Exam Profile: Upgrading to Windows 7 MCITP Enterprise Desktop Support Technician (70-682 Pro)

Date: Oct 6, 2011

Pearson 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 monthly 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.

In this challenging economic climate, it is more important than ever for IT pros to differentiate themselves from the competition. One way for desktop support technicians to earn the respect of employers and peers alike is to pass Microsoft’s 70-628 exam. This exam is geared specifically toward desktop support technicians and includes material from exams 70-680 and 70-682. As such, this exam provides IT pros with the opportunity to earn multiple certifications without having to take multiple exams.

Exam Details

Microsoft has a strict policy of not disclosing certain exam details. However, enough people have taken Exam 70-682 that it is possible to get a somewhat accurate picture of some critical exam statistics like the ones listed below:

Number of questions: Microsoft does not disclose the number of questions on the exam, but there are estimated to be between 45 and 50 questions.
Type(s) of questions: Multiple choice, drag and drop, reorder, and simulation. However, some people have reported only receiving multiple choice questions on this exam.
Passing score: 700/1000
Time limit: Microsoft does not disclose the time limit for this exam, but it is estimated to be about 120 minutes.
How to register: Prometric

Trouble Spots

By far the most difficult thing about Exam 70-682 is knowing what to study. As noted in the Exam Objectives section, Microsoft’s list of skills that are measured on this exam is vague at best.

It is generally assumed that anyone who is taking this exam knows Windows 7 very well. Even so, there are a few exam items that can get even the most seasoned pro into trouble.

When you take the exam, you should expect to see some questions related to IPv6. Unlike some of the earlier Windows operating systems, Windows 7 fully supports IPv6 in all areas of the operating system, and Microsoft expects you to know IPv6 as well as you know IPv4.

Likewise, you should make sure that you have a good understanding of Wi-Fi. While there is nothing overly difficult about establishing a Wi-Fi connection with Windows 7, Microsoft does expect for anyone who is taking Exam 70-682 to know how to resolve wireless connectivity issues.

One of the objectives for this exam is that you must be able to “solve enterprise remote access issues.” This objective is rather vague and could potentially refer to several different technologies. As such, you should make sure that you are well versed in the Windows Server 2008 Network Policy Server (as a VPN solution), the Remote Desktop Services (as a terminal server solution) and DirectAccess. In case you are not familiar with DirectAccess, it is a Windows 7/Windows Server 2008 technology that allows users to log into the corporate network without the need for a VPN. Of these three remote connectivity methods, DirectAccess is the only one that is specifically mentioned within the exam objectives.

Finally, this exam places a major emphasis on Windows 7 deployment. However, knowing how to run Setup isn’t enough. You will need to know how to use Microsoft’s various deployment tools to create and deploy a Windows 7 image.

Preparation Hints

Microsoft has geared this particular exam toward support technicians. According to the Microsoft website, “Candidates for this exam should have at least three years of experience installing, configuring, and administering any Windows operating system in a networked environment and at least two years of experience providing desktop, laptop, and mobile device support.” Hands on experience is beneficial for passing any Microsoft certification exam, but having hands on experience with desktop support should really be considered a prerequisite for passing this exam.

Part of the reason behind this statement is that knowledge of Windows 7 alone may not be enough. The exam focuses heavily on enterprise deployments and image management. As such, some have reported encountering questions related to System Center Configuration Manager and other image management tools.

While there is no substitute for hands on experience, hands on experience alone probably will not be sufficient for passing the exam. As such, it is recommended that you begin your preparation efforts by acquiring a reputable practice exam (there is a link to a reputable practice exam in the next section). Taking a practice exam before you begin studying will help you to get a feel for the types of questions that you are likely to see on the test. This knowledge can go a long way toward helping you to know what you need to be studying.

It is also recommended that you avoid brain dump sites at all costs. Brain dump sites (and fly by night exam prep sites that promise to provide actual test questions) are notorious for providing incorrect information. Sometimes the test questions may not cover the actual exam objectives. Other times the questions have incorrect answers marked as correct. It is worth spending a little bit of money and getting a reliable practice test.

Another reason for avoiding brain dump sites is that Microsoft is rumored to operate a few of the brain dump sites and allegedly uses the sites to catch test cheats.

Finally, I recommend that you use Microsoft’s list of skills measured as a guide, but not as an absolute promise of what you can expect to see on the exam. Exam 70-682 is made up of questions from Exam 70-680 and Exam 70-685. Therefore, you should take some time to review the objectives for those exams rather than relying solely on the exam objectives that Microsoft provides for Exam 70-682.

Recommended Study Resources

It can be extremely difficult to find study resources for Exam 70-682. In fact, Microsoft does not provide any direct assistance. According to the Microsoft website, there is no classroom training, nor are there E-learning classes, practice tests, or Microsoft press books. Currently Amazon does not offer any training products for this exam either.

One reputable study resource is the practice exam offered by Transcender.

Although the lack of study materials might seem disheartening, all is not lost. The main reason why so few study resources are available for this exam is because Exam 70-682 is actually based on two other exams (70-680 and 70-685). Therefore, the best way to study for Exam 70-682 might be to study for exams 70-680 and 70-685. Here are some links to some study materials for those exams.

Exam Objectives

Microsoft always posts a set of objectives for their certification exams. These objectives are normally divided into sections and weighted so that you can see what percentage of you overall score is based on each section. In the case of the 70-682 exam, however, Microsoft has not provided any weight information on the various topics. In fact, the exam objectives themselves are rather vague and are not nearly as granular as one might ordinarily expect from a Microsoft certification exam. The objectives for this exam, as stated by Microsoft include:

Identifying Cause of and Resolving Desktop Application Issues

Solve software installation escalations.
Solve software configuration escalations.

Identifying Cause of and Resolving Networking Issues

Solve enterprise logon issues.
Solve enterprise network connectivity issues.

Managing and Maintaining Systems That Run Windows 7 Client

Identify and/or resolve performance issues.

Supporting Mobile Users

Solve enterprise wireless connectivity issues.
Solve enterprise remote access issues.

Deploying Windows 7

Deploy a system image.
Configure a VHD.

Configuring Hardware and Applications

Configure application compatibility.
Configure application restrictions.

Configuring Network Connectivity

Configure IPv6 network settings.
Configure remote management.

Configuring Access to Resources

Configure user account control (UAC).
Configure BranchCache.

Configuring Mobile Computing

Configure BitLocker and BitLocker To Go.
Configure DirectAccess.

Where to Go from Here

Typically, those who pass a Microsoft certification exam earn a certification (although some certifications require the candidate to pass a series of exams). Exam 70-682 is unique in that those who manage to pass it receive not one, but two certifications as a result. The certifications that you can earn by passing this exam include:

MCITP: Enterprise Desktop Support Technician
MCTS: Windows 7, Configuring

This exam does not count as credit toward any additional Microsoft certifications.

Have you taken the 70-682 Share your experiences by posting to the MCITP thread in our forums.