Trying hard to make it into the world of networking and running out of luck as you lack asked fundamental skills? In this case, the smartest move would be taking the Microsoft 98-366 exam and earning the related certification. With this Microsoft accreditation track, any IT personal can acquire and validate basic networking knowledge, and then embark on a promising career journey.

Associated Microsoft Certification Details

As you already know, securing passing grades in the Microsoft 98-366 test leads to earning the MTA: Networking Fundamentals certificate. It is an entry-level certification that a future administrator should acquire for a smooth career journey. Using strict structure, this designation involves crucial networking concepts and technologies such as network hardware and infrastructure, as well as services and protocols. In other words, the prime focus of this qualification is on conjectural technical knowledge, fundamental concepts, and core technicalities. So, it is nothing less than a boon for industry beginners as it let them showcase the fundamental competency in assorted networking technologies.

Ideal Candidates for 98-366 Exam

Secondary and post-secondary (college) students, trying to break into the IT industry, can use this accreditation exam to shape their career in the least possible hassles. Before opting for the 98-366 exam, the aspiring candidates must be familiar with key networking concepts like Windows-based networking, Windows Server, TCP/IP, DNS, network management tools, and so on.

Exam Overview

Microsoft 98-366 Exam is 50-minutes long and consists of 59-63 questions. These questions are likely to follow the hot area, multiple choice, build-list, active screen, drag-and-drop, and MCQ formats, among many. Moreover, to come up with flying colors in this official exam, candidates have to score anything above 700 out of 1000.

Exam 98-366 is globally obtainable and is administered by Pearson VUE. What’s more, online and offline proctoring exam delivery is available. For completing all the exam registration and scheduling requirements, one has to visit the Pearson VUE website and pay $127 as an exam fee. This fee is payable in the form of a voucher. Comprehend that the voucher is valid for a certain period and is redeemable only once, and it can’t be transferred or refunded.

Note, that this exam is available for taking till 30th of June, 2022, as after this date it will be retired. Thus, you still have a chance!

Details of Exam Domains

The most critical thing, if you aspire to succeed in the Microsoft 98-366 exam, gain an in-depth understanding of the test domains. Moreover, these knowledge areas are periodically updated to become more industry-relevant. Here is a quick overview of these three exam domains.

• Understanding network infrastructures

  Before moving any further, knowing the basics of network infrastructure is a must and this is why the first exam domain covers the nitty-gritty of this topic. In the first few sections, these domains involve VPN, LAN, and WAN in detail. Therefore, each candidate should be able to explain security zones, perimeters networks, firewalls, local loopback IP, reserved address ranged, addressing, leased lines, cable modern, dial-up, ISDN, and DSL.

  The later part of this exam domain is all about wireless networking and networking topologies. On the final test day, examinees have to describe various kinds of wireless networking standards and their key characteristics, network security types like 802.1X, WEP, WPA, etc., and wireless bridging process. Useful network topologies like ring, bus, logical, and Star are also not overlooked and have given due exposure.

• Understanding network hardware

  In the second exam domain, the applicants will try and test expertise to work with network hardware. The candidates have to know all about switches including the type of ports, transmission and backplane speed, uplink number, VLAN capabilities, alongside Layer 2 and Layer 3 switches are covered in this domain.

  The next point of attraction is the routers thanks to various questions regarding transmission speed considerations, dynamic and static routing, directly connected routes, and default routes. Moreover, skills required for making a wise choice of selecting route and routing table memory will also be tested. Moreover, the test-takers should easily characterize the different types of media such as cables, fiber optics, twisted pair, catxx cabling, among many.

• Understanding protocols and services

  Become a skilled networking administrator by paying attention to the last exam domain.

  According to the 98-366 exam blueprint, Open Systems Interconnection and Transmission Control Protocol models are the focal points for the early part of this domain. And after grasping every bit of this topic, examinees can easily figure out the use of protocols, applications, User Datagram Protocol, as well as packets and frames.

  Besides, understanding of reasons to use IPv4, packets, dual IP stack, ports, subnetmask, gateway, reserved address ranges can be easily demonstrated by those who have given many hours to the preparatory process. And, following the recent changes, topics like uses of HOSTS and LMHOSTS files, resource codes, and, Network Address Translation have been added in this domain. Finally, this exam domain will prove how you understand TCP/IP networking protocol and its key tools like ping, Telnet, IPconfig, and netstat.

Earning Potential for Microsoft 98-366 Exam

Given that this Microsoft exam prepares for initial job roles, an entry-level network engineer can earn $55,216 annually, after gaining the corresponding certificate, according to ZipRecruiter. One other job role that can be aimed and fetched after Microsoft 98-366 exam is Networking Administrator, at entry-level too. The same salary source, ZipRecruiter, has explained that the average salary in this position is $52,167 per year. Both these figures are very impressive and are very good for industry beginners.

Career Enrichment

According to the exam official webpage, the MTA track is going to be off-air soon. So, you should not wait too long to make a decision. And after that, the smart move would be to go for the relevant designation from the latest breed. You can choose a new qualification path like Microsoft Certified: Security, Compliance, and Identity Fundamentals, Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365 Fundamentals (ERP), and Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Fundamentals options. Each of them is also a great way to start building a successful career in your chosen IT field.