Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900)

Course Name: Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900)

Overview:

The Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900) course is an entry-level certification designed to introduce learners to the basics of Microsoft Azure and cloud computing. It is ideal for beginners who want to understand core cloud concepts, Azure services, pricing, security, and governance — without needing prior technical experience. This certification lays the foundation for anyone planning to start a career in cloud technology or pursue more advanced Azure certifications.

Why We Need It:

As businesses rapidly move their operations to the cloud, understanding cloud technologies has become a vital skill for IT professionals, developers, and even non-technical roles such as sales or management. The AZ-900 certification ensures you have a solid grasp of how cloud services work and how Azure helps organizations innovate, scale, and reduce costs.

How It Is Useful:

• Builds a strong foundation in cloud computing concepts.
• Helps learners understand Azure architecture, products, and solutions.
• Enhances your ability to discuss cloud services confidently with clients or teams.
• Serves as a stepping stone to advanced Microsoft certifications such as Azure Administrator (AZ-104), Azure Developer (AZ-204), and Azure Solutions Architect (AZ-305).
• Boosts employability in roles like cloud support associate, technical sales, or junior cloud engineer.

How It Can Help:

This certification helps you:

• Understand cloud principles like scalability, elasticity, and high availability.
• Learn about Azure’s key services—compute, networking, storage, and databases.
• Gain insights into Azure pricing models, cost management, and service-level agreements (SLAs).
• Explore security, compliance, and identity management within Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD).
• Get familiar with the Azure Portal and basic resource management.

Certification Validity / Renewal:

• The Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900) certification does not expire.
• Once achieved, it is valid for a lifetime and does not require renewal.
• However, learners are encouraged to upgrade to higher-level Azure certifications as Microsoft’s cloud technologies evolve.

Ideal For:

• Students and beginners in IT
• Non-technical professionals exploring cloud basics
• Sales, marketing, or management staff in cloud-related businesses
• IT professionals transitioning to cloud careers

Exam Information:

Cost: Around USD $99 (may vary by region)

Exam Code: AZ-900

Format: Multiple-choice questions

Duration: Approximately 45–60 minutes

Passing Score: 700/1000

1. Describe Cloud Concepts (25–30%)

Describe cloud computing

• Define cloud computing
• Describe the shared responsibility model
• Define cloud models, including public, private, and hybrid
• Identify appropriate use cases for each cloud model
• Describe the consumption-based model
• Compare cloud pricing models
• Describe serverless

Describe the benefits of using cloud services

• Describe the benefits of high availability and scalability in the cloud
• Describe the benefits of reliability and predictability in the cloud
• Describe the benefits of security and governance in the cloud
• Describe the benefits of manageability in the cloud

Describe cloud service types

• Describe infrastructure as a service (IaaS)
• Describe platform as a service (PaaS)
• Describe software as a service (SaaS)
• Identify appropriate use cases for each cloud service type (IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS)

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2. Describe Azure Architecture and Services (35–40%)

Core Azure architectural components

• Azure regions, region pairs, sovereign regions
• Availability zones
• Azure datacenters

Azure compute and networking services

• Compute types: Virtual machines (VMs), containers, Azure Functions
• VM options: Azure VMs, Virtual Machine Scale Sets, availability sets, Azure Virtual Desktop
• Application hosting: Web apps, containers, VMs
• Networking: Azure Virtual Network, subnets, VNet peering, Azure DNS, VPN Gateway, ExpressRoute
• Public and private endpoints

Azure storage services

• Compare storage options (Blob, File, Queue, Table)
• Storage tiers (Hot, Cool, Archive)
• Redundancy options (LRS, GRS, RA-GRS, ZRS)
• Storage account types
• File transfer tools (AzCopy, Azure Storage Explorer, Azure File Sync)
• Migration options (Azure Migrate, Azure Data Box)

Azure identity, access, and security

• Directory services: Microsoft Entra ID, Entra Domain Services
• Authentication: Single Sign-On (SSO), Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), passwordless
• External identities: B2B and B2C
• Microsoft Entra Conditional Access
• Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)
• Security models: Zero Trust, defense-in-depth
• Microsoft Defender for Cloud

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3. Describe Azure Management and Governance (30–35%)

Cost management

• Factors affecting costs
• Azure Pricing Calculator
• Cost management tools and reports
• Resource tagging for cost tracking

Governance and compliance

• Microsoft Purview for data governance
• Azure Policy for compliance enforcement
• Resource locks to prevent accidental changes

Managing and deploying Azure resources

• Azure Portal
• Azure Cloud Shell (CLI & PowerShell)
• Azure Arc
• Infrastructure as Code (IaC) with Azure Resource Manager (ARM) templates

Monitoring tools

• Azure Advisor for optimization
• Azure Service Health
• Azure Monitor (logs, alerts, Application Insights)

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