How to start preparing for the AZ-104 Microsoft Azure Administrator certification?
Cloud computing has become one of the most sought-after competencies of the present era. Due to the rapid advancement and adoption of new technologies, cloud servicer providers are also upgrading their certifications. Microsoft Azure is a notable cloud service provider offering a role-based certification model to line up with various work responsibilities in the cloud computing domain. It has recently come up with its AZ-104 Microsoft Azure administration certification, an updated version of the AZ-103 exam. The accreditation aims at validating the candidates’ skills required to become a perfect fit for the azure administrator job role.
If you aspire to become a Microsoft azure administrator, this article’s content will help you start your exam preparation and get through it in a single attempt.
About AZ-104 certification
AZ-104 Microsoft certification exam is a new pathway for candidates planning a career as a certified Microsoft azure administrator. It tests a candidate’s skills to implement, measure, and monitor identity in a cloud environment.
Microsoft has introduced a new AZ-104 certification exam as a replacement for AZ-103 to address the industry’s present needs. It emphasizes more on identities, governance, management & deployment of computing resources.
Who can take the exam?
Before all else, Candidates need to figure out whether they should take the AZ-104 exam or not. AZ-104 exam is designed for those candidates who want to serve in an organization as an azure administrator or who have previous experience as an azure administrator and are looking for upgrading their existing skills.
An azure administrator is accountable for managing and implementing identity, governance, storage in a cloud environment. Apart from this, his responsibilities also include monitoring, provisioning, and adjusting resources at the time of need.
Requirements for the exam
The requirements for the AZ-104 Microsoft Azure Administrator certification exam are as follows:
- A minimum of 6 months of experience administrating Azure
- A thorough understanding of Azure services, security, workload, and governance
- Hands-on experience in using the command-line interface, Azure portal, PowerShell, and ARM templates
Exam details
| Exam Name | Azure Administrator |
| Number of Questions | 40 to 60 |
| Exam Duration | 180 minutes |
| Passing score | 700 (on a scale from 1-1000) |
Preparatory guide for AZ-104 Microsoft Azure administrator certification exam
After going through the AZ-104 certification details, lt is essential to formulate a proper preparation strategy to clear the exam. Some of the crucial tips to kickstart your exam preparation are as follows:
Study the Exam domains
The first step of preparation is to go through the study modules or subtopics covered in the examination. Then you can prioritize the topics as per their percentage of weightage in the exam and score well.
AZ-104 exam covers the following domains:
Domain1: Manage Azure identities and governance
This domain carries 15-20% weightage in the exam. The following subtopics are included in it:
- Manage Azure AD objects
- Manage role-based access control
- Manage the subscription and governance
Domain2: Implement and manage storage
This domain accounts for 10-15% of the questions from the examination. It includes the following subtopics:
- Manage storage accounts
- Manage data in azure storage
- Configure azure files and azure blob storage
Domain3: Deploy and manage Azure compute resources
It is one of the critical domains for the exam perspective and carries a weightage of 25-35%. It includes the following subtopics:
- Configure VMs for high availability and scalability
- Automate deployment and configuration of VMs
- Create and configure VMs
- Create and configure containers
- Create and configure web apps
Domain4: Configure and manage virtual networking
This domain covers the maximum questions (30-35%) in the exam. It includes the following subtopics:
- Implement and manage virtual networking
- Configure name resolution
- Secure access to virtual networks
- Configure load balancing
- Monitor and troubleshoot virtual networking
- Integrate an on-premise network with an Azure virtual network
Domain5: Monitor and backup azure resources
This is the final exam domain of AZ-104 certification and covers 10-15% of questions in the exam. It includes the following subtopics:
- Monitor resources by using Azure monitor
- Implement backup and recovery
The official website of Microsoft provides an exam skills outline. You can download it for a more detailed overview of exam domains and subtopics.
https://query.prod.cms.rt.microsoft.com/cms/api/am/binary/RE4pCWy
Join online training courses offered by learning partners
There is plenty of study materials to cover for candidates opting for self-learning mode. One of the best preparation methods is getting yourself enrolled in an online training course. Choose a reliable AZ-104 training course provider as per your convenience and affordability. Online training courses are cost-effective and provide you hands-on practical skills and industry experience. You can interact with the trainers and clear your doubts during the live sessions.
Go through Microsoft documentation
You can check out official Microsoft documentation to prepare for the AZ-104 exam. Microsoft documentation covers the theoretical portion to understand each exam objective in detail. Find the specific topics from the exam outline and study that doc here:
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/?product=featured
Join Online forums or study groups
Join study groups or online forums to connect with like-minded professionals. Discussions in these groups can help get a new perspective on study material and maintain consistency throughout the preparation phase. It is vital to ensure the reliability of the groups and forums before joining them.
Books for preparation
If you like preparing for the examination through a book, you can purchase the books offered by Microsoft. These books are written by the subject matter experts and help you learn and successfully clear the AZ-104 examination.
Take practice tests to evaluate your progress
Exam preparation is incomplete without taking practice tests or the mock versions of the examination. These are good for self-assessment and help you find out the topics that require your attention. Practice tests also boost your confidence and enable you to manage the time during the examination efficiently.
Take Microsoft official practice test to evaluate your progress here:
During the examination
Exams days can be nerve-cracking for some aspirants. Following directions can help you in maximizing your performance in the exam:
- Keep yourself relaxed during the examination
- Arriving early at the test center will give you sufficient time for other formalities, and you can focus on your exam
- Make sure you take adequate rest before sitting for the exam
Wrapping up
Microsoft has launched the AZ-104 Microsoft Azure certification exam keeping the requirements of the industry in mind. The AZ-104 exam serves as a stepping stone for aspiring Azure administrators. It also comes in useful for employers to hire suitable candidates for job responsibilities. Sheer dedication and consistent practice will help you get through the examination in your first attempt.
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