Are you looking for expert learning resources for the Microsoft Azure Architect Technologies AZ-303 exam? Do you want to have a quick revision just before your exam? No worries! you have come to the right place. We are going to provide you with an ultimate AZ-303 Cheat Sheet that will boost your learning and prepare you better for the exam. Furthermore, this cheat sheet ensures you have access to the appropriate resources, acting as a bridge towards your dream job. Before delving deeper, let’s ensure all the details are in order before stepping into the final race.
Exam AZ-303 is retired. AZ-305 replacement is available.
Microsoft AZ-303: Exam Overview
Microsoft Azure Architect Technologies AZ-303 exam is designed for individuals with the expertise to design and implement solutions on Microsoft Azure, covering elements such as compute, network, storage, and security. An Azure Solution Architect carries diverse responsibilities, including advising stakeholders and translating business requirements into secure, scalable, and dependable cloud solutions. Collaborating with cloud administrators, cloud DBAs, and clients, an Azure Solution Architect plays a pivotal role in implementing these solutions.
Knowledge required for the exam
Candidates applying for Microsoft AZ-303 exam should have:
- Firstly, Advanced experience and knowledge of IT operations
- Next, a comprehensive understanding of concepts and insight in domains such as networking, virtualization, identity, security, business continuity, disaster recovery, data platform, budgeting, and governance is essential. However, individuals in this role should possess the capability to make informed decisions in each of these areas, influencing a holistic solution.
- In addition, they must have expert-level skills in Azure administration with having experience in Azure development and DevOps processes.
Microsoft AZ-303 Exam Cheat Sheet
This cheat sheet encompasses vital study resources for your quick recap, enabling you to review all topics and identify any sections that might have been overlooked. Let’s start with the ultimate AZ-303 exam guide, facilitating improved practice and preparation.
Review the Microsoft AZ-303 Exam Course Outline
Firstly start off by visiting the official website of Microsoft AZ-303. Choosing the most reliable website is a wise decision as it ensures access to authentic information. The portal contains comprehensive details about the exam, including the exam pattern, modules, and study materials. Make sure to acquaint yourself with all the objectives and course domains of the exam.
Microsoft AZ-303 Exam has updates in the course outline as on May 25, 2021.
The updated Microsoft AZ-303 exam topics include:
Topic 1: Implement and Monitor an Azure Infrastructure
1.1 Firstly, Implementing cloud infrastructure monitoring (50-55%)
1.1.1 monitoring security (Microsoft Documentation: Visualize and Monitor data, Azure security center)
1.1.2 monitoring performance
- configuring diagnostic settings on resources
- creating a performance baseline for resources
- monitoring for unused resources
- monitoring performance capacity (Microsoft Documentation: chart performance with Azure monitor for VMs)
- visualizing diagnostics data using Azure Monitor (Microsoft Documentation: visualizing data from Azure monitor)
1.1.3 monitoring health and availability
- monitoring networking (Microsoft Documentation: Azure monitor for networks)
- observing service health (Microsoft Documentation: service health overview)
1.1.4 monitoring cost
- monitoring spend (Microsoft Documentation: cost alert to monitor usage and spending)
- reporting on spend (Microsoft Documentation: Azure billing invoice and daily usage)
1.1.5 configuring advanced logging
- implementing and configuring Azure Monitor insights, including App Insights, Networks, Containers (Microsoft Documentation: overview of insights in Azure monitor)
- configuring a Log Analytics workspace (Microsoft Documentation: creating log analytics workspace in azure portal)
1.1.6 configuring logging for workloads (Microsoft Documentation: monitor workload)
1.1.7 initiating automated responses by using Action Groups (Microsoft Documentation: create and manage action groups in azure portal)
1.1.8 configuring and managing advanced alerts
- collecting alerts and metrics across multiple subscriptions
- viewing Alerts in Azure Monitor logs (Microsoft Documentation: create, view and manage activity log alert using an azure monitor)
1.2 Secondly, Implementing storage accounts (25-30%)
- selecting storage account options based on a use case (Microsoft Documentation: core azure storage service)
- configuring Azure Files and blob storage (Microsoft Documentation: create azure file share)
- configuring network access to the storage account (Microsoft Documentation: configure azure storage firewall and virtual networks)
- implementing Shared Access Signatures and access policies (Microsoft Documentation: grant limited access to azure storage using SAS)
- implementing Azure AD authentication for storage (Microsoft Documentation: authorize access to blogs and queues)
- managing access keys (Microsoft Documentation: manage storage account access)
- implementing Azure storage replication
- applying Azure storage account failover (Microsoft Documentation: disaster recovery and storage account failover)
1.3 Thirdly, Implementing VMs for Windows and Linux (10-15%)
- configuring High Availability (Microsoft Documentation: create and deploy virtual machines using azure PowerShell)
- configuring storage for VMs (Microsoft Documentation: azure managed disks)
- selecting virtual machine size (Microsoft Documentation: size for window virtual machines)
- implementing Azure Dedicated Hosts (Microsoft Documentation: deploy VMs to dedicated hosts)
- deploying and configuring scale sets (Microsoft Documentation: create virtual machine scale sets)
- configuring Azure Disk Encryption (Microsoft Documentation: create and encrypt Windows VMs)
1.4 Also, Automating deployment and configuration of resources (10-15%)
- saving a deployment as an Azure Resource Manager template (Microsoft Documentation: template for VM)
- modifying Azure Resource Manager template (Microsoft Documentation: update resource in azure resource manager template)
- evaluating the location of new resources (Microsoft Documentation: resource location in ARM template)
- configuring a VDH template (Microsoft Documentation: Azure VM image certification)
- deploying from a template (Microsoft Documentation: create window VM from resource manager template)
- managing an image library (Microsoft Documentation: ARM template)
- creating and executing an automation runbook (Microsoft Documentation: deploy azure resource manager template)
1.5 Moreover, Implementing virtual networking
- applying VNet to VNet connections (Microsoft Documentation: configure vnet to vnet vpn gateway connection using PowerShell)
- implementing VNet peering
1.6 Further, Implementing Azure Active Directory
- adding custom domains (Microsoft Documentation: add custom domains using azure active directory portal)
- configuring Azure AD Identity Protection
- implementing self-service password reset (Microsoft Documentation: enable the user to open account or reset password)
- implementing Conditional Access including MFA (Microsoft Documentation: conditional access)
- implementing and managing guest accounts (Microsoft Documentation: add a guest user to directory)
- managing multiple directories (Microsoft Documentation: understand multiple azure active directories)
1.7 Finally, Implementing and managing hybrid identities
- installing and configuring Azure AD Connect (Microsoft Documentation: azure AD connect)
- identifying synchronization options (Microsoft Documentation: objects and credentials syncing)
- configuring and managing password sync and password writeback (Microsoft Documentation:implement password hash sync)
- configuring single sign-on (Microsoft Documentation: configure SAML)
- configuring Azure AD Connect Cloud sync
- using Azure AD Connect Health
Topic 2: Implement Management and Security Solutions
2.1 To begin with, Managing workloads in Azure
2.1.1 migrating workloads using Azure Migrate
- assessing infrastructure (Microsoft Documentation: Assess VMware with server)
- selecting a migration method (Microsoft Documentation: Vmware migration option)
- preparing the on-premises for migration (Microsoft Documentation: prepare for migration)
- recommending target infrastructure
2.1.2 implementing Azure Backup for VMs (Microsoft Documentation: back up Azure VM)
2.1.3 applying disaster recovery (Microsoft Documentation: disaster recovery for Azure VM)
2.1.4 implementing Azure Automation Update Management (Microsoft Documentation: enable update management)
2.2 Then, Implementing load balancing and network security
- applying Azure Load Balancer (Microsoft Documentation: load balance internet traffic to VM)
- implementing an Azure Application Gateway (Microsoft Documentation: direct web traffic with Azure)
- applying a Web Application Firewall (Microsoft Documentation: create application gateway)
- implementing Azure Firewall (Microsoft Documentation: deploy and configure the azure firewall)
- implement Azure Firewall Manager
- implementing Azure Front Door (Microsoft Documentation: create front door)
- apply Azure Traffic Manager (Microsoft Documentation: create traffic manager profile)
- implementing Network Security Groups, Application Security Groups and Bastion (Microsoft Documentation: create, change or delete network security group)
2.3 Further, Implementing and managing Azure governance solutions
- creating and managing hierarchical structure that contains management groups, subscriptions and resource groups (Microsoft Documentation: create management groups)
- assigning RBAC roles (Microsoft Documentation: grant the user access to Azure resource)
- creating a custom RBAC role (Microsoft Documentation: create Azure custom role)
- configuring access to Azure resources by assigning roles
- configuring management access to Azure (Microsoft Documentation: Azure RBAC best practice)
- interpreting effective permissions (Microsoft Documentation: view user access)
- setting up and performing an access review (Microsoft Documentation: Azure AD access review)
- implementing and configuring Azure Policy (Microsoft Documentation: create and manage policies)
- implementing and configuring Azure Blueprint
2.4 Finally, Managing security for applications
- implementing and configuring KeyVault
- implementing and configuring Azure AD Managed Identities (Microsoft Documentation: use Windows VM system)
- registering and managing applications in Azure AD (Microsoft Documentation: register an application with Microsoft identity platform)
Topic 3: Implement Solutions for Apps
3.1 Firstly, Implementing an application infrastructure
- creating and configuring Azure App Service (Microsoft Documentation: create ASP.Net core web)
- creating an App Service Web App for Containers (Microsoft Documentation: run custom Window container)
- designing and configuring an App Service plan (Microsoft Documentation: Azure App service plan)
- configuring an App Service (Microsoft Documentation: App service in Azure portal)
- configuring networking for an App Service (Microsoft Documentation: integrate the app with Azure Virtual Network)
- creating and managing deployment slots (Microsoft Documentation: set up staging environment)
- implementing Logic Apps (Microsoft Documentation: create automated, scheduled based workflows)
- implementing Azure Functions (Microsoft Documentation: create a function in Azure triggered by Blob storage)
3.2 Secondly, Implement container-based applications
- creating a container image (Microsoft Documentation: build and deploy container image)
- configuring Azure Kubernetes Service (Microsoft Documentation: Deploy AKS)
- publishing and automating image management by using Azure Container Registry (Microsoft Documentation: push the image to private docker container registry using docker CLI)
- publishing a solution on an Azure Container Instance (Microsoft Documentation: deploy container instance)
Topic 4: Implement and Manage Data Platforms
4.1 Then, Implementing NoSQL databases
- Firstly, configuring Azure Storage account tables (Microsoft Documentation: Create an Azure Storage table in the Azure portal)
- Secondly, selecting appropriate CosmosDB APIs
- Thirdly, setting up replicas in CosmosDB (Microsoft Documentation: Add/remove regions from your Cosmos DB account, Configure Multiple write-regions)
4.2 Also, Implementing Azure SQL databases
- Firstly, configuring Azure SQL database settings (Microsoft Documentation: Configure Server-level IP firewall rules)
- Secondly, implementing Azure SQL managed instances (Microsoft Documentation: Getting started with Azure SQL Managed Instance)
- Thirdly, configuring HA for an Azure SQL database (Microsoft Documentation: High-availability for Azure SQL Database)
- Also, Deploying an Azure SQL database (Microsoft Documentation: Different ways to publish updates to Azure SQL Database)
Choose your Resources Wisely
A variety of preparatory resources are available for the exam. Your key focus should be on choosing the most suitable resources based on your convenience and level of comprehension. The selection of these resources will play a crucial role in determining your success in the exam. Here are some quick links to your learning resources.
Microsoft Learning Platform
The learning resource that will be beneficial during the exam revisions is the Microsoft learning platform. For the Microsoft Azure AZ-303 exam, it would be best to first go through the Microsoft official website and get hands on information with the Microsoft Learning Platform. The Learning Paths offered by Microsoft for this exam are:
- Firstly, Architect network infrastructure in Azure
- Secondly, Architect storage infrastructure in Azure
- Thirdly, Architect compute infrastructure in Azure
- Also, Architect infrastructure operations in Azure
- Moreover, Architect a data platform in Azure
- Further, Architect migration, business continuity, and disaster recovery in Azure
- Subsequently, Architect API integration in Azure
- Additionally, Architect modern applications in Azure
- Finally, Architect message brokering and serverless applications in Azure
Instructor-led Training
Microsoft has given an advantage to candidates providing instructor-led training. This Microsoft AZ-303 exam training will help students to gain knowledge in Microsoft Azure architect technologies. Also, it will help in building the strong conceptual portions and in clearing the doubts. Moreover, the classes also provide with some quality notes which can serve as reference for the exam syllabus. However, the instructor-led training comes with two courses designed to help candidates pass the AZ-303 exam. They are
- Firstly, Microsoft Azure Architect Technologies
- Secondly, Microsoft Azure technologies for AWS architects
Books your go to resource
Preparing for any exam without utilizing books appears unproductive. Therefore, it is advisable to seek out relevant and credible books authored by experts for your exam revisions. Books serve as a comprehensive source of information for candidates. Here are some recommended AZ-303 exam books:
- Firstly, Microsoft Azure Architect Technologies and Design Complete Study Guide by William Panek and Benjamin Perkins
- Also, Exam Ref AZ-303 Microsoft Azure Architect Technologies by Gurvinder Singh, Derek Schauland, Mike Pfeiffer, Nicole Stevens
Online Tutorials and Study Guide
The best way to enhance your knowledge is by referring to Online AZ-303 exam Tutorials. These Tutorials provide an depth understanding of the exam and its concepts. Additionally, it also covers exam details and policies.
Practice Tests to self evalaute
No matter how thoroughly you prepare for the Microsoft AZ-303 exam, engaging in a practice run or two can offer more benefits than you might anticipate. Taking practice tests for the Microsoft AZ-303 exam is an excellent method to diversify your study approach and ensure optimal performance during the actual exam. Analyzing your responses will pinpoint areas that require extra attention and provide insights into your alignment with the exam objectives. Furthermore, attempting multiple tests is crucial for enhancing your confidence. Therefore, start Practising for the exam Now!
