AZ-104 is the exam for Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate, a role-based Azure administrator credential. It focuses on implementing, managing, and monitoring Azure environments rather than architecture or DevOps strategy.
Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate is earned by passing AZ-104: Microsoft Azure Administrator. Microsoft positions the credential for administrators who implement, manage, and monitor Azure environments that include virtual networks, storage, compute, identity, security, and governance. The exam is practical: expect questions about configuring resources, selecting the right administrative setting, and troubleshooting common Azure operations.
AZ-104 fits IT professionals who already understand operating systems, networking, servers, and virtualization and want to administer Azure resources. Microsoft also expects familiarity with PowerShell, Azure CLI, the Azure portal, ARM templates or Bicep files, and Microsoft Entra ID. It is not a purely foundational exam; practical Azure exposure matters.
The current official skills areas are Manage Azure identities and governance (20–25%), Implement and manage storage (15–20%), Deploy and manage Azure compute resources (20–25%), Implement and manage virtual networking (15–20%), and Monitor and maintain Azure resources (10–15%). Those are ranges from Microsoft. Study them as administration domains rather than local bank statistics.
Start with the core administrator decisions: where to assign Azure RBAC, how Microsoft Entra users and groups affect access, when to use Azure Policy or locks, which storage redundancy option fits a requirement, how NSGs and routes affect traffic, and how Azure Monitor, Log Analytics, Azure Backup, and Site Recovery support operations. Keep practice tied to portal, CLI, and troubleshooting tasks you would actually perform.
Use these DotCreds paths when you are ready to practice, compare options, or keep studying.
Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate is the credential this DotCreds guide is organized around. Use this page to understand the topic, then move into practice or the guided course when you are ready.
Start with the beginner guide and study roadmap, then use practice questions to find weak areas before you spend time rereading everything.
It can be worth studying when the skills match your target role, current experience, and next job move. The related certifications page can help compare nearby options.
Study time depends on your background. Use a self-paced plan, review missed questions, and keep the official objectives close while you practice.
Start with a focused practice set, then use your missed questions to decide what to study next.
Official and vendor docs used to ground this page.
Official Microsoft certification page for Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate, including the role, exam, candidate profile, exam duration, and assessed skills.
Official AZ-104 study guide with the current skills measured, audience profile, domain ranges, and detailed Azure administration objectives.
Explains Azure role-based access control, role assignments, scopes, and access management concepts used in AZ-104 identity and governance tasks.
Explains Azure Storage authorization options, including identity-based access and access keys, relevant to AZ-104 storage administration.
Covers Azure Container Instances concepts used when AZ-104 candidates compare lightweight container deployment options.
Explains Azure Load Balancer behavior for public and internal load balancing, health probes, and availability scenarios.
Describes Azure Monitor, metrics, logs, alerts, and monitoring concepts used in AZ-104 maintenance tasks.
Explains Azure Policy assignment and compliance concepts used for governance in AZ-104.
Explains LRS, ZRS, GRS, and related redundancy choices tested in AZ-104 storage administration.
Explains storage account network access controls, firewalls, virtual networks, and private connectivity considerations.
Explains how self-service password reset works in Microsoft Entra ID, a current AZ-104 identity and governance topic.
Flexible search understands AI-901, ai901, ai 901, 901, ai, network plus, and saa c03.