Guide to the Microsoft Azure Certification Roadmap

Bongani Maswanganyi
3 min readMay 3, 2023

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Credit: Certification Camps

This blog post is about Microsoft Azure and the certifications available for those interested in starting or advancing their career in cloud computing. The post provides an overview of the different Azure certifications available, and aims to help readers find the right certification path for their career goals. The blog encourages readers to explore the options available for specializing in areas such as data platform, AI, or security.

Fundamentals:

The first step in the Azure certification journey is to take the AZ-900 exam, which is the Microsoft Azure Fundamentals certification. This exam covers the basics of Azure services and cloud computing, and is a great starting point for anyone new to the Azure platform.

The next step is to choose a specific area of Azure to focus on, such as data platform, AI, or security. For those interested in data platform, the DP-900 exam is the next logical step. This exam covers topics such as data storage options, data processing, and data security.

For those interested in AI, the AI-900 exam is the next certification to aim for. This exam covers topics such as Azure AI services, machine learning, and natural language processing.

Next steps:

After completing either the DP-900 or AI-900 exam, the next step is to choose a more advanced certification. Here are some of the options available:

  • For those interested in data platform, the next certification to aim for is the DP-203 exam, which covers topics such as implementing data platform solutions, managing and developing data processing, and implementing data security.
  • For those interested in AI, the next certification to aim for is the AI-102 exam, which covers topics such as designing and implementing AI solutions, implementing cognitive services, and working with bot services.

This video was originally published by Microsoft on their YouTube channel. We have embedded it here for convenience and educational purposes. All rights and ownership of the video content belong to Microsoft

In addition to these specific certifications, there are also more general Azure certifications that cover a wide range of topics. Here are some of the options available:

  • For those interested in becoming a Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert, the certification path now requires passing the AZ-305: Microsoft Azure Architect Design exam. This exam covers topics such as designing for Azure governance, implementing and monitoring Azure solutions, and optimizing Azure performance. By passing this exam, you’ll demonstrate your expertise in architecting and managing Azure solutions, making you a valuable asset to any organization that uses the Azure platform.
  • For those interested in becoming a Microsoft Certified: Azure DevOps Engineer Expert, the AZ-400 exam covers topics such as designing and implementing strategies for the deployment, testing, and monitoring of applications and services on Azure.
  • For those interested in becoming a Microsoft Certified: Azure Security Engineer Associate, the AZ-500 exam covers topics such as managing and implementing security solutions on Azure, implementing threat protection, and managing identity and access.

Below is a table that outlines the different Azure certifications along with typical job titles associated with each certification:

Additionally, you may want to take a look at this guide offered by Microsoft.

It’s important to note that the Azure certification roadmap is constantly evolving, so it’s important to stay up-to-date with the latest changes and updates. By starting with the AZ-900 exam and then choosing a specific area of Azure to focus on, you can build a strong foundation of knowledge and skills that will serve you well in your Azure career.

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