AZ-900: Microsoft Azure Fundamentals is Microsoft’s entry-level cloud certification. It covers cloud concepts, core Azure services, and management and governance. It is ideal if you are new to cloud or work in an organization that runs on Microsoft technology.
Who should take AZ-900?
- Beginners exploring cloud careers
- IT professionals in Microsoft-heavy organizations
- Sales, project and business professionals working with Azure
- Anyone planning Azure associate certifications such as AZ-104
Exam overview
AZ-900 is a fundamentals-level exam with a passing score of 700 out of 1000. Microsoft’s fundamentals certifications don’t expire.
Exam details such as price, length and question count change periodically — always confirm current information on the official certification page before you book.
Skills measured
- Cloud concepts — cloud models (public, private, hybrid), service types (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS), benefits such as high availability and scalability, and the consumption-based model
- Azure architecture and services — regions, availability zones, resource groups, subscriptions, management groups, compute, networking, storage and identity
- Azure management and governance — cost management, Azure Policy, resource locks, Microsoft Purview, Azure Monitor and tools such as the portal, CLI and ARM/Bicep templates
Key Azure services to know
- Compute: Virtual Machines, App Service, Azure Functions, Azure Kubernetes Service and Container Instances
- Networking: Virtual Networks, VPN Gateway, ExpressRoute, Azure DNS and Load Balancer
- Storage: Blob, Files, Queues, Tables, storage tiers and redundancy options
- Identity: Microsoft Entra ID, conditional access, MFA and role-based access control
- Security: Microsoft Defender for Cloud, Key Vault and zero-trust concepts
- Cost: pricing calculator, TCO calculator, Cost Management and tags
A 2–3 week study plan
Week 1: Cloud concepts and Azure architecture. Create a free Azure account and explore the portal.
Week 2: Compute, networking, storage and identity. Deploy a simple web app and a storage account.
Week 3: Governance, cost management and practice assessments. Microsoft Learn offers a free learning path and practice assessment for AZ-900.
AZ-900 vs. AWS Cloud Practitioner
Both are foundational exams covering similar concepts. Choose based on the cloud your target employers use. Many enterprise and government organizations use Azure heavily; AWS has the largest overall market. See AWS Cloud Practitioner and best cloud certifications.
What to take after AZ-900
- AZ-104 Azure Administrator — for cloud operations
- AZ-204 Azure Developer — for developers
- SC-900 — for security fundamentals
- AI-900 / DP-900 — for AI or data fundamentals
- AZ-305 — Azure Solutions Architect Expert (after AZ-104)
Frequently asked questions
Is AZ-900 worth it?
Yes for beginners and professionals in Azure-focused organizations. It builds cloud vocabulary and is a common first step toward Azure associate certifications.
How long does it take to prepare for AZ-900?
Many candidates prepare in one to three weeks.
Does AZ-900 expire?
Microsoft fundamentals certifications generally do not expire.
Earned a new certification? Make sure recruiters’ software sees it.
Applicant tracking systems search for exact certification names and acronyms. HiReXL tailors your resume to each job’s keywords — including certifications — while keeping your format. HiReXL is built by 4As Consulting, a cloud and DevOps consulting firm. Looking for your next role? Submit your resume for open positions with PanAmerica Inc.
