices via the Teams Admin Center
From the Admin Center, you can perform several device-related tasks:
- View a complete list of all registered devices.
- Check device health status and recent activity.
- Push firmware updates remotely to maintain compliance.
- Restart or reset devices as needed.
This centralized management helps reduce IT workload and ensures devices remain secure and up to date.
Understanding Certified Devices
Teams-certified devices are tested by Microsoft for quality and compatibility. They include:
- Headsets and speakerphones are optimized for calls.
- Phones that run a native Teams interface.
- Room systems with integrated cameras, microphones, and touch displays.
- Displays and collaboration bars are used in huddle rooms or offices.
Using certified devices ensures high-quality communication and minimizes support requests. It’s also important to assign the correct licenses to users or meeting rooms to unlock the full capabilities of these devices.
Study Recommendations
You’ve now reviewed key concepts for monitoring, troubleshooting, app governance, and device management in Microsoft Teams — all vital parts of the MS-700 exam.
Study Strategy Checklist
- Practice using the Teams Admin Center to explore reporting and diagnostic tools.
- Familiarize yourself with Call Analytics and the Call Quality Dashboard.
- Review app permissions and setup policies, and test them in a lab environment.
- Explore Teams-compatible devices and device management options.
- Take practice exams to identify weak areas and reinforce your understanding.
Suggested Next Steps
Once you pass MS-700, consider expanding your skills by studying:
- MS-102 (Microsoft 365 Administrator) – for broader knowledge of Microsoft 365 services.
- SC-300 (Identity and Access Administrator) – for deeper expertise in identity management.
- Teams Rooms Specialization – to manage large-scale Teams meeting room deployments.
Final Thoughts
Preparing for the MS-700: Managing Microsoft Teams exam requires a clear understanding of Microsoft Teams as a collaboration platform, not just a messaging tool. It brings together meetings, calls, file sharing, applications, and advanced governance features into one unified experience. The exam is designed to test both your technical knowledge and your ability to apply that knowledge in practical, real-world scenarios.
As a Teams Administrator, your primary goal is to ensure that Teams is configured and maintained in a way that aligns with your organization’s communication and security needs. This involves understanding how Teams integrates with other Microsoft 365 services and being familiar with key administrative tools and policies. You must be prepared to plan, configure, and monitor the Teams environment, addressing everything from compliance and security to voice integration and user adoption.
Focusing on the core exam objectives is essential. Make sure you have hands-on experience with configuring Teams policies, managing access controls, implementing data protection strategies, and using PowerShell or Microsoft Graph for administration tasks. Understanding the lifecycle of Teams and being able to troubleshoot common client issues are also important. Practice with realistic scenarios and simulations whenever possible to strengthen your problem-solving skills.
Staying current with Microsoft Teams updates and best practices is also crucial, as the platform evolves regularly. Subscribe to official announcements, participate in online communities, and make use of available documentation and study resources. Continuing your learning even after earning the certification will help you stay effective in your role and adapt to new features or changes within Microsoft 365.
Finally, approach the exam with confidence. Read each question carefully, consider all options before answering, and manage your time wisely during the test. After successfully passing, the certification can enhance your career by demonstrating your expertise in a rapidly growing area of enterprise collaboration. It also lays the foundation for pursuing additional certifications or roles within the Microsoft ecosystem.
Preparing thoroughly, practicing regularly, and staying focused will help you achieve your certification goals. Let your experience, knowledge, and preparation guide you to success.