This is the first post in a series I intend to create around the MB2-710 certification. (Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2016 Online Deployment.) I will try to make these posts detailed enough for the CRM novice to gain the required knowledge whilst still informative enough for the experts out there to use my posts as revision guides.

The MB2-710 certification for Microsoft Dynamics CRM covers all aspects of deploying Microsoft Dynamics CRM in an online environment. I did previously successfully pass the MB2-706 exam which has a very similar title of “Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online Deployment”, the two exams will obviously have a lot in common. However, when I took the MB2-706 exam I felt it often crossed over into subjects beyond online deployment. The skills measured for the newer MB2-710 exam suggests that the subjects covered are more detailed but also very much more focused on the online experience.

During my posts, I plan to cover (hopefully) everything you will need to revise for the MB2-710 exam. Looking at the skills measured we can see the following topics are included ….

1. Implement a Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online deployment.
   
2. Configure Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online.
   
3. Manage Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online.
   
4. Manage related services.
   
5. Manage mobile device apps.
   
6. Implement Microsoft Dynamics CRM for Microsoft Office Outlook
   
7. Manage email
   
8. Manage server-side synchronization
   

Consider how you spend your time revising. Reading blog posts is useful and I am sure you can find many other great sources of technical information. But do not make this your only preparation. If you are revising how Yammer integration works the absolute best approach is to actually set-up Yammer. One of the benefits of the online product is that you can configure a 30-day free trial. Create a trial system and use this to help with your exam prep. The 30-day nature might also give you an incentive to pass the exam within a month!

If you haven’t taken one of these exams before, you need to know that you will be presented with multiple choice questions. The questions will not be easy! There aren’t any trick questions but some will be deliberately phrased to test your knowledge. Meaning preparation is key.

At this point (and repeatedly during your revision) it is important to read and re-read the skills measured. You need to be prepared to answer anything mentioned in the skills measured. AND at the same time try to keep your learnings focused, be mindful not to go off at tangents revising “stuff” that isn’t covered. For example, importing unmanaged and managed solutions isn’t covered. This is an interesting topic but learning about them will not help you pass the exam.

Implement a Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online deployment

• Access Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online
  
  • Describe methods for accessing Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online; identify supported browsers; identify supported phone operating systems; describe requirements for Dynamics CRM for tablets; identify supported web browsers; identify user subscription licence types; describe subscription add-ons
    
• Plan a deployment
  
  • Identify the storage requirements; plan security; determine the number of instances and licences that are required; identify implications of implementing single sign-on
    
• Import data
  
  • Compare the methods for importing data; import data by using the Import Data Wizard; identify limitations of import processes
    
• Customize Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online
  
  • Create new fields; modify values for option sets; modify entity forms; create new entities and reports; modify views and dashboard.
    

Configure Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online

• Configure subscriptions
  
  • Identify methods to sign-up for a subscription; identify subscription requirements; describe the subscription cancellation process; describe the methods for purchasing add-ons
    
• Manage users
  
  • Identify the methods to add users to Dynamics CRM Online; assign Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online licences to users; assign security roles; enable and disable users; describe non-interactive users; mark a user as non-interactive; identify administrative roles
    
• Synchronise user accounts
  
  • Compare Dynamics CRM Online accounts with company accounts; describe user synchronisation; identify the steps to synchronise Active Directory with Office 365; describe Active Directory Federation Services
    

Manage Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online

• Administer Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online instances
  
  • Define instances; describe the relationship between instances subscriptions, tenants and security groups; describe instance types; set instance properties; switch an instance; reset an instance; place an instance in administrative mode; delete an instance; describe methods to copy an instance; create a copy of an instance
    
• Describe tenant considerations
  
  • Identify limitations on the number and type of instances per tenant; configure the region for a tenant; describe limitation and requirements for multiple tenants
    
• Manage storage and administrative notifications
  
  • Identify the storage limit for a subscription; describe the implications of reaching the storage limit; view resources used; identify requirements and limitations for sending administrative notifications
    
• Describe the Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online update policy
  
  • Identify the frequency of updates; describe the update process; determine the version of Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online; skip updates; approve updates; determine what updates are available; reschedule an update
    

Manage related services

• Describe related services
  
  • Identify related online services; integrate Microsoft Social Engagement with Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online; manage campaigns with Microsoft Dynamics Marketing
    
• Integrate Yammer and SharePoint Online
  
  • Describe Yammer and SharePoint Online; identify SharePoint Online integration types; describe the integration process
    
• Integrate OneNote, Skype, Skype for Business, Office 365 Groups, and OneDrive for Business
  
  • Compare Dynamics CRM Notes and OneNote; identify storage location for OneNote notebooks; configure OneNote integration; integrate Skype and Skype for Business; identify limitations for Skype and Skype for Business; describe Office 365 Groups; identify requirements for Office 365 Groups; integrate Office 365 Groups with Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online
    

Manage mobile device apps

• Install and use mobile device apps
  
  • Identify the mobile apps for phones and tablets; describe requirements for mobile apps; identify supported mobile device hardware and software; install mobile apps; configure security privileges; describe restrictions for working offline; create draft records
    
• Configure entities for mobile
  
  • Identify entity types that can be accessed from mobile apps; hide form components; enable dashboards for mobile apps
    

Implement Microsoft Dynamics CRM for Microsoft Office Outlook

• Deploy Dynamics CRM for Outlook
  
  • Identify supported operating systems; describe required software components; compare Dynamics CRM for Outlook versions; identify deployment methods; configure Dynamics CRM for Outlook; configure multiple organisations
    
• Configure offline capabilities
  
  • Describe offline capabilities; identify fields that can be synchronised; describe limitations for synchronised fields; configure synchronised fields
    

Manage email

• Select an email processing option
  
  • Identify email processing options; describe the advantages of each email processing option; identify limitations and requirements for each email processing option
    
• Track and correlate email
  
  • Compare email tracking with email correlation; describe user options for automatic tracking; describe correlation options; identify limitations of folder-level tracking; configure folder-level tracking for Exchange folders
    
• Manage mailbox records and email
  
  • Describe synchronisation methods for incoming and outgoing email; configure the default synchronisation method for users and queues; describe mailbox records; configure approval for email addresses
    

Manage server-side synchronisation

• Configure server-side synchronisation
  
  • Describe server-side synchronisation; identify server-side synchronisation features and supported configurations; set the email processing method; configure mailbox records
    
• Set up a forwarding mailbox
  
  • Describe mailbox forwarding; create a forward mailbox record; add email forwarding rules for users; add mailbox records to server profile; enable mailboxes; test email configuration; describe synchronisation alerts; view the Performance Dashboard
    

In future posts I will explore the detail behind each of the skills measured. J