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AZ-140: Azure Virtual Desktop Specialty

Deliver secure, cost-efficient virtual desktops on Azure and prepare for the AZ-140 Azure Virtual Desktop Specialty exam.

  • 32 hours of live, hands-on sessions
  • Deploys a complete Azure Virtual Desktop environment
  • FSLogix profiles, MSIX app attach and image management
  • Autoscale and cost optimisation for host pools
  • Monitoring with AVD Insights and troubleshooting drills
Aligned to Microsoft exam AZ-140
Duration
4 Days | 32 Hrs
Next batch
Batches on request
Delivery
Live Online · Onsite · Corporate
Level
Intermediate
Exam
AZ-140
Language
English

Why learn AZ-140 with Ace Skills

  • A full deployment, not a demo

    You build host pools, images, profiles and applications yourself, so every exam topic has a matching hands-on experience.

  • Cost under control

    Autoscale plans, pooled hosts and image management are tuned so desktops stay responsive without paying for idle capacity.

  • Secure remote work

    Conditional Access, MFA, RDP properties and network controls protect desktops used from unmanaged devices.

  • Troubleshooting users trust

    Drills cover the sign-in, profile and performance issues that generate most helpdesk tickets in virtual desktop projects.

Course overview

Azure Virtual Desktop lets organisations give staff, contractors and partners a secure desktop from anywhere without shipping hardware. Doing it well takes careful planning: host pool design, identity integration, profile storage, application delivery, scaling and cost control all affect the user experience. This four-day course takes you through each of these decisions with a full working deployment.

Day one is about planning: capacity and sizing, host pool types, networking, and identity options including Active Directory Domain Services and Microsoft Entra join. Day two builds the environment — host pools, session hosts, workspaces and application groups — and creates a managed golden image.

Day three focuses on the user environment: FSLogix profile containers on Azure Files, application delivery with RemoteApp and app attach, and security controls such as Conditional Access, MFA and screen-capture protection. Day four covers operations: autoscale plans, updates, backup and disaster recovery, monitoring with Azure Virtual Desktop Insights, and common troubleshooting cases, followed by exam preparation.

You finish the course having deployed and operated your own environment, with design notes you can reuse for a proof of concept at work.

This course is aligned to the AZ-140 exam. Microsoft reviews specialty certifications periodically, so confirm the exam is still available and check its current outline on Microsoft Learn before booking.

Key features

  • Complete AVD deployment built by each learner
  • Golden image creation with Azure Compute Gallery
  • FSLogix profile containers on Azure Files
  • RemoteApp and app attach application delivery
  • Autoscale and cost optimisation labs
  • Troubleshooting drills for common user issues
  • 30 days of post-training doubt support

Who should attend

  • Desktop and end-user computing engineers
  • Azure administrators supporting remote workforces
  • Citrix or Remote Desktop Services administrators moving to Azure
  • IT consultants delivering virtual desktop projects

Prerequisites

  • Azure administration experience (AZ-104 level recommended)
  • Working knowledge of Active Directory and Windows client administration
  • Basic networking and PowerShell skills

Curriculum

4 Days · 32 Hours · 13 Modules · 10 Labs

  1. Architecture and capacity

    • AVD components and service architecture
    • Pooled vs personal host pools
    • Sizing session hosts for user density
    • Multi-session Windows
    • Lab: Size a host pool for a 200-user scenario · 35 min

    Identity and networking

    • AD DS, Entra Domain Services and Entra join options
    • Network requirements and RDP Shortpath
    • Private Link for AVD
    • Hybrid connectivity to on-premises resources
    • Lab: Prepare identity and a virtual network for AVD · 50 min

    Storage planning

    • Azure Files vs Azure NetApp Files for profiles
    • Storage performance tiers
    • Identity-based access to file shares
    • Lab: Create and domain-join an Azure Files share for profiles · 40 min

  2. Host pools and workspaces

    • Creating host pools and session hosts
    • Application groups and workspaces
    • Assigning users and groups
    • Load-balancing algorithms
    • Lab: Deploy a pooled host pool and publish a desktop · 60 min

    Image management

    • Building a golden image
    • Azure Compute Gallery and versioning
    • Image Builder overview
    • Language packs and optimisation
    • Lab: Create, capture and version a golden image · 55 min

    Session host configuration

    • RDP properties
    • Drain mode and maintenance
    • Updating session hosts

  3. User profiles

    • FSLogix profile containers
    • Cloud Cache and redundancy
    • Profile size and exclusions
    • Lab: Configure FSLogix profiles on Azure Files · 50 min

    Application delivery

    • RemoteApp application groups
    • App attach and MSIX packages
    • Microsoft 365 Apps on multi-session hosts
    • Teams optimisation
    • Lab: Publish RemoteApps and attach a packaged application · 50 min

    Security

    • Conditional Access and MFA for AVD
    • Screen capture protection and watermarking
    • Defender for Endpoint on session hosts
    • Network security for host pools
    • Lab: Apply Conditional Access and screen capture protection · 30 min

  4. Scaling and cost

    • Autoscale scaling plans
    • Start VM on Connect
    • Reserved instances and savings plans
    • Cost reporting per host pool
    • Lab: Configure an autoscale plan and test ramp-down · 40 min

    Business continuity

    • Backup for session hosts and profiles
    • Multi-region design
    • Disaster recovery options

    Monitoring and troubleshooting

    • Azure Virtual Desktop Insights
    • Log Analytics queries for connections
    • Common sign-in and profile issues
    • Performance troubleshooting
    • Lab: Diagnose connection and profile issues with AVD Insights · 45 min

    Exam readiness

    • Exam format and scenario questions
    • Practice questions with review
Download full syllabus (PDF)

Skills you will gain

  • Azure Virtual Desktop
  • Host pools
  • Session hosts
  • FSLogix
  • Azure Files
  • Golden images
  • Azure Compute Gallery
  • App attach
  • RemoteApp
  • Conditional Access
  • Autoscale
  • AVD Insights

Tools & technologies

  • Azure portal
  • Azure Virtual Desktop
  • FSLogix
  • Azure Compute Gallery
  • Windows App / Remote Desktop client
  • Azure PowerShell
  • Log Analytics

Certification exam

Exam details
Exam nameMicrosoft Certified: Azure Virtual Desktop Specialty
Exam codeAZ-140
Passing score700 / 1000 (scaled)
Voucher includedNo — book directly with the vendor
DeliveryOnline proctored or Test centre
Validity & renewal1 year (free online renewal assessment)

Skill areas measured

  1. Plan and implement an Azure Virtual Desktop infrastructure
  2. Plan and implement identity and security
  3. Plan and implement user environments and apps
  4. Monitor and maintain an Azure Virtual Desktop infrastructure

Exam details are pending verification. Vendors change exams; confirm on the official vendor page before booking. Official exam page (opens in a new tab)

Schedule & Pricing

Live Online

Individual

Price on request

  • 32 hours of live, trainer-led sessions
  • 10 hands-on labs
  • Ace Skills course completion certificate

Onsite

At your office or our centre

Pricing depends on location, group size and dates.

  • Delivered at your premises or an Ace centre
  • Same curriculum and labs as live online
  • Dates planned around your team

Corporate / Team

Private batch for your organisation

A private batch with content adapted to your environment and goals.

  • Customised curriculum
  • Private batch, online or onsite
  • Progress and assessment reports
  • GST invoice and PO-based billing

No public batches scheduled — Talk to an Advisor for a private batch.

Projects & labs you will build

  • Day 2 · 60 min

    Deploy a pooled host pool and publish a desktop

  • Day 3 · 50 min

    Configure FSLogix profiles on Azure Files

Your certificate

Certificate of Completion — Ace Skills Consulting

Awarded on completing the course. It records the course title and training hours, and you can share it on your LinkedIn profile.

The Microsoft certification itself is awarded by Microsoft when you pass exam AZ-140.

Frequently asked questions

Is the AZ-140 exam still available?

We check its status regularly, but Microsoft can retire specialty exams at short notice. Confirm on Microsoft Learn before booking; the skills you learn apply to AVD projects either way.

Do I need Active Directory experience?

Yes, basic AD and Windows client administration are expected, because identity integration and profiles depend on them.

Will I build my own AVD environment?

Yes. Each learner deploys a host pool, image, profile storage and applications in a lab subscription.

What happens if Microsoft updates the AZ-140 exam?

We map the curriculum to the current published skills outline and revise it when Microsoft changes the exam. Always check the latest outline on Microsoft Learn before booking.

Can you run a private batch for our team?

Yes. We run private online or onsite batches for corporate teams, and we can weight the labs towards your remote-work and desktop strategy. Request a corporate quote with your team size and preferred dates.

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Private batches online or at your office in India and the GCC, with a curriculum adapted to your environment.