Table of Contents

  • Introduction
  • What is Azure? What does it offer?
  • What makes Azure stand out as a cloud provider?
  • In what way is Azure unique in its services?
  • Azure-certified: Value and impact on your Azure certification path
  • Why do professionals choose to get certified?
  • Why do recruiters hire certified professionals?
  • Why should I choose the Azure certification path?
  • How do you choose the right Azure Certification Path for 2023?
  • How do I pick the right Azure Certification Path for 2023?
  • Choose the right Microsoft Azure certification path for 2023
  • Related Resources

Understanding the Azure Certification Path: Levels and Costs

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Introduction

Cloud computing is a rapidly growing field, and Microsoft Azure is one of the most popular cloud platforms. Azure is used by businesses to store and manage data, run applications, and perform various other tasks in a secure and efficient manner. Getting certified in Azure can be a great way to showcase your skills and knowledge to potential employers. Today, businesses are aggressively upskilling their teams on Microsoft Azure Certification Path for 2023 to bring their operations up to speed with the current times.  

According to a report by IDC, investments in cloud services are predicted to reach US$ 1.3 Trillion by 2025 With such a significant growth rate, it is not surprising that most tech giants choose the cloud as the foundation to create a myriad of business and IT solutions for their organization. Microsoft Azure is one of the biggest market-leading cloud providers that dispense an ever-expanding array of cloud-based services. Let us dive deep into Microsoft Azure, its offerings, and the recommended Microsoft Azure Certification Path for 2023.

Microsoft Azure Fundamental Courses

AZ-900T00: Microsoft Azure Fundamentals
DP-900T00: Microsoft Azure Data Fundamentals


Microsoft Azure Associate-Level Courses
AZ-104T00:Microsoft Azure Administrator
AZ-204T00: Developing Solutions for Microsoft Azure


Microsoft Azure Expert-Level Courses
AZ-305T00: Designing Microsoft Azure Infrastructure Solutions
AZ-400T00: Designing and Implementing Microsoft DevOps Solutions

What is Azure? What does it offer?

Microsoft Azure is an extensive open cloud platform used by more than 95% of Fortune 500 companies. It offers integrated Azure cloud services such as computing, analytics, networking, storage, database, security, and many others for enterprises to evaluate their workloads and improve their performance at affordable cost affordable costs.   

Cloud computing skills are topping today's job market charts. Its dramatic impact on organizations and the need for certified and skilled professionals make the Microsoft Azure Certification path fundamental to cloud upskilling today. It plays a critical role in helping organizations train their professionals in various cloud roles, including - cloud developer, cloud administrator, and cloud architect - among others.

What makes Azure stand out as a cloud provider?

Firstly, we look at why Azure is so prevalent today, then we will go on to outlay the Azure Certification Path for 2023. The fact that Azure is universal in its application among thousands of enterprises corresponds to its benefits.

  • Familiarity with Windows: Built on Windows, Azure makes it easier by using the same programming languages used for Windows, such as C#, Visual Basic, or C++, to write applications.
  • Virtual Machines (VM): Each instance of an Azure application runs on its own VM. Hence, you need not worry about supplying VMs, maintaining OS, or the underlying hardware.
  • Scalability: The Azure platform is known for being secure and scalable. It is as easy as tweaking the settings to specify the number of processors to use for the applications if you want to scale up.
  • Flexibility: Azure is also popular for the "pay-as-you-go" cost model that offers flexibility on the products users need and when they need them. This contributes a lot to cost reduction and better cost-per-use.
  • Worldwide network of data centers: With managed data centers available around 20 regions across the globe, organizations have many opportunities to run and build applications for a great majority of their customer base.

In what way is Azure unique in its services?

Azure offers a consistent platform that facilitates easy mobility between the public cloud and on-premises. In September 2022, Microsoft announced a revenue increase of 22% via server products and cloud services. Azure is the fastest-growing cloud service provider, making the Azure Certification Path increasingly critical every day.
Azure is almost five times cheaper than its nearest Windows Server and SQL Server competitor. With earthshaking advancements over the past years, Azure has constantly advanced its features and capabilities. 

  • Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) capabilities: With Azure's PaaS, most of the infrastructure is taken care of by Microsoft so that users can focus 100% on innovation.
  • Integrated environment: Users can choose frameworks and development languages that offer flexibility, while other cloud providers are perceived to be complicated.
  • Security: Microsoft is considered the best for safety for all data and operations on Azure and the first cloud vendor to be approved by the European Union's data protection authorities.
  • Developer tools: Azure has an IoT suite that offers solutions for predictive maintenance scenarios and remote monitoring, apart from DevOps tools.
  • Hybrid capabilities: Unlike other cloud providers who are still testing hybrid waters, Azure already has it in place. Hybrid apps can be developed to take advantage of available resources within Azure or at the service provider's end. 

IT aspirants looking to advance their career in cloud computing often face the most important concern - Which technology do I learn? These numbers, features, and advancements themselves describe the importance of a well-architected Microsoft Azure Certification Path for 2023.

Azure-certified: Value and impact on your Azure certification path

Do you have the skills the job demands? Are they adequate to survive the current economic slowdown? Do you know what skills are in demand?

Possessing infinite skills and knowledge is different from owning a certification. A certification can validate and endorse your skills depending upon where you are among the various levels of Microsoft Azure certification. According to a survey conducted by Pearson VUE and Microsoft, statistics showed the impact of a certification from a professional's and a recruiter's point of view.

Why do professionals choose to get certified?

On average, certified employees earn 15% more than those without certification, are 20% more productive, and have a longer tenure.

Why do recruiters hire certified professionals?

86% of hiring managers say that IT certifications are a priority when it comes to shortlisting candidates in the hiring process.

Why should I choose the Azure certification path?

A recent study suggests, Microsoft-certified developers are 90 percent more productive and 60 percent more efficient. This can be attributed to the following reasons:

  • As mentioned earlier, Azure's growth rate has proven better than its competitors over the recent past
  • Microsoft always associates itself with large enterprises, and its services and products are used by most of the Fortune 500 companies
  • Azure is incorporating open source – on-premises and in the cloud. 1 in 3 virtual machines uses Linux. PowerShell and .NET Core are open-sourced as well
  • Microsoft tools  are easy to learn and are adaptable
To cite a success story from NetCom Learning, Azure Certification Path training was provided to professionals from a leading health services innovation company who wanted to move 40,000 of their local servers to Microsoft Azure Cloud. With professionals and SMEs hailing from diverse backgrounds and skill sets, the training helped close the skill gaps of almost 600 employees and helped achieve the desired objectives. The client's healthcare intelligence now serves 126 million individuals with access to better and faster applications.

How do you choose the right Azure Certification Path for 2023?

Microsoft Azure Certification Path is "role-based", which means different microsoft certifications are designed specifically to help individuals develop skills required for a certain job role. These roles include developers, administrators, solution architects, security technologies, artificial intelligence (AI) engineering, data engineering, and operations. 
Microsoft Azure role-based certification path – What you need to know
 
Microsoft Azure certification path provides a wide variety of role-based certifications that help you keep pace in your career path with today's organization requirements. There are three levels of a Microsoft Azure certification path – Fundamentals, Associate, and Expert, where each of them requires you to complete the relevant exam to earn it.

How do I pick the right Azure Certification Path for 2023?

The following is a quick rundown to guide you on how to pick the right Microsoft Azure certification path.

  1. Azure has two solution areas – Application and Infrastructure and Data and AI. Select the solution area you want to certify in
  2. New to Azure? Choose the Microsoft Azure Fundamentals Certification. It is among the most basic levels of Microsoft Azure certification and provides the right knowledge base for other role-based exams, and familiarizes you with the testing process. 
  3. Select the role you want to get certified in. Based on the type and solution areas, you also have different role-based Azure certification paths.
  4. Verify and read the requirements/prerequisites and exams for the Azure certification path you are choosing.
  5. Learn the training, pass the exam, and earn the desired certification.


Choose the right Microsoft Azure certification path for 2023

Microsoft always updates its course content and exams. Hence, exam details and requirements are subject to change. Keep yourself updated with Microsoft Certification Training and Courses at NetCom Learning.

Look at the elaborate Azure Certification Learning Path NetCom Learning offers.


Azure Fundamentals Certifications: Introduction, Pre-requisites, and Eligibility

  • AZ-900 – Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals
    Microsoft Azure Fundamentals Certification is a beginner-level certification for those who need a starting point in the cloud or Microsoft Azure. There is no prerequisite to this certification. It is ideal for aspiring developers and non-technical individuals willing to utilize this basic level certification for future Azure role-based and specialty certification

  • DP-900 – Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Fundamentals
    This is a step for aspiring data-focused cloud practitioners. There are no prerequisites to this certification. Suitable for database administrators and database engineers getting started on working with data in Azure.

  • AI-900 - Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Fundamentals
    This certification is designed for beginners from both technical and non-technical backgrounds to get their basics right on artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in Azure. There are no prerequisites to this certification. It is ideal for AI engineers, data scientists, solution architects, and developers who have a basic understanding of ML and AI concepts in Azure

Pro Tip: If you're interested in pursuing a career as an AI developer and want to understand the broader AI landscape, check out our comprehensive guide on How to Become an AI Developer. It outlines the essential skills, certifications, and career paths in AI development.

Associate-level Role-Based Azure Certification Path: Introduction, Pre-requisites, and Eligibility

  • AZ-104 - Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate
    This certification tests your knowledge of the management and configuration of storage, computing, and monitoring in the Azure environment. Candidates opting for this need to possess a basic understanding of Azure, PowerShell, Azure Portal, and CLI. AZ-104 is ideal for administrators and IT professionals who track resources, and cloud assets and manage cloud infrastructure

  • AZ-204 - Microsoft Certified: Azure Developer Associate
    This certification proves that you know the basics of developing services and applications for Azure, with skills in designing, testing, building, and maintaining cloud solutions. Candidates opting to earn the AZ-204 certification are expected to have at least 1-2 years of experience with Azure development. That makes this course ideal for Azure developers, Azure architects, and Azure DevOps engineers from multiple levels of Microsoft Azure certification who want to know about Azure Web Apps service to create end-to-end solutions. Here are the Top 7 Essential Skills of a Microsoft Azure Developer.

  • DP-300 - Microsoft Certified: Azure Database Administrator Associate
    This certification is designed for database professionals who know the ins and outs of Azure and understand all the concepts covered in the DP-900 exam. It is best suited for data management specialists and database administrators who manage cloud and on-premises relational databases with SQL Server and MS Azure Data Services.

  • AZ-500 - Microsoft Certified: Azure Security Engineer Associate
    This certification helps security professionals and organizations secure their data, applications, and network in the cloud. Candidates opting for the certification must possess strong scripting and automation skills with familiarity in virtualization and networking. Ideally suited for security engineers who configure, design, and implement security tools in Azure.

  • DP-100 - Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Scientist Associate
    This certification proves your ML and data skills in Azure that help convert data to actionable insights. It is best suited for individuals with strong knowledge and experience in Python code to visualize and explore data. Designed for existing and aspiring data scientists aiming to work with data in Azure.

  • DP-203: Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Engineer Associate
    This certification helps prove your skills in managing, securing, and monitoring data using Azure data services. There is no such prerequisite to this certification. Although a basic knowledge of data-related services Azure offers is expected. The course is ideal for data engineers responsible for data solutions that use Azure services.

  • AI-102 - Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Engineer Associate
    This certification proves your skills in building and creating AI-enabled applications using AI services. Candidates are expected to have a background in Python and software development; knowledge in data science and ML. Ideal for AI engineers who want to prove their skills with Azure’s suite of AI tools.

  • PL-300 – Power BI Data Analyst
    Earning this certification validates an analyst's skill in making data models, transforming, and cleaning data, and giving business analytic capabilities. Candidates are expected to understand core data concepts; knowledge of working with relational and non-relational data in the cloud. Ideally suited for data analysts or BI analysts who can perform data analysis using Power BI.

Expert-level Role-Based Azure Certification Path: Introduction, Pre-requisites, and Eligibility

  • AZ-305 – Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert
    This certification proves you have the skills in the network, computing, security, and storage to design Azure solutions. Candidates must come with a solid knowledge of AZ-104 and AZ-204 Azure fundamentals. Best suited for experienced IT professionals and DevOps engineers with existing Azure development and administration skills.

  • AZ-400 – Microsoft Certified: DevOps Engineer Expert
    This certification is meant for engineers with levels of Microsoft azure certification who ensure DevOps operations are performing as they should, using Azure services and a deep understanding of infrastructure and development. Candidates need to possess a strong knowledge of AZ-104 and AZ-204 Azure fundamentals. Best fit for DevOps engineers who are well-versed with Azure development, administration, and Agile development practices.


A Microsoft Azure certification path can help validate that you have mastered the skills to stay on the front of the cloud-based and digital era. To infer from the above information, the right Azure certification path begins with the right role-based Microsoft Azure certification.  NetCom Learning brings to you, Learning-as-a-Service (LaaS) that offers structured courses, keeping in mind the needs and demands of organizations.

As a Microsoft Certified Learning Partner, NetCom Learning provides skills-based training taught by Microsoft Certified Trainers using the Microsoft Official Courseware (MOC) and Official Labs. Each course is based on the target job role. Hence, what you learn in class can be immediately transferred to your workplace. 

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