Microsoft
Azure Certification
Pathways
Contents
PAGE 2 PAGE 29
INTRODUCTION CONCLUSION
PAGE 4 PAGE 30
WHY GET GERTIFIED HOW NEXTTECH CAN HELP
PAGE 6
ROLE BASED CERTIFICATIONS
PAGE 9
AZURE CERTIFICATIONS
Azure Fundamentals pp. 10
Azure Administrator Associate pp.12
Azure Developer Associate pp.15
Azure AI Engineer Associate pp. 17
Azure Data Engineer Associate pp. 19
Azure Security Engineer Associate pp. 21
Azure Data Scientist Associate pp. 23
Azure Solutions Architect Associate pp. 25
Azure DevOps Engineer Expert pp. 27
PAGE 1
Introduction
Microsoft Azure is one of the most popular cloud platforms, rapidly gaining popularity in the
cloud computing space. Its main goal is to provide a range of services such as infrastructure,
storage, and networking to allow developers to build applications without having to worry
about hardware requirements. In addition to developers, Azure services also help
organisations from creating websites, databases, desktop and mobile applications to
integrate the latest technologies into applications.
Because of the spike in Microsoft Azure’s popularity, the demand for Microsoft Azure
certification and associated training is on the rise, with more companies and individuals
seeking to take advantage of this new technology.
In order to provide a competitive edge in today's job market, many people are turning to
certification programs that will help them stay relevant in their field.
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Microsoft recognises the importance of
hands-on experience and progressive
mastery. Because of this, Microsoft has
made changes in their certification
program's to offer role-based
certifications for different levels of
expertise in the field.
This change provides better insights into
which type of expertise each
applicant possesses and gives
companies a chance to filter applicants
based on specific needs if they wish.
The ever-growing list of certifications
available for Microsoft Azure also gives
developers the opportunity to validate
their skills in specific areas. Acquiring
these new skills can make you attractive
candidates to potential employers.
At NextTech Learning, we understand
how tricky it can be to navigate the
different certification pathways. That is
why we have compiled this eBook to
give you the breakdown on the
different role-based paths available.
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Why Get Certified?
The answer to this question is easy: because it's one of the most in-demand certifications out
there. Aspiring IT professionals need no introduction to the benefits of earning a certification.
The demand for Azure professionals has grown exponentially over the past few years, and
experts predict that this trend will only continue upwards.
Getting certified can boost confidence in your work. Those who have been certified also have
a greater chance to obtain a higher wage. According to Pearson's VUE survey 2018 Value of IT
Certification, 35% of those who were certified received an increase in salary, with 26% stating
they received a job promotion.
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The IT industry is rapidly changing, with
the cloud being a major focus for
companies. There are many jobs
available at every level within these new
technologies like Cloud Computing or
Big Data Analytics which require
certification from top providers such as
Azure.
With this in mind, if you want to be an
up-to-date professional in the rapidly
changing world of technology, it’s worth
investing some time into improving your
skills and knowledge.
When you become Azure certified, you
don’t just have an interest in the topic.
Your certification is tangible proof you
have the knowledge to carry out specific
tasks.
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Role Based
Certifications
Microsoft Azure Certifications provide an opportunity for technology experts to distinguish
themselves as certified cloud practitioners by demonstrating their knowledge and skills. It also
offers employers a way to identify qualified candidates with proven expertise in designing,
deploying and managing applications.
It can get complicated trying to figure out where to get started with your certification. In this
eBook, we have broken down the different pathways into role-based sections so you can
easily identify which path you need to go through.
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There are twelve main certifications, split between different levels of expertise.
It is recommended that exams are only attempted if the recommended
experience is met.
THE BASICS
Fundamentals: Perfect for beginners who are new to working with Microsoft Azure
Microsoft Certified: Azure – Fundamentals Exam AZ-900
Microsoft Certified: Azure AI – Fundamentals Exam AI-900
Microsoft Certified: Azure Data – Fundamentals Exam DP-900
ROLE-BASED
Associate: If you already have previous experience with Microsoft Azure and you are
comfortable with the basics then you can skip the fundamental certifications and start here.
Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator – Associate Exam AZ-104
Microsoft Certified: Azure Developer – Associate Exam AZ-204
Microsoft Certified: Azure Security Engineer – Associate Exam AZ-500
Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Engineer – Associate Exam AI-100
Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Scientist – Associate Exam DP-100
Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Engineer – Associate Exams DP-200 and DP-201
Microsoft Certified: Azure Database Administrator – Associate Exam DP-300
Expert: As labeled, these are certifications to take once you are an expert in the field. While
the Solutions Architect requires no prerequisite certifications, DevOps Engineer requires
either Administrator Associate or Developer Associate certifications as a prerequisite.
Microsoft Certified Solutions Architect – Expert Exams AZ-303 and AZ-304
Microsoft Certified: Azure DevOps Engineer – Expert Exam AZ-400
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SPECIALTY
For those that want to extend their knowledge, there are also specialty paths. However, these do
not always require previous certifications depending on your experience.
Microsoft Certified: Azure IoT Developer Specialty
Microsoft Certified: Azure for SAP Workloads Specialty
Microsoft Certified: Windows Virtual Desktop Specialty
The latest updates to the Azure Certifications means that there is more of an emphasis on
practical knowledge, with the certifications correlating to actual job-based roles. Depending on
the role, you may need to get multiple certifications.
In this eBook, we’ll be going over each certification based on roles, and give the run-down on
what you need to prepare and get certified.
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Azure
Certifications
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Azure Fundamentals
Recommended for:
For those who are not familiar with cloud computing/ Microsoft Azure, or those who want
to refresh their knowledge of the basics. You do not need a technical background.
With all technical knowledge, it's always best to have a strong foundation of the basics.
For Microsoft Azure, the AZ-900 certification provides the best entry point for those who
want to expand their knowledge of all things Microsoft Azure.
It is also a great refresher for cloud computing experts who are looking to get started with
certifications. The AZ-900 exam is one measure of understanding that will help you break
into this competitive field. It's not too difficult, and you can take it at home at your
convenience.
Prerequisites:
While there are no prerequisites required for this role, you should have a basic under-
standing of IT and cloud platforms such as:
A basic understanding of websites.
A basic understanding of virtualization
A basic understanding of Active Directory concepts, including domains, users, and
domain controllers
A basic understanding of database concepts, including tables and simple queries
Browse NextTech’s
Azure Courses
PAGE 10
AZ-900 Exam required for certification
What you need to know: knowledge domains
PAGE 11
Azure Administrator
Associate
Recommended for:
IT professionals who want to be able to implement, delegate resources and manage
virtual networks in the cloud with Microsoft Azure technology.
The Azure Administrator Associate certification is one of the most well-rounded in the
Microsoft Azure certification suite. Not only are you required to learn about the
implementation of virtual networks, but you also need to know about management,
connectivity, governance, monitoring, allocating resources, and storage.
Because of the wide range of knowledge needed, those with the AZ-104 certification are
amongst some of the highest-paid in the cloud computing world. They will usually work as
part of a larger team implementing cloud-based solutions for a business.
Prerequisites:
Understanding of on-premises virtualization technologies, including: VMs, virtual
networking, and virtual hard disks.
Understanding of network configurations, including TCP/IP, Domain Name System
(DNS), virtual private networks (VPNs), firewalls, and encryption technologies.
Understanding of Active Directory concepts, including users, groups, and role-
based access control.
Understanding of resilience and disaster recovery, including backup and restore
operations.
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AZ-104 Exam required for certification
What you need to know: knowledge domains
PAGE 13
Azure Developer
Associate
Recommended for:
IT professionals who want to participate in all aspects of development with Microsoft Azure.
The Azure Developer Associate role is designed for those who want to be hands on - creating
things such as websites, applications and other cloud computing software.
You will also learn how to connect to Azure services and third party sources to include event
and message based solutions.
Prerequisites:
1-2 years of professional experience working with Microsoft Azure
Prior knowledge in programming with one of the languages supported by Microsoft
Azure
Proficiency with Azure PowerShell, deployment, monitoring and performance tuning
Browse NextTech’s
Azure Courses
PAGE 14
AZ-204 Exam required for certification
What you need to know: knowledge domains
PAGE 15
Azure AI Engineer
Associate
Recommended for:
IT professionals who want to implement AI into cloud-based computing. This includes
checking requirements, organising, designing and implementing AI solutions in Microsoft
Azure.
We live in a world where artificial intelligence is no longer science fiction. With the
exponential growth of processing power and data, AI has become an integral part of our
everyday lives.
Getting the AI Engineer Associate certification means that you will be able to create
AI applications with large capacity and scalability.
Prerequisites:
Hands-on experience with Azure IaaS and PaaS solutions, and the Azure Portal.
Experience writing in an Azure supported language at the intermediate level. (C#,
JavaScript, Python, or Java)
Ability to write code to connect and perform operations on, a SQL or NoSQL data
base product. (SQL Server, Oracle, MongoDB, Cassandra or similar)
Experience writing code to handle authentication, authorization, and other security
principles at the intermediate level.
A general understanding of HTML, the HTTP protocol and REST API interfaces.
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AI-102 Exam required for certification
What you need to know: knowledge domains
PAGE 17
Azure Data Engineer
Associate
Recommended for:
Data professionals who want to become certified working with data in Microsoft Azure.
Every day, we are surrounded by data and it is growing exponentially. The introduction of
the internet has allowed for more information to be accessed and shared than ever before.
With this new wave of data comes an increase in demand for people with skills in data.
Data engineers are responsible for overseeing the flow, integrity and security of data within
a company. They constantly monitor systems to look for any breaches and are always
looking to improve data gathering ability.
Azure Data Engineer Associates are able to analyse data in Microsoft Azure and Microsoft
Azure based solutions.
Prerequisites: Successful students start this course with knowledge of cloud computing
and core data concepts and professional experience with data solutions.
Specifically completing:
AZ-900 - Azure Fundamentals
DP-900 - Microsoft Azure Data Fundamentals
Browse NextTech’s
Azure Courses
PAGE 18
DP-203 Exam required for certification
What you need to know: knowledge domains
PAGE 19
Azure Security
Engineer Associate
Recommended for:
Cybersecurity experts or IT professionals who want to learn more about keeping information
and systems in Microsoft Azure cloud safe and secure.
In today’s world where so many people share information online, cyberattacks have
unfortunately become the norm. Those who specialise in cybersecurity are needed by any
business that handles any information on the internet.
Azure Security Associate certification gives you in-depth knowledge about Microsoft’s
enterprise security technologies used by many organisations around the world.
Prerequisites:
Security best practices and industry security requirements such as defense in depth,
least privileged access, role-based access control, multi-factor authentication, shared
responsibility, and zero trust model.
Be familiar with security protocols such as Virtual Private Networks (VPN), Internet
Security Protocol (IPSec), Secure Socket Layer (SSL), disk and data encryption
methods.
Have some experience deploying Azure workloads. This course does not cover the
basics of Azure administration, instead the course content builds on that knowledge
by adding security specific information.
Have experience with Windows and Linux operating systems and scripting languages.
Course labs may use PowerShell and the CLI.
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AZ-500 Exam required for certification
What you need to know: knowledge domains
PAGE 21
Azure Data
Scientist Associate
Recommended for:
Data or IT professionals who want to extend their knowledge of Microsoft Azure and its data
science capabilities.
Data scientists are responsible for analysing large datasets, extracting insights from them, and
then communicating their findings to others.
Their primary objective is to drive innovation and make suggestions based on data. These
insights can be related to revenue, traffic, customer service or any other part of business
which can be measured with data.
Prerequisites: Successful Azure Data Scientists start this role with a fundamental knowledge
of cloud computing concepts, and experience in general data science and machine learning
tools and techniques.
Creating cloud resources in Microsoft Azure.
Using Python to explore and visualize data.
Training and validating machine learning models using common frameworks like
Scikit-Learn, PyTorch, and TensorFlow.
Working with containers
Browse NextTech’s
Azure Courses
PAGE 22
DP-100 Exam required for certification
What you need to know: knowledge domains
PAGE 23
Azure Solutions
Architect Expert
Recommended for:
Technical consultants , IT professionals, data professionals and cloud developers who want to
advise and create solutions in Microsoft Azure.
Solution experts have a large skillset and are proficient at managing security, computing and
networking in the cloud. They will typically be the first point of call for non-technical
stakeholders and act as a liaison between clients and cloud administrators.
This certification requires a large variety of knowledge domains. There, to be certified as an
Azure Solutions Architect Expert you need to complete 2 exams.
Prerequisites: Successful Azure Architect students have prior experience with operating
systems, virtualization, cloud infrastructure, storage structures, and networking.
AZ-303:
Understanding of on-premises virtualization technologies, including VMs and virtual
networking
Understanding of network configuration, including TCP/IP, Domain Name System
(DNS), virtual private networks (VPNs), firewalls, and encryption technologies
Understanding of Active Directory concepts, including domains, forests, and domain
controllers
AZ304:
Understanding of resilience and disaster recovery, including backup and restore oper
ations.
Understanding of Applications development and APIs.
Understanding of Databases, both SQL such as MS SQL, MySQL or Postgres, and
Non-SQL databases like MongoDB.
Understanding of decoupling Applications and services, for example, Queues, tables,
Cache.
Understanding of Security concepts to protect your environment, like encryption at
rest, encryption in transit, SSL, TLS.
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! 2 exams are required to become an Azure Solutions Architect Expert:
AZ-303 and AZ-304
AZ-303 Exam required for certification
What you need to know: knowledge domains
PAGE 25
! 2 exams are required to become an Azure Solutions Architect Expert:
AZ-303 and AZ-304
AZ-304 Exam required for certification
What you need to know: knowledge domains
PAGE 26
Azure DevOps
Engineer Expert
Recommended for:
IT professionals who want to create and implement a wide array of different strategies for
Microsoft Azure cloud.
DevOps is the process of combining development and operations to create a more efficient,
agile workflow. DevOps is an emerging field in IT that combines both software engineering
and system administration skills to help companies improve their efficiency by reducing lead
times.
DevOps Engineers are tasked with maintaining high availability while adding new features or
introducing changes into production environments without downtime or disruption from the
update process. They also have responsibility for automating routine tasks like server rollouts,
backups, and monitoring application time.
Prerequisites:
Cloud computing concepts, including an understanding of PaaS, SaaS, and IaaS
implementations.
Both Azure administration and Azure development with proven expertise in at least
one of these areas.
Version control, Agile software development, and core software development
principles. It would be helpful to have experience in an organization that delivers
sofware.
Browse NextTech’s
Azure Courses
PAGE 27
Along with the DevOps exam, you also need to be Azure Developer
! Associate certified OR Azure Administrator Associate certified.
However, you can sit the exams in any order.
AZ-400 Exam required for certification
What you need to know: knowledge domains
PAGE 28
Conclusion
Microsoft Azure is a cloud computing
platform that allows developers and
organisations to use tools and services for
developing, managing, deploying and
analysing applications. You can integrate
these pieces of the puzzle with your current
in-house
systems or third party software providers.
By getting certified you will be able to take
advantage of Microsoft's extensive
expertise on this subject matter as well as
their commitment to being at the
forefront of innovation in technology.
If you’re interested in learning how to use
cloud technology, we can help.
Contact us on 1300 263 559
if you'd like to find out more
about our trainings and
services.
PAGE 29
How can NextTech help you?
Elevate your tech career with courses, events and trainings designed to
help you reach your full potential.
NextTech can help you prepare for your Microsoft Azure certifications with
trainings, events and exam preparation.
We also offer exam vouchers and can help organise your certification
exams
Find out more
about our Azure
Courses
Contact us: 1300 263 559 I info@[Link] I [Link]
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