AZ-104 vs SC-900: Which Microsoft Azure Certification Should You Get First?

Two Very Different Certifications

AZ-104 and SC-900 are both Microsoft certifications, but that's about where the similarities end. AZ-104 (Azure Administrator Associate) is an intermediate-level certification that validates your ability to manage Azure infrastructure, while SC-900 (Security, Compliance, and Identity Fundamentals) is a beginner-level cert covering security concepts.

Comparing them is a bit like comparing a driver's license to a road safety awareness course. One proves you can operate the vehicle; the other shows you understand the rules. Both are valuable, but they target different career stages and goals.

AZ-104: Azure Administrator Associate

AZ-104 is Microsoft's core Azure administration certification. It's designed for IT professionals who already have hands-on experience managing Azure environments.

The exam covers:

• Manage Azure identities and governance (15-20%)
• Implement and manage storage (15-20%)
• Deploy and manage Azure compute resources (20-25%)
• Implement and manage virtual networking (15-20%)
• Monitor and maintain Azure resources (10-15%)

This is a practical exam. You need real experience deploying VMs, configuring virtual networks, managing storage accounts, and working with Azure Active Directory. Many candidates spend 2-3 months preparing, including significant time in Azure labs.

SC-900: Security, Compliance, and Identity Fundamentals

SC-900 is Microsoft's entry point into the security certification track. It requires no prerequisites and no hands-on experience — it tests conceptual understanding of security principles.

The exam covers:

• Security, compliance, and identity concepts (10-15%)
• Microsoft Entra capabilities (25-30%)
• Microsoft security solutions (25-30%)
• Microsoft compliance solutions (25-30%)

Most candidates prepare in 2-3 weeks. The exam focuses on understanding what Microsoft security tools do and when to use them, rather than configuring them hands-on.

Why They're Not Really Comparable

These two certifications sit at completely different levels of the Microsoft certification hierarchy:

• SC-900 is fundamentals-level — it proves you understand security concepts. It's an awareness certification, not a skills certification.
• AZ-104 is associate-level — it proves you can actually do the work. It validates real-world Azure administration skills.

The more natural comparison would be SC-900 vs AZ-900 (both fundamentals) or AZ-104 vs SC-200 (both associate-level). But if you're deciding between these two specific certs, here's the guidance.

Get SC-900 First If...

• You're brand new to IT and want an easy first certification win
• You're interested in cybersecurity but don't have Azure experience yet
• You want to understand Microsoft's security ecosystem before specializing
• You need a quick certification (2-3 weeks of study) for your resume
• You haven't passed AZ-900 yet and want to start with fundamentals

Get AZ-104 First If...

• You already hold AZ-900 and want to advance your Azure skills
• You have hands-on Azure experience and want to validate it
• You're targeting Azure administrator or cloud engineer roles
• You want a certification that directly qualifies you for mid-level positions
• You're planning the AZ-104 → AZ-305 architect path

Side-by-Side Comparison

Frequently Asked Questions