Learn Azure Solution Architect Certification Prerequisites and Details

To become an Azure Solution Architect, you'll need to meet the prerequisites and details outlined by Microsoft. The certification is designed for IT professionals with at least 5 years of experience in designing and implementing cloud solutions.

The certification requires a strong foundation in cloud computing, architecture, and Azure services. You'll need to have hands-on experience with Azure and be familiar with its various components, including Azure Active Directory, Azure Storage, and Azure Virtual Networks.

To get started, you'll need to have a good understanding of Azure services and how they integrate with each other. This includes knowledge of Azure's core infrastructure, including compute, storage, and networking services.

The certification also requires a strong understanding of cloud security, data management, and business continuity. You'll need to be able to design and implement secure and scalable cloud solutions that meet business needs.

Microsoft recommends that candidates have experience with cloud migration, cloud security, and cloud cost management.

As a Solutions Architect, you'll have subject matter expertise in designing cloud and hybrid solutions that run on Azure, including Compute, Network, Storage, Monitoring, and Security. This expertise will help you advise stakeholders and translate business requirements into designs for Azure solutions.

To get certified as a Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect, you'll need to have advanced experience and knowledge of IT operations, including networking, virtualization, identity, security, business continuity, disaster recovery, data platforms, and governance. You should also have experience with Azure administration, Azure development, and DevOps processes.

You'll need to partner with various job roles, including Developers, Administrators, Security engineers, and Data engineers, to implement solutions on Azure. The certification exam will test your ability to design identity, governance, and monitoring solutions, as well as design data storage solutions, business continuity solutions, and infrastructure solutions.

Here's a breakdown of the key areas you'll need to focus on:

Note that the English language version of this certification was updated on October 18, 2024, so be sure to review the study guide linked on the Exam AZ-305 page for details about the latest changes.

To become an Azure Solution Architect, you'll need to have a solid foundation in Azure infrastructure, products, and services. You should have exceptional knowledge of Azure, including networking, virtualization, identity, security, business continuity, disaster recovery, data platforms, and governance.

To succeed in this role, you'll need to be able to create solutions that satisfy functional and non-functional needs, and ensure that architectural best practices and standards are followed. You should also have experience with DevOps, Azure Administration, or Azure Development, and be proficient in implementing and monitoring Azure infrastructure.

Here are some key skills and experience required for the role:

In terms of certifications, you'll need to have the AZ-104 certification to be eligible for the AZ-305 certification. The AZ-104 exam will test your proficiency in implementing, managing, and monitoring a Microsoft Azure environment for an organization.

To earn the AZ-305 certification, you need to fulfill one of the following requirements. You can either earn or have a current Azure Administrator Associate AZ-104 certification and pass Exam AZ-305 after it’s available.

You can also directly go for AZ-305 Certification.

If you choose to go for AZ-305 after completion of AZ-104, you will get an Expert Certification.

To summarize the certification process, here are the three main options:

Microsoft Certifications are a way to demonstrate expertise and skills in Azure solutions architecture. The most foundational-level exam, AZ-900, has no pre-requisites, but it's recommended that candidates have familiarity with concepts of networking, storage, compute, and application support and development.

To become an Azure Solutions Architect, you'll need to pass the AZ-305 exam, which measures your ability to design and implement Azure solutions. This exam is considered expert-level and requires advanced experience and knowledge of IT operations, including networking, virtualization, identity, security, business continuity, disaster recovery, data platforms, and governance.

There are several certification pathways to becoming an Azure Solutions Architect, including earning the Azure Administrator Associate AZ-104 certification and then passing the AZ-305 exam. Alternatively, you can directly go for the AZ-305 certification.

The Microsoft Certified: Fundamentals certification is a great starting point for anyone looking to break into the industry or reinforce their understanding of Azure basics.

There are no pre-requisites for the Azure Fundamentals certification, making it a great fit for everyone from seasoned professionals to those new to the industry.

To gain the certification, you'll need to demonstrate your confidence in describing many basic-level Azure concepts. This includes being able to describe cloud concepts, the benefits of using cloud services, and cloud service types.

The exam, AZ-900, will test your knowledge of core architectural components of Azure, Azure compute and networking services, and Azure storage services.

In addition to the Azure Fundamentals certification, there's also the Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Fundamentals certification, which focuses on data concepts and storage.

To prepare for these exams, it's recommended that you have a basic understanding of networking, storage, compute, and application support and development.

Here are some of the key skills measured in the Azure Fundamentals exam:

To earn the AZ-305 certification, you need to fulfill one of the following requirements: earn or have a current Azure Administrator Associate AZ-104 certification and pass Exam AZ-305, or directly go for AZ-305 Certification.

The AZ-305 exam measures your ability to accomplish technical tasks such as design identity, governance, and monitoring solutions; design data storage solutions; design business continuity solutions; and design infrastructure solutions.

You can take a free practice assessment to test your skills and help you prepare for the exam. The exam is priced based on the country or region in which it is proctored.

To become a Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert, you need to pass the AZ-305 exam. This exam is considered expert-level and requires advanced knowledge of designing within Azure, particularly in building cloud hybrid solutions, including compute, network, storage, monitoring, and security.

The AZ-305 exam covers a wide range of topics, including design identity, governance, and monitoring solutions, design a solution for logging and monitoring, design authentication and authorization solutions, and design governance.

Here are some of the key skills measured in the AZ-305 exam: