Achieving Azure certification can enhance your cloud computing career by demonstrating your understanding of cloud fundamentals, as well as Azure’s services, architecture, governance, and management. This guide will explore what the certification entails, its demand in the job market, the benefits it offers, and the steps to obtain Azure certification.
What is Azure certification?
Microsoft Azure is a cloud computing platform designed for IT professionals, developers, and specialists in data and artificial intelligence (AI) who operate within the Microsoft cloud ecosystem. Azure certifications provide training on utilizing various cloud-based services, enhancing your job prospects or helping you advance in your career. Microsoft categorizes Azure certifications into three tiers: Fundamentals, Associate, and Expert. Additionally, there are Specialty certifications available, including Cosmos DB Developer and Virtual Desktop.
Are Azure certifications in demand ?
Cloud computing is rapidly evolving, with an increasing number of companies seeking certified Azure administrators, solution architects, developers, and security engineers. Consequently, Azure certifications are in high demand. The Flexera 2023 State of the Cloud Report indicates that Azure remains the leading cloud provider, closely followed by AWS.
Azure certification Benefits
The advantages of Azure certification include opportunities for career advancement, access to diverse job options, the potential for higher salaries, enhanced skills, and better security solutions for your employer. Let’s explore how obtaining Azure certification can provide these benefits.
Growth In Career
Whether you’re currently working in cloud computing or aiming to enter the field, Azure certification can significantly enhance your career prospects. These certifications are among the most sought after in IT today, helping you secure better job opportunities or advance to higher positions within your organization.
Flexible career pptions
A Microsoft Azure certification opens up numerous career opportunities, allowing you to become a cloud architect, developer, or solution architect. Additionally, this certification enables you to work across various industries and locations.
Companies across various industries are migrating to the cloud due to the advantages in storage, computing, and networking. An Azure certification can open doors to roles in sectors such as healthcare, finance, and entertainment. Furthermore, many certified Azure professionals find opportunities in locations like France, the UK, the United States, and beyond.
Increase Higher Earning
If you pursue an Azure certification at the Fundamentals level, you could earn an average hourly wage of up to $79.81, according to ZipRecruiter. Additionally, data from Glassdoor indicates that Azure certification can enhance your earning potential. For instance, Azure cloud architects have an average annual salary of $133,721 in the US. Here are the salaries for other Azure-certified cloud roles in the US :
- Azure DevOps engineer: $126,096
- Azure cloud engineer: $119,342
- Azure data engineer: $120,387
More specific skill set
The more you know about cloud computing, the more competitive you’ll be in the job market. As highlighted in the salary figures mentioned earlier, individuals with advanced Azure skills tend to earn higher compensation. Azure certification can help you enhance your expertise in areas like artificial intelligence and machine learning.
The certification exams assess various skills, including knowledge of cloud concepts and an understanding of Azure’s core architectural components. Additional skills covered include Azure identity, access and security, as well as governance and compliance.
Improved security
Becoming certified can enhance your company’s cloud security by keeping you informed about the latest trends and options. Renewing your certifications ensures you stay updated on changes and new technologies. This increased security awareness makes you more appealing to employers, particularly for roles focused on cloud security.
Azure certification path
If you’re new to Azure, begin with a Fundamentals exam relevant to your career. After that, you can explore various Associate and Specialty Azure certifications. Ultimately, demonstrate your expertise to current or potential employers by obtaining Expert-level Azure certifications.
Explore the certifications in the table below:
| Certification | Level | What it’s best for |
|---|---|---|
| Azure AI Fundamentals (AI-900) | Fundamentals | Demonstrating your AI skills on the cloud and the services Azure can offer in this area |
| Azure Data Fundamentals (DP-900) | Fundamentals | Developing a strong foundation in the core concepts of data and data analytics |
| Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900) | Fundamentals | Demonstrating your knowledge of cloud concepts, models, and services and showing your expertise in Azure |
| Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104) | Associate | Building on subject matter expertise managing an organization’s Microsoft Azure environment |
| Azure AI Engineer Associate (AZ-102) | Associate | Learning to build, manage, and deploy AI solutions within Azure |
| Azure Data Engineer Associate (DP-203) | Associate | Storing and using datasets for analysis and managing data pipelines and data stores |
| Azure Data Fundamentals (DP-900) | Associate | Working with data in the cloud |
| Azure Data Scientist Associate (DP-100) | Associate | Exploring data science and using Azure Machine Learning and Azure Databricks |
| Azure Database Administrator Associate (DP-300) | Associate | Managing the operational aspects of data platform solutions built with Microsoft SQL Server and Microsoft Azure Data Services |
| Azure Developer Associate (AZ-204) | Associate | Building on your cloud developer experience and learning about developing Azure computing and storage |
| Azure Enterprise Data Analyst Associate (DP-500) | Associate | Building expertise in data analytics solutions, including how to design, create, and deploy them |
| Azure Network Engineer Associate (AZ-700) | Associate | Validating your knowledge and skills in Azure network solutions planning, implementation, and maintenance |
| Azure Security Engineer Associate (AZ-500) | Associate | Planning and implementing cloud-based management and security; building on your experience in code, security operations processes, cloud capabilities, and Azure services |
| Azure Stack Hub Operator Associate (AZ-600) | Associate | Enhancing your skills in providing platform as a service (PaaS) and infrastructure as a service (IaaS) using Azure Stack Hub |
| Azure DevOps Engineer Expert (AZ-400) | Expert | Building on your experience as an infrastructure administrator or developer, with expertise in DevOps, Azure administration, or development |
| Azure Solutions Architect Expert (AZ-305) | Expert | Building on your expertise in designing cloud and hybrid solutions that run on Microsoft Azure, as well as your advanced experience and knowledge in IT operations, Azure administration, Azure development, and DevOps processes |
Azure Specialty Certifications:
• Azure Support Engineer for Connectivity Specialty (AZ-720)
• Azure Cosmos DB Developer Specialty (DP-420)
• Azure Virtual Desktop Specialty (AZ-140)
• Azure IoT Developer Specialty (AZ-220)
• Azure for SAP Workloads Specialty (AZ-120)
How to become Azure certified
Begin your journey to Azure certification by fulfilling the prerequisites for your desired certification level. Next, register for and complete the certification exam. To maintain your certification, remember to renew it annually.
1. Get develop and doing the training of relevant skills.
You can discover Azure courses and training online from various providers. For instance, Coursera offers Azure training courses, including the AZ-900 exam prep specialization, which covers cloud computing, Azure tools and services, security, cloud governance, and more.
Microsoft provides a range of self-paced content for all certification levels and specialty exams. These online learning paths include videos and lessons designed to help you prepare for the certification exam. You can complete these courses for free, or opt for instructor-led classes for a fee.
Microsoft also organizes free events known as Microsoft Azure Virtual Training Days. You can select which events to attend based on your skill level and interests. After completing the related Fundamentals training sessions, you can take the corresponding certification exams for free: Microsoft Azure Fundamentals, Microsoft AI Fundamentals, and Microsoft Data Fundamentals.
Important note:
Regardless of the training courses you choose, whether from Microsoft or other providers, you must complete and pass Microsoft’s examination to achieve Azure certification.
2. Meet the prerequisites for each level.
Each Azure certification outlines recommended skills to acquire before taking the exam. Microsoft’s self-paced or instructor-led content, along with third-party courses, can assist you in gaining the essential skills needed to prepare for the certification exams.
The Fundamentals and Associate certification levels don’t have formal prerequisites, but Microsoft suggests the following steps before attempting an exam :
- Have a complete understanding of the skills the exam measures.
- For Associate-level exams, have experience in the tested skills.
- Take a practice exam provided by Microsoft.
- Use Microsoft Azure with a trial subscription.
- Take advantage of Microsoft’s learning resources to prepare.
Azure Expert certifications come with prerequisites. To qualify for the Azure Solutions Architect Expert exam, you must first complete the Azure Administrator Associate exam. For the Azure DevOps Engineer Expert exam, you need to have completed either the Azure Administrator Associate or the Azure Developer Associate exam.
3. Pass the certification exam.
Each certification is linked to an exam that you must pass. All technical exams are scored on a scale from 1 to 1,000, with a passing score set at 700 or higher.
4. Maintain your credentials.
Renewing your certification ensures you stay updated on the latest developments in Azure. Fundamentals-level certifications do not require renewal, as they do not expire. To renew your Associate and Expert certifications, you can pass the free online renewal assessment available on Microsoft Learn. These renewal exams focus only on questions about updates in Azure or related technologies from the past year.