10 Practical Learning Tips for IT Admins Starting a Microsoft 365 Migration
- Adam
- Jun 18
- 5 min read
Updated: Jul 8
Are you a small business (SME) Admin planning to move your on-prem infrastructure to the Microsoft Cloud? If so, you're in the same position I was in two years ago. We've now reached the end of our M365 migration, utilising the security and management features included with Microsoft's Business Premium licence. But the learning never stops.
To get to this point, I've spent much of the last two years trawling the internet, trying to learn and retain as much information as possible. To make life a little easier for those starting a similar project, I've listed 10 learning tips that have served me well:
1. Get YouTube Premium (the first 3 months are free).
YouTube is great resource for learning, but your patience will wear thin if you're forced to watch adverts every few minutes. Trust me, this is worth every penny.
2. Find content creators who resonate with you.
A YouTube channel may provide great technical content, but if you don't enjoy the presentation style or delivery method, you won't make it through the videos or retain the information. These are the people who make learning easier for me:
Peter Rising (MVP) - detailed educational videos including expert demos, deep dives, exam guides and essential Microsoft 365 and Azure tips.
Jonathon Edwards (MVP) - fantastic demo's covering all aspects of Microsoft 365 - apps, security and administration.
Pete Zerger @ Inside Cloud and Security - Superb exam cram videos available for a variety of Microsoft 365 certifications.
John Savill - Microsoft and cloud technologies. Some of the best study guides and cram tuition on YouTube.
Wayne Chapin @ Xerillion - a business-centric approach to helping Admins and IT managers understand the benefits and capabilities of Microsoft 365.
Andy Malone (MVP) - learn and master key components of M365 administration and security.
Dougie Wood (MVP) - SharePoint made easy. Create attractive, secure SharePoint sites without the need for third party products.
3. Look beyond YouTube.
Microsoft Learn - read the documentation, learn the specifics and test your knowledge at your own pace. Also a great way to demonstrate your learning commitment to potential employers.
Udemy - John Christopher @ ExamLabPractice has many in-depth M365/Azure courses available on Udemy, all for £15 or less. These consist of several hours of video tuition with hands-on labs included. These courses are frequently updated to reflect changes in terminology and portal design.
LinkedIn Learning - there are thousands of courses available covering all aspects of Microsoft 365 and Azure. Your first month is free.
Quizlet - if flashcards are your thing, you can create your own (or use those created by others) to help you prepare for Microsoft exams.
4. Create your own lab environment.
Learning theory is great, but testing policies in a real tenant is where things click. If you don't want to use your company’s live tenant, create a personal test environment:
Microsoft offers a free 30-day Microsoft 365 E5 trial.
You’ll get access to full-featured tools (Defender, Intune, Conditional Access, etc.) and 25 licenses.
Test your Condtional Access policies without fear of locking your users (and yourself) out of M365
Use tools like Graph API, PowerShell, and Entra ID without fear of breaking production.
Set calendar reminders to cancel before the trial ends (or rotate using new emails if needed).
Want more time? Use the Microsoft 365 Developer Program for an extended sandbox.
5. Ask Copilot / ChatGPT.
Generative AI doesn't just create images of squirrels driving tanks against a psychedelic sky. It can...
Break down complex concepts
Rephrase technical jargon into plain English
Create mock test questions
Build PowerShell scripts from scratch
Format your notes or policies as tables or checklists
Just like Zero Trust… always verify the output. But you’ll often find it more efficient than sifting through ten Google results.
6. Consider certifications.
Certifications help focus your learning and provide structure - even if you don’t plan to take the exams. They’re also a solid way to benchmark your knowledge and build confidence.The examples listed below are the certifications I've been working towards.
Fundamentals (Beginner): Great for exam familiarity and concept overview.
SC-900 – Security, Compliance & Identity Fundamentals
AZ-900 – Azure Fundamentals
Associate (Intermediate): Start focusing on real admin skills and platform knowledge.
MD-102 – Endpoint Administrator Associate
SC-300 – Identity & Access Administrator Associate
Expert (Advanced): Designed for senior roles, with hands-on experience assumed.
MS-102 – Microsoft 365 Administrator Expert
Tip: Most Microsoft Learn certification paths include free labs and sandbox environments, so even without an exam booking, you’re gaining value.
7. Join the Microsoft Tech Community
One of the most underrated ways to learn is by engaging with others facing the same challenges.
Ask real-world questions and get answers from Microsoft engineers, MVPs, and admins.
Learn from migration war stories, configuration tips, and troubleshooting threads.
Follow key spaces like Microsoft 365 Admin Center, Entra ID, Intune, and Security & Compliance.
8. Subscribe to Microsoft Roadmap & Message Center Updates
The Microsoft 365 ecosystem evolves constantly. Staying ahead of changes is half the battle.
Subscribe to the Microsoft 365 Roadmap RSS feed or email updatesmicrosoft.com/microsoft-365/roadmap
Regularly check your Microsoft 365 Message Center (or sync it with Planner)
Use tools like the M365 Admin App on mobile to stay updated on the go
Knowing what's coming gives you time to plan, test, and educate users - not react in a panic.
9. Practice with PowerShell Early On
It’s tempting to stick with the GUI, but learning PowerShell is a game-changer.
Automate repetitive tasks (like bulk user updates or license assignments)
Unlock advanced configuration not exposed in the GUI
Troubleshoot and audit more efficiently
Start small: listing users, modifying attributes, exporting reports. Once you see how powerful it is, you’ll never go back. Helpful resources:
Microsoft Learn: PowerShell for Microsoft 365
Practical365.com – great scripts and how-tos
10. Document Everything You Learn
Keep a personal wiki, OneNote, blog, or even a private Word doc.
Document useful commands, fix procedures, portal changes, and lessons learned
Include screenshots, links, and short how-tos for your future self
Bonus: this becomes an incredible asset when onboarding new admins or applying for jobs
Tip: Tools like Obsidian, Notion, or even Markdown in VS Code are great for building your own internal knowledge base.
Optional Bonus (for post-migration learners):
Join User Groups or Attend Free Webinars
Look for Microsoft Reactor, Meetups, or online M365 user groups
Often free and packed with real-world case studies
There's a lot for the IT Generalist to master and our learning journey never ends. For anyone at the very start of this process. hopefully a bit of direction will prove useful!
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