Microsoft Unveils New Azure Certification Path: Which Credentials Are Right for Your IT Career

In 2018, Microsoft made a significant announcement regarding changes to its Azure certification path. The company decided to introduce a new role-based certification approach to better align with the specific job roles within the Microsoft Azure ecosystem. This change was designed to better reflect the evolving needs of the technology landscape and the feedback received from professionals in the industry.

As part of this transformation, Microsoft also announced the retirement of several existing Azure certification exams by the end of 2018. This retirement process continued into 2019, with some of the earlier certifications being phased out and replaced by new role-based exams. The changes were aimed at streamlining the certification process and making it more relevant to individuals’ career paths. The role-based approach offers a more specialized way for professionals to earn credentials tailored to their job responsibilities, helping to boost their expertise and career growth in the Azure cloud environment.

The goal of this article is to explore the new Microsoft Azure certification pathway in detail. By the end of this series, you’ll have a better understanding of the new certifications available, how to approach them, and which one may be the right fit for your career aspirations.

A New Approach to Certification

The new Azure certification track consists of three primary levels: Fundamentals, Associate, and Expert. These levels correspond to various job roles and responsibilities within the Azure cloud environment. The track includes different certifications aimed at different career paths, whether you’re just starting in the cloud world or looking to advance your skills and expertise.

The certification levels are designed to guide professionals through a learning journey that begins with a foundational understanding of Azure, progresses to more specialized associate-level skills, and culminates in expert-level knowledge for those looking to demonstrate a deep and comprehensive understanding of cloud technology.

Below is a breakdown of the various Azure certifications introduced in the role-based model:

• Fundamentals Certifications: These are designed for individuals who are new to Azure or cloud computing. The certifications are meant to provide a broad overview of Azure services and concepts, making them ideal for those who want to gain foundational knowledge without a deep technical background.

• Associate Certifications: These certifications are intended for professionals who already have some experience with Azure or cloud services and are looking to deepen their expertise in specific areas. These exams typically focus on more specialized skills related to particular job roles.

• Expert Certifications: These credentials are designed for individuals who have extensive experience in Azure and wish to demonstrate their expertise in the most complex areas of cloud computing. Expert-level certifications are aimed at professionals who want to prove their ability to design, implement, and manage Azure-based solutions at a high level.

The Role-Based Certification Track

The role-based certification approach provides clarity and direction for candidates looking to specialize in a specific area of Azure. By focusing on specific roles and responsibilities, Microsoft ensures that each certification corresponds to real-world job functions. These certifications are not just academic—they are directly tied to the skills that professionals need to perform their jobs effectively. Below, we will take a deeper look at each level of the certification track and explore the different certification options available.

Fundamentals Certifications

At the start of the Azure certification pathway is the Fundamentals level. This level is aimed at individuals who are new to the world of cloud computing or those who want to gain a basic understanding of Microsoft Azure. It doesn’t require a technical background, but it is essential to have a basic understanding of cloud services to succeed.

One of the primary goals of the Fundamentals certifications is to help individuals understand the core concepts of Azure and cloud services, even if they don’t have an in-depth technical background. The content covered in the certification exams is designed to lay a solid foundation for further learning in the Azure ecosystem.

The certifications at this level provide an introduction to the key concepts, services, and solutions offered by Azure. These credentials are ideal for students, career changers, or professionals who are considering cloud computing as a potential career path.

The Fundamentals certification serves as the entry point for individuals to move on to more specialized certifications, such as those focusing on administration, development, or architecture within the Azure platform.

Associate Certifications

The next level in the Azure certification track is the Associate level. These certifications are designed for individuals who already have some experience in cloud computing and want to further develop their skills in specific areas. The Associate certifications are ideal for professionals who want to deepen their knowledge and skills in particular aspects of Azure.

The Associate-level certifications are more specialized than the Fundamentals certifications and require a greater level of expertise. These certifications are focused on job roles such as administrators, developers, and security engineers, among others.

Each Associate-level exam evaluates the skills and knowledge needed to perform the duties associated with the job role. This level is particularly useful for individuals looking to enter the workforce as Azure professionals or those already in the industry who wish to expand their expertise in a specific area of Azure.

Expert Certifications

Finally, the Expert level represents the pinnacle of the Azure certification path. These certifications are intended for professionals with extensive experience in Azure and cloud services. The Expert certifications are aimed at individuals who have a deep understanding of Azure and are capable of managing, designing, and implementing large-scale, complex cloud solutions.

At this level, the certifications focus on high-level concepts such as solution architecture, design, and governance. Earning an Expert certification demonstrates a high level of proficiency in managing the most complex aspects of cloud solutions and validates the ability to work with multiple Azure services and technologies.

These certifications are ideal for professionals looking to advance their careers into senior or leadership positions in cloud computing, such as cloud architects, solution architects, or senior engineers.

Exploring the Individual Microsoft Azure Certifications

Now that we’ve covered the basic structure of the Microsoft Azure certification path, let’s dive into the specifics of the individual certifications. Each certification is designed to cater to different job roles within the Azure ecosystem, and understanding the details of these certifications can help you make an informed decision about which path to pursue. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned professional, there’s a certification that fits your career goals and experience level.

Azure Fundamentals Certification

The Azure Fundamentals certification is aimed at individuals who are new to cloud computing and Azure services. It serves as the foundational step in the Azure certification path and provides a high-level overview of Azure’s core services. This certification is not technical and does not require any prior experience with Azure. It is ideal for students, career changers, or anyone who wants to understand the basic concepts of cloud computing.

Key Areas Covered in the Certification:

• Cloud Concepts: This includes an understanding of the basic principles of cloud computing, such as cloud service models and deployment models.

• Core Azure Services: You will learn about the essential services offered by Azure, including compute, networking, storage, and databases.

• Azure Pricing & Support: This section covers the pricing models of Azure services and the support options available.

• Security, Compliance, Trust, and Privacy: You’ll learn about Azure’s security features, compliance certifications, and privacy offerings.

Although the certification is optional, earning it demonstrates a strong foundational knowledge of Azure, which is beneficial for individuals seeking to enter the cloud computing field or for those with a non-technical background.

Azure Administrator Associate Certification

The Azure Administrator Associate certification is intended for professionals who are looking to pursue a career in managing Azure environments. This certification is focused on the role of an Azure administrator, someone who manages cloud resources, virtual machines, networks, and storage in an Azure environment. The certification exam tests the candidate’s ability to configure and manage Azure services and infrastructure.

Certification Overview:
To earn this certification, candidates must pass a single exam. This credential is essential for anyone who wants to become an Azure administrator, and it also serves as a prerequisite for advanced certifications such as the Azure Developer Associate and the Azure DevOps Engineer Expert certifications.

Key Areas Covered in the Certification:

• Managing Azure Subscriptions & Resources: Understanding how to manage Azure subscriptions and resources is crucial for administrators.

• Implementing & Managing Storage: This involves setting up and managing storage resources in Azure.

• Configuring & Managing Virtual Networks: Virtual networks are fundamental components of any cloud solution. Administrators must know how to configure and manage them in Azure.

• Managing Identities: Azure administrators must manage user accounts, roles, and permissions to ensure secure access to resources.

• Deploying & Managing Virtual Machines: Administrators need to be skilled in provisioning and managing virtual machines in Azure to support cloud applications and workloads.

The Azure Administrator Associate certification is ideal for individuals who want to focus on infrastructure management and support within the Azure ecosystem. It is often one of the first certifications pursued by individuals looking to work with Azure at an administrative level.

Azure Developer Associate Certification

The Azure Developer Associate certification is targeted at professionals working in roles such as developers or software engineers who want to specialize in developing applications and solutions within the Azure environment. This certification focuses on developing and deploying cloud-based applications, and it covers both infrastructure and platform as a service (IaaS and PaaS) solutions.

Certification Overview:
Candidates for this certification must pass a single exam. The Azure Developer Associate certification is often pursued by developers looking to work with Azure’s vast array of development tools and services, including compute, storage, and networking.

Key Areas Covered in the Certification:

• Developing Azure IaaS Compute Solutions: This includes creating and managing virtual machines and other compute resources.

• Developing Azure PaaS Compute Solutions: This covers building and deploying applications using Azure’s platform as a service offerings.

• Developing for Azure Storage: Developers need to know how to integrate Azure storage services into their applications.

• Implementing Azure Security: Securing applications and data within the Azure platform is critical for developers.

• Monitoring, Optimizing, and Troubleshooting Azure Solutions: Developers must be able to monitor performance, optimize solutions, and troubleshoot any issues that arise in production environments.

• Connecting & Consuming Azure Services and Third-Party Services: Developers need to know how to integrate and consume services from both within the Azure ecosystem and from external sources.

For developers, this certification helps to enhance their skills in building scalable applications on the Azure platform. It’s a great choice for those who want to specialize in cloud application development and software engineering.

Azure Solution Architect Expert Certification

The Azure Solution Architect Expert certification is one of the most advanced certifications in the Azure path. It is intended for professionals with extensive experience in cloud solutions who want to demonstrate their expertise in designing and implementing complex Azure environments. This certification is often pursued by those aiming to become solution architects—individuals responsible for designing the architecture of cloud-based applications and systems.

Certification Overview:
To earn the Azure Solution Architect Expert certification, candidates need to pass two exams. The exams are designed to evaluate candidates’ knowledge and skills in designing and managing solutions on the Azure platform. It is crucial to pass both exams in the correct order.

Key Areas Covered in the Certification:

• Deploying & Configuring Infrastructure: Solution architects need to be proficient in configuring the underlying infrastructure of cloud solutions, including virtual networks and compute resources.

• Implementing Workloads & Security: Designing secure solutions with proper workloads is key to ensuring successful deployments.

• Creating & Deploying Apps: Architects must understand how to create and deploy applications within the Azure ecosystem.

• Architecting Cloud Technology Solutions: This includes designing solutions that leverage various Azure services to meet specific business requirements.

• Developing for Cloud: Solution architects must ensure that cloud technologies are fully integrated and capable of supporting the needs of the business.

• Implementing Authentication & Secure Data: Security is a key focus for architects, who must ensure that applications and services are protected from external and internal threats.

The Azure Solution Architect Expert certification is ideal for individuals who have deep technical expertise and are capable of designing large-scale, enterprise-level solutions on the Azure platform.

Azure DevOps Engineer Expert Certification

The Azure DevOps Engineer Expert certification is designed for professionals who work in DevOps roles, focusing on continuous integration, continuous delivery, and infrastructure automation. This certification is perfect for those looking to combine software development with IT operations to deliver high-quality, automated solutions in the Azure cloud.

Certification Overview:
Candidates for the Azure DevOps Engineer Expert certification must first obtain an Associate-level certification in either Azure Administration or Azure Development. The exam focuses on DevOps practices, including the automation of deployment pipelines and infrastructure management.

Key Areas Covered in the Certification:

• Designing DevOps Strategies: DevOps engineers must design strategies that incorporate continuous delivery, automated testing, and continuous integration.

• Implementing DevOps Development Procedures: This involves the implementation of DevOps practices within the development lifecycle.

• Implementing Continuous Delivery: Continuous delivery is a key aspect of DevOps, and engineers must be able to design and implement these practices.

• Implementing Continuous Integration: Ensuring that code changes are automatically integrated into the build process is essential for a smooth development pipeline.

• Implementing Continuous Feedback: DevOps engineers must ensure that the feedback loop is maintained throughout the development and deployment process.

• Implementing Dependency Management: Proper management of dependencies is essential for building reliable software solutions.

• Implementing Application Infrastructure: Engineers are responsible for automating and managing infrastructure to ensure that applications run efficiently.

The Azure DevOps Engineer Expert certification is ideal for professionals looking to streamline their development and operations processes, making them more agile and efficient within the Azure platform.

Continuing the Exploration of Microsoft Azure Certifications

In the previous part, we explored the foundational, associate, and expert-level certifications in Microsoft Azure, focusing on the various paths for administrators, developers, and solution architects. Now, let’s continue our journey through the Azure certification track, delving into certifications that specialize in security, data engineering, and other critical aspects of cloud management. These certifications are essential for professionals who want to deepen their expertise and specialize in specific areas of Azure.

Azure Security Engineer Associate Certification

The Azure Security Engineer Associate certification is one of the newer role-based certifications added to the Azure path. This certification is aimed at professionals who specialize in securing Azure environments, managing identity and access, and protecting data and applications. Azure security engineers are responsible for ensuring that Azure environments are secure and compliant, protecting organizational data from cyber threats and unauthorized access.

Certification Overview:
Candidates pursuing this certification need to pass a single exam, which tests their skills in securing Azure services and ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data. This certification is ideal for those with an interest in cybersecurity and cloud security roles.

Key Areas Covered in the Certification:

• Managing Identity & Access: Security engineers must have in-depth knowledge of managing user identities, roles, and permissions to ensure that only authorized individuals can access specific Azure resources.

• Implementing Platform Protection: This includes implementing security measures for network and system protection, as well as configuring firewalls, security policies, and other protective mechanisms.

• Securing Data & Applications: Azure security engineers must implement measures to secure both data and applications, ensuring compliance with security standards and regulatory requirements.

• Managing Security Operations: This domain involves monitoring and responding to security incidents and managing ongoing security operations to maintain a secure environment within Azure.

The Azure Security Engineer Associate certification is essential for professionals who want to work in cloud security, protecting Azure resources and applications from potential vulnerabilities. This certification is particularly beneficial for those in roles such as security analysts, security engineers, and cloud security architects.

Azure Data Engineer Associate Certification

The Azure Data Engineer Associate certification is designed for professionals who wish to specialize in the management, development, and security of data within Azure environments. This certification is ideal for those interested in roles such as data engineers, data architects, or individuals responsible for designing and implementing data storage, data processing, and analytics solutions in the cloud.

Certification Overview:
Candidates seeking this certification need to pass two exams: one focused on implementing data solutions (Data Engineering)and the other focusing on designing data solutions (Data Architecture). These exams are intended for professionals who work with data solutions, including data processing, storage, and integration, within the Azure platform.

Key Areas Covered in the Certification:

1. Implementation of Data Storage Solutions: Data engineers must be able to implement a variety of data storage solutions within Azure, including relational and non-relational databases, data lakes, and other storage services.

2. Management and Development of Data Processing: This involves building solutions for batch and real-time data processing and ensuring that data can be processed efficiently within Azure.

3. Monitoring and Optimization of Data Solutions: Data engineers must understand how to monitor the performance of data solutions and optimize their operations to ensure the reliability and efficiency of cloud-based data systems.

4. Designing Data Storage Solutions: This domain is focused on the architectural aspects of data solutions, including designing storage solutions for scalability, security, and compliance.

5. Designing Data Processing Solutions: Data engineers need to design efficient data processing solutions to handle large volumes of data, ensuring that data is processed in a timely and secure manner.

6. Design for Data Security & Compliance: Ensuring that data solutions comply with industry regulations and security standards is critical, especially when dealing with sensitive data.

This certification is perfect for individuals who are responsible for managing and securing data within the Azure ecosystem. It equips professionals with the skills needed to design and implement data solutions that are secure, scalable, and optimized for cloud environments.

Azure DevOps Engineer Expert Certification

The Azure DevOps Engineer Expert certification, which we briefly touched on in the previous section, is a highly specialized credential for professionals who combine development and operations expertise. DevOps engineers are responsible for optimizing the entire software development lifecycle, ensuring seamless integration and continuous delivery. This certification is ideal for professionals in roles where they manage the tools and processes that enable continuous integration, delivery, and monitoring of software applications.

Certification Overview:
To earn this credential, candidates need to pass the Microsoft DevOps Engineer exam, which assesses their skills in implementing and managing DevOps practices, continuous integration (CI), and continuous delivery (CD) processes. Candidates must already hold an Azure Administrator or Azure Developer Associate certification before pursuing this certification.

Key Areas Covered in the Certification:

• Designing DevOps Strategies: DevOps engineers must design strategies that incorporate agile principles, continuous integration, automated testing, and release management.

• Implementing DevOps Development Procedures: This involves the implementation of DevOps practices such as version control, infrastructure as code, and automated deployment pipelines.

• Implementing Continuous Delivery: DevOps engineers are tasked with automating the release process to ensure that software is delivered quickly and reliably.

• Implementing Continuous Integration: Ensuring that code changes are continuously integrated into a shared repository is critical for maintaining a smooth development workflow.

• Implementing Continuous Feedback: Continuous feedback loops help teams identify issues early in the development process and improve the quality of software.

• Implementing Dependency Management: Managing dependencies is vital for maintaining the stability and performance of applications in the cloud.

• Implementing Application Infrastructure: DevOps engineers manage the infrastructure needed to support applications, ensuring that it is both scalable and secure.

For professionals working in development and operations, this certification helps validate expertise in integrating development and IT operations, fostering collaboration, and improving the software release process.

Finalizing Your Azure Certification Journey

In this final part of the series, we’ll complete our exploration of the Microsoft Azure certification path by covering additional specialized certifications. These certifications focus on key areas such as managing cloud infrastructure, enhancing security measures, and understanding specific job roles that are integral to Azure environments. By the end of this section, you’ll have a comprehensive understanding of the certification options available and how to select the best path for advancing your IT career.

Azure Solution Architect Expert Certification

For experienced professionals who wish to take on the complex role of designing cloud solutions, the Azure Solution Architect Expert certification is one of the most sought-after credentials. This certification is ideal for those working as cloud architects or IT professionals responsible for designing scalable, highly available, and secure cloud infrastructures on Azure. Solution architects work with other teams, stakeholders, and business units to ensure that cloud services align with organizational needs and goals.

Certification Overview:
To earn this credential, candidates need to pass two exams: one that focuses on designing infrastructure and implementing workloads (AZ-300), and another that covers aspects of solution architecture such as business continuity, data security, and infrastructure strategy (AZ-301). These exams are designed to validate your ability to design complex solutions that use multiple Azure services and technologies.

Key Areas Covered in the Certification:

• Designing Infrastructure: Solution architects need to be proficient in designing cloud infrastructures, including compute, networking, and storage solutions, that are scalable and cost-effective.

• Implementing Workloads & Security: Ensuring that solutions are secure, compliant, and optimized for performance is a key responsibility of a solution architect.

• Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery: Architects must design solutions that can withstand outages or failures, ensuring high availability and disaster recovery strategies are in place.

• Designing Data Platforms: A solution architect must ensure the data platform meets the organization’s needs, including performance, security, and compliance.

• Deploying & Migrating Applications: This involves designing solutions that are easy to deploy, manage, and scale in a cloud environment.

• Managing Identity & Security: Ensuring that solutions are architected with proper access management and security controls is a fundamental responsibility.

The Azure Solution Architect Expert certification is perfect for those who want to focus on the high-level design and architecture of complex Azure-based solutions. It requires a solid understanding of cloud technologies and the ability to translate business requirements into technical solutions.

Azure Data Engineer Associate Certification

We briefly covered this certification in part two, but it’s worth diving deeper into its impact on professionals who wish to specialize in data engineering. Azure Data Engineers work with data services and tools within the Azure platform to design, implement, and maintain data storage, processing, and security solutions. Data engineers play a critical role in organizations that rely on big data, analytics, and real-time data processing for business insights.

Certification Overview:
The Azure Data Engineer Associate certification involves passing two exams: DP-200 and DP-201. These exams are designed to assess the candidate’s skills in developing, managing, and securing data solutions on Azure. They are ideal for professionals who work with large datasets, analytics platforms, or build data pipelines that process real-time data.

Key Areas Covered in the Certification:

• Designing Data Storage Solutions: This involves choosing the right storage options for different data types and ensuring that data is stored securely and efficiently.

• Implementing Data Processing: This covers the implementation of processing workflows, including batch and real-time data processing pipelines.

• Monitoring and Optimization of Data Solutions: Data engineers need to ensure that the data pipelines are efficient and running smoothly while optimizing performance and costs.

• Designing for Security and Compliance: Protecting sensitive data and ensuring compliance with industry regulations are vital aspects of the role.

The Azure Data Engineer Associate certification is ideal for professionals who wish to specialize in data architecture and data engineering using Azure technologies. It offers a path for those wanting to work with the wide array of data services offered by Microsoft Azure, including databases, storage, and big data analytics.

Choosing the Right Azure Certification Path

With numerous certifications available, it’s important to determine which certification path aligns best with your current skill set and career aspirations. Below are some guidelines to help you select the best Azure certification for your professional development:

1. Assess Your Current Skill Level

• Fundamentals Certifications: If you are new to cloud computing or Azure, start with a Fundamentals certification. This provides a solid foundation and helps you get familiar with the key concepts of cloud services.

• Associate Certifications: If you have some hands-on experience with Azure or have worked with cloud environments before, the Associate certifications are the next step. These certifications are focused on specific job roles like Azure administrator or developer and provide a more hands-on, in-depth understanding of Azure.

• Expert Certifications: If you have several years of experience in Azure and want to solidify your expertise in advanced areas such as architecture, DevOps, or security, Expert-level certifications are designed for experienced professionals looking to prove their mastery.

2. Identify Your Desired Role

The Azure certifications are designed around specific job roles, so it’s crucial to choose a path that aligns with your career goals. Consider the following roles:

• Administrator: If you’re interested in managing and configuring cloud environments, pursue certifications such as the Azure Administrator Associate.

• Developer: For those looking to specialize in building cloud applications, the Azure Developer Associate certification is a great option.

• Security Specialist: If security is your primary focus, the Azure Security Engineer Associate certification will provide the skills necessary to secure Azure environments.

• Architect: For individuals who enjoy designing complex, scalable solutions, the Azure Solution Architect Expert certification is the ideal choice.

3. Consider Industry Demand

Some Azure certifications may be more relevant depending on current industry trends. For instance, cloud security is becoming an increasingly important field, making certifications like the Azure Security Engineer Associate highly valuable. Similarly, data-related roles such as data engineers are in high demand, so obtaining the Azure Data Engineer Associate certification can open up numerous career opportunities.

4. Set Clear Career Goals

When choosing an Azure certification, it’s important to keep your long-term career goals in mind. For instance, if your goal is to become a cloud architect, aiming for the Azure Solution Architect Expert certification would be ideal. On the other hand, if you’re interested in a career in security or data management, focusing on certifications related to those areas will help you build the expertise necessary to succeed.

Conclusion: Taking the Next Steps

Microsoft Azure certifications are a great way to validate your skills, build credibility, and advance your career in the growing field of cloud computing. Whether you are just starting with cloud technologies or have years of experience, there is a certification that matches your career goals and expertise level.

By following the role-based certification track, you can specialize in a field that interests you and gain the necessary knowledge and skills to excel in today’s competitive IT job market. As you progress through the various certification levels, you’ll enhance your technical proficiency and increase your value to organizations that are leveraging cloud technologies for business success.

Choose your certification path carefully, study the materials, and gain hands-on experience with Azure to ensure success. Good luck on your Azure certification journey—your career in cloud computing is just beginning!