Pass Your Microsoft 70-158 Exam Easy!

Microsoft 70-158 (Microsoft Forefront Identity & Access Management, Configuring) exam dumps vce, practice test questions, study guide & video training course to study and pass quickly and easily. Microsoft 70-158 Microsoft Forefront Identity & Access Management, Configuring exam dumps & practice test questions and answers. You need avanset vce exam simulator in order to study the Microsoft 70-158 certification exam dumps & Microsoft 70-158 practice test questions in vce format.

An Introduction to the Microsoft 70-158 Exam

Microsoft's Forefront Identity Manager (FIM) 2010 was a comprehensive platform designed to solve complex identity and access management challenges within an enterprise. It provided a powerful framework for managing the entire lifecycle of user identities, credentials, and access policies across diverse and heterogeneous IT environments. The Microsoft 70-158 exam, "Forefront Identity Manager 2010, Configuring," was the official certification that validated an IT professional's skills to deploy, configure, and maintain this critical infrastructure. Passing this exam signified a deep understanding of FIM's architecture and its application to real-world business problems.

Although the 70-158 exam and FIM 2010 are now retired technologies, the foundational principles of identity management they embodied are more relevant than ever. The concepts of data synchronization, policy-based automation, and self-service are the direct ancestors of modern solutions like Microsoft Identity Manager (MIM) and the cloud-based Microsoft Entra ID. For professionals managing legacy systems or seeking a deep historical understanding of identity management, the topics of the 70-158 exam remain a valuable field of study. This five-part series will serve as a detailed guide, starting with the core concepts and architecture of the FIM 2010 platform.

Understanding the Core Concepts of Identity Management

To prepare for the 70-158 exam, one must first grasp the core business problems that Forefront Identity Manager was designed to solve. The central concept is Identity Lifecycle Management. This refers to the automation of processes related to the "joiner-mover-leaver" scenarios in an organization. When a new employee joins, FIM could automatically provision the necessary accounts and access. When they moved departments, it could update their permissions. When they left, it could de-provision their access in a secure and timely manner.

Another key area was Group Management. FIM provided tools for both manual and automated management of security and distribution groups. It allowed for self-service group management, where users could request to join groups, with approval workflows, and also for criteria-based groups, where membership was automatically maintained based on a user's attributes (e.g., a group for "All Managers in the Finance Department").

Finally, FIM addressed Credential Management. This included powerful features for self-service password reset (SSPR), allowing users to reset their forgotten passwords without calling the help desk. It also included password synchronization, providing a mechanism to keep a user's password consistent across multiple different systems. The 70-158 exam was built around testing your ability to configure the FIM platform to deliver these core identity management solutions.

Who was the Ideal Candidate for the 70-158 Exam?

The 70-158 exam was targeted at experienced IT professionals who were responsible for the technical implementation and day-to-day administration of an identity management infrastructure. The ideal candidate was a systems administrator, an infrastructure specialist, or a dedicated identity management engineer. These individuals needed a broad technical skill set, as a FIM deployment touched upon many different parts of the IT environment. The certification was a rigorous test of their ability to configure the complex interplay of FIM's various components.

A strong background in core Microsoft infrastructure technologies was an essential prerequisite. This included deep, hands-on knowledge of Active Directory Domain Services, as it was the most common authoritative source and target for identity management. Candidates also needed to be proficient with Microsoft SQL Server, as it hosts the critical FIM databases, and with Windows Server for the general installation and maintenance of the FIM components. An understanding of SharePoint was also required, as the FIM Portal was built upon SharePoint Foundation.

The 70-158 exam was not an entry-level test. It was designed for professionals with practical experience in the field, who understood the business drivers behind identity management. The questions were often scenario-based, requiring the candidate to apply their knowledge to design a configuration that would solve a specific business problem, such as automating the user onboarding process or implementing a secure password reset solution.

The FIM 2010 Architecture

A deep understanding of the FIM 2010 architecture is the absolute foundation for the 70-158 exam. The platform is composed of several major components that work together. The first is the FIM Synchronization Service. This is the original and most powerful component, inherited from FIM's predecessor, Microsoft Identity Integration Server (MIIS). It is a powerful engine responsible for connecting to various external systems (like Active Directory, HR systems, and other databases) and synchronizing identity data between them.

The FIM Synchronization Service has its own database and uses two key architectural constructs you must understand. The Connector Space is a staging area that holds a representation of the objects and attributes from a specific connected system. The Metaverse is the central, integrated view of all identity objects aggregated from all the connected systems. The logic that defines how data flows between the Connector Spaces and the Metaverse is the heart of the synchronization process.

The second major component is the FIM Service and Portal. The FIM Service is a web service that provides the engine for policy, workflow, and request processing. It has its own SQL database for storing its configuration. The FIM Portal is a SharePoint-based web interface that provides the user interface for both administrators and end-users to interact with the FIM Service, for tasks like self-service group requests or password resets. The 70-158 exam required a clear understanding of how these two major components, the Sync Service and the FIM Service, worked both independently and together.

Navigating the 70-158 Exam Format and Objectives

Being familiar with the exam's format and the skills it measured was a critical first step in building a successful study plan. The 70-158 exam was a proctored test that consisted of 40 to 60 questions, with a time limit of approximately 120 minutes. The question formats were varied and could include standard multiple-choice, drag-and-drop, and scenario-based questions that required you to analyze a business problem and choose the correct configuration steps.

The official skills measured, or objectives, for the 70-158 exam were divided into several main categories. A significant portion of the exam was dedicated to installing and configuring the FIM environment. Another major section focused on "Managing User Identity," which covered the configuration of the FIM Synchronization Service, including Management Agents and attribute flows, and the configuration of the FIM Service, including Sets, Workflows, and Management Policy Rules (MPRs).

Other key sections included "Managing Credentials," which specifically tested your knowledge of configuring Self-Service Password Reset (SSPR) and password synchronization. The exam also covered "Configuring Security and Administration," which included topics like granting permissions within the FIM Portal, and "Configuring FIM Reporting." Your study plan should have been meticulously aligned with these official objectives, as they provided the definitive blueprint for the exam's content.

The Business Value of FIM 2010 and Certification

Understanding the business value of Forefront Identity Manager 2010 provides important context for the technical skills tested in the 70-158 exam. For businesses, FIM delivered significant improvements in operational efficiency. By automating the user provisioning and de-provisioning processes, it dramatically reduced the manual, repetitive workload on IT staff. This not only saved time and money but also reduced the risk of human error, ensuring that new employees got the access they needed on day one and that departing employees had their access removed promptly.

FIM also delivered substantial security and compliance benefits. It provided a central point of control for enforcing access policies consistently across the organization. The detailed logging and auditing capabilities helped organizations to meet their regulatory and compliance requirements by providing a clear record of who has access to what and who approved it. The self-service features, particularly for password reset, also improved security by reducing the need for help desk staff to handle sensitive password information.

A professional who had passed the 70-158 exam was the key to unlocking these benefits for an organization. Their certified expertise in configuring FIM's policy, workflow, and synchronization engines ensured that the platform was implemented correctly and aligned with the business's specific security and efficiency goals. This certification was a clear indicator that the individual had the skills to manage the critical infrastructure that governed user identity and access across the enterprise.

Initial Steps for Your 70-158 Exam Preparation

To begin a structured preparation for the 70-158 exam, a few initial steps were crucial. The very first action was to download the official "Skills Measured" document from the Microsoft Learning website. This document was the definitive blueprint for the exam, detailing every objective and sub-skill that was in scope. This blueprint should have been used as a master checklist to guide your studies, track your progress, and identify areas that required more attention, ensuring a focused and comprehensive preparation.

Next, it was essential to gather the appropriate study materials. For a Microsoft exam of this era, the primary and most authoritative sources of information were the articles on Microsoft TechNet. The TechNet library for FIM 2010 contained the complete product documentation, architectural guidance, and detailed step-by-step "how-to" guides for almost every configuration task. While some third-party books and training kits existed, the official Microsoft documentation was the ultimate source of truth.

Finally, and most importantly, was the need to build a hands-on lab environment. Theoretical knowledge was absolutely insufficient to pass the 70-158 exam. You needed to have practical, hands-on experience with the product. This meant building a multi-server lab, typically using a virtualization platform like Hyper-V. The lab would need a domain controller, a SQL Server, a server for the FIM Synchronization Service, and another server for the FIM Service and Portal (which also required SharePoint Foundation). The process of building and configuring this lab was the single most effective study method.

Deep Dive into the FIM Synchronization Service for the 70-158 Exam

Welcome to the second part of our comprehensive series on the Microsoft 70-158 exam. In our first installment, we established a foundational understanding of the Forefront Identity Manager 2010 platform, its core concepts, and the overall structure of the exam. With that essential groundwork laid, we will now delve into the technical heart of FIM: the Synchronization Service. This is the powerful engine that underpins all of FIM's data integration and provisioning capabilities, and it is a topic that requires deep and precise understanding.

This part will provide a detailed exploration of the FIM Synchronization Service architecture and its configuration. We will dissect the key concepts of the Metaverse and Connector Spaces, walk through the creation and configuration of Management Agents to connect to external systems, and explain the critical processes of attribute flow, projections, and joins. A mastery of the Synchronization Service is absolutely central to the role of a FIM administrator and was one of the most heavily tested domains on the 70-158 exam.

The Synchronization Service Architecture in Detail

To master the content for the 70-158 exam, you must have a crystal-clear understanding of the FIM Synchronization Service architecture. This engine has three main components. The first is the Management Agent (MA). An MA is a specific connector that knows how to communicate with a particular type of connected data source, such as Active Directory, a SQL database, or a text file. You configure one MA for each external system you want to connect to. The MA is responsible for bringing data into FIM and pushing data out.

The second component is the Connector Space (CS). Each Management Agent has its own dedicated Connector Space. The Connector Space is a staging area within the FIM Sync Service database. When you import data from a connected system, the MA places an exact copy of that system's identity objects and their attributes into its Connector Space. This allows the Sync Service to work with the data offline without having to constantly query the external system.

The third and most important component is the Metaverse (MV). The Metaverse is the central, integrated view of all your identity data. It is the single source of truth that aggregates information from all the different Connector Spaces. For example, a single person object in the Metaverse might have its name and department from the HR database, and its email address and account name from Active Directory. The core logic of the Sync Service is all about defining how objects and attributes flow from the various Connector Spaces into the central Metaverse.

Creating and Configuring Management Agents (MAs)

The practical work of connecting FIM to your other systems is done by creating and configuring Management Agents. The 70-158 exam required you to be highly proficient in this process. The creation of a new MA is done through a wizard in the Synchronization Service Manager console. The first step is to select the type of Management Agent that corresponds to the system you want to connect to, for example, "Active Directory Domain Services."

The wizard will then guide you through a series of configuration screens. You will need to provide the connectivity information for the external system, such as the server name, port, and the credentials of a service account that has the necessary permissions to read and write data. You will then configure the "partitions," which are the specific containers within the external system that you want to synchronize with, such as a specific Organizational Unit (OU) in Active Directory.

A critical step in the MA configuration is selecting the object types and attributes that you want to work with. You do not have to synchronize every attribute from the source system; you can select only the ones that are relevant to your identity management scenarios. For example, from Active Directory, you might select the user object type and attributes like sAMAccountName, givenName, sn, and department. The ability to correctly configure these MAs was a fundamental skill tested on the 70-158 exam.

Understanding Projections and Joins

Once you have configured your Management Agents, you need to define how objects from the Connector Spaces will be represented in the Metaverse. This is done through two key processes: projection and join. The 70-158 exam required a clear understanding of the difference between these two. Projection is the process of creating a new object in the Metaverse based on an object from a Connector Space. This typically happens when a new identity is introduced into the FIM environment for the first time.

For example, when the HR Management Agent imports a new employee record that does not yet exist in the Metaverse, a projection rule can be configured to automatically create a new person object in the Metaverse and populate its attributes with the data from the HR Connector Space. This is the "birth" of an identity within FIM.

A join, on the other hand, is the process of linking an object from a Connector Space to an object that already exists in the Metaverse. For example, when the Active Directory MA imports a user account, a join rule will try to find the corresponding person object in the Metaverse that represents the same real-world person. This join is typically done by matching a unique attribute, such as an employee ID. The ability to configure these projection and join rules was a core part of managing the identity lifecycle and a key topic for the 70-158 exam.

Configuring Attribute Flow Precedence and Rules

After an object in a Connector Space has been joined or projected to a Metaverse object, the next step is to define how the attribute values will flow between them. This is a critical configuration step that was heavily tested on the 70-158 exam. Attribute flows are configured on the Management Agent. You can define Import Attribute Flows, which move data from the Connector Space into the Metaverse, and Export Attribute Flows, which move data from the Metaverse out to the Connector Space.

For each attribute in the Metaverse, you can define import flows from multiple different Management Agents. For example, the displayName attribute in the Metaverse could be populated from the displayName attribute in the Active Directory Connector Space, while the department attribute could be populated from the department attribute in the HR Connector Space.

A crucial concept you must understand is Attribute Flow Precedence. When multiple MAs are configured to flow data into the same Metaverse attribute, you must define which MA "wins." In the Management Agent configuration, you can set the precedence to either be based on the MA's rank (e.g., MA1 takes precedence over MA2), or you can define manual precedence for each attribute individually. The 70-158 exam would often present scenarios that required you to determine the final value of a Metaverse attribute based on these precedence rules.

Managing Synchronization Run Profiles

The actual movement of data in the FIM Synchronization Service is triggered by executing Run Profiles. A run profile is a saved configuration that specifies what type of operation a Management Agent should perform. The 70-158 exam required you to know the different types of run profiles and what each one does. There are several key types of profiles that you must understand.

An Import run profile is used to bring data from the connected system into the Connector Space. A "Full Import" brings in all objects, while a "Delta Import" only brings in objects that have changed since the last import. After importing, you must run a Synchronization profile. A "Full Synchronization" re-evaluates all objects in the Connector Space, while a "Delta Synchronization" only processes the changed objects. The synchronization step is where the projection, join, and attribute flow logic is actually applied.

Finally, an Export run profile is used to push any pending changes from the Connector Space out to the connected system. A pending export is created during the synchronization step when an attribute flow rule dictates that a value should be written from the Metaverse to the Connector Space. Understanding this multi-step process—Import, then Synchronize, then Export—and the difference between the "Full" and "Delta" versions of each step was a fundamental requirement for the 70-158 exam.

Introduction to Synchronization Rule Extensions

While the declarative, point-and-click configuration of attribute flows in the FIM console is very powerful, there are sometimes complex business logic requirements that cannot be met with these standard rules. For these scenarios, the 70-158 exam required you to be aware of the concept of Synchronization Rule Extensions. A rule extension is a piece of custom code, typically written in C# or VB.NET, that allows you to implement advanced logic during the synchronization process.

You can create a rule extension for a specific Management Agent. Within the code, you can write functions that will be executed at different stages of the synchronization process. For example, you could write a function to implement a complex join rule that cannot be defined declaratively, or you could write a custom attribute flow function to create a displayName attribute by concatenating the firstName and lastName attributes and converting them to uppercase.

While the 70-158 exam was a configuration exam and did not require you to be a developer, you were expected to understand what a rule extension was, why you would use one, and at what points in the synchronization process they could be applied. Knowing that rule extensions were the "escape hatch" for handling complex, non-standard requirements was a key piece of architectural knowledge for an advanced FIM administrator.

Configuring the FIM Service, Portal, and Policy Management for the 70-158 Exam

Welcome to the third part of our in-depth series on the Microsoft 70-158 exam. In the previous section, we performed a deep dive into the technical heart of Forefront Identity Manager: the Synchronization Service. We now have a solid understanding of how FIM connects to external systems and synchronizes identity data. Now, we will shift our focus to the other major component of the FIM architecture: the FIM Service and Portal. This is where policy, workflow, and user interaction come to life.

This part will focus on the declarative, policy-driven side of FIM 2010. We will explore the architecture of the FIM Service, the schema that defines all objects within it, and the powerful concepts of Sets, Management Policy Rules (MPRs), and Workflows. We will also discuss how data is synchronized between the FIM Portal and the FIM Synchronization Service. A mastery of these policy and workflow components is essential for implementing the business logic of an identity management solution and was a core requirement for the 70-158 exam.

The FIM Service and Portal Architecture

To understand policy management in FIM, you must first understand the architecture of the FIM Service and Portal, a key topic for the 70-158 exam. The FIM Service is a Windows service that acts as the policy and workflow engine. It exposes a web service interface for all interactions. All of its configuration data, including users, groups, policies, and workflows, is stored in a dedicated SQL Server database called "FIMService." This service is the authoritative source for all policy decisions.

The FIM Portal is the primary user interface for interacting with the FIM Service. It is important to know that the FIM Portal is built on top of Microsoft SharePoint Foundation. It is a SharePoint site that contains a set of custom web parts that communicate with the FIM Service's web service endpoint. The portal provides an interface for administrators to configure FIM objects like sets and MPRs, and for end-users to perform self-service tasks like requesting access to a group or resetting their password.

This architecture means that a full FIM deployment requires not just the FIM software, but also a correctly configured SharePoint Foundation environment. The 70-158 exam required a solid understanding of this dependency and the relationship between the FIM Service, which holds the logic and data, and the FIM Portal, which provides the presentation layer for users to interact with that logic.

Understanding the FIM Schema and Resource Types

All objects that are managed by the FIM Service, such as users, groups, and even the policies themselves, are defined in the FIM Schema. A deep understanding of this schema model is a prerequisite for configuring FIM policy and was a core topic for the 70-158 exam. In FIM, every object is an instance of a "Resource Type." FIM comes with a set of built-in resource types, such as "Person" for users, "Group" for groups, and "Management Policy Rule."

Each resource type is defined by a set of "Attributes." For example, the "Person" resource type has attributes like "DisplayName," "Department," and "Email." Each attribute has a specific data type, such as string, integer, or boolean. You can also define "Bindings," which create a relationship between an attribute and a resource type. For example, the "Manager" attribute on a "Person" resource is bound to the "Person" resource type, creating a reference to another user.

A powerful feature of FIM is that the schema is extensible. You can create new resource types to model other objects in your organization, and you can add new attributes to existing resource types to store additional information. This is all done through the FIM Portal interface. The ability to navigate the schema, understand the relationship between resource types, attributes, and bindings, and make basic extensions was a key skill for the 70-158 exam.

Creating and Managing Sets

Sets are one of the most fundamental and powerful concepts in the FIM Service, and you must master them for the 70-158 exam. A Set is a collection of resources (like users or groups) that share common characteristics. The power of sets lies in the fact that their membership can be defined dynamically based on a set of criteria. This is known as a criteria-based set. For example, you could create a set called "All Full-Time Employees" whose membership is defined by the filter "EmployeeType is equal to Full-Time."

The membership of a criteria-based set is maintained automatically by the FIM Service. Whenever a user's EmployeeType attribute is changed to or from "Full-Time," the FIM Service will automatically add or remove them from the set. This dynamic grouping is the foundation for automating policy. You can also create manually-managed sets, where an administrator or the group owner must manually add or remove members.

Sets are used in many different places in FIM. They are used to define the scope of who can perform an action in a Management Policy Rule. They are used to define the membership of a criteria-based group. They are also used to control who can see certain navigation elements in the FIM Portal. The ability to construct the correct filter criteria to define a set that meets a specific business requirement was a critical hands-on skill for the 70-158 exam.

Introduction to Management Policy Rules (MPRs)

If sets are the "who" of FIM policy, then Management Policy Rules (MPRs) are the "what" and "when." MPRs are the heart of the FIM policy engine and are arguably the most important configuration object to understand for the 70-158 exam. An MPR is a rule that defines what actions are allowed or denied in the system, and what automated workflows should be triggered when a certain event occurs.

There are two main types of MPRs. The first is a Request MPR, or RMPR. An RMPR is triggered when a user or a system process attempts to perform an operation, such as creating, modifying, or deleting a resource. The RMPR defines who is allowed to perform the operation on what target resources. For example, you could create an RMPR that says, "Users in the 'Help Desk' set are allowed to modify the 'OfficeLocation' attribute of users in the 'All Employees' set."

The second type is a Set Transition MPR, or TMPR. A TMPR is triggered not by a user's action, but by a change in an object's state. Specifically, it is triggered when an object enters or leaves a specific set. For example, you could create a TMPR that is triggered whenever a user enters the "Terminated Employees" set. This TMPR could then launch a workflow to de-provision all of that user's accounts. A deep understanding of the difference between RMPRs and TMPRs and how to configure them was essential for the 70-158 exam.

Building Workflows for Automation

Management Policy Rules are what trigger automated processes, but the processes themselves are defined as Workflows. The 70-158 exam required you to understand how to construct these workflows to perform actions. A workflow is a sequence of one or more "Activities" that are executed by the FIM Service. When an MPR is triggered, it can be configured to run one or more workflows in its "Action" or "Policy" workflow list.

FIM 2010 provided a set of built-in activities that could be used to build workflows. A common activity was the "Approval Activity." This would pause the workflow and create an approval request, sending an email to a designated approver. The workflow would only continue after the approver had approved or rejected the request in the FIM Portal. Another key activity was the "Notification Activity," which was used to send email notifications.

For more advanced logic, there was the "Function Evaluator" activity, which could perform simple data transformations, and activities that could run custom code. These activities were assembled into a sequence in a declarative, rule-based editor. For example, a workflow for a user requesting to join a group might first have an Approval Activity to get the group owner's permission, and then a second activity to actually add the user to the group. Understanding how to build these workflows was a key implementation skill for the 70-158 exam.

Configuring Synchronization Rules and Inbound/Outbound Scoping

We have now discussed the FIM Synchronization Service and the FIM Service and Portal as two separate components. The 70-158 exam required you to understand how these two components are connected and how data flows between them. This is achieved by creating a special Management Agent in the Sync Service for the FIM Service itself, known as the FIM MA. The flow of data between the FIM Portal and the Sync Service is then defined in the FIM Portal using a special object called a Synchronization Rule.

A Synchronization Rule defined in the portal is what controls the creation of the declarative attribute flow rules on the FIM MA in the Sync Service. There are two types. An Inbound Synchronization Rule defines how data flows from another system (via the Metaverse) into the FIM Portal. For example, it could define that a user's display name, which came from the HR system, should be flowed into the DisplayName attribute of the person object in the FIM Portal.

An Outbound Synchronization Rule defines how data flows from the FIM Portal out to other systems. For example, it could define that when a user is created in the portal, this should trigger the creation of a user object in the Metaverse, which would then be provisioned out to Active Directory. You also needed to understand how to use filters on these synchronization rules to scope which objects they applied to. This was a complex but critical integration point for the 70-158 exam.

Customizing the FIM Portal

While the FIM Portal is built on SharePoint, it has its own framework for customization that was a topic on the 70-158 exam. Administrators could perform a range of customizations to tailor the user experience for different types of users. This was primarily done through the FIM Portal interface itself, without needing to be a SharePoint developer. You could modify the main portal homepage, adding or removing sections to highlight important information or tasks.

A common customization was to modify the navigation bar on the left side of the portal. You could create new navigation items and control their visibility based on set membership. For example, you could create a "Manager's Corner" navigation link that was only visible to users who were members of the "All Managers" set. You could also customize the search scopes that appeared in the portal, creating custom search pages for different types of resources.

Another key customization was modifying the Resource Control Display Configurations, or RCDCs. An RCDC is an XML file that defines the layout of the web page used to create, edit, or view a specific type of resource. For example, you could edit the RCDC for the "Person" resource to rearrange the fields on the user details page or to add helpful descriptive text. A general understanding of these portal customization capabilities was a required competency for the 70-158 exam.

Managing User, Group, and Credential Lifecycles for the 70-158 Exam

Welcome to the fourth part of our comprehensive series on the Microsoft 70-158 exam. In the preceding sections, we have built a solid foundation, exploring the FIM architecture, mastering the backend Synchronization Service, and delving into the policy and workflow engine of the FIM Service and Portal. We now have all the individual building blocks. In this part, we will assemble those blocks to create end-to-end solutions for the most common identity management use cases.

This part will focus on the practical application of FIM 2010 to manage the complete lifecycle of users, groups, and their credentials. We will walk through how to implement an automated user provisioning process for new hires, how to manage group memberships, and how to configure the powerful self-service password reset feature. We will also cover the de-provisioning process for departing employees. These real-world scenarios are the ultimate purpose of a FIM deployment and were the central focus of the 70-158 exam.

Implementing User Provisioning (Joiner Process)

One of the most valuable capabilities of FIM, and a core scenario for the 70-158 exam, is the automation of the user provisioning, or "joiner," process. The goal is to automatically create the necessary accounts and grant the initial access for a new employee with minimal manual intervention. The process typically begins with an authoritative source of identity, which is usually the Human Resources (HR) system. The first step is to get the new employee data from the HR system into the FIM Synchronization Service.

This is done using a Management Agent connected to the HR database or a data file export. When the HR MA imports a new employee, a projection rule creates a new person object in the Metaverse. From the Metaverse, an outbound synchronization rule for the FIM MA will then create a new person resource in the FIM Service Portal. This is where the policy engine takes over. The creation of this new user in the portal will trigger a Management Policy Rule (MPR).

This MPR, which might be a set transition MPR that fires when the user enters the "All Employees" set, will then execute a workflow. This workflow will contain the logic to provision the user's account. For example, it might have a step that determines the user's sAMAccountName and then another step that triggers an outbound synchronization rule to create the user account in Active Directory. Understanding this entire data flow, from HR to the Sync Service, to the Portal, and finally to Active Directory, was a critical skill for the 70-158 exam.

Automating Group Management

Another major use case for FIM, and a key topic for the 70-158 exam, is the automation and management of groups, particularly in Active Directory. FIM 2010 provided two primary models for group management. The first was self-service, request-based management. In this model, groups in Active Directory were brought into the FIM Portal as group resources. You could then configure an MPR to allow users to request to join these groups through the portal.

This request would trigger a workflow, which typically included an approval step. An email would be sent to the owner of the group, who would then approve or deny the request in the FIM Portal. If approved, the workflow would complete, and an outbound synchronization rule would add the user to the group's member attribute in the FIM Portal, which would then be exported to update the group's membership in Active Directory.

The second, and more powerful, model was criteria-based group management. In this model, the membership of a group was not managed manually but was defined by a Set in FIM. For example, you could create a set for "All Users in the London Office." You would then create a group and link its membership to this set. The FIM Service would automatically keep the group's membership in sync with the set's membership. This declarative automation was a key feature of FIM and a core concept for the 70-158 exam.

Configuring Self-Service Password Reset (SSPR)

One of the most popular and value-driven features of FIM 2010 was its Self-Service Password Reset (SSPR) capability. The 70-158 exam required a deep, practical knowledge of how to configure this feature. SSPR allowed end-users who had forgotten their Active Directory password to reset it themselves through a secure web portal, without needing to call the help desk. This reduced help desk costs and improved user productivity.

The configuration process involved several key steps. First, users had to register for password reset. This meant they had to visit a registration portal and provide the answers to a series of challenge questions, such as "What was the name of your first pet?" These answers were stored securely by FIM. The administrator had to configure the policies that controlled this registration process, such as the number and type of questions required.

When a user forgot their password, they would go to the password reset portal. Here, they would be presented with a series of authentication challenges, or "gates." The most common gate was the Question and Answer gate, where they had to correctly answer the questions they had previously registered. You could also configure other gates, such as a One-Time Password sent via SMS. Once the user successfully passed the required gates, they would be allowed to set a new password, which FIM would then write directly to Active Directory. The 70-158 exam tested this entire configuration workflow.

Implementing Password Synchronization

In addition to self-service password reset, the 70-158 exam also covered the configuration of Password Synchronization. This feature was used to keep a user's password consistent across multiple different systems. The primary use case was to capture a password change that happened in a source system, like Active Directory, and then push that new password out to other target systems, such as another directory, a database, or a mainframe application.

The key component for this was the Password Change Notification Service (PCNS). PCNS was installed on the Active Directory Domain Controllers. It consisted of a service and a password filter DLL that would intercept any password change events in Active Directory. When a password change was detected, PCNS would securely forward the new password hash to the FIM Synchronization Service.

Within the FIM Synchronization Service, you would configure the Management Agents for your target systems to be enabled for password management. When the Sync Service received a password change notification from PCNS for a specific user, it would then initiate a password set operation on the corresponding connected objects in the target MAs. This would push the new password out to the target systems. Understanding the role of PCNS and the configuration steps in the Sync Service was a key credential management topic for the 70-158 exam.

Managing the De-provisioning Process (Leaver Process)

Just as important as provisioning a new user is the process of securely and completely de-provisioning a user when they leave the organization. The 70-158 exam required you to understand how to configure this "leaver" process in FIM. A timely and automated de-provisioning process is critical for security, as it ensures that former employees no longer have access to company resources. The process, like provisioning, typically starts in the authoritative HR system.

When an employee's status is changed to "terminated" in the HR system, the FIM Synchronization Service will import this change. An attribute flow rule will update a corresponding attribute on the user's object in the Metaverse and in the FIM Portal, such as an "EmployeeStatus" attribute. This attribute change is the trigger for the entire de-provisioning process.

The change in status will cause the user object to transition into a "Terminated Employees" set in the FIM Portal. This transition will trigger a Set Transition MPR. This MPR will then execute a series of de-provisioning workflows. These workflows could perform actions such as disabling the user's Active Directory account, removing them from all groups, archiving their home drive, and then, after a certain period, triggering the final deletion of the account. The ability to design and configure this policy-driven de-provisioning workflow was a core skill for the 70-158 exam.

Understanding FIM Reporting

While FIM 2010 itself had limited built-in reporting capabilities, the 70-158 exam required you to be aware of how reporting and auditing were handled for the platform. For FIM 2010 R2, the official reporting solution was based on integration with another product in the System Center suite: System Center Service Manager (SCSM). This integration provided a much more robust platform for historical reporting and data analysis.

The integration involved installing a special FIM Reporting component that would periodically extract historical request and workflow data from the FIM Service database. This data would then be loaded into the Service Manager data warehouse. The data warehouse was designed for reporting and provided a structured, cube-based model for analysis. This allowed administrators and compliance officers to run historical reports on FIM activities.

Using the reporting tools in Service Manager, you could create reports to answer critical audit questions, such as "Who requested access to the 'Finance_Admin' group in the last quarter, and who approved it?" or "Show me all the password reset activities for the past month." While the 70-158 exam did not require you to be a Service Manager expert, you were expected to know that this was the supported solution for FIM reporting and to understand the type of data that could be audited and analyzed.

A Strategic Guide to Passing the 70-158 Exam

We have now reached the fifth and final part of our comprehensive guide to the Microsoft 70-158 exam. Over the course of the previous four installments, we have methodically built a deep and practical understanding of the Forefront Identity Manager 2010 platform. We covered the foundational architecture, mastered the backend Synchronization Service, delved into the policy and workflow engine of the FIM Service and Portal, and walked through the end-to-end implementation of key identity lifecycle scenarios. You are now equipped with the core technical knowledge required.

This concluding part will pivot from the "what" to the "how." We will focus on the strategy and methodology for translating your knowledge into a passing score on exam day. Possessing the information is the first step, but a clear plan for how to consolidate your learning, validate your readiness, and approach the exam with a calm and tactical mindset is equally important. We will discuss building a final study plan, leveraging key resources, and proven strategies for navigating the exam's format. This is your final roadmap to confidently conquering the 70-158 exam.

Building Your Final 70-158 Exam Study Plan

In the final weeks leading up to your 70-158 exam, a focused and strategic study plan is your most critical asset. The goal now is to consolidate and reinforce your knowledge, not to learn new concepts from scratch. Your first action should be to revisit the official "Skills Measured" document one last time. Go through each objective and honestly rate your confidence level. This will immediately highlight any remaining weak areas, and these should be the primary focus of your final study sessions. A targeted approach is far more efficient than a broad, unfocused review.

Next, map out your remaining study time on a calendar. Be specific and realistic about your goals for each session. For instance, instead of a vague goal like "study MPRs," a better entry would be "Tuesday evening: In the lab, create one Request MPR and one Set Transition MPR. Review TechNet articles on MPR evaluation." This level of detail creates accountability. Your plan should explicitly schedule time for taking practice exams and, just as importantly, for thoroughly reviewing the results.

A good structure for the final phase is to dedicate the initial part to shoring up your weak topics. The latter part should be dedicated almost entirely to taking and reviewing mock exams. In the last day or two, switch to a light review of your summary notes and key facts. Avoid last-minute cramming, as this often increases anxiety. A well-executed final study plan is the key to walking into the 70-158 exam feeling prepared.

Leveraging Archived Microsoft Resources (TechNet)

For a retired Microsoft exam like the 70-158 exam, the official documentation from that era is the ultimate source of truth. Your primary resource should be the archived Microsoft TechNet library for Forefront Identity Manager 2010 and FIM 2010 R2. These online resources contain the complete product documentation, architectural whitepapers, capacity planning guides, and, most importantly, detailed step-by-step "how-to" and "walkthrough" guides. The exam questions were written based on the information contained in these official documents.

It is crucial to study these TechNet articles in detail. Pay close attention to the architectural diagrams, the procedural steps for configuration, and any "Notes" or "Important" callouts, as these often contain key pieces of information that make for good exam questions. The FIM 2010 Test Lab Guides (TLGs) were a particularly valuable resource. These guides provided step-by-step instructions for building a complete FIM lab environment from scratch and configuring common scenarios, making them an excellent hands-on study tool.

While third-party books and training kits for FIM 2010 exist, you should always treat the official TechNet documentation as the final authority. Use it to verify any information you learn from other sources. By making these archived official resources the cornerstone of your study, you ensure that you are learning the most accurate and relevant information for the specific scope of the 70-158 exam.

The Absolute Necessity of a Hands-On FIM Lab

There is no substitute for hands-on experience when preparing for an implementation-focused test like the 70-158 exam. Reading about the difference between a join and a projection is one thing; actually configuring the rules in the Synchronization Service Manager and seeing them work is what truly builds deep and lasting knowledge. The exam was designed to test your practical, applicable skills, and a hands-on lab is the only way to effectively develop and validate those skills.

Your lab environment for FIM 2010 was complex. It required, at a minimum, a domain controller for Active Directory, a dedicated SQL Server, a server for the FIM Synchronization Service, and a server for the FIM Service and Portal, which also required an installation of SharePoint Foundation 2010. Building this multi-server lab, typically using a virtualization platform like Hyper-V, was an invaluable learning experience in itself.

Once your lab is built, you should use it to systematically work through every objective in the exam blueprint. Create Management Agents. Configure attribute flows. Build sets, MPRs, and workflows in the portal. Implement the end-to-end user provisioning and de-provisioning scenarios. Configure and test self-service password reset. The experience you gain from troubleshooting the inevitable errors you will encounter is what will prepare you for the challenging scenario-based questions on the 70-158 exam.

Mastering the FIM Policy and Data Flow

A common challenge for candidates of the 70-158 exam was understanding the complete, end-to-end flow of data and policy execution. The exam often presented complex scenarios that required you to trace an identity's journey through the various FIM components. A key part of your final preparation should be to master this data flow. Use your lab and a whiteboard to trace different scenarios from beginning to end.

For example, take the scenario of a new user being created in an HR data file. Trace the steps: the File MA performs a full import. The synchronization run profile projects the new user into the Metaverse. The outbound flow rule on the FIM MA creates the user in the FIM Portal. The user's creation causes them to transition into a set, which triggers a Set Transition MPR. That MPR executes a workflow, which in turn triggers an outbound sync rule to create the AD account. Being able to visualize and explain this entire chain of events is critical.

Practice this with different scenarios. Trace a group membership request. Trace a password reset. Trace what happens when a user's department is changed in the HR system. By repeatedly working through these end-to-end flows, you will build a holistic understanding of how the FIM Synchronization Service and the FIM Service and Portal work together. This integrated knowledge is essential for success on the 70-158 exam.

Conclusion

Passing the 70-158 exam was a significant achievement that validated your skills in a complex and powerful on-premises identity management platform. While FIM 2010 itself is a legacy product, the journey of Microsoft's identity solutions did not end there. FIM evolved into Microsoft Identity Manager (MIM), which added new features and hybrid capabilities. The entire on-premises identity management paradigm has now largely been succeeded by the cloud-centric world of Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure Active Directory).

The foundational concepts you learned for the 70-158 exam are surprisingly relevant in this new world. The FIM Synchronization Service is the direct ancestor of Microsoft Entra Connect, the tool used to synchronize on-premises Active Directory identities to the cloud. The principles of attribute flow, joins, and synchronization rules are still at the heart of how hybrid identity works. The policy-based automation of FIM is conceptually similar to the dynamic groups and Conditional Access policies in Microsoft Entra ID.

Your knowledge of FIM provides a unique and powerful historical context for understanding modern identity solutions. Your career path beyond the 70-158 exam should focus on bridging this on-premises knowledge to the cloud. You can explore the modern Microsoft identity and access administrator certifications. Your deep understanding of the fundamentals will give you a significant advantage in mastering the new generation of identity and access management tools.

Go to testing centre with ease on our mind when you use Microsoft 70-158 vce exam dumps, practice test questions and answers. Microsoft 70-158 Microsoft Forefront Identity & Access Management, Configuring certification practice test questions and answers, study guide, exam dumps and video training course in vce format to help you study with ease. Prepare with confidence and study using Microsoft 70-158 exam dumps & practice test questions and answers vce from ExamCollection.