Microsoft Azure, being one of the leading cloud platforms, offers organizations the flexibility, scalability, and security needed to accelerate growth. In today’s rapidly evolving digital world, cloud computing stands at the core of innovation and transformation. However, managing Azure environments effectively requires skilled professionals — and that's where the Microsoft AZ-104 Azure Administrator Associate certification comes into play.
This blog by Multisoft System dives deep into everything you need to know about the AZ-104 certification: what it is, why it matters, who should pursue it, its exam structure, skills covered, preparation strategies, and career opportunities.
What is Microsoft AZ-104 Azure Administrator Associate Certification?
The AZ-104 Azure Administrator Associate certification is designed for IT professionals who manage cloud services spanning storage, networking, security, and compute capabilities within Microsoft Azure.
This credential validates your ability to implement, manage, and monitor an organization’s Azure environment. In essence, it proves that you can perform real-world administrative tasks and ensure cloud resources are optimized, secure, and cost-effective. It replaces the older AZ-103 exam and is an important step toward building a career in cloud administration and cloud solutions architecture.
Why Pursue AZ-104 Certification?
Achieving the AZ-104 certification offers a variety of benefits:
- Professional Credibility: Showcase your technical capabilities and Azure expertise to employers.
- Career Advancement: Opens doors to cloud administrator, systems engineer, and cloud support engineer roles.
- Industry Recognition: Microsoft certifications are globally acknowledged and respected.
- Skill Validation: Verifies your ability to handle Azure services like virtual machines, storage accounts, virtual networking, and identity management.
As cloud adoption increases across industries, organizations are specifically seeking Azure administrators with up-to-date skills and certifications like AZ-104.
Who Should Take the AZ-104 Certification?
This certification is ideal for:
- IT administrators managing cloud and hybrid environments.
- System administrators transitioning into cloud roles.
- Network administrators aiming to enhance their Azure knowledge.
- Support engineers and service administrators who work with Azure infrastructure.
- Professionals aspiring to become Azure solutions architects in the future.
A basic understanding of core Azure services, Azure workloads, security, and governance is recommended before attempting the AZ-104 exam.
Manage Azure identities and governance
Managing identities and governance is a critical responsibility for Azure administrators. It ensures that only authorized users and resources have appropriate access, while maintaining security, compliance, and control across the Azure environment. At the core of identity management is Azure Active Directory (Azure AD). Azure AD is a comprehensive identity and access management solution that enables organizations to manage users, groups, and devices. Administrators must be able to create, update, and delete user accounts, reset passwords, and configure multi-factor authentication (MFA) to enhance security. Group management is equally important, allowing admins to assign permissions collectively rather than individually, streamlining access management. Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) plays a central role in governing Azure resources. With RBAC, administrators can assign roles to users, groups, and managed identities, granting the minimum permissions necessary to perform their tasks (a principle known as least privilege). This minimizes the risk of accidental or malicious misuse of resources.
Azure governance goes beyond identity management. It includes tools such as Azure Policy, Management Groups, and Resource Locks. Azure Policy allows admins to enforce rules and compliance standards across resources — for example, ensuring that only specific virtual machine sizes are deployed. Management Groups help organize subscriptions into a hierarchy for unified policy and access management. Resource Locks prevent accidental deletion or modification of critical resources. Monitoring and auditing activities are also essential for governance. Azure provides solutions like Azure Monitor, Activity Logs, and Azure AD Sign-in Logs to track changes, sign-ins, and access patterns. Regular audits help identify anomalies and enforce security best practices.
Ultimately, managing Azure identities and governance empowers organizations to control access, protect assets, maintain compliance, and optimize operational efficiency within their cloud environments — all foundational skills for any Microsoft Certified Azure Administrator Associate.
Deploy and manage Azure compute resources
To manage Azure VMs effectively, integrate them with Azure Monitor and Log Analytics for real-time monitoring. Set up autoscale rules on scale sets to adapt to demand, and schedule OS patching with Update Manager for minimal downtime. Cost management is also key—use reserved instances, savings plans, and Spot capacity to optimize spending. Finally, leverage Azure Advisor recommendations for workload right-sizing and retire unused disks, striving for a resilient and cost-effective Azure environment. This will create a compliant infrastructure that addresses both performance and cost efficiency.
How to Prepare for the AZ-104 Exam?
Preparing for the Microsoft AZ-104 Azure Administrator Associate certification exam requires a balanced approach combining study, hands-on practice, and familiarity with exam objectives. Begin by thoroughly reviewing the official skills outline provided by Microsoft, which details the topics and their weightage in the exam. Leverage Microsoft Learn, a free and highly effective platform offering interactive modules, real-world scenarios, and quizzes tailored for AZ-104. Practical experience is crucial, so create an Azure free account or use a sandbox environment to practice tasks like configuring virtual networks, managing Azure Active Directory, setting up virtual machines, and implementing backup and monitoring solutions. Complement your learning with official study guides, such as "Exam Ref AZ-104 Microsoft Azure Administrator," or enroll in structured instructor-led training for deeper insights. Taking multiple practice tests from trusted providers like Whizlabs, MeasureUp, or Tutorials Dojo will help you get accustomed to the exam format and identify weak areas. Additionally, joining study groups and forums like Microsoft Tech Community or Reddit can offer valuable tips, resources, and peer support. Since Azure services are continuously updated, it’s important to stay current by following Microsoft’s Azure blogs and product updates. A mix of theoretical study, practical experience, and constant revision ensures that you build the knowledge and confidence needed to pass the AZ-104 exam successfully.
Career Opportunities After AZ-104 Certification
Earning your Azure Administrator Associate credential sets you up for many exciting career opportunities. Some popular roles include:
- Azure Administrator
- Cloud Support Engineer
- Systems Administrator
- Cloud Engineer
- Network Administrator
- Infrastructure Specialist
Conclusion
The Microsoft AZ-104 Azure Administrator Associate certification is a valuable stepping stone for IT professionals aiming to thrive in the cloud era. Whether you're beginning your cloud journey or seeking to validate your existing skills, AZ-104 is a strong credential that strengthens your resume, boosts your confidence, and opens new career doors.
With focused preparation, hands-on practice, and a strategic approach, achieving the AZ-104 certification is well within your reach.
Enroll in Multisoft Systems today, and position yourself at the forefront of cloud innovation!