Microsoft Azure has become a top platform in the rapidly evolving world of cloud computing, providing a wide range of services and solutions. The demand for qualified experts who can efficiently utilize Azure’s capability is rising as organizations increasingly use it for their cloud computing needs. Microsoft has created a thorough certification program that enables teams and individuals to prove their competence and validates knowledge of Azure.
This blog attempts to help you sort through the numerous Azure certifications available and select the best ones for you and your team. Understanding the various Azure certifications and their significance is essential for making well-informed decisions, whether you’re an IT professional hoping to progress your career or a manager looking to upskill your team.
We’ll go into the various certification levels, look at the possible specialty courses, and offer advice on picking the qualifications that fit your objectives and organizational needs. You will have a thorough overview of the Azure certification environment by the end of this guide and be prepared to make wise decisions. Let’s begin.
Are these certifications worth the time and efforts?
According to market estimates, the cloud computing sector will increase significantly between 2021 and 2025. As the market seeks to accommodate all the new firms converting to online platforms, cloud revenue is anticipated to nearly double to $287.03 billion.
While GCP tries to catch up to Amazon as the dominant competitor in the cloud computing market, Microsoft Azure saw a 50% increase in revenue in both 2020 and the first half of 2021. Azure’s gross margins increased as well, rising to 71% in 2021 from 67% in 2020.
Microsoft is getting ready for its Intelligent Cloud platform to overtake the competition in the following ten years. In the second quarter of 2021, Azure generated $6.4 billion in sales, or 36% of Microsoft’s total consolidated income. Even while Azure could be the easiest platform to learn, it’s still important to have some background knowledge before getting started. Otherwise, the amount of material you must learn to earn a certificate can overwhelm you.
Certifications enhance your skill set and accurately verify your suitability for open positions to potential employers. A Microsoft Azure certification on your CV gives you an advantage over other applicants and might be the deciding factor in your favor. Let’s now move to the point.
Top Azure certifications
Microsoft Azure certification has four tiers. As follows:
- Fundamentals-level certifications: Ideal for novice cloud professionals and non-technical individuals who want to enter into the field.
- Associate-level certifications: These are best suited for applicants who have a firm grasp of Azure’s fundamentals.
- Expert-level certifications: Suitable for those with extensive knowledge of the cloud, including associate-level certification and practical cloud-related experience.
- Specialty certifications: These specializations concentrate on Azure for SAP Workloads and Azure IOT Developer Specialty.
Outside of the classification scheme, there are two Azure certification paths. As follows:
- For security engineers that deal with threat management, monitoring, and response, Microsoft offers the Security Operations Analyst Associate certification.
- For administrators that work with Azure AD to manage Identity and Access Management (AIM), Microsoft offers the Identity and Access Administrator Associate certification.
These are the certifications and skills covered by them in detail –
1. AZ-104: Azure Administrator Associate
- Experience with Azure CLI, Power Shell, ARM Templates, and the Azure Portal are prerequisites.
- Covered skills include managing Azure identities and governance, deploying and managing Azure compute resources, creating and managing virtual networking, and monitoring and backing up Azure resources.
- Who Should Use This? Any professional with a technical background should verify their administrator-level understanding of Cloud services. Individuals that use, purchase, or engage in cloud-based services and solutions
- Why This Is Needed: Employers are looking for employees with extensive experience with several cloud platforms.
2. AZ-204: Azure Developer Associate
- Prerequisites include programming knowledge in a high-level language supported by Azure and 1-2 years of professional development experience with Microsoft Azure.
- Skills Included: Creating storage and compute solutions for Azure; putting Azure security into practice; tracking, enhancing, and debugging Azure solutions; connecting to and using Azure and outside services.
- This is For Experts whose duties encompass all stages of cloud development.
- Why It’s Required: The DevOps exam requires it as a precondition, and it also provides improved job security.
3. AI-102: Azure AI Engineer Associate
- The following requirements must be met before implementing computer vision, conversational AI, knowledge mining, and natural language processing solutions on Azure: proficiency in Python or C#, and the ability to use REST-based APIs and SDKs. possess knowledge of and proficiency with the Azure AI portfolio’s components and responsible AI standards.
- Implementing a secure environment; monitoring and optimizing operational resources; planning and putting in place data platform resources; using T-SQL for administration; automating tasks; improving query performance; and planning and putting in place a High Availability and Disaster Recovery (HADR) environment are all skills covered.
- AI engineers are the target audience.
- Why It’s Required: Engineers who wish to work with Azure should take this course to complete their AI skill sets.
4. DP-100: Azure Data Scientist Associate
- Data science expertise and experience, particularly working with Azure Machine Learning and Azure Databricks, are prerequisites.
- Covered skills include executing experiments and training models, using responsible machine learning techniques, and delivering and operationalizing machine learning solutions.
- This is For Azure-using data scientists.
- Why It’s Required: Machine learning is expanding and plays a significant role in today’s data processing.
5. AZ-500: Azure Security Engineer Associate
- Prerequisite: Real-world experience managing hybrid and Azure environments. Candidates should have knowledge of Azure services, security operations procedures, infrastructure as code, and cloud capabilities.
- Implementing platform protection, controlling access and identity, running security operations, and protecting data and apps are all covered skills.
- This is For Security engineers who work with Azure are anticipated.
- Why This Is Needed: Security is a critical issue today, with security breaches becoming more frequent and a wider gap between the demand for and supply of cybersecurity expertise.
6. DP-203: Azure Data Engineer Associate
- Requires a thorough understanding of data processing languages, such as SQL, Python, or Scala. Candidates must also be familiar with parallel processing and architecture patterns.
- Data processing design and development, data storage design and implementation, data security design and implementation, and data storage and processing optimization are all covered.
- Professionals who deal with stakeholders and work with data pipelines and processing are target audience. For data engineers, this accreditation is crucial.
- Why This Is Needed: This role is essential for building a data pipeline and assisting stakeholders in their understanding of data.
7. DP-300: Azure Database Administrator Associate
- The ability to comprehend each idea taught in the Microsoft Azure Data Fundamentals certification exam (DP-900) is a prerequisite.
- Task automation, T-SQL administration, resource planning and implementation for data platforms, High Availability and Disaster Recovery (HADR), implementation of a secure environment, and query performance optimization are among the skills covered.
- This is ideal for database administrators and data management specialists that handle relational databases created using Azure Data Services and SQL Server.
- Why It’s Required: It addresses the demand for enhanced security and relational database optimization solutions.
8. AZ-120: Azure Architect for SAP Workloads
- Candidates are strongly advised to possess either an Azure Architect or Azure Administrator certification in addition to Linux and SAP HANA certifications as prerequisites.
- Covered skills include migrating SAP workloads to Azure, developing and implementing Azure for SAP workloads, validating infrastructure for SAP workloads, designing Azure solutions that support SAP workloads, and enhancing the performance of Azure SAP architecture.
- Architects, administrators, and engineers who are moving SAP applications to the cloud should take this course.
- Why It’s Required: Fortune 500 organizations frequently use SAP systems, which gives you excellent prospects for a job in a reliable, well-respected organization.
9. AZ-220: Azure IoT Developer
- There are no strict requirements, but you should be fluent in a programming language that is supported by Azure, such as Python, C, C#, or Node. It would be ideal to have a solid understanding of Internet of Things solutions as well.
- Implementing IoT solutions for infrastructure and security; setting up, installing, and configuring IoT Edge devices; provisioning and managing devices; processing and managing data; and optimizing and troubleshooting IoT solutions are among the skills covered.
- This is for anyone interested in learning more about Azure-based IoT solutions.
- Why It’s Required: As a result of a rise in network-capable gadgets, the Internet of Things is expanding quickly.
10. AZ-303 and AZ-304: Azure Solution Architect Expert
- Prerequisites: Obtaining your Microsoft Azure Administrator certification is the only recommended (though it’s still not required).
- Manage Azure Active Directory; configure Azure for serverless computing; develop plans for moving your cloud to Azure; integrate your on-premises infrastructure; configure Azure Kubernetes Services.
- The target audience for this certification is seasoned DevOps and IT workers.
- Why It’s Required: You can add a crucial technological component to the business strategy. Your path to a position of strategic leadership may be made easier with this credential.
11. AZ-400: Azure DevOps Engineer Expert
- Prerequisites: Either the Microsoft Certified: Azure Developer Associate or the Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate must be held by you.
- Azure-based mobile DevOps strategy, instrumentation and SRE strategies, source control management, security and compliance planning, obtaining feedback from Azure cloud users, and cloud hosting infrastructure management are all covered in this list of skills.
- Engineers with excellent coding skills, strong interpersonal skills, and knowledge with Agile development methodologies and Azure management are ideal candidates for this certification.
- Why It’s Required: Your ability to obtain a DevOps position that stresses strategy and pays well may depend on this qualification.
12. DA-100: Azure Data Analyst Associate
- There are no prerequisites for this course, although you should be familiar with data-related abilities such processing incoming, visualizing, and cleaning data.
- Preparing, modeling, visualizing, and analyzing data; deploying and sustaining deliverables are among the skills covered.
- This is for anyone who is interested in data analysis and learning how to handle data operations for their business.
- Why It’s Required: The commercial world of today runs on data. You will be in high demand if you know how to work with vast amounts of data.
13. AZ-500: Azure Security Engineer Associate
- No formal prerequisites exist, but you will need strong automation and scripting skills, as well as working understanding of virtualization, networking, and the cloud.
- Skills Included: Managing Azure security alerts, configuring Azure log analytics, managing privileged identities in Azure, and safeguarding cloud-based infrastructure.
- This certification is intended for security engineers who create, set up, and use Azure security tools and controls.
- Why It’s Required: Today, as more people and businesses rely on cloud computing, cloud security is a hot commodity.
Now, as per the needs and desired skills by your team you can decide which certification you should choose to hike your profits and below mentioned are also few reasons for why should you chose azure.
Why Do you Need Microsoft Azure Certification?
Because employers like candidates who have platform certifications, you are well-positioned with a Microsoft Azure certification to take advantage of the rising need for qualified workers and gain access to greater job opportunities. Without a doubt, the cloud computing industry is expanding quickly. The current pool of qualified specialists, however, cannot keep up with the escalating demand. As a result, by participating in an Azure certification program, you can gain professional benefits like:
- larger pay checks.
- enhanced advantages.
- working for prestigious companies.
- the ability to pick a place.
- more ability to choose between companies in negotiations.
And these are just a few advantages of earning a certification in Microsoft Azure. Being a certified professional has numerous benefits. There is no question that the biggest markets in the industry require cloud computing specialists, whether they are aspiring IT professionals or even established specialists trying to further their careers or expertise. They also pay well, which is wonderful news.
Health, banking, and e-commerce are a few of the industries where there is a significant demand for people with Azure certifications. Businesses in these sectors are aware that appointing managers of their cloud environments who have Microsoft Azure certifications will result in more effective use of storage, networking, and computing. As a result, they are able to save money while also seeing an increase in service speed and quality.
Expert Corner
You can also refer to these general tips while choosing which certification is best for you –
- Assess your job objectives and current level of Azure knowledge and experience before determining your ambitions. Determine whether you want a deeper understanding of Azure services or specializing in a particular Azure role, such as an administrator, developer, or architect.
- Recognize the many certification levels: Learn about the many certification levels that Microsoft offers, including Fundamentals, Associate, Expert, and Specialty. Each level denotes a distinct level of expertise and knowledge.
- Examine industry and job market trends: To find the Azure certifications that are in the highest demand, research the employment market and business trends. To improve your employment prospects, look for qualifications that both match your career goals and are in high demand.
- If you are a manager or team leader, take into account the particular requirements of your team and organization. Determine the Azure competencies needed to support your projects and initiatives, then choose certifications that can successfully meet those requirements.
- Utilize certification paths: Microsoft offers certification paths that provide suggested certification sequences based on particular occupations or fields of expertise. These routes can guide you through the certification process and provide a logical flow of knowledge.
- Ask your peers and mentors for advice: Make connections with Azure experts, participate in online forums, and ask certified Azure mentors for advice. Their opinions and experiences can offer helpful viewpoints and aid in your decision-making.
- Use training resources: Take advantage of the documentation, online training, practice tests, and hands-on labs provided by Microsoft. You may improve your grasp of Azure services and properly prepare for the certification examinations with the aid of these materials.
