Azure Certifications: A Comprehensive Guide

Azure certifications are a great way to demonstrate your skills and knowledge in cloud computing. Microsoft offers a wide range of certifications that can help you advance your career.

To get started, you'll need to choose a certification path that aligns with your goals and experience. There are several options to consider, including the Azure Developer Associate, Azure Solutions Architect Expert, and Azure Administrator Associate.

Each certification has its own set of requirements and exam format, so be sure to check the details before registering. The certification process typically involves passing an exam, which can be taken online or at a testing center.

To get started with Azure certifications, it's essential to choose the right path for your career goals and skillset. There's no single, best Microsoft Azure certification path for everyone, so let's break down the options.

You can choose between Microsoft Applied Skills or Microsoft Certifications, depending on your desired skillset and schedule. Review the study guide to learn about the topics the exam covers, updates, and additional resources.

Azure certifications are aligned with various cloud-related job roles, including Azure AI Engineer, Azure Developer, and Azure Architect. These certifications help you qualify for in-demand roles across industries, ensuring you can design, build, and manage Azure infrastructure efficiently.

Here are the main certification levels to consider:

Choosing the right certification path can be a daunting task, especially with the numerous options available. Fundamentals certifications are generally suitable for non-technical professionals who need to demonstrate a broad foundational level of knowledge of Microsoft Azure.

Associate certifications are aimed at technical professionals with two years or more experience working with Azure technologies. This level of certification is ideal for IT pros and administrators who keep tabs on cloud assets and resources and manage cloud infrastructure.

The Azure certification path is not one-size-fits-all, and it's essential to consider your career goals and desired skillset when choosing a certification path. Microsoft offers a range of certifications, including Fundamentals, Associate, and Expert levels.

Here's a brief overview of the different levels of certifications:

Ultimately, the right certification path for you will depend on your individual circumstances and goals. It's essential to research and understands the requirements and prerequisites for each certification before making a decision.

The AZ-700 certification is a must-have for network engineers and architects who want to demonstrate their expertise in designing and implementing Azure network solutions. This certification is a step up from the AZ-104 exam and requires extensive experience and knowledge of networking, hybrid connections, and network security.

The AZ-700 exam focuses on virtual networks, VPN, Gateway, Azure Firewall, and ExpressRoute. To pass the exam, you'll need to design and implement Azure network solutions with a focus on these areas.

The exam is divided into several key areas, including design, implementation, and management of hybrid networking, core networking infrastructure, routing, security, and private access to Azure Services.

Here are some key skills required to pass the AZ-700 exam:

This certification shows that you have the skills and expertise to recommend, plan, and implement Azure networking solutions, as well as manage those solutions for performance, resiliency, scalability, and security. It's a great way to demonstrate your value to potential employers and clients.

The Azure IoT Developer Specialty (AZ-220) certification is a must-have for anyone looking to get into IoT development. This certification is the first cloud IoT developer certification from the big three cloud providers.

To get certified, you'll need to pass the exam AZ-220, which costs $165 USD. There are no official prerequisites, but you'll need to have a good understanding of IoT solutions and be fluent in one Azure-supported language, such as C#, Node, C, or Python.

Here are the key skills you'll need to demonstrate to pass the exam:

This certification is perfect for Azure-fluent developers looking to get into IoT, or for IoT devs who want to get into Azure. With this certification, you'll be able to implement the Azure services that form an IoT solution, including data analysis, data processing, data storage options, and PaaS options.

The AZ-120 certification is a game-changer for those working with SAP workloads in Azure. It's a Microsoft Azure specialty certification that focuses on planning and administering SAP workloads to be hosted in Azure.

To become certified, you'll need to pass the exam AZ-120, which costs $165 USD. It's not mandatory, but it's strongly recommended that you have an Azure Administrator or Azure Architect certification, plus SAP HANA and Linux certs.

The exam covers five key areas: migrating SAP workloads to Azure, designing Azure solutions that support SAP workloads, building and deploying Azure for SAP workloads, validating infrastructure for SAP workloads, and optimizing Azure SAP architecture performance.

This certification is designed for administrators, architects, and engineers who want to migrate SAP solutions to the cloud. It's a valuable credential to have, especially considering that many Fortune 500 companies rely on SAP applications.

By earning the AZ-120 certification, you'll become a wealth of SAP knowledge and experience, able to build and deploy Azure SAP workloads, make suggestions on services, and optimize resources. It's a great way to boost your career prospects, especially in a field where migrating to the cloud is a top priority.