Microsoft AZ-900 exam – detailed requirements

The AZ-900 exam tests your knowledge of Microsoft Azure services, especially with regards to compute, networking and storage services. The requirements of the AZ-900 are checked every two months and the exam is updated as required. This article is based on the December 2022 update.

The AZ-900 exam requirements fall under the following skills:

  1. Describe cloud concepts.
  2. Describe Azure architecture and services.
  3. Describe Azure management and governance.

Microsoft does not publish a definitive list of all of the possible subjects within each skill. However, it does publish a suggested list, which is useful for preparing for the AZ-900 exam. These subjects are as follows:

Describe cloud concepts (25-30% of total marks)

Describe cloud computing

  • Define cloud computing.
  • Describe the shared responsibility model.
  • Define cloud models, including public, private, and hybrid.
  • Identify appropriate use cases for each cloud model.
  • Describe the consumption-based model.
  • Compare cloud pricing models.

Describe the benefits of using cloud services

  • Describe the benefits of high availability and scalability in the cloud.
  • Describe the benefits of reliability and predictability in the cloud.
  • Describe the benefits of security and governance in the cloud.
  • Describe the benefits of manageability in the cloud.

Describe cloud service types

  • Describe infrastructure as a service (IaaS).
  • Describe platform as a service (PaaS).
  • Describe software as a service (SaaS).
  • Identify appropriate use cases for each cloud service (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS).

Describe Azure architecture and services (35–40% of total marks)

Describe the core architectural components of Azure

  • Describe Azure regions, region pairs, and sovereign regions.
  • Describe availability zones.
  • Describe Azure datacentres.
  • Describe Azure resources and resource groups.
  • Describe subscriptions.
  • Describe management groups.
  • Describe the hierarchy of resource groups, subscriptions, and management groups.

Describe Azure compute and networking services

  • Compare compute types, including container instances, virtual machines (VMs), and functions.
  • Describe VM options, including Azure Virtual Machines, Azure Virtual Machine Scale Sets, availability sets, and Azure Virtual Desktop.
  • Describe resources required for virtual machines.
  • Describe application hosting options, including the Web Apps feature of Azure App Service, containers, and virtual machines.
  • Describe virtual networking, including the purpose of Azure Virtual Networks, Azure virtual subnets, peering, Azure DNS, Azure VPN Gateway, and Azure ExpressRoute.
  • Define public and private endpoints.

Describe Azure storage services

  • Compare Azure storage services.
  • Describe storage tiers.
  • Describe redundancy options.
  • Describe storage account options and storage types.
  • Identify options for moving files, including AzCopy, Azure Storage Explorer, and Azure File Sync.
  • Describe migration options, including Azure Migrate and Azure Data Box.

Describe Azure identity, access, and security

  • Describe directory services in Azure, including Microsoft Azure Active Directory (Azure AD), part of Microsoft Entra and Azure Active Directory Domain Services (Azure AD DS).
  • Describe authentication methods in Azure, including single sign-on (SSO), multifactor authentication, and passwordless.
  • Describe external identities and guest access in Azure.
  • Describe Conditional Access in Microsoft Azure Active Directory (Azure AD), part of Microsoft Entra.
  • Describe Azure role-based access control (RBAC).
  • Describe the concept of Zero Trust.
  • Describe the purpose of the defense in depth model.
  • Describe the purpose of Microsoft Defender for Cloud.

Describe Azure management and governance (30-35% of total marks)

Describe cost management in Azure

  • Describe factors that can affect costs in Azure.
  • Compare the Pricing calculator and the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) calculator.
  • Describe the Azure Cost Management and Billing tool.
  • Describe the purpose of tags.

Describe features and tools in Azure for governance and compliance

  • Describe the purpose of Azure Blueprints.
  • Describe the purpose of Azure Policy.
  • Describe the purpose of resource locks.
  • Describe the purpose of the Service Trust Portal.

Describe features and tools for managing and deploying Azure resources

  • Describe the Azure portal.
  • Describe Azure Cloud Shell, including Azure CLI and Azure PowerShell.
  • Describe the purpose of Azure Arc.
  • Describe Azure Resource Manager and Azure Resource Manager templates (ARM templates).

Describe monitoring tools in Azure

  • Describe the purpose of Azure Advisor.
  • Describe Azure Service Health.
  • Describe Azure Monitor, including Log Analytics, Azure Monitor alerts, and Application Insights.

How to learn these skills

To learn the skills for the AZ-900 exam, look at our AZ-900 course, which covers all of the suggested topics.

Click image to view course

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