Microsoft Azure Certification Part 2: Choose your Next Certification
Part 1: Grow your career potential
Part 2: Choose your Next Certification ⬅️You Are Here
Hey! So if you are reading the second part of this guide, I assume that you agree that there is time to get certified! As you remember from the first part, Microsoft has a lot of certificates. I mean really, a LOT of them.
So, how to decide which certificate to pursue, or how to choose between all the possible options of Microsoft career paths? I will try to explain all of this in Part 2 , and also share my own certification roadmaps for Developers, DevOps, Data Engineers and Security Engineers.
I would not recommend fundamental exams here because I am assuming that you have already taken them, at least AZ900 if you are a freshman or that you possess all the necessary skills if you are already a professional.
To begin with, it’s crucial to clarify that I am not some kind of special expert in certifications. You should not make decisions solely based on the content of this article. The suggestions and roadmaps presented here are derived from my personal experiences, Microsoft documentation, and conversations with colleagues. Always conduct your own research and contribute your own roadmap ideas to the community.
For students and people who want to switch careers
As a student, you have the freedom to pick any path you like. Simply access Microsoft career paths, conduct your research, and select the one that aligns best with your interests and goals. We already delved into these paths during Part 1.
For those considering a career change, I recommend taking a closer look at Administration. An administrator plays a key role in setting up, managing, and overseeing various aspects of a cloud environment, including identity, governance, storage, compute, and virtual networks. They also handle tasks such as resource provisioning, monitoring, and adjustments as needed. Administrators are typically part of a larger team responsible for implementing an organization’s cloud infrastructure.
I would recommend the Azure Administrator Associate certification, though it’s important to note that AZ-104, in my opinion, is one of the most challenging exams in Microsoft’s cloud offerings. However, it’s definitely worth the effort.
You can find detailed information about this certification in the “For DevOps” section.
Microsoft Learn Career Connected
If you’re just starting out, you might want to check out the Microsoft Learn Career Connected program. This program aims to bridge the talent gap on a global scale by helping people find jobs, providing training, and assisting with job placement. In the current phase, Microsoft Learn Career Connected is primarily focused on supporting individuals who are considering careers with Microsoft customers and partners in the United States, Canada, Western Europe, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and India.
Now, it’s time for the main part. We will discuss Associate Level certifications, often referred to as two-star badges, and take a closer look at one possible roadmap for certain specializations.
Assosiate Level ⭐⭐
For Software Developers
A solid understanding of cloud technologies is crucial for software developers. It allows them to create applications that are scalable, cost-effective, reliable, and secure, meeting the needs of modern businesses and users. Moreover, proficiency in cloud technologies boosts a developer’s skill set and makes them more competitive in the job market.
Therefore, the ideal selection for software developers would be the Azure Developer Associate certification. To attain this certification, you need to showcase your expertise in several areas within the Azure ecosystem, including:
- Utilizing Azure Software Development Kits (SDKs)
- Leveraging various data storage solutions
- Establishing and managing data connections
- Working with APIs
- Implementing application authentication and authorization mechanisms
- Handling compute and container deployments
- Proficiently debugging applications
You should also possess programming skills in one or more of the Azure-supported languages:
- Python
- .NET
- JavaScript
- Java
- Go
Furthermore, you should be proficient in using Azure Command-Line Interface (CLI), Azure PowerShell, and other relevant tools.
Skills measured
- Develop Azure compute solutions
- Develop for Azure storage
- Implement Azure security
- Monitor, troubleshoot, and optimize Azure solutions
- Connect to and consume Azure services and third-party services
Job role: Developer
Required exams: AZ-204
Another option for developers is the Azure Cosmos DB Developer Specialty certification. It’s a common practice for software developers to work directly with databases, especially if your application relies on the Azure stack, making Azure Cosmos DB a likely choice. This certification is particularly valuable for .NET Developers. Obtaining a specialized certification like Azure Cosmos DB Developer can unlock new career prospects and boost your earning potential. It also sets you apart from other developers in a competitive job market.
To qualify for this certification, candidates must possess strong knowledge and experience in app development for Azure and working with Azure Cosmos DB database technologies. They should excel in developing applications utilizing Azure Cosmos DB for NoSQL API, efficiently crafting SQL queries for the API, and establishing appropriate indexing policies. Proficiency in creating server-side objects with JavaScript is essential, along with familiarity in provisioning and managing resources in Azure. Candidates should also be capable of interpreting JSON, reading C# or Java code, and using PowerShell.
Skills measured
- Design and implement data models
- Design and implement data distribution
- Integrate an Azure Cosmos DB solution
- Optimize an Azure Cosmos DB solution
- Maintain an Azure Cosmos DB solution
Job role: Developer, Data Engineer, Solution Architect
Required exams: DP-420
For Data Engineers
A crucial certification option for data engineers is the Azure Data Engineer Associate. Among the various cloud-specific data engineering certifications, the Azure Data Engineer Associate stands out as one of the most challenging and valuable. It equips you with knowledge of both common data engineering principles and Azure-specific technologies.
To qualify for this certification, you should have expertise in integrating, transforming, and consolidating data from diverse sources, including structured, unstructured, and streaming data systems, into a suitable schema for creating analytics solutions. This includes a deep understanding of:
- Modern data warehousing
- Big data
- Lakehouse architecture
Additionally, you need to grasp concepts related to parallel processing and data architecture patterns. You should also be proficient in utilizing the following tools to create data processing solutions:
- Azure Data Factory
- Azure Synapse Analytics
- Azure Stream Analytics
- Azure Event Hubs
- Azure Data Lake Storage
- Azure Databricks
Regarding Databricks technology, if you want an in-depth understanding of Databricks and specialize in it, you should consider obtaining additional certification directly from Databricks.
As a candidate for this certification, you must possess strong knowledge of data processing languages, including:
- SQL
- Python
- Scala
Skills measured
- Design and implement data storage
- Develop data processing
- Secure, monitor, and optimize data storage and data processing
Job role: Data Engineer
Required exams: DP-203
SQL
Choosing the Azure Database Administrator Associate certification is a wise decision because it comprehensively covers various aspects of SQL-related tools and technologies in the Azure environment.
To qualify for this certification, you should have specialized knowledge in constructing database solutions that are tailored to accommodate multiple workloads, encompassing both SQL Server on-premises and Azure SQL services. Your skill set should encompass various methods and tools for executing and automating routine tasks, including a solid understanding of using Transact-SQL (T-SQL) and other administrative management tools.
If you have already earned the Azure Data Engineer Associate certification and have experience with SQL technologies, this exam shouldn’t be challenging.
Skills measured
- Plan and implement data platform resources
- Implement a secure environment
- Monitor, configure, and optimize database resources
- Configure and manage automation of tasks
- Plan and configure a high availability and disaster recovery (HA/DR) environment
Job role: Database Administrator
Required exams: DP-300
NOSQL
If you’re focusing on the NoSQL aspect of specialization, the Azure Cosmos DB Developer Specialty certification is an excellent choice.
You can find detailed information about this certification in the “For Developers” section.
For DevOps Engineers
Starting your DevOps journey, focusing on the Azure Administrator Associate certification is crucial. This certification is a must for individuals aiming to build their careers in Azure services, particularly within the DevOps field.
As a prospective candidate for this certification, you are expected to possess in-depth knowledge and proficiency in the deployment, administration, and supervision of a Microsoft Azure environment for an organization. This encompasses various critical areas, including:
- Virtual networks
- Storage
- Compute
- Identity
- Security
- Governance
Successfully attaining this certification demonstrates your competence in managing these fundamental components of Azure, setting a strong foundation for your DevOps journey.
Skills measured
- Manage Azure identities and governance
- Implement and manage storage
- Deploy and manage Azure compute resources
- Implement and manage virtual networking
- Monitor and maintain Azure resources
Job role: Administrator
Required exams: AZ-104
As I’ve previously noted, from my personal perspective, this exam stands out as one of the most demanding within the Azure Associate certification lineup.
As next step, I strongly recommend considering the Azure Developer Associate certification as well. This certification is especially important for DevOps practitioners, as it equips you with the knowledge and skills required to handle compute and container deployments, as well as connect to and utilize Azure services and third-party services.
You can find detailed information about this certification in the “For Developers” section.
Then I recommend considering the Azure Network Engineer Associate certification to enhance your understanding of network technologies.
As candidate for this certification, you should possess in-depth knowledge and proficiency in the following areas related to Azure networking solutions:
- Foundational network infrastructure.
- Establishing hybrid connectivity.
- Implementing application delivery services.
- Configuring private access to Azure services.
- Strengthening network security.
By attaining this certification, you will significantly elevate your expertise in optimizing the performance, resilience, scalability, and security of Azure networking solutions. You will gain proficiency in deploying these solutions through various methods such as the Azure portal, command-line interface, and templates. Furthermore, you will learn how to proactively monitor network environments to detect issues and minimize potential risks.
Skills measured
- Design and implement core networking infrastructure
- Design, implement, and manage connectivity services
- Design and implement application delivery services
- Design and implement private access to Azure services
- Secure network connectivity to Azure resources
Job role: Network Engineer
Required exams: AZ-700
For Data Analists
Given that Power BI is a leading analytical technology in Azure, your initial consideration should be pursuing the Power BI Data Analyst Associate certification.
As a candidate for this certification, your responsibilities will involve delivering actionable insights by leveraging available data and applying domain expertise. Specifically, you should:
- Generate meaningful business value by creating easily understandable data visualizations.
- Empower others to conduct self-service analytics.
- Deploy and configure solutions for data consumption.
In the role of a Power BI data analyst, you will collaborate closely with business stakeholders to identify their specific requirements. Additionally, you will work alongside enterprise data analysts and data engineers to identify and procure the necessary data. Furthermore, you will utilize Power BI to:
- Transform data.
- Construct data models.
- Visualize data effectively.
- Share valuable assets.
Skills measured
- Prepare the data
- Model the data
- Visualize and analyze the data
- Deploy and maintain assets
Job role: Data Analyst, Business User
Required exams: PL-300
After that, it’s worth considering the Azure Enterprise Data Analyst Associate certification.
To qualify for this certification, you should possess a deep understanding of designing, creating, and deploying large-scale data analytics solutions within an enterprise context. Your responsibilities in this role encompass executing advanced data analytics on a significant scale, which includes:
- Cleaning and transforming data.
- Architecting and developing enterprise-level data models.
- Integrating advanced analytics capabilities.
- Coordinating with IT infrastructure.
- Applying development lifecycle best practices.
As an applicant for this certification, you should also demonstrate advanced proficiency in Power BI (Power BI Data Analyst Associate will cover this part), encompassing tasks such as managing data repositories and conducting data processing both in cloud and on-premises environments. You should be adept at using Power Query and Data Analysis Expressions (DAX). Additionally, you should have the capability to efficiently consume data from Azure Synapse Analytics and possess experience in querying relational databases, analyzing data through Transact-SQL (T-SQL), and visualizing data effectively.
Skills measured
- Implement and manage a data analytics environment
- Query and transform data
- Implement and manage data models
- Explore and visualize data
Job role: Data Analyst
Required exams: DP-500
For AI engineers and Data Scientists
Our choices for AI engineers are somewhat limited in this regard. One viable certification option is the Azure AI Engineer Associate, which specifically focuses on Azure Cognitive Services.
In the role of an Azure AI engineer, you are expected to have practical experience in creating solutions that utilize programming languages like:
- Python
- C#
Skills measured
- Plan and manage an Azure AI solution
- Implement image and video processing solutions
- Implement natural language processing solutions
- Implement knowledge mining solutions
- Implement conversational AI solutions
Job role: AI Engineer
Required exams: AI-102
The Azure Data Scientist Associate certification is a primary choice for professionals engaged in machine learning tasks, which involve the utilization of:
- Azure Machine Learning
- MLflow
As a candidate for this exam, you should have subject matter expertise in applying data science and machine learning to implement and run machine learning workloads on Azure.
Skills measured
- Design and prepare a machine learning solution
- Explore data and train models
- Prepare a model for deployment
- Deploy and retrain a model
Job role: Data Scientist
Required exams: DP-100
For Security Engineers
I previously mentioned not recommending fundamental certifications in this guide. However, I’m making an exception for the Security, Compliance, and Identity Fundamentals certification. In the realm of Data Security, even if you’re not new to this field, it’s highly beneficial to begin your certification journey from the very basics.
Upon successful completion and thorough preparations, you’ll be well-prepared for the essential certification for Security Engineers, which is the Azure Security Engineer Associate.
In your role as an Azure security engineer, you are responsible for the implementation, management, and ongoing monitoring of security measures across resources in Azure, multi-cloud environments, and hybrid setups, as part of a comprehensive infrastructure. Your primary objective is to recommend security components and configurations to safeguard the following areas:
- Identity and access
- Data
- Applications
- Networks
Your specific responsibilities as an Azure security engineer encompass:
- Overseeing and managing the overall security posture.
- Identifying and addressing vulnerabilities.
- Conducting threat modeling exercises.
- Deploying threat protection mechanisms.
Additionally, you may be involved in responding to security incidents. In your capacity as an Azure security engineer, you collaborate closely with architects, administrators, and developers to devise and implement solutions that align with security and compliance requirements.
To excel in this role, you should possess the following qualifications:
- Hands-on experience in the administration of Microsoft Azure and hybrid environments.
- Proficiency in Azure’s compute, network, and storage services, as well as Azure Active Directory (Azure AD), a component of Microsoft Enterprise.
Skills measured
- Manage identity and access
- Secure networking
- Secure compute, storage, and databases
- Manage security operations
Job role: Security Engineer
Required exams: AZ-500
If you aspire to become an Azure-focused security architect, your path should include obtaining the Microsoft Certified: Identity and Access Administrator Associate certification.
Individuals with this certification possess strong skills in planning, implementing, and managing an organization’s identity and access management systems using Microsoft Azure Active Directory (Azure AD), a vital component of Microsoft Enterprise. Their responsibilities include setting up and supervising the authentication and authorization procedures for user identities, devices, Azure resources, and applications.
Skills measured
- Implement identities in Azure AD
- Implement authentication and access management
- Implement access management for applications
- Plan and implement identity governance in Azure AD
Job role: Administrator, Identity and Access Administrator, Security Engineer
Required exams: SC-300
If you wish to enhance your generic cyber security skills, your path should include obtaining the Security Operations Analyst Associate certification.
In the role of a Microsoft security operations analyst, your primary objective is to reduce organizational risk through several key activities:
- Swiftly remediating ongoing attacks within the environment.
- Providing recommendations for enhancing threat protection practices.
- Reporting policy violations to the appropriate stakeholders.
Your responsibilities encompass a range of critical tasks, including triage, incident response, vulnerability management, threat hunting, and cyber threat intelligence analysis.
As a Microsoft security operations analyst, you actively monitor, detect, investigate, and respond to threats in multi-cloud environments. You utilize essential tools such as Microsoft Sentinel, Microsoft Defender for Cloud, Microsoft 365 Defender, as well as third-party security solutions to effectively fulfill these duties.
Skills measured
- Mitigate threats by using Microsoft 365 Defender
- Mitigate threats by using Defender for Cloud
- Mitigate threats by using Microsoft Sentinel
Job role: Security Engineer, Security Operations Analyst
Required exams: SC-200
Must-have for everyone
The Azure Administrator Associate certification is a must-have for anyone pursuing a career connected to Azure. It equips individuals with the essential skills to efficiently manage Azure resources, ensuring optimal performance, security, and scalability. This certification demonstrates your proficiency in Azure, making you a valuable asset in today’s tech-driven job market.
Whether you’re an IT professional, developer, or aspiring cloud expert, this certification validates your ability to handle Azure environments effectively, making it an essential step in your career journey.
You can find detailed information about this certification in the “For DevOps” section.
I’ll emphasize for the third time in this guide that AZ-104 stands out as one of the more demanding certifications in Microsoft’s array of cloud offerings. However, its value and rewards make it unquestionably worthwhile.
Expert Level ⭐⭐⭐
To excel in Azure, aspiring professionals should aim for Expert Level certifications. However, you should know that these Expert certifications come with their own prerequisites. You should obtain a specific Associate Level certification before pursuing the Expert designation.
Among the most captivating options for developers, data engineers, DevOps practitioners, and security engineers are the following three:
I won’t delve into detailed descriptions of these certifications at this point because, by the time you pursue them, you’ll already be well-acquainted with all the Azure certification concepts and resources, enabling you to independently gather the necessary information.
So, this is it. I encourage you to explore the provided roadmaps and create your own, thus initiating your journey toward achieving Expert level certifications and as all these exams require a robust preparation process, in the third part of this guide I will describe various methods to effectively prepare for your upcoming certification.
Thank you for your attention, and best of luck!
