Azure certifications represent a badge of excellence for IT professionals and organizations that want to show their commitment to staying at the forefront of implementing solutions based on Microsoft's cloud platform. These certificates not only validate the expertise in various areas of the Redmond giant's cloud platform, but they also demonstrate the ability of those who obtain them to implement and manage robust and scalable cloud solutions. In this article we will see in more detail what these certifications are, how they are structured, the learning paths (and related exams) to which they are linked, the costs and why it is important, in the current technological landscape, to rely on certified professionals for your digital infrastructures.
With more and more companies migrating to the cloud, the demand for qualified professionals in the sector is growing day by day.
Microsoft Azure, Microsoft's cloud computing service, is at the forefront of this change and with its wide range of services and solutions it is becoming a critical tool for organizations in various sectors and is currently the second largest platform in the cloud market, with a share of about 23%.
With the evolution of technologies and the growing demand for qualified professionals in cloud services and data science, having certificates that testify to individual experience and commitment to staying up to date on trends and technologies in the sector has now become essential.
Tech companies and those who work there must, in a competitive labor market like today, be able to demonstrate to their customers their commitment to professional growth and competence in one of the hottest markets in recent years.
And this is where Microsoft Azure certifications come into play: a series of more than a dozen certificates that help professionals who work in the field of cloud computing, or who want to start a career in this sector, to consolidate and validate their skills and knowledge within the Microsoft cloud platform. Let's take a closer look at it.
Microsoft has structured a number of exams that must be passed in order to obtain the relevant Azure certifications.
These are categorized into four different levels that cover every level of skill and competence: from fundamental for those who have started to enter the world of cloud computing and Azure to certifications dedicated to professionals who want to expand and validate their skills in the sector.
There are three main levels, with an additional fourth level oriented to more niche skills. Let's take a closer look at them:
Now let's see what certifications can be obtained for each level and give a brief description of each one to see their scope.
We have created the Infrastructure & Security team, focused on the Azure cloud, to better respond to the needs of our customers who involve us in technical and strategic decisions. In addition to configuring and managing the tenant, we also take care of:
With Dev4Side, you have a reliable partner that supports you across the entire Microsoft application ecosystem.
The amount of certifications offered by Microsoft (and the related exams) can intimidate users who decide to approach the world of cloud computing professionally, starting from Microsoft Azure. Where to start? And to do what exactly?
Fortunately, the certifications and their exams have been well structured by Microsoft and provide a fairly clear picture to the user of the feasible training courses and the related certificates of qualification issued for each of them. The Microsoft Azure certification path is' role-based ', meaning that several certifications are specifically designed to help individuals develop skills necessary for certain job roles.
These roles include developers, administrators, solution architects, security technologies, artificial intelligence (AI) engineering, data engineering, and operations. Let's take a closer look at them and which certifications respond to which role.
Azure administrators are responsible for managing and maintaining the cloud infrastructure. This includes configuring resources, managing users and permissions, overseeing security, and optimizing performance.
They must have a thorough understanding of the Azure platform, including network services, virtual machines, storage, databases, and identity management services. Administrators must also be able to resolve technical issues and implement solutions to ensure the continuity of operations on the platform.
Certifications that respond to this role include:
Developers on Azure create scalable and reliable applications using the services offered by the platform. This may include writing code for cloud-based applications, integrating with Azure APIs, using artificial intelligence and machine learning services, and managing databases.
They must be proficient in programming languages such as C#, Java, Python, or Node.js and know the frameworks and development tools supported by Azure, such as Azure DevOps, Azure Functions, and Kubernetes.
Among the certifications available for this role, the most important are:
Security engineers at Azure are responsible for protecting systems and data from threats and vulnerabilities. This role involves designing and implementing security measures, such as data encryption, identity and access management, monitoring suspicious activity, and responding to security incidents.
Security engineers must be experts in cybersecurity practices, regulatory compliance, and must be thoroughly familiar with the security tools available to Azure, such as Azure Security Center and Azure Sentinel.
For those who want a cyber security role, the certifications are as follows:
DevOps engineers in Azure combine development and operations expertise to improve software lifecycle efficiency. They work to automate development, testing, deployment, and monitoring processes using tools such as Azure DevOps Services and GitHub Actions.
They must be proficient in implementing CI/CD (Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment) pipelines, managing infrastructure as code (IaC) with tools such as Terraform or ARM templates, and overseeing large scale operations to ensure that applications are continuously improved and maintained.
Data and AI professionals on Azure focus on collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data to extract useful information and to develop artificial intelligence models. This may include managing large amounts of data using Azure Data Lake, creating data pipelines with Azure Data Factory, and developing machine learning models with Azure Machine Learning.
They must have skills in SQL, data analysis, data visualization, and machine learning algorithms, as well as familiarity with Azure-specific cloud services for data and AI.
To undertake this career path, here are the most important certifications:
Solution architects in Azure design and implement complex architectures that meet business requirements. This role requires an in-depth understanding of how to integrate various Azure services and technologies to create scalable, secure, and performing solutions.
Architects must be experts in various domains, such as system design, data management, security, and governance. They must also be able to collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to translate business needs into effective technical solutions and optimize the use of Azure cloud resources.
The fundamental certification for a solution architect is Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert and covers the design and implementation of complex solution architectures, resource management, security, and performance optimization. Requires passing the exam AZ-305: Designing Microsoft Azure Infrastructure Solutions and a prerequisite exam, such as AZ-104.
The costs of Microsoft Azure certifications are fixed and possible variations are mainly related to geographical location and currency.
Microsoft periodically offers discounts or promotions that may reduce exam costs. These promotions may include student discounts, reduced-price exam preparation packages, or special offers for exam groups.
For example, program members Microsoft Learn Student Ambassador they may have access to free or discounted exams. To support candidates, Microsoft also offers a wide range of preparation resources, including online courses, hands-on labs, and study materials available on Microsoft Learn. Some of these resources are free, while others may require a subscription or separate payment.
Fundamentals certifications generally cost less than higher-level certifications, with a typical price of around $99 USD for certification and are the ideal entry point for those who are new to the Azure world or to cloud computing in general and want to acquire basic skills.
Associate certifications are more in-depth and require a practical and operational understanding of Azure technologies. Exams for these certifications cost $165 USD each. This level of certification is designed for professionals with practical experience and operational knowledge of Azure.
Expert level certifications require you to pass multiple exams or prerequisites. The cost associated with these certifications is always on $165 USD each. However, since these certifications often require an Associate certification as a prerequisite, the overall cost may be higher depending on your skill level and compatibility with the minimum requirements required to obtain them.
It is important to note that exam costs may vary based on geographic location. Microsoft often adjusts prices to local economic conditions and the country's currency. For example, in some regions, the cost may be slightly lower or higher than the standard prices listed above.
For more information on the price of each specific Azure course and certification, please refer to the convenient dedicated Microsoft page (available hither).
After reading the previous sections, it should now be clear the importance of these certifications and the degree of skill required to obtain them.
A professional who decides to take the path to obtain an Azure certification is rigorously examined and tested by other experts to verify his knowledge on the subject and his ability to juggle the functionality of Microsoft's cloud computing platform.
It is precisely because of this rigor that certificates are a reliable credential in choosing a team of professionals and a company should always rely on development partners that employ certified technicians for the development of their projects.
With certified Azure professionals who have passed rigorous exams that attest to their skills in using the platform, a company can be sure that they have an in-depth understanding of Azure services, implementation best practices, and advanced techniques for managing and securing cloud resources.
But not only that, holders of Azure certifications have the necessary skills to design and implement solutions within the cloud platform more efficiently, minimizing errors and costs associated with delays or necessary corrections, and are able to optimize the use of cloud resources, helping companies to better manage their operating costs and to take full advantage of the capabilities deployed by Azure.
The need to renew their certifications annually gives professionals the opportunity to be constantly aligned with the most recent platform developments and to always stay updated on emerging technologies and the latest innovations made in the Azure field.
A professional in step with the times is a resource that can make the difference between a cutting-edge digital infrastructure and a disappointing investment, especially in recent years where technological progress is moving at a dizzying speed.
So why not make the safest decision and choose Dev4Side?
Not only do all our professionals and consultants have the relevant certificates for each management and development role within the Azure platform, but our company is also a Microsoft Gold Partner and Solutions Partner, with more than 15 years of experience in developing solutions based on Microsoft ecosystems.
Dev4Side takes charge of your Azure subscriptions for configuration, maintenance and monitoring activities. We provide 1st and 2nd level support both on the platform and on the applications that you decide to migrate.
Through Microsoft's Cloud Solution Provider program, Dev4Side can support you in the purchase of various Azure services, monitoring costs and the actual use of the platform to maximize your investment.
Our teams develop Cloud Native applications specially designed for Azure, optimized to make the most of its cloud computing services. Thanks to strong technical skills in the development of web applications and consolidated experience in Enterprise environments, Dev4Side implements software with a DevOps approach, automating all release processes.
And not only that, Dev4Side also offers total support in the migration of infrastructures and applications, in the study and re-engineering of legacy applications in a modern key, exploiting Azure cloud services and in the integration of Active Directory with Entra ID: everything to bring your business to clouds.
Finally, with regard to cybersecurity, Dev4Side supports its international customers with specific security solutions for cloud environments, providing them with advice and helping to solve their problems in every single step.
Concluding our speech, we cannot therefore underline again how Azure certifications represent a very important resource for IT professionals and companies that aspire to excel in the increasingly expanding field of cloud computing.
For IT professionals, acquiring an Azure certification is not only a sign of technical expertise, but an investment that can open up new career opportunities and guarantee that they are equipped with the most up-to-date and relevant knowledge, allowing them to design, implement and manage high-quality cloud solutions.
For companies, on the other hand, having an Azure certified partner means being able to count on a workforce capable of optimizing resources, reducing risks and maintaining a competitive advantage in the global market, where cloud computing is increasingly central and on-premise solutions are rapidly becoming a thing of the past.
An Azure certification is a credential offered by Microsoft that validates expertise in using Azure, Microsoft's cloud computing platform. Certifications help professionals showcase their skills in various Azure services, including cloud computing, data management, security, and application development.
Azure certifications are categorized into four levels: Fundamentals, Associate, Expert, and Specialty. Each level targets different experience and skill levels, from beginners to advanced professionals in specialized areas of Azure.
Achieving Azure certification demonstrates a professional's ability to work with Azure's robust and scalable cloud solutions. This is increasingly valuable as organizations adopt cloud-based infrastructures, creating demand for certified Azure specialists.
Microsoft offers role-based Azure certification paths tailored to specific job roles, such as Administrator, Developer, Architect, and Security Engineer. Each path involves targeted exams to build relevant skills for these roles.
Azure certification exam fees vary depending on the certification level and region, typically ranging from $99 to $165. Check Microsoft's official certification page for specific costs and available discounts.
Hiring professionals with Azure certification helps ensure that a company’s cloud infrastructure is managed and optimized by knowledgeable experts, improving efficiency, security, and scalability in their digital environment.
For advanced Azure certifications like Expert or Specialty levels, prior completion of an Associate-level certification is often recommended or required, ensuring foundational knowledge before advancing to more complex topics.
The Infra & Security team focuses on the management and evolution of our customers' Microsoft Azure tenants. Besides configuring and managing these tenants, the team is responsible for creating application deployments through DevOps pipelines. It also monitors and manages all security aspects of the tenants and supports Security Operations Centers (SOC).
