Loading…
AZ-900 is Microsoft's entry-level Azure certification — and it's passable in two weeks with the right approach. Here's exactly how to do it without buying expensive bootcamps.
Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900) has no prerequisites and covers cloud concepts, Azure services, pricing, and governance at a conceptual level. It won't make you an Azure engineer, but it will get your foot in the door — and it's required knowledge for every higher Microsoft cert (AZ-104, AZ-500, etc.).
The pass mark is 700/1000. Most candidates who study consistently for 10–14 days pass on their first attempt.
Days 1–2: Cloud concepts (20% of exam)
Understand the three cloud models (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS) and three deployment models (Public, Private, Hybrid). Know what CapEx vs OpEx means in a cloud context — this comes up in almost every sitting. The shared responsibility model is another favourite: who secures what changes depending on whether you're using IaaS, PaaS, or SaaS.
Days 3–4: Core Azure services (35%)
This is the biggest section. Focus on compute (VMs, App Service, Azure Functions, AKS), storage (Blob, Queue, Table, Files — and when to use each), networking (VNet, VPN Gateway, ExpressRoute, CDN), and databases (Azure SQL, Cosmos DB, Azure Database for PostgreSQL). You don't need deep technical knowledge — you need to know what each service is for.
Days 5–7: Review and first practice test
Take a full timed practice test on day 5. Don't worry about the score — use it to identify your gaps. Spend days 6–7 reviewing every question you got wrong. Wrong answers are more valuable than right ones at this stage.
Days 8–9: Management and governance (30%)
This section trips up a lot of candidates because it feels abstract. Focus on: Azure Resource Manager (ARM), management groups, subscriptions, resource groups, RBAC (role-based access control), Azure Policy, Blueprints, Cost Management, and Service Level Agreements. Know the SLA for VMs (99.99% with Availability Zones, 99.95% with Availability Sets).
Days 10–11: Identity, privacy, and compliance (15%)
Understand Azure Active Directory (now Entra ID): users, groups, MFA, Conditional Access, and the difference between Azure AD tenants and Azure subscriptions. Know the Microsoft Trust Center, Azure Compliance documentation, and GDPR basics at a high level.
Days 12–13: Two full practice tests
Do one practice test each day under exam conditions (60 minutes, no notes). Aim for 80%+ before sitting the real exam. If you're hitting 70–75%, focus your final day on your two weakest sections.
Day 14: Exam day prep
Light review only — no new material. Get the AZ-900 cheat sheet on InterviUni and run through key terms. Sleep well. The exam is about 40–60 questions and runs 60 minutes.
AZ-900 is a launchpad, not a destination. Your next step depends on your role:
Each of these assumes AZ-900 knowledge, so the two weeks you invest now compounds with every cert you add.
Practice AI mock interviews, check your ATS score, or start a cert course — free.