Azure Certification Exam Guide: AZ-900, AZ-104 Preparation Strategies and Learning Resources

Introduction: Why Get Azure Certified?

💡 Key Takeaway: "Does having an Azure certification really lead to higher pay?"

According to Global Knowledge's survey, IT professionals with cloud certifications earn 15-20% more on average than those without certifications.

But the value of certification goes beyond salary.

It represents that you've systematically learned Azure, can communicate with teams using common terminology, and provides objective proof of your abilities when job hunting.

This guide will help you understand the Azure certification system and provide preparation strategies for popular certifications like AZ-900 and AZ-104.

Azure certification is an important milestone in learning Azure. For more Azure information, see Azure Complete Guide.

Illustration 1: Azure Certification System Overview

1. Azure Certification System Overview

Microsoft's Azure certifications are divided into three levels, covering multiple professional domains.

1.1 Certification Level Categories

Fundamentals Level

Entry-level certifications that don't require technical background.

• AZ-900: Azure Fundamentals
• AI-900: Azure AI Fundamentals
• DP-900: Azure Data Fundamentals
• SC-900: Security, Compliance, and Identity Fundamentals
• PL-900: Power Platform Fundamentals

Associate Level

Intermediate certifications requiring practical experience.

• AZ-104: Azure Administrator
• AZ-204: Azure Developer
• AZ-500: Azure Security Engineer
• AZ-700: Azure Network Engineer
• DP-203: Azure Data Engineer
• AI-102: Azure AI Engineer

Expert Level

Advanced certifications requiring extensive experience.

• AZ-305: Azure Solutions Architect Expert
• AZ-400: DevOps Engineer Expert

1.2 Certification Path Planning

Different roles have different recommended paths:

Cloud Administrator Path: AZ-900 → AZ-104 → AZ-305

Developer Path: AZ-900 → AZ-204 → AZ-400

Security Engineer Path: SC-900 → AZ-500 → SC-100

Data Engineer Path: DP-900 → DP-203 → DP-600

AI Engineer Path: AI-900 → AI-102

1.3 Certification Validity and Renewal

Validity Period:

• Fundamentals certifications: Valid permanently
• Associate/Expert certifications: Valid for 1 year

Renewal Method:

Since 2021, Microsoft has switched to online renewal assessments. Within 6 months before your certification expires, you can complete a free renewal assessment on Microsoft Learn.

Renewal assessments have unlimited attempts—you can retry until you pass.

2. AZ-900 Azure Fundamentals Preparation Guide

AZ-900 is the most entry-level Azure certification, suitable for anyone wanting to understand Azure.

2.1 Exam Overview

2.2 Exam Scope

AZ-900 covers four major domains:

Cloud Concepts (25-30%)

• Benefits of cloud computing
• Differences between IaaS, PaaS, SaaS
• Public cloud, private cloud, hybrid cloud
• Shared responsibility model

Azure Architecture and Services (35-40%)

• Azure core architecture components (regions, availability zones, resource groups)
• Compute services (VM, App Service, Functions, AKS)
• Networking services (VNet, VPN, ExpressRoute)
• Storage services (Blob, Files, Disk)

Azure Management and Governance (30-35%)

• Cost management tools
• Azure governance features (Policy, Blueprint, Resource Graph)
• Monitoring tools (Monitor, Advisor, Service Health)

2.3 Preparation Strategy

Recommended Preparation Time: 2-4 weeks

Week 1: Learn Basic Concepts

• Complete the AZ-900 learning path on Microsoft Learn
• Understand basic cloud concepts and terminology

Week 2: Familiarize with Azure Services

• Create an Azure free account
• Hands-on practice in Portal: create VMs, Storage, and other resources
• Understand the basic functions of each service

Week 3: Review and Practice

• Take official practice tests
• Identify weak areas and strengthen them
• Review key concepts

Week 4 (Optional): Final Sprint

• Retake practice tests
• Confirm all domains meet standards

2.4 Free Learning Resources

Official Resources:

• Microsoft Learn AZ-900 Learning Path (Free, complete)
• Azure Free Account (Hands-on practice)
• Official Practice Assessment

Other Resources:

• YouTube: freeCodeCamp, Adam Marczak's AZ-900 courses
• Exam Topics: Community-shared practice questions (use as reference only, accuracy not guaranteed)

Illustration 2: AZ-900 Exam Domain Distribution

3. AZ-104 Azure Administrator Guide

AZ-104 is the core certification for Azure administrators, requiring practical experience.

3.1 Exam Overview

3.2 Exam Scope

AZ-104 covers five major domains:

Manage Azure Identities and Governance (20-25%)

• Azure AD / Entra ID management
• RBAC role assignments
• Subscriptions and management groups
• Azure Policy and Blueprint

Implement and Manage Storage (15-20%)

• Storage account configuration
• Blob storage management
• Azure Files setup
• Data protection (backup, snapshots)

Deploy and Manage Compute Resources (20-25%)

• VM creation and management
• VM availability configuration
• App Service setup
• Containers and AKS basics

Implement and Manage Virtual Networking (15-20%)

• VNet and subnet configuration
• NSG configuration
• Azure DNS
• VNet peering

Monitor and Maintain Azure Resources (10-15%)

• Azure Monitor
• Backup and recovery
• Alert configuration

3.3 Preparation Strategy

Recommended Preparation Time: 4-8 weeks

Prerequisites:

• Passed AZ-900 (or equivalent knowledge)
• At least 3-6 months of Azure hands-on experience

Preparation Focus:

1. Hands-on Practice First: AZ-104 includes lab questions, so you must be familiar with Portal and CLI operations
2. Understand Concepts: Not just "how to do it," but "why do it this way"
3. Practice Frequently: Use the free account to repeatedly practice various operations

Learning Resources:

• Microsoft Learn AZ-104 learning path
• Azure official documentation
• Paid courses on Pluralsight, Udemy (if you need more structured learning)

3.4 Frequently Tested Topics Summary

Identity Management:

• Azure AD user and group management
• RBAC built-in roles (Owner, Contributor, Reader)
• Custom role creation
• Conditional access configuration

Storage:

• Storage account type differences (Standard vs Premium, GPv2 vs Blob)
• Blob access tiers (Hot, Cool, Archive)
• Storage replication options (LRS, ZRS, GRS)
• SAS Tokens and access policies

Networking:

• VNet addressing planning
• NSG rule priority
• VNet Peering configuration
• Azure Load Balancer vs Application Gateway

VM Management:

• Availability sets vs availability zones
• VM Scale Sets (VMSS)
• Custom script extensions
• Azure Bastion setup

Need Azure certification training for your enterprise? Contact us to learn about corporate training solutions.

4. Advanced Certification Paths

After passing fundamentals and associate-level certifications, you can continue challenging advanced certifications.

4.1 AZ-204 Azure Developer

Target Audience: Azure application developers

Exam Focus:

• Developing Azure compute solutions (App Service, Functions, Container Apps)
• Developing for Azure storage (Blob SDK, Cosmos DB)
• Implementing Azure security (Key Vault, Managed Identity)
• Monitoring and troubleshooting
• Third-party service integration

Recommended Experience: 1-2 years Azure development experience

4.2 AZ-305 Azure Solutions Architect

Target Audience: Cloud architects

Prerequisites: Must pass AZ-104 first

Exam Focus:

• Designing identity and access solutions
• Designing data storage solutions
• Designing business continuity solutions
• Designing infrastructure solutions

Recommended Experience: 3+ years cloud architecture experience

4.3 AZ-500 Azure Security Engineer

Target Audience: Security engineers

Exam Focus:

• Managing identity and access
• Implementing platform protection
• Managing security operations
• Securing data and applications

For AZ-500 security certification preparation, see Azure Security Complete Guide.

4.4 AI-Related Certifications

AI-900 Azure AI Fundamentals

Entry-level AI certification, covering:

• AI and machine learning basic concepts
• Azure AI services overview
• Computer vision, NLP, and generative AI basics

AI-102 Azure AI Engineer

Advanced AI engineer certification, covering:

• Azure AI services development
• Azure OpenAI Service
• Knowledge mining solutions
• Document intelligence

For AI-related certification preparation, see Azure OpenAI Complete Tutorial.

Illustration 3: Azure Certification Learning Paths by Role

5. Exam Registration and Fees

5.1 Registration Process

1. Go to Microsoft Learn Certifications Page
2. Select the certification you want to take
3. Click "Schedule exam"
4. Sign in with Microsoft account
5. Choose exam method (online or test center)
6. Select date and time
7. Complete payment

5.2 Exam Fees

5.3 Exam Methods

Online Proctoring (OnVUE)

• Take exam from home or office
• Requires webcam and microphone
• Stable internet connection
• Proctor monitors via camera during exam

Test Center

• Go to designated Pearson VUE test center
• Major cities worldwide have test centers
• More formal environment, suitable for those easily distracted

5.4 Free Exam Opportunities

Microsoft Virtual Training Days

Attend Microsoft's free online training events and receive free exam vouchers for Fundamentals certifications upon completion.

Student Discounts

Through Microsoft Imagine Academy or school partnership programs, exam discounts may be available.

Enterprise Benefits

Companies with Microsoft 365 E5 or Enterprise Agreement may have employee certification benefits included.

6. How Certification Helps Your Career

6.1 Salary Impact

According to multiple surveys:

• IT professionals with cloud certifications earn 15-20% more on average
• Demand for Azure certifications continues to grow globally
• Senior Azure architects can earn $150,000-200,000+ annually

6.2 Job Search Advantages

Objective Proof of Ability

Certifications on your resume are a quick way for interviewers to assess your capabilities.

Passing ATS Screening

Many HR systems use keywords to filter resumes; certification names are important keywords.

Salary Negotiation Leverage

Certifications can serve as objective justification for requesting higher compensation.

6.3 Real Value vs Certification

Certification Limitations:

• Certification doesn't equal practical ability
• Some companies value project experience more
• Certifications need continuous renewal

Recommended Approach:

Certification + Practical Experience + Side Projects = Best Combination

If you want hands-on practice, use the Azure free account to build projects. To learn about Azure costs and free credits, see Azure Pricing Complete Guide.

7. FAQ

Q1: Can I take AZ-900 without an IT background?

Yes. AZ-900 is an entry-level certification designed for people without technical backgrounds to understand. With 2-4 weeks of serious preparation, most people can pass.

Q2: Is there a big difference between AZ-900 and AZ-104?

Very much so. AZ-900 is conceptual, only requiring understanding of "what it is." AZ-104 requires knowing "how to do it," includes hands-on lab questions, and requires real operational experience.

Q3: Can I take the exam in languages other than English?

Yes. Most Azure certifications have multiple language options. However, some translations may be awkward, so we recommend learning with English terminology as reference.

Q4: What if I fail the exam?

You can retake it. The first retake requires waiting 24 hours; subsequent retakes require 14-day waits. There's no limit on retake attempts, but you pay for each one.

Q5: What if my certification expires?

Within 6 months before expiration, you can complete a free online renewal assessment on Microsoft Learn. If it expires, you'll need to retake the full exam.

Q6: Do I need to pass AZ-900 before taking AZ-104?

No. AZ-900 is not a prerequisite for AZ-104. But if you're a beginner, we recommend taking AZ-900 first to build a foundation. If you're comparing certification value across different cloud platforms, see Azure vs AWS Complete Comparison.

8. Conclusion and Next Steps

Azure certification is a great way to systematically learn Azure.

If you're just starting, the recommended path is:

1. AZ-900: Build foundational concepts (2-4 weeks)
2. Hands-on Experience: Practice with the free account (ongoing)
3. AZ-104 or AZ-204: Choose based on career direction (4-8 weeks)
4. Advanced Certifications: Go deeper based on your specialty

Remember: Certification is a means, not an end.

What matters most is truly understanding Azure and applying it in your work.

Illustration 4: Certification Preparation Timeline

Need Azure Professional Assistance?

CloudSwap provides Azure architecture consulting and cost optimization services. If your enterprise is evaluating or using Azure, schedule a free consultation.

References

1. Microsoft Azure Certifications Overview: https://learn.microsoft.com/certifications
2. AZ-900 Exam Page: https://learn.microsoft.com/certifications/exams/az-900
3. AZ-104 Exam Page: https://learn.microsoft.com/certifications/exams/az-104
4. Microsoft Learn Free Learning Platform: https://learn.microsoft.com/training
5. Pearson VUE Test Centers: https://home.pearsonvue.com/microsoft
6. Global Knowledge IT Skills and Salary Report: https://www.globalknowledge.com/us-en/resources/resource-library/articles/it-skills-and-salary-report

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