How to Learn SCCM ConfigMgr Intune | Start Learning Microsoft Configuration Manager Endpoint Manager

How to Learn SCCM ConfigMgr Intune | Start Learning Microsoft Configuration Manager Endpoint Manager. I receive lots of queries like “How to Start Learning SCCM” or “How to Learn SCCM”  or  “How to become an expert in SCCM” or “What is the future of SCCM/ConfigMgr”.

I used to provide them with some of the online resources.

Updated May 202163 Episodes Of Free Intune Training For Device Management Admins HTMD Blog (anoopcnair.com).

Update 3rd Jan 2019 – I have a new updated post about Learning SCCM, Intune, Azure. I would recommend reading the new post. https://www.anoopcnair.com/learn-sccm-intune-azure/

Patch My PC

I always felt that one or two links wouldn’t help people start learning any new technologies. They also need motivation and real-world experience to overcome the “inertia“.

I thought of putting my experience into a post so that it may help some people to start learning SCCM/Intune (or any new technology). This is a self-study guide for SCCM 2012/Current Branch/Intune.

How to Learn SCCM ConfigMgr Intune

SCCM/Intune Video tutorials subscribe to my YouTube Channel   here

There are THREE kinds of learning in IT Pro’s (not only IT Pro) career. I’m not here to explain about 70-20-10 theory. You can do a Google/Bing search to know more about “70-20-10”! Future of SCCM Admins? Please read one of my posts here in which we’re discussing this with Microsoft SCCM admins experience here.

Adaptiva

Now people started asking me how to start learning Microsoft Intune and Modern Device Management? So following is the blog post which you can refer to kick start your Intune learning and studies “Intune Starter Kit a Helping Hand for the IT Pros who wanted to Learn Intune“. How to Learn SCCM ConfigMgr Intune | Start Learning Microsoft Configuration Manager Endpoint Manager.

Update (4-Jan-2018):- Read more details about the Future of SCCM ConfigMgr Intune Admin Jobs

How to Learn SCCM ConfigMgr Intune | Start Learning Microsoft Configuration Manager Endpoint Manager
How to Learn SCCM ConfigMgr Intune | Start Learning Microsoft Configuration Manager Endpoint Manager

I started my SCCM (SMS at that time) learning on the job. My start in SCCM (rather SMS) was with pushing the applications (manually) from “Run Advertised Programs”, Installing SCCM Client, and uninstalling. How to Learn SCCM ConfigMgr Intune | Start Learning Microsoft Configuration Manager Endpoint Manager.

For the first 6 months of the desktop support engineer job, I never had a chance to see the SCCM console. I was not interested to see; also, I was happy with manually installing applications on desktops – laptops and that kind of troubleshooting. This got changed when I was promoted to a deployment engineer.

SCCM Console How to Learn SCCM ConfigMgr Intune | Start Learning Microsoft Configuration Manager Endpoint Manager
How to Learn SCCM ConfigMgr Intune | Start Learning Microsoft Configuration Manager Endpoint Manager

As an SCCM Deployment engineer (my new job), my work was to follow the flowchart or document prepared by my teammate/lead. My initial tasks were to import packages to SCCM and create Advertisements.

What if I get stuck in some issue? Double-check whether I had completed everything as per the flowchart; look at the flowchart from “bottom to top” (my senior teammate told me).

Also, he told me, “don’t come to me to resolve issues; troubleshoot yourself and resolve it”. So in all sense, “I’m being pushed to the wall“! Thanks to all the people who pushed to the wall. How to Learn SCCM ConfigMgr Intune | Start Learning Microsoft Configuration Manager Endpoint Manager.

How to Learn SCCM ConfigMgr Intune | Start Learning Microsoft Configuration Manager Endpoint Manager
How to Learn SCCM ConfigMgr Intune | Start Learning Microsoft Configuration Manager Endpoint Manager

As mentioned in a famous quote, “Sometimes being pushed to the wall gives you the momentum necessary to get over it!”, I had slowly overcome the “issues” mentioned in the above paragraph. It was a very slow and steady process. The SCCM (SMS – ConfigMgr) community helped me in this process.

I spend loads of time reading forums (myITforum and Technet) and myITforum blogs to find solutions for SCCM issues. Last but not (at all) least, blogging helped me improve my skill sets. It gives me a real motivation to deep dive into technical stuff. This is the overview of on-the-job “learning”.

So there is no “EASY WAY” to learn and become an expert in any technology. Following are some of the “pillars of learning” that may help you have successful SCCM/Intune learning (also, better career opportunities). How to Learn SCCM ConfigMgr Intune | Start Learning Microsoft Configuration Manager Endpoint Manager.

Initial Inertia - Take the Decision to Learn SCCM !
More Pros - Get Motivated looking at the future !
Listen and Watch - Start Reading about SCCM/Intune !
Start the Action - Practice ! Start building LAB or Use Virtual Lab
Keep yourself updated - Be part of IT Pro Community, Forums etc..
Real Networking - In person networking via User groups, Community events !!
Start writing what you learned - Blogging !

1) Get rid of “Initial Inertia

initial inertia

Decide to make a move towards learning SCCM/Intune. Overcoming the initial inertia that prevents many of us from learning is often the hardest step. How to Learn SCCM ConfigMgr Intune | Start Learning Microsoft Configuration Manager Endpoint Manager.

This is the same inertia you feel when you want to change the TV channel, but the remote isn’t nearby;) All you need is the smallest amount of force to get you started. Once you overcome that initial inertia, you’ve taken a huge step forward. Now you need to keep walking towards SCCM/Intune.

2) More Pros

Think About Pros of Learning How to Learn SCCM ConfigMgr Intune | Start Learning Microsoft Configuration Manager Endpoint Manager
How to Learn SCCM ConfigMgr Intune | Start Learning Microsoft Configuration Manager Endpoint Manager

When it’s not “on the job” learning, You should feel passionate about and have a genuine interest in further exploring the learning. Otherwise, you won’t reach the initial stage of your learning. How to Learn SCCM ConfigMgr Intune | Start Learning Microsoft Configuration Manager Endpoint Manager.

When picking up a new skill, the first step is to determine what to learn, why SCCM? Why not some other technology? Every technology has its own merits. Now SCCM is also going towards the cloud path, so be ready to learn SCCM + Intune (cloud version of SCCM)!!

How about job opportunities in SCCM? Can we make a better career with SCCM? Yes, I still think so in this cloud era 🙂 Your career growth depends on efforts, dedication, honesty, hard work, loyalty, etc…. These are applicable for all the jobs, not only SCCM/Intune. When looking for a job as a fresher, your educational background gives you more weight-age to your profile; otherwise, it doesn’t matter much.

3) Listen and Watch 

Listen and watch
How to Learn SCCM ConfigMgr Intune | Start Learning Microsoft Configuration Manager Endpoint Manager

Once you cross the stage of convincing yourself about what you want to learn, start reading about the technology you want to learn. Be part of your local user group communities Facebook groups and watch – listen to the latest training videos, podcasts, webcasts, etc…As you delve deeper into the pool of knowledge, you will want to add other forms of information which will come your way. How to Learn SCCM ConfigMgr Intune | Start Learning Microsoft Configuration Manager Endpoint Manager.

4) Start the Action

Find out a machine (laptop or desktop) on which we can install Hyper-V. On the hyper-v host, you can install a virtual SCCM server, Virtual Domain Controller, and SCCM Client Machine. Build SCCM server (primary server – Don’t build a CAS server for the first time) that is the best place to start learning SCCM. When you get stuck in installation problems, go back to any above-mentioned resource points.)

3) and get it resolved. Don’t leave and scrap the lab. Also, don’t sit idle after successfully installing the SCCM server. I’ve seen people stop touching their virtual LABs after the initial installation of the SCCM server.  Here comes the tricky part !!! What is the solution to this problem? Check out the following point. How to Learn SCCM ConfigMgr Intune | Start Learning Microsoft Configuration Manager Endpoint Manager.

Set up your SCCM ConfigMgr lab a TechNet documentation - here
Download the trial version of SCCM 2012/CB from here.
Download the trial version of SQL from here. Always check the SQL requirement for SCCM 2012 or any latest version of SCCM. Always refer to the Windows-Noob website for installation and configuration for LAB setup.

Intune Free Trail version from here
  • Being part of IT Pro user community, TechNet forums helps to continue using the user LABs in day to day basis. For example, being part of technet forum community will help you to know new problems, new scenarios around the world from different environments. This will help you to try some of these scenarios in your lab and that will always help you improve your technical skills and keep you always updated.
SCCM 2012 Technet Forum - here
SCCM 2007 Technet Forum - here
Microsoft Intune TechNet Forum - here

New form of RSS Feeds, keep you updated about new things in the community! Just need to Like the following page.
  • Another great resource to practice and get your hands dirty is TechNet virtual labs. What are the advantages of TechNet virtual labs? Risk-Free, Simple (well-guided), Fast and Free !!
  • You don’t need to have a dedicated machine to build your SCCM lab. You just need to have a good internet connection. TechNet virtual labs are hosted in the cloud.
  • The most important part of TechNet virtual lab(s) is each lab has an assignment you need to complete the assignment within 1 or 2 hours. These assignments have step-by-step documentation which will help the newbie to complete the assignment. How to Learn SCCM ConfigMgr Intune | Start Learning Microsoft Configuration Manager Endpoint Manager.
List of SCCM and Intune 2012 R2 TechNet Virtual Labs here
List of SCCM 2012 SP1 TechNet Virtual Labs here
  • You can also try to build SCCM 2012 SP1 (and R2) plus Microsoft Intune in Microsoft cloud for free (for short period of time) using the following Guide here.

5 ) Keep yourself updated

Keep yourself updated
How to Learn SCCM ConfigMgr Intune | Start Learning Microsoft Configuration Manager Endpoint Manager

Keep yourself updated about the news among the technical communities via blogs, social media, etc… Subscribe to the blogs you feel are useful so that you won’t miss any of the posts.

Create a Twitter account and #ConfigMgr and #MSIntune hashtag to keep the news coming about new releases of products, issues faced by ITPros, known issues of the products, etc…

Follow me on Twitter @anoopmannur ! These things will keep you in the market for a long time. How to Learn SCCM ConfigMgr Intune | Start Learning Microsoft Configuration Manager Endpoint Manager.

6) Real Networking

In Person
How to Learn SCCM ConfigMgr Intune | Start Learning Microsoft Configuration Manager Endpoint Manager

Meeting in person is always better than virtual (networking) meetings via social media. Be part of Microsoft technical conferences and Local User Group meetings to build a real “in-person” networking with your peers and industry experts. These are great places to share experiences and enrich your already growing skill set.

7) Start writing what you learned

blogging
How to Learn SCCM ConfigMgr Intune | Start Learning Microsoft Configuration Manager Endpoint Manager

Blogging is the new trend for IT Pros. So start writing what you’ve learned. This practice will help you memorize the things you’ve learned over a period of time. As I mentioned in my “About me” page hereI use this blog as my notebook or diary for technical issues/updates. Overall, blogging helps you build your communication skills, which is as important as the technology you are learning.

6 hours of SCCM 2012 Videos here from Wally Mead 

Keep your enthusiasm/excitement towards learning SCCM/Intune at the same pace. I’ve seen loads of people start learning with super excitement. However, over time the excitement used to get reduced. Please don’t overdo it !! Try to learn SCCM/Intune at a slow pace (slow and steady wins the race !). Also, remember there is no end to learning, every day, you learn new things in your personal/professional life same applies to SCCM/Intune! Happy learning!

Author

Anoop is Microsoft MVP! He is a Solution Architect in enterprise client management with more than 20 years of experience (calculation done in 2021) in IT. He is a blogger, Speaker, and Local User Group HTMD Community leader. His main focus is on Device Management technologies like SCCM 2012, Current Branch, and Intune. E writes about ConfigMgr, Windows 11, Windows 10, Azure AD, Microsoft Intune, Windows 365, AVD, etc…

64 thoughts on “How to Learn SCCM ConfigMgr Intune | Start Learning Microsoft Configuration Manager Endpoint Manager”

  1. Very Nice Anoop ! The only thing which i want to highlight is “passion and have a genuine interest” in exploring further learning…. And entire world is yours..
    Keep Sharing information Anoop!

    Reply
    • Thank you Mohan ! Yes, I think, it will be a motivation for me as well 🙂 to keep me updated about the upcoming technologies like Intune !!

      Regards
      Anoop

      Reply
  2. thanks a lot! good article. I created my first virtual lab by Hybernation Kit site deploymentresearch.com Johan and team made all for us! Just start installing and lab will work for you. It is a good way to learn.

    Reply
  3. I just got laid off after 13 yrs at a job. I used to package apps and deploy them using just Active Directory around 10 years ago. I’ve heard of SCCM but never used it (as my role changed) because I didn’t have access. I see many job postings in my field and I have a SCCM gap in my skillset, and your post has me excited to learn.
    I have just completed the 1st TechNet Virtual Lab (basics) and it was great. No need to spend $5k for a course. I have another 4 months of severance pay to last me, so I’ll be learning more of SCCM everyday, until I feel confident enough to put it on my Resume.
    Great resource Anoop – thanks for taking the time and effort to put it together for us.

    Ron.

    Reply
    • Hi Ron ! – Sorry to hear that you been laid off. SCCM and Intune are doing well in the market. Hopefully, these technologies stay for at least 10 years after release of next version of SCCM. Glad to hear that the post helped you.

      Regards
      Anoop

      Reply
  4. Great Stuff Anoop,

    Getting engaged with the community is a must if you want to grow.
    Let’s inspire everyone in ITPro community to get out there and share his/her knowledge.

    Sharing is the only way , Knowledge grows 🙂

    Reply
  5. Anoop I never had the patience to read slowly on any passage/paragraph but i did in this particular Blog. Pictures and Narrations keeps me tight .Awesome Bro !!!!

    Reply
  6. Thank you Anoop this is actually what I am looking for and u explain with grate resource also. And your past is very motivational for me just six month completed in SCCM team and I’m learning a lot
    And your blogs are helpful

    Reply
  7. Iam struck up with windows adk 8.1 installation to proceed with sccm installation. I have Internet which only one gb limit but adk for winPE it requires 2.2 gb which iam unable to download. How to proceed with this.

    Reply
  8. Limit is from my office. In home it’s taking more than 24 hours on 3g. Actually it’s on my laptop hyper-v I created sccm vm.

    Reply
  9. I heard from Microsoft employees that there is new version coming for sccm or system center after 2012 R2….is that true ?? Do u have any information. ..apart from sp2

    Reply
  10. Im on the same path where you started! Completed manual installation and stepped into deployment team..Your past is really motivation and keep us learning. Thank You.

    Reply
  11. Wonderful article…thanks a lot for showing the path…I’m working with SCCM 2007 from last 3.5 years, but never had chance to work on SCCM 2012. You are very inspirational… I’ll start working on SCCM 2012 on my own now… Thanks again

    Reply
  12. I am very much glad to read this post and also is a good motivational article because I started my carrier as a desktop support engineer and now become a SCCM admin. I really appreciate on this article. Thanks a lot for this post please keep on posting this kind of motivational dialog in the blog so that we can re-initiate our mind to grow and keeping update our-self. Thanks again.

    Reply
  13. Thanks a lot! Great article.It is helping me lots,please provide me some real scenarios base question for software distribution and software update to crack sccm interview.

    Reply
  14. Anoop, i must appreciate your labour to share this useful information. It contains lots of information in and around about “learning of sccm”. Thank you very much and it really helped me and motivated me. 🙂

    Reply
  15. Hi anoop,
    I want to learn sccm and i am planning to take training for sccm, however i dont have hands on experience of server troubleshooting. I just have some bookish knowledge of servers, but never worked practically. Please suggest if i can learn sccm without practical knowledge of servers?

    Reply
    • Hi anoop,
      waiting for your reply. Please help and suggest whether i should go for this training or not without having hands on experience on servers.

      Reply
  16. Hi Anoop,
    I have just passed out from engineering and got placed. I have been assigned to System Center Configuration Management project. I don’t have much knowledge about this sccm. Does this have scope in the future? Is it a good project? How about the growth in this field? And also how about the Salary growth? I know its too early to ask about the salary. But just out of curiosity.

    Reply
  17. Hi Anoop,
    Thank for such a great article myself a fresher with this technology and was trying to learn from the ground wondering if you could help me initially? Just a push start is what all i need.
    Went through all the websites you posted and had a overall picture and now trying to hands on experience with lab and struck with that.
    May i know where and how to start and with what computer system configuration and softwares needed?
    Do i need to install sql server firstly or ad or dc and where to do that for lab purpose? i know i am asking you very basic as i only have some theory but no hands on anytime.
    It would be helpful if you can give a push start initially in a very basic words yes i mean very very basic pattern.
    Thank You once again for your help in the community it is priceless.

    Reply
  18. Thanks anoop.
    AD,SQL,IIS,WSUS,ADK AND SCCM.
    I think firstly windows server 2008r2,AD,SQL,IIS,WSUS,ADK AND SCCM am i correct?
    And all these to be installed on cas,primary and secondary
    sites?

    Reply
      • Thank you so much you made my day brother.
        Had a wonderful feeling the first time when i followed guided v labs.
        And yes i do remember your statement “do not overdo slow and steady wins” it happened to me on the first 3 days. I did it extensively and then left for other 3 days haha it works at least for a new beginner.
        Thankyou.

  19. This was the article I have been looking for years(maybe I did not have smart google searching skill back then :P)… Thanks a lot Anoop for the informative article.. You rock man!

    Reply
  20. Hi Anoop,
    Your videos and blogs are very good,Keeping us updated regarding SCCM. It is very inspiring also. But I if you make little more elaborate blogs or videos on typical issues and new requirements it will more beneficial to people like me who is on the edge of the field. Thank you, All the best.

    Reply
  21. Good to see the stuff here Anoop…!

    I’m working on Intune MDM (Android, iOS) since last 7-8 months at enterprise level and have learned a lot during this period as i started from scratch.
    I’ve no experience of SCCM at all however i’ve worked on Ivanti (Landesk) and have good understanding on it.

    I was wondering if you could guide how i can move to SCCM+Intune side from learning perspective.

    Thanks,
    Sunny

    Reply
  22. Hello Anoop,

    I have started following you on youtube, As I am looking to learn SCCM. But don’t know whether to go out for classes or Self study would be better. I tried to learn from self study via youtube and all, but didn’t found any step by step procedure. Some time I started loosing focus from SCCM, That ” K mjhse na ho payga” or I am not taking it so serious that is why I didn’t joined any classes yet. But today all of sudden I was searching how to learn SCCM Step by Step. and I found your site. After reading your Blog, I got motivated that yes I can do it by my own. Lets give it a Try. Thank you very much for this. IT would be very helpful. If you guide me further or any effort I can to learn.

    Reply

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