What is Microsoft Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900)?
Microsoft Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900) is the foundational cloud certification path designed for IT professionals, developers, and data analysts looking to build a strong grounding in Microsoft Azure cloud infrastructure.
Through free interactive sandbox modules on Microsoft Learn, you will gain hands-on experience provisioning Azure Virtual Machines, setting up secure Blob Storage containers, configuring virtual networks (VNets), and enforcing security policies with Microsoft Entra ID.
Learning Path & 5 Core Modules
Describe Cloud Concepts
Understand IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS cloud service models, High Availability, Scalability, Agility, Disaster Recovery, and Capital vs Operational Expenditure (CapEx vs OpEx).
Describe Azure Architecture & Services
Explore Azure Regions, Availability Zones, Resource Groups, Azure Virtual Machines, App Services, Virtual Networks (VNets), and Azure VPN Gateway.
Describe Azure Storage & Database Solutions
Master Azure Blob Storage tiers (Hot, Cool, Archive), Disk Storage, Azure Files, Azure SQL Database, and Azure Cosmos DB NoSQL.
Describe Azure Security, Identity & Compliance
Configure Microsoft Entra ID (Azure AD), Role-Based Access Control (RBAC), Defense-in-Depth, Microsoft Defender for Cloud, and Zero-Trust architecture.
Describe Azure Cost Management & Governance
Use Azure Cost Management & Billing, Pricing Calculators, Azure Advisor recommendations, Blueprints, Azure Policy, and Resource Locks.
Core Azure Cloud Services Mastered
Compute & App Service
Azure VMs, Scale Sets, Azure Functions, and Web App hosting.
Blob Storage & SQL
Hot/Cool storage tiers, Azure SQL DB, and Cosmos DB NoSQL.
Virtual Networks (VNets)
Network security groups (NSGs), Azure VPN, and Load Balancers.
ARM Templates & Policy
Infrastructure as Code (IaC), Azure Policy, and Advisor alerts.
Career Path & Next Steps
1. Practice IT & Cloud Tasks
Build practical portfolio proof of work tasks in Azure cloud migration, hybrid VNets, and server administration.
Explore IT & Cloud Tasks2. View Cloud & DevOps Career Roadmap
Explore skill ordering, salary expectations, and certification paths for Cloud Support Engineers.
Cloud & DevOps RoadmapFrequently Asked Questions
Are the Microsoft Azure Fundamentals learning paths completely free?
Yes! All self-paced learning paths, documentation, interactive tutorials, and sandbox lab environments on Microsoft Learn are 100% free.
What certification exam does this guide prepare you for?
This guide aligns directly with the official Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900) certification exam objectives.
Do I need a paid Azure subscription or credit card to practice?
No! Microsoft Learn provides free sandbox environments directly in your browser without requiring a credit card or paid subscription.