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If you're preparing for the Microsoft Azure Administrator AZ-104 exam, you're in the right place! In this blog, I’ll share my personal insights, exam experience, and best practices that will help you pass the AZ-104 certification on your first attempt.
My name is Navneet Kumar, and I’m a Microsoft Certified Trainer. This guide is a transcript-based summary of a detailed video I created to help Azure learners and professionals get exam-ready. Click me to watch the youtube video
🔍 What Is the AZ-104 Exam?
The AZ-104: Microsoft Azure Administrator Associate exam validates your skills in managing Azure resources, virtual networking, storage, compute, identities, and governance.
It is an intermediate-level, role-based certification that’s ideal for IT professionals working as cloud administrators, systems engineers, or support specialists.
🧭 AZ-104 Exam Blueprint: Domain Breakdown
Understanding the exam blueprint is the first and most important step. Microsoft breaks the AZ-104 exam into five major domains, each weighted differently:
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Manage Azure Identities and Governance (15–20%)
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Azure AD (now Microsoft Entra ID): Users, groups, service principals, managed identities
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Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)
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Azure Policy and resource governance
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Implement and Manage Storage (10–15%)
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Blob storage, file shares, tables, queues
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Data Lake services
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Security, replication, and access control
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Deploy and Manage Azure Compute Resources (25–30%)
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Virtual machines (VMs), scale sets, containers (ACI, AKS)
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App Services and automation
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Configure and Manage Virtual Networking (30–35%)
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Virtual Networks, subnets, network security groups (NSG), firewalls
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Load balancers, Application Gateway, Azure Front Door, and Traffic Manager
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Monitor and Backup Azure Resources (10–15%)
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Azure Monitor, Recovery Services Vault, Azure Backup
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Alerts, diagnostics, and disaster recovery
🎯 Tip: Focus more on high-weighted areas like Compute and Networking.
Skills You Need Before Taking the Exam
To be successful in AZ-104, you should have hands-on experience with:
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Azure portal, Azure CLI, PowerShell, and ARM templates
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Windows Server, networking fundamentals, and virtualization
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Familiarity with Microsoft Entra ID, RBAC, and monitoring tools
Having prior knowledge or certification in Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900) is a plus but not mandatory.
Question Types in the AZ-104 Exam
Here are the types of questions you can expect:
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✅ Multiple Choice (Single & Multiple Answers)
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🔄 Drag and Drop (e.g., match deployment steps)
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📄 Case Studies (based on a real-world scenario)
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📊 Hot Area (clicking on the GUI to select configurations)
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🤔 Yes/No Solutions (multiple proposals under one scenario)
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⭐ Best Answer (select the most optimized option)
🧠 Pro Tip: You cannot go back to previous questions in some sections (like Yes/No scenarios), so answer carefully.
Time Management & Exam Format
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Total Exam Duration: 120 minutes
(100 minutes for the exam + 20 minutes for setup and survey)
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Number of Questions: 40–60
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Passing Score: 700/1000
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No negative marking – attempt every question!
You can flag questions for review and take unscheduled breaks, but be mindful that the exam timer doesn’t pause.
Microsoft Learn & Hands-On Labs
Use Microsoft Learn for:
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Official learning paths
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Practice modules
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Sandbox environments
Also, work with practice assessments, PowerShell scripts, and Azure Resource Manager templates to get real experience.
Study Resources & Playlists
I’ve created dedicated playlists and tutorial videos for:
Youtube Playlist on AZ-104: Click to Watch AZ-104 Course Youtube Videos
Final Tips to Pass the AZ-104 Exam
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✅ Follow the exam blueprint closely
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✅ Use sandbox environments and do hands-on labs
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✅ Take practice tests and review your weak areas
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✅ Learn to manage time effectively during the exam
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✅ Avoid memorizing dumps – focus on understanding the concepts
📅 Remember: The AZ-104 is valid for 1 year, and you’ll need to renew it annually.
💬 Need Live Training?
If you prefer structured guidance, we also offer live online training sessions where our instructors help you prepare step-by-step for the AZ-104 exam.
I hope this guide helps you navigate your AZ-104 preparation journey. If you found it helpful, please:
Share it with fellow learners
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Wishing you success on your AZ-104 certification exam!
