Level 300: Advanced - Expert Implementation & Strategy

Overview

Achieve expert-level proficiency to lead complex deployments, manage production environments, and drive strategic customer engagements.

Learning Objectives

By the end of Level 300, you will be able to:

Sales & Pre-Sales Track

  • ✅ Structure complex multi-component sovereign cloud deals
  • ✅ Navigate deep compliance discussions (FedRAMP High, ITAR, etc.)
  • ✅ Conduct executive-level strategic workshops
  • ✅ Define PoC-to-production roadmaps
  • ✅ Lead large-scale enterprise engagements

Technical Track

  • ✅ Execute production Azure Local deployments
  • ✅ Implement Zero Trust security controls
  • ✅ Manage air-gapped environments
  • ✅ Optimize Edge RAG for production workloads
  • ✅ Troubleshoot complex deployment issues independently

Prerequisites

Before starting Level 300, ensure you have:

  • Completed Level 200 learning objectives and hands-on labs
  • Recommended: AZ-104 (Azure Administrator) or AZ-305 (Solutions Architect) certification
  • Access to a production or production-like lab environment
  • Experience with at least one Azure Local deployment
  • Familiarity with PowerShell and infrastructure-as-code tools

Estimated Time Commitment: 6-10 hours per week
Total Duration: 8-12 weeks
Total Hours: 48-120 hours

Learning Modules

1. Zero Trust Security for Sovereign Clouds

Duration: 6-8 hours

2. Azure Local at Scale - Connected

Duration: 8-10 hours

3. Azure Local at Scale - Disconnected

Duration: 8-10 hours

4. Production Edge RAG Deployment

Duration: 10-12 hours

5. Advanced Troubleshooting

Duration: 6-8 hours

Essential Learning

  1. Design identity and access management solutions
    • Advanced identity architecture
  2. Design for high availability
    • Resilient architecture patterns
  3. Azure Local networking deep dive
    • Advanced networking architectures

Hands-On Labs

Lab 1: Zero Trust Implementation

🚧 Lab Under Development
This lab content is complete but hands-on exercises are currently being validated and refined.
Expected Release: Q1 2026

Objective: Implement Zero Trust security controls for a sovereign environment

Prerequisites:

  • Azure subscription
  • Test workload environment

Estimated Time: 4-6 hours

Lab Instructions →

Lab 2: Air-Gapped Azure Local Deployment

🚧 Lab Under Development
This lab content is complete but hands-on exercises are currently being validated and refined.
Expected Release: Q1 2026

Objective: Configure a complete air-gapped deployment with certificate management

Prerequisites:

  • Azure Local hardware or nested virtualization environment
  • Offline update packages

Estimated Time: 8-10 hours

Lab Instructions →

Lab 3: Production Edge RAG with Custom Models

🚧 Lab Under Development
This lab content is complete but hands-on exercises are currently being validated and refined.
Expected Release: Q1 2026

Objective: Deploy and optimize Edge RAG with custom language models

Prerequisites:

  • Completion of Level 200 Edge RAG labs
  • AKS Arc cluster with adequate resources

Estimated Time: 10-12 hours

Lab Instructions →

Success Criteria

Sales Track Completion ✅

You have successfully completed Level 300 (Sales Track) when you can:

  • ✓ Lead a customer engagement from discovery through contract signature
  • ✓ Conduct executive-level briefings on sovereign cloud strategy
  • ✓ Structure complex multi-component deals
  • ✓ Navigate regulatory compliance discussions with confidence
  • ✓ Define clear PoC-to-production roadmaps

Technical Track Completion ✅

You have successfully completed Level 300 (Technical Track) when you can:

  • ✓ Execute end-to-end production deployments
  • ✓ Troubleshoot and resolve deployment issues independently
  • ✓ Optimize Edge RAG for production workloads
  • ✓ Implement Zero Trust security controls
  • ✓ Manage air-gapped environments with manual updates

Certification Recommendations

Consider pursuing these certifications to validate your expertise:

Next Steps

Congratulations on completing the Microsoft Sovereign Cloud & AI at the Edge Skilling Plan!

Continue Your Journey

Last Updated: October 2025

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