Exam Details
Microsoft · AZ-400
Prepare for AZ-400: Design and implement DevOps practices using Azure DevOps and GitHub.
Overview
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FAQ
The AZ-400 exam validates your expertise in designing and implementing DevOps practices for speed, quality, and security. This expert-level certification targets DevOps engineers who build CI/CD pipelines, manage source control, automate infrastructure, and enforce compliance across Azure environments. You'll prove you can combine tools like Azure Pipelines, GitHub Actions, Bicep templates, and monitoring into cohesive delivery systems. As organizations shift toward platform engineering, certified DevOps engineers who streamline software delivery are critical to every cloud team.
You're a fit for AZ-400 if you:
Not sure if you're ready? Try a free sample quiz: 10 questions, instant results, identify weak areas.
| Domain | Weight | What This Means |
|---|---|---|
| Configure processes and communications | 10–15% | Set up Azure Boards for work tracking, define notification strategies, and configure team collaboration |
| Design and implement source control | 15–20% | Configure Git repositories, branching strategies, and manage large files and mono-repos |
| Design and implement build and release pipelines | 40–45% | Create CI/CD pipelines, implement deployment strategies, manage artifacts, and integrate testing |
| Develop a security and compliance plan | 10–15% | Implement secrets management, scan for vulnerabilities, and enforce compliance policies |
| Implement an instrumentation strategy | 10–15% | Configure monitoring with Application Insights, analyze telemetry, and set up alerts |
You're probably ready if you can:
You might need more prep if:
If this feels too advanced:
If you know the basics but want to build confidence:
This exam is designed for DevOps professionals who combine people, processes, and technologies to deliver continuous value. To officially earn the Microsoft Certified: DevOps Engineer Expert certification, you must meet a mandatory prerequisite by first obtaining either the Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104) or the Azure Developer Associate (AZ-204) certification. While you can take the AZ-400 exam first, the Expert-level badge will not be issued until one of these prerequisites is completed.
The exam typically consists of 40–60 questions. You are given 120 minutes to complete the assessment, though total seat time is around 140 minutes to include instructions. The format includes multiple-choice, drag-and-drop, and detailed case studies. Because this is an expert-level exam, you may also encounter performance-based labs where you must perform tasks in a live Azure environment.
The AZ-400 is heavily focused on CI/CD and automation. The domains are:
Yes. As with other Microsoft associate and expert-level exams, you have access to Microsoft Learn during the test. A split-screen window allows you to browse documentation to verify syntax or configuration steps. However, the timer does not stop, so you should only use this as a reference and not as a primary way to learn the material during the exam.
A minimum scaled score of 700 out of 1000 is required to pass. Since the exam includes case studies and potentially labs, points are distributed across various task types. To build the high-level logic needed for these complex scenarios, ExamOS offers scenario-based practice quizzes that simulate the decision-making required for expert-level DevOps tasks.
The registration fee is $165 USD. Prices vary by country and region based on local currency and taxes. If you are an employee of a Microsoft partner or a student, you may be eligible for a significant discount or a free voucher through the Microsoft Cloud Skills Challenge.
If you do not pass on your first attempt, you must wait 24 hours before rescheduling. For any subsequent attempts, a 14-day waiting period is mandatory. You are allowed a maximum of five attempts within a rolling 12-month period. Each attempt requires a new registration fee.
The DevOps Engineer Expert certification is valid for one year. To maintain your status, you must pass a free online renewal assessment on Microsoft Learn. This renewal window opens six months before your certification expires. If you miss the renewal deadline, your certification will expire, and you will have to retake the AZ-400 exam.
The AZ-400 is one of the most prestigious certifications in the Microsoft ecosystem. It qualifies you for high-level roles such as DevOps Engineer, Site Reliability Engineer (SRE), and Platform Engineer. Because it is an "Expert" level credential, it significantly boosts your profile for senior positions and lead engineering roles, particularly in organizations moving toward automated, cloud-native deployments.
Once you have achieved Expert status in DevOps, you may want to broaden your skills in specific areas: