AZ-104 Microsoft Azure Administrator Exam

 

Introduction to AZ-104 Microsoft Azure Administrator Exam

The AZ-104 Microsoft Azure Administrator exam is designed for IT professionals who want to validate their skills in implementing, managing, and monitoring identity, governance, storage, compute, and virtual networks in a cloud environment. This certification is crucial for individuals aiming to demonstrate their expertise in Microsoft Azure administration, making it a highly sought-after credential in today's competitive job market.

Understanding the Exam Structure

The AZ-104 exam is structured to assess various technical skills and knowledge areas essential for Azure administrators. It covers a wide range of topics, including:

Managing Azure Identities and Governance

This section evaluates your ability to manage Azure Active Directory (AD), implement and manage hybrid identities, configure Azure AD Identity Protection, and manage Azure AD roles and groups effectively.

Implementing and Managing Storage

Candidates are tested on their proficiency in configuring Azure files and Azure blob storage, managing storage accounts, and implementing Azure Backup and Azure File Sync solutions.

Deploying and Managing Virtual Machines (VMs)

This segment focuses on your capability to deploy VMs, configure VM networking, auto-scaling, and high availability, manage VM backups, and monitor VMs.

Configuring and Managing Virtual Networks

Here, you will be assessed on your knowledge of implementing and managing virtual networking, configuring name resolution, creating and configuring VNET peering, and implementing Azure load balancer and Azure Application Gateway.

Monitoring and Backup of Azure Resources

This section tests your skills in monitoring resources using Azure Monitor, configuring diagnostic settings on resources, creating and configuring alerts, and configuring backup policies and backup alerts.

Managing Azure Governance and Resource Access

Lastly, you will need to demonstrate your ability to manage Azure subscriptions and resources, implement and manage Azure policies, and implement access management for Azure resources.

Preparation Tips for AZ-104 Exam

Preparing for the AZ-104 exam requires a structured approach and thorough understanding of Azure concepts. Here are some tips to help you succeed:

1. Understand Azure Services and Features

Familiarize yourself with Azure services such as Azure AD, Azure Storage, Azure Virtual Machines, Azure Networking, Azure Monitoring, and Azure Backup. Understanding the capabilities and limitations of each service will be beneficial during the exam.

2. Hands-on Experience

Gain practical experience by working on Azure projects or labs. Hands-on experience not only reinforces theoretical knowledge but also helps you become familiar with the Azure portal and command-line interface (CLI).

3. Study Official Microsoft Documentation

Refer to the official Microsoft Azure documentation for detailed information on each service and feature covered in the exam. Microsoft provides comprehensive documentation, tutorials, and examples that can clarify any doubts and deepen your understanding.

4. Take Practice Tests

Practice tests are invaluable resources for assessing your readiness for the exam. They simulate the actual exam environment and help identify areas where you need more study. Focus on understanding why certain answers are correct and why others are incorrect.

5. Join Azure Communities and Forums

Engage with the Azure community through forums, discussion groups, and social media channels. Networking with professionals who have already passed the AZ-104 exam can provide insights, tips, and study resources that are not available elsewhere.

6. Review Exam Objectives

Carefully review the official exam objectives provided by Microsoft. Ensure that you have covered all topics and subtopics listed in the exam blueprint. Allocate more study time to areas where you feel less confident.

Conclusion

Achieving the AZ-104 Microsoft Azure Administrator certification demonstrates your expertise in Azure administration and enhances your career prospects in cloud computing. By following a structured study plan, leveraging hands-on experience, and utilizing comprehensive study resources, you can effectively prepare for and pass the AZ-104 exam.