Azure Certifications are a way to demonstrate and validate your knowledge of specialized cloud roles. Despite this, there are numerous Azure Certifications available, and you may be unsure which certification is the best fit for your needs. As a result, we’re back with another blog post covering everything about the Azure Certification Learning Path that you need to know in order to choose the best certification for your needs.
Azure is the world’s most popular cloud computing platform and is the market leader in cloud computing. The demand for cloud-based solutions is increasing all the time, and most organizations and businesses, whether small or large, are moving their operations to the cloud to stay competitive. It also has a direct impact on the demand for cloud-based professionals. Microsoft awards certifications to those who, in Microsoft’s opinion, are the best candidates for a particular job role. Microsoft certifications are valuable, and most employers prefer that their employees have them on their resumes if at all possible.
The worldwide cloud computing market is rapidly growing and will reach an estimated 397 billion (approx) U.S. dollars in 2023. Therefore, nobody can deny the rapid growth of cloud computing in recent years. Microsoft Azure is one of the leading cloud vendors.
Its top-level tools and service offerings, make it a worthy choice for businesses. Well-known brands such as eBay, Samsung, and BMW are some of the biggest customers of Microsoft Azure. They are evidence of Azure’s capabilities and offerings.
Azure certifications are essential while seeking a career in the cloud computing industry. Microsoft now has 13 Azure certifications classified into three levels: Fundamental, Associate, and Expert. These exams are to validate your expertise in the Azure cloud. And purely focus on developing knowledge and skills related to current market job roles.
Microsoft now has 13 Microsoft Azure certifications with 14 exams. This substitution was made with the engagement of the community after classifying the job requirements. Microsoft also has two fundamental level certifications, Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Fundamentals Exam [AI-900] and Azure Data Fundamentals Exam [DP-900].
Microsoft has arranged its certifications into four different levels, from beginner to expert. All the certification provided by Microsoft comes under these Azure Certifications path levels.
Various Azure training and certification and job roles are available, but we have listed the Microsoft azure certification learning paths for some most popular job roles that most aspirants prefer to get.
Certifications | Syllabus Updates | Changes |
---|---|---|
DP-100: Azure Data Scientist Associate | March 14, 2023 | Minor – Medium |
2022 Announcements:
Below are the Microsoft Azure Certifications that are expired and their corresponding Replacement Exams announced by March 31st, 2022
# | Expired Exam | Replacement Exam |
---|---|---|
1. | AZ-303 – Microsoft Azure Architect Technologies | AZ-305 exam – Designing Microsoft Azure Infrastructure Solutions |
2. | AZ-304 – Microsoft Azure Architect Design | AZ-305 exam – Designing Microsoft Azure Infrastructure Solutions |
3. | DA-100 – Analyzing Data with Microsoft Power BI | PL-300 Exam -Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst Exam |
I have listed the most searched Azure Certifications with a brief overview, exam details, and domain covered below based on their levels:
Azure Fundamentals covers all the foundational knowledge of cloud services. This certification covers all the basics of cloud services like networking, storage, computing, security, etc. It proves your knowledge of cloud concepts, services, security, workloads, and pricing in Azure. This certification is the first step towards Azure, and it is beneficial for everyone from technical and non-technical backgrounds. If you are looking for a Microsoft azure certification roadmap but don’t know much about cloud concepts, this certification is surely for you.
Domains Covered in Azure – Fundamentals Exam [AZ-900] Exam | ||
---|---|---|
Domains | Weightage | |
Describe cloud concepts | (25-30%) | |
Describe Azure architecture and services | (35-40%) | |
Describe Azure management and governance | (30-35%) |
AI Fundamentals covers all the foundational knowledge in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) concepts in Azure. For this certification, general knowledge of a programming language will be beneficial but not mandatory, and everyone with technical and non-technical backgrounds can enroll in the AI-900 Azure certification roadmap.
Domains Covered in Azure AI – Fundamentals Exam [AI-900] Exam | ||
---|---|---|
Domains | Weightage | |
Describe Artificial Intelligence workloads and considerations | (20-25%) | |
Describe the fundamental principles of machine learning on Azure | (25-30%) | |
Describe features of computer vision workloads on Azure | (15-20%) | |
Describe features of Natural Language Processing (NLP) workloads on Azure | (25-30%) |
Azure Data Fundamentals covers all the foundational knowledge of core data concepts. This certification covers all the basics of data concepts and how to work with Microsoft data services. It proves your knowledge of cloud concepts, services, security, workloads, and pricing in Azure. This certification is the first step towards Azure, and it is beneficial for everyone from technical and non-technical backgrounds. If you are looking for an azure certification path but don’t know much about cloud concepts, this certification is surely for you.
Exam: Microsoft Azure Data Fundamentals DP-900 Roadmap
Domains Covered in Azure Data – Fundamentals Exam [DP-900] Exam | ||
---|---|---|
Domains | Weightage | |
Describe core data concepts | (25-30%) | |
Identify considerations for relational data on Azure | (20-25%) | |
Describe considerations for working with non-relational data on Azure | (15-20%) | |
Describe an analytics workload on Azure | (25-30%) |
Azure Administrator implements and manages the storage, compute, identity, governance, and virtual networks in a cloud. Also, administrators provision and monitor the resources in the cloud. The candidates need to be experienced using Azure Portal, Power Shell, Azure CLI, and ARM Templates.
Exam: Microsoft Azure Administrator Certification Exam AZ-104 Roadmap
Domains Covered in Azure Administrator – Associate Exam [AZ-104] Exam | ||
---|---|---|
Domains | Weightage | |
Manage Azure identities and governance | (15-20%) | |
Implement and manage storage | (15-20%) | |
Deploy and manage Azure compute resources | (20-25%) | |
Configure and manage virtual networking | (20-25%) | |
Monitor and back up Azure resources | (10-15%) |
Azure Developer deals with designing, building, testing, and maintaining cloud applications and services. For this role, Microsoft will look in you for the ability to program in a language supported by Azure and working proficiency in Azure PowerShell, Azure SDKs, Azure CLI, data storage options, data connections, APIs, app authentication, and authorization. The developer goes through various phases as follows.
Exam: Microsoft Azure Developer Associate AZ-204 Roadmap
Domains Covered in Azure Developer – Associate Exam [AZ-204] Exam | ||
---|---|---|
Domains | Weightage | |
Develop Azure compute solutions | (25-30%) | |
Develop for Azure storage | (15-20%) | |
Implement Azure security | (20-25%) | |
Monitor, troubleshoot, and optimize Azure solutions. | (15-20%) | |
Connect to and consume Azure services and third-party services | (15-20%) |
Data Scientists deal with data science and implement machine learning workloads on Azure. An Azure Data Scientist should have knowledge of data science and experience in using Azure Machine Learning and Azure Databricks. The key job role includes managing, optimizing, and deploying machine learning models into production.
Exam: Microsoft Certified Azure Data Scientist Associate DP-100 Exam Roadmap
Domains Covered in Azure Data Scientist – Associate Exam [DP-100] Exam | ||
---|---|---|
Domains | Weightage | |
Design and prepare a machine-learning solution | (20-25%) | |
Explore data and train models | (35-40%) | |
Prepare a model for deployment | (20-25%) | |
Deploy and retrain a model | (10-15%) |
Data engineering deals with integrating, transforming, and consolidating data from various data systems for building analytics solutions. A data engineer designs, implements, optimizes, and monitors data platforms to meet the data pipeline needs. Also, they help stakeholders understand the data through exploration and maintaining secure and compliant data processing pipelines by using different tools and techniques.
Exam: Data Engineering on Microsoft Azure Exam DP-203
Domains Covered in Data Engineering on Microsoft Azure [DP-203:] Exam | ||
---|---|---|
Domains | Weightage | |
Design and implement data storage | (15-20%) | |
Develop data processing | (40-45%) | |
Secure, monitor, and optimize data storage and data processing | (30-35%) |
Azure Database Administrator implements and manages the platform solutions with Microsoft SQL Server and Microsoft Azure Data Services. The day-to-day task involves various methods and tools for daily operations, including the management of T-SQL.
Read More: Microsoft Azure Database Administrator Associate Exam DP-300
Domains Covered in Administering Relational Databases on Microsoft Azure [DP-300] Exam | ||
---|---|---|
Domains | Weightage | |
Plan and implement data platform resources | (20-25%) | |
Implement a secure environment | (15-20%) | |
Monitor, configure, and optimize database resources | (20-25%) | |
Configure and manage automation of tasks | (15-20%) | |
Plan and configure a high availability and disaster recovery (HA/DR) environment | (20-25%) |
Data Analyst deals with loading, transforming, and analysis of data. The goal and motive of a data analyst are to generate meaningful insights using the huge collection of raw data. The Data Analyst is responsible for analyzing the data and creating easy-to-comprehend data visualizations. In the process, they create data models, graphs, and charts and use DAX expressions and machine learning models. This Azure certification path is for everyone interested in analyzing data and learning to perform data operations for their business and organization.
Exam: Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst Exam PL-300
Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst [PL-300] Exam | ||
---|---|---|
Domains | Weightage | |
Prepare the data | (25-30%) | |
Model the data | (25-30%) | |
Visualize and analyze the data | (25-30%) | |
Deploy and maintain assets | (15-20%) |
Training Program: Microsoft Data Analyst Associate Training PL-300
Azure Security Engineer manages identity and access, implements security controls and threat protection, and protects data, applications, and networks in the cloud. The Azure Security Engineer knows networking, virtualization, and cloud N-tier architecture to propose various security solutions to overcome any vulnerability or threat.
Exam: Microsoft Azure Security Technologies certification Exam AZ-500
Domains Covered in Azure Security Engineer – Associate Exam [AZ-500] Exam | ||
---|---|---|
Domains | Weightage | |
Manage identity and access | (25-30%) | |
Secure networking | (20-25%) | |
Secure computing, storage, and databases | (20-25%) | |
Manage security operations | (25-30%) |
It is initiated for designing and implementing solutions that run on Microsoft Azure. Including aspects like compute, network, storage, and security.
It is geared towards advising stakeholders and translating business requirements into secure, scalable, and reliable solutions. In addition, candidates should have expert-level skills in Azure administration and experience in Azure development and DevOps processes.
Exam: Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert Exam AZ-305
Domains Covered in Microsoft Certified Solutions Architect – Expert Exams [AZ-303] Exam | ||
---|---|---|
Domains | Weightage | |
Design identity, governance, and monitoring solutions | (25-30%) | |
Design data storage solutions | (25-30%) | |
Design business continuity solutions | (10-15%) | |
Design infrastructure solutions | (25-30%) |
The DevOps Engineer designs and implements strategies for collaboration, code, infrastructure, source control, security, compliance, continuous integration, testing, delivery, monitoring, and feedback. They create software automation pipelines for a complete development and deployment lifecycle in the cloud. The candidates applying for this certification should know Azure administration and development and have already cleared one exam, either the AZ-104 or AZ-204 exam.
Exam: Microsoft Certified Azure DevOps Engineer Expert Exam AZ-400
Domains Covered in Azure DevOps Engineer – Expert Exam [AZ-400]Exam | ||
---|---|---|
Domains | Weightage | |
Configure processes and communications | (10-15%) | |
Design and implement source control | (15-20%) | |
Design and implement build and release pipelines | (40-45%) | |
Develop a security and compliance plan | (10-15%) | |
Implement an instrumentation strategy | (10-15%) |
Cloud is rapidly growing with pace, and to cope with the upcoming challenges, every cloud job aspirant needs to prepare themselves. Microsoft Azure, therefore, provides various cloud certifications for multiple cloud roles. We have listed the Microsoft Azure certifications path for the top certifications that most candidates want to get.
The best Azure certification for you depends on your role and goals. Here are a few of the most popular Azure certifications:
Here are some popular Azure data certifications:
An Azure certification is a credential that validates your skills and knowledge in Microsoft Azure, a cloud computing platform. Azure certifications are available for a variety of roles and skill levels, from beginner to expert.
Here are some of the benefits of getting an Azure certification:
The Average salary of Microsoft Azure Certified is based on the experience level the person is having, but the average of salary is increased then a non certified professional. Moreover the opportunity to get selected for any role also gets increased.
Azure is in high demand. According to a report by Indeed, the demand for Azure skills is growing by 200% year-over-year. This is because more and more businesses are moving to the cloud, and Azure is one of the leading cloud platforms