Microsoft Azure is one of the most popular global cloud platforms adapted by businesses for secure infrastructure, faster development, streamlined operations, and enhanced data storage and synchronization. Microsoft Azure offers the best cloud computing environment for businesses and ensures faster software and application design, development, and testing.
From the fastest data recovery to various cloud services and products, expertise in Microsoft Azure also leads to enhanced customer satisfaction and cost-efficient operations.
IT firms can benefit the most from Microsoft's cloud environment as it enables them to design, test, and maintain solutions most efficiently and enjoy seamless integration. Therefore, pursuing Microsoft Azure certifications can unlock numerous career opportunities for professionals and aspirants who wish to get highlighted in the competitive job market as certified professionals and land the highest-paying job opportunities.
Why Do You Need a Microsoft Azure Certification?
Pursuing a Microsoft Azure certification is the fastest pathway to establishing a strong foundation in Microsoft's cloud environment and mastering core Azure services and products. These certifications are packed with deep knowledge and expert skills necessary to perform different cloud-based responsibilities.
An Azure certification enables a professional to apply for several career opportunities that are highly valued and paid. Aspiring solution architects, cloud architects, cloud developers, cloud system administrators, and other related cloud professionals can benefit the most from pursuing the professional certifications Microsoft Azure offers.
Who Should Pursue Microsoft Azure Certifications?
Open to all professionals who want to master Azure skills, Microsoft Azure certifications are designed to enhance the skills of developers, IT professionals, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data science professionals, and professionals who desire to work with Microsoft's cloud computing systems. These certifications are ideal for all professionals who want to gain knowledge and expertise in the fundamental areas of Microsoft Azure and master expert roles, such as infrastructure solutions, developing solutions, DevOps solutions, Azure administration and data fundamentals.
Top 5 Microsoft Azure Certifications to Pursue in 2024
Microsoft Azure certifications can be your best career decision in welcoming advancements and growth. These five Azure certifications are most trending and can help you land best career options.
Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals
Azure Fundamentals certification is a beginner-friendly certification that focuses on establishing foundational knowledge of Azure services and products, cloud concepts, Azure tools and governance features. This certification is a stepping stone for pursuing advanced Azure certifications that cover expert-level skills and knowledge. Microsoft's Azure Fundamentals is an ideal course for professionals wanting to master Azure skills and familiarize themselves with Microsoft's cloud environment.
More Details
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Certification Name | Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals |
| Certification Level | Fundamental |
| Target Audience | Beginners, students, professionals exploring cloud concepts |
| Prerequisites | None |
| Exam Code | AZ-900 |
| Exam Format | Multiple choice, multiple response, and other question types |
| Number of Questions | 40-60 questions |
| Exam Duration | 85 minutes |
| Languages Available | English, Japanese, Chinese (Simplified), Korean, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese (Brazil), Russian, Chinese (Traditional), Arabic (Saudi Arabia) |
| Exam Cost | $99 USD |
| Retake Policy | After 24 hours for the first retake, 14 days for subsequent retakes |
| Validity | No expiration, but recommended to stay current with updates |
| Renewal | Not required, but staying updated with latest cloud services is recommended |
| Study Resources | Microsoft Learn, official practice tests, online courses |
| Average Preparation Time | 1-3 months depending on prior knowledge |
| Exam Provider | Pearson VUE, Certiport |
| Delivery Method | Online proctored or in-person at test centers |
| Skills Measured | Cloud concepts, Azure services, Azure pricing and support, Azure management and governance |
Microsoft Certified: Azure Developer Associate (AZ-204)
Ideally designed for web and software developers, Microsoft's Azure Developer Associate is the most perfect certification for developers wanting to master the development, designing, testing, and maintaining of cloud applications in the Azure cloud platform. Any professional willing to get their hands on Azure tools and services for faster development and quicker solutions can pursue this certification.
More Details
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Certification Name | Microsoft Certified: Azure Developer Associate |
| Certification Level | Associate |
| Target Audience | Developers, software engineers, cloud developers |
| Prerequisites | Basic knowledge of Azure, experience in software development |
| Exam Code | AZ-204 |
| Exam Format | Multiple choice, multiple response, case studies, and other question types |
| Number of Questions | 40-60 questions |
| Exam Duration | 150 minutes |
| Languages Available | English, Japanese, Chinese (Simplified), Korean, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese (Brazil), Russian, Chinese (Traditional), Arabic (Saudi Arabia) |
| Exam Cost | $165 USD |
| Retake Policy | After 24 hours for the first retake, 14 days for subsequent retakes |
| Validity | No expiration, but recommended to stay current with updates |
| Renewal | Not required, but staying updated with latest cloud services is recommended |
| Study Resources | Microsoft Learn, official practice tests, online courses |
| Average Preparation Time | 2-4 months depending on prior knowledge |
| Exam Provider | Pearson VUE, Certiport |
| Delivery Method | Online proctored or in-person at test centers |
| Skills Measured | Develop Azure compute solutions, develop for Azure storage, implement Azure security, monitor, troubleshoot, and optimize Azure solutions, connect to and consume Azure services and third-party services |
Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Engineer Associate
Any data professional wanting to adapt to the Azure cloud platform and efficiently design and implement data solutions must pursue Microsoft's Azure Data Engineer Associate certification. This certification focuses on helping data professionals develop core skills in solving data complexities, syncing data pipelines, implementing analytic solutions, and much more. Data engineers, or developers looking for career enhancements can benefit the most by pursuing this certification.
More Details
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Certification Name | Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Engineer Associate |
| Certification Level | Associate |
| Target Audience | Data engineers, data architects, IT professionals |
| Prerequisites | Basic knowledge of Azure, experience in data solutions |
| Exam Codes | DP-203 |
| Exam Format | Multiple choice, multiple response, case studies, and other question types |
| Number of Questions | 40-60 questions |
| Exam Duration | 150 minutes |
| Languages Available | English, Japanese, Chinese (Simplified), Korean, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese (Brazil), Russian, Chinese (Traditional), Arabic (Saudi Arabia) |
| Exam Cost | $165 USD |
| Retake Policy | After 24 hours for the first retake, 14 days for subsequent retakes |
| Validity | No expiration, but recommended to stay current with updates |
| Renewal | Not required, but staying updated with latest cloud services is recommended |
| Study Resources | Microsoft Learn, official practice tests, online courses |
| Average Preparation Time | 2-4 months depending on prior knowledge |
| Exam Provider | Pearson VUE, Certiport |
| Delivery Method | Online proctored or in-person at test centers |
| Skills Measured | Design and implement data storage, design and develop data processing, design and implement data security, monitor and optimize data solutions |
Microsoft Certified: Azure Security Engineer Associate (AZ-500)
Security engineers and relevant IT professionals can enhance their careers with Microsoft's Azure Security Engineer Associate certification. This certification validates your skills for implementing security controls, such as infrastructure, data, networking security, identity, and assess management. The expertise gained through this certification enables professionals to manage and secure cloud security, cloud operations, governance, and compliance.
More Details
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Certification Name | Microsoft Certified: Azure Security Engineer Associate |
| Certification Level | Associate |
| Target Audience | Security engineers, security administrators, IT professionals |
| Prerequisites | Basic knowledge of Azure, experience in security controls and threat protection |
| Exam Code | AZ-500 |
| Exam Format | Multiple choice, multiple response, case studies, and other question types |
| Number of Questions | 40-60 questions |
| Exam Duration | 150 minutes |
| Languages Available | English, Japanese, Chinese (Simplified), Korean, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese (Brazil), Russian, Chinese (Traditional), Arabic (Saudi Arabia) |
| Exam Cost | $165 USD |
| Retake Policy | After 24 hours for the first retake, 14 days for subsequent retakes |
| Validity | No expiration, but recommended to stay current with updates |
| Renewal | Not required, but staying updated with latest cloud services is recommended |
| Study Resources | Microsoft Learn, official practice tests, online courses |
| Average Preparation Time | 2-4 months depending on prior knowledge |
| Exam Provider | Pearson VUE, Certiport |
| Delivery Method | Online proctored or in-person at test centers |
| Skills Measured | Manage identity and access, implement platform protection, manage security operations, secure data and applications |
Microsoft Certified: Azure DevOps Engineer Expert
DevOps professionals seeking career advancements can welcome the best opportunities through Azure DevOps Expert certification. This certification can help DevOps professionals demonstrate their skills and knowledge, as well as their expertise in implementing DevOps technologies and practices. The Azure DevOps Engineer Expert certification is open to DevOps professionals who want to gain in-depth technical expertise in development, infrastructure, networking, and administration with Azure's cloud framework.
More Details
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Certification Name | Microsoft Certified: Azure DevOps Engineer Expert |
| Certification Level | Expert |
| Target Audience | DevOps engineers, developers, IT professionals |
| Prerequisites | Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104) or Azure Developer Associate (AZ-204) certification recommended |
| Exam Code | AZ-400 |
| Exam Format | Multiple choice, multiple response, case studies, and other question types |
| Number of Questions | 40-60 questions |
| Exam Duration | 150 minutes |
| Languages Available | English, Japanese, Chinese (Simplified), Korean, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese (Brazil), Russian, Chinese (Traditional), Arabic (Saudi Arabia) |
| Exam Cost | $165 USD |
| Retake Policy | After 24 hours for the first retake, 14 days for subsequent retakes |
| Validity | No expiration, but recommended to stay current with updates |
| Renewal | Not required, but staying updated with latest cloud services is recommended |
| Study Resources | Microsoft Learn, official practice tests, online courses |
| Average Preparation Time | 2-4 months depending on prior knowledge |
| Exam Provider | Pearson VUE, Certiport |
| Delivery Method | Online proctored or in-person at test centers |
Comparison of Microsoft Azure and AWS certifications
| Aspect | Azure | AWS |
|---|---|---|
| Certification Pathways | Administrator, Developer, Solutions Architect, AI Engineer, Data Engineer, Security Engineer | Cloud Practitioner, Architect, Developer, Operations, Specialty |
| Popular Certifications | AZ-900, AZ-104, AZ-204, AZ-305 | AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate, AWS Certified Developer – Associate, AWS Certified SysOps Administrator – Associate |
| Exam Format and Difficulty | More straightforward for beginners | Rigorous and detailed |
| Market Demand and Salary | Rapidly growing in enterprise settings | Larger market share with high demand |
| Learning Resources | Microsoft Learn, official documentation, strong community | AWS Training and Certification, whitepapers, extensive community |
| Cloud Ecosystem and Tools | Integration with Microsoft products (Office 365, Dynamics 365, Teams) | Extensive range of services, focus on innovation |
| Cost of Certification | Generally more affordable | Slightly higher cost with extensive resources |
Study tips and resources for Microsoft Azure Certification
| Resource Type | Azure | AWS |
|---|---|---|
| Official Guides | Microsoft Learn, Azure Documentation | AWS Training and Certification, AWS Whitepapers |
| Online Courses | Coursera, Udemy, Pluralsight | A Cloud Guru, Linux Academy, Udacity |
| Books | "Exam Ref AZ-900 Microsoft Azure Fundamentals" | "AWS Certified Solutions Architect Official Study Guide" |
| Forums | Stack Overflow, Reddit, Microsoft Tech Community | AWS Developer Forums, Reddit, Stack Overflow |
| Practice Exams | MeasureUp, Whizlabs | Whizlabs, Tutorial Dojo |
| Study Groups | LinkedIn Groups, Meetup | AWS User Groups, LinkedIn Groups |
5 Benefits of Pursuing a Microsoft Azure Certification
Starting from a career boost to enhanced skills and credibility, pursuing Microsoft Azure certifications comes with numerous benefits. Here are five benefits every professional seeking Azure certification can expect:
Career Flexibility
A Microsoft Azure certifications offers professionals the best opportunities to grow in their careers. Certified professionals enjoy flexible career options and become eligible for high-paying job opportunities. With this flexible career option, they also welcome higher income potential and boost job security.
Sharpened Skills and Knowledge
Microsoft's Azure certifications are designed to validate and equip professionals with sharp skills and deep knowledge that help them stand out in the crowd of professionals seeking better job opportunities. Besides sharpening your cloud computing skills, Azure certifications also strengthen your Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) skills.
Credibility Across Industries
A Microsoft-certified professional is recognized globally and preferred over non-certified professionals, no matter their years of experience. This credibility helps professionals to get quickly recognized by top industry recruiters and secure the best job positions.
Enhanced Security
The key skill a Microsoft Azure certification focuses on is implementing and maintaining cloud security. Not only are you introduced to advanced cloud security practices, but you also are familiarized with the latest industry trends and upgrade your skills.
Increased Earnings
The best way to establish a lucrative career and welcome higher-paying jobs and promotions is to become Microsoft-certified. Microsoft certifications can make a huge difference in your annual earnings and lead towards career growth.
Wrapping Up!
Azure certifications offer an incredible opportunity for professionals and aspirants to validate their skills, gain in-depth knowledge, and develop expertise in the Azure cloud environment. Whether understanding the basics of Azure or pursuing higher-level expertise in cloud-based roles, each certification is designed to help you reach your desired professional target and drive excellence in your career path. Azure certifications are all you need to begin your cloud computing journey or take it to an advanced level and gain industry recognition.
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