Table of Contents
Microsoft Azure Administrator Associate Quick Facts
The Microsoft Azure Administrator Associate certification opens the door to mastering how to manage and optimize Azure resources with confidence. This overview gives you the clarity and structure you need to approach the exam with focus and enthusiasm.
What does the Microsoft Azure Administrator Associate certification validate?
The Microsoft Azure Administrator Associate certification proves your ability to manage Azure resources spanning identities, compute, storage, networking, and monitoring in a cloud-first world. It’s intended for professionals responsible for implementing and overseeing an organization’s Azure environment, ensuring services are secure, resilient, cost-effective, and ready to scale. Whether you administer virtual machines, configure networks, manage identities through Microsoft Entra ID, or fine-tune storage and backup, this certification showcases the skills needed to bring tangible impact to business operations with Azure.
Exam Domains Covered (Click to expand breakdown)
Exam Domain Breakdown
Domain 1: Manage Azure identities and governance (24% of the exam)
Manage Microsoft Entra users and groups
- Create users and groups
- Manage user and group properties
- Manage licenses in Microsoft Entra ID
- Manage external users
- Configure self-service password reset (SSPR)
Summary: This section emphasizes applying user and group management practices in Microsoft Entra ID. You will learn how to create new users, manage group memberships, assign access appropriately, and support secure collaboration with external users. It also includes managing licenses to ensure organizational compliance and enabling features like self-service password reset (SSPR) to improve efficiency and reduce administrative load.
By mastering these topics, you'll understand how identity directly shapes access control and resource usage in Azure. The focus is on blending security and usability so that administrators not only enforce governance policies but also enable smooth collaboration across teams and organizational boundaries.
Manage access to Azure resources
- Manage built-in Azure roles
- Assign roles at different scopes
- Interpret access assignments
Summary: This section demonstrates how Azure’s role-based access control (RBAC) system governs permissions. You’ll work with built-in roles, practice assigning them at subscription, resource group, or resource scope, and analyze assignments to verify that users have correct access levels.
Equipping yourself with this knowledge allows you to design principle-of-least-privilege strategies and avoid overexposure of resources. By properly managing assignments, you reinforce security best practices while ensuring users are empowered to perform their responsibilities confidently.
Manage Azure subscriptions and governance
- Implement and manage Azure Policy
- Configure resource locks
- Apply and manage tags on resources
- Manage resource groups
- Manage subscriptions
- Manage costs by using alerts, budgets, and Azure Advisor recommendations
- Configure management groups
Summary: This section dives into subscription-level governance, focusing on policies, locks, tags, and cost controls. You’ll explore how Azure Policy standardizes compliance, resource locks prevent accidental changes, and tagging organizes resources for clarity in billing and lifecycle management.
You will also learn about subscriptions and management groups for structuring environments at scale, alongside leveraging Azure Advisor recommendations and budgets. Altogether, these skills teach you to maintain order, optimize costs, and enforce guardrails across dynamic cloud environments.
Domain 2: Implement and manage storage (19% of the exam)
Configure access to storage
- Configure Azure Storage firewalls and virtual networks
- Create and use shared access signature (SAS) tokens
- Configure stored access policies
- Manage access keys
- Configure identity-based access for Azure Files
Summary: This section focuses on controlling access to Azure Storage, ensuring the right balance of containment and availability. You’ll learn to configure firewalls and networks for protecting storage accounts and leverage SAS tokens and stored policies for securely sharing access to resources.
Identity-based access for Azure Files further enhances secure collaboration by integrating with Microsoft Entra authentication. Combined with key management, these practices ensure that data is shared confidently and securely across an organization and beyond.
Configure and manage storage accounts
- Create and configure storage accounts
- Configure Azure Storage redundancy
- Configure object replication
- Configure storage account encryption
- Manage data by using Azure Storage Explorer and AzCopy
Summary: This section emphasizes how to build reliable and fault-tolerant storage foundations. You’ll study redundancy options that support resilience, as well as object replication and encryption for data protection. Tools such as Azure Storage Explorer and AzCopy provide practical ways to manage, migrate, and analyze data.
Through these capabilities, administrators can support business-critical use cases requiring continuity and flexible scaling. Understanding redundancy options and encryption is key to ensuring compliance, stability, and efficiency in storage operations.
Configure Azure Files and Azure Blob Storage
- Create and configure a file share in Azure Storage
- Create and configure a container in Blob Storage
- Configure storage tiers
- Configure snapshots and soft delete for Azure Files
- Configure blob lifecycle management
- Configure blob versioning
Summary: This section covers how Azure Files and Blob Storage support different workloads and access strategies. You’ll understand how to create file shares for SMB-based access and configure containers for object storage within Blobs. Storage tiers allow organizations to optimize costs based on usage patterns.
You’ll also learn lifecycle practices such as snapshots, versioning, and lifecycle management automation. These features strengthen recovery options and long-term data preservation, ensuring data is both cost-efficient and safeguarded.
Domain 3: Deploy and manage Azure compute resources (24% of the exam)
Automate deployment of resources by using Azure Resource Manager (ARM) templates or Bicep files
- Interpret an Azure Resource Manager template or a Bicep file
- Modify an existing Azure Resource Manager template
- Modify an existing Bicep file
- Deploy resources by using an Azure Resource Manager template or a Bicep file
- Export a deployment as an Azure Resource Manager template or convert an Azure Resource Manager template to a Bicep file
Summary: This section explores infrastructure as code principles within Azure. You’ll focus on how templates and Bicep files streamline repeatable deployments, reduce manual effort, and ensure consistency across environments.
By mastering deployment automation, administrators can quickly scale or replicate environments with confidence. This capability embeds governance into cloud resource creation, removing variability while enabling agility.
Create and configure virtual machines
- Create a virtual machine
- Configure Azure Disk Encryption
- Move a virtual machine to another resource group, subscription, or region
- Manage virtual machine sizes
- Manage virtual machine disks
- Deploy virtual machines to availability zones and availability sets
- Deploy and configure an Azure Virtual Machine Scale Sets
Summary: This section highlights configuring and managing virtual machines. Core practices include deploying different VM sizes, handling encrypted disks, and designing for high availability with scale sets, availability sets, and zones.
Learning these techniques ensures VMs are resilient, secure, and aligned with workload performance needs. By combining scalability and reliable deployment, administrators deliver environments ready for sensitive or mission-critical operations.
Provision and manage containers in the Azure portal
- Create and manage an Azure container registry
- Provision a container by using Azure Container Instances
- Provision a container by using Azure Container Apps
- Manage sizing and scaling for containers, including Azure Container Instances and Azure Container Apps
Summary: This section focuses on adopting lightweight containerization strategies. You’ll explore container registries for central management, provisioning methods for different scenarios, and scaling practices to balance demand and cost.
Containers are essential for agile development and microservices structures, making them a vital part of today’s cloud environments. By mastering these functions, you’ll enable faster innovation through modular workload design.
Create and configure Azure App Service
- Provision an App Service plan
- Configure scaling for an App Service plan
- Create an App Service
- Configure certificates and Transport Layer Security (TLS) for an App Service
- Map an existing custom DNS name to an App Service
- Configure backup for an App Service
- Configure networking settings for an App Service
- Configure deployment slots for an App Service
Summary: This section equips you to manage Azure App Service, covering deployment, scaling, and security essentials. Tasks include setting TLS certificates, creating custom DNS mappings, and configuring scaling and networking.
Advanced features such as deployment slots and backups ensure smoother releases and resilience against interruptions. Studying these skills prepares you to administrate modern applications that require both flexibility and stability.
Domain 4: Implement and manage virtual networking (19% of the exam)
Configure and manage virtual networks in Azure
- Create and configure virtual networks and subnets
- Create and configure virtual network peering
- Configure public IP addresses
- Configure user-defined network routes
- Troubleshoot network connectivity
Summary: This section teaches network configuration in Azure, beginning with creating networks and subnets. You’ll learn to use peering for cross-network communication, manage IP addressing, and troubleshoot common connectivity issues.
By combining custom routes with proper configuration, you can maintain reliable and secure traffic flow. These skills support robust architectures for hybrid and cloud-native environments alike.
Configure secure access to virtual networks
- Create and configure network security groups (NSGs) and application security groups
- Evaluate effective security rules in NSGs
- Implement Azure Bastion
- Configure service endpoints for Azure platform as a service (PaaS)
- Configure private endpoints for Azure PaaS
Summary: This section focuses on fortifying networking layers. Network security groups and application security groups define granular access policies, while Bastion provides secure RDP/SSH access without exposing VMs to the internet.
Additionally, you’ll configure PaaS connection methods like service and private endpoints. These approaches build trust boundaries and integrate Azure’s platform services seamlessly into private architectures.
Configure name resolution and load balancing
- Configure Azure DNS
- Configure an internal or public load balancer
- Troubleshoot load balancing
Summary: This section ensures you can deliver seamless connectivity by managing DNS records through Azure DNS and configuring load balancers for traffic distribution. Both internal and public balancing strategies are covered in detail.
By mastering these features, you’ll provide high availability and uninterrupted end-user access. Troubleshooting practices refine your ability to pinpoint bottlenecks and ensure distributed systems remain efficient.
Domain 5: Monitor and maintain Azure resources (14% of the exam)
Monitor resources in Azure
- Interpret metrics in Azure Monitor
- Configure log settings in Azure Monitor
- Query and analyze logs in Azure Monitor
- Set up alert rules, action groups, and alert processing rules in Azure Monitor
- Configure and interpret monitoring of virtual machines, storage accounts, and networks by using Azure Monitor Insights
- Use Azure Network Watcher and Connection Monitor
Summary: This section focuses on building observability into the Azure environment. You’ll use Azure Monitor and Insights to gather metrics and logs, configure monitoring settings, create alerts, and analyze collected data.
Network tools such as Watcher and Connection Monitor strengthen visibility into traffic flows and connectivity health. Together, these skills help you detect, analyze, and resolve issues faster, increasing the reliability of cloud workloads.
Implement backup and recovery
- Create a Recovery Services vault
- Create an Azure Backup vault
- Create and configure a backup policy
- Perform backup and restore operations by using Azure Backup
- Configure Azure Site Recovery for Azure resources
- Perform a failover to a secondary region by using Site Recovery
- Configure and interpret reports and alerts for backups
Summary: This section covers backup and disaster recovery in Azure. You’ll deploy vaults, configure policies, run backup/restore operations, and set up Site Recovery for high availability. Failover processes and reports round out a full continuity strategy.
Ensuring workloads are recoverable protects organizational resilience and reputation. With these practices, you’ll ensure that services and data remain available no matter the circumstances.
Who should pursue the Microsoft Azure Administrator Associate certification?
The Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate certification is an excellent fit for individuals who want to master the core responsibilities of running Microsoft Azure environments. This credential is designed for those with hands-on experience in implementing, managing, and monitoring cloud services. It is ideal if you want to become proficient in daily operations such as managing virtual networks, configuring storage, ensuring security, and administrating compute resources.
It is especially valuable for:
- IT professionals who manage cloud infrastructure
- System administrators transitioning to the cloud
- Network administrators adopting Azure workloads
- Engineers or specialists who work closely with DevOps and security teams
By earning this certification, you showcase your ability to manage Azure workloads and demonstrate to employers that you can reliably optimize cloud-based environments.
What job opportunities can the Azure Administrator Associate open up?
Obtaining the Azure Administrator Associate certification makes you highly marketable in today’s cloud-focused technology landscape. With cloud adoption growing across industries, companies need professionals who can manage operational aspects of their Azure environment. This certification signals you are ready to handle those responsibilities, boosting your career options.
Common job roles include:
- Azure Administrator
- Systems Administrator with Azure focus
- Cloud Support Engineer
- Azure Operations Specialist
- IT Infrastructure Specialist
- Cloud Systems Analyst
This credential also serves as a stepping-stone for specialized roles in cloud security, DevOps engineering, and solutions architecture.
What is the current version of the Microsoft Azure Administrator Associate exam?
The current exam for the Azure Administrator Associate certification is AZ-104. This is the most up-to-date version and includes modern Azure services, governance, networking, monitoring, storage, and compute topics.
By focusing your studies on exam AZ-104, you ensure your preparation lines up with Microsoft’s latest testing objectives. This helps you master the specific scenarios Microsoft wants administrators to be confident in.
How many questions are on exam AZ-104?
The exam includes 60 questions in total. These questions come in a variety of formats including multiple-choice, multiple-select, and scenario-based items. Some questions may involve case studies or interactive components that require you to demonstrate how you would manage Azure environments.
Since the test is scenario-driven, expect to answer both straightforward knowledge-based questions and practical decision-making queries commonly faced by Azure administrators.
How long do I get for the Microsoft Azure Administrator Associate exam?
You will have 100 minutes to complete exam AZ-104. The time is plenty to work through all 60 questions thoughtfully, especially if you have prepared with practice exams and hands-on labs.
Managing your pace is important. Some questions require reading through scenarios to apply Azure skills effectively, so practicing time management during preparation will help you feel confident.
What’s the passing score for Microsoft Azure Administrator AZ-104?
To pass the Microsoft Azure Administrator Associate exam, you need to score at least 700 out of 1000. Microsoft uses scaled scoring, which means that while each domain area contributes to your overall exam score, you do not need to pass every section individually. Your combined performance across all the domains determines your result.
This passing score ensures you’re demonstrating both breadth and depth of knowledge across key Azure administration functions.
How much does the Microsoft Azure Administrator Associate certification exam cost?
The cost of the exam is $165 USD when taken in the United States, though prices may vary depending on your country or region. Microsoft partners with Pearson VUE to deliver the exam both online and at testing centers worldwide.
Always check Microsoft’s official certification pricing for the latest costs in your region and keep in mind that corporate benefits or exam vouchers might be available through your employer.
What languages can I take the Microsoft AZ-104 exam in?
The AZ-104 exam is available in several languages, making it accessible to candidates around the globe. The supported languages include English, Chinese (Simplified), Korean, Japanese, French, Spanish, German, Portuguese (Brazil), Chinese (Traditional), and Italian.
By offering such a broad range of languages, Microsoft ensures candidates can be assessed in their preferred language for clarity and accuracy.
How often do I need to renew the Azure Administrator Associate certification?
Microsoft role-based certifications like the Azure Administrator Associate are valid for 12 months. To maintain your certification, you will need to complete a free online renewal assessment hosted on Microsoft Learn before your credential expires.
The renewal assessment tests your knowledge of the latest updates and features in Azure administration, ensuring your skills remain current with evolving cloud technology.
What topics does the AZ-104 exam cover?
The exam blueprint covers five key domains that reflect the responsibilities of Azure administrators:
-
Manage Azure identities and governance (24%)
- Microsoft Entra ID users, groups, access controls, licenses, governance, and cost management
-
Implement and manage storage (19%)
- Storage accounts, access configurations, replication, Blob service, Azure Files, redundancy models
-
Deploy and manage Azure compute resources (24%)
- Virtual machines, scale sets, ARM templates, Bicep, App Service, containers
-
Implement and manage virtual networking (19%)
- VNETs, subnets, NSGs, Bastion, DNS, private endpoints, load balancing
-
Monitor and maintain Azure resources (14%)
- Azure Monitor, insights, alerts, Site Recovery, Backup, Network Watcher
These weightings help you prioritize where to focus your study time.
What are the main skills acquired by earning the Azure Administrator Associate certification?
Through this certification, you gain the ability to configure, manage, and secure Microsoft Azure environments. Skills include:
- Creating and managing virtual networks
- Configuring secure storage solutions
- Deploying compute resources such as VMs and containers
- Implementing identity and governance strategies
- Monitoring and backing up critical resources
Not only do these skills have direct applications in the workplace, but they also provide the foundation for advancing into specialized Azure or hybrid cloud roles.
Are there prerequisites for exam AZ-104?
There are no formal prerequisites required before attempting exam AZ-104. However, Microsoft recommends that candidates have practical experience with Azure services and a good grasp of networking, virtualization, and operating systems.
Familiarity with tools such as PowerShell, Azure CLI, ARM templates, and Microsoft Entra ID will also be helpful. Even if you’re still building deep expertise, diving into study resources and working hands-on in an Azure subscription provides excellent preparation.
Is the Microsoft Azure Administrator Associate exam difficult?
The exam is designed to validate real-world knowledge of Azure administration. With preparation, the exam becomes very manageable. Success comes from understanding how Azure services work together to form cloud solutions rather than just memorizing individual facts.
Practical experience in deploying resources, setting up security, and monitoring environments will give you confidence. Many candidates find that practicing with top-quality Microsoft Azure Administrator Associate practice exams provides the best boost, since they mirror the exam environment and question styles closely.
What is the role of Azure administrators within organizations?
Azure administrators play an essential role in connecting an organization’s IT strategy to its cloud operations. They implement daily management for networks, compute, and storage in Azure, while also ensuring that resource governance and identity security are upheld.
Often, Azure administrators work within larger teams that include developers, DevOps engineers, security analysts, and solution architects, bringing key operational expertise to the table.
How can I best prepare for exam AZ-104?
Preparation should be a mix of hands-on experience, coursework, and practice assessments. Many candidates start by exploring Microsoft Learn resources, using a sandbox Azure subscription to try out creating and managing services firsthand.
Additional strategies include:
- Following the structured Microsoft Learn learning paths for AZ-104
- Studying the official certification study guide and documentation
- Taking practice tests to strengthen weak areas
- Joining community study groups or forums
Preparation is as much about building confidence as it is about knowledge.
How long does it take to prepare for the Azure Administrator Associate exam?
Preparation time depends on your prior experience, but many candidates find that 6–8 weeks of focused study is ideal if you spend a few hours per week. If you already have daily hands-on experience in Azure environments, you may be able to prepare more quickly.
The key is consistent exposure to the topics covered in the exam domains. Engaging with labs and practice exams helps accelerate your readiness.
Where can I schedule the Microsoft Azure Administrator Associate certification exam?
You can take the exam through Pearson VUE, Microsoft’s official exam delivery partner. Testing options include both in-person test centers and online proctored exams, giving you flexibility to choose the environment where you feel most comfortable.
To schedule, sign into your Microsoft account and register through the exam portal. It is always best to schedule your exam once you feel consistently confident during practice tests.
How long is the Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate certification valid?
Your certification is valid for 12 months from the date you earn it. Renewal is free and can be completed entirely online, which makes it very simple to keep your credential active.
By keeping your certification up to date, you demonstrate to employers and clients that your knowledge reflects the current Microsoft Azure platform.
What resources should I study for the AZ-104 exam?
Some of the most valuable resources include:
- Official Microsoft Learn modules and documentation
- Microsoft Entra ID, Azure Monitor, Azure Backup, and networking docs
- Hands-on experience with the Azure Portal and command-line tools
- Exam study guides, training courses, and lab environments
Combining official content with external practice materials ensures you both learn concepts and test your ability to apply them.
What is the best path after earning the Azure Administrator Associate certification?
Many professionals continue their learning journey by branching into specialized certifications. Common next steps include:
- Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Associate for design and planning
- Microsoft Certified: Azure Security Engineer Associate for security and compliance
- Microsoft Certified: Azure DevOps Engineer Expert for automation and CI/CD leadership
The Azure Administrator is often considered a mid-level credential, making it the perfect bridge to advanced certifications and senior cloud roles.
Where can I learn more and get official details?
For the most accurate and official information on scheduling, study guides, and certification pathways, visit the Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate certification page. This page includes Microsoft’s structured learning paths and exam registration process.
The Microsoft Azure Administrator Associate certification is the perfect opportunity to showcase your abilities in managing one of the most widely used cloud platforms. With consistent preparation, valuable practice tests, and a strong grasp of Azure essentials, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a certified Azure professional.
