Last week I got a beta exam invite for exam “70-688 Managing and Maintaining Windows 8” (in beta it is 71-688). As with most beta exams lately, you only have max two weeks to prepare and there are no books available yet that you can use to study. Therefore I start with looking at what skills are being measured and if there are preparation guides available. From there on I start looking for relevant learning resources for each subject and adding them to the skills that are being measured for easy future reference.

I hope it is useful for you as well.

Exam content and preparation information

• 70-688 Managing and Maintaining Windows 8 Skills Measured
• 70-688 Managing and Maintaining Windows 8 Prep Guide

Generic resources

• Windows 8 Techcenter (check the explore, plan and deliver tabs)
• Windows 8 IT Pro forums
• Gearing up for the Windows 8 launch: Best Windows 8 Resources

Skills measured updated with links to learning resources

Skills measured

This exam measures your ability to accomplish the technical tasks listed below.The percentages indicate the relative weight of each major topic area on the exam.The higher the percentage, the more questions you are likely to see on that content area on the exam.The information after “This objective may include but is not limited to” is intended to further define or scope the objective by describing the types of skills and topics that may be tested for the objective. However, it is not an exhaustive list of skills and topics that could be included on the exam for a given skill area. You may be tested on other skills and topics related to the objective that are not explicitly listed here.Skills being measured

Design an Installation and Application Strategy (25%)

• Design an operating system installation strategy. This objective may include but is not limited to the following design considerations:
  • Windows To Go
    • Windows To Go Feature Overview
    • Windows To Go Frequently Asked Questions
    • Prepare your organization for Windows To Go
    • Deployment considerations for Windows To Go
    • Windows To Go Step By Step
  • Operating system virtualization
    • Microsoft Virtualization techologies
    • Microsoft Desktop Virtualization
  • Native VHD boot
    • Understanding Virtual Hard Disks with Native Boot
    • Walkthrough: Deploy a Virtual Hard Disk for Native Boot
    • Installing Windows 8 Release Preview on a .VHD file
  • Multi boot
    • BCDboot Command-Line Options
    • BCDedit
  • Upgrade vs. migration
    • Windows 8 Upgrade Paths
    • User State Migration Tool (USMT) Technical Reference
    • Choosing a deployment strategy (high-touch, lite-touch, zero-touch)
    • Install, Deploy, and Migrate to Windows 8
    • Microsoft Assessment and Planning (MAP) Toolkit for Windows 8, Windows 7 and Internet Explorer 9
    • Windows Deployment with the Windows ADK (Assesment and Deployment Kit)
• Design an application strategy for desktop applications. This objective may include but is not limited to the following design considerations:
  • Application compatibility using Client Hyper-V
    • Client Hyper-V – Windows 8’s alternative for Windows 7’s XP-mode
    • Bringing Hyper-V to “Windows 8”
  • Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP)
    • Remote Desktop Protocol 8.0
    • Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) and RDS Session Virtualization
    • RemoteApp overview
    • RemoteApp improvements
  • Application Compatibility Toolkit (ACT) 6.0
    • Application Compatibility Toolkit (ACT) Technical Reference
    • Understanding shims
  • App-V
    • Microsoft Application Virtualization (App-V)
  • Application updates
    • Depends on used virtualization technologies.
    • Group policy
    • Windows Intune
    • System Center Configuration Manager
    • 3rd party software deployment tools like Altiris
  • Application co-existence
    • Depends on used virtualization technologies, infrastructure and how it is configured (RDS, VDI, RemoteApp, Hyper-V, etc).
  • Application reputation
    • Protecting you from malware
  • Internet Explorer 10 management
    • Internet Explorer 10 Technet including FAQ, Internet Explorer Administration Kit (IEAK), Internet Explorer Compatibility Inspector and Group Policies
• Design an application strategy for cloud applications.This objective may include but is not limited to the following design considerations:
  • Microsoft Office 365
    • Office 365 TechCenter
    • Office 365 Technet Library
  • Metro applications
    • Managing Client Access to the Windows Store
    • Sideloading metro applications using Powershell, DISM and GPO.
    • Metro Sideloader application
    • Using System Center 2012 SP1 for installing Windows 8 applications (.appx) directly or linking to the Windows Store.
  • Restricting Windows Store content
    • Disable access to the store using GPO for users and/or computers
  • AppLocker
    • Windows apps / Metro Apps / Packaged Apps and AppLocker
    • How to manage Published (a.k.a Metro) Apps in Windows 8 using Group Policy
    • Administering AppLocker
    • Software Restriction Policies (SRP)
    • Using SRP and Applocker policies including differences
  • Internal content
    • Skydrive Pro
    • Microsoft Azure
    • Office 365, Sharepoint Online, Exchange Online, Project Online, etc.
• Design a solution for user settings.This objective may include but is not limited to the following design considerations:
  • User profiles
    • Folder Redirection, Offline Files, and Roaming User Profiles overview
  • User State Migration Tool (USMT) 5.0
    • User State Migration Tool (USMT) Technical Reference
  • Windows Easy Transfer (WET)
  • Windows Live integration
    • Microsoft Accounts vs. Local accounts in Windows 8
    • Updates for Microsoft apps that integrate with existing live services
  • Folder redirection
    • Folder redirection overview
  • User experience virtualization (UE-V)
    • Microsoft User Experience Virtualization (UE-V)
    • PolicyPak and Microsoft UE-V – Better Together Story

Maintain Resource Access (27%)

• Design for network connectivity.This objective may include but is not limited to the following design considerations:
  • IPv4 and IPv6
  • Name resolution
    • Technet Windows Server 2012 and Windows 8 including what’s new and DNSSSEC
  • Wireless
  • Network security
    • Windows Firewall with Advanced Security
  • Network settings
• Design for remote access.This objective may include but is not limited to the following design considerations:
  • Off-network use and management
    • Windows Intune
    • DirectAccess
    • Locally installed apps
    • VPN
  • Metered networks
  • VPN
    • Different VPN tunnel types in Windows – which one to use?
    • Deploy Remote Access in an Enterprise
    • Remote Access (DirectAccess, Routing and Remote Access) Overview
    • Connection Manager and Connection Manager Administration Kit (CMAK)
    • Get Connected Wizard (GCW)
  • RDP
    • See Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP)
  • DirectAccess
    • Remote Access (DirectAccess, Routing and Remote Access) Overview
    • Windows Server 2012 Direct Access – Part 1 What’s New
    • Microsoft DirectAccess Connectivity Assistant 2.0
  • Remote administration
    • Remote Server Administration Tools for Windows 8 (RSAT)
    • In introduction to PowerShell Remoting
• Design for authentication and authorization. This objective may include but is not limited to the following design considerations:
  • Two-factor authentication including certificates, smart cards, picture passwords, and biometrics
  • Workgroup vs. domain
  • Trust relationships
  • Local account vs. Microsoft account
• Manage data storage.This objective may include but is not limited to:
  • Resolve data storage issues
  • Manage pools
    • Storage spaces overview
    • Storage spaces FAQ
    • Windows Server 2012 Storage Spaces: Is it for you? Could be…
    • Windows 8 Storage Spaces: Bugs and Design Flaws
  • Manage data availability using BranchCache
    • BranchCache Overview
• Manage data security.This objective may include but is not limited to:
  • Manage share/NTFS permissions for storage spaces
  • Configure EFS
    • Encrypted Hard Drive (not the same as EFS)
    • What is Encrypting File System (EFS) ?
    • Windows 8 – How To Easily Encrypt Files and Folders with EFS
    • Encrypting File System Technet
  • Configure security for removable media
    • Monitor the Use of Removable Storage Devices
    • Bitlocker To Go
    • Manage removable disk access
  • Manage BitLocker and BitLocker To Go
    • Bitlocker technet information
    • What’s new in BitLocker
    • Bitlocker Group Policy settings
    • Microsoft BitLocker Administration and Monitoring (MBAM) in MDOP.

Maintain Windows Clients and Devices (27%)

• Manage hardware and printers.This objective may include but is not limited to:
  • Resolve hardware and device issues
    • Hardware and devices troubleshooter / find and fix problems with devices
    • Troubleshooting Device Conflicts with Device Manager
  • Sync devices and resolve sync issues
    • Windows 8 sync your settings
    • Sync Center: frequently asked questions
  • Monitor and manage print servers
• Manage mobile devices.This objective may include but is not limited to:
  • Resolve mobility issues
  • Manage mobile device policies including security policies
  • NFC
    • Near Field Communication in Windows 8: Part 1
    • Near Field Communication in Windows 8: Part 2
  • secure SIM
    • Vodafone Protects Smartphone Communications With ‘Secure SIM’
  • remote access
    • Windows 8 VPN Connectivity for Unmanaged Devices
    • Work Remotely in Windows Server 2012 Essentials
  • Manage mobile access
    • This is how Windows RT, Windows Phone 8 devices will be managed
    • Microsoft System Center: Manage Mobile Devices with Mobile Device Manager 2008
    • Determine How to Manage Mobile Devices in Configuration Manager 2012
  • Manage Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync in mobile devices
    • Understanding Exchange Activesync
    • Managing Exchange ActiveSync with Policies
    • Set up exchange activesync access to your mailbox
• Design a recovery solution.This objective may include but is not limited to the following design considerations:
  • PC refresh/reset
    • Create a Windows 8 image with recimg.exe to preserve your Desktop apps after a refresh
  • Windows 7 file recovery / Disk image backup
  • Recovery drive / Windows Recovery Environment (WRE)
  • System restore, can also restore using Windows Recovery Environment
  • User files including local files
    • Folder redirection
    • Roaming profiles
    • Skydrive Pro
    • File history
    • Windows 7 file recovery / disk image backup
    • How Windows 8′s Backup System Differs From Windows 7′s
    • Third party tools/cloud backup
  • SkyDrive, and file history
  • User profile settings
    • Roaming profiles
  • Application settings
    • Roaming profiles
    • Windows 8 / Modern UI apps
• Manage endpoint security.This objective may include but is not limited to:
  • Resolve endpoint security issues
    • Action Center
    • Windows Defender
    • Windows Firewall
    • Support Questions about Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012 for Configuration Manager and Endpoint Protection
    • 3rd party security software
  • Manage updates using Windows Update
    • Windows Update
    • WSUS (Windows Server Update Services)
    • Configure Windows Update clients
    • System Center Configuration Manager
    • 3rd party tools like Shavlik or SolarWinds Patch Manager
  • Manage client security using Windows Defender
  • Manage client security using the Microsoft System Center 2012 Endpoint Protection client
  • Configure application reputation / smart screen

Manage Windows 8 Using Cloud Services and Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack (21%)

• Manage clients by using Windows Intune.This objective may include but is not limited to:
  • General information
    • Windows Intune Techcenter
    • Windows Intune Technet library
    • Windows Intune help
  • Manage updates and update groups
    • Creating device groups to organize computers
    • Managing updates
  • Configure the company portal
    • Customizing the company portal
    • Using the company portal
  • Monitor on-network and off-network machines
    • Off-network machines refer to machines that are not connected to the corporate network. Instead they can be managed when they are connected to the internet using cloud services like Windows Intune.
  • Manage asset inventory
    • Computer inventory report
• Manage public cloud services.This objective may include but is not limited to:
  • Manage Windows Live services including Trusted PC, storage, SkyDrive/Live Mesh apps, and groups
  • Implement Office 365 using the Office 365 Desktop Setup
    • Setup your desktop for Office 365
  • Manage Office 365
    • Deployment options for Office 365 ProPlus
    • Clients in Office 365
• Monitor and maintain clients by using MDOP. This objective may include but is not limited to:
  • Remediate startup issues using the Diagnostics and Recovery Toolkit (DaRT)
    • DaRT 8 videos
  • 10 IT Pro Pain Points Simplified with MDOP
  • Monitor clients using System Center Desktop Error Monitoring (DEM)
    • A Tour of Desktop Error Monitoring
    • System Center Desktop Error Monitoring
    • Troubleshooting Agentless Exception Monitoring (AEM) and Desktop Error Monitoring (DEM) features
  • Manage the App-Vclient
    • App-V Client
    • App-V Techcenter
    • App-V Technet Library
    • Introducing the App-V 5.0 Beta Sequencer: What Has Changed Since 4.6 SP1
    • App-V 5.0 video
    • App-V 5.0 Beta 2 tutorial video (client part starts after 24 mins)
  • Manage BitLocker and BitLocker To Go using Microsoft BitLocker Administration and Monitoring (MBAM)
    • How To: Set Up MBAM (MDOP 2011 R2)

If you have any questions or feedback, please leave a comment.