With the ever-changing face of cloud computing, Microsoft Azure certifications serve as a crucial reference point for IT specialists who want to establish themselves as competent in their fields and propel their careers. Microsoft has a wide variety of Azure Certification exams tailored to different levels of expertise and positions, ranging from basics to advanced specialties. This complete guide gives the reader an insight on each certification with respect to exam content, significance, possible salary benefits, suggestions and overall advantages. Whether you are an experienced IT Professional or you are just venturing into cloud technologies, these certifications can greatly improve your job opportunities and proficiency in Azure services.
AZ Series Exams:
Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate
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Exam AZ-104: Microsoft Azure Administrator
Microsoft Certified: Azure Developer Associate
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Exam AZ-204: Developing Solutions for Microsoft Azure
Microsoft Certified: Azure for SAP Workloads Specialty
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Exam AZ-120: Planning and Administering Microsoft Azure for SAP Workloads
Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals
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Exam AZ-900: Microsoft Azure Fundamentals
Microsoft Certified: Azure Network Engineer Associate
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Exam AZ-700: Designing and Implementing Microsoft Azure Networking Solutions
Microsoft Certified: Azure Security Engineer Associate
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Exam AZ-500: Microsoft Azure Security Technologies
Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert
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Exam AZ-305: Designing Microsoft Azure Infrastructure Solutions
Microsoft Certified: Azure Virtual Desktop Specialty
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Exam AZ-140: Configuring and Operating Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktop
Microsoft Certified: DevOps Engineer Expert
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Exam AZ-400: Designing and Implementing Microsoft DevOps Solutions
Microsoft Certified: Windows Server Hybrid Administrator Associate
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Exam AZ-800: Administering Windows Server Hybrid Core Infrastructure
AZ-104 Certification Exam
Azure Administrator Exam Guide – AZ-104: Microsoft Azure Administrator
Content Overview
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Azure identities and governance management like managing role-based access control, managing subscriptions and governance, managing azure active directory objects.
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Implement and manage storage like secure storage, configure azure blob storage, manage storage.
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Deploy and manage Azure compute resources like automate deployment of vms, manage virtual machines, implement azure container instances and manage kubernetes.
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Configure and manage virtual networking which includes implementing and managing virtual networks, securing access to virtual networks configuring load balancing monitoring virtual networking.
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Monitor and backup azure resources as well monitor resources using azure monitor implement backup and recovery.
Importance
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Validates the ability to manage Azure services & resources.
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For those who handle cloud services across storage, security, networking & compute cloud capabilities.
Pay
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Average Salary: $75K – $120K per year.
Recommendation
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Ideal for IT professionals with experience administering Azure environments.
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It is advantageous to have previous experience in managing either on-premises or cloud infrastructure.
Benefits
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An acknowledged proof of skills in running Azure resources.
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Enhances career prospects while ensuring job security in roles that relate to administering clouds.
AZ-204 Certification Exam
Content Overview
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Developing Solutions for Microsoft Azure Implement IaaS solutions; create azure app service web apps; enable serverless computing in this module of developing solutions for Microsoft azure compute solution;
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Developing for the azure storage will cover developing solutions that uses cosmos db azure SQL database Blob storage;
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Azure Security covers implementing user authentication, implementing secure cloud solutions as well as API authentication management;
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Monitor troubleshoot optimize covers integrating caching content delivery into your application instrumenting solutions for monitoring logging;
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Connect to use the services and third-party services covers implementing api management develop event bases or message based solution.
Importance
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Validates the ability to design and build cloud solutions on Azure.
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Essential for developers building and deploying applications on the Azure platform.
Pay
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Average Salary: $90K – $130K per year.
Recommendation
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Ideal for developers with experience in designing and building cloud solutions.
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Have knowledge of programming languages like C#, Python, JavaScript, etc., will be advantageous.
Benefits
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Demonstrates expertise in developing cloud-based applications.
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Improves job prospects & enhances salary potential in software development.
AZ-120 Certification Exam Overview
AZ-120 Planning and Administering Microsoft Azure for SAP Workloads
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Migrate SAP workloads to Azure This module talks about how to evaluate and perform migration of sap workloads with azure;
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Design an azure solution to support sap workloads design and implement infrastructure that supports sap workloads;
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Build Deploy Azure for SAP Workloads Implement Dumps a Staging Table into a SQL Database as part of a six-step process for deploying azure infrastructure for sap workloads;
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Validate Azure Infrastructure For Sap Workloads In this module students will validate their knowledge of designing microsoft azure infrastructure solutions with neat diagrams which they could use as templates;
Importance
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Specializes in deploying and managing SAP applications on Azure.
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Essential for professionals involved in migrating or managing SAP workloads on Azure.
Pay
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Average Salary: $100K – $150K per year.
Recommendation
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This is recommended if you have experience in both sap and azureservices such as running or implementing projects on premised & clouds based environments / platforms
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You also need to know about SAP HANA & NetWeaver especially useful if you understand what they are talking about at all!
Benefits
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Specialized certification in a high-demand niche.
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It will boost your credibility and career prospects in managing sap on azure.
AZ-900 Certification Exam Overview
Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals AZ-900 Exam:
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Cloud Concepts including Principles of Cloud Computing, Benefits of Cloud Services;
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Azure Architecture and Services: Core Azure Services, Azure Solutions and Management Tools
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Azure Governance and Management: Features of Cost Management, Governance and Compliance.
Importance
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This introduces the basic understanding of Azure Cloud Services.
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It is for those who are new to cloud computing and Azure.
Pay
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Average Salary: $60,000 – $90,000 per year.
Recommendation
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A starting point for anyone interested in working with cloud services.
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Technical experience is not necessary before enrolling for this course.
Benefits
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Lays a foundation knowledge on Azure.
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Prepares for more advanced levels of certification on Azure.
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Microsoft Certified: Azure Network Engineer Associate
AZ-700 Certification Exam Overview
Exam: AZ-700: Designing and Implementing Microsoft Azure Networking Solutions
Exam Overview
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Designing, implementing, and managing hybrid networking-Design and implement azure network resources, configure virtual networks and manage them virtually.
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Designing, implementing core networking infrastructure–Implement virtual networks, configure name resolution, secure network connectivity.
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Securing monitoring and troubleshooting networksSecure the azure networks by monitoring the performance of the network troubleshoot network connectivity issues.
Importance
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Confirms expertise in azure networking solutions..
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Important for network engineers working with Azure.
Pay
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Average Salary: $80,000 – $120,000 per year.
Recommendation
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It’s recommended for those who work as network engineers and architects .
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Networking experience and familiarity with Azure would be beneficial.
Benefits
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Shows competence in designing and managing azure network solutions which enhance career prospects for jobs such as a network engineer.
AZ-500 Certification Exam Overview
Microsoft Certified: Azure Security Engineer Associate Exam:
AZ-500: Microsoft Azure Security Technologie
Content Overview
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Manage identity & access – Manage AAD’s (Azure Active Directory), secure identities implement authentication & authorization.
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Implement platform protection – Implement security around networks, containers & applications.
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Manage security operations – Security policies configuration; implementation of security monitoring, data encryption configuration, etc.
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Secure data and applications – Data’s security implementation, key management & app security.
Importance
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Certifies expertise in securing Azure environments.
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Critical for cyber security experts specializing on cloud security.
Pay
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Average Salary: $90,000 – $140,000 per year.
Recommendation
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It is suitable for individuals with security background and experience on Azure .
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Security practices knowledge and familiarity with some of the Azure services can be good to have.
Benefits
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Confirms mastery of cloud security skills.
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Opens up career prospects and higher salaries in a range of security roles.
AZ-305 Certification Exam Overview
Content Overview
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Design Monitoring – design for cost optimization, performance scalability, and availability of the system.
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Design Identity & Security – design solutions for identity management, governance &security.
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Design Data Storage – design database solutions; design storage solution; designing data integration.
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Design Business Continuity– high availability, disaster recovery planning, backup methodology etc.
Importance
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Establishes the ability to design and implement azure solutions.
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Prerequisite for any architect who wants to design complex cloud solutions on azure.
Pay
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Average Salary: $110,000 – $160,000 per year.
Recommendation
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This is proposed for those who are experienced with Azure Services.
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A strong understanding of cloud architecture plus familiarity with several Azure services is required.
Benefits
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Recognized as an expert in this field of study.
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Creates more opportunities to work as a cloud architect.
AZ-140 Certification Exam Overview
Content Overview
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Plan An Azure Virtual Desktop Architecture – Plan User Environments And Profiles Within The Architecture.
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Implement An Azure Virtual Desktop Infrastructure – Manage Storage And Identity Security.
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Manage Access And Security – Configure Network And Connectivity For Virtual Desktops.
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Maintain and Monitor Azure Virtual Desktop infrastructure – monitor performance, manage the environment.
Importance
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Specializes in managing azure virtual desktop solutions.
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Key for IT pros tasked with managing virtual desktop environments.
Pay
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Average Salary: $80,000 – $120,000 per year.
Recommendation
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This is recommended for IT administrators who have experience of working with virtual desktops.
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Familiarity with Azure and desktop virtualization is beneficial.
Benefits
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This validates your expertise in virtual desktops using the Azure platform.
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It opens up wider career opportunities for those interested in desktop virtualization and remote work solutions.
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Microsoft Certified: DevOps Engineer Expert
AZ-400 Certification Exam Overview
Examination: AZ-400: Designing and Implementing Microsoft DevOps Solutions
Content Overview
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Develop an instrumentation strategy: Develop monitoring and telemetry solutions.
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Develop a SRE strategy: Implement site reliability engineering practices.
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Develop a security and compliance plan. Implement security and compliance practices in DevOps.
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Implement continuous integration and delivery like managing CI/CD pipelines?
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Set up and manage CI/CD pipelines?
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Manage dependencies in application development such as implementing dependency management?
Importance
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This validates your expertise relating to DevOps practices on Azure.
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Required by professionals who deploy DevOps solutions on Azure.
Pay
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Average Salary: $110,000 – $150,000 per year.
Recommendation
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Recommended for Azure experienced professionals engaged in the area of DevOps activities.
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Basic knowledge of DevOp practices and Azure services is mandatory here.
Benefits
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Proves you know how to do Devops on azure very well!
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Opens up several more job opportunities or higher salaries that come with it associated with being a developer operations manager (DevOps).
AZ-800 Certification Exam Overview
Microsoft Certified: Windows Server Hybrid Administrator Associate Exams:
AZ-800: Administering Windows Server Hybrid Core Infrastructure
Content Overview
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Content Overview for AZ-800 Manage hybrid identity, compute, & networking; On-premises & hybrid scenarios; Manage & implement IaaS services such as windows server PaaS. Implement storage and compute; Manage storage solutions. Content Overview for AZ-801 Configure remote access; Manage hybrid networking; Manage hybrid environments. Manage Windows Server hybrid platform services; Configure workloads in windows server, manage windows server in hybrid mode. Importance Validates the management and configuration of a hybrid environment leveraging Windows Servers.
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Essential for IT professionals managing Windows Server in hybrid operating situations. Pay Average Salary: $80,000 – $120,000 per year.
Recommendation
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IT administrators who have been dealing with Windows Server should consider this certification.
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Being accustomed to the set-up of a globalized computing infrastructure is advantageous.
