Azure Administrator [AZ-104]: Your Ticket to a Cloud Career

Are you prepared to take your cloud career to the next level? The Azure Administrator [AZ-104] certification is your ticket to becoming a sought-after professional in the rapidly expanding cloud market. Here's all you need to know to succeed in this certification and land your dream Azure position.

About the Certification

The Azure Administrator [AZ-104] certification is intended for people who administer cloud services that include storage, networking, and compute capabilities in Microsoft Azure.

This certification verifies your ability to:

• Manage Azure identities and governance (20–25%)
• Implement and manage storage (15–20%)
• Deploy and manage Azure compute resources (20–25%)
• Implement and manage virtual networking (15–20%)
• Monitor and maintain Azure resources (10–15%)

Certification Details

• Exam Code: AZ-104
• Prerequisites: There is no prerequisite for this certification.
• Duration: 120 minutes
• Question Types: Multiple-choice, drag-and-drop
• Passing Score: 700 out of 1000
• Languages: English, Chinese (Simplified), Korean, Japanese, French, Spanish, German, Portuguese (Brazil), Russian, Arabic (Saudi Arabia), Chinese (Traditional), Italian, Indonesian (Indonesia)

Roadmap to Azure Administrator Certification Success

Follow this step-by-step guide to prepare for and pass the AZ-104 exam:

Step 1. Learn the Certification Domains

The exam is divided into specific domains. Focus on these areas:

Manage Azure identities and governance (20–25%)

• Manage Microsoft Entra users and groups
• Manage access to Azure resources
• Manage Azure subscriptions and governance

Implement and manage storage (15–20%)

• Configure access to storage
• Configure and manage storage accounts
• Configure Azure Files and Azure Blob Storage

Deploy and manage Azure compute resources (20–25%)

• Automate deployment of resources by using Azure Resource Manager (ARM) templates or Bicep files
• Create and configure virtual machines
• Provision and manage containers in the Azure portal
• Create and configure Azure App Service

Implement and manage virtual networking (15–20%)

• Configure and manage virtual networks in Azure
• Configure secure access to virtual networks
• Configure name resolution and load balancing

Monitor and maintain Azure resources (10–15%)

• Monitor resources in Azure
• Implement backup and recovery

Step 2. Perform Hands-On Labs

Hands-on experience is needed for achieving the AZ-104 certification. Practical labs not only help you grasp Azure ideas better, but they also enable you to handle real-world scenarios with confidence.

Here's a curated list of hands-on labs to help you strengthen your skills:

1. Register for Azure Free Trial Account: Set up your free Azure account to explore its features and services without any upfront cost.
2. Create & Connect to a Windows Virtual Machine: Learn how to provision and access a Windows Virtual Machine (VM) in Azure.
3. Create & Connect to a Linux (Ubuntu) Virtual Machine: Understand how to deploy and access Linux VMs in Azure.
4. Install IIS Server in a Virtual Machine: Configure a Windows VM to host a web application by installing the IIS server.
5. Implement Azure Policy: Define and enforce governance rules for resource compliance.
6. Create a Resource Group, Virtual Network, Subnet, Virtual Machine, and Extra Subnet: Practice creating and organizing Azure resources.
7. Configure Network Security Group: Secure your network by defining rules to filter traffic.
8. Create a Firewall in Azure: Protect your applications by setting up an Azure Firewall.
9. Create a Private DNS: Configure private DNS zones for internal name resolution.
10. Point-to-Site VPN in Azure: Set up a secure connection between your local machine and Azure resources.
11. Configure VNet Peering in Azure: Enable communication between two virtual networks.
12. Configure Azure Availability Set and Azure Load Balancer: Ensure high availability and distribute traffic across VMs.
13. Deploy Azure App Service and Traffic Manager: Host and manage web applications with global traffic routing.
14. Create an Application Gateway: Set up an application-level routing and load balancing solution.
15. Filter Network Traffic Using NSG and ASG: Secure your network with Network Security Groups and Application Security Groups.
16. Generate SSH Keys: Securely authenticate to your Linux VMs using SSH keys.
17. Create an Azure Bastion Host: Access Azure VMs securely without exposing public IP addresses.
18. Create an Azure Snapshot: Back up your VM disks with Azure snapshots.
19. Manage Storage Accounts Using Storage Explorer, Access Keys, and SAS Keys: Learn to interact with storage accounts securely.
20. Create an Unmanaged Disk VM and Add a Managed Data Disk: Explore disk management in Azure.
21. Disk Migration from On-Premises Server to Azure: Move data from on-premises environments to Azure.
22. Configure Azure File Share and File Sync: Share files across VMs and synchronize on-premises data to Azure.
23. Configure Azure Blob Lifecycle Management and Object Replication: Automate data management and replication in Blob storage.
24. Entra ID (Azure Active Directory) Synchronization with On-Premise Active Directory Using Entra Connect (AD Connect): Synchronize on-premises AD with Azure AD.
25. Configure Role-Based Access Control in Azure: Manage access permissions for Azure resources.
26. Create Custom RBAC Roles: Define roles tailored to specific organizational needs.
27. Azure Monitoring Using Log Analytics: Monitor resource performance and troubleshoot with Log Analytics.
28. Configure Azure Network Watcher: Diagnose and visualize network performance.
29. Backup an Azure VM into Azure Backup Vault: Protect your Azure VM with backup solutions.
30. Backup On-Premises Servers into Azure Backup Vault: Safeguard your on-premises data in Azure.
31. Create WebApps with Deployment Slots: Host web applications with seamless deployment capabilities.
32. Configure Azure Container Service: Deploy and manage containers in Azure.
33. Configure Azure Kubernetes Service: Set up and manage Kubernetes clusters in Azure.
34. Create a Resource Group and Virtual Machine via Cloud PowerShell: Automate Azure resource creation with PowerShell.
35. Authenticate to Azure Tenant via PowerShell: Manage Azure resources securely through PowerShell.
36. Create an Azure Managed Disk Using Azure PowerShell: Automate disk management.
37. Create a Resource Group and Virtual Machine Using Azure CLI: Practice efficient resource management using the Azure CLI.
38. Create and Deploy ARM Templates Using Azure Portal: Simplify resource deployment with ARM templates.

?? Check out my blog Azure Administrator - Hands On Labs for step-by-step lab exercises tailored for AZ-104.

Step 3. Practice with Sample Exam Questions

Evaluate your understanding of Azure administrator by practicing real-world scenario-based questions and mock exams. These sample questions provide a glimpse of the actual exam format and help you identify areas for improvement.

?? Our program provides access to curated sample exam questions that are specifically designed to align with the AZ-104 certification objectives.

How This Certification Helps You Get a Job

The Azure Administrator [AZ-104] certification opens the doors to a wide range of job opportunities in the cloud domain. Here’s how it makes a difference:

• Validation of Skills: Employers respect certifications as evidence of your technical proficiency in managing and designing Azure environments.
• Industry Recognition: Microsoft certifications are internationally recognized and trusted by top enterprises.
• High Demand for Azure Professionals: With over 95% of Fortune 500 organizations utilizing Azure, the demand for qualified Azure administrators is increasing.
• Competitive Salaries: Certified Azure professionals earn much more than their non-certified rivals.
• Career Advancement: Certification not only helps you obtain a job, but it also places you for progression in specialized professions like cloud engineer and Azure administrator.
• Job Roles You Can Target: Azure Administrator ,Cloud Support Engineer , Cloud Infrastructure Engineer, Cloud Consultant

Get Expert Guidance: Join Azure Job Bootcamp

The Azure Job Bootcamp makes it easier than ever to get Azure certifications and land high-paying cloud jobs. This comprehensive program is designed to help you not only pass certification exams like AZ-104, but also prepare you for more advanced certifications like AZ-305 (Azure Solutions Architect) and AZ-400 (Azure DevOps Engineer). With plenty of hands-on labs, live instructor-led sessions, and professional mentorship, you'll receive practical experience that mimics real-world settings, quickly preparing you for a job.

The bootcamp goes beyond certification training by offering comprehensive job help, such as resume creation, interview preparation, and career guidance. Whether you're a beginner or looking to expand your cloud career, this program will provide you with the skills, knowledge, and confidence you need to succeed in high-demand Azure professions.

?? Join our free class now to start your Azure journey towards a high-paying job!