Exam Details
Microsoft · AZ-104
Manage Azure resources, networking, storage, and identity in real-world cloud environments.
Practice with ExamOS for Azure Administrator Associate. Learn daily with scenario-based questions, timed quizzes, detailed explanations, and exam-style difficulty.
Who is this for?
Level: Intermediate. This exam focuses on managing enterprise Azure environments and resources. While there are no formal prerequisites, Microsoft officially recommends at least six months of hands-on experience administering Azure. You should possess a strong understanding of core services, including compute, networking, storage, and identity management. Familiarity with the Azure portal, PowerShell, CLI, and ARM templates is highly beneficial.
Are you ready?
You are fully prepared if you can actively deploy virtualization, handle access control, and troubleshoot common infrastructure issues in a real-world Azure environment. Test your Azure administration skills with a timed 30-minute practice test today!
Study Plan Available
Microsoft Azure Administrator (AZ-104) – Study Plan
8-week structured plan · ~60 hours
Overview
The AZ-104 certification is designed for professionals responsible for managing day-to-day operations in Azure. It covers core administrative tasks such as provisioning resources, managing virtual machines, configuring storage, and handling networking and identity services. The exam focuses on practical scenarios where you need to configure and maintain Azure environments efficiently. Candidates are expected to understand how to manage subscriptions, implement role-based access control, monitor resources, and ensure system reliability. AZ-104 is often considered a foundational certification for cloud careers on Azure, but it goes beyond basic concepts by emphasizing hands-on administrative skills. It provides a strong base for moving into more advanced roles such as solutions architect or security engineer. As organizations increasingly rely on cloud infrastructure, the need for professionals who can manage and maintain these environments continues to grow. This certification is relevant for roles such as cloud administrator, support engineer, and infrastructure engineer, and is widely recognized across industries.
FAQ
This exam is designed for Azure Administrators who manage cloud services that span storage, security, networking, and compute capabilities. Candidates should have a deep understanding of the full IT lifecycle and take requests for infrastructure services, applications, and environments. While there are no formal required certifications to sit for the exam, Microsoft strongly recommends at least six months of hands-on experience administering Azure, along with a strong understanding of core Azure services, Azure workloads, security, and governance.
The AZ-104 typically consists of 40–60 questions, and you are given 120 minutes to complete the assessment. The total seat time is 140 minutes to include the non-disclosure agreement and tutorials. The format includes multiple-choice, drag-and-drop, and "hot area" questions. You should also be prepared for case studies, which provide a complex business scenario and several related questions, as well as potential performance-based labs where you must complete tasks within a live Azure portal environment.
The AZ-104 covers the primary pillars of Azure administration. The domains are:
Networking consistently trips up candidates who have a software or developer background. VNet peering, Network Security Groups, Azure DNS, and load balancers all require more than surface reading. Budget extra time here regardless of your background.
Yes. As an Associate-level exam, the AZ-104 includes the Microsoft Learn "Open Book" feature. During the test, you can click a button to open Microsoft Learn in a split-view window. This is extremely helpful for looking up specific syntax for Azure CLI, PowerShell, or the precise requirements for a SKU (like Load Balancer Basic vs. Standard). However, the exam timer does not stop while you are browsing, so speed and familiarity with the documentation are essential.
A minimum scaled score of 700 out of 1000 is required to pass. Microsoft uses a scaled scoring system, which means your score is not a simple percentage of correct answers; it is adjusted based on the difficulty of the specific questions you receive. To master the complex networking and storage scenarios required to hit this target, ExamOS offers scenario-based practice quizzes that build real exam confidence by simulating the administrative logic used in the actual test.
The registration fee is $165 USD. Pricing varies by country and region based on local currency and taxes. If you are a student, you can often receive a significant discount after verifying your academic status in your Microsoft profile. Microsoft also frequently offers vouchers through its "Cloud Skills Challenges" or "30 Days to Learn It" programs, which can reduce the cost by 50% or more.
If you do not pass on your first attempt, you must wait 24 hours before rescheduling. If you are unsuccessful a second time, a 14-day waiting period is mandatory between each subsequent attempt. You are allowed a maximum of five attempts within a 12-month period starting from the date of your first attempt. A new exam fee is required for each retake.
The Azure Administrator Associate certification is valid for one year. To maintain your status, you must pass a free online renewal assessment on Microsoft Learn within the six months prior to the expiration date. These renewal assessments are unproctored, shorter than the original exam, and focused exclusively on the latest updates and changes to Azure services to ensure your skills remain current.
It is possible but significantly harder. The exam is designed for people who administer Azure environments. Without lab practice, scenario-based questions become difficult to navigate confidently. Free Azure accounts and the Microsoft Learn sandbox provide sufficient hands-on access to prepare without paid infrastructure.
The AZ-104 is widely considered the "workhorse" certification of the Azure ecosystem. It is a core requirement for roles such as Cloud Administrator, Systems Administrator, and Cloud Operations Engineer. While it is a foundational associate credential, it is highly respected by recruiters as proof that you can manage a live production environment. In a competitive market, it is most effective when paired with experience in Infrastructure as Code (Terraform or Bicep) and automation scripting.
The AZ-104 is a prerequisite or a stepping stone for several expert-level paths: