How to pass the AZ-104: Microsoft Azure Administrator Exam

June 11, 2023

Unlock success in the AZ-104 exam! Our friendly guide walks you through the process, offering top resources, tips, and strategies. Start your Azure journey today!

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The AZ-104: Microsoft Azure Administrator exam is a crucial step towards becoming a certified Azure Administrator. This exam tests your knowledge and skills related to implementing, managing, and monitoring an organization's Microsoft Azure environment. This article will guide you through understanding the exam, its prerequisites, and the best resources to help you prepare and pass the AZ-104 exam.

Understanding the AZ-104 Exam

The AZ-104 exam is designed for IT professionals who have a solid understanding of Microsoft Azure services. The exam measures your ability to manage Azure identities and governance, implement and manage storage, deploy and manage Azure compute resources, configure and manage virtual networking, and monitor and back up Azure resources.

Exam Prerequisites

While Microsoft does not enforce any strict prerequisites for the AZ-104 exam, it is recommended that candidates have at least six months of hands-on experience administering Azure, along with a strong understanding of core Azure services, Azure workloads, security, and governance. Additionally, candidates should have experience using PowerShell, Azure CLI, Azure portal, and Azure Resource Manager templates.

Exam Format and Structure

The AZ-104 exam consists of 40-60 questions that you need to complete within 120 minutes. The questions are a mix of multiple-choice, drag-and-drop, and scenario-based questions. The exam is scored on a scale of 100-1000, with a passing score of 700.

Study Materials and Resources

There are numerous resources available to help you prepare for the AZ-104 exam. Here are some of the best ones:

Microsoft Learn: Microsoft's official learning platform provides a learning path for the AZ-104 exam. It includes a series of modules that cover the exam objectives in detail.
Udemy Course: This online course offers video lectures, practice tests, and quizzes to help you prepare for the exam.
Exam Reference Book: Exam Ref AZ-104 Microsoft Azure Administrator by Harshul Patel: This book is an excellent resource for anyone preparing for the AZ-104 exam. It covers all the exam objectives in detail and provides practical, real-world scenarios to help you apply what you've learned. The book also includes thought-provoking questions at the end of each chapter to test your understanding of the topics.

Deep Dive into Exam Topics and Domains

Let's take a closer look at the key domains covered in the AZ-104 exam and what they entail:

Manage Azure Identities and Governance (15-20%):

This domain is all about managing Azure Active Directory (AD) objects. It includes tasks such as creating users and groups, managing user and group properties, managing device settings, and performing bulk user updates. You'll also need to understand how to implement and manage hybrid identities. Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) is another crucial topic in this domain. You'll need to know how to create a custom role, provide access to Azure resources by assigning roles, interpret access assignments, and manage multiple directories.

Implement and Manage Storage (15-20%):

This domain covers the creation and configuration of storage accounts, importing and exporting data to Azure, configuring Azure files and Azure blob storage, and implementing Azure backup. You'll also need to understand how to configure network access to the storage account and implement shared access signatures (SAS).

Deploy and Manage Azure Compute Resources (20-25%):

This domain involves creating and configuring Azure Virtual Machines (VMs), automating the deployment of VMs using Azure Resource Manager templates, creating and configuring containers, and implementing Azure functions. You'll also need to know how to manage VMs, which includes tasks like backing up VMs, performing VM in-place migration, and managing VM sizes.

Configure and Manage Virtual Networking (20-25%):

This domain covers a wide range of networking tasks, including implementing and managing virtual networking, configuring private IP addressing, implementing public IP addresses, and creating and configuring network routes. You'll also need to understand how to secure access to virtual networks using Network Security Groups (NSGs) and Application Security Groups (ASGs), and how to configure load balancing.

Monitor and maintain Azure resources (10-15%):

This domain involves monitoring resources using Azure Monitor and implementing backup and recovery. You'll need to know how to configure and interpret metrics, set up log analytics, query and analyze logs, set up alerts and actions, and implement backup and recovery of Azure VMs and Azure file shares.

Comprehensive Study Plan

Here's a comprehensive study plan to help you prepare for the AZ-104 exam:

Understand the Exam Objectives: Start by reviewing the exam objectives and understanding what each domain covers. This will give you a roadmap of what you need to study.
Use Official Study Materials: Use the official study materials provided by Microsoft on the Microsoft Learn platform. These materials are designed to cover all the exam objectives in detail.
Enroll in an Online Course: Enroll in an online course on a platform like Udemy or Whizlabs. These courses provide video lectures, practice tests, and quizzes to help you prepare for the exam.
Hands-On Practice: Set up a free account on Azure and get hands-on practice. The AZ-104 exam tests your practical skills, so hands-on practice is crucial.
Use Practice Tests: Use practice tests to assess your knowledge and identify areas where you need more study. Practice tests can also help you get familiar with the exam format and question types.
Review and Revise: Regularly review and revise what you've learned. This will help reinforce your knowledge and ensure you're ready for the exam.
Take Care of Your Health: Don't forget to take care of your health. Get plenty of sleep, eat healthy, and take regular breaks during your study sessions.

Remember, the key to passing the AZ-104 exam is understanding the concepts, not just memorizing facts. Make sure you understand how to implement and manage Azure resources, not just the theory behind it.

Additional Tips and Strategies for Passing the Exam

Here are some additional tips to help you pass the AZ-104 exam:

Understand the Azure Pricing and Support: Understanding how Azure pricing works, including the cost of storage, compute resources, network, and app services, can be very beneficial for the exam. Also, familiarize yourself with Azure Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and the life-cycle of Azure services.
Stay Updated: Azure is a rapidly evolving platform with new features and updates being released regularly. Make sure you stay updated with the latest Azure updates.
Join Online Study Groups: Joining online study groups can be very beneficial. You can learn from other's experiences, get answers to your questions, and even find study partners.
Use Microsoft Documentation: Microsoft Documentation is a great resource for learning about Azure. It provides detailed and up-to-date information about all Azure services.
Don't Rush: Don't rush through the preparation. Take your time to understand each concept and practice it hands-on.

The Importance of Practice Tests

Practice tests play a crucial role in your exam preparation. They help you assess your knowledge, identify areas where you need more study, and get familiar with the exam format and question types. Here are some additional benefits of practice tests:

Identify Knowledge Gaps: Practice tests can help you identify areas where you need more study. This can guide your study plan and ensure you spend more time on areas where you're weak.
Reduce Exam Anxiety: Practice tests can help reduce exam anxiety by familiarizing you with the exam format and question types. This can make you feel more confident and relaxed on the exam day.
Improve Time Management: Practice tests can help you improve your time management skills. By practicing under exam-like conditions, you can learn how to pace yourself and ensure you have enough time to answer all questions.
Review and Revise: Practice tests are a great way to review and revise what you've learned. They can help reinforce your knowledge and ensure you're ready for the exam.

Practice Tests

Practice tests are a crucial part of your exam preparation. They help you assess your knowledge and identify areas where you need more study. Here are some resources for practice tests:

Tutorials Dojo Practice Exams: This platform offers a set of high-quality practice exams for the AZ-104 exam. These tests are designed to mimic the actual exam, helping you get familiar with the exam format and question types.
Whizlabs: Whizlabs offers a set of practice tests for the AZ-104 exam. These tests are designed to mimic the actual exam, helping you get familiar with the exam format and question types.

Next Steps After Passing

After passing the AZ-104 exam, you will earn the Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate certification. This certification validates your skills and knowledge in managing Azure, making you a valuable asset to any organization using Azure. You can add this certification to your resume and LinkedIn profile to enhance your job prospects. You might also consider pursuing higher-level Azure certifications, such as the Azure Developer or Azure Solutions Architect certifications.

In conclusion, passing the AZ-104: Microsoft Azure Administrator exam requires a solid understanding of Azure, a good study plan, and plenty of practice. With the resources and tips provided in this article, you're well on your way to acing the exam. Remember, the journey to becoming a certified Azure Administrator is a marathon, not a sprint. Take your time to understand the concepts, practice as much as you can, and keep your end goal in mind. Good luck!

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: What is the AZ-104: Microsoft Azure Administrator exam?

The AZ-104: Microsoft Azure Administrator exam is a certification exam offered by Microsoft. It tests your knowledge and skills related to implementing, managing, and monitoring an organization's Microsoft Azure environment.

Q2: Who should take the AZ-104 exam?

The AZ-104 exam is designed for IT professionals who have a solid understanding of Microsoft Azure services and are responsible for implementing, managing, and monitoring an Azure environment.

Q3: What are the prerequisites for the AZ-104 exam?

Q4: How is the AZ-104 exam structured?

The AZ-104 exam consists of 40-60 questions that you need to complete within 120 minutes. The questions are a mix of multiple-choice, drag-and-drop, and scenario-based questions.

Q5: What resources can I use to study for the AZ-104 exam?

There are numerous resources available to help you prepare for the AZ-104 exam, including Microsoft Learn, AZ-104 Study Guide, Udemy Course, and Whizlabs. These resources provide comprehensive coverage of the exam objectives, along with practice tests to help you assess your knowledge.

Q6: What happens after I pass the AZ-104 exam?

Q7: Can I retake the AZ-104 exam if I fail?

Yes, if you fail the AZ-104 exam, you can retake it. However, Microsoft has a retake policy that requires candidates to wait 14 days before retaking a failed exam. Please check the official Microsoft website for the most accurate and up-to-date information.

Q8: How can I register for the AZ-104 exam?

You can register for the AZ-104 exam through the official Microsoft website. It's recommended to schedule your exam well in advance to secure your preferred date and time.

Q9: How much does the AZ-104 exam cost?

The AZ-104 exam costs $165. However, the cost can vary depending on your location. Please check the official Microsoft website for the most accurate and up-to-date information.

Q10: How long is the AZ-104 certification valid?

The Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate certification is valid for two years from the date you earn it. After two years, you'll need to earn the certification again to keep your certified status.

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Interested in learning more about Azure certifications? Check out our articles on Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals and Microsoft Azure Data Fundamentals. Start your Azure journey with Certmates today!