October 2024: Skill up on security year-round with these resources from Microsoft Learn

October and Cybersecurity Awareness Month may be coming to a close, but skilling up on security isn’t confined to a single month—it's a year-round endeavor that requires a plan. What skills do you want to learn to move ahead in your career and which credentials will you pursue to prove your skills? We’re here to help you answer these questions. Check out all our exciting skilling updates for this month, including details about Microsoft Learn at Microsoft Ignite!

New position paper provides insights on security skill-building for your organization

As organizations around the world contend with mounting cyberthreats, one thing is clear: building security skills is everyone’s responsibility. We can help you prepare with this newly released position paper from Microsoft Learn—Stay ahead of cyberthreats with security skill-building. This paper provides an in-depth look at some of the ways organizations can take a collaborative, inclusive approach to security skill-building. Check it out to learn which critical security skills apply to different teams and how leaders can prioritize and enable effective security skill-building. A resilient future is a product of more than just cutting-edge technology—it’s about people and establishing a culture of change.?

For additional resources on security skill-building—including training offerings for building foundational and advanced cybersecurity skills and for earning Microsoft Credentials—visit the Security hub on Microsoft Learn.?

New Certification for Microsoft Fabric data engineers

We are happy to announce availability of the new Exam DP-700: Implementing Data Engineering Solutions Using Microsoft Fabric (currently in beta) along with the new Microsoft Certified: Fabric Data Engineer Associate Certification. If you’re a Microsoft Fabric data engineer with subject matter expertise in data loading patterns, data architectures, and orchestration processes, this is a great opportunity for you to validate your skills. The first 300 people who take Exam?DP-700 (beta) on or before November 12, 2024, can get 80?percent off market price. Read all the details in our blog post New Certification for Microsoft Fabric data engineers.?

News and updates

What's new with Microsoft Credentials?

In the October 2024 edition of our Microsoft Credentials roundup, you’ll find the latest updates to the Microsoft Credentials portfolio to inspire and support your training and career journey. This month, we highlight the latest Microsoft Applied Skills offerings, and those with updated assessments. There is also an opportunity to share your Applied Skills story with us and inspire others with your journey. We could feature your success story next!??

The latest roundup also lists new and retiring Microsoft Certifications, along with updated pricing for Microsoft Certification exams effective November 1, 2024. And we share the latest Practice Assessments available on Microsoft Learn to help you build your skills and confidence. For all the Microsoft Credentials news, read our Microsoft Credentials roundup: In-demand news for in-demand skills, October 2024 edition.?

Join Microsoft experts in our community Learning Rooms to accelerate your security skilling journey

Learning Rooms on Microsoft Learn offer dedicated spaces where you can deep dive into topic-specific questions directly with a Microsoft expert or through virtual sessions, all asynchronously. Struggling to implement a security architecture? Or maybe you want to prepare for a certification exam? Engage with our Learn experts and other community members to help you master technical topics, earn credentials, and achieve your career goals. Visit these two security-focused Learning Rooms to see more:? Compliance Learning Room - Raphael Koellner and Cybersecurity from Beginning to Expert - Dwayne Natwick.

New webinar recording available: Build skills to counter cyberthreats

Did you miss our recent Microsoft Secure Future Initiative live event? No worries! You can now view the recording of the session to experience an exciting red vs. blue team demo with Microsoft Security solutions in action, led by Microsoft Security experts and trainers from NetCom Learning. Delve into threat monitoring and accelerating remediation—themes that are part of our Microsoft commitment to world-class security standards—and discover skills to protect your organization. Be sure to catch the Q&A session with industry experts. Watch now.?

We’ve also published a security training poster that outlines all the credentials we offer, making it simple to explore the various pathways to enhance your security skills – whether you are a novice or an expert. View the poster and start your security learning journey today.??

Get Ready for Microsoft Ignite!

Microsoft Ignite is just around the corner! Whether you plan to attend online from November 19-21 or in person in Chicago from November 19-22, we are ready to help energize your learning journey. Register today, and visit Microsoft Learn at Ignite to access our curated set of Official Plans and Collections, browse our learning hubs, and get your Microsoft Learn achievement badge for Ignite. Be sure to sign up for our Microsoft Learn sessions and watch for the Microsoft Learn Challenge | Ignite Edition which runs from November 19 to January 10, 2025.

If you are joining us in Chicago, be sure to take advantage of these valuable onsite skilling opportunities:?

• Register now to take one Microsoft certification exam free of charge. You can also register onsite to take a free GitHub certification exam. ??
• Visit the Credentials area to take a practice assessment, experience an instructor-led lab, or earn a Microsoft Applied Skill credential.
• Stop by the Microsoft Learn experience in the Hub and celebrate fellow learners who pass onsite certification exams, have your portrait done by an AI-powered SketchBot (or dance with the bots when they're not creating a mosaic of both in-person and online attendee portraits!), and meet our learning experts.?

Be sure to check out some of our Training Service Partners that will be onsite, including:?

• NetCom Learning—offering free class seats, certification prep guidance, enterprise skilling benefits and giveaways. Exciting free learning resources and offers are also available for online attendees! Redeem Now.?
• Trainocate—hear about their AI learning program, snag some cool swag, and chat with their Microsoft masterminds. Check them out here and earn a chance to score some exclusive freebies!?

Visit aka.ms/LearnAtIgnite for more details.?

New pricing for Microsoft Certification exams effective November 1, 2024

Microsoft Learn continually reviews and evolves its portfolio of Microsoft Certifications to help learners around the world stay up to date with the latest technologies, especially as AI and cybersecurity skills become increasingly important in the workplace. The program also regularly updates its exam content, format, and delivery. To reflect their current market value, we’re updating the prices for Microsoft Certification exams, effective November 1, 2024. The new prices vary depending on the country or region where you take the exam. For most areas, there will be no change in the price. For some areas, the price will decrease to make the exams more affordable. For a few areas, the price will increase to align with global and regional standards. The goal is to make Microsoft Certification exam pricing simpler and more consistent across geographies while still offering a fair and affordable value proposition. Check out all the details in New pricing for Microsoft Certification exams effective November 1, 2024.?

Global partner event spotlight?

Free Microsoft Copilot Security Classes

ONLC Training is offering new additions to its popular, free Microsoft 365 Copilot Adoption classes. Learn about the newest features in Copilot, like AI-powered Pages, Excel with Python, and Outlook inbox prioritization. Our "Copilot Security Considerations" class ensures you deploy Copilot safely and securely. Join our live, instructor-led, 90-minute sessions designed for end users, IT professionals, and business leaders. Discover how to transform your workplace with AI efficiently. Register now at https://www.onlc.com/copilot.