AZ-104 Certification Simplified: Essential Skills for Cloud Professionals

Cloud computing is growing at a very fast rate. More and more organizations are embracing it for their IT systems hence creating a demand for cloud professionals. According to Gartner report, the worldwide spending on the public cloud services in 2023 is expected to be $675.4 billion from $313 billion in 2020. This kind of growth is putting pressure on organizations to hire competent staff to manage cloud solutions particularly on Microsoft Azure. The AZ-104: Microsoft Azure Administrator certification is one of the most popular certifications that equip cloud professionals with the knowledge that is required to manage Azure environments.

 

Designed for those who want to advance in the field of cloud computing, the AZ-104 certification is aimed at the core Azure services, governance, security, storage, networking, and monitoring. Recognized globally, this certification is essential for Azure administrators and is valued by international organizations that rely on Microsoft Azure for their cloud solutions. A research carried out by Microsoft in 2023 showed that over 95% of the Fortune 500 companies use Azure, this is an implication of the role played by the platform in the enterprise market. If you are a cloud professional who wants to show your proficiency and open new career opportunities the AZ-104 exam is the perfect chance.

 

In this article, we will explore the key skills required for the AZ-104 certification, its benefits for cloud professionals, and the steps to prepare for the exam.

 

What Is the AZ-104 Certification?

The AZ-104: Microsoft Azure Administrator certification validates a person's expertise in managing Microsoft Azure deployments. It is intended for those, who already have hands-on experience with Azure services and would like to prove their skills in managing Azure resources, implementing identities, managing governance, and monitoring Azure solutions.

 

The content of the AZ-104 certification exam includes virtual machines, storage, virtual networks, Azure Active Directory, security, and governance of the core Azure services. It comprises of multiple-choice questions, performance-based labs and drag and drop questions which are meant to test practical knowledge. The AZ-104 certification is also needed for other more advanced certifications such as Azure Solutions Architect Expert and Azure DevOps Engineer Expert, therefore, making it a stepping stone for those who are aiming to level-up their cloud career. 

 

Skills Necessary for AZ-104 Certification

 

To successfully pass the AZ-104 exam and become a certified Azure Administrator, candidates need to develop expertise in several key areas: 

 

1. Managing Azure Identities and Governance: 

Azure Administrators need to have very good knowledge of Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) which is the identity and access management service that supports Azure environments. These include user and group account creation, role management, MFA management, and resource management. Identify management skills are important since the Microsoft 2023 Security Intelligence Report indicates that identity-based attacks are among the most common security threats.

There is also need to know governance in Azure. This includes building and enforcing Azure policies, setting up and assigning RBAC roles and utilizing resource locks to enforce compliance and control over the resources.

 

2. Deploying and Managing Azure Compute Resources: 

Azure compute resources are the most common resources that an Azure Administrator is expected to monitor and manage, including virtual machines. This includes creating virtual machines, working with virtual machine sizes, working with scaling sets and working with high availability and disaster recovery. Two of the services that professionals must understand for them to be in a position to deploy and manage containerized applications include AKS and App Services.

 

3. Configuring and Managing Virtual Networking: 

Networking is always a critical component in any cloud environment and the same applies to Azure networking. The AZ-104 certified professionals should be able to configure VNets, subnetting, NSGs and VPNs. This includes understanding how to establish relationships between Azure resources and on-premise networks as well as how to manage the flow of traffic to optimize results.

 

4. Monitoring and Backing Up Azure Resources: 

Azure resources have to be regularly supervised to ensure they are available and are performing as required. Some of the tools used by professionals to monitor performance metrics, diagnose issues, and assess system health include: Azure Monitor, Azure Log Analytics and Azure Application Insights. Azure Administrators also require knowledge on configuring backup policies, deploying Azure Backup for data protection and managing recovery plans for disaster control.

 

5. Security Controls and Threat Protection: 

The issue of security is a crucial factor in any cloud setting since data security is always an issue of concern. With the AZ-104 certification, the professionals should be in a position to implement security features like Azure Security Centre, configure Azure Firewall, and manage Azure DDoS Protection. They also need to know how to use Azure Key Vault for storing and deploying cryptographic keys and secret. According to the IDC Worldwide, the public cloud services spending is projected to double by 2028 from $805 billion in 2024. The market is expected to attain a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 19.4% over the next five years. While annual spending growth will decelerate slightly during the 2024–2028 forecast period.

 

6. Implementing and Managing Storage: 

Azure storage is one of the fundamental services that allow organizations to store and process data in various formats such as blobs, files, and queues. The AZ-104 certified professionals should be able to create and manage storage accounts, manipulate data in the storage accounts, as well as use data protection tools such as Azure Backup and Azure Site Recovery. As data volumes rapidly increase, managing storage systems effectively becomes crucial for enhancing both efficiency and affordability. As stated by Gartner, by 2025, 75% of enterprise data will be generated and processed at the edge which will make cloud storage skills even more relevant.

 

7. Implementing and Managing Storage: 

Azure storage is one of the fundamental services that allow organizations to store and process data in various formats such as blobs, files, and queues. The AZ-104 certified professionals should be able to create and manage storage accounts, manipulate data in the storage accounts, as well as use data protection tools such as Azure Backup and Azure Site Recovery. As data volumes rapidly increase, managing storage systems effectively becomes crucial for enhancing both efficiency and affordability. As stated by Gartner, by 2025, 75% of enterprise data will be generated and processed at the edge which will make cloud storage skills even more relevant.

 

Conclusion: Microsoft Azure (AZ-104) Certification

The AZ-104: Microsoft Azure Administrator is one of the certifications for cloud workers who would like to have an increase on career growth in the rapidly growing field of cloud computing. By the gained key skill sets in identity management, storage, compute, networking, monitoring, and security, the certified professionals can be able to manage the Azure environments and improve the effectiveness of cloud solutions.

For those ready to take the next step, Vinsys offers expert-led AZ-104 training programs tailored to help you achieve certification success. Our courses provide comprehensive coverage of all exam domains, practical labs, and a supportive learning environment. 

Join Vinsys today and unlock your potential as an Azure cloud professional!