AZ-104 Microsoft Azure Administrator Exam: Comprehensive Guide

The AZ-104 Microsoft Azure Administrator exam is the required test to earn the Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate certification. This in-depth guide covers everything you need to know about the AZ-104 exam – from its objectives and format to preparation tips, resources, FAQs, and what comes after achieving the certification. Whether you’re just starting your Azure journey or polishing your skills, this guide will help you navigate the exam with confidence.

Exam Overview

Exam AZ-104 validates your ability to configure, manage, and secure Azure services in a real-world cloud environment. It is an intermediate-level exam intended for IT professionals with hands-on experience in Azure administration​learn.microsoft.com​learn.microsoft.com. As a candidate, you should be comfortable implementing, monitoring, and maintaining Azure resources for an organization, including key areas like virtual networking, storage, compute, identity, security, and governance​learn.microsoft.com. In practice, Azure administrators often work alongside cloud architects, developers, security engineers, and other roles to deliver Azure solutions for their organizations​learn.microsoft.com.

Certification Earned: Passing AZ-104 grants you the title Azure Administrator Associate, which is a globally recognized credential. This certification has no formal prerequisites; you can take AZ-104 directly without first passing the fundamentals exam (AZ-900). However, having a good grasp of Azure fundamentals (or passing AZ-900) is recommended, especially if you are new to Azure, because AZ-104 dives much deeper into practical skills. The Azure Administrator Associate certification is also a mandatory prerequisite for attaining the higher-level Azure Solutions Architect Expert certification​linkedin.com​learn.microsoft.com – meaning that even though you can attempt the architect exam (AZ-305) independently, you must also have AZ-104 to ultimately earn the expert credential.

Target Audience:

AZ-104 is ideal for cloud professionals who manage Azure on a day-to-day basis. Typical candidates are cloud administrators, system administrators, or DevOps/cloud engineers focusing on infrastructure. The exam assumes around 6-12 months of hands-on experience with Azure administration in areas such as managing Azure AD (now Microsoft Entra ID), deploying and managing virtual machines, configuring virtual networks, and implementing storage solutions. Familiarity with general IT domains (operating systems, networking, servers, virtualization) is expected​learn.microsoft.com. In addition, you should have experience using Azure management tools like Azure PowerShell and the Azure CLI, the Azure portal, and ARM templates to perform tasks​learn.microsoft.com – the exam may test your knowledge of both GUI and command-line methods.

Exam Format and Structure

The AZ-104 exam format is similar to other Microsoft role-based certifications. Here are the key details:

• Number of Questions:

40 to 60 questions (varies). The exam presents a mix of multiple-choice, multiple-select, drag-and-drop, and scenario-based questions. In some cases, interactive labs (performance-based tasks within a sandboxed Azure environment) may be included, where you must perform administrative tasks in Azure’s interface. These lab items are scored by validating the changes you make. The exact number of questions can vary, but typically you should expect around 50 questions in total (some of which might be grouped in a lab or case study).

• Exam Duration:

100 minutes of actual exam time is provided​learn.microsoft.com. Microsoft also allocates additional time for non-scored activities (like reading instructions, signing the non-disclosure agreement, and providing feedback after the exam). If you take the exam in a non-English language or require accommodations, you may receive extra time. Plan for about 120-130 minutes total seat time including all preliminaries. Time management is crucial – ensure you pace yourself to attempt all questions in the given time.

• Passing Score:

The exam is scored on a scale of 100–1000, and you need a score of 700 or above to pass​learn.microsoft.com. This roughly equates to 70% of the points, but note that some questions carry different weights (for example, lab tasks or multi-part case studies might be worth more). There is no negative marking for wrong answers, so it’s better to guess than leave any question unanswered.

• Question Types:

Expect classic multiple-choice questions (one or multiple correct answers), as well as interactive formats:

• Drag-and-drop matching: e.g. matching Azure services to descriptions.
• Scenario caselets: A short case scenario with a few questions about it.
• Build list/reorder: arranging steps in the correct order.
• Hot area: selecting the correct options from a dialog or interface screenshot.
• Labs: As mentioned, some exams include live labs where you perform tasks in Azure. AZ-104 has been known to include lab exercises (like creating a VM, configuring a setting, etc.) to test practical skills. These require you to know where in the Azure portal or CLI to execute certain actions. Tip: If labs are present, do those first while you’re fresh, because they can take more time than typical questions.
• Exam Cost:
• The cost for AZ-104 is approximately $165 USD in the United States. Pricing varies by country/region (for example, in the UK it’s around £120, in India around ₹4800) and may not include applicable taxes​learn.microsoft.com. Always check Microsoft’s official pricing page for your locale when registering, as prices can change and promotions or student discounts might apply. Microsoft sometimes offers student vouchers or exam discount promotions (such as Ignite Cloud Skills Challenge rewards, etc.), so keep an eye out for those if budget is a concern.
• Exam Languages:

AZ-104 is available in multiple languages. The default is English, but it’s also offered in Chinese (Simplified), Korean, Japanese, French, Spanish, German, Portuguese (Brazil), Russian, Arabic (Saudi Arabia), Chinese (Traditional), Italian, and Indonesian​learn.microsoft.com. If you choose a language other than English, you may be granted extra time. Make sure you are comfortable with technical cloud terminology in the exam language you select.

• Exam Delivery:

This exam is proctored and is closed-book. You can take it at a test center or as an online proctored exam from your home/office. Online proctored exams require a quiet, private environment, a webcam, and a reliable internet connection. During the exam, you cannot use any resources or get external help – any misconduct will result in immediate failure. Microsoft has strict policies to ensure the integrity of the exam.

• Retake Policy:
• If you don’t pass on the first attempt, you must wait 24 hours before retaking​learn.microsoft.com. For a third attempt (and beyond) you must wait 14 days after the previous attempt. You can take a given exam a maximum of 5 times in a 12-month period. If you achieve a pass, you cannot retake the exam again (until and unless you need to re-certify after it expires).

Below is a quick reference table summarizing the exam details at a glance:

Exam Syllabus and Objectives

The AZ-104 exam measures your skills across five major domain areas. Microsoft defines the “skills measured” and the relative weight of each domain (i.e., the percentage of the exam focused on that domain). Below is the breakdown of the AZ-104 exam objectives and their weightings as of the latest update (April 18, 2025)​learn.microsoft.com:

• Manage Azure identities and governance – 20–25% of exam
• 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%

These domains align with the typical responsibilities of an Azure Administrator. Let’s briefly explore what each domain encompasses:

1. Manage Azure Identities and Governance (20–25%)

This domain covers managing identities, access, and organizational structures in Azure. Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) (now part of Microsoft Entra ID) is front and center. You need to know how to create and manage users and groups, manage Azure AD properties and licensing, and handle external identities (guests)​learn.microsoft.com. Key skills include configuring self-service password reset (SSPR) for users and implementing Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) as part of Azure AD (even though not explicitly listed, understanding MFA/SSPR and basic Conditional Access policies is useful).

Another big area is Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) – managing access to Azure resources. You should be able to assign built-in roles to users/groups at different scopes (subscription, resource group, resource) and interpret effective permissions​learn.microsoft.com. This ensures you can control who can do what in the Azure environment.

On the governance side, expect questions on organizing and structuring Azure resources:

• Azure subscriptions – how to manage subscriptions, including transferring, changing billing, or utilizing management groups for multiple subscriptions​learn.microsoft.com.
• Resource groups – creating and managing resource groups, and understanding that they act as logical containers for resources.
• Tags – applying tags to resources for organization and cost management​learn.microsoft.com.
• Resource Locks – using locks to prevent accidental deletion or changes to critical resources​learn.microsoft.com.
• Azure Policy – implementing policies for governance (e.g., to enforce specific resource configurations or compliance)​learn.microsoft.com.
• Management Groups – grouping subscriptions under management groups to apply global policies or RBAC​learn.microsoft.com.
• Azure Cost Management – using budgets, cost alerts, and Azure Advisor recommendations to monitor and control spending​learn.microsoft.com.

In summary, this domain ensures you can manage identities (users/groups), control access with roles, and enforce governance and organization of Azure resources across one or many subscriptions.

2. Implement and Manage Storage (15–20%)

This domain revolves around Azure storage solutions. You should be fluent in working with Azure Storage Accounts and their various data services: Blob storage, File shares, Tables, and Queues. Key objectives include:

• Configuring Storage Access: Set up Azure Storage firewalls and virtual network rules for storage accounts (allowing or denying specific network access)​learn.microsoft.com. Manage access keys and shared access signatures (SAS tokens) to delegate granular access to storage resources​learn.microsoft.com. The exam expects you to know when and how to use SAS vs. account keys vs. Azure AD authentication for storage.
• Managing Storage Accounts: Create and configure storage accounts with appropriate performance tiers (Standard vs Premium) and replication options (LRS, GRS, RA-GRS, etc.)​learn.microsoft.com. Understand storage account settings like minimum TLS version, custom domain, etc. Know how to enable Azure Storage encryption, and features like object replication between storage accounts​learn.microsoft.com.
• Azure Files and Blob Storage: Create and manage Azure File Shares (including enabling Azure AD authentication for Azure Files, if in scope)​learn.microsoft.com. Configure Azure Blob containers, including container-level access policies and stored access policies​learn.microsoft.com. Manage Blob storage features such as storage tiers (hot, cool, archive)​learn.microsoft.com, soft delete and snapshots for data recovery in blobs​learn.microsoft.com and files​learn.microsoft.com, Blob lifecycle management rules for automated data tiering or deletion​learn.microsoft.com, and blob versioning​learn.microsoft.com.
• Tools for Data: Use tools like Azure Storage Explorer and the AzCopy utility to upload, download, and manage data in storage accounts​learn.microsoft.com. You might get a question on what AzCopy command to use to transfer data, or how to securely share a file using SAS.

In essence, expect questions on securing storage (network access, keys, SAS), configuring redundancy and backup features, and managing data lifecycle.

3. Deploy and Manage Azure Compute Resources (20–25%)

Compute is a big portion of the exam. This domain tests your ability to provision and manage compute services such as virtual machines, containers, and Azure App Services:

• Virtual Machines (VMs): You must know how to create and configure VMs from the Azure Portal, PowerShell/CLI, or using ARM templates​learn.microsoft.com. This includes selecting the appropriate VM size, OS image, and storage for OS and data disks. Manage VM settings like extending/renaming disks, resizing VMs, and configuring Azure Disk Encryption for security​learn.microsoft.com. You should also know how to move VMs between resource groups or subscriptions, and how to move them between regions (using Azure Site Recovery or snapshot+re-deploy methods)​learn.microsoft.com. VM availability is key: understand deploying VMs into Availability Sets and Availability Zones to achieve high availability​learn.microsoft.com. Similarly, grasp the basics of Virtual Machine Scale Sets (VMSS) for scaling out VMs automatically​learn.microsoft.com.
• Automated Deployment (Infrastructure as Code): The exam covers deploying resources using Azure Resource Manager templates (ARM templates) or Bicep (the newer Azure IaC language). You should be able to interpret and modify JSON ARM templates or Bicep files​learn.microsoft.com. Know how to export a deployment as a template from the portal and the basics of deploying a template via CLI/PowerShell​learn.microsoft.com. Bicep is basically a declarative language for ARM – ensure you understand core concepts like parameters, variables, and resource declarations in templates.
• Containers: You need a basic understanding of Azure container services. Specifically, how to use Azure Container Instances (ACI) and Azure Container Apps (which is a service for running containerized apps without managing Kubernetes clusters)​learn.microsoft.com. Know how to create an Azure Container Registry (ACR) to store Docker images​learn.microsoft.com. You should be able to deploy a container to ACI or Azure Container Apps and understand scaling and sizing options for those services​learn.microsoft.com. (Kubernetes service, AKS, is only lightly touched or optional; currently AKS is marked as optional or less emphasized for AZ-104, whereas Azure Container Apps was added in updates.)
• Azure App Service (Web Apps): Understand how to create and configure Web Apps in Azure App Service​learn.microsoft.com. This includes creating an App Service Plan (and knowing the differences in tiers for scaling, e.g. Free/Shared vs Basic vs Standard vs Premium)​learn.microsoft.com. Know how to configure app settings and connection strings, deploy code or containers to App Service, set up custom domain names and SSL certificates for web apps​learn.microsoft.com, and configure deployment slots for staging deployments​learn.microsoft.com. Also, features like autoscaling an App Service Plan and backups of App Services are in scope​learn.microsoft.com. Networking settings for App Service (like hybrid connections or VNet integration) could also be tested​learn.microsoft.com.

In summary, this domain expects you to know how to spin up and manage the core compute building blocks in Azure: VMs (and associated resources like disks and images), container instances/apps, and web apps. Focus on practical management tasks – the kinds of things an Azure admin does to keep applications running (resizing VMs, swapping deployment slots, etc.).

4. Implement and Manage Virtual Networking (15–20%)

Networking is crucial in any cloud environment. This domain tests your ability to set up and manage Azure virtual networks and related components:

• Virtual Networks (VNets): Know how to create and configure VNets and subnets​learn.microsoft.com. This includes choosing an IP address space (CIDR block), dividing it into subnets, and understanding subnet sizing. Be comfortable with the concept of private vs public IP addresses in Azure and how to assign static IPs to VMs or other resources.
• VNet Peering: Understand how to connect virtual networks using VNet peering (both within a region and globally across regions)​learn.microsoft.com. Know that peering allows resources in different VNets to communicate with low latency, and be aware of peering constraints (e.g., transitive peering is not automatic, peering works only within Azure and not with on-prem without a VPN, etc.).
• Network Security: Configure Network Security Groups (NSGs) to filter inbound and outbound traffic to subnets or NICs​learn.microsoft.com. Be able to create NSG rules, understand NSG priorities, and evaluate effective security rules when multiple NSGs and inherited rules apply​learn.microsoft.com. Also know Application Security Groups (ASGs) which allow grouping of NICs to simplify NSG rule targeting​learn.microsoft.com.
• User-Defined Routes (UDR): Set up custom routing in Azure by defining route tables and UDRs for scenarios like forcing traffic through a firewall appliance or NVA (Network Virtual Appliance)​learn.microsoft.com. Understand the default system routes and when you’d need to override them.
• Secure Remote Access: Implement solutions like Azure Bastion for secure VM access through the Azure Portal (so admins can RDP/SSH into VMs without a public IP)​learn.microsoft.com. Understand how Azure Bastion works and when to use it instead of (or in addition to) traditional jumpboxes or VPN.
• Service Endpoints & Private Endpoints: Configure service endpoints on subnets for Azure PaaS services (like Azure Storage, SQL) to allow secure access over Azure backbone​learn.microsoft.com. More importantly in current exam versions, understand Private Endpoints (Private Link) which allow you to attach a NIC with a private IP from your VNet to Azure services, effectively bringing the service into your VNet​learn.microsoft.com. Know scenarios for private endpoints (secure database access, etc.) and how they differ from service endpoints.
• Name Resolution: Know the basics of DNS in Azure – the fact that Azure provides internal name resolution for VMs in a VNet, and how to configure Azure DNS for custom domains or public DNS hosting​learn.microsoft.com. Also, how to configure a custom DNS server for a VNet if needed (pointing VNet settings to your own DNS).
• Load Balancing: Understand Azure load balancing options. You should know how to configure a basic Azure Load Balancer (Layer-4, for distributing traffic to VMs)​learn.microsoft.com, including setting up the front-end, back-end pool, health probes, and load balancing rules. Also be aware of Azure Application Gateway (Layer-7 load balancer with WAF capabilities) – it might be mentioned or appear in questions for scenarios requiring HTTP(S) routing. The blueprint specifically emphasizes load balancer, but Application Gateway and Traffic Manager could be situationally mentioned. Know how to troubleshoot load balancing issues (checking NSG, routing, health probe status, etc.)​learn.microsoft.com.

Expect scenario questions tying networking concepts together, such as connecting on-premises to Azure (Site-to-Site VPN or ExpressRoute – though deep config of those is less emphasized after the exam update, basic understanding could still be tested). The exam objectives have deemphasized some advanced networking (e.g., Azure VPN Gateway and ExpressRoute were optional/removed in recent updates), focusing more on core VNet setup, security, and connectivity within Azure.

5. Monitor and Maintain Azure Resources (10–15%)

The final domain is about keeping the Azure environment running smoothly through monitoring, backup, and troubleshooting:

• Monitoring with Azure Monitor: Be familiar with Azure Monitor and how it collects metrics and logs from Azure resources. You should know how to interpret the metrics (like CPU usage of a VM, or throughput on a storage account) and set up alert rules based on metrics or logs​learn.microsoft.com. Understand how to configure Log Analytics workspaces and enable diagnostic settings to send resource logs to a workspace, Event Hub, or storage​learn.microsoft.com. You should also know how to query logs using the Kusto Query Language (KQL) in Log Analytics, at least for basic log queries​learn.microsoft.com. Features like Azure Monitor for VMs (Insights), Azure Monitor for Storage, and Network Watcher are mentioned – know that Azure Monitor can have specialized insights for VMs, and Azure Network Watcher provides tools like Connection Monitor, IP flow verify, NSG diagnostic, etc., to troubleshoot network connectivity​learn.microsoft.com and monitor networks​learn.microsoft.com.
• Backup and Recovery: Know how to create a Recovery Services Vault​learn.microsoft.com and configure Azure Backup for VMs. This includes setting backup policies (frequency and retention), performing on-demand backups, and restoring VMs/files from a backup. Azure Backup can also be used for other workloads (SQL in VMs, Azure File shares, etc.), but VM backup is a primary focus. Understand the basics of Azure Site Recovery (ASR) for disaster recovery of VMs (though ASR might not be deeply tested since it’s a bit more advanced; still, be aware of what it is).
• Updates and Patching: The exam may include knowledge of using services like Azure Automation Update Management or Azure Update Center to manage updates and patches for VMs, ensuring that you can keep systems updated. Also, be aware of Azure Advisor recommendations for optimizing performance, security, and costs – monitoring includes responding to such recommendations.
• Troubleshooting: You should have troubleshooting skills across all above domains – e.g., if a VM can’t connect to the internet, what would you check (NSG, UDR, DNS)? If an App Service is slow, where in Azure Monitor would you look? If a user can’t access a storage account, what diagnostics or access settings to verify? Expect a few questions that test your practical troubleshooting ability using monitoring data or Azure tools.

Overall, this domain ensures you can monitor resource health and performance, configure alerts, and implement backup/recovery strategies to protect data and services.

Important: Microsoft updates the exam content periodically to keep up with Azure’s evolving services. The domain weights and topics listed above are current as of early 2025​learn.microsoft.com, but always double-check the official Exam AZ-104 “Skills Measured” outline on Microsoft Learn for the latest information before you start studying. The official AZ-104 study guide (available on Microsoft’s site) provides a detailed list of sub-topics and also notes any recent changes to the exam content. Staying aware of these updates is crucial, as Azure services (and their exam coverage) can change. For example, certain topics like Azure Firewall, Azure Front Door, or ExpressRoute may come and go from the AZ-104 syllabus as the exam is adjusted over time.

Key Azure Concepts to Know

Before diving into preparation, it’s worth clarifying some core Azure concepts and terminology that often confuse newcomers. Understanding these is not only important for the exam but also for real-world Azure administration:

• Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) / Microsoft Entra ID: Azure AD is Microsoft’s cloud-based identity and access management service. (In 2022, Microsoft introduced the Entra brand – Microsoft Entra ID is essentially the new name for Azure AD, but exam content and resources may use both terms interchangeably.) This service is the backbone of user and group management in Azure, providing authentication for Azure, Microsoft 365, and thousands of third-party apps. For AZ-104, you should grasp how Azure AD manages users, groups, service principals, and devices. Key features include user creation, password resets, licensing (e.g., Azure AD Premium for features like Conditional Access), and Conditional Access policies. Conditional Access is a feature in Azure AD that allows you to enforce controls on sign-ins – for instance, requiring MFA or blocking access from certain locations/devices for specific apps. While Azure AD Conditional Access is a bit beyond basic admin, understanding its purpose (to enhance security by applying conditions to authentication) can help answer conceptual questions. Remember that Azure AD (Entra ID) is distinct from on-premises AD, though it can integrate via Azure AD Connect for hybrid identity. Also, Azure AD tenants are separate from Azure subscriptions (see below).
• Azure Tenant: An Azure AD tenant is a dedicated instance of Azure Active Directory that an organization receives when signing up for Azure or Microsoft 365. It represents your organization’s identity boundary. All users, groups, and applications are defined within a tenant (Azure AD directory). A common point of confusion is the relationship between a tenant and subscriptions. Tenants vs. Subscriptions: The tenant is about identity (who), while a subscription is about billing and resources (what). One Azure AD tenant can have multiple subscriptions associated with it, but every subscription is linked to one tenant for authentication. Resources (VMs, storage, etc.) reside in subscriptions, and those subscriptions “trust” the Azure AD tenant for identity management (RBAC roles are assigned to identities from the tenant). If you’re an admin, you often deal with multiple subscriptions under one tenant to organize environments (e.g., Prod, Dev, Test subscriptions) or to separate projects/departments. Also, Azure tenants are isolated from each other – you can guest users from one tenant into another, but resources and identities don’t automatically span tenants. In exam scenarios, when they mention multiple tenants, think multi-directory scenarios (like mergers or B2B settings). In short: the tenant is your directory of identities; the subscription is a container of Azure services/resources that trusts that directory.
• Azure Subscription: An Azure subscription is essentially an agreement with Microsoft to use Azure services with associated costs. It holds the resource groups and resources you create. It has a set of resource limits/quotas and a billing account. You manage access to a subscription via Azure AD (assigning roles to users from the associated tenant). Subscriptions can be grouped under management groups for hierarchical organization. For AZ-104, know how to manage subscription-level settings: e.g., cost management (viewing costs, creating budgets), setting the subscription’s directory (tenant) or moving a subscription to a different tenant (less common), applying RBAC at the subscription level, and understanding subscription governance (like subscription policies or the role of the root management group). The exam might also reference the Azure Enterprise Agreement (EA) or Microsoft Customer Agreement in context of subscriptions or billing, but only at a conceptual level.
• Azure Virtual Machine (VM): An Azure VM is an Infrastructure-as-a-Service offering that allows you to run a virtualized Windows or Linux OS in the Azure cloud, similar to a VM in a local data center. For AZ-104, VMs are at the heart of the compute section. Key points include VM sizing (vCPUs, memory), VM images (from Azure marketplace or custom images), disks (OS disk vs data disks, managed disks with SSD/HDD options), networking for VMs (each VM’s NIC connects to a subnet and can have NSGs), and availability options (Availability Sets for grouping VMs to avoid single point-of-failure, or Availability Zones for distributing VMs across datacenters). Also understand VM management tasks: starting, stopping, resizing, configuring auto-shutdown, setting extensions (like the Custom Script Extension), and monitoring VM performance. Azure also supports features like VM backups, VM scale sets (for auto-scaling), and Azure Bastion for VM access – which we touched on in the domain breakdown. Essentially, know how to deploy and manage a VM and how it interacts with other components (storage, networking, identity).
• Conditional Access: As mentioned under Azure AD, Conditional Access policies allow an admin to enforce certain conditions for accessing resources. For example, you can require MFA when users access the Azure Portal or block login from outside certain IP ranges, etc. While AZ-104 is not a dedicated security exam, understanding Conditional Access is relevant because an Azure Administrator often needs to implement or support identity security measures. You should know that Conditional Access lives in Azure AD (Entra ID) and typically requires Azure AD Premium P1/P2. It works by combining signals (user, device, location, app, risk level) with controls (allow, block, require MFA, require compliant device, etc.) to make decisions. A possible exam question could be scenario-based, like: “The company wants to ensure admins use MFA when accessing Azure – what feature would you implement?” The answer would be Conditional Access with an MFA policy. Or a question might require recognizing a Conditional Access policy as a solution given a requirement. In summary, Conditional Access = policy-based access control with conditions, a key security tool in Azure AD.

These concepts – Azure AD (Entra ID), tenants vs. subscriptions, virtual machines, and conditional access – form the backbone of Azure admin knowledge. Make sure you understand how they relate: e.g., an Azure VM is an instance in a subscription, and access to manage that VM is controlled by Azure AD identities with roles on that subscription. Clarifying these fundamentals will help you confidently answer exam questions that assume this context.

Exam Registration and Scheduling

Scheduling your AZ-104 exam is a straightforward process, but there are a few steps and options to be aware of:

• Registration:

You register for the exam through the Microsoft Certifications dashboard on Microsoft Learn or directly through the exam page on Microsoft’s website. Microsoft will direct you to their exam delivery provider (typically Pearson VUE for Azure exams) for scheduling. It’s recommended to use a personal Microsoft account (MSA) when registering for exams​learn.microsoft.com, rather than a work/school account. This is because your certification profile is tied to the account you register with, and if you leave an organization, you could lose access to a work account (and thus your cert history). Using a personal account avoids that risk.

• Scheduling:

Once redirected to Pearson VUE, you’ll choose how and when to take the exam. You can opt for an online proctored exam (take it from home/office with a webcam monitoring you) or in-person at a test center. For online exams, ensure your environment meets Pearson’s requirements: you’ll need to run a system test, have a quiet room with no interruptions, and present valid ID. For test center exams, you’ll go to an authorized exam center on the chosen date. You’ll be able to select a date and time slot from the available openings. It’s wise to schedule at least a week or two in advance to secure your desired slot, especially if you plan to take it on a popular date (like at the end of the month many people schedule to meet goals).

• Payment:

During scheduling, you’ll pay the exam fee (or enter a voucher if you have one). Ensure you have a payment method ready. If you have a Microsoft exam voucher or discount code, you can apply it. Microsoft sometimes offers a student discount (around 50% off) if you verify academic status through their tools. There are also programs like Microsoft Enterprise Skills Initiative (ESI) through employers or Microsoft Learn Career Connected for students that can provide free vouchers. If you’re retaking, remember Microsoft’s Exam Replay offers or other promotions can sometimes bundle a retake at a discount when purchasing initially.

• Confirmation:

 After scheduling, you’ll get a confirmation email with the details. For online exams, read the instructions carefully – you’ll usually be asked to log in 15-30 minutes early, use an application (Pearson’s OnVUE) to check in, and you’ll have to use your phone to take photos of your ID and your environment during check-in.

• Rescheduling or Cancellation:

 Life happens – if you need to reschedule, you can do so through the Pearson VUE portal. Microsoft’s policy generally allows free reschedule/cancellation up to 24 hours before the appointment. If you cancel within 24 hours of the exam, you might forfeit the fee. Not showing up counts as a fail attempt (and you lose the fee), so make sure to reschedule if you can’t attend.

• Exam Day Requirements:

Whether at home or test center, you must present a valid government-issued ID (e.g., passport, driver’s license) that matches the name on your exam registration. Arrive at the test center at least 15 minutes early, or if online, begin the check-in process 15-30 minutes early. For online exams, once you’ve checked in, a proctor will communicate with you (via chat) and then launch your exam. Ensure you have a stable internet connection; if disconnected, there is a short window to reconnect or else the exam may be voided.

By understanding the registration and scheduling steps ahead of time, you can reduce day-of-exam stress and focus on what really matters – demonstrating your Azure knowledge.

Certification Validity and Renewal

Earning the Azure Administrator Associate certification is an achievement – but it’s not the end of the journey. Microsoft’s role-based certifications (including AZ-104) are valid for one year from the date you achieve them​learn.microsoft.com. Unlike older Microsoft certs that lasted 2 years (or were lifetime), the current policy is that you need to renew annually to keep the certification active.

Here’s how the renewal process works:

• Renewal Timeline:

Your certification is valid for 1 year. You become eligible to renew starting 6 months before the certification’s expiration date. For example, if you passed AZ-104 on July 15, 2025, your cert would expire on July 15, 2026; you could renew anytime after January 15, 2026 (which is 6 months prior) up until the expiration date.

• Renewal Method:

 Renewal does NOT require paying for or retaking the full AZ-104 exam. Instead, Microsoft provides a free online assessment you can take on Microsoft Learn​learn.microsoft.com. This is typically a shorter, un-proctored exam (around 25-30 questions) that focuses on the latest updates in the exam objectives. The idea is to ensure you are up-to-date with new Azure features and changes. You can take this renewal assessment from your own computer, open-book (since it’s not proctored, you can refer to documentation), and you can retake it multiple times if you don’t pass on the first try.

• Renewal Content:

Microsoft publishes “Microsoft Certification Renewal” modules which include learning materials to brush up on what’s changed. The renewal assessment for Azure Administrator will emphasize any new technologies or services added to AZ-104’s scope in the past year. For instance, if Azure introduced a new service or there were new best practices, those might appear. It’s a good idea to review the official “What’s changed” or “skills measured updates” for AZ-104 (Microsoft often has a change log in the study guide) before attempting the renewal.

• Taking the Assessment:

You initiate the renewal from your Microsoft Learn profile’s Certifications section. Once you pass the renewal assessment, your certification validity is extended by 1 additional year from the original expiration date (not from the date you passed the renewal). If you fail, you can typically retry after a waiting period (usually a day). Since it’s free and you can retake, there’s little risk – but do not wait until the last minute. If your certification expires, you’d have to take the full exam again to reinstate it, so set a reminder to renew on time.

• Policy on Expiry:

If you let the cert expire (miss the renewal window), the only way to earn it again is to pass the full exam again. You cannot take the renewal assessment after expiration – it’s only available while your cert is active. So treat the renewal seriously to save yourself the trouble later.

Microsoft’s shift to annual renewal is intended to encourage professionals to keep their skills current in the fast-changing cloud landscape. The renewal process is convenient (online and free) and ensures your Azure Administrator Associate certification remains active indefinitely, as long as you complete a quick refresh each year​learn.microsoft.com. Be sure to stay informed on Azure updates (Microsoft Learn, Azure blogs, etc.) so that renewal is a smooth process rather than a cram session.

Tip: Even outside of the formal renewal, it’s a good practice to periodically revisit the Azure Administrator exam objectives and see if there are new things you aren’t familiar with. This helps keep your skills sharp and relevant in your job as well.

Preparation Tips and Resources

Preparing for the AZ-104 exam will involve learning the concepts, hands-on practice, and self-assessment. Below are comprehensive tips and resources to help you succeed:

1. Use Official Microsoft Learn Learning Paths

One of the best starting points is the Microsoft Learn platform, which offers free, interactive learning modules for Azure. For AZ-104, Microsoft provides curated learning paths aligned to the exam objectives. These modules cover Azure services and often include hands-on labs that you can do in a free sandbox environment.

• Microsoft Learn Learning Path for AZ-104: Head over to Microsoft Learn’s AZ-104 collection (you can find it via the exam page “Prepare for the exam” section). It includes modules on each domain area, such as “Manage Azure identities”, “Implement virtual networking”, etc. Each module contains reading content, tutorials, and knowledge checks. This is a free resource and is officially maintained, so it reflects the current exam content. It’s a great way to ensure you cover every topic in the syllabus.
• Hands-on Interactive Labs: Many Microsoft Learn modules have an interactive component where you perform tasks in Azure right in your browser (with a temporary sandbox subscription provided by Microsoft). For example, you might go through steps to create a VM or configure monitoring in a guided lab. Take advantage of these – doing tasks yourself solidifies understanding far better than just reading. If a module lacks a lab or you want more practice, you can replicate the steps in your own Azure free account (more on that below).
• Documentation References: The study guide and Learn modules will often link to Azure documentation for deeper dives. If a particular topic is new or complex (say, Azure Container Apps or Azure Monitor log queries), don’t hesitate to read the official docs or quickstarts which are very detailed. While you won’t need to memorize documentation lines, familiarity with how to navigate Azure docs can indirectly help you learn faster and even solve tricky exam questions by recalling where to find certain settings.

2. Books and Study Guides

If you prefer structured texts or want to supplement your online learning, consider the following:

• “Exam Ref AZ-104 Microsoft Azure Administrator” Book: Microsoft Press usually publishes an official Exam Ref guide for their exams. The Exam Ref AZ-104 book (by Harshul Patel, if using the latest edition) is designed specifically to cover all exam objectives. It often includes review questions and case studies. Ensure you get the latest edition, as the exam has had updates (for instance, a 2023 or 2024 edition should cover newer content like Azure Container Apps, whereas older editions might not). The Exam Ref books are written concisely for exam prep, focusing on decision-making and exam scenario aspects. Use it to reinforce your learning and identify areas you might have overlooked.
• Third-Party Study Guides: There are other books and e-books in the market. For example, Packt Publishing has an “Azure Administrator Associate Guide” that might be more narrative and tutorial in style. Sybex also sometimes releases certification guides. Check reviews and ensure any book covers the latest exam objectives (post-2023 changes). Books can give you another perspective and sometimes include practice questions at the end of chapters.
• Cheat Sheets / Summary Notes: Websites like Dumpsarena offer cheat sheets for AWS/Azure exams, and you might find one specifically for AZ-104. These are great for last-minute review – they condense key points and often highlight things like port numbers, command syntax, limits and defaults that could appear as test trivia. Just make sure any summary you use is up to date. Some community members share their study notes on blogs or GitHub as well.
• Official Exam Skills Outline PDF: Don’t forget to download the official “Skills Measured” outline (the exam study guide) from Microsoft’s site (usually an aka.ms link on the exam page). Go through each line of that outline and self-assess your comfort with the topic. This document is essentially the checklist of what you need to know. You can use it as a table of contents for your study plan. Mark topics as you study them.

3. Online Courses (Instructor-Led or On-Demand)

A structured course can be very helpful, especially if you like video learning or need help understanding certain topics:

• Microsoft Official Course (MOC AZ-104T00): Microsoft has an official instructor-led training course for Azure Administrator, often delivered by learning partners. It’s a multi-day course that covers the exam objectives with lectures, demos, and labs. If you have the opportunity through your employer or can afford it, this is a comprehensive option. It comes with lab manuals and a student handbook that can be useful even after the class. However, it can be expensive for individuals (typically offered by training companies for corporate training).
• Exam Prep Sessions: Microsoft and some community MVPs occasionally host live or recorded “Exam Prep” sessions focusing on AZ-104. These are worth watching as they often discuss how to approach exam questions and commonly misunderstood areas. They might be available on Microsoft’s Developer YouTube channel or Microsoft Learn TV archives.

Choose a learning format that suits you – some people mix reading (docs/books) with videos to keep it interesting. The goal is to cover all objectives and do so in a way you retain the information.

4. Hands-on Practice in Azure

There is no substitute for real hands-on experience. Since AZ-104 is all about performing administrative tasks, you should spend significant time in the Azure portal and using Azure CLI/PowerShell to solidify your skills:

• Azure Free Account: If you don’t have access to an Azure environment at work, sign up for an Azure free trial. Microsoft offers a free account with $200 credit for 30 days and a range of always-free services (like a free B1S Linux VM for a year, certain storage amounts, etc.). With careful use, you can practice most exam scenarios within the free credit limits. Just remember to clean up resources (delete VMs, etc.) when not in use to preserve credits.
• Practice Labs: Create your own mini-labs for each exam objective. For example:
• For identities: create some dummy Azure AD users and groups, assign them roles on a resource group, and test access; enable MFA for a user (you can use trial of Azure AD Premium via Azure AD free trial or some dev license); configure a self-service password reset policy.
• For storage: create a storage account, practice setting up a private container and generating a SAS token to share a file, enable soft delete and then actually delete a blob and recover it.
• For VMs: spin up a Windows VM and a Linux VM, practice RDP/SSH, attach a managed data disk, take a snapshot, try restoring the VM from the snapshot or image; test Azure Bastion if possible (Bastion isn’t free, but you can deploy it and delete it — it will incur a small cost while running).
• For networking: create two VNets and peer them, set up an NSG with specific rules and test connectivity (use ping or telnet from VMs); deploy an Azure Load Balancer with two backend VMs (there are Azure Quickstart templates to set this up easily if you want); simulate a scenario with a private endpoint by integrating a storage account with a VNet.
• For monitoring: enable diagnostic logging on a storage account to send logs to Log Analytics; use Azure Monitor to set an alert on CPU for a VM (you can artificially generate CPU load with a script to test it); configure a Recovery Services Vault and back up a VM, then perform a test file recovery.

By actively doing these tasks, you encounter the real interfaces, options, and gotchas – which often are what the exam questions will quiz you on. It also builds your confidence for any potential lab questions in the exam.

• CLI/PowerShell: Don’t just use the Azure Portal; try doing some tasks with Azure CLI (az commands) and Azure PowerShell (Az module cmdlets). For instance, create a resource group via CLI, deploy a VM using an ARM template via PowerShell, or write a simple script to create 5 storage accounts with a naming pattern. This command-line experience is crucial because the exam may include code snippets or ask you to identify the correct command to accomplish something. You might see a JSON template excerpt and need to understand what it’s doing​learn.microsoft.com, or see a CLI command with flags and identify what it accomplishes. You don’t need to memorize every command, but practice enough that you recognize the general syntax and can infer operations. Azure’s Cloud Shell in the portal is a convenient way to use CLI/PowerShell without local setup.
• Trial and Error: It’s okay if you break things in your practice – that’s how you learn. If a certain config is not working (say, a VM can’t reach the internet), troubleshoot it: check NSG, check if it has a public IP, etc. This troubleshooting practice not only prepares you for exam questions but also for real-world issues. Keep notes of what you learned; sometimes an “aha moment” in a practice lab directly answers a tricky exam question.
• Explore the Azure Portal: Get familiar with the Azure Portal navigation. For example, know where to find activity logs, how to check resource health, how to use Azure Advisor, or how to quickly open Cloud Shell. Some exam questions (especially in labs) might rely on you knowing where a setting is in the UI. It’s not explicitly tested by interface, but being efficient in the portal saves time during labs. Also experiment with the Azure mobile app if you can (not for the exam specifically, but it’s another tool in an admin’s toolkit).

Essentially, aim to implement each skill in the objectives at least once in a real or simulated environment. This will turn theoretical knowledge into practical know-how.

5. Practice Exams and Knowledge Checks

Once you’ve studied and practiced, it’s crucial to assess your readiness with practice exams:

• Microsoft Official Practice Assessment: On the exam page, Microsoft mentions a Practice Assessment​learn.microsoft.com – this is a set of example questions available for free on Microsoft Learn. It’s a short quiz that gives a feel of the question style and difficulty. Definitely take this, but note it might not cover all topics deeply. It’s good for understanding how questions might be worded.
• Dumpsarena Practice Test: Dumpsarenais the official practice test provider for Microsoft exams. They offer a full-length AZ-104 practice exam (with usually ~150+ practice questions in their pool). This is a paid resource (unless you got a bundle or promo that includes it). The quality is generally high: questions are often very exam-like. Dumpsarena has a “study mode” with explanations for answers, and a “certification mode” that simulates the real exam timing/score. Using Dumpsarena can highlight weak areas and get you comfortable with the exam’s format. It’s recommended if you want to be extra sure, though not mandatory if you already have other practice sources.
• Tutorials Dumpsarena Practice Exams: Tutorials Dumpsarena (by Jon Bonso) offers popular AZ-104 practice exams at a reasonable price. Many test-takers vouch that those questions are slightly tougher than the real exam, which is good for preparation. They come with detailed explanations and reference links for each answer. This can be a great way to learn why an answer is correct or wrong. Going through these explanations often teaches additional points or Azure quirks.
• Dumpsarena: Dumpsarenais another vendor with practice questions, though sometimes their quality can be hit-or-miss or slightly outdated – user reviews can guide you on their usefulness. Dumpsarena is a community-driven site where people discuss exam questions (often real or very similar to real ones). A word of caution: while Dumpsarena can sometimes give insight into actual exam questions, it borders on using braindumps (since people post memory recalls of real questions) and the answers there are user-submitted (not always correct). Use such forums carefully and ethically (more on dumps below). If you do browse, focus on understanding explanations rather than rote memorization.

Taking multiple practice tests will help build stamina and confidence. Treat the practice exams as learning tools: review every question you get wrong and understand the rationale behind the right answer. If the explanation is not clear, go back to docs or labs to clarify it.

6. Join Study Groups or Forums

While not an official resource, being part of a community can greatly enhance your prep:

• Online Forums: Communities like Reddit’s r/AzureCertification can be useful to hear about others’ experiences (without sharing forbidden info). People often post tips or clarifications. Just be mindful of spoilers and remember that each person’s exam experience can differ.
• Study Groups: If you know others pursuing AZ-104, form a study group. Discussing topics and quiz each other is effective. There are also Discord or Telegram groups out there for Azure cert prep.
• Microsoft Tech Community & Q&A: Microsoft has official forums (Microsoft Q&A or Tech Community) where you can ask technical questions if you’re stuck on a concept while studying. The responses from experts or Azure MVPs can be enlightening.
• Instructor Office Hours: If you took a course (Udemy etc.), some instructors have Q&A sections where you can ask for clarification on lectures or labs.

Sometimes, hearing an explanation from a peer or expert in a discussion can solidify your understanding more than just reading docs. It also helps you stay motivated and accountable.

8. Final Review and Exam Readiness

As you approach the exam day, plan some time for final review:

• Go over your notes or bookmark highlights.
• Take one or two full-length practice exams in exam-like conditions (timed, no notes) to gauge if you can finish in time and to build stamina for concentrating ~2 hours.
• Identify any weak spots and do a quick refresher (e.g., if you always get NSG vs Azure Firewall questions wrong, review network security options once more).
• Ensure you have your exam logistics sorted (installed the test software if online, checked your ID, etc., as described earlier).

Remember to get a good night’s sleep before the exam. Being well-rested and calm helps far more than cramming through the night.

By following these preparation steps – Learn → Practice → Verify (test) – you’ll build both the knowledge and the confidence needed to ace the AZ-104 exam.

Comparing AZ-104 with AZ-900 and AZ-305

Microsoft Azure offers a range of certifications for different roles and experience levels. Learners often wonder how AZ-104 (Azure Administrator) stacks up against other Azure exams like AZ-900 (Azure Fundamentals) and AZ-305 (Azure Solutions Architect). Here’s a comparison to clarify the differences and relationships:

AZ-104 vs. AZ-900 (Azure Fundamentals)

• Level and Depth: AZ-900 is an entry-level certification that covers the fundamentals of cloud and Azure. It’s designed for absolute beginners – even those from non-technical backgrounds – to understand Azure’s basic services, pricing, support, and cloud concepts. It does not require hands-on experience and focuses on theoretical understanding. In contrast, AZ-104 is a role-based associate-level exam that expects hands-on skill in operating Azure services. AZ-900 might ask what an Azure VM is or when to use a PaaS vs IaaS service, whereas AZ-104 will ask how to configure or manage that VM in practice.
• Content: AZ-900 spans a broad range of topics at a very high level (compute, storage, networking, security basics, compliance, billing, etc.), but only the surface. For example, AZ-900 might have you know that Azure has a service called Azure Monitor, or the concept of regions and availability zones. AZ-104, on the other hand, goes deep into fewer topics (focused on administration). It expects you to actually use Azure Monitor to set up alerts, or to deploy VMs into availability zones and manage them. Essentially, AZ-900 gives you awareness, AZ-104 gives you practical capability.
• Difficulty: AZ-900 is generally considered easy (if you study the basics, you can pass; it’s also only about 30-40 questions, usually straightforward). AZ-104 is moderately difficult, requiring more study time and practice. Many people who are new to Azure start with AZ-900 to get acquainted, then move to AZ-104 as the next step. If Azure is completely new to you, doing AZ-900 first can make AZ-104 easier to tackle (though it’s not mandatory).
• Exam Relationship: No prerequisite relationship. You do not have to pass AZ-900 before AZ-104. They are independent. AZ-900 earns you a “Fundamentals” cert, which is nice to have but not a requirement for any role-based cert. Think of AZ-900 as testing breadth, and AZ-104 testing depth in the admin role. In a certification path, AZ-900 is at the bottom (fundamental), AZ-104 is one step above (associate).
• Who should take what: AZ-900 is great for managers, salespeople, new IT folks, or anyone who needs a broad understanding of Azure but won’t necessarily be configuring things. AZ-104 is for practitioners/administrators who will log into Azure and actually build or manage resources. If you aim to become an Azure Administrator, you can skip AZ-900 if you’re comfortable diving in, but if you feel unsure about core concepts, AZ-900 is a gentle introduction that can boost your confidence.

In short, AZ-900 is Azure 101 (breadth over depth), while AZ-104 is Azure Administration 201 (depth in implementation). They complement each other, but one is not a direct continuation of the other in terms of exam requirements.

AZ-104 vs. AZ-305 (Azure Solutions Architect Expert exam)

• Role Focus: AZ-104 is for the Azure Administrator role – managing existing cloud infrastructure, implementing the day-to-day operations. AZ-305, titled Designing Microsoft Azure Infrastructure Solutions, is aimed at the Azure Solutions Architect role – designing and planning Azure environments that meet business requirements. In other words, AZ-104 is about “how to build and maintain it”, while AZ-305 is about “what to build and why, at an architectural level”.
• Certification Level: AZ-305 is an expert-level exam. It is one of the requirements for the Azure Solutions Architect Expert certification (the other requirement being that you have the Azure Administrator Associate certification). In fact, to earn the Architect Expert cert, Microsoft mandates that you must pass AZ-104 and AZ-305​linkedin.com​learn.microsoft.com. AZ-104 is effectively the prerequisite certification for the architect expert track (though you can take the exams in any order, you won’t get the expert badge until both are done). The reasoning is that a good architect should also have strong admin-level knowledge to ground their design decisions.
• Content and Domains: AZ-305 covers areas such as designing identity solutions, governance, data storage solutions, business continuity (backup, DR), and infrastructure solutions (compute, networking) from a high-level perspective​learn.microsoft.com. It tends to be scenario-driven: you get case studies or detailed requirements and must choose the best design. For example, AZ-305 might present a scenario for a company needing to deploy across multiple regions with certain compliance needs, and you have to choose the appropriate architecture (VMs vs App Service, which redundancy strategy, which networking topology, etc.). There might be multiple correct ways, but you must pick the optimal solution according to Azure best practices.

AZ-104, by contrast, might ask how to implement a certain solution (like “how do you set up VNet peering between two specific networks” or “which PowerShell command enables geo-replication on a storage account”). AZ-305 might ask “Given these requirements (many users, need for high availability and fault tolerance, minimal latency), which solution is best: A vs B vs C” – more design decision making.

• Difficulty: AZ-305 is generally considered more challenging than AZ-104. It expects breadth and depth, as well as experience. The questions often have multiple layers (the infamous “choose the best option” type). Also, because it’s expert-level, Microsoft assumes you either have admin-level knowledge or you learned it in preparation – so AZ-305 questions can indirectly require AZ-104 knowledge. For instance, a design question about hybrid identity might expect you to know about Azure AD Connect or Conditional Access, which are topics from the admin world. If you jump straight to AZ-305 without AZ-104 experience, you might struggle with some of those details. This is why even though Microsoft doesn’t enforce passing AZ-104 first, practically most candidates take AZ-104 before AZ-305.
• Relationship: As mentioned, to earn Azure Solutions Architect Expert, passing AZ-104 is compulsory in addition to AZ-305​linkedin.com​linkedin.com. You could take AZ-305 first and AZ-104 second; that’s allowed, but doing AZ-104 first is highly recommended. AZ-104 gives you the hands-on foundation that architects need. In fact, many of the skills in AZ-104 (identity, networking, etc.) “underpin the more advanced architectural concepts tested in AZ-305​linkedin.com. Think of AZ-104 as building the base: you learn how Azure works in practice. AZ-305 then builds on that to ensure you can design large-scale or complex solutions using those building blocks.
• Career Path: If your goal is to be an Azure Solutions Architect, you’ll likely go through AZ-104 on your way (or have equivalent knowledge/experience). If your goal is to stay more on the operations/admin side, AZ-104 might be your end goal or you might follow it up with other specialized certs (like security). Some professionals do both – get Azure Admin then Azure Architect for broader career options. There’s also an Azure DevOps Engineer Expert cert (AZ-400) which requires either AZ-104 or the developer equivalent AZ-204 first – that’s another path, but beyond this comparison.

In summary, AZ-104 and AZ-305 target different roles but are part of the same Azure ecosystem. AZ-104 is tactical (how to implement/manage), while AZ-305 is strategic (how to design/architect). They complement each other; for a well-rounded skillset, achieving both (thereby earning the Expert cert) is ideal. But if you’re only interested in one path, pick based on whether you enjoy hands-on implementation (Admin) or high-level design (Architect).

(For those curious: sometimes people compare AZ-104 with Salesforce Admin or other “admin” certifications. Note that Azure Administrator and Salesforce Administrator are entirely different domains – one is cloud infrastructure, the other is CRM platform management. They can’t be directly compared in terms of content or career, as they serve different professional roles².)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: How many questions are on the AZ-104 exam, and what types of questions will I face?

A: The AZ-104 exam usually has around 40 to 60 questions. The exact number can vary for each test-taker and with exam updates. You’ll encounter a variety of question formats including multiple-choice (single answer and multiple select), drag-and-drop matching, fill-in-the-blanks (rare), and scenario-based questions. Notably, AZ-104 often includes interactive lab tasks where you perform actual operations in an Azure interface. These labs could be one large case with several tasks or a couple of smaller labs. Each lab task is usually scored separately. The questions are not all simple recall – many test your understanding of process (e.g., the steps to achieve something) and decision making (choosing the best tool or configuration for a scenario). There are no essay or long-form questions; everything is either selecting or performing an action.

Q2: What is the passing score for AZ-104?

A: The passing score is 700 out of 1000​learn.microsoft.com. Microsoft uses scaled scoring, so 700 roughly corresponds to 70%. However, it’s not a simple percentage of questions since different questions can have different point values. You won’t know the exact weight of each question during the exam. Aim to confidently answer as many questions as possible. Your score report after the exam (if you pass or fail) will show your performance in each skill area, but not the detailed breakdown of points.

Q3: How much does the AZ-104 exam cost?

A: The exam costs about $165 USD in most regions. In Europe it’s around €165, in the UK around £120. Prices are subject to local currency conversion and may vary. For example, in India it’s roughly ₹4800 (plus taxes). If you’re a student, you can verify your academic status to get a discount (typically 50% off). Microsoft sometimes adjusts prices, so always confirm on the official scheduling page. Also remember, if you need to retake the exam, you’ll have to pay the fee again (unless you have a free retake from a special offer or voucher).

Q4: Is AZ-104 considered a difficult exam?

A: Difficulty is subjective, but generally AZ-104 is seen as a moderately challenging exam. It’s harder than fundamentals exams like AZ-900 because it requires hands-on knowledge and covers a lot of services in detail. If you come from a traditional IT admin background (familiar with virtualization, networking, AD, etc.), many concepts will map to what you know, just in an Azure context – that can make it easier after you learn Azure’s way of doing things. If you’re newer to IT or cloud, expect to invest significant study and lab time. Many test-takers report that the breadth of services (VMs, storage, networking, etc.) and the inclusion of live labs contribute to the challenge. That said, with thorough preparation, most people can pass on the first try. It’s very passable if you cover all objectives and practice. Use practice exams to gauge difficulty: if you can score well on those, you’re likely ready. Don’t be overconfident – even experienced admins should study Azure-specific implementations (e.g., an AD expert should still study Azure AD nuances, a network engineer should study Azure networking specifics, etc.).

Q5: How long should I study for AZ-104?

A: The time varies per individual. If you are working daily with Azure in an admin capacity, you might need only a few weeks of focused study on weaker areas. For those new to Azure, a common range is 1 to 3 months of preparation. For example, you might spend 1-2 hours on weekdays and a bit more on weekends over 8-12 weeks to go through all the material and practice. If you already passed AZ-900 or have Azure experience, you might be on the shorter end of that range. Create a study plan covering each domain, and adjust based on your personal pace. It’s more important to cover everything in a way you truly understand it than to rush. Some learners take a bootcamp approach (studying intensively over a week or two), while others go slower. Ensure you leave time for practice tests and reviewing any weak areas.

Q6: Do I need to take AZ-900 (Azure Fundamentals) before AZ-104?

A: No, AZ-900 is not a prerequisite. You can go straight for AZ-104. AZ-900 is completely optional. It does provide a good foundation if you’re completely new to cloud/Azure, but if you have IT experience or are comfortable learning quickly, you can skip it. Some people choose to do AZ-900 first for a confidence boost and a certificate early on. The Azure learning curve can be steep, so there’s no harm in doing AZ-900 as a warm-up. Just remember that having AZ-900 won’t directly help you answer AZ-104’s in-depth questions; you’ll still need to study the specifics for AZ-104.

Q7: What resources are the most important for passing AZ-104?

A: The must-have resources are the official exam outline (to know what to study), Microsoft Learn modules (for free guided learning and labs), and some form of hands-on Azure access (to practice). On top of that, most people benefit from practice exams to familiarize themselves with question styles. Many use a combination: e.g., Microsoft Learn + a Udemy course + Tutorials Dumpsarena practice tests. The exact combination depends on your learning style. If you prefer video, an online course is key; if you prefer reading, the Microsoft Docs and an exam reference book will be essential. Whichever you choose, doing actual labs in Azure is arguably the most important step to both learn and retain the knowledge.

Q8: Does the AZ-104 exam include labs or performance-based questions?

A: Yes, it often does. Microsoft has been including performance-based lab questions in many role-based exams, including AZ-104. In a lab, you’re given a list of tasks to perform in an Azure portal simulation. The lab environment is real (or close to real), and you have to execute tasks (like create a resource, change a setting, etc.). The system will validate if you completed each task successfully. These labs can be time-consuming, but the good thing is if you know your stuff, they’re straightforward (no tricky wording – you just do what’s asked). If labs are present, they usually appear after the normal questions; once you finish the normal items, you enter the lab section. Be mindful of time – Microsoft will carry over whatever exam time remains into the lab section. If you spend too long on earlier questions, you might have insufficient time for the lab. Practice doing tasks quickly in Azure and reading instructions carefully. (Note: On rare occasions, Microsoft temporarily removes labs due to technical issues or for specific languages, but you should prepare as if labs will be there.)

Q9: How is the exam scored if it has multiple parts (like multi-select or labs)?

A: Each question contributes some points to your total. For single-part questions (like a basic multiple choice), it’s usually all-or-nothing – you get the point(s) if you’re correct, or zero if wrong. For multiple-select questions, Microsoft usually uses all-or-nothing scoring unless stated otherwise (the question will tell you if partial credit is possible; historically most don’t give partial credit, but a few complex ones might). Labs are scored per task – each task you complete correctly gives you some points. You don’t get penalized for wrong attempts in labs, just only get credit if the end state is correct. After the exam, you won’t see per-question scores, just the overall score and the breakdown by section (as a percentage bar chart). If you fail, that breakdown helps identify weak areas. If you pass, you just see pass and the sections (but not the specific score beyond knowing it was ≥700).

Q10: How do I renew the Azure Administrator certification after one year?

A: To renew, you must pass an online renewal assessment on Microsoft Learn before your cert expires (within the 6-month window prior to expiry)​learn.microsoft.com. The renewal assessment is free and can be taken from your own device. It typically consists of around 25 questions focusing on the newest information. You can find the renewal link on Microsoft Learn under your Certification profile when it’s available. If you pass that, your certification is extended by 1 year from the original expiry date. You can attempt the renewal assessment multiple times if needed (with a cooldown period, like one attempt per day). It’s open-book, meaning you can look up Azure docs while taking it. This is a great way to ensure you stay current. You do not have to go to a test center or pay for renewal. Once renewed, your certification will show the new valid-through date (and you’ll get an email confirmation and updated badge). It’s wise to schedule time to do the renewal – don’t forget about it or you’ll have to take AZ-104 all over again.

Q11: What happens if I fail the AZ-104 exam?

A: Failing is not the end of the world. If you don’t pass, your score report will show which areas you fell short in. Use that to guide further study. Per Microsoft’s retake policy, you can retake the exam after 24 hours for the first retake​learn.microsoft.com. If you need to take it a third time, there’s a 14-day wait after the second attempt, and a 14-day wait for the fourth and fifth attempts as well. You can attempt a given exam at most five times in a 12-month period (so up to 5 total attempts in one year). If you hit that limit, you’d have to wait 12 months from the first attempt to try again. For most people, a second attempt is usually enough after closing their knowledge gaps. You will have to pay the exam fee for each retake (unless you have a free retake voucher or exam insurance from a bundle). It’s a good idea, if you fail, to take a bit of time to study more rather than immediately next day – unless your first attempt was very close and you just had a bad day, a little extra preparation can make a big difference.

Q12: Are there any trick questions or things to watch out for on AZ-104?

A: Microsoft generally isn’t trying to trick you, but questions can be complex. Watch out for:

• Negatives in questions (e.g., “Which of the following is not a valid way to do X?”).
• Multiple correct answers: If a question says “Select all that apply,” there could be more than one right answer. If it says “Select two,” they expect exactly two.
• Microsoft terminology nuances: Sometimes a question’s answer options will all sound plausible; knowing Azure terminology exactly helps. For instance, differentiate similar terms (like Azure AD Privileged Identity Management vs Azure AD Identity Protection, or Disaster Recovery (ASR) vs Backup).
• Newest features: After an exam update, they might include a question on a brand-new feature. If you studied old material, you might not know it. That’s why using updated resources is key.
• Time management in labs: As mentioned, manage time so you don’t rush through labs. Read lab tasks carefully—often there are multiple tasks. Do them methodically; it can be easy to miss a sub-step.
• Case study questions: If you get a case study with multiple questions on one scenario, use the “All information” tab or notes you make. Sometimes details are buried in the scenario text. Answer based on given scenario specifics, not general best practice if the scenario has a twist.

Overall, the exam is fair – if you know your material and read questions attentively, you’ll do fine. Don’t overthink to the point of seeing tricks everywhere; usually the simplest interpretation of the question is correct.

Q13: What jobs can I get with an Azure Administrator Associate certification?

A: The Azure Administrator cert is valuable in the job market. It proves you have core Azure skills. Some job roles it aligns with:

• Cloud Administrator / Azure Administrator: Managing cloud resources, handling deployments, monitoring, etc. (exactly what the cert is about).
• Systems Administrator / Infrastructure Engineer: Many traditional sysadmin jobs now want cloud skills. If a company is on Azure, having AZ-104 shows you can administer those systems.
• Cloud Engineer: A broad term, but often these roles involve implementing and maintaining cloud solutions. Azure Admin cert helps show you have practical Azure knowledge.
• DevOps Engineer (junior): While DevOps has its own cert (AZ-400), a lot of DevOps work involves configuring cloud infrastructure as code, setting up environments – skills from AZ-104 are very relevant.
• Consultant or MSP roles: If you work for a Microsoft partner or service provider, having the Azure Admin cert is often required or highly encouraged to meet partnership requirements and to demonstrate credibility to clients.

In terms of career prospects, Azure is one of the top cloud platforms and demand for Azure-skilled professionals is high. According to job trend analyses, Azure Administrator is a common listing and often one of the first cloud roles companies hire when they migrate to Azure. The certification can help your resume stand out and may lead to a higher salary compared to having no certifications. Many roles will also want experience, but having the cert can get you in the door or help negotiate a better position.

As for salary, it varies by region and experience. In the US or Europe, an Azure Administrator might expect (ballpark) anywhere from $80k at the low end for a junior admin up to $120k+ for a more senior cloud admin or engineer, as of mid-2020s. In South Asia, the figures would be different based on local scales. The key is that cloud skills usually command a premium over equivalent non-cloud IT roles.

Furthermore, AZ-104 can be a stepping stone. Many people use it to move into cloud architecture, DevOps, or specialized roles (like Azure Security Engineer). It shows employers that you have a solid foundation in Azure upon which you can build further expertise.

Q14: What certification should I pursue after AZ-104?

A: That depends on your career goals. Some common next steps:

• Azure Solutions Architect Expert (AZ-305): If you want to move towards designing solutions or a more senior cloud role, this is a logical next cert. As discussed, you’ll need AZ-104 plus AZ-305 to earn the expert title.
• Azure Security Engineer (AZ-500): Security is vital. If you enjoyed the identities/governance part of AZ-104 and want to dig deeper into security (threat protection, Sentinel, encryption, etc.), AZ-500 is a specialization that pairs well with admin knowledge.
• Azure DevOps Engineer Expert (AZ-400): If you are inclined towards automation, CI/CD, and DevOps culture, AZ-400 is an expert cert, but you must have either Azure Admin or Azure Developer cert first. With AZ-104 in hand, you meet the prerequisite. AZ-400 will cover topics like Azure DevOps, GitHub, pipelines, IaC, etc.
• Azure Developer (AZ-204): Perhaps you want to be more on the development side but still in Azure – AZ-204 is the developer associate cert. It covers building apps on Azure (App Services, Functions, databases, etc.). Some Azure Admins take AZ-204 to broaden into cloud development, especially if they work closely with dev teams.
• Specialty Certifications: Microsoft offers specialty certs (like Azure Virtual Desktop Specialty, Azure IoT, etc.). These are more niche. If your job involves those areas, they’re worth looking at after AZ-104 for deeper knowledge.
• Other Cloud Providers: If you want to be multi-cloud, you might pursue AWS or Google Cloud certs of analogous level. For instance, AWS’s equivalent role is an AWS SysOps Administrator or Solutions Architect Associate. However, there’s plenty within Azure to keep you busy if you want to stay on that track.

Consider what your current role (or desired role) requires. If your aim is to become a cloud architect, going for AZ-305 next is smart. If your role is more about operations, maybe AZ-500 (security) or even just sticking with Admin and gaining more hands-on experience could be fine. Also consider the renewal of AZ-104 – since you’ll need to maintain it yearly, balancing studying new certs vs renewing existing ones is important.

Q15: Any tips for exam day?

A: Aside from the prep and knowing the content:

• Sleep well and eat beforehand. Don’t take the exam on an empty stomach or when exhausted.
• Arrive early (or log in early for online). You don’t want added stress from rushing.
• During the exam, read questions carefully. It’s easy to misread under pressure. Especially pay attention to words like best, first, not, etc.
• Manage your time. As a rule of thumb, aim to get through all multiple-choice questions with at least 30-45 minutes left for any labs. If you’re stuck on a question, mark it for review and move on – don’t burn too much time on one tough question. You can revisit marked questions if time permits.
• Use the review at end. If you have time left, go through any marked items. Sometimes later questions jog your memory or give hints for earlier ones.
• Stay calm and confident. It’s normal to feel anxious, but remember you prepared well. If a question looks completely unfamiliar, it could be a field test question (unscored experimental question) or just a part you didn’t expect – either way, eliminate what you can and take an educated guess.
• After finishing, take a moment. When you hit submit, the result is often shown immediately on screen (for online, a provisional result; at test center, they give a printout). Congratulations if you pass! If not, don’t be too discouraged – use it as a learning experience.

That wraps up the FAQs. With the right preparation and mindset, you’ll be well on your way to passing AZ-104 and advancing your Azure career.

Post-Certification: Next Steps and Job Prospects

Achieving the Azure Administrator Associate certification is a significant milestone. Here’s how you can leverage it and continue your professional development:

1. Add the Credential to Your Profiles: Once you pass, you’ll receive an official badge and certificate. Update your résumé/CV, LinkedIn, and other professional profiles with the certification. The digital badge can be added to your LinkedIn licenses & certifications section (it will show “Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate, issued [Month Year]”). This immediately signals to recruiters and employers that you have proven Azure skills. The certification is recognized globally, and many hiring managers specifically look for it when filling cloud admin roles.

2. Apply Your Skills on the Job: If you’re already working in IT, start applying the best practices you learned during preparation. Perhaps implement Azure Policies where none existed, or improve the monitoring setup using Azure Monitor. The exam prep often gives you ideas to optimize real environments. This will reinforce your knowledge and show your initiative as a certified admin. If you’re not yet in an Azure role, use the certification to transition into one. You might seek a lateral move in your company to work on Azure projects, or look for new roles that are Azure-focused.

3. Explore Advanced Certifications: As discussed in the FAQ, consider aiming for higher-level certs:

• Azure Solutions Architect Expert: If design/architecture is your goal. Start preparing for AZ-305 after some experience.
• Azure DevOps Engineer Expert: If automation and CI/CD excite you, and you have development process knowledge, look into AZ-400 (you meet the prerequisite with AZ-104).
• Azure Security Engineer (AZ-500): Security is a top priority for cloud deployments. This cert could position you as a cloud security specialist, which is highly sought after.
• Azure Database / Data Engineer (DP-300, DP-203): If databases or data pipelines interest you, Microsoft has certifications for those (though they are separate tracks).
• Microsoft 365 / Other Microsoft certs: Sometimes Azure Admins also handle Office 365 or other Microsoft cloud services. If your job involves that, consider MS-100/101 (Microsoft 365 Enterprise Admin) or others as relevant.

Each additional certification will broaden your skill set and open up more job opportunities. However, balance pursuing new certs with gaining experience – both are important.

4. Continuously Learn and Stay Current: Cloud tech changes rapidly. Make it a habit to follow Azure updates. Microsoft Build and Ignite conferences often announce new features; you can watch sessions online for free. Follow the Azure blog or Azure updates page to see what’s new (especially in areas relevant to an admin, like new VM offerings, new monitoring features, etc.). Join local Azure user groups or online communities where people share knowledge. This continuous learning will also help when it’s time to renew your cert, as you’ll be aware of what’s changed in Azure.

5. Consider Multi-Cloud Knowledge: While being an Azure specialist is great, some companies use multiple clouds. After mastering Azure, you might dabble in learning AWS or Google Cloud basics. You don’t necessarily need their certs unless required, but understanding core concepts in other clouds can make you more versatile. Azure fundamentals actually map well to AWS/GCP equivalents (just different names), so you’ll find it easier to pick those up with your strong Azure background.

6. Job Prospects and Advancement: With an Azure Administrator cert:

• You can aim for roles like Cloud Administrator, Cloud Engineer, Site Reliability Engineer (SRE) (some SRE positions emphasize automation which you have a base for).
• In larger organizations, this cert might be your entry into a cloud team, from which you can specialize or move up to an architecture role.
• Government or enterprise jobs often require certain certs for contractors; Azure certs can fulfill those.
• As you gain experience, you might progress to Senior Cloud Administrator or Cloud Team Lead, overseeing others and architecting solutions (even without the architect cert, experience can get you there, but having both is a bonus).
• If consulting interests you, Azure admins are needed in consulting firms to implement solutions for clients. You could work for a Microsoft partner consulting company. The cert helps such companies maintain their partner status (they need certified individuals on staff).
• Freelancing / contracting is another avenue – many small companies need short-term Azure expertise to set things up. A certification plus solid experience can help you land freelance gigs.

In terms of industry demand: Cloud skills are in high demand across the globe, and Azure is growing quickly (Azure is #2 in market share behind AWS, but used by many enterprises especially if they are Microsoft shops). The certification essentially gives you a validation stamp in this job market. It won’t replace hands-on experience, but it definitely complements it and can sometimes substitute for a year or two of experience for someone who is switching domains, in the eyes of a recruiter.

7. Network and Share: Now that you are certified, consider engaging more in the community. You could answer questions from others prepping for AZ-104 on forums, or attend Azure meetups/virtual events and mention your cert journey. Networking can lead to job opportunities or collaborations. It also solidifies your own knowledge when you help others.

8. Keep your Certification Active: Don’t forget the renewal – mark your calendar for when it’s due, and use the renewal process as an opportunity to learn new Azure features (which can tie back to doing your job better and prepping for advanced certs).

9. Leverage Cert Benefits: Microsoft sometimes provides benefits to certified individuals, like free Azure credits via the Azure Heroes program or access to free e-learning on Pluralsight/LinkedIn for a limited time. Keep an eye on the certified candidate benefits page. Also, join the Microsoft Certified community, and you can request a certification ID which might get you discounts to conferences or events.

10. Reflect and Plan: Finally, reflect on what you enjoyed during the AZ-104 prep. Did you love the networking part? The identity management part? This can guide your next career move or learning. Cloud is broad – you might find a passion for security or DevOps or data. Use the admin experience as a springboard.

In conclusion, earning the AZ-104 certification is not just about passing an exam – it’s about acquiring a skill set that’s highly valuable in today’s IT industry. By preparing for and achieving this cert, you have demonstrated dedication and proficiency in Azure administration. Now, capitalize on it: apply those skills, keep learning, and watch your career opportunities expand. The cloud journey doesn’t end here; if anything, it’s just the beginning of new possibilities in the Azure ecosystem and beyond. Good luck with your Azure endeavors, and congratulations on taking this significant step in your cloud career!

Footnotes

1. Note: Some websites or individuals refer to “brain dumps” when searching for practice questions for AZ-104 (for example, phrases like "brain test 104" may pop up). These brain dumps are unofficial collections of exam questions shared in violation of exam policies. Using them is strongly discouraged, as discussed above. Always choose legitimate study materials to maintain integrity and ensure you truly learn the concepts. ↩
2. Note: A comparison often asked is Azure Administrator vs. Salesforce Administrator. These certifications (and roles) are unrelated – Azure Admin deals with cloud infrastructure in Microsoft Azure, while Salesforce Admin is about managing users, data, and configurations in Salesforce’s CRM platform. Each is valuable in its own domain, but they lead to different career paths. The choice between them should be based on whether you’re more interested in cloud infrastructure (Azure) or business applications/CRM (Salesforce), rather than which is “better” overall.

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