• Question: What are the key differences between Office 365

and Microsoft 365?

Question Overview: The interviewer is looking to assess your
understanding of Microsoft's suite of products, specifically the
differentiation between Office 365 and Microsoft 365, which is
crucial for helping users or making recommendations within an
organization.
Sample Answer: Office 365 provides a suite of cloud-based
productivity tools, including applications like Word, Excel,
PowerPoint, and Outlook. In contrast, Microsoft 365 extends
this offering by including all the features of Office 365 but
adds more comprehensive tools related to security,
compliance, and device management. A pivotal difference is
Microsoft 365's focus on integrated security features and
device management through Windows 10 Enterprise and
Enterprise Mobility + Security, offering a more robust solution
for businesses concerned with security and compliance. For
instance, an organization that handles sensitive data and
prioritizes security might find the additional features in
Microsoft 365 more aligned with their needs compared to the
basic productivity tools in Office 365.
What the interviewer is looking for:
• - Define both Office 365 and Microsoft 365

• - highlighting the core components of each. Explain the

key differences
• - focusing on the inclusion of security and device

management tools in Microsoft 365. Frame your

understanding in a way that shows your ability to
leverage these differences when making
recommendations
• - even without direct past experience
• Question: Can you explain how to set up a new user in M365
and assign them a license?
Question Overview: Interviewers aim to probe your practical
skills in managing Microsoft 365 environments, particularly
your ability to onboard new users efficiently. Given M365's
centrality in business operations, managing users and licenses
is fundamental for ensuring that all employees have the
necessary tools and access from day one.
Sample Answer: In Microsoft 365, setting up a new user
involves logging into the admin center, where I choose to “Add
a user.” Here, I fill out personal information and assign a
username and domain. The critical part comes when assigning
licenses – I select the appropriate license that matches the
user’s role within the company. For instance, a marketing
professional might not need the same type of license as a
developer. This step is crucial for ensuring the efficient use of
resources.
What the interviewer is looking for:
• - Mention navigating to the Microsoft 365 admin center

as the starting point. Describe the step-by-step process

of adding a new user
• - including user details and selecting a username.

Emphasize the importance of correctly assigning a license

based on the new user’s role and necessary applications
• - ensuring the company optimizes its resources without

compromising on employee productivity.

• Question: What is the purpose of Azure AD in the context of
M365, and how does it differ from traditional Active Directory?
Question Overview: The question aims to discern your
understanding of modern cloud-based identity and access
management systems as opposed to traditional directory
services. Knowledge of Azure AD's integration into Microsoft
365 indicates your capacity to navigate contemporary IT
environments effectively.
Sample Answer: Azure AD, within M365, serves as a cloud-
based directory and identity management service, offering a
leap in access management over traditional Active Directory
due to its cloud-native design. Unlike the on-premises Active
Directory, Azure AD allows for global accessibility and
integration with cloud services. Its main advantage, especially
when linked with M365, is the streamlined user experience
across cloud services and enhanced security measures like
multi-factor authentication and conditional access.
What the interviewer is looking for:
• - Introduce Azure AD as a cloud-based service that

handles identity and access management. Highlight key

differences from traditional Active Directory
• - such as its cloud-native features

• - scalability

• - and accessibility. Discuss the benefits of Azure AD

within the M365 framework

• - including seamless integration and enhanced security

features
• - showing your strategic thinking in leveraging these

benefits.
• Question: Describe the process for configuring email
forwarding in Exchange Online.
Question Overview: This question seeks to evaluate your
competency with specific Exchange Online administrative tasks.
Recruiters are interested in your ability to execute these tasks,
which are vital for maintaining smooth email communication
within an organization.
Sample Answer: Setting up email forwarding in Exchange
Online begins with accessing the Exchange admin center and
selecting the “recipients” panel to find the mailbox in question.
Under “mailbox features,” I enable forwarding and specify the
recipient’s address, taking care to adhere to our company’s
data handling and security protocols. For example, during my
internship experience, before implementing forwarding rules, I
consulted our IT security policies to ensure no sensitive
information would be inadvertently compromised,
demonstrating my commitment to maintaining organizational
security standards.
What the interviewer is looking for:
• - Guide through the initial steps of accessing the

Exchange admin center. Elaborate on locating the specific

user mailbox and setting up the email forwarding feature.
Accentuate the importance of considering organizational
policies and security when configuring email forwarding
• - showcasing your attention to compliance and security.

• Question: How would you restore a deleted user account in

M365?
Question Overview: This question assesses your ability to
manage and troubleshoot common issues within the Microsoft
 365 environment, specifically your expertise in recovering
critical user data and access. The capacity to restore deleted
user accounts is essential for minimizing disruptions and
ensuring continuous access to resources and collaboration
tools.
Sample Answer: To restore a deleted user account in M365, I
first access the Microsoft 365 admin center and proceed to the
“Deleted users” page under the “Users” category. Here, all
recently deleted accounts are listed, and I can simply select the
user in question and choose the “Restore” option. It’s
important to note that this action is only possible within 30
days of deletion, after which the account – and associated data
– cannot be easily recovered.
What the interviewer is looking for:
• - Describe navigating to the Microsoft 365 admin center

and accessing the "Deleted users" section. Explain the

selection of the deleted user account and the process for
restoring it. Highlight the importance of understanding
the 30-day recovery period after deletion and any
implications for immediate access or data recovery
• - showcasing your comprehensive knowledge of M365

policies and practices.

• Question: What are SharePoint Online site collections, and

how would you create one?
Question Overview: Interviewers are looking for your
understanding of SharePoint Online’s structure and your ability
to implement its functionalities to support team collaboration
and content management. Knowledge about site collections
 indicates your ability to organize and manage digital
workspaces effectively.
Sample Answer: SharePoint Online site collections serve as
hierarchical groups of websites under a single top-level site,
essential for organizing a company’s content, resources, and
collaboration areas. To create one, I navigate to the SharePoint
admin center, click on “Create” in the “Sites” section, and
choose “Create a site collection.” After selecting an appropriate
template and specifying the primary language, time zone, and
admin settings, I define the site's purpose and structure—be it
for a department, project, or function. This approach not only
ensures that collaborations are structured and accessible but
also respects company-wide information architecture
strategies. For instance, in my last project, organizing site
collections by project allowed for smoother collaboration and
resource sharing across teams.
What the interviewer is looking for:
• - Define SharePoint Online site collections and their role

in structuring content and collaboration spaces within an

organization. Guide through the process of creating a site
collection from the SharePoint admin center
• - including selecting a template and configuring basic

settings. Emphasize the strategic thinking behind

organizing site collections—for example
• - per department or project—which showcases your

planning and implementation skills.

• Question: Can you explain the importance of Groups in M365

and how they differ from distribution lists?
Question Overview: This question aims to evaluate your
understanding of group management within M365 and its
significance for collaboration and communication.
Distinguishing between Groups and distribution lists reveals
your knowledge of M365’s evolving collaboration tools and
their application in various scenarios.
Sample Answer: Groups in M365 are more than just email
destinations; they are collaborative spaces that integrate with
various M365 applications like SharePoint, OneNote, and
Planner, offering shared resources for its members. In contrast,
distribution lists are primarily used for email communication to
a group of people without the additional collaboration
features. Understanding this distinction is crucial when setting
up efficient collaboration structures within an organization. For
example, for a project team requiring a collaborative
workspace with shared files and calendars, I would recommend
a Group. However, for simple, broad communication needs,
such as announcements or updates, a distribution list might
suffice.
What the interviewer is looking for:
• - Start by defining what Groups in M365 are and their

significance for collaborative efforts within organizations.

Contrast Groups with distribution lists by highlighting the
additional collaboration features of Groups
• - such as shared calendars

• - files

• - and Planner integration. Provide insights into choosing

between Groups and distribution lists

• - focusing on use cases that demonstrate strategic

decision-making and application knowledge.

• Question: How would you address a situation where a user is
unable to access their OneDrive for Business account?
Question Overview: Interviewers aim to assess your problem-
solving skills and your proficiency with M365 tools, specifically
OneDrive for Business. The focus is on your ability to
troubleshoot access issues, which are common yet critical
problems that can affect productivity.
Sample Answer: In addressing a user's inability to access their
OneDrive for Business account, I first confirm if the issue is
isolated to this user or affecting others, which helps narrow
down potential causes. Next, I check the user's license status in
the M365 admin center to ensure they have an active OneDrive
license and their account is not disabled. If these are in order,
I’d look into potential service outages reported by Microsoft.
It's crucial to keep the user informed of the troubleshooting
process, setting expectations for a resolution. If the problem
persists, I’d document all steps taken and escalate to Microsoft
support for further investigation. This systematic approach
ensures issues are resolved efficiently, minimizing disruption to
the user’s work.
What the interviewer is looking for:
• - Start by diagnosing the issue

• - such as checking if the problem is user-specific

• - system-wide

• - or related to license assignments. Explain the

troubleshooting steps
• - such as verifying the user's license status

• - checking for any service outages

 • - and ensuring the user's account is not locked or
disabled. Highlight the importance of communication
with the affected user throughout the process
• - and if necessary
• - escalate the issue to Microsoft support
• - showcasing your customer service and technical
communication skills.

• Question: What steps are involved in creating a retention

policy in M365?
Question Overview: This question tests your knowledge of
data governance within the M365 environment. Recruiters are
interested in your understanding of compliance features,
specifically how to implement retention policies to meet data
management and regulatory requirements.
Sample Answer: Creating a retention policy in M365 begins in
the compliance center, where you can manage data
governance settings. Here, I’d create a new policy, specifying
its scope—whether it's for emails, documents, or both—and
the conditions for retaining or deleting the content. For
example, retaining emails for 7 years before review. It’s crucial
to pilot the policy with a small user group to ensure it
functions as expected without hindering business operations.
Post-deployment, regular reviews ensure the policy continues
to meet organizational and regulatory needs. Implementing
such policies effectively supports compliance while
safeguarding against data loss.
What the interviewer is looking for:
• - Mention accessing the M365 compliance center as the

initial step. Guide through creating a new retention policy

 • - including defining the policy name
• - description
• - settings (like what content to retain or delete)
• - and applying it to specific locations or users. Discuss the
importance of testing the policy with a limited scope
before full deployment and emphasize regular review and
adjustment of the policy as organizational needs and
compliance requirements evolve.

• Question: Describe how you would use PowerShell to manage

M365 services effectively.
Question Overview: This inquiry delves into your technical
proficiency with PowerShell for administering M365 services,
highlighting your ability to automate tasks and manage
complex configurations that may not be directly accessible
through the admin center.
Sample Answer: PowerShell is an invaluable tool for
managing M365 services, enabling tasks such as bulk user
provisioning or complex configuration changes not available in
the web admin center. For instance, I’ve used PowerShell in
one of my projects to automate the creation of user accounts,
assign licenses, and configure mailboxes for a batch of
members, significantly reducing manual effort and potential
errors. Additionally, I leveraged PowerShell to generate
detailed reports on SharePoint Online permissions, offering
insights for a security audit. Through PowerShell, I can execute
complex commands and scripts that streamline administrative
tasks, ensuring more efficient and accurate management of
M365 environments.
What the interviewer is looking for:
• - Emphasize the advantage of using PowerShell for its
powerful scripting capabilities that allow for bulk
operations
• - automation
• - and detailed management tasks across M365 services.
Provide examples of tasks suited for PowerShell
• - such as bulk user management
• - complex mail flow rules
• - or automating deployment of settings across SharePoint
Online sites. Illustrate with a brief example or scenario
where you’ve used PowerShell to resolve an issue or
improve a process
• - showing how it enhances efficiency and effectiveness in
M365 administration.