- AZ-104 covers five domains; identities/governance and compute each carry 20-25% weight, making them your highest-priority training targets.
- The exam costs $165 USD, is delivered through Pearson VUE, and requires a 700 scaled score (not 70% raw) to pass.
- Candidates face up to 40-60 questions across multiple formats including case studies, drag-and-drop, hot-area, and live lab tasks.
- Microsoft Learn lookup access may be available during the exam-training should teach you how to navigate it efficiently under time pressure.
What AZ-104 Training Actually Covers
Searching for AZ-104 training without understanding what the exam actually tests is like buying hiking boots before you know the terrain. The Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate credential validates that you can manage day-to-day Azure infrastructure-provisioning resources, enforcing governance, configuring virtual networks, and keeping everything observable and maintainable. Training that does not map directly to those operational realities will leave gaps on exam day.
If you are new to the credential itself, it helps to start with the fundamentals. Our article on What Is AZ-104 Certification? explains the full scope of the credential, who it is designed for, and how Microsoft positions it within the broader Azure certification stack. That context shapes every training decision you make.
Microsoft recommends that candidates come in with hands-on experience administering Azure resources, plus working knowledge of operating systems, networking, servers, virtualization, PowerShell, the Azure CLI, ARM templates or Bicep, the Azure portal, and Microsoft Entra ID. That is a meaningful prerequisite skill set-not a checklist you skim. Effective training reinforces all of these areas in the context of real Azure tasks, not abstract theory.
Exam Format and Registration Mechanics
Understanding how the exam is structured shapes how you train for it. AZ-104 is administered by Pearson VUE and costs $165 USD in the United States, though pricing varies by country or region. You can sit the exam at a Pearson VUE testing center or online through their proctored remote delivery. For a full pricing breakdown including discounts, vouchers, and retake fees, see our AZ-104 Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown.
Microsoft allocates 100 minutes for the exam itself. Your full appointment will run longer once you account for check-in, the NDA and tutorial, and the post-exam survey. Plan your schedule accordingly and do not cut your arrival time close.
Question Types and What They Demand
Candidates typically encounter 40 to 60 questions spanning several formats:
- Multiple-choice and multiple-select - The baseline format; they test recall and applied reasoning.
- Case studies - Extended scenarios with several questions drawing from the same business context. You must read carefully and connect details across tabs.
- Drag-and-drop and build-list - Sequence or match steps in a process; ordering matters.
- Hot-area - Click a specific element within a screenshot or diagram.
- Performance-based tasks / labs - Live Azure environment tasks that appear when scheduled for that delivery. These test real configuration skill, not just recognition.
Passing requires a score of 700 or greater on Microsoft's scaled scoring model. This is emphatically not a 70% raw score. Scaled scoring means item difficulty is factored in, so a lower raw percentage can still yield a 700, and a higher raw percentage can fall below it depending on which questions appeared. Your training goal is deep competency, not gaming a raw cut score.
Breaking Down All Five Exam Domains
Every effective AZ-104 training plan allocates time proportional to domain weight. Here is what each domain demands and why it matters. For a deeper dive into all five areas, read our AZ-104 Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 5 Content Areas.
Domain 1: Manage Azure Identities and Governance (20-25%)
The single largest domain on the exam. Training must cover Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure Active Directory) deeply-user and group management, role-based access control (RBAC), Azure Policy, management groups, subscriptions, and resource locks.
- Assigning built-in and custom RBAC roles at different scopes
- Configuring Azure Policy definitions, initiatives, and compliance reporting
- Managing Microsoft Entra users, groups, and external identities
- Organizing resources with management groups and tagging strategies
Domain 2: Implement and Manage Storage (15-20%)
Candidates must understand Azure Storage accounts, access control mechanisms, redundancy options, and data movement tools. Training should include practical configuration, not just conceptual knowledge.
- Configuring storage account tiers and redundancy (LRS, GRS, ZRS, GZRS)
- Managing blob lifecycle policies, access tiers, and SAS tokens
- Using Azure File Sync and AzCopy for data operations
- Securing storage with private endpoints and firewall rules
Domain 3: Deploy and Manage Azure Compute Resources (20-25%)
Tied with Domain 1 as the heaviest-weighted section. Training must encompass virtual machines, scale sets, containers, Azure App Service, and infrastructure-as-code with ARM templates or Bicep.
- Deploying and configuring VMs including availability sets and zones
- Scaling with Virtual Machine Scale Sets
- Managing Azure Kubernetes Service and Azure Container Instances
- Automating deployments with ARM and Bicep templates
Domain 4: Implement and Manage Virtual Networking (15-20%)
This domain tests your ability to architect and troubleshoot Azure network infrastructure, from VNet fundamentals to advanced connectivity and DNS configuration.
- Creating and configuring virtual networks, subnets, and NSGs
- Configuring VNet peering, VPN gateways, and ExpressRoute
- Deploying Azure Load Balancer, Application Gateway, and Azure DNS
- Troubleshooting network connectivity using Network Watcher
Domain 5: Monitor and Maintain Azure Resources (10-15%)
The lightest domain by weight, but do not neglect it. Azure Monitor, Log Analytics, alerts, and backup configuration appear here and often surface in case study scenarios tied to other domains.
- Configuring Azure Monitor alerts and action groups
- Working with Log Analytics workspaces and KQL queries
- Implementing Azure Backup and Azure Site Recovery
- Using Advisor recommendations and Cost Management tools
Training Resource Types: How to Choose What Works
The AZ-104 training ecosystem is large. The challenge is not finding resources-it is filtering them. Here is how to evaluate each category:
| Resource Type | Best For | AZ-104 Consideration |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Learn Paths | Structured concept coverage mapped to official exam objectives | Free, authoritative, and aligned to the April 2026 skills update |
| Instructor-Led Courses (AZ-104T00) | Guided learning with lab environments and Q&A | Microsoft's official course covers all five domains with sandbox labs |
| Video Courses (third-party platforms) | Flexible pacing and visual learners | Verify the course was updated after April 2026 skills revision |
| Practice Tests | Identifying weak domains and simulating exam conditions | Use question formats that mirror case studies and drag-and-drop items |
| Hands-On Azure Sandbox | Building muscle memory for portal, CLI, and PowerShell tasks | Critical for performance-based lab tasks on the actual exam |
| Study Guides and Books | Deep-dive reference and exam strategy | Pair with hands-on labs; reading alone does not prepare for lab tasks |
Practice testing deserves special emphasis. The question formats on AZ-104-particularly case studies and performance-based items-require specific preparation beyond content knowledge. Running timed practice sessions on AZ-104 Exam Prep practice tests helps you build the mental stamina and pacing instincts that the 100-minute window demands.
A Domain-Weighted Study Schedule
If you have 6-8 weeks available, allocating study time by domain weight produces better results than working through topics in linear order. Here is a framework that prioritizes the two heaviest domains while building cumulative knowledge.
Domain 1 - Identities and Governance (Part 1)
- Microsoft Entra ID users, groups, and licenses
- RBAC roles, scope inheritance, and custom role creation
- Management groups and subscription organization
Domain 1 - Identities and Governance (Part 2) + Domain 3 Start
- Azure Policy, initiatives, and compliance dashboards
- Resource locks, tags, and cost management basics
- Begin VM deployment: sizing, availability zones, disks
Domain 3 - Compute Resources (Deep Dive)
- VM Scale Sets, extensions, and custom script automation
- App Service plans, deployment slots, and scaling rules
- ARM and Bicep template deployment and parameter management
Domain 2 - Storage
- Storage account types, access tiers, and redundancy options
- SAS tokens, stored access policies, and private endpoints
- Azure File Sync configuration and AzCopy data transfers
Domain 4 - Virtual Networking
- VNet and subnet design, NSG rules and application security groups
- VNet peering, VPN gateways, and ExpressRoute connectivity
- Load balancer SKUs, Application Gateway WAF, and Azure DNS zones
Domain 5 - Monitor and Maintain + Full Review
- Azure Monitor metrics, alerts, and Log Analytics KQL
- Azure Backup vaults, Recovery Services, and Site Recovery
- Full-length timed practice tests; target weak domain re-study
The rationale for this ordering: Domains 1 and 3 each represent 20-25% of your score. Tackling them first builds governance and compute vocabulary that carries forward into networking and monitoring questions. Domain 5 is last not because it is unimportant, but because monitoring tools often appear in case studies alongside compute and networking scenarios-studying it last means those connections are fresh.
Hands-On Lab Skills You Cannot Skip
Performance-based lab tasks may appear in your AZ-104 delivery. These place you inside a live or simulated Azure environment and ask you to complete a specific configuration-no multiple-choice safety net. Reading about Azure Storage firewalls is categorically different from navigating to the correct blade, enabling the setting, and saving it correctly under time pressure.
Build hands-on habit around these specific task categories:
- Creating and managing resource groups, locks, and tag policies through both the portal and Azure CLI
- Deploying VMs from ARM templates using PowerShell or CLI, not just the portal wizard
- Configuring NSG inbound rules and verifying connectivity with Network Watcher
- Setting up Log Analytics workspaces and writing basic KQL queries against diagnostic data
- Configuring Azure Backup for VMs and verifying recovery point creation
Key Takeaway
You can pass multiple-choice sections on recognition alone. You cannot pass lab tasks on recognition. Build a habit of deploying and configuring actual Azure resources every study week, not just watching someone else do it on video.
For a candid picture of how difficult the exam is relative to other Azure certifications-including where candidates most commonly struggle-the How Hard Is the AZ-104 Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026 provides useful benchmarks without overstating or understating the challenge.
Who Hires AZ-104 Certified Professionals
Training investment only makes sense when you understand the market receiving it. AZ-104 is positioned for Azure administrators-the practitioners who manage Azure subscriptions day-to-day, configure governance guardrails, and keep compute and networking infrastructure running. Organizations hiring for this credential range from enterprise IT departments migrating on-premises workloads to cloud-native companies scaling distributed infrastructure.
Common job titles that list AZ-104 as a qualification or preference include Cloud Administrator, Azure Systems Engineer, Infrastructure Engineer, and Cloud Operations Analyst. Managed service providers and consulting firms also heavily recruit for this credential because their clients expect certified staff managing Azure environments. For a detailed look at the roles and employers this certification unlocks, our AZ-104 Jobs article maps the hiring landscape.
The certification also anchors a credible salary trajectory. While we do not manufacture figures, the credential is widely recognized as a meaningful differentiator in cloud infrastructure roles. You can explore what the earning data actually shows in the AZ-104 Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis.
Once certified, renewal is straightforward: a free online assessment through Microsoft Learn every 12 months. There is no retake fee and no proctored appointment required. Factor this into your professional development calendar so your credential does not lapse quietly.
When you are ready to test what you have learned under realistic exam conditions, AZ-104 Exam Prep practice tests simulate the question variety and pacing of the real assessment-including scenario-heavy questions that mirror how AZ-104 case studies actually read.
For a comprehensive walkthrough of everything from registration through post-exam renewal, the AZ-104 Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt remains the most thorough single resource for building your complete preparation plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most candidates with existing Azure or sysadmin experience spend six to ten weeks in structured preparation. Candidates with minimal cloud background should expect twelve or more weeks, particularly to build hands-on lab proficiency across all five domains. Domain weight-20-25% each for identities and compute-should drive where you spend the most time.
Microsoft Learn paths provide authoritative, free content aligned to the official exam objectives and are updated when skills change. Most candidates pair them with hands-on Azure sandbox time and practice testing rather than relying on any single resource. Learn is an excellent structural foundation, but lab practice and timed mock exams address what reading cannot.
AZ-104T00 is Microsoft's official instructor-led training course specifically mapped to the AZ-104 exam objectives. It includes structured modules and guided labs delivered by a Microsoft Certified Trainer. "AZ-104 training" broadly includes any resource-self-paced, video, practice tests, hands-on labs-you use to prepare. The official course is one component of a complete training plan, not a standalone guarantee of passing.
Microsoft may make a Learn lookup tool available during eligible role-based exams, including AZ-104. However, no additional time is granted for using it. Your training should specifically practice finding documentation quickly within the Microsoft Learn interface-if you have to search at length during the exam, you are losing time that costs you elsewhere.
Microsoft updates exam skills periodically and publishes a change date on the official exam page. The current skills measured for AZ-104 reflect an update as of April 17, 2026. Before purchasing any training resource-course, book, or practice test-verify that it was published or updated after that date. Resources based on earlier versions may not cover topics that now carry exam weight.