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Microsoft Azure Certifications are popular amongst both newcomers and experts looking to advance their skillset and further their professions. The same applies to the Microsoft Azure Administrator Exam, also known as AZ-104.

There are a multitude of benefits in addition to its involvement with the most cutting-edge cloud technologies to date. This exam harbors a plethora of valuable information powerful enough to help rookies and seasoned pros advance in their line of work.

If you pass the AZ-104 exam, you will earn the title of Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate. This qualification will enable you to work as an Azure Administrator in any international company.

Put simply, you’ll be in charge of setting up and maintaining an organization’s cloud infrastructure. To help make this a reality, let’s start with the basics.

What is the Microsoft AZ-104 Exam?

The Microsoft Azure AZ-104 exam was designed for individuals who possess in-depth knowledge of building, maintaining, and keeping track of a company’s Microsoft Azure infrastructure. More specifically, this includes storage, security, virtual networks, compute, and governance.

The individual equipped with this skillset will often work as a member of a larger group responsible for putting a company’s cloud infrastructure in place.

 What You Need to Know for the Exam:

  1. A company’s cloud infrastructure is often implemented by a larger team that includes an Azure administrator. You need to have administered Azure for a minimum of six months, and you should have plenty of experience in the workloads, key services, security, and governance of the platform.
  2. Knowledge of PowerShell, the Azure interface, the Azure CLI, and templates for the Azure Resource Manager.

Prepare for the Microsoft AZ-104 Exam

Being certified with the Microsoft Azure-104 exam is critical for those who want to administer and maintain records of a Microsoft Azure environment for a company.

This exam is admin-level and is widely regarded as the starting point for those interested in becoming a member of a larger group tasked with building an organization’s cloud infrastructure.

If you possess any of the following credentials, you will perform well on the Azure-104 exam:

  • MCSA: Windows Server 2012
  • MCSE: Core Infrastructure
  • MCSA: Windows Server 2016

While it’s not easy to prepare for a certification course, if you want to do well, it’s best to follow the advised test-taking method. Observe the following tips and study resources to help you ace the Microsoft AZ-104 exam:

  1. Get Familiar with the Basic Details of the Exam

While this is a given, there are specific steps to do this effectively. Start by examining the Microsoft AZ-104 page on the company’s official website. You’ll find all of the necessary information and Microsoft’s preparatory choices.

concentrated female in IT typing on laptop in workplace

There are anywhere between 40 and 60 questions on the exam, which costs $165 to take. You must pass with at least a score of 700 to become Azure certified.  

2. Utilize the Exam Study Guide

Once you’ve covered the basics of the exam, begin your preparation by referring to the AZ-104 study guide to familiarize yourself with the test’s subject. This guide will help you gain a clearer understanding of the exam’s main ideas and objectives.

It will supply you with a complete overview of the subjects you should focus on during the study process. The topics include:

  • Manage Azure Identities and Governance (Module 1)
  • Implement and Manage Storage (Module 2)
  • Deploy and Manage Azure Compute Resources (Module 3)
  • Implement and Manage Virtual Networking (Module 4)
  • Monitor and Maintain Azure Resources (Module 5)
persons hand on a book studying the material

3. Expand your Knowledge via Microsoft Learning Paths

There are several courses on Microsoft’s learning path with exam-related knowledge. The exam’s official website has many AZ-104 test preparation resources. To best prepare for exams, be sure to understand:

  • The requirements for Azure administrators  
  • Azure identity and government management
  • How to implement and control Azure storage
  • How to manage Azure computing resources
  • How to create and maintain virtual networks
  • How to track and back up Azure resources

4. Enhance your Skills with Microsoft Instructor-led Training

In the Microsoft Azure Administrator course, IT professionals will learn how to manage their Azure subscriptions, manage infrastructure, safeguard user identities, link Azure and on-premises sites, set up virtual networking, implement storage solutions, control network traffic, scale virtual machines, back up and share data, implement web apps and containers, and monitor your solution.

5. Be A Part of Online Study Groups

One of the best resources to prepare for the AZ-104 exam are online study groups. These groups are flooded with fellow test-takers whom you can share your thoughts and ideas with. Ultimately, this will help you to better understand the subject.

person writing on notebook while on a zoom call

Aside from this, it’s possible to come across more study materials and tools that can help you prepare. Study groups also allow you to participate in discussions that contribute to any exam-related doubts you may have.

6. Take Practice Tests

It’s the oldest rule in the book; practice makes perfect. Taking practice tests will help you identify your weak spots and build a strong degree of revision. Practice exams will sharpen your writing abilities in the most efficient way possible.

There are many free sample exams available online to help you prepare for the AZ-104 test.

Nail your IT Certification Exam

While this isn’t exactly a walk in the park, there are plenty of online resources you can use to assist you in your study process. Right before you sit down to take the exam, be sure to review your notes, familiarize yourself with the subjects, and take plenty of AZ-104 practice exams

Improve your abilities to size, provide, alter, and monitor resources, as well as manage and monitor computing, governance, storage, virtual networks, and identity in a cloud environment.

At this point, you’ll be confident in your understanding of all subjects in the Microsoft AZ-104 exam.