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Microsoft Azure DevOps Engineer Expert Quick Facts
The Microsoft Azure DevOps Engineer Expert certification empowers professionals to design, implement, and continuously improve DevOps processes using Azure technologies. This exam overview provides the key details, domains, and insights you need to prepare confidently and reach new levels of expertise in modern DevOps practices.
Understanding the Microsoft Azure DevOps Engineer Expert Certification
The Microsoft Azure DevOps Engineer Expert certification validates your ability to merge people, processes, and technologies to deliver value continuously in cloud environments. It is designed for professionals experienced in Azure administration and development, showcasing skills in automation, CI/CD, infrastructure as code, security, governance, and monitoring. This credential demonstrates mastery in orchestrating the entire DevOps lifecycle, from planning and source control to deployment and optimization, enabling teams to collaborate effectively and deliver secure, reliable, and high-performing solutions across cloud platforms.
Who Should Pursue the Microsoft Azure DevOps Engineer Expert Certification?
The Microsoft Certified: DevOps Engineer Expert certification is perfect for professionals passionate about uniting people, processes, and technologies to deliver value faster and more reliably through modern DevOps practices. It’s intended for:
- Software developers seeking to automate delivery pipelines
- IT administrators or system engineers looking to expand into DevOps roles
- Site reliability engineers (SREs) working on scaling and monitoring
- Security engineers who integrate security deeply into DevOps workflows
This certification validates your ability to design and implement DevOps solutions that use Azure DevOps, GitHub, and Azure services to streamline development, operations, and deployment activities.
What Career Paths Can Open Up After Earning the Azure DevOps Engineer Expert Certification?
Achieving this expert-level certification positions you for exciting technical and leadership roles, including:
- Azure DevOps Engineer or DevOps Architect
- Release Manager or Build and Release Engineer
- Site Reliability Engineer (SRE)
- Cloud Engineer or Infrastructure Automation Specialist
Organizations increasingly rely on Azure DevOps experts to improve agility and efficiency. Certified professionals often find themselves leading transformation initiatives, optimizing delivery pipelines, and enhancing cloud security strategies.
Which Exam Do I Need to Pass to Earn This Certification?
To earn the Microsoft Certified: DevOps Engineer Expert credential, you must pass:
- Exam AZ-400: Designing and Implementing Microsoft DevOps Solutions
This single exam validates the full spectrum of DevOps knowledge, including continuous integration, continuous delivery, automation, and monitoring.
Additionally, before taking AZ-400, you must hold one of the prerequisite associate certifications:
- Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate, or
- Microsoft Certified: Azure Developer Associate
How Many Questions Are on the AZ-400 Exam?
You can expect approximately 60 questions on the exam.
The questions come in various formats, such as:
- Multiple choice and multi-select
- Case studies reflecting real-world DevOps challenges
- Scenario-based items requiring solution design or troubleshooting
Each question is crafted to evaluate your ability to design, implement, and maintain modern DevOps solutions in Azure and GitHub environments.
How Long Will I Have to Complete the Exam?
You’ll have around 100 minutes to complete the AZ-400 exam.
This gives you ample time to analyze complex questions, especially those involving case studies or hybrid pipeline scenarios. Effective time management is key, so review and flag questions you may want to revisit before submitting.
What Is the Passing Score for Microsoft Exam AZ-400?
To pass Exam AZ-400, you must achieve a score of 700 or higher out of 1000.
Microsoft uses a scaled scoring system that considers question difficulty, and you don’t need to pass each domain separately—your overall performance determines your result. It’s an attainable goal for candidates who study thoughtfully and get hands-on with Azure DevOps tools.
How Much Does the Exam Cost?
The Exam AZ-400 costs $165 USD, with pricing adjusted by region and applicable taxes.
This investment opens doors to higher-paying roles and leadership opportunities in DevOps and cloud automation. Many employers also reimburse certification costs, recognizing the business value of certified Azure talent.
In Which Languages Is the AZ-400 Exam Available?
The exam is accessible globally in several languages, including:
- English, Japanese, Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), Korean, German, French, Spanish, Portuguese (Brazil), and Italian.
Microsoft continues to expand localization to ensure accessibility for professionals worldwide.
Is There a Time Limit on This Certification?
Yes, Microsoft expert-level certifications are valid for one year.
You can renew for free online on Microsoft Learn by passing a short renewal assessment, ensuring you stay current with evolving DevOps practices and Azure capabilities.
What Skills and Knowledge Areas Does This Certification Evaluate?
The AZ-400 exam measures your ability to design and implement DevOps processes across five major domains:
- Design and implement processes and communications (10–15%)
- Design and implement a source control strategy (10–15%)
- Design and implement build and release pipelines (50–55%)
- Develop a security and compliance plan (10–15%)
- Implement an instrumentation strategy (5–10%)
These domains blend collaboration, automation, and monitoring—key competencies for any Azure DevOps practitioner.
Are There Any Prerequisites Before Taking the DevOps Engineer Expert Certification?
Yes. To qualify for the AZ-400 exam, you must first earn either:
- Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate, or
- Microsoft Certified: Azure Developer Associate
This ensures you have foundational Azure experience in operations or development before tackling DevOps-level design and implementation.
What Types of Questions Will I Encounter?
The exam includes multiple question types to test both conceptual understanding and technical capability. You’ll face:
- Multiple-choice and multi-select items
- Case study scenarios that mirror realistic DevOps transformations
- Drag-and-drop or order-sequence challenges
- Hot area questions involving Azure Portal and DevOps interface simulation
This mix ensures a balanced evaluation of both practical and theoretical knowledge.
What Are the Domains and Weightings for the AZ-400 Exam?
The domains and approximate weightings are:
- Design and implement processes and communications (13%)
- Design and implement a source control strategy (13%)
- Design and implement build and release pipelines (53%)
- Develop a security and compliance plan (13%)
- Implement an instrumentation strategy (8%)
The heavy emphasis on pipeline design and automation underscores Microsoft’s focus on real DevOps integration between Azure and GitHub.
How Should I Prepare for the Microsoft DevOps Engineer Expert Exam?
Microsoft offers self-paced learning paths and instructor-led training to build your technical expertise. Combine theory with hands-on labs to reinforce concepts like pipeline YAML design, infrastructure as code (IaC), and security automation.
To boost your readiness and ensure you’re practicing real-world exam patterns, use realistic Microsoft Azure DevOps Engineer Expert practice exams that simulate the actual exam environment, offer detailed explanations, and build exam confidence.
How Can Azure DevOps and GitHub Integration Help You Succeed in This Role?
Understanding how Azure DevOps connects seamlessly with GitHub is essential. The exam tests scenarios highlighting:
- Repository integration for source control
- End-to-end pipeline automation
- GitHub Actions for CI/CD workflows
- Secrets management and code scanning
Mastering these integrations demonstrates your ability to modernize development lifecycles in the cloud.
What Is the Role of Security and Compliance in the AZ-400 Exam?
Security is a foundational component of modern DevOps. Expect exam questions related to:
- Managing secrets with Azure Key Vault
- Implementing GitHub Advanced Security and Defender for DevOps
- Designing permissions and access controls for safe collaboration
- Automating security scans, compliance reporting, and vulnerability assessments
These skills ensure you are equipped to implement DevSecOps best practices across cloud infrastructure and software delivery.
What Kind of Hands-On Experience Is Recommended?
Practical experience is highly encouraged. You should have:
- Hands-on familiarity with Azure Repos, Azure Pipelines, and GitHub Actions
- Experience implementing infrastructure as code (IaC) with ARM templates or Bicep
- Exposure to monitoring tools like Application Insights and Log Analytics
These experiences will not only help you pass the exam but also excel in real-world projects.
How Does Microsoft Assess Performance on the AZ-400 Exam?
Microsoft employs adaptive assessment methods focusing on real-world problem-solving. Each question is statistically weighted, and you can expect domain coverage aligned with current DevOps practices. Feedback after the exam helps identify strength areas and opportunities for further learning.
What Are Common Mistakes Candidates Should Avoid?
While the exam rewards hands-on experience, some candidates lose points by:
- Overlooking pipeline governance and retention strategies
- Ignoring feedback loops and traceability metrics in DevOps processes
- Not practicing YAML-based pipeline syntax before the exam
Approaching your preparation holistically, balancing theory with real deployments, is the best way to avoid these pitfalls and thrive on exam day.
How Can I Register for the Exam AZ-400?
Registration is simple. Just sign in to your Microsoft Certification Dashboard with your personal Microsoft account, choose Exam AZ-400, and select an online or in-person proctoring option through Pearson VUE. Plan your test date, confirm fees, and prepare for success.
Where Can I Learn More About the Microsoft DevOps Engineer Expert Certification?
For official details about this certification, visit the Microsoft Certified: DevOps Engineer Expert certification page. There you’ll find current exam resources, updates, and renewal information directly from Microsoft Learn.
Becoming a Microsoft Certified: DevOps Engineer Expert is a rewarding achievement that validates your ability to accelerate development, enhance collaboration, and deliver continuous value through Azure and GitHub. With focused preparation, hands-on experience, and the right study tools, you’ll soon join the ranks of skilled professionals helping organizations achieve excellence in DevOps on the Azure cloud.
