Exam Profile: Managing and Maintaining Windows 8 (70-688)

Date: Feb 8, 2013

This article profiles the Managing and Maintaining Windows 8 (70-688) exam, which focuses on long term management and routine maintenance tasks for Windows 8. Pearson IT Certification provides a variety of exam preparation tools to help our customers in their quest for certification. As part of our service to you, we have developed this Exam Profile series. Each profile is developed based on the testing experience of one of our trainers or authors. You won’t get exact questions or answers, but you will get a real feel for the exam. Each profile describes question forms, trouble spots, hints for exam preparation, and recommendations for additional study resources. Find out what you can expect to see on the exam and how you can better prepare for it.

Exam 70-688 represents the next logical step for those who have passed Exam 70-687. While Exam 70-687 focuses primarily on the initial Windows 8 deployment and configuration process, Exam 70-688 focus on long term management and routine maintenance tasks for Windows 8.

Exam Details

Number of questions: Microsoft does not disclose the number of questions on their certification exams, but this exam is estimated to have about 50 questions.
Types of questions: Microsoft does not disclose the exam format, but the bulk of the exam is reported to be made up of multiple choice questions. You may also encounter simulations, reorder, or build a tree questions.
Passing score: 700/1000
Time limit: Microsoft does not disclose the time limit for their exams, but most exams have a time limit of about two hours.
How to register: Prometric

Trouble Spots

For many, the most difficult part of this exam will be the section on designing an installation and application strategy. This section places a great deal of emphasis on non-native tools that may be unfamiliar to some administrators, such as App-V.

In addition, it is important to make sure that you know how to use AppLocker to restrict applications and to lock down the app store. You can expect to see a number of questions related to application control and application compatibility.

Trouble Spots

Preparation Hints

Anyone who has ever worked with Windows 8 knows that it has a lot in common with Windows 7. Not surprisingly, a lot of the material on this exam should be very familiar to those who are proficient with Windows 7.

While it is a good idea to review all of the material covered in the exam objectives (which are outlined below), it is best to spend a minimal amount of time on the material that is leftover from Windows 7 and focus instead on some of the more challenging aspects of the exam. For example, you might spend a relatively little amount of time reviewing printer management and file recovery so that you can spend more time on topics such as cloud application strategies or Client Hyper-V.

Recommended Study Resources

Microsoft offers live classroom training for Exam 70-688 in the form of a five day training class called 20688A: Managing and Maintaining Windows 8. In addition, a number of other study resources are available including:

Preparation Hints

Exam Objectives

The objectives for this exam, as stated by Microsoft include:

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; Operating system virtualization; Native VHD boot; Multi boot; Upgrade vs. migration

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; Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP); Application Compatibility Toolkit (ACT); and App-V; Application updates; Application co-existence; Application reputation; Internet Explorer 10 management

Design an application strategy for cloud applications.

This objective may include but is not limited to the following design considerations: Microsoft Office 365; Metro applications; Restricting Windows Store content; AppLocker; Internal content

Design a solution for user settings.

This objective may include but is not limited to the following design considerations: User profiles; USMT 5.0/WET; Windows Live integration; Folder redirection; User experience virtualization (UE-V)

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; Wireless; Network 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; Metered networks; VPN; RDP; DirectAccess; Remote administration

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; Manage data availability using BranchCache

Manage data security.

This objective may include but is not limited to: Manage share/NTFS permissions for storage spaces; Configure EFS; Configure security for removable media; Manage BitLocker and BitLocker To Go

Maintain Windows Clients and Devices (27%)

Manage hardware and printers.

This objective may include but is not limited to: Resolve hardware and device issues; Sync devices and resolve sync issues; 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, secure SIM, and remote access; Manage mobile access; Manage Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync in mobile devices

Design a recovery solution.

This objective may include but is not limited to the following design considerations: PC refresh/reset; Windows 7 file recovery; Recovery drive; System restore; User files including local files, SkyDrive, and file history; User profile settings; Application settings

Manage endpoint security.

This objective may include but is not limited to: Resolve endpoint security issues; Manage updates using Windows Update; Manage client security using Windows Defender; Manage client security using the Microsoft System Center 2012 Endpoint Protection client; Configure application reputation

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: Manage updates and update groups; Configure the company portal; Monitor on-network and off-network machines; Manage asset inventory

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; Manage 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); Monitor clients using System Center Desktop Error Monitoring; Manage the App-V client; Manage BitLocker and BitLocker To Go using Microsoft BitLocker Administration and Monitoring (MBAM)

Where to Go from Here

Those passing the 70-688 do not automatically receive a Microsoft certification. This exam counts as credit toward the MCSA: Windows 8 certification. In order to receive this certification, you must pass the following exams:

Exam 70-687, Configuring Windows 8
Exam 70-688, Managing and Maintaining Windows 8