AZ-104 – Microsoft Azure Administrator
The Microsoft Azure Administrator (AZ-104) certification validates your expertise in implementing, managing, and monitoring an organization’s Microsoft Azure environment, including virtual networks, storage, compute, identity, security, and governance . As the most popular Azure certification for hands-on engineers, AZ-104 is your gateway to cloud administration roles with 6+ months of hands-on experience recommended . This exam was most recently updated on April 17, 2026 with minor changes that consolidate networking sections while maintaining core skill requirements
Quick Specs Table
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Exam Code | AZ-104 |
| Level | Associate |
| Cost | $150 USD |
| Duration | 120 minutes (subject to change; confirm at registration) |
| Questions | Multiple choice, case studies, drag-and-drop |
| Passing Score | 700 / 1000 |
| Prerequisites | None officially (6+ months hands-on Azure experience strongly recommended; familiarity with PowerShell, Azure CLI, and ARM templates required) |
| Validity | 1 years |
| Format | Online proctored or test center |
What’s New in 2026: The exam was updated on April 17, 2026 with minor changes focused on networking sections. Expectation for Azure Administrators has shifted: while IaaS workloads still matter, there is now an expectation that some workloads are moving to PaaS offerings
What the Certification Covers
| Domain | % of Exam | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|
| Manage Azure Identities and Governance | 20-25% | Manage Microsoft Entra users/groups, manage access with Azure roles (RBAC), implement Azure Policy, configure resource locks, apply tags, manage subscriptions, configure management groups |
| Implement and Manage Storage | 15-20% | Configure storage access (SAS tokens, stored access policies, identity-based access), manage storage accounts (redundancy, encryption), configure Azure Files (file shares, snapshots) and Blob Storage (containers, tiers, lifecycle management) |
| Deploy and Manage Azure Compute Resources | 20-25% | Automate deployment with ARM templates/Bicep, create and configure virtual machines (sizes, disks, availability zones/sets, scale sets), provision containers (Container Registry, Container Instances, Container Apps), create and configure App Service (plans, scaling, networking, deployment slots) |
| Implement and Manage Virtual Networking | 15-20% | Configure virtual networks (peering, public IPs, user-defined routes), secure access (NSGs, ASGs, Azure Bastion, service/private endpoints), configure name resolution (Azure DNS) and load balancing (internal/public load balancers) |
| Monitor and Maintain Azure Resources | 10-15% | Monitor resources with Azure Monitor (metrics, logs, alerts, action groups), implement backup and recovery (Recovery Services vault, Azure Backup vault, backup policies, Site Recovery) |
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Most in-demand Azure certification—appears in far more job listings than any other Azure cert | Challenging exam—requires deep understanding across five broad domains |
| Median salary: $140,000 – $145,000+ USD annually (U.S.) | Requires hands-on experience with PowerShell, Azure CLI, ARM templates/Bicep |
| Best ROI per hour—core credential for 85% of Azure job postings | Annual renewal required (though free) |
| Prepares you for real-world administration across compute, storage, and networking | Results not instant; scoring is weighted by question difficulty |
| Validates PaaS skills that are increasingly expected in modern cloud roles | Those from on-prem backgrounds must focus extra effort on PaaS concepts |
| No strict prerequisites—anyone can attempt with proper study | 6+ months hands-on experience strongly recommended |
Exam Warning from Experts: “One of the common issues I’ve seen with people who fail this exam is that it’s a lack of core networking skills that lets them down”
Who Is This Certification For?
| ✅ Ideal Candidate | ❌ Not For |
|---|---|
| Cloud administrators with 6+ months hands-on Azure experience | Complete beginners with no cloud exposure (start with AZ-900) |
| IT professionals transitioning from on-prem infrastructure to Azure | Non-technical roles (sales, marketing, finance) seeking basic cloud literacy |
| Engineers who already know PowerShell, Azure CLI, and ARM templates/Bicep | Those unwilling to invest 6-10 weeks of focused study |
| Candidates who understand networking fundamentals (a major reason for failure is weak networking skills) | Anyone looking for an easy cert—this is challenging |
| Professionals aiming for the highest-ROI Azure certification | Those who prefer IaaS-only workloads (PaaS knowledge is increasingly expected) |
Exam Tip: “Regardless of where your skills are strongest, the important thing is to focus on your weakness with your exam preparation, rather than getting too carried away learning about the things you already work with”
Recommended Study Resources
| Resource | Type | Provider |
|---|---|---|
| Exam Ref AZ-104 Microsoft Azure Administrator (book) | Study Guide | Microsoft Press / Available on Amazon |
| AZ-104 Microsoft Azure Administrator Online Course | Video + Labs | Whizlabs |
| AZ-104 Exam Prep Course | Video Course | Pluralsight |
| Microsoft Learn AZ-104 Learning Path (Free) | Self-paced modules | Microsoft Learn |
| MeasureUp AZ-104 Practice Tests | Practice Exams | MeasureUp |
Enroll Research Team Verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.8/5)
*“The definitive Azure certification for cloud administrators. If you have 6+ months of hands-on Azure experience, this cert will open doors. Focus heavily on networking and PaaS concepts—these are where most candidates struggle.”*
