Azure Certifications: Which is Right for You and Your Team?
Cloud computing is one of the fastest-growing segments of the technology industry. According to Canalys, the worldwide cloud infrastructure services market grew 33% year-over-year in the second quarter of 2022. But Microsoft Azure grew even faster than the industry average, with a staggering 40% increase. It’s the second largest public cloud vendor, with triple the revenues of Google Cloud Platform (GCP), and it’s rapidly closing the market share gap with its main rival, Amazon Web Service (AWS).
This rapid growth has led to a dramatic increase in the number of jobs requiring Azure skills. One of the best ways to prove that you have those skills is by obtaining certifications. In this article, we’ll cover the most popular Microsoft Azure certification exams and help you get started with choosing a career path.
Whether you are looking to study for an Azure certification or simply want to find out more about what Azure can offer your enterprise, Cloud Academy’s Microsoft Azure Training Library is loaded with learning paths, courses, practice certification exams, hands-on labs, lab challenges, and lab playgrounds. Our learning paths are guided learning experiences that provide step-by-step training to build your technical knowledge and hands-on skills using actual Azure accounts in live environments.
Azure Certifications
Microsoft’s Azure certifications are role-based, with titles such as Azure Administrator, Azure Solution Architect, Azure Developer, and Azure AI Engineer. They’re organized into 4 levels: Fundamentals, Associate, Expert, and Specialty. These certifications focus on building knowledge and skills related to job roles. They were designed with the engagement of the community in identifying the requirements for each role.
Here are all the Azure certifications we’ll cover in this post:
- Microsoft Azure Fundamentals-Level certifications:
- Microsoft Azure Associate-Level certifications:
- Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate – Exam AZ-104
- Microsoft Certified: Azure Developer Associate – Exam AZ-204
- Microsoft Certified: Azure Security Engineer Associate – Exam AZ-500
- Microsoft Certified: Azure Network Engineer Associate – Exam AZ-700
- Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Engineer Associate – Exam AI-102
- Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Scientist Associate – Exam DP-100
- Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Engineer Associate – Exam DP-203
- Microsoft Certified: Azure Database Administrator Associate – Exam DP-300
- Microsoft Certified: Security Operations Analyst Associate – Exam SC-200
- Microsoft Certified: Identity and Access Administrator Associate – Exam SC-300
- Microsoft Azure Expert-Level certifications:
- Microsoft Azure Specialty certifications:
Microsoft Azure Fundamentals-Level certifications
Microsoft Azure Fundamentals Certification
To get this Azure certification, you need to pass the AZ-900 Microsoft Azure Fundamentals exam. The Azure fundamentals certification is designed to validate a foundational knowledge level of Azure cloud services. It is intended for both technical and non-technical candidates.
Areas Covered
- Understand foundational cloud concepts such as high availability, scalability, reliability, cloud models, and cloud service types
- Describe compute, networking, storage, and core architectural components of Azure
- Describe identity, access, and security
- Describe Azure management, governance, compliance, and monitoring tools
Exam Information
- Prerequisites: None
- Number of Questions: 40 – 50
- Duration: 60 Minutes
- Passing Score Required: 700
- Cost: $99
To prepare for this exam, check out the AZ-900 Exam Preparation Learning Path on Cloud Academy.
Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals Certification
To get this Azure certification, you need to pass the AI-900 Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals exam. Candidates who are interested in earning this fundamental level certification must have a basic knowledge of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) solutions on Microsoft Azure.
Areas Covered
- Describe AI workloads and considerations, including features of common AI workloads and guiding principles for responsible AI
- Describe fundamental principles of machine learning on Azure, such as common machine learning types and scenarios
- Describe features of computer vision workloads on Azure
- Describe features of natural language processing (NLP) workloads on Azure, such as conversational AI
Exam Information
- Prerequisites: None
- Number of Questions: 50 – 60
- Duration: 60 Minutes
- Cost: $99
To get ready for this exam, check out the AI-900 Exam Preparation Learning Path on Cloud Academy.
Microsoft Azure Data Fundamentals Certification
To get this Azure certification, you need to pass the DP-900 Microsoft Azure Data Fundamentals exam. Candidates who want to earn this certification should understand core data concepts, relational and non-relational data, and analytics workloads on Azure.
Areas Covered
- Describe core data concepts, such as common data workloads and ways to represent data
- Identify considerations for relational data on Azure, including relational concepts and relational Azure data services
- Describe considerations for working with non-relational data on Azure, including capabilities of Azure Storage and Azure Cosmos DB
- Describe analytics workloads on Azure, including large-scale analytics, real-time data analytics, data visualization in Microsoft Power BI
Exam Information
- Prerequisites: None
- Number of Questions: 40 – 50
- Duration: 60 Minutes
- Cost: $99
If you want to get ready for this exam, go through the DP-900 Exam Preparation Learning Path on Cloud Academy.
Microsoft Azure Security, Compliance, and Identity Fundamentals Certification
To get this Azure certification, you need to pass the SC-900 Microsoft Azure Security, Compliance, and Identity Fundamentals exam. Candidates who want to earn this certification should have a general knowledge of the security, compliance, and identity capabilities of Microsoft 365 and Microsoft Azure.
Areas Covered
- Describe the concepts of security, compliance, and identity
- Describe the capabilities of Microsoft Azure Active Directory (Azure AD), part of Microsoft Entra
- Describe the capabilities of Microsoft security solutions
- Describe the capabilities of Microsoft compliance solutions
Exam Information
- Prerequisites: None
- Number of Questions: 40 – 60
- Duration: 60 Minutes
- Cost: $99
To get ready for this exam, check out the SC-900 Exam Preparation Learning Path on Cloud Academy.
Microsoft Azure Associate-Level certifications
Microsoft Azure Administrator Associate Certification
To get this Azure certification, you need to pass the AZ-104 Microsoft Azure Administrator Associate exam. The AZ-104 exam is the replacement for the AZ-103 exam.
This exam will test the knowledge and capabilities of candidates in the configuration and management of compute, storage, virtual networking, and monitoring in an Azure environment.
An Azure Administrator is a subject matter expert (SME) who is responsible for implementing the Azure-based cloud infrastructure of an organization.
Areas Covered
- Manage Azure identities and governance, including Azure AD objects, role-based access control (RBAC), and subscriptions and governance
- Implement and manage storage, including Azure Files and Azure Blob Storage
- Deploy and manage Azure compute resources, including virtual machines, containers, and Azure App Service
- Configure and manage virtual networking, including virtual networks and load balancers
- Monitor and maintain Azure resources
Exam Information
- Prerequisites: None
- Number of Questions: 40 – 60
- Duration: 120 Minutes
- Cost: $165
If you want to get ready for this exam, try the AZ-104 Exam Preparation Learning Path on Cloud Academy.
Microsoft Azure Developer Associate Certification
To get this Azure certification, you need to pass the AZ-204 Microsoft Azure Developer Associate exam. The AZ-204 exam is the replacement for the AZ-203 exam.
Candidates for this certification should be familiar with designing, building, and testing Azure-based apps and services. Candidates should also have 1-2 years of development experience with proficiency in data storage and connections, Azure SDKs, debugging, monitoring, performance tuning, etc.
Areas Covered
- Develop Azure compute solutions, including IaaS solutions, web apps, and Azure Functions
- Develop for Azure storage, including Cosmos DB storage and blob storage
- Implement Azure security, including authentication and authorization
- Monitor, troubleshoot, and optimize Azure solutions
- Connect to and consume Azure services and third-party services using API Management, event-based solutions, and message-based solutions
Exam Information
- Prerequisites: None
- Number of Questions: 40 – 60
- Duration: 120 Minutes
- Cost: $165
To prepare for this exam, you should take the AZ-204 Exam Preparation Learning Path on Cloud Academy.
Microsoft Azure Security Engineer Associate Certification
To get this Azure certification, you need to pass the AZ-500 Microsoft Azure Security Engineer Associate exam. This certification is designed for candidates who implement and manage security controls, identity, and access management and are responsible for securing cloud data, apps, and networks. As a Microsoft Azure security engineer, candidates are responsible for managing and securing cloud-based solutions and may also secure hybrid cloud solutions as part of an end-to-end infrastructure.
This exam requires strong skills in automation and scripting, a deep understanding of virtualization technology and virtual networking, and a strong familiarity with Microsoft cloud services and products.
Areas Covered
- Manage identity and access using Azure Active Directory and role-based access control (RBAC)
- Implement platform protection, including advanced security for compute and networks
- Manage security operations, including policy management, threat protection, and security monitoring solutions
- Secure data and applications
Exam Information
- Prerequisites: None
- Number of Questions: 40 – 60
- Duration: 120 Minutes
- Cost: $165
To get ready for this exam, check out the AZ-500 Exam Preparation Learning Path on Cloud Academy.
Microsoft Azure Network Engineer Associate Certification
To get this Azure certification, you need to pass the AZ-700 Microsoft Azure Network Engineer Associate exam. This certification is designed for people who already have experience with Microsoft Azure networking.
Areas Covered
- Design, implement, and manage hybrid networking
- Design and implement core networking infrastructure
- Design and implement routing
- Secure and monitor networks
- Design and implement private access to Azure services
Exam Information
- Prerequisites: None
- Number of Questions: 40 – 60
- Duration: 120 Minutes
- Cost: $165
To prepare for this exam, you should take the AZ-700 Exam Preparation Learning Path on Cloud Academy.
Microsoft Azure AI Engineer Associate Certification
To get this Azure certification, you need to pass the AI-102 Microsoft Azure AI Engineer Associate exam. This associate-level certification is designed for candidates who implement Microsoft AI solutions like natural language processing, knowledge mining, speech, computer vision, bots, and agents using Cognitive Services, Cognitive Search, and the Bot Framework.
Candidates for this exam should have at least a general knowledge of IT architecture and software development experience, especially using REST APIs.
Areas Covered
- Plan and manage an Azure Cognitive Services solution
- Implement Computer Vision solutions
- Implement natural language processing solutions
- Implement knowledge-mining solutions
- Implement conversational AI solutions
Exam Information
- Prerequisites: None
- Number of Questions: 40 – 60
- Duration: 120 Minutes
- Cost: $165
If you want to get ready for this exam, you should check the AZ-102 Exam Preparation Learning Path on Cloud Academy.
Microsoft Azure Data Scientist Associate Certification
To get this Azure certification, you need to pass the DP-100 Microsoft Azure Data Scientist Associate exam. This certification is focused on designing and implementing a data science solution on Azure. You will learn how to apply Azure machine learning approaches in training, evaluation, and deployment of models that are used to solve business problems.
Areas Covered
- Design and prepare a machine learning solution
- Explore data and train models
- Prepare a model for deployment
- Deploy and retrain a model
Exam Information
- Prerequisites: None
- Number of Questions: 40 – 60
- Duration: 180 Minutes
- Cost: $165
To get ready for this exam, check out the DP-100 Exam Preparation Learning Path on Cloud Academy.
Microsoft Azure Data Engineer Associate Certification
To get this certification and become an Azure Data Engineer, you need to pass the DP-203 Microsoft Azure Data Engineer Associate exam. This certification is designed for people who know how to implement systems for exploring, processing, and analyzing data on Azure.
Areas Covered
- Design and implement data storage on Azure
- Design and develop data processing on Azure
- Design and implement data security on Azure
- Monitor and optimize data storage and data processing on Azure
Exam Information
- Prerequisites: None
- Number of Questions: 40 – 60
- Duration: 120 Minutes
- Cost: $165
If you want to get ready for this exam, take the DP-203 Exam Preparation Learning Path on Cloud Academy.
Microsoft Azure Database Administrator Associate Certification
To get this Azure certification, you need to pass the DP-300 Microsoft Azure Database Administrator Associate exam. This is a role-based Azure certification exam that would be ideal for candidates who are interested in administering cloud-based database systems. By achieving this certification, candidates prove they can manage Azure SQL Database and Microsoft SQL Server.
Areas Covered
- Plan and implement data platform resources
- Implement a secure environment
- Monitor, configure, and optimize database resources
- Configure and manage automation of tasks
- Plan and configure a high availability and disaster recovery (HA/DR) environment
Exam Information
- Prerequisites: None
- Number of Questions: 40 – 60
- Duration: 120 Minutes
- Cost: $165
To get ready for this exam, you should check out the DP-300 Exam Preparation Learning Path on Cloud Academy.
Microsoft Azure Security Operations Analyst Associate Certification
To get this Azure certification, you need to pass the SC-200 Microsoft Azure Security Operations Analyst Associate exam. This certification is designed for IT professionals who are familiar with threat mitigation using Microsoft 365 Defender, Microsoft Defender for Cloud, and Microsoft Sentinel.
Areas Covered
- Mitigate threats using Microsoft 365 Defender
- Mitigate threats using Microsoft Defender for Cloud
- Mitigate threats using Microsoft Sentinel
Exam Information
- Prerequisites: None
- Number of Questions: 40 – 60
- Duration: 120 Minutes
- Cost: $165
If you want to get ready for this exam, you should take the SC-200 Exam Preparation Learning Path on Cloud Academy.
Microsoft Azure Identity and Access Administrator Associate Certification
To get this Azure certification, you need to pass the SC-300 Microsoft Azure Identity and Access Administrator Associate exam. This certification is designed for IT professionals who know how to manage identity and access on Microsoft 365 and Azure.
Areas Covered
- Implement identities in Azure AD
- Implement authentication and access management
- Implement access management for applications
- Plan and implement identity governance in Azure AD
Exam Information
- Prerequisites: None
- Number of Questions: 40 – 60
- Duration: 120 Minutes
- Cost: $165
To get ready for this exam, take the SC-300 Exam Preparation Learning Path on Cloud Academy.
Microsoft Azure Expert-Level certifications
Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert Certification
To get this Azure certification, you need to pass both the AZ-305 Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert exam and the AZ-104 Azure Administrator Associate exam.
This certification is designed for candidates who have an advanced knowledge of Azure architecture. You don’t have to take the AZ-104 exam before taking AZ-305, but you have to pass both of them to get the certification.
Areas Covered
- Design identity, governance, and monitoring solutions
- Design data storage solutions
- Design business continuity solutions
- Design infrastructure solutions
Exam Information
- Prerequisites: AZ-104 exam (or you can take the AZ-104 exam after AZ-305)
- Number of Questions: 40 – 60
- Duration: 120 Minutes
- Cost: $165
To prepare for this exam, take the AZ-305 Exam Preparation Learning Path on Cloud Academy.
Microsoft Azure DevOps Engineer Expert Certification
To get this Azure certification, you need to pass the AZ-400 Microsoft Azure DevOps Engineer Expert exam as well as either the AZ-104 Azure Administrator Associate exam or the AZ-204 Azure Developer Associate exam. This certification is designed for DevOps professionals who bring people, processes, and technologies closer to deliver valuable services and products that meet business requirements and objectives. DevOps engineers are responsible for delivering cloud services by improving collaboration and communications, designing, and implementing strategies for app coding, and creating automation, continuous delivery, monitoring, and feedback. For this job role, candidates should be proficient with Agile practices and familiar with both Azure development and operations processes.
Areas Covered
- Configure processes and communications
- Design and implement source control
- Design and implement build and release pipelines
- Develop a security and compliance plan
- Implement an instrumentation strategy
Exam Information
- Prerequisites: Azure Administrator Associate or Azure Developer Associate certification
- Number of Questions: 50 – 70
- Duration: 180 Minutes
- Cost: $165
To get ready for this exam, take the AZ-400 Exam Preparation Learning Path on Cloud Academy.
Microsoft Azure Specialty certifications
Microsoft Azure for SAP Workloads Specialty Certification
To get this Azure certification, you need to pass the AZ-120 Microsoft Azure for SAP Workloads Specialty exam. This certification is designed for people who have familiarity with SAP components and a general understanding of computing architecture such as networking, databases, and computer hardware.
Areas Covered
- Migrate SAP Workloads to Azure
- Design and implement an infrastructure to support SAP workloads on Azure
- Design and implement high availability and disaster recovery (HA/DR)
- Maintain SAP Workloads on Azure
Exam Information
- Prerequisites: None
- Number of Questions: 40 – 60
- Duration: 120 Minutes
- Cost: $165
To get ready for this exam, take the AZ-120 Exam Preparation Learning Path on Cloud Academy.
Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktop Specialty Certification
To get this Azure certification, you need to pass the AZ-140 Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktop Specialty exam. This certification is designed for people who have experience administering Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktop.
Areas Covered
- Plan and implement an Azure Virtual Desktop infrastructure
- Plan and implement identity and security
- Plan and implement user environments and apps
- Monitor and maintain an Azure Virtual Desktop infrastructure
Exam Information
- Prerequisites: None
- Number of Questions: 40 – 60
- Duration: 120 Minutes
- Cost: $165
To get ready for this exam, take the AZ-140 Exam Preparation Learning Path on Cloud Academy.
Microsoft Azure IoT Developer Specialty Certification
To get this Azure certification, you need to pass the AZ-220 Microsoft Azure IoT Developer Specialty exam. This certification is designed for people who want to become Azure IoT developers and already have experience with software development and Microsoft Azure.
Areas Covered
- Set up the Azure IoT Hub solution infrastructure
- Provision and manage devices
- Implement IoT Edge
- Implement business integration
- Process and manage data
- Monitor, troubleshoot, and optimize IoT solutions
- Implement security
Exam Information
- Prerequisites: None
- Number of Questions: 40 – 60
- Duration: 120 Minutes
- Cost: $165
To get ready for this exam, take the AZ-220 Exam Preparation Learning Path on Cloud Academy.
Conclusion
Microsoft is one of the largest and fastest-growing players in the public cloud market. If you are interested in making a career using Microsoft Azure technologies, I highly recommend choosing one or more of the above-mentioned certifications.
These role-based certifications include configuration and management of compute, storage, networking, security, reliability, integration, development, and operations capabilities. Organizations are rapidly adopting Microsoft Azure cloud services, and the demand is growing for certified Azure administrators, solution architects, developers, and security engineers. To become certified and successfully land a job, you’ll not only need to learn how to configure, manage, and secure Azure cloud environments, but you’ll also need practical, hands-on experience. Cloud Academy offers Microsoft Azure Certifications Learning Paths that not only help you pass the Azure certification exams but also allow you to test your skills in real-world environments with hands-on labs, lab challenges, and lab playgrounds. From configuring Azure infrastructure for cloud administrators to integrating Azure services for cloud architects, these learning paths fully prepare you with the knowledge and experience you need to start or advance your Azure career.
Good luck and Happy learning!
