Azure Administrator AZ-104 Preparation Strategy
Strategic preparation guide for the Microsoft Azure Administrator AZ-104 exam. Learn the domains, hands-on labs, and study timeline.
AZ-104 Exam Structure
The Microsoft Azure Administrator (AZ-104) certification validates your skills in implementing, managing, and monitoring Azure environments. The exam has approximately 50 questions, a 120-minute time limit, and requires a 70% passing score. It covers five domains: Manage Azure identities and governance (20-25%), Implement and manage storage (15-20%), Deploy and manage Azure compute resources (20-25%), Implement and manage virtual networking (15-20%), and Monitor and maintain Azure resources (10-15%).
Hands-On Experience Is Critical
Unlike AZ-900, this exam requires real hands-on skills. Set up a free Azure account and practice creating and managing resources. Key activities include: deploying virtual machines, configuring virtual networks and subnets, setting up Azure Active Directory users and groups, creating and managing storage accounts, and configuring Azure Monitor and Log Analytics.
High-Yield Topics
Focus on these frequently tested areas: Azure AD user/group management and RBAC, Virtual Network peering and VPN Gateway configuration, Azure Storage account types and replication options, Virtual Machine scale sets and availability sets, Azure App Service deployment, Network Security Groups and Application Security Groups, and Azure Backup and Site Recovery.
Study Timeline
Plan 6-8 weeks of preparation. Weeks 1-2: Identity and governance. Weeks 3-4: Storage and compute. Weeks 5-6: Networking and load balancing. Weeks 7-8: Monitoring, review, and practice exams. Dedicate at least 1 hour per day to hands-on practice in the Azure portal.
Exam Tips
The exam may include case studies and lab-based questions. For case studies, read the scenario carefully before answering. For labs, practice common Azure CLI and PowerShell commands. Time yourself during practice exams. Review Microsoft Learn documentation for any topics where you score below 80% in practice.
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