Top 20 SCCM Interview Questions and Answers for 2025

Common SCCM Interview Questions and Answers for 2024

1. Is SCCM a server?

SCCM is a server application. Its architecture can be more or less complex, depending on the organization.

2. How does Microsoft SCCM work?

After installing an operating system, SCCM contributes to updating or patching the system. It maintains the path of the system inventory and remote-control capabilities. Then, the System Center Operations Manager is responsible for monitoring the system's health and all the other applications installed on that specific system.

3. State the various types of Discovery methods that are available in SCCM.

The various types of discovery methods that are available in SCCM are as follows:

• Active Directory System Discovery
• Server Discovery 
• Active Directory Security Group Discovery
• Active Directory User Discovery
• Delta Discovery 
• Network Discovery
• Forest Discovery
• Heartbeat Discovery

4. What is the SCCM boot image?

The boot image is a Windows PE (WinPE) image used in an OS deployment. Boot images are given to begin a computer in WinPE, a minimal OS with restricted components.

5. Explain boundaries in SCCM?

A boundary is a network location on the internet consisting of one or more machines. It can be an active directory site name, IP subnet, IPv6 Prefix, or an IP address range. The hierarchy can add any combination of these boundary types.

6. What is the central site?

A central site is the SCCM primary site, which occupies the top of the configuration manager's hierarchy. A central administration site assists numerous child-primary sites. The central site database gathers all the information from child to parent.

7. Explain the child site?

The Child site gets information from higher-level sites and gives it to its parent site. It is connected to a site above it in the hierarchy.

8. What is the parent site?

The parent site is at the top level in the hierarchy and does not belong to any other site.

9. What do you mean by BDP?

Branch distribution points provide a choice for structured package distribution. The branch distribution point depends on the standard distribution point from which it gets content. It can be a premise, having limited bandwidth.

To function correctly, branch distribution needs to contact a BITS-enabled standard distribution. 

10. Tell us something about inventory in SCCM?

The inventory gives machine details like operating system, memory, processor type, and application. 

There are two kinds of inventory:

• Software inventory: It gathers files from the client device and supplies them to the website server. The first report is always a complete inventory whenever the software inventory runs on a client machine. The next reports only contain delta inventory information.
• Hardware inventory: It gathers details about the client's hardware configuration. When hardware inventory runs on a client machine, the first inventory data that the client returns is a full inventory. The subsequent set of inventory data contains only delta inventory information. 

11. What are the ports used in SCCM?

Ports used in SCCM are:

• Client to site system HTTP port 80
• TCP 2701
• Default HTTPS port 443
• SMB 445 

12. How to check the SCCM server version?

Open the SCCM console, next click on the left on top, and select the configuration manager.  

13. What do you mean by site server in SCCM?

A site server is the main role, containing components and services needed to run a central administration, primary or secondary site. It is a classification of which user will install the outline manager. 

14. Explain Heartbeat Discovery.

Heartbeat Discovery is a discovery method that is enabled by default. It runs on each computer client instead of a site server to create a DDR (discovery data record). It runs on a schedule configured for all the clients in the hierarchy or if manually invoked, on a particular client by running the Discovery Data Collection Cycle. 

15. What is the use of the state migration role?

The state migration role takes a backup and migrates user state data. It uses task sequences to catch and retrieve user states while deploying the operating system. The user state migration tool captures user accounts, user files, application settings, and operating system settings and then shifts them to the new Windows installation.  

16. Mention the different application detection methods defined in SCCM?

The different application detection methods are as follows:

• Registry
• File system
• Custom detection
• Windows installers 

17. What is the SMS provider?

The SMS Provider is a WMI (Windows Management Instrumentation) provider that allows both read and write access to the configuration manager site database at a site. Each CAS and primary site needs at least one SMS provider. More providers can be installed as per the requirements.

18. Make a list of differences between the primary site and secondary site?

19. Explain what the SCCM console is?

The SCCM console is an administrative instrument that performs several tasks, such as device management, network, application deployment, and server administrative tasks. It is the single windowpane from which SCCM admins can perform Patches, Applications, OS deployments, and many administrative functions.  

20. What is the Central Administration Site (CAS)?

A Central Administration Site (CAS) is an SCCM primary site that occupies the lid of the hierarchy. It is also known as the top-level site in the order. As a child site, it assists only primary sites. It handles all clients in the hierarchy and performs all site management tasks from the console to connect with the Central Administration Site (CAS). 

Conclusion

Although many other jobs exist, the SCCM role is incomparable since it contributes a beneficial set of skills for an organization. Therefore, the demand for individuals with SCCM skills is prominent. SCCM job roles are available almost everywhere. 

If you want to start a career as an SCCM engineer or administrator, you must first pass an SCCM technical interview. The SCCM interview questions and answers can help you pass the interview. We hope that they will assist you in revising your knowledge to prepare for the interview much more confidently and help you get an SCCM job.

If you want to enhance your SCCM skills, we highly recommend you check Simplilearn’s CISSP Certification. This course will help you gain the relevant skills and make you job-ready.

FAQs

1. What kind of tool is SCCM?

SCCM stands for System Center Configuration Management, also known as Configuration Manager. Microsoft develops a software management group that allows the user to manage computer systems running on Windows, Mac OS, or Linux.

2. List the essential features of SCCM.

The essential features of SCCM are listed below:

• Patch management 
• Deployment of operating system 
• Power management 
• Desired Configuration
• Software deployment
• Reporting
• Inventory 
• Asset tracking
• Remote control
• Endpoint protection

3. What is patching in SCCM?

Each vendor releases a patch to fix software bugs. Installing these patches on one or more systems is known as software patching. Patching keeps the system secure from cybercriminals.

4. What are the skills required for SCCM?

An SCCM should be fluent in patching and software distribution. They must have the latest knowledge of software applications, services, and software skills. They are supposed to be able to build and distribute software packages. 

5. What are the types of senders in SCCM?

There are two types of senders in SCCM:

• Standard Sender
• Courier Sender