In today’s rapidly evolving tech landscape, cloud computing has become a cornerstone for businesses of all sizes. Microsoft Azure stands out as one of the leading cloud platforms, offering a wide array of services and solutions. For those looking to validate their foundational understanding of Azure and cloud services, the Microsoft Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900) certification is the perfect starting point. The AZ-900 exam is designed for individuals who are new to Azure or cloud computing in general. It tests your knowledge of basic cloud concepts, core Azure services, Azure pricing and support, and the fundamentals of cloud security, privacy, compliance, and trust. This certification is not only valuable for IT professionals but also for those in sales, marketing, and management roles who need to understand the benefits and capabilities of Azure.
In this comprehensive preparation guide, we will cover everything you need to know to ace the AZ-900 exam. From breaking down the exam objectives and topics to providing study tips and resources, this guide will set you on the path to certification success. Whether you are starting from scratch or looking to solidify your existing knowledge, this guide will equip you with the tools and confidence needed to pass the AZ-900 exam on your first attempt in 2024.
Understand Cloud Concepts
Cloud computing has revolutionized the way businesses operate by providing access to a wide range of computing resources over the internet. Understanding the foundational concepts of cloud computing is crucial for anyone pursuing the AZ-900 certification. Here’s a deeper dive into the key aspects:
What is cloud computing?
Cloud computing refers to the delivery of on-demand computing services over the internet. These services include servers, storage, databases, networking, software, and more. Instead of owning their own computing infrastructure or data centers, organizations can rent access to anything from applications to storage from a cloud service provider like Microsoft Azure.
Key Characteristics of Cloud Computing
Cloud computing is characterized by several key attributes that distinguish it from traditional on-premises computing:
- On-Demand Self-Service: Users can provision computing resources, such as server time and network storage, as needed automatically without requiring human interaction with each service provider.
- Broad Network Access: Cloud capabilities are available over the network and accessed through standard mechanisms that promote use by heterogeneous thin or thick client platforms (e.g., mobile phones, tablets, laptops, and workstations).
- Resource Pooling: The provider’s computing resources are pooled to serve multiple customers using a multi-tenant model, with different physical and virtual resources dynamically assigned and reassigned according to consumer demand.
- Rapid Elasticity: Capabilities can be rapidly and elastically provisioned, in some cases automatically, to quickly scale out and rapidly released to quickly scale back in. To the consumer, the capabilities available for provisioning often appear to be limitless and can be appropriated in any quantity at any time.
- Measured Service: Cloud systems automatically control and optimize resource usage by leveraging metering capabilities at some level of abstraction appropriate to the type of service (e.g., storage, processing, bandwidth, and active user accounts). Resource usage can be monitored, controlled, and reported, providing transparency for both the provider and the consumer of the utilized service.
Types of Cloud Services
Cloud computing services are typically categorized into three main types:
- Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): Provides virtualized computing resources over the internet. It offers virtual machines, storage, and networking capabilities that can be scaled up or down based on demand.
- Platform as a Service (PaaS): Provides a platform that allows customers to develop, run, and manage applications without the complexity of building and maintaining the underlying infrastructure. Examples include Azure App Services and Azure SQL Database.
- Software as a Service (SaaS): Delivers software applications over the internet on a subscription basis. Users can access these applications via a web browser without needing to install or manage any software. Examples include Microsoft Office 365 and Salesforce.
Benefits of Cloud Computing
Cloud computing offers several advantages to organizations, including:
- Cost Savings: Eliminates the need for upfront capital investment in hardware and software.
- Scalability: Allows organizations to scale resources up or down based on demand, ensuring optimal performance and cost-efficiency.
- Flexibility and Agility: Enables rapid deployment of new applications and services, reducing time-to-market.
- Security: Cloud providers implement robust security measures to protect data, applications, and infrastructure from threats.
Real-World Applications and Use Cases
Cloud computing is used across various industries for diverse applications:
- E-commerce: Retailers use cloud computing to manage online stores, handle transactions, and analyze customer data.
- Healthcare: Providers use cloud services for storing and sharing patient records, medical imaging, and telemedicine.
- Education: Schools and universities utilize cloud platforms for online learning, collaboration tools, and student management systems.
Understanding cloud concepts is foundational for anyone looking to achieve the AZ-900 certification. This knowledge not only prepares you for the exam but also equips you to leverage the benefits of cloud computing in your career. By mastering these concepts, you’ll be ready to explore more advanced Azure services and solutions offered by Microsoft.
Take Practice Test & Exam – Start your preparation with AZ-900 Practice Exam
Understanding Core Azure Services
Compute Services
- Virtual Machines: Overview of VMs in Azure, including different series (e.g., A-series, D-series), sizes, and usage scenarios (e.g., development, testing, production).
- Azure App Services: Explanation of platform-as-a-service (PaaS) offering for web apps, mobile backends, and APIs, including deployment options (e.g., containers, Kubernetes).
- Azure Functions: Introduction to serverless computing with Azure Functions, focusing on event-driven scenarios and benefits such as scalability and cost-efficiency.
Storage Services
- Blob Storage: Overview of Azure Blob Storage for unstructured data, including use cases like media storage, backup, and data archiving.
- Azure Files: Description of Azure Files as a fully managed file share service in the cloud, supporting both SMB (Server Message Block) and REST (Representational State Transfer) protocols.
- Azure Disk Storage: Explanation of managed disks for VMs, focusing on types (e.g., Standard HDD, Standard SSD, Premium SSD) and performance considerations.
Networking Services
- Virtual Network (VNet): Overview of VNets in Azure, including network isolation, IP addressing, and connectivity options (e.g., VPN Gateway, ExpressRoute).
- Load Balancer: Explanation of Azure Load Balancer for distributing incoming traffic across multiple VMs or services, ensuring high availability and fault tolerance.
- VPN Gateway: Description of Azure VPN Gateway for establishing secure connections between on-premises networks and Azure VNets, including supported VPN protocols (e.g., IKEv2, SSTP).
Database Services
- Azure SQL Database: Overview of fully managed relational database-as-a-service (DBaaS) offering, including scalability options, performance tuning, and security features.
- Cosmos DB: Introduction to globally distributed, multi-model database service for NoSQL data, focusing on high availability, low latency, and multi-master replication.
- Azure Database for MySQL/PostgreSQL: Description of managed database services for MySQL and PostgreSQL, including features like automated backups, security, and performance tuning.
Azure Pricing and Support
Pricing Models
- Pay-As-You-Go: Explanation of pay-per-use pricing model based on consumption of Azure services, with examples of pricing calculators and cost estimation tools.
- Reserved Instances: Overview of Azure Reserved Instances for discounted pricing on long-term commitments, including benefits and considerations (e.g., instance size flexibility, term lengths).
- Spot Instances: Description of Spot Instances for obtaining unused Azure capacity at discounted rates, suitable for fault-tolerant workloads and batch processing.
Factors Influencing Azure Costs
- Compute Costs: Breakdown of compute costs based on VM instance types, sizes, and usage (e.g., hours, seconds).
- Storage Costs: Explanation of storage costs, including pricing tiers (e.g., hot, cool, archive) and data redundancy options (e.g., LRS, GRS, RA-GRS).
- Data Transfer Costs: Overview of data transfer costs between Azure regions, data ingress/egress charges, and cost-saving strategies (e.g., Azure CDN).
Azure Support Plans and Options
- Support Plans: Comparison of Azure support plans (e.g., Basic, Developer, Standard, Professional Direct), including response times, technical support options, and service level agreements (SLAs).
- Azure Service Health: Description of Azure Service Health for monitoring service health and planned maintenance notifications, ensuring proactive management of Azure resources.
- Azure Advisor: Overview of Azure Advisor for providing personalized recommendations to optimize Azure resources for cost, performance, security, and reliability.
Azure Security, Privacy, Compliance, and Trust
Security Measures and Best Practices
- Network Security: Explanation of Azure network security features (e.g., Network Security Groups, Azure Firewall, DDoS Protection), ensuring secure connectivity and protection against threats.
- Data Encryption: Overview of Azure encryption capabilities (e.g., Azure Disk Encryption, Azure SQL Database Transparent Data Encryption), safeguarding data at rest and in transit.
- Identity and Access Management (IAM): Description of Azure Active Directory (AAD) for centralized identity management and role-based access control (RBAC), ensuring least privilege access.
Data Privacy and Compliance Standards
- GDPR: Explanation of General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) compliance requirements in Azure, including data subject rights, data protection impact assessments (DPIAs), and breach notification obligations.
- HIPAA: Overview of Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) compliance in Azure, ensuring secure handling of protected health information (PHI) and compliance with healthcare industry regulations.
- ISO Certifications: Description of ISO/IEC certifications (e.g., ISO/IEC 27001, ISO/IEC 27018) for demonstrating adherence to international standards for information security management and personal data protection.
Building Trust in Azure Services
- Transparency: Explanation of Azure transparency initiatives (e.g., Azure Trust Center, Service Trust Portal) for providing visibility into Azure security, privacy, and compliance practices.
- Compliance Reports: Overview of Azure compliance documentation (e.g., SOC reports, PCI DSS Attestations, FedRAMP certifications) for demonstrating Azure’s adherence to industry standards and regulations.
- Customer Assurance: Description of Azure customer assurance programs (e.g., Azure Security Center, Azure Sentinel) for continuous monitoring, threat detection, and incident response in Azure environments.
Understanding Azure Pricing Calculator
Overview of Azure Pricing Calculator
- Purpose: Explanation of the Azure Pricing Calculator as a tool for estimating costs associated with Azure services and solutions.
- User Interface: Description of the Azure Pricing Calculator interface, including navigation, search functionalities, and cost estimation options.
- Scenario-Based Examples: Practical examples demonstrating how to use the Azure Pricing Calculator for estimating costs based on specific deployment scenarios (e.g., VM deployment, storage configuration).
How to Estimate Costs Using the Azure Pricing Calculator?
- Step-by-Step Guidance: Detailed steps on how to use the Azure Pricing Calculator to estimate costs for different Azure services (e.g., compute, storage, networking).
- Factors to Consider: Factors influencing cost estimation, such as region selection, instance types, service levels, and pricing models (e.g., pay-as-you-go, reserved instances).
- Tips and Best Practices: Tips for optimizing cost estimates using the Azure Pricing Calculator, including leveraging pricing tiers, discounts, and cost-saving strategies.
Importance of AZ-900 Exam
Importance for IT Professionals | Importance for Beginners | Importance for Non-Technical Roles |
| 1. Foundation in Cloud Computing: AZ-900 provides a solid understanding of cloud concepts, Azure services, and deployment models, which are crucial for IT professionals working in cloud-related roles. 2. Career Advancement: Certification demonstrates competence and commitment to prospective employers, enhancing career opportunities and job prospects. 3. Skill Validation: Validates foundational skills in Azure, enabling professionals to transition or specialize in cloud technologies with confidence. 4. Keeping Up with Industry Trends: Cloud computing is increasingly integral to IT operations, making AZ-900 certification essential for staying relevant in the evolving tech landscape. | 1. Entry Point into Cloud Computing: AZ-900 serves as an entry-level certification ideal for beginners with little or no prior experience in cloud computing. 2. Learning Path: It provides a structured learning path to understand basic cloud concepts, Azure services, and practical applications. 3. Career Starter: Earning AZ-900 certification opens doors to entry-level positions in cloud computing and related fields, offering a foundational credential to build upon. 4. Industry Recognition: Even for beginners, AZ-900 certification enhances credibility and demonstrates commitment to learning and professional development. | 1. Understanding Business Value: AZ-900 equips non-technical professionals (such as sales, marketing, and project management) with foundational knowledge to understand and communicate the business value of Azure solutions. 2. Supporting Customer Interactions: Knowledge of Azure fundamentals enables effective communication with technical teams and clients regarding cloud solutions and benefits. 3. Enhanced Collaboration: Non-technical roles can collaborate more effectively with IT and technical teams by understanding Azure capabilities and potential applications. 4. Career Diversification: AZ-900 certification enhances career versatility by providing a fundamental understanding of cloud computing applicable across various industries and roles. |
Microsoft Azure AZ-900 Exam Information
Microsoft categorizes its exams based on distinct roles and functions. A reduced exam fee is available for Microsoft Certified Trainers or select participants of the Microsoft Imagine Academy Program and the Microsoft Partner Network Program. In order to attain the AZ-900 certification, candidates are required to achieve a minimum score of 700 points. The exam score is promptly disclosed to the candidate upon completion of the exam. Subsequently, a comprehensive evaluation of the candidate’s exam performance is furnished, along with guidelines on how to interpret the results.
Cancellation or rescheduling of the exam would be free of cost if it is done six business days prior to the schedule.
| Exam Name Microsoft Azure Fundamentals | Exam Code AZ-900 |
| Exam Duration 85 mins | Exam Format Multiple Choice and Multi-Response Questions |
| Exam Type Cloud Computing | Number of Questions 40-60 Questions |
| Eligibility/Pre-Requisite NIL | Exam Fee $99 USD |
| Exam Language English | Pass Score 700 (on a scale of 1-1000) |
How to prepare for the Microsoft AZ-900 Exam [2024]?
Preparing for the Microsoft AZ-900 exam involves mastering fundamental Azure concepts and services. Start by understanding the exam objectives outlined by Microsoft. Use official resources like Microsoft Learn modules, Azure documentation, and practice tests to deepen your understanding. Hands-on experience with Azure’s free tier and sandbox environments is essential for practical learning. Develop a study plan with regular reviews and practice exams to gauge your progress. Focus on core topics such as cloud concepts, Azure services, pricing, and security to grasp their practical applications. Stay updated with Azure’s latest developments and industry trends to enhance your preparation. With consistent study, hands-on practice, and strategic review, you’ll be well-prepared to confidently tackle and pass the AZ-900 exam.
Microsoft Learning Platform
The Microsoft Learning Platform serves as an invaluable hub for candidates, encompassing a comprehensive repository of pertinent information regarding Microsoft Certifications. This portal provides access to an array of components, including exam modules, registration procedures, the exam’s framework, and its associated policies, as well as pertinent updates concerning the exam schedule, and more. Within the learning path, candidates will encounter modules covering an assortment of topics, ranging from the Fundamentals of cloud computing and Introduction to Azure, to the intricacies of its architecture and services, computational aspects, data storage, network options, and prudent cost optimization techniques for Azure, among other subjects.
Microsoft Documentation
Microsoft Documentation serves as a distinct section with its own set of learning pages separate from the Microsoft Learning Portal. Within this documentation, one can delve into comprehensive learning pages meticulously curated for Azure Fundamentals. Here, a thorough exploration of pertinent cloud concepts including Scalability, Elasticity, Disaster Recovery, Fault Tolerance, and Agility is undertaken. Furthermore, a detailed examination of Azure services encompassing aspects like security, network configurations, computational functionalities, and storage solutions is readily accessible. The documentation stands as an excellent starting point for those embarking on their journey towards preparing for the AZ-900 exam.
Module 1 – Describe cloud concepts (25–30%)
The Microsoft Azure Fundamentals Exam covers the latest and updated exam guide including –
Understand cloud computing
- Learn cloud computing (Microsoft Documentation: What is cloud computing? and Types of Cloud Computing)
- Learn the shared responsibility model (Microsoft Documentation: Shared Responsibility Model in Cloud)
- Learn and Define cloud models, including public, private, and hybrid (Microsoft Documentation: What is a Public Cloud?, What is a Private Cloud? and What is a Hybrid Cloud?)
- Identify appropriate use cases for each cloud model (Examples of cloud computing)
- Describe the consumption-based model (Microsoft Documentation: Consumption and Fixed Cost Models)
- Compare cloud pricing models (Microsoft Documentation: Azure Product Pricing and Azure Cloud Services pricing)
- Describe serverless
Describe the benefits of using cloud services (Benefits of Cloud Computing Services)
- Describe the benefits of high availability and scalability in the cloud (Microsoft Documentation: Benefits and considerations of using cloud services)
- Describe the benefits of reliability and predictability in the cloud (Microsoft Documentation: Azure Reliability and Overview of the reliability pillar)
- Describe the benefits of security and governance in the cloud (Microsoft Documentation: Security governance and Governance in the Microsoft Cloud and Azure governance documentation)
- Describe the benefits of manageability in the cloud (Microsoft Documentation: Cloud management in the Cloud Adoption Framework, Cloud management gateway overview and Azure Management Guide, Before you start)
Describe cloud service types
- Describe infrastructure as a service (IaaS) (Microsoft Documentation: What is IaaS? and Azure IaaS (infrastructure as a service)
- Describe platform as a service (PaaS) (Microsoft Documentation: What is PaaS? and Use platform as a service (PaaS) options)
- Describe software as a service (SaaS) (Microsoft Documentation: What is SaaS? and About SaaS)
- Identify appropriate use cases for each cloud service (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS) (Microsoft Documentation: Azure Cloud Services)
Module 2 – Describe Azure architecture and services (35–40%)
Describe the core architectural components of Azure
- Describe Azure regional, regional pairs, and sovereign regions (Microsoft Documentation: Azure Regions and Avaialbility Zones and Azure Regional Pairs and Azure Sovereign Clouds)
- Describe availability zones (Microsoft Documentation: Azure availability zones)
- Describe Azure datacenters (Microsoft Documentation: Datacenter security overview)
- Describe Azure resources and resource groups (Manage Azure resource groups)
- Describe subscriptions (Microsoft Documentation: Subscription decision guide and Azure subscription)
- Describe management groups (Microsoft Documentation: Azure Management Groups)
- Describe the hierarchy of resource groups, subscriptions, and management groups (Microsoft Documentation: What are Azure management groups? )
Describe Azure compute and networking services
- Compare compute types, including container instances, virtual machines, and functions (Choose an Azure compute service, Azure Container Instances, Introduction to Azure virtual machines, Introduction to Azure Functions)
- Describe Virtual Machine options, including Azure Virtual Machines, Azure Virtual Machine Scale Sets, availability sets, and Azure Virtual Desktop (Virtual machines in Azure, What are virtual machine scale sets? and What is Azure Virtual Desktop?)
- Describe resources required for virtual machines (Windows virtual machines in Azure)
- Describe application hosting options, including Web Apps, containers, and virtual machines
- Describe virtual networking, including the purpose of Azure Virtual Networks, Azure virtual subnets, peering, Azure DNS, Azure VPN Gateway, and Azure ExpressRoute (What is Azure Virtual Network?, Virtual Network Subnet, Azure Virtual Network Peering, Azure Peering Service Overview, What is Azure DNS?, What is Azure VPN Gateway?, Azure ExpressRoute and Significance of Azure ExpressRoute)
- Define public and private endpoints (What is a private endpoint?)
Describe Azure storage services
- Compare Azure storage services (Introduction to Azure Storage)
- Describe storage tiers (Storage account overview, Hot, Cool, and Archive access tiers)
- Describe redundancy options (Azure Storage redundancy)
- Describe storage account options and storage types (Storage account overview)
- Identify options for moving files, including AzCopy, Azure Storage Explorer, and Azure File Sync (azcopy copy, Get started with AzCopy, Transfer data with AzCopy and file storage, What is Azure File Sync?, Get started with Storage Explorer)
- Describe migration options, including Azure Migrate and Azure Data Box (About Azure Migrate)
Describe Azure identity, access, and security
- Describe directory services in Azure, including Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) and part of Microsoft Entra and Azure Active Directory Domain Services (Azure AD DS)
- Describe authentication methods in Azure, including single sign-on (SSO), multifactor authentication (MFA), and passwordless (Passwordless authentication options for Azure Active Directory, authentication and verification methods are available in Azure Active Directory)
- Describe external identities in Azure, including business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-customer (B2C)
- Describe Microsft Entra Conditional Access
- Describe Azure role-based access control (RBAC) (What is Azure role-based access control (Azure RBAC)?)
- Describe the concept of Zero Trust (What is Zero Trust?)
- Describe the purpose of the defense in-depth model
- Describe the purpose of Microsoft Defender for Cloud (What is Microsoft Defender for Cloud?)
Module 3 – Describe Azure management and governance (30–35%)
Describe cost management in Azure
- Describe factors that can affect costs in Azure (Plan and manage your Azure costs)
- Compare the Pricing calculator and the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) calculator (Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) Calculator)
- Describe the Cost Management capabilities in Azure
- Describe the purpose of tags (Use tags to organize your Azure resources and management hierarchy)
Describe features and tools in Azure for governance and compliance
- Describe the purpose of Microsoft Purview in Azure
- Describe the purpose of Azure Policy (What is Azure Policy?)
- Describe the purpose of resource locks (Lock resources to prevent unexpected changes)
Describe features and tools for managing and deploying Azure resources
- Describe the Azure portal (Azure portal overview)
- Describe Azure Cloud Shell, including Azure Command-Line Interface (CLI) and Azure PowerShell (Overview of Azure Cloud Shell)
- Describe the purpose of Azure Arc (Azure Arc overview)
- Describe infrastructure as code (IaC) (IaC on Azure)
- Describe Azure Resource Manager (ARM) and ARM templates (What is Azure Resource Manager?, What are ARM templates?)
Describe monitoring tools in Azure
- Describe the purpose of Azure Advisor (Introduction to Azure Advisor)
- Describe Azure Service Health (What is Azure Service Health?)
- Describe Azure Monitor, including Log Analytics, Azure Monitor alerts, and Application Insights (Log Analytics tutorial, Azure Monitor overview, Application Insights overview)
Instructor-led Training
The Microsoft Learning Portal provides an avenue for accessing Instructor-led training tailored for AZ-900 exam readiness. Prospective candidates looking to undertake this exam would greatly benefit from consulting the training course titled “Course AZ-900 T01-A: Microsoft Azure Fundamentals.” However, it’s important to note that this course mandates a foundational understanding of general IT concepts as prerequisites. The training sessions are conveniently arranged to accommodate the candidate’s preferences and needs, with the option for a single-day session. Engaging in this training only necessitates finding a suitable training partner.
Microsoft AZ-900 Online Course
Forums and Study Groups
The Microsoft Learning Portal does not currently host a dedicated AZ-900 forum. As an alternative, candidates can explore external online forums across various platforms. These forums provide a platform for engaging in discussions, addressing uncertainties, and delving deeper into essential aspects of Azure Solutions.
Microsoft Exam AZ-900 Study Guide
AZ-900 Practice Exam
Engaging with sample tests can prove highly beneficial in gauging one’s level of preparation. Aspirants should strive to obtain sample tests that closely adhere to the standards and criteria of the authentic certification exam. An approach involving a comparative assessment of the available online sample tests is advisable during the selection process.
Books and Reports
Candidates should consider seeking out the most recent publications by Microsoft, which provide updated resources pertinent to the AZ-900 certification exam. Additionally, staying attuned to Azure notifications can offer candidates insights into any certification-related updates. This practice can be particularly enlightening and informative for those new to the subject. Unlike role-based exams that often necessitate prior field experience, AZ-900 doesn’t have such prerequisites. Engaging in the preparation process can serve as a valuable endeavor, potentially setting the stage for pursuing further certifications within Azure.
In conclusion, preparing for the AZ-900 exam is a journey that equips you with essential knowledge of Azure fundamentals. By focusing on core concepts, mastering key services, and understanding Azure’s pricing, security, and compliance, you’re laying a strong foundation for success in cloud computing. Remember to utilize official Microsoft resources, practice exams, and hands-on experience to solidify your understanding.
