Latest Microsoft Azure Certification Paths in 2022

Azure Certifications authenticate candidates’ proficiency for the dedicated cloud roles. There are plenty of Azure Certifications available and it seems confusing to know which one is most suitable for your needs. Let’s first understand the significance and you might be wondering which certification is right for you.

Why Azure Certifications

Azure is the top leading cloud service provider in the cloud market. The demand for cloud solutions is continuously growing, and most organizations and businesses, whether small or well renowned, are moving their business into the cloud. It directly leads to the demand for cloud professionals too. Microsoft provides certifications to those that Microsoft thinks are perfect for that specific job role. Microsoft certification holds value, and most companies prefer their employees to get them in their resumes.

Latest Microsoft Azure Certifications Paths

The latest role-based Azure certifications set up a learning path ranging from the Azure Fundamentals level to Specialty level Certifications. These learning paths are extremely useful for those candidates who intend to specialize in a specific domain of Azure. Moreover, these learning paths not just assist you to pass the Azure certification exams but also enable you to authenticate your skills in real-world Cloud environments. This is because the exams include even the trickiest possible questions that aptly judge the candidates’ proficiency in Azure.

The following list highlights all the Microsoft Azure Certification Paths:

Fundamentals-Level Certifications

• Microsoft Certified Fundamentals (AZ-900)
• Microsoft Certified Azure Data Fundamentals (DP-900)
• Microsoft Certified Azure AI Fundamentals (AI-900)
• Microsoft Security, Compliance, and Identity Fundamentals Azure (SC-900)

Associate-Level Certifications

• Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104)
• Microsoft Certified: Azure Developer Associate (AZ-204)
• Microsoft Azure Data Scientist Associate (DP-100)
• Microsoft Azure Data Engineer Associate (DP-203)
• Microsoft Certified: Azure Database Administrator Associate (DP-300)
• Microsoft Certified: Azure Security Engineer Associate (AZ-500)
• Microsoft Certified: Azure Stack Hub Operator Associate (AZ-600)
• Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Engineer Associate (AI-102)
• Microsoft Data Analyst Associate (DA-100)
• Windows Server Hybrid Administrator Associate (AZ-800 & AZ-801)

Expert-Level Certifications

• Microsoft Certified Azure Solutions Architect Expert (AZ-303)
• Microsoft Azure Architect Design (AZ-304)
• Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert (AZ-305)
• Microsoft Certified: DevOps Engineer Expert (AZ-400)

Specialty-Level Certifications

• Microsoft Certified: Azure IoT Developer Specialty (AZ-220)
• Microsoft Certified: Azure for SAP Workloads Specialty (AZ-120)
• Microsoft Certified Azure Cosmos DB Developer Specialty (DP-420)
• Azure Windows Virtual Desktop Specialty (AZ-140)

Fundamentals-Level Certifications

Microsoft Certified Fundamentals (AZ-900)

Recognized as the most basic level of Azure certifications, Azure Fundamentals certification validates candidates’ knowledge of cloud concepts, core Azure services, fundamentals of cloud security, SLA, privacy, compliance, trust, lifecycle, and Azure pricing.

This fundamental-level certification is designed for those candidates willing to work with Cloud-based solutions and services. Passing this certification makes sure that candidates are equipped with an elementary knowledge of all fundamental Cloud concepts, Azure services, security, privacy, workloads, pricing, and support. Also, these candidates become familiar with important concepts of networking, computing, storage, application support, and application development.

Apart from testing the fundamental Cloud knowledge, this certification can be used to prepare candidates for succeeding Azure role-based certifications.

Any candidate even though belonging to a non-technical background can prepare for this certification. After passing this certification, the job roles include business users, administrators, developers, and technology managers.

Here are the pre-requisites:

• Fundamental knowledge of Azure platform
• Fundamental knowledge in cloud computing technology

Skills measured and exam weightage:

• Core Azure services (15-20%)
• Core solutions and management tools on Azure (10-15%)
• Cloud concepts (20-25%)
• Identity, governance, privacy, and compliance features (15-20%)
• Security and network security features (10-15%)
• Azure cost management and Service Level Agreements (10-15%)

Microsoft Certified Azure Data Fundamentals (DP-900)

Microsoft Azure Data Fundamentals is designed for those beginners who work with the data in the cloud to authenticate their elementary skills of Azure data services. It is known that this certification encompasses all the elementary core data concepts. It validates candidates’ knowledge of cloud concepts, security, services, workloads, and pricing in Azure.  If you want to align into the Azure certification path but are unaware of cloud concepts then this certification is appropriate for you.

Candidates willing to appear for this certification exam must possess elementary knowledge of core data concepts as well as the way they are executed through Microsoft Azure data services. Moreover, the candidates should be acquainted with the theories of relational as well as non-relational data, and various types of data workloads like analytical or transactional.

Passing this certification allows candidates to prepare for other Azure role-based certifications like Azure Data Engineer Associate or Azure Database Administrator Associate. However, it is not a prerequisite for them.

DP-900 Exam Details

• Exam duration: 90 minutes
• Exam type: Multiple Choice examination
• Number of questions: 40-60
• Exam fee: $99
• Exam Validity: Lifetime
• Exam languages: English, Japanese, Korean, and Simplified Chinese

Skills Measured along with exam weightage:

• Core data concepts (15-20%)
• How to work with relational data on Azure (25-30%)
• How to work with non-relational data on Azure (25-30%)
• Analytics workload on Azure (25-30%)

Microsoft Certified Azure AI Fundamentals (AI-900)

AI Fundamentals certification incorporates all the elementary knowledge of Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) concepts in Azure. This certification is designed for beginners in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning.

Passing this certification makes sure candidates hold foundational knowledge of the aforementioned concepts and related concepts of Microsoft Azure services. It presents an opportunity to validate knowledge of common AI and ML workloads and the way to deploy them on Azure.

Basic knowledge of a programming language would be beneficial; but, it’s not compulsory. A superior level of technical knowledge is not required to appear for this certification. So, software engineering and data science experiences are not needed.

Candidates who pass this certification get prepared for some other Azure role-based certifications such as Azure AI Engineer Associate or Azure Data Scientist Associate. Job roles include data scientists, AI Engineers, and Azure developers.

Skills Measured and Exam Weightage:

• Fundamental principles of ML on Azure (30-35%)
• AI workloads and considerations (15-20%)
• Computer vision workloads on Azure (15-20%)
• Natural Language Processing (NLP) workloads on Azure (15-20%)
• Conversational AI workloads on Azure (15-20%)

AI-900 Exam Details:

• Exam duration: 90 minutes
• Exam type: Multiple Choice examination
• Number of questions: 40-60
• Exam fee: $99
• Exam Validity: Lifetime
• Exam languages: English, Japanese, Korean, and Simplified Chinese

Microsoft Security, Compliance, and Identity Fundamentals Azure (SC-900)

For those candidates willing to know the basics of security, compliance, and identity (SCI) over the cloud-based and associated Microsoft services, they can go for this certification. It is highly suitable for IT professionals and business stakeholders. Also, it is an appropriate choice for students who want to learn more about Microsoft security, compliance, and identity solutions.

The learning path of the SC-900 certification is such that it trains candidates about the Azure Active Directory as the tool for identity and access management within the Microsoft Cloud. Also, it provides training about the potentials of Microsoft Security solutions. The same encompasses the network and platform abilities of Azure, Azure Security management, and Sentinel.

The concluding phase of this certification teaches compliance solutions in Microsoft which comprise of Compliance center, Information protection and governance within the Microsoft 365, audit, Insider Risk, and eDiscovery solutions.

SC-900 Exam Details:

• Exam duration: 180 minutes
• Exam type: Multiple Choice examination
• Number of questions: 110
• Exam fee: $99
• Exam languages: English

Associate-Level Certifications

Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104)

The foremost certification in the Associate level category i.e. Azure Administrator certification serves as a foundation stone for those professionals who already possess Azure fundamental knowledge. It trains candidates to implement and manage the storage, computing, identity, governance, and virtual networks within a cloud. Moreover, Azure administrators are made capable enough to provision and supervise the resources in the cloud. Before appearing for the learning of this certification, the candidates must be experienced in how to use Azure Portal, Azure CLI, Power Shell, and ARM Templates.

Skills Measured and Exam Weightage:

• Manage Azure identities and governance (15-20%)
• Implement and manage storage (15-20%)
• Configure and manage virtual networking (25-30%)
• Deploy and manage Azure compute resources (20-25%)
• Monitor and back up Azure resources (10-15%)

AZ-104 Exam Details:

• Exam duration: 150 minutes
• Exam type: Multiple Choice examination
• Number of questions: 40-60
• Exam fee: $165
• Exam validity: 2 years
• Exam languages: English, Japanese, Korean, and Simplified Chinese

Microsoft Certified: Azure Developer Associate (AZ-204)

An Azure Developer is the one who handles designing, building, testing, and maintenance of cloud applications and services. To work as an Azure Developer Associate, the candidates must be able to program in a language that is being supported by Azure. Furthermore, the candidates must be proficient in Azure PowerShell, Azure CLI, Azure SDKs, data connections, data storage options, app authentication, APIs, and authorization. All these skills are being taught through this certification.

Especially, it is designed for Azure developers to authenticate their skills of designing and developing applications on the Azure platform.

The key concepts covered are as follows:

• Cloud development requirements, definition, and design
• Development, deployment, and maintenance
• Performance tuning and monitoring

Skills Measured and Exam Weightage:

• Develop Azure compute solutions (25-30%)
• Develop for Azure storage (15-20%)
• Implement Azure security (20-25%)
• Monitor, troubleshoot, and optimize Azure solutions (15-20%)
• Connect to and consume Azure services and third-party services (15-20%)

AZ-204 Exam Details:

• Exam duration: 150 minutes
• Exam type: Multiple Choice examination
• Number of questions: 40-60
• Exam fee: $165
• Exam validity: 2 years
• Exam languages: English, Japanese, Korean, and Simplified Chinese

Microsoft Azure Data Scientist Associate (DP-100)

Data Scientists oversee data science and employ machine learning workloads across Azure. To work as an Azure Data Scientist, the candidates must be knowledgeable in data science and experienced enough on how to use the Azure Data bricks and Azure Machine Learning.

This certification is highly suitable for those candidates who aspire to implement their knowledge of data science and machine learning to execute machine learning workloads across Azure, through Azure Machine Learning Service. They need to go through planning and developing an appropriate working environment for data science workloads across Azure, executing data experiments, and training the predictive ML models.

The prominent job role includes management, optimization, and deployment of machine learning models into production.

Here are the pre-requisites:

• Basics of Microsoft Azure
• Understanding of data science that includes how to prepare data, and train machine learning models through common machine learning libraries like PyTorch, Scikit-Learn, or Tensorflow.
• Experience in writing Python code to work with data, through libraries like Pandas, Numpy, and Matplotlib.

Skills Measured and Exam Weightage:

• Run experiments and train models (20–25%)
• Manage Azure resources for machine learning (25–30%)
• Implement responsible machine learning (5–10%)
• Deploy and operationalize machine learning solutions (35–40%)

DP-100 Exam Details:

• Exam duration: 180 minutes
• Exam type: Multiple Choice examination
• Number of questions: 40-60
• Exam fee: $165
• Passing score: 700

Microsoft Azure Data Engineer Associate (DP-203)

Azure Data Engineers are responsible for tasks like integration, transformation, and consolidation of data from different data systems for creating analytics solutions.

Passing this certification equips the candidates with the knowledge on how to prepare data engineer designs. They also learn how to implement, optimize, and supervise data platforms to fulfill the data pipeline requirements. Furthermore, they are made responsible enough to assist stakeholders to comprehend the data through investigation. They become experts at maintaining secure and compliant data processing pipelines through various relevant tools and techniques. They are also capable to comprehend data architecture patterns and parallel processing.

The question may arise i.e. who should appear for the DP-203 certification exam. Well, it is pertinent for those candidates who are working in Data Engineering on Microsoft Azure with strong knowledge of data processing languages like Python, SQL, or Scala.

Skills Measured and Exam Weightage:

• Design and implement data security (10-15%)
• Design and implement data storage (40-45%)
• Design and develop data processing (25-30%)
• Optimize data storage and data processing (10-15%)

DP-203 Exam Details:

• Exam duration: 150 minutes
• Exam type: Multiple Choice and Multi-Response Questions
• Number of questions: 40-60
• Exam fee: $165
• Exam languages: English
• Pass Score: 700

Microsoft Certified: Azure Database Administrator Associate(DP-300)

Azure Database Administrators are responsible for implementing and managing the platform solutions through Microsoft Azure Data Services and Microsoft SQL Server. They use different tools and methods for daily operations that also include the management with T-SQL.

The DP-300 exam is designed for data management specialists and database administrators.

Skills Measured and Exam Weightage:

• Plan and implement data platform resources (15-20%)
• Implement a secure environment (15-20%)
• Monitor and optimize operational resources (15-20%)
• Plan and implement a High Availability and Disaster Recovery (HADR) environment (15-20%)
• Perform automation of tasks (10-15%)
• Perform administration by using T-SQL (10-15%)
• Optimize query performance (5-10%)

DP-300 Exam Details:

• Exam duration: 150 minutes
• Exam type: Multiple Choice examination
• Number of questions: 40-60
• Exam fee: $165
• Exam validity: 2 years
• Exam languages: English, Japanese, Korean, and Simplified Chinese

Microsoft Certified: Azure Security Engineer Associate (AZ-500)

An Azure Security Engineer is the one who supervises identity and access, executes security controls and threat protection, and defends data/applications/networks in the cloud. These professionals are familiar with networking, virtualization, and cloud N-tier architecture to plan diverse security solutions that help overcome any threat or vulnerability.

The AZ-500 certification authenticates candidates’ skills to employ platform protection, manage identity and access, secure data and applications, and supervise security operations. The learning path of this exam includes training through objective-based practice tests. These tests determine the performance of candidates and give an idea of where to improve.

Skills Measured and Exam Weightage:

• Manage identity and access (30-35%)
• Implement platform protection (15-20%)
• Manage security operations (25-30%)
• Secure data and applications (20-25%)

AZ-500 Exam Details:

• Exam duration: 150 minutes
• Exam type: Multiple Choice examination
• Number of questions: 40-60
• Exam fee: $165
• Exam validity: 2 years
• Exam languages: English, Japanese, Korean, and Simplified Chinese

Microsoft Certified: Azure Stack Hub Operator Associate(AZ-600)

The AZ-600 examination is designed for the Azure administrators or Azure Stack Hub operators who convey cloud services to customers or end-users through Azure Stack Hub. These professionals deliver cloud services to customers or end-users from their datacenters through the Azure Stack Hub.

When you pass this certification, you are equipped with enough experience on how to manage and operate Azure Stack Hub environments. Also, it equips candidates with an understanding of how the Azure Stack Hub facilitates DevOps processes as well as the hybrid development model.

Here are the pre-requisites:

• Knowledge of networking, virtualization, and identity management
• Experience with virtualization, operating systems, storage structures, cloud infrastructure, and networking
• Knowledge of on-premises virtualization technologies like VMs and virtual networking
• Knowledge of network configuration that includes Domain Name System (DNS), TCP/IP, virtual private networks (VPNs), encryption technologies, and firewalls,
• Knowledge of Active Directory concepts like forests, domains, and domain controllers

Modules covered:

• Overview of Azure Stack Hub
• Provide Services for Azure Stack Hub
• Implementation of Data Center Integration
• Managing Identity and Access for Azure Stack Hub
• Managing the Azure Stack Hub Infrastructure

Skills measured and exam weightage:

• Provide services for Azure Stack Hub (30-35%)
• Manage identity and access (10-15%)
• Implement data center integration (15-20%)
• Manage infrastructure (30-35%)

AZ-600 Exam Details:

• Exam duration: 120 minutes
• Exam type: Scenario-based single answer questions, multiple-choice questions, arrange in the correct sequence type questions, and drag & drop type questions.
• Number of questions: 110
• Exam fee: $165
• Exam validity: 2 years
• Exam languages: English, Japanese, Korean, and Simplified Chinese

Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Engineer Associate(AI-102)

Those candidates who aspire to become a part of the revolutionary world of Artificial Intelligence and become successful Azure AI engineers can enroll for this certification. When you pass this certification, you become capable enough to build, manage, and install AI solutions to uphold Azure Cognitive Services as well as Microsoft Bot Framework.

Modules covered:

• Introduction to Azure Cognitive Services
• Creating Bots
• Enhancing Bots with QnA Maker
• Learning on how to create Language Understanding Functionality through LUIS
• Enhancing your Bots through LUIS
• Integrating Cognitive Services with Bots and Agents

Skills Measured and Exam Weightage:

• Plan and implement data platform resources (15-20%)
• Implement a secure environment (15-20%)
• Monitor and optimize operational resources (15-20%)
• Perform administration by using T-SQL (10-15%)
• Plan and implement a High Availability and Disaster Recovery (HADR) environment (15-20%)
• Perform automation of tasks (10-15%)
• Optimize query performance (5-10%)

AI-102 Exam Details:

• Exam duration: 180 minutes
• Exam type: Multiple Choice examination
• Number of questions: 40-60
• Exam fee: $165
• Exam validity: 2 years
• Exam languages: English, Japanese, Korean, and Simplified Chinese

Microsoft Data Analyst Associate (DA-100)

Azure Data Analyst Associates look after tasks like loading, transforming, and investigation of data. With this certification, candidates become capable to create evocative insights with the help of the massive assortment of raw data. Also, they become capable to analyze the data and create usable data visualizations. They are experts at creating the process, data models, charts, graphs, and utilize machine learning models and DAX expressions. Especially, this Azure certification learning path is useful for everybody who wants to analyze data and learn to carry data operations for an organization.

Modules covered:

• Getting started with Microsoft Data Analytics
• Preparing Data in Power BI
• Clean, Transform, and Load Data in Power BI
• Designing a Data Model in Power BI
• Creating Measures using DAX in Power BI
• Optimizing Model Performance
• Create Reports
• Creating Dashboards
• Creating Paginated Reports in Power BI
• Performing Advanced Analytics/li>
• Creating and Managing Workspaces
• Managing Datasets in Power BI
• Implementing Row-Level Security

Skills Measured and Exam Weightage

• Prepare the data (20-25%)
• Model the data (25-30%)
• Visualize the data (20-25%)
• Analyze the data (10-15%)
• Deploy and maintain deliverables (10-15%)

Windows Server Hybrid Administrator Associate (AZ-800 & AZ-801)

Before appearing for the AZ-800 & AZ-801 exams, candidates must possess expertise on how to configure and manage Windows Server on-premises, hybrid, and infrastructure as a service (IaaS) platform workloads.

When it comes to responsibilities of this job role, it includes integrating Windows Server environments through Azure services as well as managing Windows Server in on-premises networks. Windows Server Hybrid Administrator Associates administer and maintain Windows Server IaaS workloads in Azure. They are also responsible for migrating and deploying workloads on Azure. Usually, these professionals collaborate with enterprise architects, Azure administrators, network engineers, and Microsoft 365 administrators.

The learning path is such that candidates are made familiar with administering core and advanced Windows Server workloads as well as services through the cloud, hybrid, and on-premises technologies. Also, it teaches how to execute and manage on-premises and hybrid solutions like identity, computing, management, storage, and network.

Deep experience working with Windows Server operating systems is required to better understand the modules in this certification’s learning path.

Now let’s go through the individual details of each of these exams:

Administering Windows Server Hybrid Core Infrastructure(AZ-800)

The AZ-800 certification authenticates your systems administration skills working with Windows Server in Microsoft Azure Cloud environments and on-premises environments.

The beginning module i.e. introduction gives you glimpses on how to develop a careful perspective regarding how to administer Windows Server Hybrid Core infrastructure. The initial phase of the learning phase explores the Microsoft role-based certification ecosystem. The succeeding modules discuss the functioning of the Hybrid Cloud Administration. The concluding modules explain how to develop a certification study strategy to pass the AZ-800 exam. After completing this learning path, candidates possess enough skills to learn the modules involved in the AZ-801 exam.

Skills measured and exam weightage:

• Manage Windows Servers and Workloads in a Hybrid Environment (10-15%)
• Deploy and Manage AD DS in On-premises and Cloud Environments (30-35%)
• Manage Virtual Machines and Containers (15-20%)
• Manage Storage and File Services (15-20%)
• Implement and Manage an On-premises and Hybrid Networking Infrastructure (15-20%)

Configuring Windows Server Hybrid Advanced Services(AZ-801)

Candidates who have passed the AZ-801 exam can put together advanced Windows Server services through hybrid, on-premises, and cloud technologies. The learning path of the exam is uniquely designed to make sure professionals can implement and manage on-premises and hybrid solutions. These solutions comprise performing tasks associated with security, monitoring, migration, troubleshooting, high availability, and disaster recovery.

After completing this certification, the professionals can effectively use administrative tools and technologies like Windows Admin Center, Azure Arc, PowerShell, Microsoft Defender for Identity, Azure Security Center, Azure Automation Update Management, Azure Monitor, and Azure Migrate. The professionals are expected to successfully implement and manage identity, computing, networking, and storage solutions.

Skills measured and exam weightage:

• Implement and Manage Windows Server High Availability (10-15%)
• Migrate Servers and Workloads (20-25%)
• Implement Disaster Recovery (10-15%)
• Secure Windows Server On-premises and Hybrid Infrastructures (25-30%)
• Monitor and Troubleshoot Windows Server Environments (20-25%)

Expert-Level Certifications

Microsoft Certified Azure Solutions Architect Expert (AZ-303)

Through this certification course, candidates are taught how to translate business prerequisites into reliable, scalable, and secure solutions. The key lessons are automation, virtualization, storage, networking, identity, security, application infrastructure, and data platform. Prominently, the learning path describes how decisions in each of the mentioned areas influence on entire solution.

Modules covered:

• Implementing VMs for Windows and Linux
• Automating Deployment and Configuration of Resources
• Implementing Load Balancing and Network Security
• Implementing Virtual Networking
• Implementing Storage Accounts
• Implementing Azure Active Directory
• Implementing and Managing Hybrid Identities
• Implementing and Managing Azure Governance
• Implementing Cloud Infrastructure Monitoring
• Managing Workloads in Azure
• Implementing an Application Infrastructure
• Managing Security for Applications
• Implementing Container-Based Applications
• Implementing Azure SQL Databases
• Implementing NoSQL Databases

Skills measured and exam weightage:

• Implement Management and Security Solutions (25-30%)
• Implement and monitor an Azure Infrastructure (50-55%)
• Implement and Manage Data Platforms (10-15%)
• Implement Solutions for Apps (10-15%)

AZ-303 Exam Details:

• Exam duration: 150 minutes
• Exam type: Multiple Choice examination
• Number of questions: 40-60
• Exam fee: $165

Microsoft Azure Architect Design (AZ-304)

To work as a Microsoft Azure Architect Design professional, he/she must possess advanced knowledge and experience in different facets of IT operations. These operations are virtualization, networking, security, identity, disaster recovery, business continuity, budgeting, data management, and governance. The training on how to work on all these IT operations is being imparted in the AZ-304 certification learning path.

Enough knowledge is given to make sure candidates become skilled in Azure development, Azure administration, and DevOps. Furthermore, they hold expert-level proficiency in a minimum of one of the mentioned domains. Also, this role demands the administration of how decisions in each area influence on overall solution. The same is being taught in the AZ-304 learning path.

Apart from the mentioned aspects, candidates are thoroughly prepared to work effectively with the cloud DBAs, cloud administrators, and clients for executing the solutions. If you want to efficiently work as a Microsoft Azure Architect Design professional, you must have a minimum of 6 months of hands-on experience on how to administer Azure.

Skills measured and exam weightage:

• Design identity and security (25-30%)
• Design monitoring (10-15%)
• Design data storage (15-20%)
• Design infrastructure (25-30%)
• Design business continuity (10-15%)

Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert (AZ-305)

Azure Solutions Architect Experts are supposed to administer the design and implementation of solutions that operate on Microsoft Azure. They are skilled at working on IT operations like virtualization, networking, computing, storage, disaster recovery, business continuity, security, identity, budgeting, data platform, and governance. The learning path of AZ-305 certification prepares candidates to efficiently work on all these IT operations.

After passing the AZ-305 certification exam, professionals can advise stakeholders and translate business requirements into consistent, scalable, and secure cloud solutions.

Following requirements must be met to pass the AZ-305 exam:

• Make sure you have passed the AZ-104 exam before you appear for the AZ-305 exam.
• You should be experienced in Azure development, Azure Administration, and DevOps processes are required.
• You should have passed the AZ-303and AZ-304 exams before they retire and also pass the Exam AZ-305 (beta).

Skills Measured and Exam Weightage:

• Design data storage solutions (25-30%)
• Design identity, governance, and monitoring solutions (25-30%)
• Design infrastructure solutions (25-30%)
• Design business continuity solutions (10-15%)

Microsoft Certified: DevOps Engineer Expert (AZ-400)

The prime focus of the AZ-400 certification is the design and implementation of Microsoft DevOps Solutions. Its learning path assists candidates to depict skills like implementing, developing, and administering source control of the Azure DevOps applications. Enough technical skills and practical experience are imparted on all the aforementioned aspects. This level of proficiency helps candidates to validate their skills as Azure DevOps professionals and Azure DevOps Engineers.

If you want to become a Microsoft Certified: Azure DevOps Engineer Expert, it is inevitable to obtain the Azure Developer Associate or Azure Administrator Associate certification.

Before appearing for the AZ-400 certification course, it is recommended to possess experience working with processes, people, and technologies to convey business value consistently. Also, you should be acquainted with Azure Administration and Azure Development; and have expertise in a minimum of one of these two domains.

After successfully passing the AZ-400 exam, you can effectively handle a lot of responsibilities. These include the design and implementation of plans for collaboration, infrastructure, code, security, source control, continuous integration, compliance, delivery, testing, monitoring, and feedback.

To make sure candidates attain the exact idea of the actual exam, the questions in the included practice tests are identical to that of the actual certification exam.

Modules covered:

• DevOps Fundamentals
• Shell Scripting with PowerShell
• Infrastructure as Code
• Config Management and Automation
• Event-Driven Serverless Functions
• Docker and Kubernetes Deep Dive
• Continuous Integration & Delivery
• DevOps Strategy and Culture

Skills Measured and exam weightage:

• Develop an instrumentation strategy (5-10%)
• Develop a security and compliance plan (10-15%)
• Develop a Site Reliability Engineering (SRE) strategy (5-10%)
• Manage source control (10-15%)
• Define and implement continuous integration (20-25%)
• Facilitate communication and collaboration (10-15%)
• Define and implement continuous delivery and release management strategy (10-15%)

AZ-400 Exam Details:

• Exam duration: 150 minutes
• Exam type: Multiple Choice examination
• Number of questions: 40-60
• Exam fee: $165
• Exam validity: 2 years
• Exam languages: English, Japanese, Korean, and Simplified Chinese

Specialty-Level Certifications

Microsoft Certified: Azure IoT Developer Specialty (AZ-220)

Earning this certification validates you know how to employ the Azure services that create an IoT solution. In this respect, the IoT solution can include data processing, data analysis, data storage options, and platform-as-a-service alternatives. IoT Developers should be capable to determine Azure IoT service configuration settings in the code part of an IoT solution. For that, this certification plays a vital role. You can become a Microsoft Certified Azure IoT Developer after earning this certification.

The learning path of this certification includes training on creating and upholding cloud and edge portions of Microsoft Azure IoT solutions.

Here are its pre-requisites:

• Fundamental awareness of cloud solutions like SaaS, Iaas, and PaaS.
• Basic software development experience.
• Experience in data processing including data storage.

Modules covered:

• Introduction to IoT and Azure IoT Services
• Devices and Device Communication
• Message Processing and Analytics
• Device Provisioning at Scale
• Insights and Business Integration
• Azure IoT Edge Deployment Process
• Azure IoT Edge Modules and Containers
• Device Management
• Azure Security Center and IoT Security Considerations
• Solution Testing, Diagnostics, and Logging
• Build an IoT Solution with IoT Central
• Develop with Azure Digital Twins

Skills measured and exam details:

• Implement IoT Edge (15-20%)
• Provision and Manage Devices (15-20%)
• Setup the IoT Solution Infrastructure (10-15%)
• Process and Manage Data (15-20%)
• Implement Business Integration (5-10%)
• Monitor, Troubleshoot, and Optimize IoT Solutions (15-20%)
• Implement security (10-15%)

AZ-220 Exam Details:

• Exam duration: 180 minutes
• Exam type: Multiple Choice examination
• Number of questions: 110
• Exam fee: $165
• Exam languages: English, Japanese, Korean, and Simplified Chinese

Microsoft Certified: Azure for SAP Workloads Specialty (AZ-120)

The central aspects of the AZ-120 certification are planning and overseeing Microsoft Azure for SAP workloads. The Azure Architects for SAP workloads own widespread knowledge and experience of the SAP Landscape Certification process as well as industry standards which are explicit to the lasting operation of an SAP solution.

If you want to work as a Microsoft Certified SAP Workloads Specialist for Azure then this certification is vital.  This certification course is intended for Azure Solution Architects and SAP Architects and Engineers. When preparing for this exam, you gain a comprehensive perspective on the SAP workloads on Azure.

Its learning path includes the following key aspects:

• Design and Implementation of an Infrastructure to Support SAP Workloads
• Design and Implementation of High Availability and Disaster Recovery (HA/DR)
• Migrating SAP Workloads to Azure
• Maintaining SAP Workloads on Azure

Skills measured and exam weightage:

• Design and Implement an Infrastructure to Support SAP Workloads (25–30%)
• Design and Implement High Availability and Disaster Recovery (HA/DR) (20–25%)
• Migrate SAP Workloads to Azure (25–30%)
• Maintain SAP Workloads on Azure (15–20%)

Modules covered:

• Foundations of SAP on Azure
• SAP Certified Offerings on Azure
• SAP on Azure Reference Architecture
• Planning for Implementing SAP Solutions on Azure
• Planning for Migrating SAP Workloads to Azure
• Implementing Azure VM-based SAP Solutions
• Deploying HANA Large Instances (HLI)
• Migrating SAP Workloads to Azure
• Maintaining SAP on Azure
• Monitoring and Troubleshooting SAP on Azure

AZ-120 Exam Details:

• Exam duration: 150 minutes
• Exam type: Multiple Choice examination
• Number of questions: 40-60
• Exam fee: $165
• Exam validity: 2 years
• Exam languages: English, Japanese, Korean, and Simplified Chinese

Microsoft Certified Azure Cosmos DB Developer Specialty (DP-420)

Through the DP-420 certification, you can design and employ cloud-native applications with the help of Microsoft Azure Cosmos DB.

These professionals create and employ data distribution and data models. They also load data in a database made with the Azure Cosmos DB. Furthermore, they are responsible for optimizing and maintaining the solution. Other responsibilities include integrating the solution with some other Azure services. The DP-420 certification trains candidates to effectively handle all these responsibilities. These professionals aptly know how to design, execute, and supervise solutions considering availability, security, and performance needs.

Before appearing for this, the following requirements should be met:

• Enough knowledge and experience in developing apps for Azure and how to work with Azure Cosmos DB database technologies.
• Knowledge and experience in developing applications through the Core (SQL) API and software development kits (SDKs), creating appropriate index policies and writing efficient queries.
• Experience in how to provision and manage resources in Azure and create server-side objects with JavaScript.
• Ability to interpret read C# or JSON or Java code, and use PowerShell.

The DP-420 Exam tests the following skills:

• Designing and implementing data models
• Designing and implementing data distribution
• The procedure of integrating an Azure Cosmos DB solution
• Optimizing an Azure Cosmos DB solution
• Maintaining an Azure Cosmos DB solution

Skills measured and exam weightage:

• Design and Implement Data Distribution (5–10%)
• Design and Implement Data Models (35–40%)
• Integrate an Azure Cosmos DB Solution (5–10%)
• Maintain an Azure Cosmos DB Solution (25–30%)
• Optimize an Azure Cosmos DB Solution (15–20%)

The examination fee is $165.

Azure Windows Virtual Desktop Specialty (AZ-140)

Candidates appearing for the Azure Windows Virtual Desktop Specialty certification (AZ-140) are Microsoft Azure administrators who are experts in planning, conveying, and overseeing virtual desktop experiences and remote apps, irrespective of the device, on Azure.

Passing the AZ-140 exam makes the candidates competent to handle plenty of tasks. These include installing virtual desktop experiences and apps on Azure, delivering applications on Windows Virtual Desktop, and optimizing them to operate in multi-session virtual environments. For delivering these experiences, they closely work with Azure architects, Azure administrators, and Microsoft 365 administrators.

Here are its pre-requisites:

• Experience in Azure technologies like networking, virtualization, storage, identity, backups, resilience, and disaster recovery.
• Understanding of on-premises virtual desktop infrastructure technologies (because they associate to migration to Windows Virtual Desktop).

Modules covered:

• Implementation of an Azure Virtual Desktop infrastructure
• Management of user environments and apps
• Management of access and security
• Monitoring and maintenance of an Azure Virtual Desktop infrastructure
• The use of Azure Virtual Desktop to deliver remote desktops and apps

Skills measured and exam weightage:

• Plan an Azure Virtual Desktop Architecture (10-15%)
• Implement an Azure Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (25-30%)
• Manage User Environments and Apps (20-25%)
• Manage Access and Security (10-15%)
• Monitor and Maintain an Azure Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (20-25%)

AZ-140 Exam Details:

• Exam duration: 120 minutes
• Exam type: Multiple Choice and Multi-Response questions based examination
• Number of questions: 40-60
• Exam fee: $165
• Pass score: 700
• Exam languages: English

Final Words

If you want to explore the vast field of Microsoft Azure and successfully work in related job roles, it is recommended to obtain the corresponding Azure Certifications. To eliminate confusion and pick up the most appropriate certification, the discussed Microsoft Azure Certification path proves to be extremely useful. It encompasses all the latest Microsoft Azure Certifications.