Is Becoming a Microsoft Certified Azure Administrator Hard?

  • Is Microsoft Certified Azure Administrator Associate hard?
  • Published by: André Hammer on Feb 06, 2024

Are you thinking about charting a career as a Microsoft Certified Azure Administrator but not sure if it's hard? Well, you have come to the right place. We will look at what it takes to earn yourself this certification. Azure is Microsoft's cloud computing platform and getting yourself certified as an administrator will open up a lot of opportunities for you in the IT field. That said, it is a challenging certification to get?

Let’s explore the difficulty of becoming a Microsoft Certified Azure Administrator and what it entails. Continue reading to find out more.

What does an Azure Administrator do?

As an Azure Administrator, you have important responsibilities. One of your roles is to manage Azure identities and governance, monitor and enforce compliance, and provide secure solutions. You are also responsible for data migration and to ensure business continuity.

You have to pass a certification exam to become certified in Azure. A certification validates your expertise in implementing, monitoring, and maintaining Microsoft Azure solutions. The certification also shows that you can manage cloud services and technologies effectively.

What is the Importance of Azure Administration in modern IT?

In today's IT environments, Azure Administration is vital. Administrators help to make cloud-based systems secure and efficient.

You job as an Azure Administrator in modern IT is to manage cloud services, implement security and compliance, optimize cloud infrastructure, and monitor resource usage. When you do this, it contributes to the success of IT operations, ensuring smooth and secure cloud services. It also enhances productivity, and minimizes downtime.

The Journey to Becoming Microsoft Certified

Becoming Microsoft Certified in Azure Administration is a big achievement. It shows that you are very skilled in managing cloud services. To get this certification, you need to understand virtual networks, security, and storage. You should also know how to use platform-as-a-service solutions and create data privacy policies. There is a lot of training you have to go through before you can be certified.

This certification is really good if you are looking to pursue a career in modern IT. It is proof that you can support cloud projects and also manage Azure subscriptions very well. A certification can also land you a new job and is also an illustration of your commitment to staying updated with the latest tech and best practices.

Pathway to obtaining Azure certification

The path to an Azure certification requires that you understand the responsibilities of the role and preparing adequately for the AZ-104 exam.

To make it easier for you to get certified, you have prior hands-on experience in managing Azure identities and governance, must be able to implement and manage storage, deploy and manage virtual machines. You should also be able to configure and manage virtual networks, and Web Apps.

These core responsibilities are directly related to the certification process, as candidates are tested on these skills and knowledge areas in the AZ-104 exam.

Is Microsoft Certified Azure Administrator Associate Hard?

Assessing the difficulty of the AZ-104 exam

The AZ-104 exam is considered difficult because of a number of reasons. It covers a wide range of topics such as implementation, management, monitoring, and security of Azure infrastructure. The exam format is multiple-choice questions, case studies, and hands-on lab exercises.

Additionally, the role of an Azure Administrator is complex, involving various tasks directly assessed in the exam. These factors make the AZ-104 exam demanding for individuals aspiring to become Microsoft Certified Azure Administrator Associates.

What contributes to the perception of difficulty?

The perception that this exam is difficult stems from personal and external factors. Personal factors include confidence, mindset, and previous experience with Azure administration. These can easily make you feel like the exam is difficult. A person who has some or lots of experience easily finds this exam less challenging.

The other contributing factor is the structure and content of the exam. Practical scenarios and case studies can impact how difficult it the exam seems. Considering these factors is very important for you as a candidate to accurately assess the exam's difficulty.

Examining the AZ-104 Exam Format and Topics

Understanding the format of the AZ-104

The AZ-104 exam format has different components:

  • Multiple-choice questions
  • Case studies
  • Hands-on labs

These various question types let candidates show what they know about Microsoft Azure. The exam topics are organised logically:

  • It starts with managing Azure identities and governance
  • Then moves on to implementing and managing storage
  • Finally, it covers configuring and managing virtual networks.

In the section titled "Managing Azure identities and governance," you should anticipate questions related to overseeing Azure Active Directory, setting up multi-factor authentication, and adjusting Azure AD Identity Protection. The test might include questions on role-based access control (RBAC) and Azure policy.

Manage Azure identities and governance

Effective Azure administration contributes to the success of modern IT environments by providing a streamlined and secure way to manage user access and permissions. This helps reduce the risk of unauthorized access and data breaches.

The key components of Azure identities and governance that you need to understand and manage include:

  • Azure Active Directory
  • Role-based access control
  • Conditional access policies
  • Identity governance

Conclusion

Obtaining certification as a Microsoft Azure Administrator can prove to be difficult. A solid grasp of Azure services, security, and governance is necessary. Candidates should also have experience in handling virtual machines and setting up storage solutions.

The certification test includes various subjects such as networking, identity, and monitoring. Yet, through adequate preparation and studying, numerous people have managed to pass the exam and earn the certification.

Readynez offers a 4-day AZ-104 Microsoft Certified Azure Administrator Course and Certification Program, providing you with all the learning and support you need to successfully prepare for the exam and certification. The AZ-104 Microsoft Azure Administrator Associate course, and all our other Microsoft courses, are also included in our unique Unlimited Microsoft Training offer, where you can attend the Microsoft Azure Administrator Associate and 60+ other Microsoft courses for just €199 per month, the most flexible and affordable way to get your Microsoft Certifications.

Please reach out to us with any questions or if you would like a chat about your opportunity with the Microsoft Azure Administrator Associate certification and how you best achieve it. 

FAQ

Is it difficult to become a Microsoft Certified Azure Administrator?

No. It is not difficult to become a Microsoft Certified Azure Administrator if you have the right experience and skills. The best way to prepare is by taking online courses, doing some practice in the Azure environment, and then sitting the exam.

What are the main challenges in getting a Microsoft Azure Administrator certification?

The challenges that comes with getting certified as a Microsoft Azure Administrator include understanding complex cloud concepts, insufficient practical experience with Azure services, and staying updated with continuous platform changes. Most candidates find the exam difficult due to their depth of the required technical knowledge.

Is the Microsoft Azure Administrator exam difficult?

Yes, the Microsoft Azure Administrator exam can be difficult if you do not have enough experience in managing Azure environments. However, if you prepare thoroughly and get yourself some hands-on experience, you won’t have a problem passing the exam.

What resources are available to help prepare for the Microsoft Azure Administrator certification?

There are plenty of training resources available to help you prepare. These include online courses, virtual labs, study guides, practice tests, and instructor-led training. Examples of resources that you can explore include Microsoft Learn, Udemy, Coursera, and Pluralsight.

Are there specific skills or knowledge areas that make the Microsoft Certified Azure Administrator certification challenging?

Yes, the Microsoft Certified Azure Administrator certification can be challenging, especially if you do not have the right level of expertise in networking, security, or virtualization. Experience with Azure services like Virtual Machines, Networks, and Azure Active Directory is also very important.

A group of people discussing the latest Microsoft Azure news

Unlimited Microsoft Training

Get Unlimited access to ALL the LIVE Instructor-led Microsoft courses you want - all for the price of less than one course. 

  • 60+ LIVE Instructor-led courses
  • Money-back Guarantee
  • Access to 50+ seasoned instructors
  • Trained 50,000+ IT Pro's

Basket

{{item.CourseTitle}}

Price: {{item.ItemPriceExVatFormatted}} {{item.Currency}}