Validates expert knowledge of designing Zero Trust strategy, security operations, identity, compliance, and infrastructure, application and data security.
A good SC-100 course teaches you to design security across identity, operations and infrastructure using Microsoft's reference architectures, not just to configure products. We compared the main options on coverage, hands-on practice, format and price.
Most people should start with Microsoft's free SC-100 course, which is written against the exam. Choose John Christopher for guided simulations and Christopher Nett for the most depth in one video course.
| Course | Best for | Format | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 SC-100 course on Microsoft Learn | Free official course | Interactive | Free |
 SC-100 Microsoft Cybersecurity Architect course with sims | Guided simulations | Video | $90 |
| SC-100: Microsoft Cybersecurity Architect Expert | Most depth | Video | $20 |
Microsoft's official SC-100 learning paths, one for each skill area on the exam. The text lessons teach the material the exam is written against, and the course costs nothing.
Great fit if you want the official material the exam is written against
Poor fit if you learn better from video; choose John Christopher or Christopher Nett
A video course of 18.5 hours and 163 lectures with role-play simulations of Microsoft 365 and Azure security scenarios. It covers ransomware resiliency design and the Microsoft Cybersecurity Reference Architecture, and is rated 4.6 from 692 ratings.
Great fit if you want guided lessons plus scenario practice
Poor fit if you want the most depth in one course; choose Christopher Nett
A long lecture course of 23 hours and 317 lectures that works through every skill area, with a lab setup section. It is rated 4.7 from 375 ratings and gives the most detail of the courses here.
Great fit if you want the most depth in one course
Poor fit if you want hands-on simulations; choose John Christopher
For most people, Microsoft's free SC-100 course, which is written against the exam. Choose John Christopher for simulations or Christopher Nett for depth.
Yes. Microsoft's course and its unlimited free practice assessment cover the exam content. Add MeasureUp's $99 practice test if you want 148 more exam-style questions.
The video courses here run 18.5 to 23 hours. Plan for about 60 hours of preparation in total, from 50 to 90 depending on your experience.
The Expert certification needs SC-100 plus one of the SC-300, SC-200 or SC-500 associate certifications. If you already hold one, you pay only the $165 SC-100 fee.