Microsoft Azure AZ-900 Study Guide

The Microsoft Azure AZ-900 Fundamentals certification validates foundational knowledge of cloud computing and Azure services. It is an excellent starting point for anyone working in a Microsoft-focused environment or wanting a vendor-neutral cloud credential alongside AWS CCP.

Exam Overview

• 40-60 questions, 60 minutes
• 700/1000 to pass (scaled scoring)
• Cost: USD 165
• No prerequisites
• Covers: cloud concepts, Azure architecture, Azure services, pricing, and governance

Domain 1: Cloud Concepts (25-30%)

• Benefits of cloud: high availability, scalability, elasticity, agility, disaster recovery, economy of scale
• Cloud models: Public, Private, Hybrid cloud
• Service models: IaaS, PaaS, SaaS with Azure examples
• Shared Responsibility Model

Domain 2: Azure Architecture and Services (35-40%)

Core Infrastructure

• Azure Regions and Availability Zones
• Azure Virtual Machines (IaaS compute)
• Azure App Service (PaaS web hosting)
• Azure Container Instances and AKS (containers)
• Azure Functions (serverless)

Storage

• Azure Blob Storage (object storage)
• Azure Files (managed file shares)
• Azure Queue Storage (messaging)
• Storage tiers: Hot, Cool, Archive

Databases

• Azure SQL Database (managed SQL)
• Azure Cosmos DB (globally distributed NoSQL)
• Azure Database for MySQL/PostgreSQL

Networking

• Azure Virtual Network (VNet)
• Azure Load Balancer and Application Gateway
• Azure VPN Gateway and ExpressRoute
• Azure DNS and Traffic Manager

Domain 3: Azure Management and Governance (30-35%)

• Azure Cost Management and Pricing Calculator
• Azure Policy and Management Groups
• Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)
• Azure Monitor and Azure Advisor
• Microsoft Defender for Cloud
• Azure Blueprints

AZ-900 vs AWS CCP Comparison

• Both are vendor-specific foundational certifications
• AZ-900 is slightly shorter study time (3-4 weeks vs 4-5 weeks for AWS CCP)
• AWS CCP has higher market demand in South Africa currently
• AZ-900 is more valuable if your employer uses Microsoft 365 and Azure
• Many cloud professionals hold both

Why AZ-900 is a smart first certification

The Microsoft Azure AZ-900 Fundamentals certification requires no technical prerequisites and can be passed with 4 to 6 weeks of part-time study. It is widely recognised by South African employers in banking, insurance, retail, and government — sectors that have heavily adopted Microsoft 365 and Azure cloud services. Even if your role is not technical, an AZ-900 demonstrates cloud literacy that is increasingly expected across all business functions.

The six domains

AZ-900 covers six content areas: Cloud Concepts (25–30%), Azure Architecture and Services (35–40%), and Azure Management and Governance (30–35%). Cloud Concepts is the most conceptual section — definitions of IaaS, PaaS, SaaS, the shared responsibility model, high availability, scalability, and elasticity. Azure Architecture covers the specific Azure services (Virtual Machines, Azure Storage, Azure SQL, App Service, Azure Functions, Azure AD/Entra ID). Management and Governance covers Cost Management, Azure Policy, Resource Locks, Blueprints, and the Cloud Adoption Framework.

Free study resources from Microsoft

Microsoft offers completely free AZ-900 preparation through Microsoft Learn (learn.microsoft.com). The AZ-900 learning path consists of approximately 9 hours of structured modules with interactive labs and knowledge checks. Tour is one of the most generous free preparation resources available for any certification. Combine Microsoft Learn modules with daily practice questions on Dragonfly's Azure section to cover both conceptual understanding and exam-style question practice.

Azure services you must know by name

For AZ-900, you need to recognise what each Azure service does from its name and a brief description. The most important services to know: Azure Virtual Machines (IaaS compute), Azure App Service (PaaS web hosting), Azure Functions (serverless compute), Azure Blob Storage (object storage), Azure SQL Database (managed relational database), Azure Cosmos DB (NoSQL, globally distributed), Azure Active Directory / Entra ID (identity and access management), Azure Virtual Network (VNet — private networking), Azure Load Balancer and Azure Application Gateway (load balancing), Azure CDN (Content Delivery Network), Azure Monitor (monitoring and alerts), and Azure Policy (governance and compliance).

You do not need deep technical knowledge of each service — but you need to recognise which category of problem each service solves and whether it is IaaS, PaaS, or SaaS.

The Cloud Adoption Framework and Well-Architected Framework

AZ-900 includes questions on the Microsoft Cloud Adoption Framework (CAF) — a structured approach to cloud migration and adoption — and the Azure Well-Architected Framework, which covers five pillars: Reliability, Security, Cost Optimisation, Operational Excellence, and Performance Efficiency. These are directly parallel to the AWS Well-Architected Framework. Know the five pillars and the general guidance each one provides. Questions about 'which framework would help an organisation reduce cloud costs' point to the Cost Optimisation pillar of the Well-Architected Framework.

AZ-900 in the South African enterprise context

Microsoft Azure dominates South African enterprise cloud adoption — the majority of large SA banks, insurance companies, and government departments use Azure as their primary or secondary cloud platform, primarily because of existing Microsoft licensing relationships (Office 365, Windows Server, SQL Server). This makes AZ-900 particularly practical for non-technical roles — finance analysts, project managers, compliance officers, and HR professionals at these organisations increasingly encounter Azure concepts in their daily work. AZ-900 provides the literacy to participate meaningfully in cloud strategy discussions, evaluate cloud costs, and understand governance and compliance requirements without needing deep technical skills.