The Microsoft Azure cloud service is used by organizations all over the world, from large multinational corporations to small, local businesses. Regardless of their differences, every company that uses Azure has one thing in common: the need for professional IT staff to execute their day-to-day tasks correctly.
In order to prove whether an administrator is prepared to manage everything within an organization, Microsoft offers an Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104) certification exam.
Achieving this certification means that professionals have acquired the necessary skills and knowledge to tackle the platform effectively.
This article discusses all you need to know about taking the AZ-104 exam, including who should take it and how challenging it is.
What is the Azure Administrator Associate certification?
The Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104) is one of the most widely recognized and accepted certifications. You will gain specific professional skills by earning the Microsoft Azure Administrator Associate credential.
You will also get objective evidence that you are competent for employers and peers, giving you the recognition and opportunities you deserve. In addition to accessing additional official information, Microsoft Azure certifications also provide access to the Security Development Lifecycle.
In addition to establishing, monitoring, and managing Microsoft Azure solutions, Azure Administrators manage significant computing, storage, network, and security services in the background. You will be able to manage Azure identities and governance by obtaining this certification.
Obtaining the Azure Administrator Associate certification validates your skills and knowledge in setting up, managing, and overseeing Microsoft Azure environments.
With this certificate, the candidate becomes an expert in cloud identity, governance, storage, computing, and virtual networks, as well as an understanding of how to plan, size, monitor, and switch to other resources as needed.
Why get certified as an Azure Administrator Associate?
By obtaining this certification, you can prove that you have the necessary skills to excel as an Azure Administrator Associate, demonstrating your knowledge of Azure.
In addition to the Azure Administrator Associate certification, Azure Developer Associate and Azure Solutions Architect Expert are role-based certifications replacing the MCSE: Cloud Platform and Infrastructure certification.
The cloud plays an imperative role in almost every aspect of technology. In order to host their services as part of a highly efficient, globally distributed, globally scalable architecture, many organizations rely on a cloud platform (private, public, or hybrid).
As an IT professional, you must be familiar with cloud computing skills to remain competitive. The Azure Administrator Associate certification is designed for individuals who are interested in advancing their current careers or who wish to take on the role of an Azure Administrator Associate in the future.
This guide will cover a range of information and tips that will help prepare you for your Azure Administrator Associate certification exam, including background information and logistics.
What are the Microsoft Azure Administrator Associate exam objectives?
Candidates interested in building their careers in Microsoft Azure should seek the Microsoft Azure Administrator Associate certification.
The AZ-104 exam covers the following exam domains:
Manage Azure identities and governance (15–20%)
- Manage Azure AD objects
- Manage access control
- Manage Azure subscriptions and governance
Implement and manage storage (15–20%)
- Configure access to storage
- Manage data in Azure storage accounts
- Configure Azure Files and Azure Blob Storage
Deploy and manage Azure compute resources (20–25%)
- Automate deployment of resources by using templates
- Create and configure VMs
- Create and configure containers
- Create and configure an Azure App Service
Configure and manage virtual networking (20–25%)
- Configure virtual networks
- Configure secure access to virtual networks
- Configure load balancing
- Monitor virtual networking
Monitor and maintain Azure resources (10–15%)
- Monitor resources by using Azure Monitor
- Implement backup and recovery
How much does the Microsoft Azure Administrator Associate cost?
Microsoft Certified Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104) certification exam will cost you $165.
If you wish to become a Microsoft Azure Administrator, only pass the AZ-104 exam. The certification does not require any prerequisites or additional expenses.
Is the Microsoft Azure Administrator Associate difficult?
As long as you have experience using Azure administration tools for a few months, the Microsoft Azure Administrator certification is a simple task.
You will be able to pass the Microsoft Azure Administrator exam if you've been administrating an Azure network for a few months and have handled a variety of tasks and responsibilities.
Who should take the Azure Administrator Associate exam?
With AZ-104 certification, you can demonstrate to potential employers and managers that you are ready to work with Azure in your career. The certification is ideal for system administrators, network administrators, and new IT professionals who plan to work with Azure in the future.
What experience do you need to sit for the Microsoft Azure Administrator Associate exam?
As there are no formal prerequisites for the AZ-104 exam, you can take it at any time. However, you must keep in mind that the purpose of the certificate is to test if you are a qualified administrator who has the skills to function effectively as a member of an Azure administration team.
Microsoft promises to employers that the candidates with AZ-104 certification can handle any administrative or maintenance activity to do with their Azure environment that is associated with a partner-level certification on the platform.
Azure administrators often work in teams where they're expected to be multi-talented.
To take the Microsoft Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104) certification exam, professionals must have at least six months of experience with the Azure platform.
In addition to having a deep understanding of Azure core services and workloads, you will have a solid knowledge of Azure security and governance.
Furthermore, professionals should also be able to use the Azure command line interface, the Azure portal, PowerShell, and Azure Resource Manager templates.
Does the Microsoft Azure Administrator Associate expire?
This Microsoft Azure Administrator Associate certification is an associate-level role-based certification from Microsoft, which only lasts for one year following the date of passing the exam. All associate-level role-based qualifications from Microsoft expire after one year from the date of passing the exam.
In order to renew your Microsoft Azure Administrator certification before it expires, you will need to take the special certification renewal exam offered by Microsoft Azure Administrator.
Is the Microsoft Azure Administrator Associate worth it?
The AZ-104 exam is well worth your time, effort, and cost if you're a junior IT professional seeking to learn basic administration skills. Additionally, employers and managers are increasingly appreciative of having administrators on their teams who are Microsoft certified.
By passing the AZ-104 exam, you can work in various IT fields. A wide variety of workloads will be presented to you, ranging from advanced network administration to virtualization technology.
The final words
There is a need for Azure administrators who are trained and certified to handle application support, data management, and networks in the cloud. As part of Microsoft's AZ-104 certification program, an individual can demonstrate their expertise in implementing, managing, and monitoring the services provided by Azure as well as in implementing and managing the infrastructure of a cloud environment.
If you plan to take the Microsoft Certified Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104) certification exam, the proxy exam is a good choice. CBT Proxy will guarantee that you will pass the exam on your first attempt.
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