AZ-104 Microsoft Azure Administrator Certification Guide | K21Academy

AZ-104 is a Microsoft certification exam for Azure administrators. This certification focuses on validating the skills and knowledge required to manage and monitor Azure resources, including compute, storage, networking, security, and governance.

Passing this exam demonstrates expertise in implementing, managing, and monitoring identity, governance, storage, and virtual networks in a cloud environment. It is intended for professionals who perform day-to-day management of Azure solutions, including provisioning, scaling, and monitoring resources, as well as ensuring cost optimisation and operational security.

In this blog, we are going to cover the following topics:

• What is the Azure Solutions Architect Expert Exam AZ-104?
• Who is an Azure Administrator?
• Prerequisites For the AZ-104 Exam
• Path to Earn Azure Administrator AZ-104 Certification
• Skills Measured in Exam AZ-104
• Details of AZ-104 exam 
• AZ-104 Certification Benefits
• Registration

What is the Azure Administrator Associate Exam AZ-104?

The Azure Administrator Exam (AZ-104) validates your skills in managing and monitoring Microsoft Azure resources. It covers key topics like provisioning and managing virtual machines, storage, networking, and Azure identities. This certification is designed for IT professionals who handle Azure subscriptions, implement governance, secure identities, and optimise Azure infrastructure for performance and cost-efficiency. It’s a foundational step for roles like Azure Administrator or Azure Solutions Architect Expert.

Who is an Azure Administrator?

• An Azure Administrator manages and monitors Microsoft Azure resources to ensure secure, reliable, and efficient cloud operations.
• They handle tasks like deploying virtual machines, managing storage, and configuring virtual networks to support business needs.
• Collaborates with teams like architects, developers, and security specialists to maintain a secure and compliant cloud environment.
• Uses tools like Azure Portal, Azure CLI, and PowerShell to automate resource management and streamline operations.
• Focuses on optimising Azure costs, implementing governance policies, and monitoring performance with tools like Azure Monitor.
• Ensures business continuity by setting up Azure Backup, Site Recovery, and secure identity solutions using Azure Active Directory.

Prerequisites For the AZ-104 Exam

Candidates for this exam should be aware of:

• Basic Azure Knowledge
• Hands-on Experience

Path to Earn Azure Administrator AZ-104 Certification

To earn the AZ-104 certification, you need to fulfil one of the following requirements:

1. Gain Practical Experience: While there are no prerequisites for the AZ-104 exam, it is recommended to have hands-on experience administering Azure environments. Familiarity with Azure Portal, PowerShell, and Azure CLI will be beneficial.
2. Prepare for the AZ-104 Exam: It requires knowledge of topics covered in Azure and hands-on lab experience to build knowledge on key topics, including managing Azure identities, implementing storage solutions, deploying compute resources, and configuring virtual networks.
3. Pass the AZ-104 Exam: Successfully complete the AZ-104 exam to obtain your Azure Administrator Associate certification.
4. Advance to Expert Level: After earning your AZ-104 certification, you can directly pursue the AZ-305 certification. Completing both certifications will elevate your credentials to an expert level in Azure solutions architecture.

AZ-104 Exam Structure: Skills Measured

To pass the exam, you must first get familiar with the exam objectives and skills assessed. Hence, below is the AZ-104 exam structure with the percentage of skills measured.

1. Manage Azure identities and governance (20–25%)

• Manage Microsoft Entra Users and Groups:
  • Create and manage users, groups, properties, licenses, and external users.
  • Configure self-service password reset (SSPR).
• Manage Access to Azure Resources:
  • Manage built-in Azure roles, assign roles at different scopes, and interpret access assignments.
• Manage Azure Subscriptions and Governance:
  • Implement and manage Azure Policy, resource locks, tags, resource groups, and subscriptions.
  • Manage costs using alerts, budgets, and Azure Advisor recommendations.
  • Configure management groups.

2. Implement and Manage Storage (15–20%)

• Configure Access to Storage:
  • Set up Azure Storage firewalls, virtual networks, SAS tokens, stored access policies, and manage access keys.
  • Configure identity-based access for Azure Files.
• Configure and Manage Storage Accounts:
  • Create and configure storage accounts, redundancy, object replication, and encryption.
  • Manage data using Azure Storage Explorer and AzCopy.
• Configure Azure Files and Azure Blob Storage:
  • Create and manage file shares and containers in Blob Storage.
  • Configure storage tiers, snapshots, soft delete, blob lifecycle management, and versioning.

3. Deploy and Manage Azure Compute Resources (20–25%)

• Automate deployment of resources by using Azure Resource Manager (ARM) templates or Bicep files:
  • Use Azure Resource Manager (ARM) templates and Bicep files to deploy resources.
• Create and configure virtual machines:
  • Create VMs, configure Azure Disk Encryption, move VMs, manage VM sizes and disks, and deploy VMs to availability zones/sets.
• Provision and Manage Containers in the Azure Portal:
  • Create and manage Azure container registries, container instances, and container apps.
• Create and Configure Azure App Service:
  • Provision App Service plans, and configure scaling, certificates, TLS, DNS mapping, backup, networking, and deployment slots.

Related Readings: Azure App Service vs Kubernetes (AKS)

4. Implement and Manage Virtual Networking (15–20%)

• Configure and Manage Virtual Networks in Azure:
  • Create VNets, subnets, virtual network peering, public IPs, user-defined routes, and troubleshoot network connectivity.
• Configure Secure Access to Virtual Networks:
  • Configure NSGs, application security groups, Azure Bastion, service endpoints, and private endpoints.
• Configure name resolution and load balancing:
  • Set up Azure DNS and internal/public load balancers, and troubleshoot load balancing.

5. Monitor and Maintain Azure Resources (10–15%)

• Monitor Resources in Azure:
  • Use Azure Monitor to interpret metrics, configure log settings, query logs, set up alert rules and action groups, and interpret VM/storage/network monitoring.
  • Utilise Azure Network Watcher and Connection Monitor.
• Implement Backup and Recovery:
  • Create Recovery Services and Backup vaults, configure backup policies, perform backups/restores, and configure Azure Site Recovery.
  • Perform failover to secondary regions and interpret backup reports/alerts.

Azure Administrator Associate [AZ-104] Exam Details

• Certification Name: AZ-104: Azure Administrator Associate
• Exam Cost: $165 (vary country to country)
• Languages: English, Chinese (Simplified), Korean, Japanese, French, Spanish, German, Portuguese (Brazil), Russian, Arabic (Saudi Arabia), Chinese (Traditional), Italian, Indonesian (Indonesia)
• Retirement Date: None

You can register for the AZ-104 certification exam by visiting the official site.

AZ-104 Certification Benefits

The Azure Administrator Associate AZ-104 Certification offers numerous benefits for IT professionals looking to advance their careers in cloud computing. Here are some key advantages:

1. Enhanced Career Opportunities: Achieving the AZ-104 certification opens doors to various job roles such as Azure Administrator, Cloud Engineer, and Solutions Architect, significantly increasing your employability in the competitive tech landscape
2. Higher Earning Potential: Certified Azure Administrators can expect a salary boost of approximately 15-20% compared to their non-certified peers. This certification validates your expertise in managing Azure resources, making you a valuable asset to employers
3. Skill Validation: The certification demonstrates your proficiency in key Azure administration tasks, including managing virtual networks, implementing storage solutions, and ensuring security through Azure Active Directory and Multi-Factor Authentication
4. Professional Credibility: Holding the AZ-104 certification enhances your professional reputation, showcasing your commitment to mastering cloud technologies and best practices
5. Networking Opportunities: Becoming certified connects you with a global community of Azure professionals, providing opportunities for collaboration, knowledge sharing, and potential job referrals

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