O'Reilly Live Learning course repository + AI-powered study buddy
This repository contains instructor materials for the O'Reilly Live Learning session on AB-900, plus an embedded GitHub Copilot study companion that generates exam-realistic practice questions, scenario walkthroughs, and personalized study plans.
- Copilot Studio
- Azure AI Foundry Portal
- Microsoft Entra admin center
- Microsoft Defender XDR Portal
- Microsoft Purview Portal
- Teams Admin Center
- SharePoint Admin Center
- Exchange Admin Center
- M365 Apps Admin Center
- Microsoft 365 Admin Center
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Exam code | AB-900 |
| Full title | Microsoft 365 Certified: Copilot and Agent Administration Fundamentals |
| Level | Beginner |
| Duration | 45 minutes |
| Passing score | 700 / 1000 |
| Exam page | https://learn.microsoft.com/credentials/certifications/exams/ab-900/ |
| Study guide | https://learn.microsoft.com/credentials/certifications/resources/study-guides/ab-900 |
| Domain | Weight |
|---|---|
| 1 -- Identify the core features and objects of Microsoft 365 services | 30-35% |
| 2 -- Understand data protection and governance for Microsoft 365 and Copilot | 35-40% (highest) |
| 3 -- Perform basic administrative tasks for Copilot and agents | 25-30% |
The cert buddy is a GitHub Copilot agent that runs inside VS Code. It requires no installation beyond cloning this repo and having GitHub Copilot access.
-
Clone this repository:
git clone https://github.com/timothywarner-org/ab900.git cd ab900 -
Open the folder in VS Code:
code . -
When prompted, install the recommended extensions (GitHub Copilot + GitHub Copilot Chat).
-
VS Code will prompt for a Context7 API key the first time a cert buddy command runs. Get a free key at https://context7.com and paste it when prompted. This enables version-specific M365 admin PowerShell and Graph API syntax lookups.
-
Open GitHub Copilot Chat (
Ctrl+Alt+I/Cmd+Alt+I).
Option A -- Slash commands (guided input form):
/ab900-practice-questions
/ab900-scenario-walkthrough
/ab900-study-planner
These open a guided form that collects inputs (domain, difficulty, confidence ratings, etc.) before generating content.
Option B -- Direct agent mention (free-form):
@ab900-cert-buddy-agent Give me a Domain 2 question about DSPM for AI at Apply level, medium difficulty.
@ab900-cert-buddy-agent Walk me through approving an agent submission in the M365 admin center.
@ab900-cert-buddy-agent Build me a study plan. I am weak on Domain 2 and moderate on the others.
Questions use a two-phase interactive delivery that mirrors the real exam experience.
Phase 1 -- The agent presents a workplace scenario and four answer choices (A-D), then stops and waits for your reply.
Phase 2 -- After you answer, the agent reveals the correct answer, a 2-sentence rationale for every choice, and Microsoft Learn references.
Special commands during Phase 1:
| Command | Effect |
|---|---|
hint |
Eliminates one distractor |
skip |
Reveals the answer and moves to rationale |
| A / B / C / D | Your answer -- triggers Phase 2 |
After a set of questions the agent reports score, percent correct, and domains to review.
Walkthroughs simulate the admin center experience without requiring a live tenant. Each walkthrough:
- Sets a realistic admin scenario (for example: "Contoso needs to see what sensitive data Copilot has been accessing")
- Walks through 5-10 numbered steps with exact portal URL, navigation path, and correct setting
- Flags the AB-900 exam objective each step covers
- Notes the most common wrong answers (wrong portal, wrong nav path, wrong role)
Available scenario types:
- Copilot licensing and pay-as-you-go billing configuration
- Agent approval workflow (M365 admin center + Power Platform admin center)
- DSPM for AI dashboard review
- SharePoint oversharing identification and remediation
- Sensitivity label creation and policy assignment
- DLP policy review and alert response
- PIM role activation and Conditional Access policy review
- The agent presents the three AB-900 domains with exam weights.
- You rate your confidence in each: Strong / Moderate / Weak / Unknown.
- The agent generates a prioritized study plan -- weakest first, Domain 2 flagged as highest weight.
- Each domain entry includes estimated study hours, 2-3 Microsoft Learn module links, and key objectives.
- The agent offers to start generating practice questions on your first priority domain.
ab900/
├── .github/
│ ├── agents/
│ │ └── ab900-cert-buddy-agent.agent.md # Main Copilot agent
│ ├── skills/
│ │ ├── ab900-item-creator/SKILL.md # Practice question generation
│ │ ├── ab900-scenario-walkthrough/SKILL.md # Admin scenario walkthroughs
│ │ └── ab900-study-planner/SKILL.md # Personalized study plans
│ ├── prompts/
│ │ ├── ab900-practice-questions.prompt.md # /ab900-practice-questions command
│ │ ├── ab900-scenario-walkthrough.prompt.md # /ab900-scenario-walkthrough command
│ │ └── ab900-study-planner.prompt.md # /ab900-study-planner command
│ ├── copilot-instructions.md # Workspace Copilot grounding rules
│ └── workflows/
│ └── validate.yml # CI: terminology + link validation
├── .vscode/
│ ├── mcp.json # MCP server config (3 servers, auto-loads)
│ ├── extensions.json # Recommended extensions
│ └── settings.json # Workspace settings
├── references/
│ ├── ab900-objectives.md # Official exam objectives (all 3 domains)
│ ├── fictional-companies.md # Microsoft fictional companies for scenarios
│ └── style-guide.md # Microsoft Writing Style Guide extract
├── course-plan.md # Live session plan (4 x 50 min on ON24)
├── docs/
│ ├── module-01-security-foundations.md # Module 1 CliffsNotes
│ ├── module-02-core-services-admin.md # Module 2 CliffsNotes
│ ├── module-03-data-protection-governance.md # Module 3 CliffsNotes
│ ├── module-04-copilot-and-agents.md # Module 4 CliffsNotes
│ ├── module-05-copilot-admin-tasks.md # Module 5 CliffsNotes
│ ├── module-06-agent-admin-tasks.md # Module 6 CliffsNotes
│ ├── session-agenda.md # Instructor delivery guide (4 x 50 min)
│ ├── demo-scripts.md # Click-by-click scripts for all 14 demos
│ ├── tenant-setup-guide.md # Learner tenant setup before the session
│ ├── new-features-deep-dive.md # DSPM for AI, Researcher, Analyst, PAYG
│ └── exam-traps-cheatsheet.md # One-page last-minute cheat sheet
├── shared-resources/
│ └── references/
│ ├── AB-900-EXAM-GUIDE.md # Complete exam reference
│ ├── AB-900-SKILLS-BREAKDOWN.md # Per-objective study notes
│ └── AB-900-PRACTICE-QUESTIONS.md # 15 practice questions (5 per domain)
└── segment-0{1-4}-*/ # Per-segment demos, labs, slides, resources
Three MCP servers are configured in .vscode/mcp.json and load automatically on clone.
| Server ID | Purpose |
|---|---|
ab900buddy-context7 |
Version-specific M365 admin PowerShell, Graph API, and CLI syntax |
ab900buddy-markitdown |
Convert your own PDFs and Word docs to markdown for the agent to analyze |
ab900buddy-mslearn |
Search and fetch official Microsoft Learn documentation (microsoft_docs_search, microsoft_docs_fetch) |
The Microsoft Learn MCP server (ab900buddy-mslearn) is the primary source of truth for all generated questions and walkthroughs. It provides grounding in official Microsoft documentation directly from the workspace configuration.
Duration: 4 segments x 50 minutes
| Segment | Topic | Domain |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Core Features and Objects of Microsoft 365 Services | Domain 1 |
| 2 | Data Protection and Governance for Microsoft 365 and Copilot | Domain 2 |
| 3 | Copilot Features and Administration | Domain 3 |
| 4 | Agent Administration and Exam Success | Domain 3 cont. |
Before the session:
- Follow the Tenant Setup Guide to get a working M365 admin tenant.
- Clone this repo and open it in VS Code.
- Set up the cert buddy (see Quick Start above).
Key resources:
- Exam Traps Cheat Sheet -- print or bookmark before the session
- New Features Deep Dive -- DSPM for AI, Researcher, Analyst, PAYG billing
- Practice Questions -- 15 scenario-based questions
- Session Agenda -- full timing breakdown with cut guidance
- Demo Scripts -- click-by-click scripts for all 14 demos
- Tenant Setup Guide -- what learners need before arriving
- Basic familiarity with Microsoft 365 services (email, SharePoint, Teams)
- Access to a Microsoft 365 tenant with Global Administrator rights -- see Tenant Setup Guide
- VS Code with GitHub Copilot for the cert buddy features
- No Azure infrastructure or data science experience required
| Portal | URL |
|---|---|
| Microsoft 365 admin center | https://admin.microsoft.com |
| Microsoft Purview | https://purview.microsoft.com |
| Microsoft Entra admin center | https://entra.microsoft.com |
| Teams admin center | https://admin.teams.microsoft.com |
| Exchange admin center | https://admin.exchange.microsoft.com |
| Power Platform admin center | https://admin.powerplatform.microsoft.com |
| Copilot Studio | https://copilotstudio.microsoft.com |
| Copilot Dashboard | https://insights.viva.cloud.microsoft |
Timothy Warner is a Microsoft MVP and technology educator specializing in Microsoft 365, Azure, and AI.
MIT License. See LICENSE.
Open an issue in this repository for questions about course materials.