Microsoft Azure Fundamentals: AZ-900 Exam has been built to validate your knowledge and skills about cloud services. Microsoft Azure offers cloud services, irrespective of any specific role and prerequisites knowledge. The Microsoft exam AZ-900 is suited for candidates looking to demonstrate working knowledge – foundation level of cloud services and how these services are offered by Microsoft Azure.
Microsoft Azure AZ-900: Quick Overview
The Microsoft Azure AZ-900 exam is a foundational-level certification exam that tests a candidate’s knowledge of cloud services and the Microsoft Azure cloud platform. The exam is designed to demonstrate the candidate’s understanding of cloud concepts, Azure services, core Azure services, Azure pricing and support, Azure governance, Azure compliance and trust, Azure management tools, Azure Resource Manager, Azure architecture, and Azure solutions.
The test has questions with multiple choices, and you can take it in different languages. The cost of the test depends on where you take it, and you have two options: go to a test center in person or take it online with a remote proctoring service.
Candidates who pass the AZ-900 exam will receive the Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals certification, which demonstrates their foundational knowledge of cloud services and Microsoft Azure. This certification can be a stepping stone to more advanced Azure certifications, such as the Azure Administrator or Azure Developer certifications.
AZ-900 Exam: Steps-by-Step Pathway
1. Understand cloud concepts
- Overview of cloud concepts:
- Public cloud: infrastructure owned and operated by a third-party provider, accessible over the internet
- Private cloud: infrastructure dedicated to a single organization, can be managed on-premises or by a third-party
- Hybrid cloud: Using both public and private cloud services together gives you flexibility and helps with handling your data effectively.
- Benefits: scalability, cost-effectiveness, disaster recovery, increased collaboration, and accessibility
- Drawbacks: potential security risks, dependence on internet connectivity, vendor lock-in
- Common use cases: web and mobile app hosting, big data analysis, storage and backup, software as a service (SaaS)
It’s important to understand these concepts for the Microsoft Exam AZ-900 as they provide the foundation for the cloud-based services offered by Azure.
2. Familiarize yourself with Azure services
- Compute: Azure Virtual Machines, Azure App Service, Azure Functions, and Azure Container Instances
- Storage: Azure Blob Storage, Azure Files, Azure Queue Storage, and Azure Table Storage
- Network: Azure Virtual Network, Azure Load Balancer, Azure Traffic Manager, and Azure ExpressRoute
- Security: Azure Active Directory, Azure Security Center, Azure Key Vault, and Azure Monitor
- Other services: Azure Database, Azure DevOps, Azure IoT Hub, and Azure Cognitive Services
These services provide the building blocks for creating and deploying cloud-based solutions with Azure. Familiarizing yourself with these services is important for the Microsoft Exam AZ-900 as they are covered in the exam and form a crucial part of the Azure platform.
3. Learn about Azure pricing and support plans
- Pricing: Azure offers pay-as-you-go pricing, with options for reserved instances, and volume discounts. Costs can vary based on the type of services used, usage volume, and other factors.
- Support plans: Azure offers various support plans, including Developer, Standard, and Premier, with varying levels of 24/7 technical support, Azure credits, and other benefits.
It’s important to understand Azure pricing and support plans for the Microsoft Exam AZ-900 as they play a significant role in the decision-making process for adopting and using Azure services. Understanding these concepts can help you identify cost-effective and support-effective solutions for your organization.
4. Understand Azure security, privacy, and compliance
- Security: Azure provides various security measures to protect data and resources, including network security, identity and access management, threat protection, and data protection.
- Privacy: Azure adheres to strict privacy standards and regulations, including GDPR and HIPAA, to protect customer data.
- Compliance: Azure is compliant with various industry-specific regulations, including ISO 27001, SOC 1 and 2, and FedRAMP.
It’s essential to grasp Azure’s security, privacy, and compliance aspects for the Microsoft Exam AZ-900. They are vital for safeguarding customer data and resources in the cloud. These concepts are also essential in building and deploying secure solutions with Azure.
5. Get to know Azure resource management and Azure administration
- Azure resource management: managing and organizing resources in Azure, including virtual machines, storage accounts, and other resources, using Azure Resource Manager templates and Azure portal.
- Azure administration: administration tasks in Azure, including managing users, monitoring resources, and managing billing.
Understanding Azure resource management and administration is important for the Microsoft Exam AZ-900 as they play a crucial role in the effective and efficient management of Azure resources. These concepts are also essential for ensuring the reliability, availability, and scalability of cloud-based solutions in Azure.
6. Know the basics of Azure virtual machines, virtual networks, and storage solutions
- Azure Virtual Machines: infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) solution for running virtual machines in the cloud.
- Azure Virtual Networks: allows for secure and isolated communication between virtual machines and other network resources.
- Azure Storage Solutions: provides scalable, highly available, and durable storage for various data types, including blobs, files, tables, and queues.
Understanding the basics of Azure virtual machines, virtual networks, and storage solutions is important for the Microsoft Exam AZ-900 as they form a crucial part of the Azure platform and are covered in the exam. These concepts are also essential for building and deploying cloud-based solutions in Azure.
7. Familiarize yourself with Azure databases and Azure DevOps.
- Azure Databases offers various managed database solutions, including Azure SQL Database, Azure Cosmos DB, and Azure Database for MySQL.
- Azure DevOps: a suite of tools for continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD), including Azure Boards, Azure Repos, Azure Pipelines, and Azure Test Plans.
Familiarizing yourself with Azure databases and Azure DevOps is important for the Microsoft Exam AZ-900 as they play a crucial role in the development and deployment of cloud-based solutions in Azure. These concepts are also covered in the exam and are essential for enabling collaboration and continuous improvement in the software development process.
Microsoft Azure Fundamentals Exam AZ-900 Study Resources
We shall now illustrate a step by step guide to help you prepare for the Microsoft Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900) exam.
Get familiar with the Exam Objectives
The test outline is probably the most crucial component of thoroughly comprehending the subjects when preparing for the certification. The following is a list of the exam’s subjects and weights. With relevant hyperlinks and sections, the key content domains are displayed. Make use of these sources to better understand the subject. Nonetheless, the following subjects are included on the AZ-900 exam:
Microsoft Azure Fundamentals Exam AZ-900 Updated Course Outline!
Module 1 – Describe cloud concepts (25–30%)
The Microsoft Azure Fundamentals Exam cover the latest and updated exam guide including –
Describe cloud computing
- Define cloud computing (Microsoft Documentation: What is cloud computing? and Types of Cloud Computing)
- Describe the shared responsibility model (Microsoft Documentation: Shared Responsibility Model in Cloud)
- 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)
Microsoft Learning Platform
The best way to start preparing is by using the Microsoft learning platform. So, make sure to visit Microsoft’s official website. For the AZ-900 exam, it’s wise to start with the most reliable source to get accurate information. You can find all the resources you need and get all the essential details about the AZ-900 exam there.
Microsoft Documentation
The next and the most important learning resource is the official Microsoft Documentation which has been listed to help you prepare better. Additionally, you’ll learn about the various sizes or capacities of different Azure services. This will help you manage your time efficiently while gaining valuable knowledge about Azure technologies directly from the experts.
Microsoft AZ-900 Official Documentation: Explore Microsoft Azure Cloud Concepts
Instructor Led Training
Microsoft provides instructor-led training offers online learning and AZ-900 training sessions by experts certified instructors. These training sessions are highly beneficial for people with busy schedules. Plus, they are completely flexible online classes that you can arrange to fit your availability and learn at your own speed.
Get ready to start preparing with Microsoft Azure Fundamentals AZ-900 Online Course and expert guidance to boost your chances to qualify AZ-900 Exam.
Books are your Best Friends!
Books are a crucial part of getting ready for the AZ-900 certification. When you study for the exam, you might have questions or feel uncertain, but good books can help you overcome this fear. There are some trusted books available that have been helping people prepare for the AZ-900 exam for a long time. So, our advice is to find these books from reputable sources.
- Firstly, refer Microsoft Azure For Beginners by Adney Ainsley
- Secondly, you must refer Microsoft Azure Ultimate Beginners Guide by Kennan Bismar
- Also, refer Microsoft Azure Tutorial for Beginners by Dennis Hutten
- Lastly, refer Beginner’s Guide to Microsoft Azure
This is the official exam guide for the Microsoft Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900) Exam, written by Jim Cheshire. It provides high-quality preparation to help you get ready for the exam, improve your performance, and enhance your skills for better job prospects. The guide concentrates on the essential areas of knowledge that today’s IT professionals should have to show they are experts in using Microsoft Azure for cloud services.
Join Forums or Study Group
It’s a good idea to consider joining online forums and study groups while preparing for the exam. These forums and groups can be very beneficial for your exam preparation. However, whether or not you join them is a personal choice.
Being part of a study group helps you connect with others who are on the same journey. It also allows you to ask questions and clarify doubts about topics you find challenging.
Evaluate Your Skills
Taking the AZ-900 Practice test shows you how well you’re ready for the real exam. It also helps you understand what you’re good at and what you need to improve. It’s a good idea to use these practice exams only after you’ve covered all the topics in the syllabus. Be careful to choose practice papers from trusted and reliable sources. Let’s Start Practicing with Microsoft Azure A-900 Practice Exam Now!
Basic Terms for AZ-900 Exam Preparation
Here are some common terms and definitions that you may encounter while studying for the Microsoft Azure AZ-900 exam:
- Cloud Computing: The delivery of computing services, including servers, storage, databases, networking, software, analytics, and intelligence, over the internet.
- Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): A cloud computing model where users can rent computing infrastructure, such as virtual machines, servers, storage, and networking, from a provider.
- Platform as a Service (PaaS): A cloud computing model where users can rent a platform to develop, run, and manage applications without having to build and maintain their own infrastructure.
- Software as a Service (SaaS): A cloud computing model where users can rent software applications and access them over the internet without having to install or maintain them.
- Azure: Microsoft’s cloud computing platform that offers a wide range of cloud services, including compute, storage, databases, analytics, networking, and more.
- Virtual Machine (VM): A software emulation of a computer system that can run an operating system and applications like a physical machine.
- Azure Portal: A web-based console for managing and monitoring Azure resources.
- Azure Resource Manager (ARM): A management layer for deploying and managing Azure resources.
- Azure Storage: A scalable cloud storage solution that can be used for files, blobs, queues, and tables.
- Azure App Service: A platform for developing, deploying, and scaling web, mobile, and API applications.
- Azure Functions: A serverless compute service that allows you to run code on-demand without having to provision or manage servers.
- Azure Active Directory (Azure AD): A cloud-based identity and access management service that enables users to sign in and access resources from any location.
- Azure Backup: A service that provides backup and restore capabilities for Azure virtual machines, on-premises servers, and SQL databases.
- Azure Site Recovery: A service that helps you keep your applications running during planned or unplanned outages by orchestrating replication and failover of virtual machines.
- Azure Virtual Network: A logically isolated network within Azure that allows you to securely connect Azure resources and on-premises resources.
