Are you a developer looking to expand your skillset and boost your career prospects? Cloud computing is one of the hottest areas in tech right now, and Microsoft Azure is a leading platform used by companies of all sizes to build and run their applications. Earning an Azure certification is a great way to validate your skills and stand out in a crowded job market.
In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll walk you through everything you need to know to pass the Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900) exam and kick-start your cloud career. We‘ll cover the benefits of Azure certifications, key exam topics, and how to prepare using a free 3-hour video course from freeCodeCamp.
By the end of this article, you‘ll have a clear roadmap to acing the AZ-900 and unlocking exciting new opportunities as an Azure-certified developer. Let‘s get started!
Why Get Azure Certified?
Before we dive into the specifics of the AZ-900, let‘s talk about why Azure certifications are so valuable for developers. Here are a few key reasons:
Higher earning potential: According to the 2021 Pearson VUE Value of IT Certification Survey, Azure-certified developers earn an average salary of $126,653 per year in the US. That‘s 16% higher than the average salary for non-certified developers.
Improved job prospects: The same survey found that 61% of IT professionals believe certification increases their chances of getting hired. With Azure skills in high demand, having a certification on your resume can help you stand out and land your dream job.
Faster career advancement: 52% of survey respondents said certification helped them get a promotion or raise. As you build your Azure skills and earn higher-level certifications, you‘ll be well-positioned for senior roles like cloud architect or DevOps engineer.
Increased credibility: Certifications are a globally recognized way to validate your skills and knowledge. Passing the AZ-900 proves to employers and clients that you have a solid foundation in Azure and cloud computing concepts.
Ongoing learning and growth: Preparing for a certification exam forces you to learn new things and stay up-to-date with the latest Azure features and best practices. It‘s a great way to invest in your own professional development.
In short, Azure certifications are a valuable asset for any developer looking to grow their career in the cloud. And the AZ-900 is the perfect starting point.
Understanding the AZ-900 Exam
Now let‘s take a closer look at what the AZ-900 exam actually covers. Here‘s a high-level breakdown of the exam objectives:
| Objective | % of Exam |
|---|---|
| Describe cloud concepts | 20-25% |
| Describe Azure architecture and services | 35-40% |
| Describe Azure management and governance | 30-35% |
| Describe Azure security and network security features | 10-15% |
As you can see, the exam focuses heavily on core Azure concepts and services. You‘ll need to understand things like:
- The benefits and considerations of using cloud services
- Different cloud service types (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS) and when to use them
- Azure regions, availability zones, and paired regions
- Azure compute, storage, networking, and database services
- Azure Active Directory, role-based access control, and governance tools
- Azure security features like Network Security Groups and Azure Firewall
Here are a few examples of the types of questions you might see on the exam:
- Which Azure service should you use to quickly deploy a Node.js web app without managing infrastructure? (Answer: Azure App Service)
- True or false: An Azure availability zone is a physically separate data center within an Azure region. (Answer: True)
- Which Azure governance tool allows you to enforce rules and standards across multiple subscriptions? (Answer: Azure Policy)
To pass the exam, you‘ll need to have a broad understanding of Azure architecture and services. But you don‘t need to be an expert in every single service. The AZ-900 is an entry-level exam designed for developers and IT professionals who are just getting started with Azure.
Preparing for the AZ-900 with freeCodeCamp
One of the best ways to prepare for the AZ-900 is by working through freeCodeCamp‘s 3-hour YouTube course. This completely free course covers all the key exam topics in detail, with a mix of theory and hands-on practice.
The course is taught by Andrew Brown, a Microsoft Certified Trainer with years of experience helping developers learn Azure. Andrew does an excellent job explaining complex Azure concepts in a way that‘s easy to understand, even if you‘re new to cloud computing.
Here‘s a quick overview of what the course covers:
Cloud concepts (25 min): Andrew starts by explaining what the cloud is, the benefits of cloud computing, and key cloud service types. He also covers important concepts like high availability, scalability, elasticity, and fault tolerance.
Azure architecture and services (60 min): This section dives deep into Azure‘s core services, including compute (VMs, containers, serverless), storage (blobs, files, queues), networking (VNets, subnets, load balancers), and databases (SQL, Cosmos DB). Andrew explains what each service does and when to use it.
Azure management and governance (30 min): Next, Andrew covers key tools for managing and governing Azure resources, including Azure Resource Manager, Azure Policy, and Azure Cost Management. He also discusses Azure role-based access control and subscription management.
Azure security (20 min): The final section focuses on securing your Azure environment, with topics like Azure Active Directory, multi-factor authentication, virtual network security, and Azure Security Center. Andrew explains how these tools work together to protect your data and applications.
Hands-on demos (45 min): Throughout the course, Andrew includes hands-on demonstrations of how to use key Azure services. You‘ll see how to create a VM, deploy a web app, set up a virtual network, configure Azure AD, and more. These demos are a great way to reinforce the concepts you‘ve learned.
By the end of the course, you‘ll have a solid foundation in Azure and be well-prepared to take on the AZ-900 exam. I recommend working through the course at your own pace, pausing to take notes and follow along with the demos as needed.
Tips for Exam Success
In addition to completing the freeCodeCamp course, here are a few tips to help you ace the AZ-900 based on my experience as a developer and certification trainer:
Focus your study time on the core services: While the AZ-900 covers a lot of ground, you‘ll see the most questions on key services like Azure compute, storage, and networking. Make sure you have a solid grasp of these core services and how they work together.
Get hands-on practice: It‘s not enough to just read about Azure or watch videos. To really learn the platform, you need to use it. Follow along with the demos in the freeCodeCamp course, and spend time exploring Azure on your own. Create a free Azure account and experiment with different services.
Take practice exams: Microsoft offers a free online practice test for the AZ-900. Taking practice exams is a great way to get comfortable with the format and types of questions you‘ll see on the real exam. Aim to score at least an 80% on practice tests before scheduling your exam.
Join a study group or community: Preparing for a certification exam can be daunting, but you don‘t have to do it alone. Join a study group or online community of other Azure learners. You can ask questions, share resources, and get support from your peers.
Don‘t neglect soft skills: While the AZ-900 is a technical exam, it‘s also important to have good communication and problem-solving skills. Many questions will present scenarios where you need to analyze requirements and recommend the best Azure solution. Practice explaining technical concepts in plain language.
Stay up-to-date: Azure is constantly evolving, with new services and features released regularly. To stay current, follow Azure blogs and social media channels, attend virtual events, and read whitepapers and case studies. The more you immerse yourself in the Azure ecosystem, the better prepared you‘ll be for the exam.
Real-World Azure Scenarios
To give you a better sense of how Azure is used in practice, let‘s look at a few real-world examples:
Globoforce HR: Globoforce, an Irish HR software company, used Azure to modernize their legacy rewards platform and support rapid international expansion. By migrating to Azure Kubernetes Service and Azure Database for PostgreSQL, they were able to improve performance, scalability, and resilience while reducing infrastructure costs.
Heathrow Airport: The U.K.‘s busiest airport uses Azure IoT Hub and Azure Stream Analytics to monitor and manage data from thousands of IoT sensors across the facility. This real-time streaming data helps Heathrow optimize operations, reduce wait times, and improve the passenger experience.
Geico Insurance: The auto insurance giant uses Azure Cognitive Services to power a chatbot that can understand customer queries and provide personalized responses. This AI-powered solution has increased customer satisfaction while reducing support costs.
AccuWeather: The global weather forecasting company uses Azure Machine Learning to build predictive models that provide minute-by-minute forecasts tailored to each user‘s location. By leveraging the power of Azure‘s scalable compute and big data services, AccuWeather can process vast amounts of meteorological data in real-time.
These are just a few examples of how organizations across industries are using Azure to solve complex business challenges. As an Azure-certified developer, you‘ll have the skills to help companies build and deploy innovative cloud solutions like these.
Your Azure Learning Roadmap
Earning your AZ-900 certification is a great first step toward a successful career in Azure. But it‘s just the beginning. Microsoft offers a full suite of role-based Azure certifications that can take your skills to the next level:
- Azure Developer Associate (AZ-204): This exam validates your ability to design, build, test, and maintain cloud applications and services on Azure. It‘s a great next step for developers who want to specialize in Azure.
- Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104): This exam is for IT pros who manage Azure subscriptions, secure identities, administer the infrastructure, and configure virtual networking. It‘s a good choice if you‘re interested in an infrastructure-focused role.
- Azure Data Engineer Associate (DP-203): This exam is for data professionals who design and implement data solutions that leverage Azure data services. It covers big data processing, data warehousing, ETL, and machine learning.
There are also specialty certifications available in areas like Azure IoT, Azure Stack, and Azure Virtual Desktop. As you progress in your career, you may also want to pursue one of Microsoft‘s expert-level certifications:
- Azure Solutions Architect Expert (AZ-305): This exam validates your ability to design solutions that run on Azure, including compute, network, storage, monitoring, and security.
- Azure DevOps Engineer Expert (AZ-400): This exam is for DevOps professionals who combine people, processes, and technologies to continuously deliver valuable products and services that meet end-user needs and business objectives.
Ultimately, the certification path you choose will depend on your interests and career goals. But no matter which direction you go, the AZ-900 is a great foundation for your Azure journey.
Get Started Today!
In this article, we‘ve covered everything you need to know to pass the AZ-900 Azure Fundamentals exam and launch your career as an Azure developer. We‘ve discussed the benefits of certification, the key topics covered on the exam, and how to prepare using freeCodeCamp‘s free 3-hour video course.
If you‘re serious about building your Azure skills and advancing your career, there‘s no better time to get started than today. Here‘s what I recommend:
- Sign up for a free Azure account and start exploring the platform
- Work through the freeCodeCamp AZ-900 course and follow along with the demos
- Take the Microsoft AZ-900 practice test and review any areas where you struggled
- Schedule your AZ-900 exam and earn your first Azure certification!
- Choose your next certification goal and start preparing
Remember, earning an Azure certification is a marathon, not a sprint. It takes time, effort, and dedication to truly master the platform. But if you put in the work, you‘ll be rewarded with in-demand skills, higher earning potential, and a fulfilling career in one of the hottest areas of tech.
So what are you waiting for? Start your Azure learning journey today and take the first step toward becoming a cloud rockstar! You‘ve got this!
