AZ-204 is a key stepping stone for traditional developers to transition to cloud development, cultivating their ability to create cloud-native applications based on the Azure platform.

1. Introduction to the AZ-204 certification

Microsoft Azure Developer Associate (AZ-204) is an intermediate certification in the field of cloud development launched by Microsoft, focusing on verifying the ability of practitioners to design, develop, deploy, and maintain cloud native applications based on the Microsoft Azure cloud platform.

The AZ-204 certification focuses on Azure core services and development tools, cultivating cloud developers who can use Azure services to solve practical business needs. It is the core qualification to enter the Azure ecosystem and engage in cloud native development.

Under the trend of accelerating cloud adoption in enterprises, application development based on cloud platforms has become the mainstream demand. Azure, as the world's second largest public cloud platform, requires a large number of developers with practical service capabilities. The core of AZ-204 certification is to cultivate "practical developers of Azure cloud native applications" rather than simply "cloud service users."

The certificate holder needs to understand the underlying logic and applicable scenarios of Azure services, be able to select suitable Azure services based on business needs, design and implement scalable, highly available, and secure cloud applications, and have the ability to troubleshoot problems and optimize performance.

These types of talents are usually competent for enterprise Azure cloud development positions. AZ-204 certificate holders can deploy e-commerce backend applications based on Azure App Service, combine Azure Cache for Redis to alleviate the database pressure caused by high concurrency, and store product images and videos through Azure Blob Storage; In enterprise level application development, Azure Active Directory (AAD) can be integrated to achieve user authentication, Azure SQL Database can be used to store business data and configure automatic backups to ensure application security and data reliability.

2. The Competitive Edge of an AZ-204 Certification

AZ-204 is the core intermediate certificate of Microsoft Azure Developer Certification System, which is highly recognized among enterprises using Azure. It is a "hard currency" for entering such enterprise cloud development positions, especially for Microsoft technology stack practitioners, with significant bonuses.

According to industry data, the average annual salary of AZ-204 certificate holders is 30%-45% higher than that of cloud free certified backend developers. AZ-204 certification covers the entire Azure development process, and the learning process can help developers systematically master the design thinking and practical skills of cloud native applications, solving the pain points faced by traditional development in cloud environments.

Holders of AZ-204 certification can join the Microsoft Developer Community to access the latest Azure service documentation, exclusive development tools, official technical support, participate in Azure events, and expand industry networks and project opportunities.

3. Core Components of the Microsoft Azure Developer Associate Certification

The AZ-204 certification system has built a complete system of full stack development capabilities for the Microsoft Azure cloud platform, aiming to cultivate professional talents with enterprise level cloud application development and operation capabilities.

The Azure Computing Services and Application Deployment module provides in-depth explanations of the development practices of core services such as App Service, Functions, AKS, covering a full scenario solution from web application deployment to containerized microservice architecture.

The integrated application of storage and data processing unit system training services such as Blob Storage and Cosmos DB cultivates comprehensive abilities in message queue design, data storage solution selection, and efficient query optimization.

The security and identity authentication part is integrated through Azure Active Directory and Key Vault application, establishing a comprehensive cloud application security protection system to ensure that the application complies with enterprise security standards.

The monitoring and operation process focuses on cultivating the practical application capabilities of Application Insights and Log Analytics, mastering the complete methodology of performance diagnosis, log analysis, and system optimization.

The API development and management module covers API Management service configuration and third-party service integration, achieving full lifecycle management of APIs and business function expansion.

This certification places special emphasis on cultivating students' practical development skills in real cloud environments, and helps developers master the deep integration. It includes proficient use of basic services, as well as advanced skills such as architecture design, security control, and performance optimization, providing students with a complete ability development from development to operation and maintenance.

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

(1) Qualification prerequisites:

AZ-204 certification does not require mandatory certification, but Azure recommends that you have 1-2 years of experience in cloud or backend development, be familiar with at least one programming language, and have a basic understanding of the Azure platform. You can lay the foundation through Microsoft's official free courses. 

(2) Training and examinations:

The AZ-204 exam consists of approximately 40-60 questions, including multiple-choice questions, case analysis questions, and practical questions. The exam lasts for 120 minutes, with a maximum score of 1000 points. If a score of 700 or above is reached, the exam fee is approximately $165. 

(3) Qualification maintenance:

The AZ-204 certificate is valid for 3 years and requires passing a "renewal exam" within the validity period. It is usually a simplified version of the original exam, focusing on the latest Azure service updates or you can choose to obtain a higher-level Azure certification to continue the validity of the certificate.

5. Comparable Certifications to Microsoft Azure Developer Associate Certification

• AWS Certified Developer – Associate
• Google Associate Cloud Engineer
• AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate