Table of Contents
Quick Answer
Here's the short version:
- New to AZ? Start with AZ-900 - it builds foundational knowledge
- 6+ months AZ experience? Go directly to AZ-104
- Career goal is AZ Admin? You'll need AZ-104 eventually, but AZ-900 first makes the journey easier
- Limited time? AZ-900 can be passed in 1-3 weeks vs. 4-8 weeks for AZ-104
Bottom Line: For most people, starting with AZ-900 is the safer, more confidence-building path. Skip to AZ-104 only if you already work with AZ daily.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Factor | AZ-900 | AZ-104 |
|---|---|---|
| Level | Foundational | Associate |
| Target Audience | Anyone new to AZ/cloud | AZ administrators |
| Prerequisites | None | 6+ months AZ experience (recommended) |
| Questions | 40-60 | 40-60 |
| Time Limit | 60-90 minutes | 100-120 minutes |
| Passing Score | 700/1000 | 700/1000 |
| Exam Cost | $99 USD | $165 USD |
| Study Time | 1-3 weeks | 4-8 weeks |
| Difficulty | Easy | Moderate-Hard |
| Labs on Exam | No | Yes (sometimes) |
| Certification Validity | Does not expire | 1 year (renewal required) |
AZ-900: AZ Fundamentals Overview
The AZ Fundamentals (AZ-900) certification is Microsoft's entry point to AZ. It covers cloud concepts, core AZ services, security, privacy, and pricing.
Who is AZ-900 for?
- Complete beginners to cloud computing
- IT professionals transitioning to cloud
- Sales/marketing teams who need AZ knowledge
- Managers making cloud decisions
- Students starting their cloud career
AZ-900 Exam Domains
- Cloud Concepts (25-30%): What is cloud, benefits, service models
- AZ Architecture (35-40%): Core services overview
- Management & Governance (30-35%): Cost, compliance, tools
AZ-104: AZ Administrator Overview
The AZ Administrator (AZ-104) certification validates your ability to implement, manage, and monitor AZ environments. It's hands-on and practical.
Who is AZ-104 for?
- IT professionals managing AZ infrastructure
- System administrators moving to cloud
- Cloud engineers and architects
- DevOps engineers working with AZ
- Anyone seeking AZ admin roles
AZ-104 Exam Domains
- Identity & Governance (20-25%): AZ AD, RBAC, Policy
- Storage (15-20%): Storage accounts, blobs, files
- Compute (20-25%): VMs, App Service, containers
- Networking (15-20%): VNets, NSGs, load balancing
- Monitoring (10-15%): AZ Monitor, alerts, backup
Difficulty Comparison
Let's be honest about the difficulty gap between these exams:
AZ-900 Difficulty
- Knowledge type: Conceptual and theoretical
- Question style: "What is..." and "Which service..."
- Hands-on required: Nice to have, not essential
- Pass rate: Very high (one of the easiest IT certs)
- Self-study feasible: Absolutely - free Microsoft Learn is enough
AZ-104 Difficulty
- Knowledge type: Practical and hands-on
- Question style: "You need to configure..." scenarios
- Hands-on required: Essential - includes lab questions
- Pass rate: Moderate - many fail first attempt
- Self-study feasible: Yes, but requires actual AZ practice
Reality Check: AZ-104 can include performance-based labs where you configure AZ resources in a real environment. If you've never used the AZ Portal, these will be extremely challenging.
Career Value
AZ-900 Career Benefits
- Validates cloud knowledge for any role
- Good for career changers to show commitment
- Often required for AZ partnerships
- Stepping stone to higher certifications
- Low cost and time investment
AZ-104 Career Benefits
- Qualifies you for AZ Administrator roles
- Higher salary potential than AZ-900 alone
- Opens doors to senior cloud positions
- Foundation for advanced certs (AZ-305, AZ-400)
- Highly respected in enterprise environments
Which Should You Choose?
Choose AZ-900 If...
You're new to AZ or cloud computing. You want a quick win to build confidence. You need to prove cloud knowledge for a non-technical role. Your employer values any AZ certification.
Choose AZ-104 First If...
You already work with AZ daily (6+ months). You can confidently navigate the AZ Portal. You've deployed VMs, configured VNets, and managed storage. You need AZ-104 for a job requirement urgently.
Take Both (AZ-900 Then AZ-104) If...
You have some IT experience but are new to AZ. You want to build a solid foundation before advanced topics. You have 2-3 months to dedicate to certification. You're building a long-term AZ career.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I skip AZ-900 and go directly to AZ-104?
Yes! AZ-900 is NOT a prerequisite. However, if you're new to AZ, you'll find AZ-104 much harder without foundational knowledge. AZ-900 takes only 1-3 weeks and builds confidence.
Is AZ-900 worth it if I'm going to take AZ-104 anyway?
For most people, yes. AZ-900 costs $99 and takes minimal time. The concepts it teaches (cloud models, service types, pricing) appear on AZ-104 too. It's also great resume padding.
Which certification pays more?
AZ-104 commands higher salaries because it proves practical skills. AZ-900 alone won't get you an admin role, but AZ-104 can. However, having both shows comprehensive AZ knowledge.
How should I study for each exam?
- AZ-900: Microsoft Learn (free) + practice questions. Hands-on optional.
- AZ-104: Microsoft Learn + extensive hands-on labs + practice questions. Labs are essential.
Do both certifications expire?
AZ-900 never expires. AZ-104 is valid for 1 year - you must complete a free renewal assessment on Microsoft Learn before it expires.
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