The Microsoft Azure AZ-400 exam, referred to as the Microsoft Azure DevOps Solutions certification, evaluates candidates’ competence in implementing DevOps methodologies using Microsoft Azure technologies. This certification assesses the expertise of DevOps professionals who are adept in Azure and possess experience with Agile methodologies, version control, and automated testing and deployment. The exam encompasses a broad spectrum of subjects pertaining to DevOps practices, including continuous integration and delivery (CI/CD), infrastructure as code (IaC), release management, configuration management, as well as monitoring and logging. Additionally, candidates are expected to demonstrate a strong grasp of Microsoft Azure services and their role in facilitating DevOps practices.
Microsoft Azure AZ-400 Exam Glossary
- DevOps: An amalgamation of methodologies that harmonize software development and IT operations to elevate collaboration, communication, and automation across the software development lifecycle.
- Continuous integration and delivery (CI/CD): An array of practices that mechanize the construction, testing, and deployment of software modifications, enabling teams to expedite the delivery of top-notch software while maintaining reliability.
- Infrastructure as code (IaC): A practice that oversees infrastructure via code, granting teams the ability to version, test, and effectuate changes in infrastructure with the same meticulousness and automation as they would with software alterations.
- Release management: A set of methodologies aimed at orchestrating the planning, synchronization, and deployment of software releases, encompassing the management of dependencies, testing procedures, and strategies for reverting changes.
- Configuration management: A methodical approach to overseeing and sustaining the configuration of infrastructure components, ensuring uniformity and diminishing the likelihood of errors.
- Monitoring and logging: An assembly of practices tailored for scrutinizing the performance and well-being of applications and infrastructure, coupled with the collection and examination of logs to identify glitches and enhance performance.
- Azure DevOps: A suite of tools and services catering to software development and delivery, embracing source control, CI/CD pipelines, test management, and project supervision.
- Visual Studio: An integrated development environment (IDE) designed for crafting software on the Microsoft platform, inclusive of support for multiple programming languages, debugging, and source control.
- Git: A widely adopted version control system employed to govern source code and facilitate collaboration among developers.
- Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS): A managed Kubernetes service tailor-made for deploying, scaling, and administering containerized applications on the Azure platform.
Microsoft Azure AZ-400 Exam Glossary Guide
- Microsoft’s official AZ-400 exam page: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/learn/certifications/exams/az-400
- Exam preparation guide: https://query.prod.cms.rt.microsoft.com/cms/api/am/binary/RE4NEui
- Microsoft’s official Azure DevOps documentation: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/?view=azure-devops
- Microsoft’s official Azure documentation: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/?product=featured
- AZ-400 study groups and resources: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/learn/certifications/azure-devops-study-resources
- Microsoft Learn: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/learn/
- Azure DevOps labs: https://azuredevopslabs.com/
- Microsoft Azure forums: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/topics/azure-devops.html
- Microsoft’s official Azure DevOps YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/AzureDevOpsTV
Microsoft Azure AZ-400 Exam tips and tricks
- Acquaint Yourself with Azure DevOps: Immerse yourself in Azure DevOps since the exam primarily centers around it. It’s imperative to grasp its functionalities and potentials. Ensure your comprehension of utilizing Azure Boards, Azure Repos, Azure Artifacts, and Azure Test Plans.
- Master Automated Build and Release Procedures: Proficiency in automating builds and releases is pivotal for the exam. Gain mastery in crafting build and release pipelines within Azure DevOps. Also, equip yourself to troubleshoot any encountered challenges.
- Obtain Practical Experience: The most effective preparation involves hands-on engagement with Azure DevOps. Capitalize on resources like Microsoft Learn and Azure DevOps labs to garner firsthand experience working with the platform.
- Delve into Microsoft Documentation: Microsoft presents comprehensive documentation on Azure DevOps, Azure, and correlated technologies. Delve deep into this documentation to foster a more profound comprehension of the subjects encompassed in the exam.
- Engage in Study Groups: Engage with study groups or virtual forums to connect with fellow examinees. These platforms offer opportunities to exchange insights, pose queries, and receive feedback, ultimately enhancing your readiness.
- Refine Time Management: The AZ-400 exam comprises approximately 60 questions and allocates 150 minutes for completion. Cultivate effective time management skills by taking practice assessments under timed conditions, ensuring your adeptness in addressing all queries within the designated timeframe.
Therefore it is very important to ensure you are well-skilled before appearing for the Microsoft AZ-400 exam. So, In order to avoid any inconvenience – Get ready and prepare for Microsoft AZ-400 exam with practice tests.
Microsoft AZ-400 Course Outline
The structure of Microsoft Azure DevOps Solution AZ-400 exam adheres to a format akin to other Azure role-based examinations. If you have previously taken an Azure role-based exam, you needn’t be overly concerned about the exam policies, format, scoring mechanism, and other related aspects.
Microsoft Azure DevOps Solution AZ-400 Exam Details
| Exam Name | Microsoft Azure DevOps Solution AZ-400 Exam |
| Technology | Microsoft Azure |
| Prerequisites | Azure Administrator Associate or Azure Developer Associate Certificate |
| Exam cost | $165 USD |
| Total Questions | 40-60 |
| Exam Duration | 150 Minutes |
| Exam Language | English, Korean, Japanese, Simplified Chinese |
| Type of questiosn | Multiple-choice, Multiple-answer, Sequence type, Case studies based questions |
Now that we’ve acquired the basic exam details, let’s move forward towards the module section. Since the exam is an expert level certification, so it’s going to be difficult. Don’t take it lightly. Therefore Microsoft has structured different modules so that it is easy to adapt and structure your preparation accordingly. We have detailed all the modules below.
1. Design and implement processes and communications (10–15%)
Design and implement traceability and flow of work
- Design and implement a structure for the flow of work, including GitHub Flow
- Design and implement a strategy for feedback cycles, including notifications and issues
- Design and implement integration for tracking work, including GitHub projects, Azure Boards, and repositories
- Design and implement source, bug, and quality traceability
Design and implement appropriate metrics and queries for DevOps
- Design and implement a dashboard, including flow of work, such as cycle times, time to recovery, and lead time
- Design and implement appropriate metrics and queries for project planning
- Design and implement appropriate metrics and queries for development
- Design and implement appropriate metrics and queries for testing
- Design and implement appropriate metrics and queries for security
- Design and implement appropriate metrics and queries for delivery
- Design and implement appropriate metrics and queries for operations
Configure collaboration and communication
- Document a project by configuring wikis and process diagrams, including Markdown and Mermaid syntax (Microsoft Documentation: Create a wiki for your project)
- Configure release documentation, including release notes and API documentation (Microsoft Documentation: Releases, Releases – List)
- Automate creation of documentation from Git history (Microsoft Documentation: Understand Git history simplification)
- Configure notifications by using webhooks (Microsoft Documentation: Set up notifications for changes in resource data)
- Configure integration between Azure Boards and GitHub repositories
- Configure integration between GitHub or Azure DevOps and Microsoft Teams
2. Design and implement a source control strategy (10–15%)
Plan and implement branching strategies for the source code
- Design a branch strategy, including trunk-based, feature branch, and release branch (Microsoft Documentation: Adopt a Git branching strategy)
- Design and implement a pull request workflow by using branch policies and branch protections (Microsoft Documentation: Branch policies and settings)
- Implement branch merging restrictions by using branch policies and branch protections (Microsoft Documentation: About branches and branch policies)
Configure and manage repositories
- Design and implement a strategy for managing large files, including Git Large File Storage (LFS) and git-fat
- Design a strategy for scaling and optimizing a Git repository, including Scalar and cross-repository sharing
- Configure permissions in the source control repository (Microsoft Documentation: Set Git repository permissions)
- Configure tags to organize the source control repository (Microsoft Documentation: Set Git repository settings and policies)
- Recover data by using Git commands (Microsoft Documentation: Git command reference)
- Remove specific data from source control
3. Design and implement build and release pipelines (50–55%)
Design and implement a package management strategy
- Recommend package management tools including GitHub Packages registry and Azure Artifacts
- Design and implement package feeds and views for local and upstream packages (Microsoft Documentation: Upstream sources)
- Design and implement a dependency versioning strategy for code assets and packages, including semantic versioning (SemVer) and date-based (CalVer) (Microsoft Documentation: Implement a versioning strategy, Package versioning)
- Design and implement a versioning strategy for pipeline artifacts (Microsoft Documentation: Implement a versioning strategy)
Design and implement a testing strategy for pipelines
- Design and implement quality and release gates, including security and governance
- Design a comprehensive testing strategy, including local tests, unit tests, integration tests, and load tests
- Implement tests in a pipeline, including configuring test tasks, configuring test agents, and integration of test results
- Implement code coverage analysis
Design and implement pipelines
- Select a deployment automation solution, including GitHub Actions and Azure Pipelines (Microsoft Documentation: Deploy to App Service using GitHub Actions)
- Design and implement a GitHub runner or Azure DevOps agent infrastructure, including cost, tool selection, licenses, connectivity, and maintainability
- Design and implement integration between GitHub repositories and Azure Pipelines
- Develop and implement pipeline trigger rules (Microsoft Documentation: Trigger one pipeline after another)
- Develop pipelines by using YAML (Microsoft Documentation: Create your first pipeline)
- Design and implement a strategy for job execution order, including parallelism and multi-stage pipelines (Microsoft Documentation: Task Parallel Library (TPL), jobs.job.strategy definition)
- Develop and implement complex pipeline scenarios, such as hybrid pipelines, VM templates, and self-hosted runners or agents
- Create reusable pipeline elements, including YAML templates, task groups, variables, and variable groups (Microsoft Documentation: Define variables)
- Design and implement checks and approvals by using YAML-based environments (Microsoft Documentation: Release deployment control using approvals)
Design and implement deployments
- Design a deployment strategy, including blue/green, canary, ring, progressive exposure, feature flags, and A/B testing (Microsoft Documentation: Progressive experimentation with feature flags)
- Design a pipeline to ensure that dependency deployments are reliably ordered (Microsoft Documentation: Add stages, dependencies, & conditions)
- Plan for minimizing downtime during deployments by using virtual IP address (VIP) swap, load balancing, rolling deployments, and deployment slot usage and swap (Microsoft Documentation: Swap or switch deployments in Azure Cloud Services)
- Design a hotfix path plan for responding to high-priority code fixes (Microsoft Documentation: Using a hotfix production environment)
- Design and implement a resiliency strategy for deployment
- Implement feature flags by using Azure App Configuration Feature Manager (Microsoft Documentation: Manage feature flags in Azure App Configuration)
- Implement application deployment by using containers, binaries, and scripts (Microsoft Documentation: App Service overview)
- Implement a deployment that includes database tasks
Design and implement infrastructure as code (IaC)
- Recommend a configuration management technology for application infrastructure (Microsoft Documentation: Configuration Manager)
- Implement a configuration management strategy for application infrastructure
- Define an IaC strategy, including source control and automation of testing and deployment (Microsoft Documentation: infrastructure as code (IaC))
- Design and implement desired state configuration for environments, including Azure Automation State Configuration, Azure Resource Manager, Bicep, and Azure Automanage Machine Configuration
- Design and implement Azure Deployment Environments for on-demand self-deployment
Maintain pipelines
- Monitor pipeline health, including failure rate, duration, and flaky tests (Microsoft Documentation: Manage flaky tests)
- Optimize pipelines for cost, time, performance, and reliability (Microsoft Documentation: Tradeoffs for performance efficiency)
- Optimize pipeline concurrency for performance and cost
- Design and implement a retention strategy for pipeline artifacts and dependencies (Microsoft Documentation: Set retention policies for builds, releases, and tests)
- Migrate a pipeline from classic to YAML in Azure Pipelines
4. Develop a security and compliance plan (10—15%)
Design and implement authentication and authorization methods
- Choose between Service Principals and Managed Identity (including system-assigned and user-assigned)
- Implement and manage GitHub authentication, including GitHub Apps, GITHUB_TOKEN, and personal access tokens
- Implement and manage Azure DevOps service connections and personal access tokens
- Design and implement permissions and roles in GitHub
- Design and implement permissions and security groups in Azure DevOps
- Recommend appropriate access levels, including stakeholder access in Azure DevOps and outside collaborator access in GitHub
- Configure projects and teams in Azure DevOps
Design and implement a strategy for managing sensitive information in automation
- Implement and manage secrets, keys, and certificates by using Azure Key Vault (Microsoft Documentation: Use Azure Key Vault secrets in Azure Pipelines)
- Implement and manage secrets in GitHub Actions and Azure Pipelines
- Design and implement a strategy for managing sensitive files during deployment, including Azure Pipelines secure files (Microsoft Documentation: Azure data security and encryption best practices)
- Design pipelines to prevent leakage of sensitive information (Microsoft Documentation: Design a data loss prevention policy)
Automate security and compliance scanning
- Design a strategy for security and compliance scanning, including dependency, code, secret, and licensing scanning
- Configure Microsoft Defender for Cloud DevOps Security
- Configure GitHub Advanced Security for both GitHub and Azure DevOps
- Integrate GitHub Advanced Security with Microsoft Defender for Cloud
- Automate container scanning, including scanning container images and configuring an action to run CodeQL analysis in a container
- Automate analysis of licensing, vulnerabilities, and versioning of open-source components by using Dependabot alerts
5. Implement an instrumentation strategy (5–10%)
Configure monitoring for a DevOps environment
- Configure Azure Monitor and Log Analytics to integrate with DevOps tools
- Configure collection of telemetry by using Application Insights, VM Insights, Container Insights, Storage Insights, and Network Insights
- Configure monitoring in GitHub, including enabling insights and creating and configuring charts
- Configure alerts for events in GitHub Actions and Azure Pipelines (Microsoft Documentation: Azure Monitor Alerts task)
Analyze metrics from instrumentation
- Inspect infrastructure performance indicators, including CPU, memory, disk, and network (Microsoft Documentation: Supported metrics with Azure Monitor)
- Analyze metrics by using collected telemetry, including usage and application performance
- Inspect distributed tracing by using Application Insights
- Interrogate logs using basic Kusto Query Language (KQL) queries (Microsoft Documentation: Log queries in Azure Monitor)
Don’t be demotivated with this long list of modules. We understand your concern to complete the syllabus. So make sure to check out all the AZ-400 exam preparation resources under the section ‘Prepare for AZ-400 exam’.
Process of Exam Scoring for AZ-400
Ensuring that you achieve a score above 700 is not only a confidence booster but also highly recommended. However, if, by chance, your score falls below 700, it would not meet the qualification threshold. Shortly after submitting the AZ-400 exam, you can readily access your feedback. Yet, if you’re curious about obtaining a comprehensive breakdown of your exam performance, a few days’ patience will be required. Your scorecard will encompass all the particulars of your overall performance in the AZ-400 exam that you’ve undertaken.
Is Retake available for AZ-400 exam?
If you weren’t able to qualify on your initial attempt, there’s no need for concern. Don’t be disheartened. You have the option to take a retest. However, we recommend opting for a retest only if you are entirely confident in your preparation this time. So, ensure that you are giving your utmost effort. Following Microsoft’s guidelines:
- Should an individual not achieve a passing score in the exam on their first try, they must wait for a minimum of 24 hours before rescheduling the AZ-400 exam.
- If a candidate doesn’t attain a passing score on the second attempt as well, they should wait for at least 14 days before scheduling the AZ-400 exam for the third time.
- A 14-day waiting period is also obligatory for the fourth and fifth consecutive exam retakes. An examinee is not permitted to take the same exam more than five times within a year (12 months).
- This 12-month timeframe commences from the date of the last or fifth unsuccessful AZ-400 exam retake. Only after this period, the candidate becomes eligible to retake the exam again, 12 months from the mentioned date.
If a candidate intends to attempt the exam more than five times within a year or seeks to have the waiting period between attempts waived, they must formally request and receive prior permission from Microsoft. Such requests should be directed to [email protected]. These requests should encompass the following information: MCID, Name, Email, and Exam Number.
How do Cancel/ Reschedule exams?
Following are some of the cases of cancellation –
- If you intend to cancel or reschedule your exam slot, ensure that you do so at least 6 business days prior to the scheduled exam time to avoid incurring any cancellation charges.
- If you decide to cancel or reschedule within 5 business days of the exam, a nominal fee will be applied.
- Failure to reschedule or cancel your appointment at least 24 hours before the scheduled time will result in the forfeiture of the entire exam fee. So, exercise caution in managing your scheduling decisions!
How to schedule AZ-400 Exam?
You need to follow the given steps in the process of scheduling the exam –
- Navigate to the Microsoft portal and proceed with registering for your exam.
- Once your preparations are complete, proceed to schedule your exam by clicking on the “schedule exam” link.
- Provide all necessary details on the subsequent page.
- Candidates can then choose their exam delivery options from the Pearson VUE page, Microsoft’s designated exam partner.
- Your registration process will be finalized upon confirmation of your exam fee payment.
Azure Training and Certification Path
How to prepare for AZ-400 exam?
Earning a certification based on your knowledge and skills can significantly enhance your confidence and establish your credibility. It acts as a clear endorsement of your capabilities. But before you begin searching for study materials, here’s a compilation of learning resources to guide your preparation. Following the right path to preparation will increase your chances of passing the AZ-400 exam on your initial attempt. Isn’t that precisely what we aim for? Let’s embark on this journey together!
Learning Resource 1 – Microsoft Learning Platform
Now, let’s guide you in the correct path to ensure that you cover your syllabus from a trustworthy and authentic source. To achieve this, it’s advisable to explore the official Microsoft website. When it comes to the AZ-400 exam, it’s a wise decision to start by visiting the Microsoft website to obtain accurate and genuine information about the exam. You’ll easily find the dedicated AZ-400 page, which provides comprehensive details about the exam. From the exam structure to the modules covered and study resources, everything is accessible directly on the portal.
Learning Resource 2 – Microsoft Documentation
Ensure that you avoid confusing Microsoft documentation with the Microsoft learning portal, as these platforms offer distinct learning resources. By referring to Microsoft documentation, you can effectively grasp the fundamentals of Microsoft Azure’s expert DevOps solutions. Additionally, you’ll gain insights into the various scopes of different Azure services. This approach guarantees that you’re staying up to date and acquiring an abundance of new knowledge about Azure technologies, all directly provided by experts.
Check out the AZ-400 Study Guide for quick Exam preparation!
Learning Resources 3 – Instructor-Led Training
Microsoft offers both online and instructor-led training options for the AZ-400 exam. It’s worth noting that you should explore their portal for instructor-led training. This is especially beneficial for individuals with limited time due to ongoing commitments. The flexibility of on-demand classrooms allows you to schedule classes according to your own convenience. Isn’t that impressive? Not many platforms offer such flexibility. Once you’ve identified a Microsoft training partner, you can simply visit their website to book your desired training sessions.
Learning Resource 4 – Books and Periodicals
Books are always a good way to acquire new knowledge. So, our suggestion to you would find books for exam AZ-400 from genuine sources. If you wish to consider magazines and scholarly journals, then double-checks before you rely on it. You can go through the following Microsoft AZ-400 books –
- The DevOps Handbook: How to Create World-Class Agility, Reliability, and Security in Technology Organizations by Gene Kim, Patric Debois, John Willis, Jez Humble, and John Alspaw,
- The DevOps Adoption Playbook: A Guide to Adopting DevOps in a Multi-Speed IT Enterprise by Sanjeev Sharma
- DevOps: A Software Architect’s Perspective (SEI Series in Software Engineering) by Lenn Bass, Ingo Weber, and Liming Zhu.
Learning Resource 5 – Study Groups and Forums
Participating in a study group or forum isn’t obligatory during your preparation, but the decision to join one rests entirely with you. While getting ready for the exam, you have the option to join a study group at any stage. However, this choice can prove advantageous. Engaging in study groups ensures you remain connected with others who are on the same journey as you. If you encounter challenges with a particular topic, you can pose questions and seek assistance. Within these study groups, you’re likely to find individuals who can help clarify any uncertainties you have regarding the AZ-400 exam.
Learning Resource 6 – E-books, Analyst Reports, and White Papers
Candidates may have varying preferences when it comes to resources, but there’s a consensus on the value of certain materials for the AZ-400 exam. E-books, analyst reports, and white papers related to AZ-400, which are officially published by Microsoft, should be a priority. These resources, accessible through Microsoft credentials, can be immensely beneficial for your exam preparation. They provide authoritative insights and information that can greatly contribute to your success in the AZ-400 exam.
Learning Resource 7- Practice Tests
We’ve reached the final phase of AZ-400 exam preparation. This pivotal step offers a precise gauge of your progress. Are you prepared for self-assessment? It’s crucial to engage with AZ-400 sample tests after thoroughly covering the entire syllabus. These sample tests, including mock exams and practice papers, are meticulously crafted to simulate the actual exam environment. Upon completing the AZ-400 sample tests, you’ll gain insights into your strengths and weaknesses, allowing you to focus your efforts on improvement. You can source practice papers from a variety of outlets. Keep in mind that the more you challenge yourself through self-testing, the more your skills will sharpen.
So start practicing now!
On the Exam Day
At this juncture, your preparation should be extensive, yet a crucial step still remains. Despite thorough preparation, it’s natural to experience exam anxiety a day before the test.
- Avoid succumbing to undue pressure as it can hinder your concentration during the exam.
- Keep your thoughts steady and avoid overthinking. Stick to your strategies and methods that have proven effective for you.
- Remember to take a moment to relax; everything will turn out fine.
Conclusion
If you’re aspiring to advance your career and driven to pursue your ambitions, obtaining the Microsoft Azure DevOps Solution AZ-400 certification will mark the culminating step in your path to becoming a Microsoft Azure DevOps Engineer Expert. Certifications like AZ-400 will not merely demonstrate your job-relevant skills, but will also underscore your dedication to realizing your aspirations. The positive influence of training and certification on your professional journey extends to financial rewards as well.
Don’t doubt your worth, buckle up! Gear yourself up with all the resources we’ve discussed above along with proper use of your time. With these resources, the AZ-400 exam is completely achievable. ALL THE BEST.
