A Microsoft azure certification covers various branches of the cloud computing platform azure. From basic to advanced, one can acquire skills that can advance their career. Microsoft gives specifications in terms of the skills each course covers. Here is a guide to these certifications.
Certification levels
The Microsoft azure certifications are divided into 3 categories based on skill levels. These are:
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
Each level has a number of certifications.
Beginner level certifications
Some of the beginner-level certifications are:
Azure Fundamentals certification
This AZ 900 certification covers Microsoft azure basics. This includes basic knowledge of cloud services, cloud concepts, Azure services, security, workloads, pricing, privacy, and support.
Skills measured in this:
- Describe cloud concepts
Weightage- 25-30%
- Describe Azure architecture and services
Weightage- 35-40%
- Describe Azure management and governance
Weightage- 30-35%
Prerequisites: The candidates are recommended to be familiar with storage, networking, application support, compute, and application development.
Passing score: The scores are scaled. Thus, the passing score does mean the actual percentage of marks. Here it is 700 out of 1000.
The azure certification cost for all certifications is available on Microsoft’s website. This one costs INR 3696.
Azure AI Fundamentals certification
This AI-900 certification involves the basics of AI. Candidates can showcase their basic knowledge of AI, machine learning, and the related azure services. They can use this certification’s skills for other role-based azure certifications.
Skills measured in this:
- Describe Artificial Intelligence workloads and considerations
Weightage- 20-25%
- Describe fundamental principles of machine learning on Azure
Weightage- 25-30%
- Describe features of computer vision workloads on Azure
Weightage- 15-20%
- Describe features of Natural Language Processing (NLP) workloads on Azure
Weightage- 25-30%
Prerequisites: General programming experience or knowledge is recommended but not necessary.
Passing score: 700 (total score- 1000)
Cost: INR 3696
Intermediate level certifications
The intermediate level requires more skills than the beginner level. Some of the beginner-level certifications are:
Azure AI Engineer Associate certification
The candidates for Microsoft azure certification work with AI solutions by building, managing, and deploying them. These solutions utilize Azure Applied AI Services and Azure Cognitive Services optimally. The candidates work in all phases of AI solutions development, including requirements definition, design, development, maintenance, and monitoring. They work with data scientists, IoT specialists, data engineers, and AI developers to build end-to-end AI solutions. With solutions architects, they translate their ideas and vision.
Skills measured in this:
- Plan and manage an Azure Cognitive Services solution
Weightage- 15-20%
- Implement Computer Vision solutions
Weightage- 20-25%
- Implement natural language processing solutions
Weightage- 20-25%
- Implement knowledge mining solutions
Weightage- 15-20%
- Implement conversational AI solutions
Weightage- 15-20%
Prerequisites: Proficiency in Python or C# is required. Candidates should also know how to use REST-based APIs and SDKs for building computer vision, knowledge mining, natural language processing, & conversational AI solutions on azure. Additionally, they should understand the Azure AI portfolio’s components, available options of data storage, and responsible usage and applications of AI principles.
Passing score: 700
Cost: INR 4800
Azure Enterprise Data Analyst Associate certification
This is the DP-500 exam Microsoft Azure certification. The role’s responsibilities include data analytics at scale, like cleaning and transforming data, incorporating advanced analytics capabilities, designing and building enterprise data models, applying development lifecycle practices, and integrating with IT infrastructure. These professionals give advice on Power BI administration’s data governance and configuration settings, monitor usage of data, and optimize data analytics solutions’ performance.
Skills measured in this:
- Implement and manage a data analytics environment
Weightage- 25-30%
- Query and transform data
Weightage- 20-25%
- Implement and manage data models
Weightage- 25-30%
- Explore and visualize data
Weightage- 20-25%
Prerequisites: The candidates should have proficiency in consuming data from Azure Synapse Analytics, advanced Power BI skills, Power Query, and Data Analysis Expressions (DAX). They should also have experience in querying relational databases, visualizing data, and analyzing data using Transact SQL (T-SQL). Subject matter expertise in creating, designing, and implementing enterprise-scale data analytics solutions is also required.
Passing score: 700
Cost: INR 4800
Advanced level certifications
The advanced level azure certifications require even higher-level expertise and experience in the field of azure.
Azure Solutions Architect Expert
The candidates for this AZ-305 exam have responsibilities like advising stakeholders and translating their business requirements into designs for scalable, secure & reliable azure solutions. They partner with developers, administrators, and others who implement azure solutions.
Skills measured in this:
- Design identity, governance, and monitoring solutions
Weightage- 25-30%
- Design data storage solutions
Weightage- 25-30%
- Design business continuity solutions
Weightage- 10-15%
- Design infrastructure solutions
Weightage- 25-30%
Prerequisites: The candidates should possess subject matter expertise in designing hybrid and cloud solutions that can run on Microsoft Azure. They should have advanced knowledge and experience in IT operations, including visualization, networking, identity, and governance. Experience in Azure development and DevOps processes with a certification of Azure administrator Associate is required.
Passing score: 700
Cost: INR 4800
DevOps Engineer Expert certification
Among the advanced level azure certification training and certifications, this is the AZ-400 exam. This role’s responsibilities include designing and implementing strategies for code, collaboration, compliance, security, monitoring, delivery, and feedback.
Skills measured in this:
- Design and implement source control
Weightage- 15-20%
- Design and implement build and release pipelines
Weightage- 40-45%
- Develop a security and compliance plan
Weightage- 10-15%
- Implement an instrumentation strategy
Weightage- 10-15%
Prerequisites: At least one of the certifications- Azure Administrator Associate or Azure Developer Associate, is required. The candidates should have experience in developing and administering azure and be familiar with GitHub and Azure DevOps.
Passing score: 700
Cost: INR 4800
A Microsoft azure certification comes in many options. You should choose one based on your current skills and career goals.
