The cloud is now the lifeblood of enterprise. The reality is that every company, from startups to the largest multinationals, depends on cloud infrastructure to operate applications, store data, automate workflows and scale operations. And when it comes to all cloud platforms, no one is growing faster (particularly in enterprise customers) than Microsoft Azure.
This explosive growth has led to increased demand for certified professionals who can competently administer Azure services, secure the cloud infrastructure and support modern IT environments. That’s where the az 104 certification can help. and is Azure’s most sought-after associate-level certification, which proves the skills to manage cloud resources, establish security, monitor infrastructure and oversee enterprise workloads.
In 2026, this certification is a stepping-stone to high-paying roles in the cloud market, promotions, and access to distinct Azure professions such as DevOps, Security, AI or Solutions Architecture.
This exhaustive guide covers everything you need to know from skills, syllabus, job roles, preparation strategy, career opportunities and the best training courses. Let’s dive in.
Today, Microsoft Azure is transforming businesses across sectors such as BFSI, healthcare, retail, manufacturing, telecoms and IT services. Once a company shifts to the cloud it needs personnel who can configure, maintain, and optimize Azure services.
Here’s how AZ-104 is more important than ever:
✔ Strong Industry Demand
Azure, by being one of the leading cloud platforms worldwide, is not an exception and employers seek Microsoft certified specialists to work on critical operations.
✔ A Pathway to High-level Azure Certifications
AZ-104 is the foundation for:
✔ Excellent Salary Growth
A certificate as “Azure Administrator” gives you better salaries, especially for companies who are Cloud-First.
✔ Future-proof Career Path
The cloud is still growing, and Azure specialists remain in demand for the foreseeable future.
Whether you are an IT administrator, support engineer or a newcomer to the cloud role, the az 104 certification provides a competitive edge for over five years.
AZ-104: Microsoft Azure Administrator Associate is considered to be when you can do the following.
This is a tangible, practical certification program that's suitable for those new to the cloud as well mid-level professionals involved in cloud administration.
This certification is ideal for:
As long as you know some of the basics of cloud computing
If you are looking to administer Azure infrastructure and support enterprise cloud operations, AZ-104 is the ideal place to begin.
Exam Format
Duration: 120 minutes
Questions: 40–60
Format: MCQs, case studies and drag-drop QUESTIONS: 70 DURATION OF EXAMINATION: 120 Min (2 Hours) PASSING SCORE : After winning more than 200 countries following completion of this practice exams package then you will be ready to take the exam and pass on the first attempt.
Passing score: 700/1000
Exam Cost
Approximately ₹4,800–5,600 in India
$165 in the US
AZ-104 Syllabus (2026 Updated)
The syllabus continues to closely track the real-world tasks an Azure administrator is called on to do. Here’s what you’ll learn:
This is the largest examination system domain.
One of the main canons for administrators.
Monitor and Maintain Azure Resources (10-15%)
Cost management & optimizations
After finishing AZ-104, you will have mastery in:
✔ Cloud Infrastructure Management
Deploying and managing Azure VMs, storage, networking and applications.
✔ Identity & Access Management
User, policy, Role ,permission management.
✔ Networking & Connectivity
Establishing secure and scalable clouds networks.
✔ Security & Governance
With policies, compliance tools and best practices.
✔ Monitoring & Optimization
Monitoring performance, costing and health.
✔ Hybrid Cloud Operations
Linking our on-prem infrastructure to Azure Cloud.
These are the skills at the heart of Cloud Administration – be job-ready for these roles:
In 2026, organizations are still actively seeking AZ-104-certified professionals for positions that include:
These roles span across industries like IT, BFSI, consulting, SaaS, telecom and manufacturing.
India
Entry-level: ₹5–8 LPA
Mid-level: ₹8–15 LPA
Senior-level: ₹15–30 LPA
United States
Entry-level: $85,000–105,000
Mid-level: $110,000–130,000
Senior-level: $130,000–150,000+
Those numbers shoot up even more if you bundle AZ-104 with advanced cloud computing capabilities classes or DevOps training.
AZ-104 is what you need to pass to be:
This certification offers access to cloud speciality paths.
Below are the best learning paths for exam preparation:
Official Microsoft Learning Path
Microsoft Learn offers:
Instructor-Led Azure Administrator Courses
Perfect for those who need structure and an expert opinion. These programs offer:
Project-Based Cloud Programs
These combine Azure administration with:
That would be perfect if you are heading down the DevOps / Cloud engineering!
Integrated Cloud Master Programs (Multi-Cloud)
Several professionals also couple AZ-104 and other broad CC courses like AWS or Google Cloud to increase their job opportunities.
This combination is useful for:
Here’s a 2–3 month roadmap:
Week 1–2: Azure Basics
Resource groups
Virtual machines
Storage accounts
Subscription management
Week 3–4: Networking
VNets
Subnets
NSGs
Load balancers
Firewalls
Week 5–6: Compute & Storage
VM scaling
Containers
App Services
AKS basics
Backup & recovery
Week 7–8: Security & IAM
Azure AD
RBAC
Policies
Governance
Week 9–10: Monitoring & Optimization
Monitor
Log Analytics
Alerts
Insights
Cost tools
Revision + Mock Tests (Week 11–12)
Take 4 to 6 practice exams at least
Review incorrect questions
Reinforce weak topics
Difficulty: Moderate
To clear it with confidence, you need practical, hands-on experience. The more time you have spent in Azure Portal, the easier the exam gets.
If you have a plan, passing AZ-104 is 100% doable even if you are new to Azure.
If you're looking to build a strong career in cloud technologies, enrolling in the right cloud computing courses can help you gain in-demand skills and industry-recognized certifications.
The az 104 certification is still the single most important certification for new cloud professionals by 2026. Whether you're looking for a career change, to upskill for better job opportunities or want to enter in Azure DevOps and cloud architect role AZ-104 is the starting point where you can build your strong foundation.
