Azure Certification Paths: Explore Your Options

What’s a Microsoft Azure Certification?

Microsoft Azure certifications are a series of over a dozen certifications that help professionals working in cloud computing or want to begin a career in the field. Azure certifications fall in one of several certification levels, and several certifications have no group classification.

And speaking of Microsoft Azure certification paths and levels, that’s our next topic!

About Azure Certification Levels

There are four levels of Microsoft Azure certification. They are:

• Fundamentals-level certifications: Perfect for non-technical people who want to get started in cloud computing and cloud professionals who are just beginning.
• Associate-level certifications: Best suited for candidates who have a solid understanding of Azure’s basics.
• Expert-level certifications: Ideal for people who have a strong background in the cloud, including associate-level certification and hands-on experience working with the cloud.
• Specialty certifications: These specialties focus on Azure IOT Developer Specialty and Azure for SAP Workloads.

There are a pair of Azure certification paths outside the classification system. They are:

• Microsoft Certified: Security Operations Analyst Associate for security engineers who work with threat management, monitoring, and response.
• Microsoft Certified: Identity and Access Administrator Associate for administrators who work with Azure AD to handle Identity and Access Management (AIM).

Why Pursue an Azure Certification?

In the ever-evolving landscape of cloud computing, achieving certification in platforms like Microsoft Azure has become a strategic move for IT professionals. Certifications boost your skill set and provide potential employers with accurate verification of your suitability for their vacant positions. A Microsoft Azure certification on your resume is a point in your favor and maybe the difference-maker between yourself and another competing candidate.

Here are several compelling reasons why pursuing an Azure certification can be a valuable investment for individuals looking to enhance their careers in the tech industry:

1. Industry Recognition and Credibility

• Azure certifications are globally recognized and respected in the IT industry.
• They serve as a tangible validation of an individual's proficiency in using Azure tools and services.
• Employers often prioritize candidates with Azure certifications, providing a competitive edge in the job market.

2. Alignment with Industry Trends

• Azure continually evolves to incorporate the latest technologies and industry best practices.
• Azure certifications reflect an individual's ability to work with cutting-edge cloud solutions and stay current with industry trends.
• Professionals with Azure certifications are better equipped to address the dynamic challenges of cloud computing.

3. Diverse Career Opportunities

• Azure certifications cater to a variety of roles, including administrators, developers, architects, and security professionals.
• The diverse certification paths allow individuals to specialize in areas that align with their career goals, whether in infrastructure management, application development, or data analytics.

4. Increased Employability and Job Security

• As businesses increasingly migrate to the cloud, there is a growing demand for professionals with Azure expertise.
• Azure certifications enhance employability by showcasing a candidate's proficiency in Azure services, making them valuable assets to organizations.
• The skills acquired through certification contribute to job security as businesses rely on certified professionals to manage and optimize their cloud infrastructure.

5. Access to Exclusive Resources and Support

• Microsoft provides a range of resources, including official documentation, training materials, and forums, to support individuals preparing for Azure certifications.
• Certified professionals gain access to exclusive communities and networking opportunities, fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing.

6. Career Advancement and Higher Earning Potential

• Azure certifications are instrumental in career advancement, opening doors to higher-level roles and responsibilities.
• Certified professionals often command higher salaries compared to their non-certified counterparts, reflecting the value placed on their specialized skills.

7. Demonstration of Practical Skills

• Azure certifications involve hands-on labs and real-world scenarios, ensuring that certified individuals possess practical skills applicable to various scenarios.
• This practical orientation enhances problem-solving abilities and prepares professionals for the challenges they might encounter in real-world Azure implementations.

8. Contributing to Organizational Success

• Individuals with Azure certifications can contribute significantly to their organizations' success by optimizing Azure resources, improving security measures, and implementing efficient cloud solutions.
• Certified professionals are better positioned to drive digital transformation initiatives within their organizations.

The Top Azure Certification Paths

Here are the best Microsoft Azure certification paths for you to follow today.

1. AZ-104: Azure Administrator Associate

• Prerequisites: Experience in Azure Portal, Power Shell, ARM Templates, and Azure CLI.
• Skills Covered: Managing Azure identities and governance; implementing and managing storage; configuring and managing virtual networking; deploying and managing Azure compute resources; monitoring and backing up Azure resources.
• Who Is This For?: Any professional with a technical background must validate their administrator-level knowledge in Cloud services. People who buy or sell, or who are involved in, cloud-based services and solutions
• Why This Is Needed: Companies want candidates with a strong background in various cloud platforms.

2. AZ-204: Azure Developer Associate

• Prerequisites: 1-2 years of Microsoft Azure professional development experience and experience and programming expertise in an Azure-supported high-level language.
• Skills Covered: Developing Azure storage and compute solutions; implementing Azure security; monitoring, optimizing and troubleshooting Azure solutions; connecting and consuming Azure and third-party services.
• Who Is This For?: Professionals whose responsibilities cover all phases of cloud development.
• Why This Is Needed: It’s a prerequisite for the DevOps exam and offers better job security.

3. AI-102: Azure AI Engineer Associate

• Prerequisites: Proficiency in Python or C#, able to use REST-based APIs and SDKs for developing computer visions, conversational AI, knowledge mining, and natural language processing solutions on Azure. Possess an understanding of and the ability to use responsible AI principles and the components that make up the Azure AI portfolio.
• Skills Covered: Implementing a secure environment; monitoring and optimizing operational resources; planning and implementing data platform resources; performing administration using T-SQL; performing task automation; optimizing query performance; planning and implementing a High Availability and Disaster Recovery (HADR) environment.
• Who Is This For?: AI Engineers.
• Why This Is Needed: This course rounds out AI skill sets for engineers who want to work with Azure.

4. DP-100: Azure Data Scientist Associate

• Prerequisites: Knowledge and experience in data science, including using Azure Machine Learning and Azure Databricks.
• Skills Covered: Mastering Azure-oriented machine learning resources; running experiments and training models; implementing responsible machine learning; deploying and operationalizing machine learning solutions.
• Who Is This For?: Data Scientists using Azure.
• Why This Is Needed: Machine learning is on the rise, and it factors in heavily in today’s data analysis.

5. AZ-500: Azure Security Engineer Associate

• Prerequisites: Practical experience in administering Azure and hybrid environments. Candidates also need experience with cloud capabilities, infrastructure as code, security operations processes, and Azure services.
• Skills Covered: Implementing platform protection; managing access and identity; managing security operations; securing data and applications.
• Who Is This For?: Security engineers expected to work with Azure.
• Why This Is Needed: Security is a serious topic today, with security breaches growing increasingly common coupled with a broader gap in cybersecurity skills vs. demand.

6. DP-203: Azure Data Engineer Associate

• Prerequisites: Requires a solid knowledge of data processing languages like SQL, Python, or Scala. Candidates also need to understand architecture patterns and parallel processing.
• Skills Covered: Designing and developing data processing; designing and implementing data storage; designing and implementing data security; optimizing data storage and data processing.
• Who Is This For?: Professionals working with data pipelines, data processing, and dealing with stakeholders. This certification is essential for data engineers.
• Why This Is Needed: This position is crucial for data pipeline development and helping stakeholders understand data.

7. DP-300: Azure Database Administrator Associate

• Prerequisites: Have an understanding of every concept covered in the Microsoft Azure Data Fundamentals certification exam (DP-900).
• Skills Covered: Task automation; performing administration using T-SQL; planning and implementing data platform resources; High Availability and Disaster Recovery (HADR); implementing a secure environment; optimizing operational resources and query performance.
• Who Is This For?: This is perfect for data management specialists and database administrators who work with relational databases cooked up with Azure Data Services and SQL Server.
• Why This Is Needed: It addresses the need for optimized relational database solutions and tighter security.

8. AZ-120: Azure Architect for SAP Workloads

• Prerequisites: Candidates are strongly encouraged to have either Azure Architect or Azure Administrator certification, plus Linux and SAP HANA certifications.
• Skills Covered: Migrating SAP workloads to Azure; building and deploying Azure for SAP workloads; validating infrastructure for SAP workloads; designing Azure solutions that support SAP Workloads; optimizing Azure SAP architecture performance.
• Who Is This For?: This course is for architects, administrators, and engineers migrating SAP solutions to the cloud.
• Why This Is Needed: SAP applications are commonly found in Fortune 500 companies, which provides you with great opportunities for a career in a solid, well-respected company.

9. AZ-220: Azure IoT Developer

• Prerequisites: Though there are no ironclad prerequisites, you should be proficient in an Azure-supported programming language such as Python, C, C#, or Node. In addition, it would be best to have a firm grasp of Internet of Things solutions.
• Skills Covered: Implementing IoT solutions in security and infrastructure; setting up, deploying, and configuring an IoT Edge device; provisioning and managing devices; processing and managing data; optimizing and troubleshooting IoT solutions.
• Who Is This For?: This is for anyone who wants to get into Azure-related IoT solutions.
• Why This Is Needed: The Internet of Things is rapidly growing, thanks increased network-capable devices.

10. AZ-303 and AZ-304: Azure Solution Architect Expert

• Prerequisites: The only recommendation (but still not mandatory) is first to get your Microsoft Azure Administrator certification.
• Skills Covered: Managing Azure Active Directory; configuring serverless computing with Azure; cloud migration to Azure strategies; integrating on-premises infrastructure; configuring Azure Kubernetes Services.
• Who Is This For?: This certification is tailored to experienced DevOps and IT professionals.
• Why This Is Needed: You can contribute a vital tech element to your company’s strategy. This certification could smooth your road to a strategic leadership position.

11. AZ-400: Azure DevOps Engineer Expert

• Prerequisites: You must have the Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate or the Microsoft Certified: Azure Developer Associate.
• Skills Covered: Mobile DevOps strategy using Azure; forming instrumentation and SRE strategies; managing source control; creating a security and compliance plan; capturing Azure cloud feedback; managing cloud hosting infrastructure.
• Who Is This For?: This certification is perfect for engineers with great coding skills, good people skills, and familiarity with Agile development practices and Azure administration.
• Why This Is Needed: This certification can be instrumental in getting you a DevOps position that emphasizes strategy and pays very well.

12. DA-100: Azure Data Analyst Associate

• Prerequisites: Although there are no prerequisites, but you should be familiar with data-related skills like handling incoming, visualizing, and cleaning data.
• Skills Covered: Preparing, modeling, visualizing, and analyzing data; deploying and maintaining deliverables.
• Who Is This For?: Anyone interested in analyzing data and learning how to perform data operations for their company.
• Why This Is Needed: Data is the lifeblood of today's commercial world. If you know how to work with enormous amounts of data, you will be much in demand.

13. AZ-500: Azure Security Engineer Associate

• Prerequisites: There aren’t any official prerequisites, but you will need good skills in automation and scripting, plus a working knowledge of virtualization, networking, and the cloud.
• Skills Covered: Configuring Azure log analytics; managing Azure security alerts; Azure privileged identity management; securing cloud-based infrastructure.
• Who Is This For?: This certification is geared toward security engineers who design, configure, and implement Azure security controls and tools.
• Why This Is Needed: Cloud security is a hot commodity today, as more people and organizations are increasingly relying on cloud computing.

How Do You Prepare for New Microsoft Azure Certifications?

There are as many ways to prepare for new certifications as there are certifications! Here are some different strategies you can take. You should choose the methods that work best for you.

• Check out different Microsoft Learning Paths
• Get trained by instructors, which you can get through online courses like Simplilearn
• Find an online learning partner
• Check out forums that offer support for exams and Azure certification paths

Find the Right Azure Course

The Azure courses from Simplilearn provide professionals with a thorough route to master Microsoft Azure and improve their chances of landing a cloud computing job. Simplilearn offers comprehensive knowledge and practical experience with Azure's core services and solutions, catering to both novices wishing to grasp the fundamentals and seasoned professionals seeking advanced abilities. Our programs are created to meet industry standards and get you ready for Azure certification tests so you can get the knowledge and credentials that companies look for. With the Azure courses from Simplilearn, you can improve your cloud computing skills and acquire the competitive edge you need to succeed in today's tech-driven society.

Do You Want to Be a Cloud Architect?

If you’re looking for a solid career in cloud computing, check out Simplilearn’s Azure Cloud Architect Master’s program. The course helps you master the Azure infrastructure by understanding Azure Cloud Architect Technology Solutions, such as implementing workloads and security, creating and deploying apps, and securing data.

Ziprecruiter reports that Cloud Architects in the United States earn an average of $153,318 per year. And according to Payscale, Cloud Architects in India may make a yearly average of ₹1,849,007.

Martin Oloyede landed a new job with a 25% salary hike after he completed the Microsoft Certified Azure Administrator Associate Course with Simplilearn. Read his success story in our Simplilearn Azure Course Review here.

Visit Simplilearn today, and get that cloud-based career off the ground and into the stratosphere!