Microsoft 365 — 50 QnA

Microsoft 365 (M365) is a cloud-based suite of productivity and collaboration tools. Includes Word, Excel, Teams, Outlook, and security services. Integrates with Azure AD for identity and access management. In 2025, enhances with Copilot for AI-driven productivity. Troubleshoot issues using admin center diagnostics and logs. Secure with conditional access and data loss prevention (DLP). Supports hybrid deployments with on-premises Exchange/SharePoint. Interviewers expect knowledge of core apps and licensing models.

Microsoft Teams is a collaboration hub for chat, video, and file sharing. Integrates with M365 apps, Azure AD, and third-party tools. Supports channels, tabs, and extensible apps for workflows. In 2025, adds AI-driven meeting summaries via Copilot. Troubleshoot with call analytics and network performance logs. Secure with guest access controls and sensitivity labels. Scale with enterprise voice and PSTN calling options. Interviewers may ask about Teams governance and app policies.

Copilot is an AI assistant in M365 for productivity and insights. Enhances Word, Excel, Teams with natural language automation. In 2025, integrates o1 model for advanced reasoning tasks. Uses enterprise data securely with Microsoft Graph grounding. Troubleshoot with usage reports and permission checks. Secure with RBAC and data residency controls. Monitor adoption via M365 admin center analytics. Interviewers expect details on Copilot prompts and governance.

Exchange Online is M365’s cloud-based email and calendaring service. Supports hybrid deployments with on-premises Exchange. Provides mailboxes, shared calendars, and Outlook integration. In 2025, enhances with AI-driven email prioritization. Troubleshoot with message trace and eDiscovery tools. Secure with DLP, encryption, and anti-phishing policies. Scale with automatic mailbox resizing and archiving. Interviewers may ask about retention policies and hybrid setup.

SharePoint Online is a collaboration platform for document management and sites. Supports team sites, hubs, and intranet portals. Integrates with Teams for seamless file sharing. In 2025, adds Copilot for content summarization. Troubleshoot with site diagnostics and permission reports. Secure with external sharing controls and sensitivity labels. Scale with hub architecture for large organizations. Interviewers expect knowledge of site permissions and migration.

OneDrive for Business provides cloud storage for user files in M365. Syncs files across devices with version control and sharing. Supports known folder move for seamless migration. In 2025, enhances with Copilot for file insights. Troubleshoot with sync client logs and storage quotas. Secure with file-level encryption and DLP policies. Integrate with Teams for collaborative editing. Interviewers may ask about external sharing and sync conflicts.

Defender for Office 365 protects email, Teams, and files from threats. Detects phishing, malware, and insider risks with AI. In 2025, integrates advanced threat hunting with Sentinel. Provides Safe Links, Safe Attachments, and impersonation protection. Troubleshoot with threat explorer and incident alerts. Secure with zero-hour auto-purge and real-time reports. Monitor via security dashboard for attack insights. Interviewers expect details on anti-phishing policies and investigation.

Microsoft Purview governs M365 data with compliance and risk management. Includes DLP, eDiscovery, and sensitivity labels for data protection. Tracks data lineage and enforces retention policies. In 2025, enhances AI-driven classification accuracy. Troubleshoot with audit logs and policy diagnostics. Secure with RBAC and encryption for sensitive data. Integrate with Teams and SharePoint for compliance. Interviewers may ask about compliance center and retention schedules.

Power Apps is a low-code platform for building business applications. Supports canvas, model-driven, and portal apps. Connects to Dataverse and 800+ connectors. In 2025, adds Copilot for app design assistance. Troubleshoot with solution checker and app logs. Secure with environment roles and DLP policies. Scale with managed environments for governance. Interviewers expect knowledge of connectors and licensing.

Power Automate automates workflows across M365 and external apps. Supports cloud, desktop, and attended flows. Integrates with Dataverse and custom connectors. In 2025, enhances with AI-driven flow suggestions. Troubleshoot with run history and connector errors. Secure with per-flow permissions and DLP rules. Scale with premium connectors for enterprise automation. Interviewers may ask about triggers and governance policies.

Power BI is a business intelligence tool for data visualization in M365. Creates interactive reports and dashboards from multiple sources. Supports Dataverse and real-time streaming datasets. In 2025, integrates Copilot for natural language queries. Troubleshoot with dataset refresh logs and gateway issues. Secure with row-level security and sensitivity labels. Scale with premium capacity for large organizations. Interviewers expect details on DAX and dataflows.

Dataverse is a low-code data platform for Power Apps and Dynamics 365. Stores structured data with built-in security and logic. Supports relational data, business rules, and APIs. In 2025, enhances with AI-driven data modeling. Troubleshoot with table relationships and audit logs. Secure with column-level security and RBAC. Scale with environment capacity management. Interviewers may ask about data integration and schema design.

Microsoft Viva is an employee experience platform in M365. Includes Insights, Learning, Topics, and Connections modules. In 2025, adds Copilot for personalized insights. Supports employee engagement and knowledge sharing. Troubleshoot with usage analytics and module settings. Secure with Azure AD and data residency controls. Integrate with Teams for seamless access. Interviewers expect knowledge of Viva modules and adoption strategies.

M365 Admin Center manages users, licenses, and service settings. Provides health dashboards, usage reports, and support tickets. Supports bulk operations and PowerShell automation. In 2025, enhances with AI-driven admin recommendations. Troubleshoot with service health and message center. Secure with admin roles and MFA enforcement. Monitor via adoption score and analytics. Interviewers may ask about role delegation and audit logs.

Conditional Access enforces policies based on user, device, or risk signals. Requires MFA or blocks access for non-compliant devices. In 2025, integrates AI for risk-based policy tuning. Troubleshoot with sign-in logs and policy diagnostics. Secure with named locations and device compliance checks. Test policies in report-only mode to avoid lockouts. Monitor for bypass attempts via audit logs. Interviewers expect details on policy conditions and exclusions.

DLP in M365 prevents sensitive data leakage in emails, Teams, and files. Uses policies to detect PII, HIPAA, or custom data patterns. Blocks, notifies, or encrypts based on policy actions. In 2025, enhances with AI for contextual detection. Troubleshoot with DLP reports and incident logs. Secure with sensitivity labels and user training. Integrate with Purview for unified compliance. Interviewers may ask about policy tuning and false positives.

Sensitivity labels classify and protect M365 documents and emails. Apply encryption, watermarks, or access restrictions. Support auto-labeling based on content patterns. In 2025, improves AI-driven classification accuracy. Troubleshoot with label audit logs and client issues. Secure with scoped label policies and RBAC. Integrate with Teams and SharePoint for protection. Interviewers expect knowledge of label scopes and retention.

eDiscovery searches and preserves M365 data for legal or compliance needs. Includes Core and Premium for advanced analytics. Supports email, Teams, and OneDrive content. In 2025, uses AI for predictive coding. Troubleshoot with case holds and export errors. Secure with case-level permissions and audit trails. Integrate with Purview for unified discovery. Interviewers may ask about hold policies and export formats.

Insider Risk Management detects risky user behavior in M365. Analyzes data leaks, policy violations, or suspicious actions. Uses AI to correlate signals across Teams, email, and files. In 2025, enhances with behavioral analytics. Troubleshoot with alert triage and policy tuning. Secure with anonymized data and role-based access. Integrate with Defender for Office 365. Interviewers expect details on risk indicators and workflows.

M365 Groups unify access to Teams, SharePoint, and Planner. Provide shared mailboxes, calendars, and file storage. Support dynamic membership based on Azure AD attributes. In 2025, enhances with AI-driven group suggestions. Troubleshoot with membership sync and permission errors. Secure with naming policies and external access controls. Scale with group expiration policies. Interviewers may ask about group types and governance.

Microsoft Forms creates surveys, quizzes, and polls in M365. Integrates with Teams and Excel for data collection. Supports branching and response analytics. In 2025, adds Copilot for question generation. Troubleshoot with response exports and sharing settings. Secure with internal-only or anonymous response options. Scale for large audiences with response limits. Interviewers expect details on form sharing and analytics.

Microsoft Planner organizes tasks and projects within M365. Integrates with Teams and M365 Groups for collaboration. Supports Kanban boards, schedules, and analytics. In 2025, enhances with Copilot for task prioritization. Troubleshoot with task sync and notification issues. Secure with group-based access and audit logs. Scale with bucket and label management. Interviewers may ask about Planner vs. Project differences.

Microsoft To Do is a task management app in M365. Syncs with Outlook tasks and Planner for personal productivity. Supports lists, due dates, and reminders. In 2025, integrates Copilot for task suggestions. Troubleshoot with sync errors and app diagnostics. Secure with Azure AD and device-based access. Integrate with Teams for task visibility. Interviewers expect knowledge of task sharing and integration.

Microsoft Stream hosts and shares videos within M365. Integrates with Teams for meeting recordings and live events. Supports transcripts and content search. In 2025, enhances with AI-driven video summarization. Troubleshoot with upload errors and storage limits. Secure with channel permissions and external sharing controls. Scale with enterprise content delivery options. Interviewers may ask about video retention and analytics.

Microsoft Whiteboard is a digital canvas for collaborative ideation. Integrates with Teams for real-time brainstorming. Supports templates, inking, and object recognition. In 2025, adds Copilot for idea summarization. Troubleshoot with sync issues and board permissions. Secure with M365 group-based access controls. Scale for large workshops with guest access. Interviewers expect details on board sharing and templates.

Microsoft Bookings simplifies appointment scheduling in M365. Integrates with Outlook for staff and customer bookings. Supports custom services and availability rules. In 2025, enhances with AI-driven scheduling suggestions. Troubleshoot with calendar sync and notification issues. Secure with booking page access controls. Scale for teams with multiple staff calendars. Interviewers may ask about booking policies and integrations.

Compliance Manager assesses M365 compliance with regulatory standards. Provides templates for GDPR, HIPAA, and ISO 27001. Tracks improvement actions and compliance scores. In 2025, uses AI for automated compliance insights. Troubleshoot with assessment reports and action logs. Secure with role-based access and audit trails. Integrate with Purview for unified compliance. Interviewers expect knowledge of templates and scoring.

Endpoint Manager (Intune) manages devices and apps in M365. Supports mobile device and application management (MDM/MAM). Enforces compliance policies and app protection. In 2025, integrates AI for device health predictions. Troubleshoot with device enrollment and policy logs. Secure with conditional access and app restrictions. Scale with group-based policy assignments. Interviewers may ask about Intune vs. Configuration Manager.

M365 audit logs track user and admin activities across services. Capture events like file access, email actions, and policy changes. Support unified auditing with Purview integration. In 2025, enhances with AI-driven anomaly detection. Troubleshoot with log search and retention settings. Secure with restricted access and tamper-proof logging. Monitor for compliance and security investigations. Interviewers expect details on log retention and queries.

Secure Score measures M365 security posture with actionable insights. Evaluates policies, MFA adoption, and threat protection. Recommends improvements like enabling security defaults. In 2025, integrates AI for prioritized recommendations. Troubleshoot with score history and action logs. Secure with role-based access to score data. Monitor via security dashboard for trends. Interviewers may ask about score metrics and remediation.

M365 Backup protects Exchange, SharePoint, and Teams data. Supports point-in-time restores and long-term retention. Uses third-party solutions like Veeam or AvePoint. In 2025, enhances with AI-driven recovery prioritization. Troubleshoot with backup job logs and restore tests. Secure with encrypted backups and RBAC. Monitor backup health and compliance status. Interviewers expect knowledge of retention and recovery SLAs.

Hybrid deployment connects on-premises Exchange/SharePoint to M365. Supports single sign-on and directory synchronization. Uses Azure AD Connect for identity bridging. In 2025, improves with AI-driven migration tools. Troubleshoot with sync logs and hybrid configuration wizard. Secure with minimal on-premises footprint and MFA. Monitor for sync errors and performance. Interviewers may ask about hybrid identity and coexistence.

Retention policies manage data lifecycle in M365 for compliance. Apply to email, Teams, and SharePoint with time-based rules. Support deletion or archival after retention periods. In 2025, enhances with AI for policy optimization. Troubleshoot with retention label conflicts and logs. Secure with scoped policies and audit trails. Integrate with Purview for unified governance. Interviewers expect details on retention vs. preservation.

Microsoft Loop is a collaborative canvas for flexible workflows. Supports components shared across Teams and Outlook. Enables real-time co-authoring and task integration. In 2025, adds Copilot for content suggestions. Troubleshoot with component sync and permission issues. Secure with M365 group-based access controls. Scale for cross-team collaboration projects. Interviewers may ask about Loop vs. OneNote differences.

Clipchamp is a video editing tool integrated with M365. Supports templates, stock media, and screen recording. Exports to Stream or OneDrive for sharing. In 2025, enhances with AI-driven video edits. Troubleshoot with export errors and storage limits. Secure with M365 permissions and sharing controls. Scale for team-based video content creation. Interviewers expect knowledge of integration and features.

Guest access allows external users to collaborate in M365 apps. Supports Teams, SharePoint, and Power Apps with Azure AD B2B. Controls sharing with domain restrictions and policies. In 2025, improves with AI-driven guest monitoring. Troubleshoot with guest invite and permission logs. Secure with conditional access and review policies. Monitor guest activity via audit logs. Interviewers may ask about B2B setup and restrictions.

Microsoft Syntex uses AI to process and classify M365 content. Extracts metadata and automates document workflows. Supports contract management and form processing. In 2025, enhances with Copilot for model training. Troubleshoot with model accuracy and processing logs. Secure with content type permissions and RBAC. Integrate with SharePoint for automation. Interviewers expect details on content models and licensing.

Information Barriers restrict communication between M365 user groups. Prevents conflicts of interest in regulated industries. Applies to Teams, SharePoint, and OneDrive. In 2025, uses AI to optimize barrier policies. Troubleshoot with segment conflicts and audit logs. Secure with strict policy scoping and monitoring. Monitor compliance via Purview reports. Interviewers may ask about barrier scenarios and setup.

Secure Email Encryption protects sensitive emails in Exchange Online. Uses OME for encrypted message delivery and access controls. Supports external recipients with one-time passcodes. In 2025, enhances with AI-driven encryption triggers. Troubleshoot with delivery reports and recipient access. Secure with sensitivity labels and DLP integration. Monitor encryption usage via audit logs. Interviewers expect details on OME vs. S/MIME.

Adoption Score measures M365 usage and productivity metrics. Tracks collaboration, mobility, and communication patterns. Provides recommendations for increasing engagement. In 2025, uses AI for personalized adoption insights. Troubleshoot with data accuracy and privacy settings. Secure with anonymized data and admin access. Monitor via M365 admin center dashboards. Interviewers may ask about metrics and improvement plans.

App Governance monitors and secures third-party apps in M365. Tracks app permissions, usage, and risk signals. Enforces policies for OAuth apps and connectors. In 2025, enhances with AI-driven risk detection. Troubleshoot with app inventory and consent logs. Secure with least privilege and app blocking. Integrate with Defender for app insights. Interviewers expect details on app consent and policies.

Multi-Geo enables data residency across Azure regions in M365. Stores user data in specific geos for compliance. Supports Exchange, OneDrive, and SharePoint data. In 2025, aligns with Cloud for Sovereignty. Troubleshoot with geo-assignment and sync logs. Secure with geo-specific policies and RBAC. Monitor via admin center for compliance. Interviewers may ask about geo setup and limitations.

Advanced Threat Protection (ATP) in Defender for Office 365 mitigates threats. Includes Safe Links, Safe Attachments, and anti-phishing. Uses AI for real-time threat detection. In 2025, enhances with predictive threat analytics. Troubleshoot with attack simulation and reports. Secure with policy scoping and user training. Monitor via threat explorer dashboards. Interviewers expect knowledge of ATP policies and simulations.

Power Virtual Agents creates AI-driven chatbots in M365. Integrates with Teams and Dataverse for automation. Supports natural language and handoff to agents. In 2025, merges into Copilot Studio for enhanced AI. Troubleshoot with bot analytics and session logs. Secure with environment roles and data policies. Scale with premium connectors for enterprise. Interviewers may ask about bot triggers and handoff.

Communication Compliance monitors Teams, email, and Yammer for policy violations. Detects harassment, profanity, or sensitive data sharing. Uses AI for pattern recognition and remediation. In 2025, improves with contextual AI analysis. Troubleshoot with policy matches and alert reviews. Secure with role-based access and audit logs. Integrate with Purview for unified compliance. Interviewers expect details on policy conditions and remediation.

Customer Lockbox controls Microsoft’s access to M365 data. Requires explicit approval for support-related access. Ensures compliance with strict data privacy regulations. In 2025, aligns with sovereignty requirements. Troubleshoot with request logs and approval workflows. Secure with audit trails and time-bound access. Monitor via compliance center reports. Interviewers may ask about Lockbox scenarios and controls.

Teams Phone provides enterprise voice and PSTN calling in M365. Supports direct routing and calling plans for flexibility. Integrates with contact centers and auto attendants. In 2025, enhances with AI-driven call analytics. Troubleshoot with call quality dashboard and logs. Secure with voice policies and conditional access. Scale for global organizations with number management. Interviewers expect knowledge of routing and licensing.

Privileged Access Management (PAM) secures admin tasks in M365. Enforces just-in-time access with approval workflows. Reduces standing privileges for security. In 2025, integrates AI for access risk detection. Troubleshoot with access request and audit logs. Secure with MFA and time-bound approvals. Monitor via security center for anomalies. Interviewers may ask about PAM policies and setup.

Data Connectors import third-party data into M365 for compliance. Support HR, Salesforce, and social media sources. Enable eDiscovery and insider risk analysis. In 2025, enhances with AI-driven data mapping. Troubleshoot with connector sync and error logs. Secure with encrypted imports and RBAC. Integrate with Purview for unified governance. Interviewers expect details on supported platforms and setup.

M365 in 2025 focuses on AI-driven productivity with Copilot enhancements. Integrates o1 model for advanced reasoning across apps. Strengthens security with AI-based threat detection. Aligns with sovereignty via Multi-Geo and Lockbox. Improves hybrid work with Teams and Viva innovations. Troubleshoot with unified admin and compliance tools. Secure with zero-trust and AI-driven governance. Interviewers may probe AI ethics and hybrid collaboration trends.