Microsoft Azure Administrator is a core intermediate certification in Azure cloud operations that focuses on practical resource management and troubleshooting capabilities.

1. Introduction to the AZ-104 certification

Microsoft Azure Administrator (AZ-104) is a core intermediate certification in the field of cloud operations launched by Microsoft, focusing on verifying practitioners' abilities in resource management, configuration, monitoring, and troubleshooting of the Microsoft Azure cloud platform.

AZ-104 focuses on Azure core services and cultivates cloud administrators who can independently complete daily operation and maintenance of Azure environments, ensure high service availability and security compliance. It is an authoritative qualification for entering the Azure operation and maintenance field and proving cloud platform management capabilities. It is also the most popular basic operation and maintenance certification in the Azure certification system.

As enterprises migrate their IT infrastructure to Azure, there is a surge in demand for administrators who can manage cloud resources stably, respond quickly to failures, and ensure efficient resource utilization. The core of AZ-104 certification is to cultivate "practical operation and maintenance managers of Azure cloud platform," rather than just "interface operators."

You need to understand the operational logic and key points of Azure services, be able to deploy and configure resources according to business needs, and have the full process capability of monitoring resource status, troubleshooting, optimizing costs, and ensuring security to ensure stable, efficient, and compliant operation of Azure environment. Such talents are usually competent for enterprise Azure operations positions.

2. The Competitive Edge of an AZ-104 Certification

AZ-104 is the most basic and popular operation and maintenance certification in Microsoft Azure certification system, highly recognized among enterprises using Azure. It is a standard qualification for recruiting Azure administrators and cloud operation and maintenance engineers, and those without certification are easily eliminated during the resume screening stage.

According to industry data, the average annual salary of AZ-104 certification holders is 35%-50% higher than that of traditional operations engineers certified by Cloudless. The certification covers the entire Azure operations process, and the learning process can help practitioners break out of the "single tool operation," establish a systematic thinking of cloud resource management, and solve the pain points faced by traditional operations in cloud environments.

Holders of AZ-104 certification can join the Microsoft Developer Community to obtain the latest Azure operation and maintenance documents, exclusive tools, official technical support, participate in Azure offline operation and maintenance salons, expand industry networks and project opportunities, and lay a foundation for future advancement.

3. Core Components of the Microsoft Azure Administrator Certification

The AZ-104 certification system has built a complete capability system for the Microsoft Azure administrator role, covering the six core areas of cloud platform operation and maintenance management comprehensively.

The resource management and governance module provides an in-depth explanation of Azure resource hierarchy architecture, cultivates the ability to achieve automated deployment through tools such as ARM templates, and masters the core skills of Azure Policy and RBAC permission management.

The computing service operation and maintenance unit system trains virtual machine lifecycle management, covering complete operations from creating configurations to scaling, while mastering the operation and maintenance points of serverless and container services such as App Services and Functions.

The network service configuration section cultivates the ability to build virtual networks and configure security groups, proficient in hybrid network solutions such as VNet peer-to-peer connections and VPN gateways, and master practical skills in DNS resolution and domain name management.

The storage service management module provides in-depth explanations on the creation, configuration, and lifecycle management of storage accounts, mastering the formulation and execution of data backup and recovery strategies, ensuring data security and cost optimization.

The identity security and compliance process is achieved through Azure Active Directory to achieve refined permission control and establish a comprehensive security protection system using Security Center.

AZ-104 certification places special emphasis on cultivating students' practical skills in Azure operations and maintenance in real enterprise environments. Through systematic courses, it helps administrators master the core skills of daily operations and management of cloud platforms. It includes proficient mastery of basic resource operations, as well as advanced abilities, providing students with a complete growth path from basic operations to architecture optimization.

4. What are the requirements to be a Microsoft Azure Administrator?

(1) Qualification prerequisites:

There is no mandatory certification requirement for obtaining AZ-104 certification, but it is recommended to have 6-12 months of IT operations experience and understand basic IT concepts.

Basic understanding of the Azure platform can be achieved through Microsoft's free courses or Azure portal practice, familiarizing oneself with the core service interface and basic operations.

You need to master the use of at least one Azure management tool to facilitate automated operations and maintenance. 

(2) Training and examinations:

The AZ-104 exam consists of approximately 40-60 questions, including multiple-choice questions, case analysis questions, and practical questions, and lasts for about 120 minutes; Full score of 1000, passing with a score of 700 or above; The exam fee varies slightly in different regions, but it is around $165.

(3) Qualification maintenance:

The AZ-104 certificate is valid for 3 years, and you need to pass the "renewal exam" or obtain a higher-level Azure certification within the validity period to renew the certificate's validity.

5. Comparable Certifications to Microsoft Azure Administrator Certification

• Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE)
• Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA)
• AWS Certified SysOps Administrator – Associate
• Google Cloud Certified - Cloud Administrator
• Huawei Certified ICT Professional - Cloud Service (HCIP - Cloud Service)