Microsoft Azure is undoubtedly one of the fastest-growing cloud services in cloud computing that is being adopted by various industries. The surge in demand for cloud-based solutions has led IT professionals to use Azure Certifications to enhance their skillset and employability.
Azure users across the globe have crossed the 1 billion mark. Not only this, over 85% of Fortune 500 companies are currently using Microsoft Azure. In 2022, the platform generated a revenue of about $75.3B! Today, with a 21% share in the cloud computing industry, Azure's market share is one of the most extensively expanding shares compared to other cloud services.
Luckily, you can choose from abundant sources that offer AZ 104 certification. Here, we will cover everything about the Azure administrator roadmap and offer you various certification options, that you can take advantage of!
Who is an Azure Administrator?
An Azure administrator manages, implements, supervises, controls, coordinates, and maintains Microsoft Azure solutions. Azure solutions are related to safety and security, storage, DevOps solutions, networking, and small and large cloud infrastructure. An Azure administrator must also communicate, interact and integrate with other Azure and IT professionals. Microsoft Azure Certifications help you excel in such functionalities, increase earning potential, advance your career, and gain access to new opportunities.
What Does an Azure Administrator Do?
Industries worldwide are looking for Microsoft Azure-certified IT professionals because of their exceptional skills and know-how in cloud computing and related technologies like grid computing, SOA (service-oriented architecture), etc. Consequently, Microsoft Azure upskills professionals, known as Azure administrators, to work on the cloud and manage these services. The key roles and responsibilities of Azure administrators are the following:
- Troubleshooting, managing, resolving, and deploying Azure solutions
- Configuring Azure services according to the key objectives and needs of the organization
- Maintaining Azure profiles and subscriptions, setting up private and public cloud environments, and designing space in the cloud environment
- Balancing workloads and implementing cost-effective cloud systems
- Managing and configuring virtual machines and creating backups to provide disaster recovery.
- Protecting data against threats and unauthorized access.
Who Should Go for Azure Administrator Certification?
If you want to embark on the Azure 104 learning path and are familiar with cloud computing, consider getting Azure certified. In other words, cloud professionals who are not yet certified must go for the Azure administrator certification if they have the following.
- In-depth knowledge and experience working on cloud computing services, Microsoft, PowerShell, and Office 365.
- Experience in programming languages used in Azure, including JavaScript, HTML5, and SQL server.
- Subject matter expertise in implementing, managing, and monitoring an organization's Microsoft Azure environment
- Knowledge of key processes like virtual networks, storage, computing, etc.
- Expertise in at least one programming language and open-source frameworks
Microsoft Azure Certification Path
If you are looking for a profound, extensive, and worthwhile career in the cloud computing industry, you must embark on the Azure administrator learning path. It helps you earn recognition, advance your career prospects, validate your technical knowledge, and prepare you for future job roles.
Let us look at all three levels of Azure Certifications that form an integral part of the Microsoft administrator certification path.
A. Fundamental Azure Administrator Certification Roadmap
The Fundamental Certification is for beginners, candidates from non-technical backgrounds, or aspirants who have started learning cloud concepts. You can gain three certifications under the Fundamental Azure Administrator category:
1. AZ-900: Microsoft Azure Fundamentals
Azure Fundamentals covers all the basics and foundational knowledge of cloud services like storage, networking, security, computing, etc. Appearing for this AZ certification is your first step on the Azure administrator roadmap. This exam demonstrates your understanding of cloud concepts, Azure architecture, governance, management, and services.
Although there are no prerequisites for the AZ-900 exam, you should be familiar with essential cloud services and the Azure platform. The primary cost is USD 99 (based on the location). Under this course, the syllabus requires you to describe cloud concepts, Azure architecture and services, and Azure management and governance.
2. AI-900: Microsoft AI Fundamentals
AI Fundamentals help you to be proficient in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) concepts in Azure. You should be well-versed in a programming language. There are no prerequisites for this exam, but you should be familiar with the Azure platform’s essential cloud services. The primary cost is USD 99 (based on the location). The syllabus requires you to describe Artificial Intelligence workloads and considerations, fundamental principles of machine learning, features of computer vision workloads on Azure, and Natural Language Processing (NLP) workloads on Azure.
3. DP-900: Microsoft Azure Data Fundamentals
Azure Data Fundamentals covers all the foundational knowledge of core Microsoft data concepts, cloud concepts, services, security, workloads, and pricing in Azure. There are no prerequisites for this exam, and the primary cost is USD 99 (based on the location). You will learn how to describe core data concepts, an analytics workload on Azure, considerations for working with non-relational data on Azure, and identify considerations for relational data on Azure.
B. Associate Azure Administrator Certification Roadmap
The Associate Azure administrator career path is for candidates familiar with Azure. You are expected to have subject matter expertise in controlling, coordinating, managing, reporting, and implementing Microsoft Azure environment in an organization. These certifications include:
1. AZ-104: Microsoft Azure Administrator Associate
There are several Cloud Computing courses that will teach you how to manage and implement cloud computing, storage, governance, and virtual networks in a cloud. You should be well-versed with Azure Portal, Power Shell, Azure CLI, and ARM Templates. Although there is no hard rule for a pre-requisite, it would be better if you go for AZ-900 first and then the associate exams.
The AZ 104 exam measures your potential to accomplish technical tasks like managing Azure identities; implementing storage; deploying Azure compute resources; managing virtual networking; and monitoring Azure resources.
You should have experience working on Azure for at least six months before you start with the AZ 104 certification path. The basic cost is USD 165 (based on the location). The core concepts under this programme include managing Azure identities and governance, implementing and managing storage, deploying computing resources, configuring virtual networking, and backing up Azure resources.
2. AZ-204: Microsoft Azure Developer Associate
Azure Developer designs, builds, tests, and maintains cloud applications and services. You should have thorough knowledge about a high-level programming language that Azure supports, and it will take you through various phases. You must have 1-2 years of professional development and Microsoft Azure experience. The basic cost is USD 165 (based on the location). The concepts included how to compute, store, secure, optimize, connect, and consumer Azure solutions and third-party services
3. DP-100: Microsoft Azure Data Scientist Associate
As an Azure Data Scientist, you are required to be thorough with data science and experience in using Azure Machine Learning and Azure Databricks. Your course includes designing and preparing a machine-learning solution, exploring data and training models, preparing a deployment model, and retraining a model.
4. DP-203: Microsoft Azure Data Engineer Associate
In this position, you must learn to work on various data systems to build analytics solutions and data pipeline needs. Also, you must help others understand the data by exploring and maintaining compliant data pipelines using different tools and techniques. You would learn everything about data storage and processing with the help of DP-203 course.
5. DP-300: Microsoft Azure Database Administrator Associate
You need to learn how to manage the platform solutions using Microsoft SQL Server and Microsoft Azure Data Services. The core concepts of the Azure Database Administrator certification path include know-how of data platform resources, database resources, automation of tasks, and disaster recovery (HA/DR) environment.
6. PL-300: Microsoft Data Analyst Associate.
Data Analyst deal with analyzing the data and creating easy-to-comprehend data visualizations for their business and organization. You should learn how to prepare, model, visualize, deploy, and analyze the data and deploy and maintain assets.
7. AZ-500: Microsoft Azure Security Engineer Associate.
The primary job of the Azure Security Engineer is to work on security controls, identity and access, threat protection, and protection of data, applications, and networks in the cloud. You should learn how to manage identity and access, secure networking, secure computing, storage, and databases, and manage security operations.
C. Expert Azure Administrator Certification Roadmap
You can enrol for an expert Azure certification if you have good knowledge, including associate-level knowledge of the concept and prior experience. It includes:
1. AZ-305: Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert
The role of Azure Solutions Architect Expert is to advise stakeholders and translate business requirements into desired solutions. You must possess expert-level skills and experience in Azure development and DevOps processes. Microsoft recommends a work experience minimum of six months of hands-on experience administering Azure. The cost is USD 165 (based on the location). The Azure Solution Architect course covers domains like design identity, governance, monitoring solutions, data storage solutions, business continuity solutions, and infrastructure solutions.
2. AZ-400: Microsoft DevOps Engineer Expert
The DevOps Engineer creates software automation pipelines for the entire development and deployment lifecycle in the cloud. Before taking this one, you should be thorough with the Microsoft AZ-104 learning path and should have already cleared one exam, either the AZ-104 or AZ-204 exam. The crucial domains under this exam are configuring processes and communications, implementing source control, building and releasing pipelines, developing a compliance plan, and implementing an instrumentation strategy.
Azure Administrator Skills
Before you enroll for AZ course, you should be able to display the following skills that will help you work as an Azure administrator:
- Teamworking and team management skills
- Soft skills like good communication and interpersonal skills, collaborative skills, problem-solving skills, written skills, and patience
- Technical skills like running virtual machines on the cloud, ensuring compliance, creating and managing data backups
- You should be good at maintaining and implementing storage solutions, securing Azure solutions, and gaining a thorough knowledge of networking tasks and expertise in the Azure networking stack.
- You should have the expertise to mitigate vulnerabilities in Azure, configure Networks, and indulge in resource and log analytics monitoring.
Steps to Become an Azure Administrator
Here is an overview to help you understand the appropriate Azure administrator roadmap and reach the desired goal. You must follow some critical steps before building a Microsoft Azure career!
- Step 1: Get your bachelor’s degree in computer science, IT, software engineering, or a related course and either apply for a master’s or gain a 6-month experience working with Azure
- Step 2: Develop skills in cloud, PowerShell, command-line interface, and Microsoft Azure, and upskill yourself
- Step 3: Get Microsoft Certified starting with Azure Administrator Associate (AZ 104 path) certification.
- Step 4: Update your professional profile, highlight it with the certification, and start looking for a job.
Key Benefits of Azure Administrator Certification
Azure certification path for administrators is for professionals who wish to explore Azure-focused professional opportunities and acquire multiple insights into the upgraded Cloud technology, AI, and encryption details. Being Azure-certified offers you multiple benefits on the professional front. Here are some of the key advantages of following the Azure administrator roadmap.
1. Flourishing Professional Life
You benefit from multiple job opportunities, higher pay scales, better increments, adaptable professional experience, and the freedom to move across various sectors and industries. You can choose from several cloud-oriented professions like Azure, cloud architect, cloud developer, etc. The average Azure architect salary in the USA is $153,637 per year or $73.86 per hour. The average cloud architect salary in the USA is $150,075 per year or $72.15 per hour. Cloud developers in the US typically earn an average salary of $112,368 per year.
2. Upscaled Skills and Expertise
Besides providing educational and professional benefits, following the Microsoft learning path AZ 104 increases your knowledge about the latest cloud and AI technology and polishes your soft and technical skills.
3. Cost Saving
As a qualified Azure expert, you can get your business a sound contract with Microsoft to attain and use the cheaper services and resources. By following the Microsoft Azure administrator learning path, you can work on finances effectively, seek higher deals and discounts, and get the advantage of lower IT expenditures in the industry. Besides, the Microsoft agreement offers reduced rates for software and equipment.
Conclusion
Following the Microsoft Azure administrator certification path can help all cloud job aspirants gain a deep understanding of Azure cloud services and technologies, making them proficient in cloud computing. A Microsoft Azure certificate means you are well-versed in the basics of cloud computing, storage, and networking. Such certifications also help you fit into multiple cloud roles and can lead you to better career prospects. Before getting on the path, you can try out others, like the KnowledgeHut AZ 104 certification, to gain more insights into the platform and its services. So go for it and chase the benefits of a lucrative career in cloud computing.
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