Training: Build custom engine agents with the Microsoft 365 Agents SDK (MS-4015)

Why develop agents with the Microsoft 365 Agents SDK

The Microsoft 365 Agents SDK gives developers full control over agent behavior, logic and integrations. Unlike low-code approaches, the SDK allows you to implement complex business logic, custom authentication flows and deep integrations with external systems. This training is aimed at developers who need maximum flexibility and want to build enterprise-grade agents that meet specific technical requirements.

Development environment and SDK fundamentals

You start by setting up your development environment and understanding the SDK architecture. The training covers project structure, key SDK components, the agent lifecycle and the messaging model. You learn to create a basic agent, handle incoming messages and generate responses programmatically. These foundational skills prepare you for building more complex agents throughout the training.

Conversational interactions and context management

Building effective conversational agents requires proper context management. You learn to maintain conversation state, handle multi-turn dialogues, extract entities from user messages and implement adaptive card interactions. The training covers patterns for building natural, engaging conversational experiences that feel intuitive to users while executing complex behind-the-scenes logic.

External integrations and security

Enterprise agents often need to interact with external services and APIs. You learn to implement OAuth authentication, call REST APIs, handle webhooks and manage secure credential storage. The training covers best practices for building resilient integrations with error handling, retry logic and graceful degradation when external services are unavailable.

Deployment and lifecycle management

Deploying an agent to production requires careful planning. You learn to package your agent, configure deployment settings, manage versioning and implement monitoring. The training covers continuous deployment strategies and maintenance best practices to keep your agents running reliably in enterprise environments.

FAQ – MS-4015 Microsoft 365 Agents SDK Training

What programming languages does the SDK support?

The Microsoft 365 Agents SDK primarily supports C# and TypeScript/JavaScript. The training focuses on the most common patterns applicable to both languages.

What is the difference between MS-4015 and MS-4014?

MS-4014 uses Copilot Studio’s low-code approach for building agents. MS-4015 uses the SDK for full programmatic control, suited for developers who need maximum customization and complex integrations.

What are the technical prerequisites?

You should have programming experience in C# or TypeScript, familiarity with REST APIs and a basic understanding of Microsoft 365 services. Experience with the Bot Framework is helpful but not required.

Can SDK agents be published to Microsoft Teams?

Yes, agents built with the SDK can be deployed to Microsoft Teams, Outlook and other Microsoft 365 surfaces. The training covers the publication and distribution process.