Earning the AZ-900 Azure Fundamentals certification validates core cloud literacy that applies to virtually every technology role. This credential has become the ideal starting point for anyone aiming to reskill for the cloud-centric future.
In this extensive guide, we’ll explore the many benefits of certification, help decipher key Azure services, share insider tips for exam preparation, and set you on the path to career success.
Why the AZ-900 Matters for Your Career
As multi-cloud adoption accelerates, Microsoft Azure has staked its claim as the #2 public cloud provider with over 95% of Fortune 500 companies using Azure services. With surging demand for Azure skillsets, this introductory certification can springboard your cloud journey.
Consider that certified IT professionals earn an average of 15-20% higher salaries than peers without credentials. Specific to cloud certifications like the AZ-900, salary lift can be even more substantial.
Highlights of the many benefits this certification delivers:
- Validates broad Azure fluency appealing for diverse roles like administrators, developers, data engineers, and solution architects
- Provides a 50-60% average salary boost for certified over non-certified engineers according to PayScale data
- Opens doors to higher impact positions with expanded responsibility and influence
- Enhances employer perceptions of well-rounded cloud skills and dedication to continuous learning
- Springs confidence to continue mastering intermediate and advanced Azure certifications
While the AZ-900 focuses more on cloud concepts than hands-on skills, it builds invaluable foundational knowledge. Let‘s explore specifics of what this exam covers.
Exam Domains and Azure Services Overview
Designed as an inclusive starting point, the AZ-900 exam surveys core aspects of the Azure environment. Major topics include:
Cloud Concepts (10-15% of exam):
- Understanding terms like high availability, fault tolerance, scalability, elasticity and disaster recovery
- Differentiating public, private, and hybrid cloud models
- Explaining IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS service models
Azure Core Services (30-35%):
- Examining capabilities of massively popular offerings like Azure Virtual Machines, Virtual Machine Scale Sets, App Service, Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS), and Azure Container Instances
- Learning high-level functions of Azure Storage services like blob storage, file storage, queues and disks
- Understanding networking components like virtual networks, ExpressRoute, Application Gateway, VPN Gateway, etc.
Security, Compliance, Privacy, and Trust (25-30%):
- Discover central role of Azure Active Directory for access management and single sign-on
- Grasp concepts like role based access control (RBAC), multi-factor authentication, and Azure policies
- Learn processes for responding to GDPR, ISO 27001, HIPAA, and meeting Azure Trust Center requirements
Azure Pricing and Support (10-15%):
- Compare subscription types like free accounts, enterprise agreements, and cloud solution provider (CSP) deals
- Investigate factors impacting costs like geographies, reserved instances, azure hybrid benefit, etc.
- Discover support and SLA options including technical support plans
This well-rounded coverage ensures understanding not just isolated services but how they interconnect. Now let‘s spotlight key services central to many solutions.
Spotlight on Essential Azure Services
With over 200 cloud services to choose from, it‘s vital to grasp the most integral offerings forming Azure‘s backbone. These fundamental components power many of the world‘s leading applications and sites.
Azure Virtual Machines
- Provision Windows or Linux VMs on-demand to rapidly meet compute needs
- Take advantage of per-second billing and easily scale capacity up or down
- Accelerate deployments using pre-configured images and templates like ML model training VMs
- Improve resilience with availability sets and proximity placement groups
- Real-world uses: Game developer Activision Blizzard leverages thousands of Azure VMs to quickly scale capacity for new game launches and patches
Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS)
- Managed Kubernetes platform allowing hosting containers with high density and portability
- Streamline deployments with integrated DevOps tooling for CI/CD automation to production at global scale
- Monitor cluster health, resource usage, app traces, logs and container insight metrics in one unified view
- Real-world uses: Leading stock photography site Shutterstock modernized their infrastructure using AKS to run 1000s of microservices and cut release times from months to minutes
Azure Cosmos DB
- Fully managed, multi-model database designed for 99.999% high availability anywhere on the planet
- Elastically scale throughput and storage worldwide while Azure handles replication and failovers
- Query database using SQL, MongoDB, Cassandra, Gremlin/Graph, or Table storage APIs all on the same data
- Real-world uses: General Electric analyzes thousands of flight data parameters in real-time with Cosmos DB to optimize fuel consumption and reduce delays
We‘ve only scratched the surface of integral services like networking, storage, and identity access management offerings. Now let‘s switch gears to preparing for exam day.
Tips and Resources to Ready for AZ-900 Exam Success
While assessed as one of the more attainable Azure certifications, thorough preparation remains essential given regular exam changes. Follow these tips and resources to master the materials:
Hands-on practice:
- Leverage the Azure free account (includes $200 credit) to deploy sample resources like VMs, App Services, and Azure Kubernetes clusters
- Work through Microsoft Learn modules covering topics like securing PaaS databases, building serverless apps, or monitoring apps and resources
- If available, utilize an Azure Dev/Test individual subscription providing $150 monthly credit and access to nearly all services
Mock tests:
- Take practice questions sampling the various knowledge domains through portals like Udemy or WhizLabs to identify gaps
- Time yourself stringently since the real exam allows only 60 minutes for up to 60 questions
- Carefully review explanations for any missed questions and re-study unfamiliar services
Updated exam details:
- Regularly check the official exam webpage for modifications
- Watch the introduction video from the Azure program manager for latest areas of focus
- Read the exam guide detailing the skills measured
With this battle-tested advice, your certification goals draw closer! Next let‘s discuss patterns for architecting rock-solid Azure solutions.
Architecting for High Availability and Fault Tolerance
While the AZ-900 only surveys foundational services, understanding best practices for resilient architectures enhances cloud literacy. Let‘s review key considerations and tactics.
Regions and Availability Zones for Uptime
- Distribute deployments across multiple regions to maintain availability even if one entire region goes offline. Coordinate via asynchronous replication.
- Leverage availability zones within supported regions for low-latency replication. Azure operates independent zone infrastructures minimizing correlated failures.
- Choose regions closest to users for lowest latency. Additionally, select based on compliance needs and available services.
- Back up storage with geo-redundant storage (GRS) copying data to a secondary region for disaster recovery.
Elastic Scale Out and Auto-Scaling
- Plan for fluctuating demand by configuring auto-scaling rules to dynamically right-size resource pools.
- Scale out via load balancing to distribute traffic across instances. Geo-redundant frontends improve responsiveness.
- Optimize costs by auto-scaling down resources during periods of lower usage. Schedule shutdown of dev/test VMs overnight.
- Design stateless components allowing flexibility to replace failed instances.
[[Insert real-world architecture diagram illustrating geo-distribution, fault domains, availability sets here]]
By thoughtfully distributing and load balancing implementations across fault domains, buildings blocks remain available despite localized disruptions.
Reducing Expenses While Scaling Up Utilization
Cost control ranks among major factors spurring cloud adoption. Let‘s explore tips for maximizing value as your footprint expands.
[[Insert Azure cost management dashboard screenshot showing breakdown of usage and recommendations]]
- Right-size VM or App Service plan SKUs to provision only necessary capacity while avoiding waste
- Leverage Azure Hybrid Benefit to reuse existing on-premises Windows Server or SQL Server licenses for discounts up to 40% on Azure VMs or SQL Databases
- Pre-purchase discounted Reserved VM Instances for steady-state workloads when reserving capacity upfront for 1-3 years
- Harness Azure Spot VMs allowing deeply reduced compute rates (up to 90% off) whenever spare capacity exists to run batch jobs or fault tolerant apps
- Shutdown dev/test VMs nightly achieving over 75% cost reductions compared to 24×7 uptime. Automate start/stop.
- Delete unused storage blobs and database backups following expiration policies to avoid surprise growth
Monitoring usage continually via Cost Management allows optimizing deployment patterns in near real-time.
Migrating Apps to the Azure Cloud
With exponential growth projected in public cloud adoption over the next 5+ years, methods for transitioning legacy applications warrant attention even at the AZ-900-level. Let‘s contrast standards techniques.
[[Insert migration process flow chart showing lift-and-shift vs. re-architect paths]]
Rehosting ("lift-and-shift"):
- Essentially migrate the application as-is, with minimal changes
- Fastest option but misses optimization opportunities
- Leverage for simple apps just needing more capacity or data center exit
Replatforming:
- Make a few enhancements like switching SQL Server database to PaaS Azure SQL Database
- Achieve moderate complexity reduction and efficiency gains
- Typically recompile source code without full rewrite
Refactoring and rearchitecting:
- Fully optimize application specifically for cloud native operation
- Adjust architecture to use microservices, serverless code, and PaaS wherever applicable
- Maximize DevOps automation, scalability, resiliency, and agility
Understandably the level of effort climbs accordingly – but so do the cloud benefits.
Intersections with Cutting Edge Technology
Let‘s connect the dots between foundational Azure services and several disruptive technologies seeing massive growth.
Internet of Things (IoT): Azure IoT Hub and IoT Edge allow ingesting and analyzing real-time telemetry from millions of sensors and edge devices to drive improvements.
Artificial Intelligence: Apply Azure Machine Learning for predictive analytics over big data pipeline or Cognitive Services APIs like Vision, Speech, Decision, and Language for building smart applications.
Big Data and Analytics: Ingest, store, and process billions of event records with services like HDInsight, Data Lake Storage, Data Factory, and Synapse Analytics.
Blockchain: Build decentralized applications and shared ledgers to establish trust using Azure Blockchain Service and framework like Ethereum.
Containers and DevOps: Use agile Azure DevOps, GitHub Actions, and Azure Container Registry to rapidly build, release, and iterate microservices.
The seamless integration between emerging technologies and Azure underscores the pivotal role this cloud platform fills now and for the future stacked full of innovations.
Launch Your Azure Journey Today
We‘ve covered immense ground around the AZ-900 certification and Azure Cloud fundamentals – from appreciating immense career benefits to dissecting core services and architecture patterns to previewing intersections with pioneering technologies.
Take the first step toward claiming your seat at the table by earning this credential. Then continue blazing trails into specialized Azure roles. The future runs through Microsoft‘s cloud – will you lead the charge?
