Azure Specialist Training and Certification Options Explained

If you're looking to become an Azure specialist, you'll want to explore the various training and certification options available. Microsoft offers a range of programs to help you develop the skills you need to succeed in this field.

The Microsoft Certified: Azure Developer Associate certification is a great place to start, as it validates your ability to design, build, and deploy cloud-based solutions using Azure. This certification is ideal for developers who want to demonstrate their expertise in Azure development.

To become an Azure specialist, you'll also want to consider the Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert certification, which is designed for experienced IT professionals who want to demonstrate their ability to design and implement scalable and secure cloud-based solutions.

Azure certifications are a great way to prove your expertise and skills with the latest cloud technology. Microsoft certifications are among the most highly regarded certifications in the IT field.

There are different certification paths to choose from depending on your expertise and background. Some popular paths include Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals, Microsoft Azure Data Fundamentals, and Microsoft Azure Administrator.

You can obtain Azure certifications remotely, making it convenient to get certified while working from home. Azure certifications also offer one cool bonus - they're free to renew indefinitely, making them arguably the best certification renewal option out there.

Here are some popular Azure certifications:

The AI-900 exam is a key part of Microsoft's role-based certification program.

This test is specifically designed to assess your understanding of Azure's AI services. The Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Fundamentals credential is awarded to candidates who pass the AI-900 exam.

These courses and hands-on labs will help you obtain a basic understanding of Azure's AI services, even if you don't plan to take the exam.

To prepare for the AI-900 exam, you can use this study guide to assist you in studying for the test.

For another approach, see: Azure Artificial Intelligence Service

The AZ-500 Security Technologies certification is a crucial credential for security engineers who want to design, configure, and implement security tools and controls in Azure. This certification is part of Microsoft's role-based certification program and is awarded to candidates who pass the AZ-500 exam.

The exam covers four subject areas, mirroring the structure of the AZ-500 exam. You'll need to have strong scripting and automation chops, as well as familiarity with networking, virtualization, and cloud, to prepare for the exam. The cost of the exam is $165 USD.

To pass the exam, you'll need to demonstrate your knowledge in the following areas:

This certification is highly sought after, and having it can lead to a job with a high salary and great job security. Cloud security is a top priority, and companies are willing to pay top dollar for professionals who can ensure their data and applications are secure in the cloud.

The AZ-104 Exam is a crucial step in becoming an Azure administrator. It's a role-based certification program that can help you get started on your path to becoming an Azure administrator.

This exam is part of Microsoft's certification program, and passing it earns you the Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate credential. The exam is designed to test your knowledge and skills in managing Azure subscriptions, resources, and services.

To prepare for the exam, you can use study guides and hands-on labs that can help you learn the basics of Azure administration. These resources can be a great starting point, even if you don't plan to take the test.

The AZ-400 DevOps Solutions certification is a crucial step in your Azure certification journey. This certification is part of Microsoft's role-based certification program and requires you to pass the AZ-400 exam.

To be eligible for the AZ-400 exam, you need to have either the Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate or Microsoft Certified: Azure Developer Associate certification. You can earn these certifications by passing the relevant exams.

A unique perspective: Azure 400 Certification

The AZ-400 exam is designed to test your skills in designing and implementing Microsoft DevOps solutions. You'll need to demonstrate your ability to create a security and compliance plan, manage source control, and define and implement continuous integration.

To prepare for the AZ-400 exam, Microsoft recommends taking the AZ-400: Designing and Implementing Microsoft DevOps Solutions course. This course will help you get ready for the exam and cover topics such as form instrumentation and SRE strategies, mobile DevOps strategy with Azure, and managing cloud hosting infrastructure.

Here's a quick rundown of the AZ-400 exam requirements:

With the AZ-400 DevOps Solutions certification, you'll be able to tackle the trifecta of people, processes, and tech to deliver products that meet user needs and business objectives with Azure. This certification is a valuable asset for your career, as it demonstrates your ability to take on DevOps roles that require a combination of hard technical and soft people skills.

Worth a look: Azure Devops Outage

The AZ-140 certification is a great choice for those interested in Azure's infrastructure as a service (IaaS) offerings. It's designed for IT professionals who want to demonstrate their skills in deploying and managing Azure services, including Azure Virtual Machines, Azure Disk Storage, and Azure Networking.

This certification is ideal for those looking to transition into a cloud-based infrastructure role, as it covers the skills needed to migrate and manage workloads on Azure.

The AZ-140 certification is a part of the Azure Developer Associate certification path, which is a great stepping stone for those looking to become Azure Solutions Architects.

Microsoft Azure certifications are among the most highly regarded certifications in the IT field. They're a great way to prove your expertise and skills with the latest cloud technology powering the datacenters, applications, and solutions of the future.

You may be wondering why you should get certified. Well, one reason is that Azure certifications can be obtained remotely, meaning you can get certified while working from home. This is a big plus, especially during these times.

Businesses are continuing to adopt Azure as Microsoft pushes hard into the enterprise space. In fact, Microsoft claims that around 95% of Fortune 500 companies use Azure. This is a huge market opportunity for those with Azure certifications.

Azure offers one cool bonus: certification renewal is free and can be done indefinitely. This makes Azure's certification renewal option arguably the best out there.

There are different certification paths to choose from depending on your expertise and background. Here are a few popular paths to consider:

Microsoft certifications are highly regarded, and Azure certifications are among the best. They can help you stand out in a competitive job market and increase your earning potential.

If you're looking to get certified in Azure, you'll find that Microsoft offers various certification paths to choose from, depending on your expertise and background.

There are different certification paths to choose from, including the Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert (AZ-305), which is for experienced IT and DevOps pros with existing Azure administration and development skills.

This certification path is intended for those who want to masterfully design solutions that run on Azure, with a focus on compute, network, storage, and security.

The AZ-305 exam, Designing Microsoft Azure Infrastructure Solutions, is a replacement for the previous exams AZ-303 and AZ-304, and it's a $165 USD exam.

To get certified in AZ-305, you'll need to prepare for the exam by studying topics such as managing Azure Active Directory, cloud migration to Azure strategy, and configuring serverless computing with Azure.

Here are some of the key skills and capabilities required for the AZ-305 certification:

These skills and capabilities are based on the top 30 co-occurring skills and capabilities required for Azure Specialist job roles, as of December 2024.

If you're new to Azure, you may want to start with the AZ-500 certification, which is for security engineers who design, configure, and implement security tools and controls in Azure.

The AZ-500 certification requires strong scripting and automation chops, as well as familiarity with networking, virtualization, and cloud.

By choosing the right certification path, you'll be able to demonstrate your expertise and skills in Azure and take your career to the next level.