Microsoft’s Azure is the most famous cloud platform in the world. This cloud service provider offers various certifications that help professionals learn all about cloud computing and expand their career opportunities.
Cloud computing is one of the most popular and rapidly growing IT segments and is in high demand nowadays. It is estimated that by 2023, the cloud computing market will reach more than
397 billion U.S. dollars. Today, many big brands, like BMW, eBay, Samsung, etc., are customers of Microsoft Azure.
Building a career in this sector can be very befitting for someone who has an interest in cloud-based technology. Microsoft provides numerous certifications to qualified candidates, and these certifications are valuable and recognized by organizations.
The Azure certification path is one simple way by which you can learn and get recognized as a specialized Azure associate or expert. Azure certification validates your skills and gives you a degree to acquire better jobs with a fair salary.
Let’s have a detailed view of the Microsoft Azure Certification Roadmap.
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Benefits of Azure Certification
Azure certification offers the utmost professionalism that equally aligns with industry standards. It enhances your credibility, prestige, and performance to make significant business deals and build networks. Almost
95% of big companies use Microsoft Azure for their operations.
The following are the benefits of the Azure Certification that will help you make a defined choice.
Professional growth and career advancement
Following the Azure certification path in 2023 is very simple, and candidates of any background with little knowledge of cloud computing can pursue these certifications. Azure certification will help you grow professionally, and you will learn various important concepts that will help you in your further career development.
Recognition in the industry
Azure-certified professionals are in high demand across the industry. Every organization needs experts that can handle their cloud system and contribute to organizational growth. Moreover, professional growth will improve your career prospects, and you will be recognized across the industry.
Enhanced knowledge and skills
With Azure certification, you will gain enough knowledge and skills for better career prospects in the future. You will know technologies, as Azure uses familiar technologies for learning, such as Active Directory, Linux, or Windows. Your market demand will rise as a result of these abilities and knowledge.
Access to exclusive Azure resources
Get access to exclusive Azure resources, and build your credibility with ease. These resources will also boost your skill set. You will get strong community support with Azure, and your network will significantly increase in the industry.
Job opportunities and high salary packages
Following the Azure certification roadmap will widen your job opportunities, and you will get better jobs with high salary packages. The salary of a Microsoft Azure-certified professional may vary according to the area and skills. The salary for senior certified professionals normally ranges from
$146,000 to $181,000 per year.
Understanding the Azure Certification Path
The certifications offered by Microsoft Azure are role-based. The Microsoft Azure certification path is broadly organized into four levels: Fundamentals, Associate, Expert, and Speciality. All these certifications aim to build skills and knowledge for cloud professionals.
Fundamental Level Certifications
Fundamental certifications are for beginners or newbies who have recently started their journey toward cloud learning. Azure Fundamental Certification offers the best starting point for any new person who wishes to build a better career in the future.
Fundamental level certification includes the AZ-900 Azure fundamentals certification, which builds the core concepts of the cloud. If you have a non-technical background, you, too, can start your career in the cloud with these recognized certifications.
Associate Level Certifications
These certifications are for candidates who are familiar with Azure and cloud computing. You can join these certifications to enhance your level and advance in your career to become a certified pro.
This level includes certifications like Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104), Azure Developer Associate (AZ-204), and Azure Security Engineer Associate (AZ-500).
Expert Level Certifications
Suppose you already have a deep understanding of your current and previous experience in the cloud with Azure. In that case, you can join these expert-level certification programs, which will help you gain professional solutions and enhance your status in the industry. It will improve your credibility, and your demand in the market will grow rapidly.
To get enrolled in expert-level certifications and get recognized as an Azure Solutions Architect expert (AZ-305) or an Azure DevOps Engineer expert (AZ-400), you must have an associate certification like Azure Developer Associate or Azure Administration Associate.
Specialty Level Certifications
The Azure certification career does not stop growing. It gets better as you get more and more qualified with highly recognized certifications. Specialty certifications are for those who are looking for career advancement.
These certifications are for those who are looking forward to working in Azure for SAP Workloads and Azure IoT Development Specialties.
Azure Certification Roadmap 2023
Today, many Azure certifications and job roles are available. Following a proper Azure certification roadmap in 2023 is necessary for the aspirants to get their dream job roles.
Fundamental Level
Let’s have a brief overview, domain discussion, and exam details of the fundamental level Azure Certifications.
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AZ-900 Microsoft Azure Fundamentals Certification
Azure fundamental certification exams are for beginners who want to validate their skills and get recognition from the most popular cloud service provider. Any candidate from a non-technical background can also take this exam. This certification clarifies the basic concepts of networking, application support, development, storage, and computation.
So, if you are looking for a proper Microsoft Azure certification path, you can get this certification to have a clear understanding. Courses like Microsoft Azure data fundamentals will help you prepare for this course.
| Certification Name |
AZ-900 Microsoft Azure Fundamentals Certification |
| Exam Code |
AZ-900 |
| Exam Cost |
$99 (may vary according to the location) |
| Exam Language |
English, Korean, Spanish, Japanese, Chinese (Simplified), German, French, Indonesian, Italian, Portuguese (Brazil), Arabic (Saudi Arabia), Chinese, and Russian. |
| Prerequisite |
There are no specific prerequisites |
| Passing Score: |
700/1000 |
| Number of Questions: |
40–50 |
| Duration: |
60 Minutes |
| Domains |
- Explanation of Cloud concepts (25-30%)
- Description of Azure architecture and services (35-40%)
- Describe Azure management and governance (30-35%)
|
-
DP-900: Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Fundamentals
This certification covers all the basic and foundational information about core data. It includes the work frameworks that align with Microsoft data services. This enhances your core concept of clouds, services, security, pricing, and workloads in Azure. This is the certification for building the first step towards Azure.
| Certification Name |
DP-900: Microsoft Certified Azure Data Fundamentals |
| Exam code |
DP-900 |
| Exam cost |
$99 |
| Exam Language |
English, Japanese, Chinese, Russian, Indonesian, Korean, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, Italian |
| Prerequisite |
There are no specific prerequisites for this exam |
| Passing Score |
700/1000 |
| Number of Questions |
40–50 |
| Duration |
60 Minutes |
| Domain |
- Describe core data concepts (25-30%)
- Identify considerations for relational data on Azure (20-25%)
- Describe relations for working with non-relational data on Azure (15-20%)
- Describe an analytics workload on Azure (25-30%)
|
-
AI-900: Microsoft Certified Azure AI Fundamentals
Azure AI Fundamentals certification helps you learn the core concepts of Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). It makes candidates familiar with general programming knowledge and gives them practical experience. You can take this certification exam to reinforce your skills for future jobs.
The job roles after these certifications include Azure Data Scientist Associate, Azure Developer Associate, or Azure AI Engineer Associate. Courses like AI-900T00: Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals will help you prepare for this exam.
| Certification Name |
AI-900: Microsoft Certified Azure AI Fundamentals |
| Exam code |
AI-900 |
| Exam cost |
$99 |
| Exam Language |
English, Japanese, Chinese, Russian, Indonesian, Korean, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, Italian |
| Prerequisite |
There are no specific prerequisites |
| Passing Score |
700/1000 |
| Number of Questions |
40–50 |
| Duration |
60 Minutes |
| Domain |
- The core concept of the fundamental principles of machine learning on Azure (25-30%)
- Description of Artificial Intelligence workloads and consideration (20-25%)
- Key features of computer vision workloads on Azure (15-20%)
- Important features of Natural Language Processing (NLP) workloads on Azure (25-30%)
|
Associate Level
Let’s have a brief overview, domain discussion, and exam details of the associate-level Azure Certifications.
-
AZ-104: Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate
The Azure Associate Administrator exam is to attain subject matter expertise. This expertise allows you to implement, manage, and monitor the environment of Microsoft Azure, including storage, identity, governance, computing, and security.
You must be experienced in Azure Portal, Azure CLI, PowerShell, and ARM Templates to give this certification exam. You can prepare for this certification exam with AZ-104: Microsoft Azure Administrator eLearning.
| Certification Name |
AZ-104: Microsoft Certified Azure Administrator Associate |
| Exam code |
AZ-104 |
| Exam cost |
$165 |
| Exam Language |
English, Japanese, Chinese, Russian, Korean, French, German, Spanish |
| Prerequisite |
There are no specific prerequisites |
| Passing Score |
700/1000 |
| Number of Questions |
45–60 |
| Duration |
120 Minutes |
| Domain |
- Manage Azure identities and governance (15-20%)
- Implement and manage storage (15-20%)
- Configure and manage virtual networking (20-25%)
- Monitor and back up Azure resources (20-25%)
- Deploy and manage Azure compute resources (20-25%)
|
-
AZ-204: Microsoft Certified: Azure Developer Associate
This certification exam is suitable for those who are looking for subject matter expertise. This certification will help you learn about data storage options, Azure PowerShell, Azure SDKs, data connections, app authentication, APIs, debugging, performance tuning, monitoring, and computing.
Get access to AZ-204T00: Developing solutions for Microsoft Azure for your uninterrupted preparation. The developers will learn through various phases, such as:
- Requirement of Cloud development, its definition, and design
- The new development, deployment, and further maintenance
- Performance tuning and monitoring processes
| Certification Name |
AZ-204: Microsoft Certified Azure Developer Associate |
| Exam code |
AZ-204 |
| Exam cost |
$165 |
| Exam Language |
English, Japanese, Chinese, Russian, Korean, French, German, Spanish |
| Prerequisite |
There are no specific prerequisites |
| Passing Score |
700/1000 |
| Number of Questions |
45–60 |
| Duration |
120 Minutes |
| Domain |
- Develop Azure compute solutions (25-30%)
- Implement Azure security (20-25%)
- Develop for Azure storage (15-20%)
- Monitor, troubleshoot, and optimize Azure solutions (15-20%)
- Connect to and consume Azure services and third-party services (15-20%)
|
-
Azure Security Engineer Associate (AZ-500)
The Azure security engineer associate exam will require subject matter expertise to implement Azure security controls that protect against identity, data, access, cloud networks, hybrid environments, and end-to-end infrastructure.
Taking the AZ-500: Microsoft Azure Security Technologies course will prepare you for the exam.
| Certification Name |
AZ-500: Microsoft Certified Azure Security Engineer Associate |
| Exam code |
AZ-500 |
| Exam cost |
$165 |
| Exam Language |
English, Japanese, Chinese, Russian, Korean, French, German, Spanish |
| Prerequisite |
- You should know how to manage the security posture, remediate weaknesses, perform threat modeling, identify and solve vulnerabilities, and implement threat safety and incident handling responses.
|
| Passing Score |
700/1000 |
| Number of Questions |
45–60 |
| Duration |
150 Minutes |
| Domain |
- Manage identity and access (25–30%)
- Implement platform protection (20–25%)
- Manage security operations (20–25%)
- Secure data and applications (25–30%)
|
Expert Level
Expert-level certifications require subject matter expertise that improves your skills and enhances career advancement. These certifications will give you wide recognition throughout the industry with high salary packages and better job opportunities.
Following are the certification exams offered in the Azure certification path at the expert level.
-
Azure Solutions Architect Expert (AZ-305)
This certification exam requires expertise in cloud design, and hybrid solutions are necessary to function in Microsoft Azure. These hybrid solutions include network, storage, monitoring, security, computing, etc. Azure solutions architect certification will boost your career opportunities with in-demand skills like translating business requirements into secure and reliable solutions.
The aspirants must have expert-level skills in Azure administration and experience in DevOps procedures and Azure development programs. You can prepare for this exam in AZ-305T00: Designing Microsoft Azure Infrastructure Solutions.
| Certification Name |
Microsoft Certified Solutions Architect [AZ-305] |
| Exam code |
AZ-305 |
| Exam cost |
$165 |
| Exam Language |
English, Japanese, Chinese, and Korean |
| Prerequisite |
You should have six months of experience in Azure administration, and fundamental knowledge is necessary. |
| Passing Score |
700/1000 |
| Number of Questions |
45–60 |
| Duration |
120 Minutes |
| Domain |
- Design identity, governance, and monitoring solutions (25-30%)
- Design infrastructure solutions (25-30%)
- Design business continuity solutions (10-15%)
- Design data storage solutions (25-30%)
|
-
Azure DevOps Engineer Expert (AZ-400)
The DevOps Engineer experts prepare a design and implement the strategies for infrastructure, code, source control, compliance, testing, delivery, monitoring, feedback, collaboration, continuous integration, etc. They design and automate the software pipelines for the development and deployment of the cloud’s lifecycle.
Aspirants looking for this certification should have basic knowledge of Azure administration and development. They must have a certificate in either AZ-204 OR AZ-104. Courses like AZ-400:Designing and implementing Microsoft DevOps solutions will help aspirants prepare for this exam.
| Certification Name |
Azure DevOps Engineer Expert (AZ-400) |
| Exam code |
AZ-400 |
| Exam cost |
$165 |
| Exam Language |
English, Japanese, Chinese, and Korean |
| Prerequisite |
You should have six months of experience in Azure administration (AZ-104), and fundamental knowledge (AZ-204) is necessary. |
| Passing Score |
700/1000 |
| Number of Questions |
45–60 |
| Duration |
120 Minutes |
| Domain |
- Configure processes and communications (10-15%)
- Design and implement source control (15-20%)
- Develop a security and compliance plan (10-15%)
- Implement an instrumentation strategy (10-15%)
- Design and implement build and release pipelines (40-45%)
|
Brief Guide for Azure Certification Preparation
To start your preparation for Azure certification exams, you must follow the right path and be strict with your routine. There are several steps that you must take to ensure that your certification preparation is going in the right direction. Following are some of the steps:
Step 1. Choose the most appropriate Azure certification
You must be clear about your choices and interests to advance in your career. The appropriate choice will lead you to a better course of action. Your goals and objectives must be aligned with your qualities, interests, and skills. Microsoft Azure offers numerous certifications, and all of these certifications provide a special quality to IT professionals and enable them to learn about cloud computing and software. Therefore, choose the most suitable certification that helps in your career development.
Step 2: Understand the objectives of the exam
The Azure certification roadmap provides you with outlines of the syllabus that you are required to complete for the exam. Once you understand the objectives of this syllabus, you will easily cover the exam.
Step 3: Use free & paid online resources and take practice tests
There are many free online resources available on the internet that you can use to prepare for your exam. You can enroll in any of them for free and get access to the materials and courses. Take more than 50 practice exams to ensure acing the certification exam.
Following are some courses that you can enroll in to prepare yourself for the exam which offer comprehensive learning resources, and practice tests.
Step 4: Join Azure training and webinars
Several training programs for Azure certification careers are being offered. You get hands-on experience with this training, attend webinars to understand the technologies effectively, and work on your projects or internships to gain practical knowledge.
Tips to Prepare for Azure Certification Exams
Following are the essential tips that you should follow to take your preparation to the next level.
- Make a routine and stick to it no matter what.
- Do not neglect hands-on experience, and try to get more practical work and projects to work on.
- Keep the objective of the certification exam in mind and align your activities accordingly.
- Utilize online resources and enroll in training programs, either self-paced or instructor-led.
- Practice the past year’s papers and sample questions daily. Give mock exams once or twice a week.
- Join study groups and online communities of aspirants to keep the competition going.
- Use Microsoft learning resources and strictly follow the Azure certification path.
Future Prospect of Azure Certification
The future scope of Microsoft Azure is expanding and aims to enhance professionals in numerous fields. For cloud computing professionals, the badge of Azure certification is very valuable and will gain more recognition shortly.
According to the stats, the highest salary of a Senior Solution Architect is, on average,
$141,000 annually. The recent emerging trends in Azure technology have led Microsoft certifications to become more valuable and revolutionize the industry. Therefore, always look for potential Azure certifications, and stay up-to-date with Azure for continuous and uninterrupted learning.
Conclusion
Cloud computing is a rapidly growing industry. The latest trends in Azure technology are focused on coping with upcoming challenges. Every aspirant must prepare themselves for future technologies and get a better understanding of cloud computing.
The cloud certifications in Azure prepare you for multiple cloud roles that offer a fair salary. Today, many companies trust Microsoft Azure-certified professionals for various cloud-based job roles. It is estimated that more than 70% of IT will function on the cloud in the future.
Therefore, it is an excellent opportunity to prepare yourself and get the badge of Azure certification to advance in your career. So, brush up your skills, practice tests, give mocks, get practical knowledge and work experience, and upgrade your skills daily to widen your career prospects in the Microsoft Azure certification path.
Prepare for the Azure certification exams with
Microsoft Azure certification courses. If you are looking for AZ-104T00-A: Microsoft Azure Administrator training, check out our
AZ-104T00-A: Microsoft Azure Administrator, where professionals are taught to manage their Azure subscriptions and administer various modalities of this system under the guidance of industry experts.
Q1. How much does it cost to get Azure certified?
To get Azure certified, you need at least 99 U.S. dollars for each fundamental certification and 165 U.S. dollars for an associate or expert-level certification. However, you can enroll and get training programs for free for the certifications conducted by Microsoft Azure.
Q2. What is the passing score for Azure certification exams?
The passing score for the fundamental, Associate, or expert-level certification exams is 700 out of 1000.
Q3. What is the best Azure certification for beginners?
Some of the best Azure certifications for beginners are as follows:
- AZ-900 Microsoft Azure Fundamentals Certification
- DP-900: Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Fundamentals
- AI-900: Microsoft Certified Azure AI Fundamentals
Q4. What are the job prospects after getting Azure certified?
The job prospects after getting Azure certified are very wide. Azure-certified professionals get high-salary jobs and have excellent scope to advance their careers. Some of the job roles offered to Azure-certified professionals, along with their estimated average yearly salary, are as follows:
- Cloud Developer – $103,919
- Cloud Architect – $143,943
- Cloud DevOps Engineer – $110,821
- Cloud Systems Engineer – $101,882
- Cloud Security Engineer – $121,329
- Cloud Consultant – $109,873
Q5. Can I take Azure certification exams online?
Yes, you can give the Microsoft Azure certification exams online, either from home or from a test center allotted to you. You must know that the exam is strictly taken under supervision and is proctored. You will be required to fulfill all the requirements before taking the exam online.
