The Exam AZ-204: Developing Solutions for Microsoft Azure is created for those who want to create, handle, and launch applications on the Azure platform. Successfully completing this exam showcases your skills in developing solutions on Azure, potentially boosting your career and unlocking new job prospects.
Throughout this blog, we will provide a comprehensive overview of the exam format, including the skills and knowledge that you will be tested on. We will also provide tips and strategies for preparing for the exam, as well as resources that you can use to study and practice. Whether you’re a developer with experience new to Azure or someone who’s been using Azure for a while, this blog will offer valuable insights and guidance to assist you in succeeding on the AZ-204 exam. Let’s begin!
Glossary for Developing Solutions for Microsoft Azure Terminology
- Azure – Microsoft’s cloud computing platform
- Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) – Microsoft’s cloud-based identity and access management service
- Azure App Service – A platform as a service (PaaS) offering for building web and mobile apps
- Azure Blob Storage – A cloud-based object storage service for unstructured data
- Azure Functions – A serverless computing service for running event-driven code
- Azure Cosmos DB – A globally distributed, multi-model database service
- Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) – A managed container orchestration service
- Azure Load Balancer – A service for distributing network traffic across multiple virtual machines or services
- Azure Resource Manager – A management layer for organizing and deploying resources in Azure
- Azure SQL Database – A relational database as a service (DBaaS) offering
- Azure Virtual Machines – Infrastructure as a service (IaaS) offering for running virtual machines in the cloud
- Azure Virtual Network – A service for creating and managing virtual private networks (VPNs) in Azure
- Azure Monitor – A service for monitoring and analyzing the performance and availability of Azure resources
- Azure DevOps – A set of development tools for planning, building, and deploying applications in Azure
- Azure Site Recovery – A disaster recovery service for replicating and recovering Azure virtual machines and physical servers
Exam preparation resources for AZ-204: Developing Solutions for Microsoft Azure exam
Here are some official exam preparation resources for AZ-204: Developing Solutions for Microsoft Azure exam:
- Microsoft’s official AZ-204 Exam page: This page provides an overview of the exam and the skills that are measured. It also has links to various resources that can be used for exam preparation.
Link: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/learn/certifications/exams/az-204
- Microsoft’s Learning Paths for AZ-204: Microsoft offers various learning paths that are designed to help you prepare for the exam. These learning paths include various modules that cover different topics related to Azure development.
Link: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/learn/certifications/azure-developer
- Microsoft’s AZ-204 Practice Exam: This practice exam is designed to help you prepare for the real exam. It provides an opportunity to test your knowledge and identify areas where you need to improve.
Link: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/learning/exam-AZ-204.aspx
- Microsoft’s AZ-204 Certification Training: Microsoft offers an instructor-led training course that covers all the topics that are measured in the exam. The course includes hands-on labs and exercises to help you gain practical experience.
Link: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/training/course.aspx?cid=AZ-204T00
- Microsoft’s AZ-204 Exam Reference Guide: This guide gives a thorough overview of the exam, covering the skills evaluated, the exam format, and tips for exam preparation.
Link: https://query.prod.cms.rt.microsoft.com/cms/api/am/binary/RE4pUlw
About Developing Solutions for Microsoft Azure AZ-204
The AZ-204 exam, “Developing Solutions for Microsoft Azure,” assesses your skills in various technical tasks, such as creating Azure compute solutions, working with Azure storage, implementing Azure security, optimizing Azure solutions, and connecting to third-party services. Those taking this exam are cloud developers involved in the entire development process—from defining requirements and design to deployment and maintenance. They collaborate with cloud DBAs, administrators, and clients to implement solutions.
AZ-204 Exam Format
- Developing Solutions for Microsoft Azure AZ-204 includes 40-60 questions, which can be of various types like case studies, short answers, multiple-choice, mark review, drag and drop, and more.
- The candidates can take the exam either in English, Japanese, Chinese (Simplified), Korean language. And, this exam will cost USD $99 inclusive of additional taxes.
- Additionally, you need to finish this exam within 85 minutes. To pass, you must achieve a minimum score of 700 out of 900.
- You may be eligible for ACE college credit if you pass this certification exam. See ACE college credit for certification exams for details. Also, this certification is part of the requirements for: Microsoft Certified: Azure Developer Associate.
| 1. Exam Name Developing Solutions for Microsoft Azure | 2. Exam Code AZ-204 |
| 3. Exam 150 minutes | 4. Exam Format Multiple Choice and Multi-Response Questions |
| 5. Exam Type Cloud Computing | 6. Number of Questions 40-60 Questions |
| 7. Eligibility/Pre-Requisite NIL | 8. Exam Fee $165 USD* |
| 9. Exam Language English, Japanese, Chinese (Simplified), Korean | 10. Retirement Date None |
There are some policies that in addition to the exam format for AZ-204 can help you understand the exam in a better way. Let us know about those policies in a detailed manner in subsequent paragraphs.
How to register for the exam AZ-204 exam?
Follow the steps written below to register for the exam:
- First, visit the Microsoft site and locate your certificate in the list. Afterward, click on “schedule exam” to sign up.
- If the exam is offered in your country, you can choose it during the registration.
- Lastly, you’ll pick the language for the greeter, proctor, and proctoring software.
Academic pricing on the certifications by Microsoft
Academic pricing on Microsoft Certified Professional exams is available in most countries (except India and China). However, You must verify your student status before scheduling your exam in order to be eligible for academic pricing.
Applying student status through your account profile –
- Firstly, Sign in with your Microsoft account credentials.
- Secondly, Select Profile settings from the Account menu at the top of the page.
- Subsequently, In the Job function menu, select, or ensure that you have selected, “Student.”
- Finally, check for the academic pricing notice next to the Job function menu. If your student status hasn’t been confirmed yet, click on “Get verified” to validate your status.
Now, Applying student status when registering for an exam –
- Firstly, Sign in with your Microsoft account credentials.
- Then, On the exam for which you want to register, click Schedule exam.
- Finally, on the Confirm your exam registration details page, make sure the Job function field shows “Student – Verified.” If not, click “Get verified” to confirm your status or click Edit to change it.
Verifying your academic status
You can select the methods out of the listed which you wish to use to verify your status. The methods include:
- Firstly, School-issued email account
- Secondly, School network credentials
- Subsequently, International Student Identity Card (ISIC)
- Furthermore, Verification code from a Microsoft representative or your institution’s administrator
- Also, Other Documentation
Exam AZ-204 Exam retake policy
- If you don’t pass the exam on the first try, you need to wait at least 24 hours before trying again. However, if you pass, you can’t retake it.
- If you fail the second attempt, a waiting period of at least 14 days is required for a retake. The same rule applies for the third, fourth, or fifth attempts.
- In total, you can’t take the exam more than 5 times in a year. The 12-month period starts from your failure on the 5th attempt this year. If you want to take the exam more than 5 times a year, contact Microsoft.
At last, Let us go through the exam content outline and know a little about the preparation resources that can help you to sort from where to begin the preparations from.
AZ-204 Exam Outline
1. Develop Azure compute solutions (25-30%)
1.1 Implement containerized solutions
- Create and manage container images for solutions (Microsoft Documentation: Build and deploy container images)
- Publish an image to Azure Container Registry (Microsoft Documentation: Push image to Azure Container Registry)
- Run containers by using Azure Container Instance
- Create solutions by using Azure Container Apps (Microsoft Documentation: Deploy a container application to Azure Container Instances)
1.2 Implement Azure App Service Web Apps
- Create an Azure App Service Web App (Microsoft Documentation: Create an ASP.NET Core web app in Azure)
- Enable diagnostics logging (Microsoft Documentation: Enable diagnostics logging for apps in Azure App Service)
- Deploy code to a web app (Microsoft Documentation: Deploy your app to Azure App Service with a ZIP or WAR file)
- Configure web app settings including Secure Sockets Layer (SSL), API settings, and connection strings (Microsoft Documentation: Configuring web app settings with SSL, Configuring web app settings with connection strings and Host Restful APIs in Azure App Service)
- Implement autoscaling
1.3 Implement Azure functions
- Create and deploy Azure Functions apps
- Implement input and output bindings (Microsoft Documentation: Azure Functions triggers and bindings concepts)
- Implement function triggers by using data operations, timers, and webhooks (Microsoft Documentation: Timer trigger for Azure Functions)
2. Develop for Azure storage (15-20%)
2.1 Develop solutions that use Azure Cosmos DB storage
- Perform operations on containers and items by using the SDK
- Set the appropriate consistency level for operations (Microsoft Documentation: Choose the right consistency level)
- Manage change feed notifications Change feed in Azure Cosmos DB)
2.2 Develop solutions that use blob storage
- Set and retrieve properties and metadata (Microsoft Documentation: Setting properties and metadata during the import process)
- Perform operations on data by using the appropriate SDK (Microsoft Documentation: Azure Blob storage client library v12 for .NET)
- Implement storage policies and data lifecycle management
- Implement static site hosting
3. Implement Azure security (20-25%)
3.1 Implement user authentication and authorization
- Authenticate and authorize users by using the Microsoft Identity platform (Microsoft Documentation: Microsoft identity platform)
- Authenticate and authorize users and apps by using Microsoft Entra ID (Microsoft Documentation: Configure your App Service or Azure Functions)
- Create and implement shared access signatures (Microsoft Documentation: Grant limited access to Azure Storage resources using shared access signatures (SAS))
- Implement solutions that interact with Microsoft Graph
3.2 Implement secure Azure solutions
- Secure app configuration data by using the App Configuration and Azure Key Vault (Microsoft Documentation: Securely save secret application settings for a web application)
- Develop code that uses keys, secrets, and certificates stored in Azure Key Vault (Microsoft Documentation: Configure and manage secrets in Azure Key Vault)
- Implement Managed Identities for Azure resources (Microsoft Documentation: Use a Windows VM system-assigned managed identity to access Resource Manager)
4. Monitor, troubleshoot, and optimize Azure solutions (15-20%)
4.1 Implement caching for solutions
- Configure cache and expiration policies for Azure Cache for Redis configure Azure Cache for Redis)
- Implement secure and optimized application cache patterns including data sizing, connections, encryption, and expiration Caching guidance)
- Implement Azure Content Delivery Network endpoints and profiles
4.2 Troubleshoot solutions by using metrics and log data
- Configure an app or service to use Application Insights Application Insights overview)
- Monitor and analyze metrics, logs, and traces Azure Monitor Metrics overview)
- Implement Application Insights Web Test and Alerts (Microsoft Documentation: Creating an Application Insights Web Test and Alert Programmatically)
5. Connect to and consume Azure services and third-party services (15-20%)
5.1 Implement API Management
- Create an Azure API Management instance (Microsoft Documentation: Create a new Azure API Management service instance)
- Create and document APIs
- Configure access to APIs
- Implement policies for APIs
5.3 Develop event-based solutions
- Implement solutions that use Azure Event Grid (Microsoft Documentation: Automate resizing uploaded images using Event Grid)
- Implement solutions that use Azure Event Hub (Microsoft Documentation: Visualize data anomalies in real-time events sent to Azure Event Hubs)
5.4 Develop message-based solutions
- Implement solutions that use Azure Service Bus (Microsoft Documentation: Update inventory using PowerShell and topics/subscriptions)
- Implement solutions that use Azure Queue Storage queues (Microsoft Documentation: Work with Azure storage queues)
Preparation resources | Exam AZ-204 Study Guide
There are numerous resources apart from knowing exam format for AZ-204. Furthermore, You can use these resources to prepare – books, online communities, online trainings, instructor-led trainings, preparation guides and sample papers as well as practice tests. Also, You can try a free practice test now too! You can even find the online tutorials by Testpreptraining.com! You can find the official free resources from the Microsoft through the links listed below –
- Firstly, Create serverless applications
- Secondly, Connect your services together
- Thirdly, Store data in Azure
- Also, Deploy a website with Azure virtual machines
- Lastly, Manage resources in Azure
Expert Corner
Firstly, Do not panic on the exam day! You have prepared well and definitely your hard work will pay off. Just be calm and composed so that your mind gets enough time to think of correct answer. Also, do remember to put your 100% efforts while preparing for the exam! This certification will definitely help you achieve your aspirations. So, go and grab the resources ASAP! Training and achieving more certificated will definitely help you get an edge over others. And help you reach your dream salary and dream jobs super soon. Hurry up and Try a free practice test now!
