Microsoft Azure Certification Landscape
Azure Certification Roadmap
AZ-104 is the core Azure Administrator Associate certification. Here's how it connects to the broader Azure certification landscape — and which certifications to pursue next based on your career goal.
Certification Tracks
Azure Administration
Azure Fundamentals
Cloud concepts, Azure architecture, core services, and pricing. The natural prerequisite before AZ-104.
Microsoft Azure Administrator
Implement, manage, and monitor Azure environments — identity, storage, compute, networking, and monitoring. You are studying this now.
Azure Solutions Architect Expert
Design Azure solutions — high availability, hybrid networking, identity, data storage, and DevOps integration. Requires AZ-104.
Azure Security
Security, Compliance & Identity Fundamentals
Zero Trust, Entra ID, Defender, Purview — great companion to AZ-104 identity and governance domain.
Azure Security Engineer Associate
Implement Azure security controls — identity, network security, host security, and container security. Pairs naturally with AZ-104.
Cybersecurity Architect Expert
Design enterprise security strategies across Zero Trust, GRC, security operations, and identity architecture.
Azure Networking
Azure Network Engineer Associate
Design and implement Azure networking — VNets, hybrid connectivity (VPN/ExpressRoute), load balancing, and network monitoring.
Azure Solutions Architect Expert
Advanced network architecture covering hybrid and multi-cloud topologies at expert level.
DevOps & Infrastructure
Azure DevOps Engineer Expert
Design and implement DevOps practices — CI/CD pipelines, infrastructure as code, monitoring, and feedback loops. Requires AZ-104 or AZ-204.
Azure Virtual Desktop Specialty
Plan, deliver, and manage virtual desktop experiences on Azure. Builds directly on AZ-104 compute and networking knowledge.
Recommended Paths After AZ-104
The core Azure administration track — manage, secure, and architect Azure environments.
Specialise in Azure networking — hybrid connectivity, load balancing, and network security.
Move from administration into DevOps — CI/CD, IaC, and infrastructure automation.
Why AZ-104 is the Foundation of the Azure Track
Required for Expert certs
AZ-305 (Solutions Architect) and AZ-400 (DevOps Engineer) both require AZ-104 or AZ-204 as a prerequisite.
Broad coverage
Covers identity, storage, compute, networking, and monitoring — the five pillars every Azure professional needs regardless of specialisation.
Industry demand
Azure Administrator Associate is consistently one of the top 5 most in-demand cloud certifications globally.
Ready to start your AZ-104 preparation?