Microsoft Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104)

Exam Code: AZ-104

Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104) exam:

Exam Overview

• Exam code: AZ-104 – Microsoft Azure Administrator
• Credential earned: Azure Administrator Associate
• Target audience: IT professionals managing Azure environments—virtual networks, storage, compute, identity, governance
• Prerequisites: No mandatory prerequisites, but recommended ~6 months of hands-on Azure administration; familiarity with PowerShell, Azure CLI, and ARM templates

Skills Measured (as of April 18, 2025)

Based on Microsoft’s official guide, the exam evaluates:

1. Manage identities & governance – 20–25% (Azure AD, RBAC, policies)
2. Implement & manage storage – 15–20% (storage accounts, blobs, file shares, SAS)
3. Deploy & manage compute resources – 20–25% (VMs, scaling, automation)
4. Implement & manage virtual networking – 15–30% (VNets, subnets, NSGs, VPN)
5. Monitor & maintain resources – 10–15% (Azure Monitor, Alerts, Backup)

Exam Format

• Number of questions: ~50–60 including multiple-choice, multiple-selection, case studies, drag-and-drop, hot area, interactive
• Duration: ~100 minutes
• Passing score: 700/1000
• Languages: English + multiple localized versions (Spanish, Chinese, etc.)
• Delivery: Online proctored or at test centers via Pearson VUE
• Scoring: No negative marking; one point per correct answer / component

Cost & Validity

• Cost:
• USD165 (e.g., Rs.4,800 in India, taxes extra)
• Certification validity: 1year, renewable via free online assessment on Microsoft Learn

Prep Materials & Tips

• Microsoft Learn: Official modules + sandbox environment + practice assessments
• Exam Readiness Zone videos: Covers each skills domain, e.g. “Manage identities & governance”
• John Savill’s “Admin Associate Study Cram v2”: Highly recommended by Reddit users
• Practice tests: Measure Up, Exactprep.com or Exactprep.com praised for real Format practice and performance metrics
• Time management during exam: Case studies may appear after main questions—beware of time sink

“Make sure you practice using the search function during exam prep… you only have like 3 minutes per question.”

Recommended Study Strategy

1. Start with Microsoft Learn: Complete the AZ-104 learning paths with practice labs.
2. Supplement with high-quality videos: 
3. Do timed practice tests: Focus on Measure Up or Tutorial Dojo to simulate the exam environment.
4. Hands-on Azure use: Use a free Azure account to build VMs, storage accounts, configure networks, and set alerts/backups.
5. Review weak domains: Pay close attention to identity governance and networking topics.
6. Practice exam search skills: Learn rapid resource search via Microsoft Learn during exam time.

? Summary at a Glance