Tutorial / Cram Notes
The Call Quality Dashboard (CQD) in Microsoft Teams is a powerful tool that provides administrators with extensive data to help them monitor and improve call quality within an organization. In preparing for the MS-700 Managing Microsoft Teams exam, understanding how to use the CQD effectively is critical. Here, we’ll discuss how to identify potential issues by utilizing the various features of the CQD.
Understanding the Dashboard
The CQD breaks down call data into reports and dimensions, which you can use to view information like audio quality, network issues, and device performance. Dimensions include user attributes such as location while metrics provide performance data, for example, the average Mean Opinion Score (MOS).
Analyzing Trends and Patterns
To effectively identify potential issues, administrators can analyze trends over time. For instance, if you notice that the MOS has decreased steadily over several weeks, it might indicate a degradation in network performance or an update that has negatively impacted call quality.
Drilling Down into User-Level Data
One method to spot the root cause of issues is to drill down into user-level data. By filtering reports for specific users or locations, you can evaluate whether problems are widespread or isolated to particular segments of your network.
Comparing Data Across Dimensions
By using tables to compare data across different dimensions like network subnets, client versions, or endpoint types, administrators can quickly spot outliers or patterns. Here’s a simplified example of what a comparative table might look like:
| Dimension | Average MOS | Packet Loss Rate | Jitter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Network Subnet A | 3.8 | 0.5% | 15ms |
| Network Subnet B | 4.2 | 0.1% | 10ms |
| Wired Headset | 4.1 | 0.1% | 12ms |
| Speakerphone | 3.5 | 0.4% | 25ms |
A table like this can quickly show that speakerphone users are experiencing worse call quality than those using headsets, which may point to an issue with room acoustics or speakerphone quality.
Evaluating Impact of Changes
After making network or configuration changes, the CQD can be used to gauge their impact. Comparing pre-change and post-change data will highlight whether changes had the intended effect on call quality.
Monitoring Call Reliability
The reliability of calls is as important as their quality. CQD helps you monitor key reliability metrics like setup failure rate. If the data suggests an increasing trend in setup failures, it could signal issues with the signaling environment or the client setup.
Investigating Device Performance
CQD can show performance metrics for various devices. If users with a particular headset brand are consistently experiencing poor call quality, while users with different devices are not, you might consider investigating or replacing those devices.
Network Readiness
Admins should use the CQD to evaluate network readiness. This can involve looking at metrics such as network jitter and packet loss to assess whether the network infrastructure can support high-quality Teams calls.
Heatmaps and Location-Based Analysis
Heatmaps are a visual tool within the CQD that can provide a quick overview of call quality by location. Regions with worse call quality will stand out, allowing for targeted troubleshooting.
Summary
Through the lens of the Call Quality Dashboard, administrators can employ a data-driven approach to maintaining and improving the experience of Microsoft Teams for users. By carefully examining trends, comparing dimensions, and interpreting the wealth of available data, you can pinpoint sources of call quality issues and take informed actions. In doing so, you will be addressing a crucial facet of the MS-700 Managing Microsoft Teams exam: ensuring a high-quality communication environment within your organization. Whether it’s through detailed analysis reports or high-level overviews via heatmaps, the CQD empowers administrators to proactively manage call quality in Teams.
Practice Test with Explanation
True or False: The Call Quality Dashboard (CQD) only provides data on live calls within Microsoft Teams.
- False
The CQD provides historical data on past calls for analysis and not just on live calls.
The CQD can be used to identify which type of issue?
- A) Network issues
- B) Device issues
- C) System configuration issues
- D) All of the above
D) All of the above
The CQD helps in identifying various types of issues including network problems, device performance issues, and configuration errors.
True or False: To access the CQD, users need to be assigned the Teams Communications Support Engineer role.
- True
Access to the Call Quality Dashboard requires specific roles such as the Teams Communications Support Engineer or Teams Communications Support Specialist roles.
What can the CQD report on?
- A) Audio quality
- B) Video quality
- C) Sharing quality
- D) All of the above
D) All of the above
The CQD reports on the quality of audio, video, and sharing experiences within Microsoft Teams.
True or False: The CQD requires additional licensing beyond the standard Microsoft Teams license.
- False
The CQD is a feature included with Microsoft Teams and does not require additional licensing.
Which of the following dimensions can be used for filtering data in the CQD?
- A) Location
- B) User
- C) Device type
- D) Call type
D) Call type
The CQD allows for filtering data on dimensions such as location, user, device type, and call type among others.
True or False: The CQD can be used to monitor the quality of Teams live events.
- True
The CQD includes the capability to monitor and report on the quality of Microsoft Teams live events.
What is a key benefit of building and using endpoint maps in the CQD?
- A) Identification of high-quality endpoints
- B) Geographical call analysis
- C) Simplifies user identification
- D) None of the above
B) Geographical call analysis
Endpoint maps allow organizations to analyze call quality data by geographical location, helping to identify and address regional issues.
True or False: You can view detailed reports for individual calls in the Call Quality Dashboard.
- True
The CQD provides detailed call analytics that include metrics for individual calls.
Which report in the CQD would likely show you the impact of poor network connectivity on call quality?
- A) User feedback report
- B) Server performance report
- C) Network connectivity report
- D) Endpoint performance report
C) Network connectivity report
The network connectivity report specifically focuses on the impact of the network on call quality.
True or False: The Call Quality Dashboard can help identify if users are encountering issues due to outdated Teams clients.
- True
The CQD can help identify issues such as outdated Teams clients which may be impacting user experience.
In the CQD, what does the metric “Poor Call Rate (PCR)” indicate?
- A) The percentage of calls that have been dropped
- B) The percentage of calls with users reporting issues
- C) The percentage of calls that are below a predefined quality threshold
- D) The total number of calls made within a specific timeframe
C) The percentage of calls that are below a predefined quality threshold
The Poor Call Rate (PCR) is an indicator of call quality, representing the percentage of calls that do not meet a set quality bar.
Interview Questions
What is the Call Quality Dashboard in Microsoft Teams?
The Call Quality Dashboard is a web-based tool that provides insights into the quality of audio and video calls in Microsoft Teams.
How can you access the Call Quality Dashboard in Microsoft Teams?
You can access the Call Quality Dashboard in the Teams Admin Center, under the “Analytics & reports” section.
What kind of metrics and data does the Call Quality Dashboard provide?
The Call Quality Dashboard provides detailed metrics and data about call quality, including metrics related to packet loss, jitter, and latency.
How can you use the Call Quality Dashboard to identify potential issues with call quality in Microsoft Teams?
By using filters and search options in the Call Quality Dashboard, you can identify calls that experienced poor quality or other issues. You can then review the metrics and data provided in the dashboard to identify potential issues and take steps to resolve them.
What are some common issues that can impact call quality in Microsoft Teams?
Common issues that can impact call quality in Microsoft Teams may include poor network connectivity, outdated devices or software, and interference from other applications or devices.
How can you use the Call Quality Dashboard to improve the quality of audio and video calls in Microsoft Teams?
By regularly monitoring call quality data and proactively identifying trends or patterns that may be impacting performance, users can optimize their use of Teams and improve the quality of the user experience.
What are some best practices for using the Call Quality Dashboard to monitor call quality in Microsoft Teams?
Best practices for using the Call Quality Dashboard include regularly monitoring call quality data, proactively identifying trends or patterns that may be impacting performance, and ensuring that all users have the latest updates and patches installed.
How can you troubleshoot issues with call quality in Microsoft Teams?
To troubleshoot issues with call quality in Microsoft Teams, you may need to identify potential issues using the Call Quality Dashboard and take steps to resolve them. This may include checking network connectivity, updating devices or software, or adjusting settings in Teams.
What should you do if you encounter a persistent issue with call quality in Microsoft Teams?
If you encounter a persistent issue with call quality in Microsoft Teams, you may need to seek additional support from Microsoft or your IT team.
How can you use call quality data to identify potential issues before they impact the user experience?
By monitoring call quality data and proactively identifying trends or patterns that may be impacting performance, users can identify potential issues before they impact the user experience and take steps to address them.
How can you use the Call Quality Dashboard to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements?
By monitoring call quality data using the Call Quality Dashboard, you can ensure compliance with regulatory requirements that may require you to track and audit call quality data.
What kind of metrics should you focus on when using the Call Quality Dashboard to monitor call quality in Microsoft Teams?
When using the Call Quality Dashboard to monitor call quality in Microsoft Teams, you should focus on metrics related to packet loss, jitter, and latency.
How can you ensure that all users have the latest updates and patches installed to address issues with call quality in Microsoft Teams?
You can use the Microsoft Endpoint Manager to deploy updates and patches to all devices in your organization and ensure that all users have the latest software installed.
Can you use the Call Quality Dashboard to monitor call quality for external calls made outside of your organization?
No, the Call Quality Dashboard only provides data for calls made within your organization.
What exactly is the Call Quality Dashboard and how can it help in managing MS Teams meetings?
Can CQD help to pinpoint if call quality issues are on the user’s side or the organization’s network?
I appreciate the clear explanation of CQD!
Are there any particular metrics in CQD that are crucial to monitor consistently?
Has anyone experienced false positives in CQD reports? How reliable are these metrics generally?
Can CQD be integrated with other monitoring tools?
I have found that daily monitoring of CQD has greatly helped improve our overall call quality.
Thank you for this informative blog!