Strategies for Thriving in the IT Sector in 2025 Without Acquiring Coding Skills

Maintaining a career in the IT sector in 2025 without acquiring coding skills is entirely feasible, as the industry presents numerous positions that do not necessitate programming expertise. Below are several strategies and career options to explore:

 

1.    Explore Opportunities in Cloud Computing

·       Cloud Architect: Create and oversee cloud infrastructure while avoiding the necessity of coding. Concentrate on platforms such as AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud.

·     Cloud Consultant: Provide guidance to organizations regarding cloud implementation, migration strategies, and optimization techniques.

·       Cloud Operations Manager: Manage cloud infrastructure to guarantee its reliability and optimal performance.

2.    Emphasis on IT Support and Operations

·        IT Support Specialist: Deliver technical assistance to end-users, resolve issues, and ensure system maintenance.

·        Network Administrator: Oversee and sustain network infrastructure without the requirement of coding.

·        System Administrator: Supervise servers, storage solutions, and overall IT infrastructure.

3.    Engagement in IT Sales and Marketing

·        IT Sales Executive: Responsible for promoting and selling IT products, services, or solutions to corporate clients, requiring excellent communication and negotiation abilities.

·        Technical Marketing Manager: Focus on the promotion of IT products by comprehending their features and advantages, without the necessity of coding skills.

·        Customer Success Manager: Assist clients in optimizing the benefits derived from IT products and services.

4.    Focus on Cybersecurity (Non-Coding Positions)

·        Cybersecurity Analyst: Oversee and safeguard systems against potential threats, utilizing tools such as Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) and threat intelligence platforms.

·        Compliance and Risk Management: Guarantee that organizations adhere to regulatory standards (such as GDPR and HIPAA) while effectively managing cybersecurity risks.

·        Security Awareness Training: Provide training to employees on best practices in cybersecurity.

5.    Examine Opportunities in Data and Analytics (Non-Technical Positions)

·        Data Analyst: Evaluate data to generate insights utilizing software such as Excel, Tableau, or Power BI. Basic analysis does not necessitate coding skills.

·        Business Intelligence (BI) Specialist: Assist organizations in making informed decisions based on data through the use of BI tools.

·        Data Governance Specialist: Concentrate on ensuring data quality, privacy, and adherence to compliance standards.

6.    Engagement in IT Training and Education

·        IT Trainer: Instruct employees or students in IT competencies, emphasizing tools, software applications, and industry best practices.

·        Instructional Designer: Develop educational resources and online courses centered on IT subjects.

7.    Emphasis on IT Management and Leadership

·        IT Project Management: Supervise IT initiatives to guarantee timely delivery and adherence to budget constraints. Obtaining certifications such as PMP (Project Management Professional) or PRINCE2 can be beneficial.

·        IT Service Management (ITSM): Administer IT services and processes by employing frameworks such as ITIL (Information Technology Infrastructure Library).

8.    Enhance Interpersonal Skills

·        Communication: Convey technical ideas clearly to individuals without a technical background.

·        Problem-Solving: Prioritize addressing business challenges through the application of technology.

·        Leadership: Guide teams and manage projects without the necessity of programming.

9.    Explore IT Consulting

·        IT Consultant: Provide guidance to organizations on technology strategies, digital transformation initiatives, and the optimization of IT resources.

10. Keep Abreast of Industry Developments

·        Monitor information technology news, engage in webinars, and join professional networks.

·        Concentrate on comprehending the effects of emerging technologies (such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and blockchain) on business operations.

11. Utilize Certifications

·        Seek certifications in non-programming domains, Like:

Azure, AWS, GCP etc.

ITIL (Information Technology Infrastructure Library)

CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional)

PMP (Project Management Professional)

CompTIA Security+ or Network+

 

By concentrating on non-coding positions and cultivating pertinent skills, you can maintain and excel in the IT sector in 2025 without the necessity of acquiring programming knowledge. The essential step is to recognize your strengths and match them with an appropriate career trajectory.

Microsoft Azure Path to Succeed in 2025

Azure Certifications serve to showcase and verify your expertise in specific cloud roles. However, with the wide range of Azure Certifications available, you might find it challenging to determine which one aligns best with your requirements. Therefore, we're here with another blog post that details everything you need to know about the Azure Certification Learning Path to help you select the most suitable certification for your needs.

The topics covered in this blog are:

• Why Azure Certifications?

• Azure Certification Levels

• Azure Certification Path 2025

• Microsoft Azure Certifications

• Fundamentals

  • AZ-900: Microsoft Azure Fundamentals

  • AI-900: Microsoft AI Fundamentals

  • DP-900: Microsoft Azure Data Fundamentals

• Associate

  • AZ-104: Microsoft Azure Administrator Associate

  • AZ-204: Microsoft Azure Developer Associate

  • DP-100: Microsoft Azure Data Scientist Associate

  • AI-102: Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Engineer Associate

  • DP-203: Microsoft Azure Data Engineer Associate

  • DP-300: Microsoft Azure Database Administrator Associate

  • PL-300: Microsoft Data Analyst Associate

  • AZ-500: Microsoft Azure Security Engineer Associate

• Expert

  • AZ-305: Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert

  • AZ-400: Microsoft DevOps Engineer Expert

• Conclusion

Importance of Microsoft Azure certification

Azure is the leading cloud computing platform globally and dominates the market in this field. The need for cloud-based solutions continues to grow, prompting organizations of all sizes to transition their operations to the cloud to remain competitive. This shift is also increasing the demand for professionals skilled in cloud technologies. Microsoft offers certifications to individuals they consider the most qualified for specific job roles. These certifications are highly regarded, and many employers prefer candidates who include them on their resumes.

Why Should You Learn Microsoft Azure?

The global cloud computing market was valued at USD 602.31 billion in 2023 and is projected to expand at a CAGR of 21.2% from 2024 to 2030, underscoring the significant impact of cloud computing in recent years. Microsoft Azure remains a leading contender among top cloud service providers driving this growth. With its top-tier tools and service offerings, it serves as an outstanding choice for businesses. Prominent firms such as eBay, Samsung, and BMW are some of the largest users of Microsoft Azure, showcasing its capabilities and offerings.

Microsoft Azure Certifications

Azure certifications are crucial for pursuing a career in the cloud computing sector. Microsoft currently offers 13 Azure certifications divided into three tiers: Fundamental, Associate, and Expert. These exams aim to validate your proficiency in the Azure cloud and are specifically designed to enhance your knowledge and skills relevant to today's job roles in the market.

Microsoft currently offers 13 Microsoft Azure certifications along with 14 exams. This update was made in collaboration with the community after assessing job requirements. Additionally, Microsoft has three foundational level certifications: Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Fundamentals Exam [AI-900], Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900), and Azure Data Fundamentals Exam [DP-900].

Microsoft has organized its certifications into four distinct levels, ranging from beginner to expert. All certifications offered by Microsoft fall within these Azure Certification path levels.

• Fundamentals Certification – Fundamentals Certification is designed for newcomers who are beginning to explore cloud concepts. Additionally, individuals from non-technical backgrounds can also embark on their cloud journey with these certifications.

• Associate Certification – If you already have experience with Azure, you’re set to add these certifications to your resume.

• Expert Certification – Having prior experience, a strong understanding, and associate-level knowledge in Azure can lead you to obtain an expert certification.

• Specialty Certification – These are currently available for a few roles like Azure for SAP Workloads and Azure IOT Developer Speciality.

Azure Certification Path in 2025

There are numerous Azure training, certification, and job roles available; however, we have highlighted the Microsoft Azure certification learning paths for some of the most sought-after job roles that many candidates aim for.

Microsoft Azure Certifications

I have provided a list of the most popular Azure Certifications, including a brief overview, exam details, and the domains covered, organized by their levels

Fundamentals

1) AZ-900: Microsoft Azure fundamentals certification

Azure Fundamentals provides a comprehensive introduction to cloud services. This certification encompasses essential topics such as networking, storage, computing, and security. It validates your understanding of cloud concepts, services, security measures, workloads, and pricing within Azure. This certification serves as the initial step in your Azure journey and is advantageous for individuals from both technical and non-technical fields. If you seek a roadmap for Microsoft Azure certification but have limited knowledge of cloud concepts, this certification is definitely suitable for you.

• Certification Name: Microsoft Azure Fundamentals Certification.

• Exam Code: AZ-900

• Pre-requisites: There are no prerequisites for the Microsoft Azure Fundamental (AZ-900) exam, but you should be familiar with basic cloud services and the Azure platform.

• Exam Cost: USD 99 (based on the location)

• Exam Languages: English, French, Indonesian (Indonesia), Arabic (Saudi Arabia), Chinese (Traditional), Japanese, Chinese (Simplified), Korean, Spanish, German, Italian, Portuguese (Brazil), Russian.

• Schedule Exam: Click here

Domains Covered in Azure – Fundamentals Exam [AZ-900] Exam 

Describe Cloud Concepts(25-30%)

Describe Azure architecture and services(35-40%)

Describe Azure management and governance(30-35%)

2) AI-900: Microsoft AI Fundamentals

AI Fundamentals encompasses all essential knowledge related to Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) concepts within Azure. While having a general understanding of a programming language can be helpful, it is not required, allowing individuals from both technical and non-technical backgrounds to participate in the AI-900 Azure certification pathway.

• Certification Name: Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals

• Exam Code: AI-900

• Pre-requisites: There are no prerequisites for this exam, but you should have a basic awareness of common ML and AI concepts and their relation with Azure.

• Exam Cost: USD 99 (based on the location)

• Exam Languages: English, Japanese, Chinese (Simplified), Korean, German, French, Spanish, Portuguese (Brazil), Russian, Indonesian (Indonesia), Arabic (Saudi Arabia), Chinese (Traditional), Italian

• Schedule Exam: Click Here

Domains Covered in Azure AI – Fundamentals Exam [AI-900] Exam 

Artificial Intelligence Workloads and Considerations(15-20%)

Fundamental Principles of Machine Learning on Azure(20-25%)

Features of Computer Vision Workloads on Azure(15-20%)

Features of  Natural Language Processing (NLP) workloads on Azure(15-20%)

Describe features of generative AI workloads on Azure(15-20%)

3) DP-900: Microsoft Azure Data Fundamentals

Azure Data Fundamentals encompasses essential knowledge of fundamental data concepts. This certification addresses the basics of data concepts and the use of Microsoft data services. It demonstrates your understanding of cloud concepts, services, security, workloads, and pricing in Azure. This certification serves as the initial step into the Azure ecosystem and is advantageous for individuals from both technical and non-technical backgrounds. If you seek an Azure certification path but have limited knowledge of cloud concepts, this certification is undoubtedly the right choice for you.

• Certification Name: Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Fundamentals

• Exam Code: DP-900

• Pre-requisites: There are no prerequisites for this exam.

• Exam Cost: USD 99 (based on the location)

• Exam Languages: English, Japanese, Chinese (Simplified), Korean, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese (Brazil), Russian, Indonesian (Indonesia), Arabic (Saudi Arabia), Chinese (Traditional), Italian

• Schedule Exam: Click Here

Domains Covered in Azure Data – Fundamentals Exam [DP-900] Exam 

Describe core data concepts(25-30%)

Identify considerations for relational data on Azure(20-25%)

Describe considerations for working with non-relational data on Azure(15-20%)

Describe an analytics workload on Azure(25-30%)

Associate- Azure Certifications

4) AZ-104: Microsoft Azure Administrator Associate

The Azure Administrator is responsible for implementing and managing storage, computing, identity, governance, and virtual networks within the cloud. They also oversee and monitor cloud resources. Candidates should have experience with Azure Portal, PowerShell, Azure CLI, and ARM Templates.

• Certification Name: Microsoft Azure Administrator

• Exam Code: AZ-104

• Pre-requisites: There are no prerequisites for taking this exam. But it would be better if you go for AZ-900 (optional) first. The candidate should have at least six months of hands-on experience administering Azure.

• Exam Cost: USD 165 (based on the location)

• Exam Languages: English, French, German, Spanish, Chinese (Simplified), Korean, Japanese

• Schedule Exam: Click Here

Domains Covered in Azure Administrator – Associate Exam [AZ-104] Exam 

Manage Azure identities and governance(20-25%)

Implement and manage storage(15-20%)

Deploy and manage Azure compute resources(20-25%)

Configure and manage virtual networking(15-20%)

Monitor and back up Azure resources(10-15%)

5) AZ-204: Microsoft Azure Developer Associate

An Azure Developer is responsible for the design, construction, testing, and maintenance of cloud applications and services. In this position, Microsoft expects you to be proficient in programming languages supported by Azure, as well as having experience with Azure PowerShell, Azure SDKs, Azure CLI, data storage solutions, data connections, APIs, and app authentication and authorization. The developer engages in several phases as outlined below.

• Cloud development requirements, definition, and design.

• Development, deployment, and maintenance.

• Performance tuning and monitoring.

• Certification Name: Microsoft Certified Azure Developer Associate

• Exam Code: AZ-204

• Pre-requisites: There are no prerequisites for taking this exam. But it would be better if you go for AZ-900 (optional) first. The candidate should have 1-2 years of professional development, Microsoft Azure experience, and programming expertise in at least one high-level language supported by Azure.

• Exam Cost: USD165 (based on the location)

• Exam Language: English, Japanese, Chinese (Simplified), Korean.

• Schedule Exam: Click Here

Domains Covered in Azure Developer – Associate Exam [AZ-204] Exam 

Develop Azure compute solutions(25-30%)

Develop for Azure storage(15-20%)

Implement Azure security(15-20%)

Monitor, troubleshoot, and optimize Azure solutions.(10-15%)

Connect to and consume Azure services and third-party services(20-25%)

6) DP-100: Microsoft Azure Data Scientist Associate

Data Scientists focus on data science and execute machine learning tasks on Azure. An Azure Data Scientist should possess expertise in data science and hands-on experience with Azure Machine Learning and Azure Databricks. The primary responsibilities of this role involve managing, optimizing, and deploying machine learning models into production.

• Certification Name: Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Scientist Associate.

• Exam Code: DP-100

• Pre-requisites: There are no such prerequisites for taking this certification. But it would be better if you go for DP-900 (optional)/ AI-900 (optional) first. The candidate should have knowledge and experience in data science and using Azure Machine Learning and Azure Databricks.

• Exam Cost: USD 165 (based on the location)

• Exam Language: English, Japanese, Chinese (Simplified), Korean

• Schedule Exam: Click Here

Domains Covered in Azure Data Scientist – Associate Exam [DP-100] Exam

Design and prepare a machine-learning solution(20-25%)

Explore data, and run experiments(20-25%)

Train and deploy models(25-30%)

Optimize language models for AI applications(25-30%)

7) AI-102: Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Engineer Associate

The AI-102 exam, named "Designing and Implementing an Azure AI Solution," evaluates your skills in designing and implementing AI solutions utilizing Azure Cognitive Services, Azure Machine Learning, and other related Azure services.

• Certification Name: Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Engineer Associate

• Exam Code: AI-102

• Prerequisites: There are no mandatory prerequisites. However, knowledge of AI-900 (optional) or experience in AI and Azure Cognitive Services is recommended.

• Exam Cost: USD 165 (based on location)

• Exam Languages: English, Japanese, Chinese (Simplified), Korean

• Schedule Exam: Click Here

Domains Covered in Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Engineer Associate AI-102 Exam

Plan and manage an Azure AI solution(25-30%)

Implement image and video processing solutions(15-20%)

Implement Computer Vision Solutions(15-20%)

Implement Natural Language Processing Solutions(25-30%)

Implement knowledge-mining solutions(5-10%)

Implement conversational AI solutions(15-20%)

8) DP-203: Microsoft Azure Data Engineer Associate

Data engineering involves the integration, transformation, and consolidation of data from multiple systems to create analytics solutions. A data engineer is responsible for designing, implementing, optimizing, and monitoring data platforms to fulfill the requirements of data pipelines. Additionally, they assist stakeholders in comprehending the data through exploration while ensuring secure and compliant data processing pipelines using various tools and techniques.

• Certification Name: Data Engineering on Microsoft Azure

• Exam Code: DP-203

• Pre-requisites: There are no prerequisites for taking this exam. But it would be better if you go for DP-900 (optional) first. The Candidates must have a good knowledge of data processing languages such as SQL, Python, and Scala.

• Exam Cost: USD 165 (based on the location)

• Exam Languages: English, Chinese (Simplified), French, Spanish, Portuguese (Brazil), Japanese, Korean, German, Arabic (Saudi Arabia), Russian, Chinese (Traditional), Italian, Indonesian (Indonesia)

• Schedule Exam: Click Here

Domains Covered in Data Engineering on Microsoft Azure [DP-203:] Exam

Design and implement data storage(15-20%)

Develop data processing(40-45%)

Secure, monitor, and optimize data storage and data processing(30-35%).

9) DP-300: Azure Database Administrator Associate

An Azure Database Administrator is responsible for implementing and managing platform solutions utilizing Microsoft SQL Server and Microsoft Azure Data Services. Daily tasks involve using various methods and tools for operations, including managing T-SQL.

• Certification Name: Administering Relational Databases on Microsoft Azure

• Exam Code: DP-300

• Pre-requisites: There are no prerequisites for taking this exam. But it would be better if you go for DP-900 (optional) first.

• Exam Cost: USD 165 (based on the location)

• Languages: English, Chinese (Simplified), Japanese, Korean, French, German, Portuguese (Brazil), Italian, Chinese (Traditional), Spanish

• Schedule Exam: Click Here

Domains Covered in Administering Relational Databases on Microsoft Azure [DP-300] Exam

Plan and implement data platform resources(20-25%)

Implement a secure environment(15-20%)

Monitor, configure, and optimize database resources(20-25%)

Configure and manage automation of tasks(15-20%)

Plan and configure a high availability and disaster recovery (HA/DR) environment(20-25%)

10) PL-300: Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst Associate

A Data Analyst is involved in loading, transforming, and analyzing data. Their primary objective is to derive meaningful insights from vast amounts of raw data. A Data Analyst's role includes examining data and producing clear and understandable visual representations. This involves creating data models, graphs, and charts while utilizing DAX expressions and machine learning models. This Azure certification path is designed for anyone interested in data analysis and learning how to carry out data operations for their business or organization.

• Certification Name: Power BI Data Analyst Associate

• Exam Code: PL-300

• Pre-requisites: There are no prerequisites for taking this exam. But it would be better if you go for DP-900 (optional) first. The Candidates must have a fundamental understanding of data repositories and data processing (on-premises and in the cloud).

• Exam Cost: USD 165 (based on the location)

• Exam Languages:  English, Japanese, Chinese (Simplified), Korean, German, French, Spanish, Portuguese (Brazil), Arabic (Saudi Arabia), Russian, Chinese (Traditional), Italian, Indonesian (Indonesia)

• Schedule Exam: Click Here

Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst [PL-300] Exam

Prepare the data (25-30%)

Model the data(25-30%)

Visualize and analyze the data(25-30%)

Manage and secure Power BI(15-20%)

11) AZ-500: Microsoft Azure Security Engineer Associat

An Azure Security Engineer is responsible for managing identity and access, implementing security measures and threat protection, and safeguarding data, applications, and networks in the cloud. This role requires knowledge of networking, virtualization, and cloud N-tier architecture to recommend different security solutions that address vulnerabilities or threats.

• Certification Name: Microsoft Azure Security Technologies

• Exam Code: AZ-500

• Exam Cost: USD 165 (based on the location)

• Pre-requisites: Microsoft doesn’t have any mandatory prerequisites for the AZ-500 exam. It is advised that you take the AZ-900  (optional)  exam if you are just starting your career in the cloud.

• Exam Languages: English, Japanese, Chinese (Simplified), Korean

• Schedule Exam: Click Here

Domains Covered in Azure Security Engineer – Associate Exam [AZ-500] Exam 

Manage identity and access(25-30%)

Secure networking(20-25%)

Secure computing, storage, and databases(20-25%)

Manage security operations(25-30)

Expert

12) Microsoft Certified Solutions Architect  [AZ-305]

This program focuses on designing and implementing solutions that operate on Microsoft Azure, covering areas such as compute, networking, storage, and security. It aims to guide stakeholders and convert business needs into secure, scalable, and dependable solutions. Additionally, candidates must possess advanced skills in Azure administration as well as experience in Azure development and DevOps practices.

• Certification Name: Microsoft Azure Architect Technologies

• Exam Code: AZ-305

• Pre-requisite: You must clear Azure Administrator ( Az-104 Exam)  certification.

• Exam Cost: USD 165 (based on the location)

• Exam Languages: English, Japanese, Chinese (Simplified), Korean

• Schedule Exam: Click Here

Domains Covered in Microsoft Certified Solutions Architect – Expert Exams [AZ-303] Exam

Design identity, governance, and monitoring solutions(25-30%)

Design data storage solutions(20-25%)

Design business continuity solutions(15-20%)

Design infrastructure solutions(30-35%)

13) AZ-400: Microsoft DevOps Engineer Expert

The DevOps Engineer is responsible for developing and executing strategies related to collaboration, coding, infrastructure, source control, security, compliance, continuous integration, testing, delivery, monitoring, and feedback. They establish software automation pipelines to facilitate a comprehensive development and deployment lifecycle in the cloud. Candidates seeking this certification should possess knowledge of Azure administration and development and must have passed one exam, either the AZ-104 or AZ-204 exam.

• Certification Name: Microsoft Azure DevOps Engineer Expert

• Exam Code: AZ-400

• Pre-requisite: You must clear either Azure Administrator (AZ-104) or Azure Developer (Az-204) Certification.

• Exam Cost: USD 165 (based on the location)

• Exam Languages: English, Japanese, Chinese (Simplified), Korean, German, French, Spanish, Portuguese (Brazil), Arabic (Saudi Arabia), Russian, Chinese (Traditional), Italian, Indonesian (Indonesia)

• Schedule Exam: Click Here

Domains Covered  in Azure DevOps Engineer – Expert Exam [AZ-400]Exam

Design and implement processes and communications(10-15%)

Design and implement a source control strategy(10-15%)

Design and implement build and release pipelines(50-55%)

Develop a security and compliance plan(10-15%)Implement an instrumentation strategy(5-10%)

Conclusion

Cloud technology is expanding quickly, and to meet future challenges, every aspiring cloud professional must equip themselves accordingly. Microsoft Azure offers a range of cloud certifications tailored for different roles. The Microsoft Azure certifications mentioned here are among the most sought-after by candidates

Study guide for Exam AZ-900: Microsoft Azure Fundamentals

 Thanks to Microsoft

This study guide is designed to prepare you for the exam by outlining what to expect and summarizing the topics that may be included. It also provides links to further resources. The information and materials contained here will assist you in concentrating your studies as you get ready for the exam.

Review the skills measured as of March 2025 This list includes the skills assessed following the specified date. Review this list if you intend to take the exam after that date.

How to earn the certification Certain certifications necessitate passing just a single exam, whereas others demand the completion of several exams.

Your Microsoft Learn profile Linking your certification profile with Microsoft Learn enables you to schedule and renew exams, as well as share and print your certificates.

Exam scoring and score reports A minimum score of 700 is needed to pass

Exam sandbox You can check out the exam environment by going to our exam sandbox.

Take a free Practice Assessment Test your skills with practice questions to help you prepare for the exam.

Skills measured as of March, 2025

Audience profile

As a candidate for this exam, you are a technology professional aiming to showcase your basic understanding of cloud concepts overall, with a specific focus on Microsoft Azure. This exam serves as a typical entry point on the path to a career in Azure.

You are able to outline Azure architectural components and Azure services, including:

• Compute

• Networking

• Storage

You can also describe features and tools to secure, govern, and administer Azure.

You should have skills and experience working with an area of IT, such as:

• Infrastructure management

• Database management

• Software development

Skills at a glance

• Describe cloud concepts (25–30%)

• Describe Azure architecture and services (35–40%)

• Describe Azure management and governance (30–35%)

 

Describe cloud computing

• Define cloud computing

• Describe the shared responsibility model

• Define cloud models, including public, private, and hybrid

• Identify appropriate use cases for each cloud model

• Describe the consumption-based model

• Compare cloud pricing models

• Describe serverless

Describe the benefits of using cloud services

• Describe the benefits of high availability and scalability in the cloud

• Describe the benefits of reliability and predictability in the cloud

• Describe the benefits of security and governance in the cloud

• Describe the benefits of manageability in the cloud

Describe cloud service types

• Describe infrastructure as a service (IaaS)

• Describe platform as a service (PaaS)

• Describe software as a service (SaaS)

• Identify appropriate use cases for each cloud service type (IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS)

Describe the core architectural components of Azure

• Describe Azure regions, region pairs, and sovereign regions

• Describe availability zones

• Describe Azure datacenters

• Describe Azure resources and resource groups

• Describe subscriptions

• Describe management groups

• Describe the hierarchy of resource groups, subscriptions, and management groups

Describe Azure compute and networking services

• Compare compute types, including containers, virtual machines, and functions

• Describe virtual machine options, including Azure virtual machines, Azure Virtual Machine Scale Sets, availability sets, and Azure Virtual Desktop

• Describe the resources required for virtual machines

• Describe application hosting options, including web apps, containers, and virtual machines

• Describe virtual networking, including the purpose of Azure virtual networks, Azure virtual subnets, peering, Azure DNS, Azure VPN Gateway, and ExpressRoute

• Define public and private endpoints

Describe Azure storage services

• Compare Azure Storage services

• Describe storage tiers

• Describe redundancy options

• Describe storage account options and storage types

• Identify options for moving files, including AzCopy, Azure Storage Explorer, and Azure File Sync

• Describe migration options, including Azure Migrate and Azure Data Box

Describe Azure identity, access, and security

• Describe directory services in Azure, including Microsoft Entra ID and Microsoft Entra Domain Services

• Describe authentication methods in Azure, including single sign-on (SSO), multi-factor authentication (MFA), and passwordless

• Describe external identities in Azure, including business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-customer (B2C)

• Describe Microsoft Entra Conditional Access

• Describe Azure role-based access control (RBAC)

• Describe the concept of Zero Trust

• Describe the purpose of the defense-in-depth model

• Describe the purpose of Microsoft Defender for Cloud

Describe cost management in Azure

• Describe factors that can affect costs in Azure

• Compare the pricing calculator and the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) Calculator

• Describe cost management capabilities in Azure

• Describe the purpose of tags

Describe features and tools in Azure for governance and compliance

• Describe the purpose of Microsoft Purview in Azure

• Describe the purpose of Azure Policy

• Describe the purpose of resource locks

Describe features and tools for managing and deploying Azure resources

• Describe the Azure portal

• Describe Azure Cloud Shell, including Azure Command-Line Interface (CLI) and Azure PowerShell

• Describe the purpose of Azure Arc

• Describe infrastructure as code (IaC)

• Describe Azure Resource Manager (ARM) and ARM templates

Describe monitoring tools in Azure

• Describe the purpose of Azure Advisor

• Describe Azure Service Health

• Describe Azure Monitor, including Log Analytics, Azure Monitor alerts, and Application Insights

Study resources

We suggest that you gain practical experience and undergo training prior to taking the exam. We provide self-study resources, classroom training, and access to documentation, community sites, and videos.

Get trained Choose from self-paced learning paths and modules or take an instructor-led course

Find documentation Azure on Microsoft Learn
Azure documentation
Microsoft Cloud Adoption Framework for Azure
Accelerate cloud adoption with the Microsoft Cloud Adoption Framework for Azure

Ask a question Microsoft Q&A | Microsoft Docs

Get community support Azure Community Support

Follow Microsoft Learn Microsoft Learn - Microsoft Tech Community

Find a video Exam Readiness Zone
Azure Fridays
Browse other Microsoft Learn shows

Practice Azure Fundamentals with Simulated Labs: A Hands-On Guide

 Introduction

The Azure Fundamentals Certificate (AZ-900) is an entry-level certification offered by Microsoft that validates foundational knowledge of cloud concepts and Azure services

While the Azure Fundamentals Certificate is not a deep technical certification, it is highly valuable for building a foundational understanding of cloud concepts and Azure services. It is a great starting point for anyone looking to enter the cloud industry or advance their career in a cloud-focused role

Problem

While you will get many free study resources on this topic the major problem is to practice what you learn on Azure Portal which unfortunately is not available that easily. There are options available for one to sign up for free and get 200 dollars credit but the problem is that it asks for your credit card and if you forgot to delete any resource and go above 200$ it will charge your credit card. There are Paid labs available if someone wants to practice

Solution

Microsoft had introduced Simulated labs at one point of time which were like a step by step guide with Azure Portal Simulation, Later these simulated labs were depreciated so most of the times you wont get the links. There might be some old posts from someone where these links might be available.

In this Article I have shared the links of all those simulated labs. You might find some options available on Azure Portal are no more there but still a great way to practice the steps.

 

There are 22 Labs still available for Practice by Microsoft

 

Simulated Lab 1 - Create a Virtual Machine in the Azure Portal

In this simulated lab you will create a virtual machine on Azure Portal then Connect to the VM and Install a Web Server Role

Lab Link : https://tinyurl.com/yc3ktxbe

 

Simulated Lab 2 - Create a Web App

In this simulated lab you will create a new web app that runs a Docker Container

Lab Link : https://tinyurl.com/kj8mrkuf

 

Simulated Lab 3 - Deploy Azure Container Instances

In this simulated lab you will Create, Configure and Deploy a Docker Container By Using Azure Container Instance

Lab Link : https://tinyurl.com/pf83fbrm

 

Simulated Lab 4 - Create a Virtual Network

In this simulated lab you will create a Virtual Network with Two Virtual Machines

Lab Link : https://tinyurl.com/4wy2ysfy

 

Simulated Lab 5 - Create a Blob Storage

In this simulated lab you will create a Storage Account and work on Blob Storage

Lab Link : https://tinyurl.com/3wt9ut6u

 

Simulated Lab 6 - Create a SQL Database

In this simulated lab you will Create a SQL Database & Query the Data

Lab Link : https://tinyurl.com/mvsab9zh

 

Simulated Lab 7 - Implement Azure IoT Hub

In this simulated lab you will Configure a New Azure IOT Hub & Authenticate a IOT Device

Lab Link : https://tinyurl.com/bdf7jxzu

 

Simulated Lab 8 - Implement Azure Functions

In this simulated lab you will Create a Function App to Display Hello Message

Lab Link : https://tinyurl.com/mpueptan

 

Simulated Lab 9 - Create a VM with a Template

In this simulated lab you will Create a Virtual Machine using a Quick Start Template

Lab Link : https://tinyurl.com/meu8245c

 

Simulated Lab 10 - Create a VM with PowerShell

In this simulated lab you will Configure Cloud Shell and Use Azure PowerShell to Create a Resource Group & Virtual Machine

Lab Link : https://tinyurl.com/yz9kd8ms

 

Simulated lab 11 - Create a VM with CLI

In this simulated lab you will Configure Cloud Shell and Use Azure Command Line Interface to Create a Resource Group & Virtual Machine

Lab Link : https://tinyurl.com/mp6zyvys

 

Simulated Lab 12 - Implement Azure Key Vault

In this simulated lab you will Create a Azure Key Vault and Create a Password Secret

Lab Link : https://tinyurl.com/645detvn

 

Simulated Lab 13 - Secure Network Traffic

In this simulated lab you will Create a Netwok Security Group

Lab Link : https://tinyurl.com/3zzyre97

 

Simulated Lab 14 - Manage Access with RBAC

In this simulated lab you will assign roles using Azure Role Based Access Control

Lab Link : https://tinyurl.com/mr35kbe9

 

Simulated Lab 15 - Manage Resource Locks

In this simulated lab you will add a lock to a Resource Group and Try Deleting It

Lab Link : https://tinyurl.com/bdz9yxz2

 

Simulated Lab 16 - Implement Resource Tagging

In this simulated lab you will Create a Policy that requires Tagging

Lab Link : https://tinyurl.com/4yshtxcr

 

Simulated Lab 17 - Create an Azure Policy

In this simulated lab you will Create a Azure Policy to Restrict Deployment

Lab Link : https://tinyurl.com/49dhyemw

 

Simulated Lab 18 - Explore Microsoft Compliance Offerings

In this simulated lab you will Access Microsoft Compliance Offerings, Service Trust Portal & Compliance Manager

Lab link : https://tinyurl.com/s7ed5n93

 

Simulated Lab 19 - Use the Pricing Calculator

In this simulated lab you will use Azure Price calculator to generate a Cost Estimate

Lab Link : https://tinyurl.com/y73dnnk5

 

Simulated Lab 20 - Use the Azure TCO Calculator

In this simulated lab you will use Total Cost of Ownership to generate a Comparison Report

Lab Link : https://tinyurl.com/4xzxvf92

 

Simulated Lab 21 - Calculate Composite SLAs

In this simulated lab you will look at the Service Level Agreement

Lab Link : https://tinyurl.com/56y3cjcr

 

Simulated Lab 22 - Open a Support Request

In this simulated lab you will Look at Available Support Options in Azure

Lab Link : https://tinyurl.com/83u6z8kb

Step by Step Setup of vCenter Server

My Home lab consist of  Following Hardware & Software:

PC with 16gb Memory, 500GB HDD for labs, i3 Intel CPU, Base OS windows 8
VMware Workstation 9
Trial Software : Windows 2008R2, ESX Setup, vCenter Setup.

Lab had following Machines :

1 DC
2 ESX Hosts ( I'll be using it for vMotion & HA later )
1 vCenter server
1 FreeNas for Shared Storage

Following are the steps for installation of vCenter :

vCenter Single Sign-On

vCenter Inventory Service

vCenter Server

 

More to come later.
Comments are most welcome