How to Pass the AZ‑104 – Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate

Dale rose — Mon, 23 Jun 2025 09:42:43 +0000

When I first decided to pursue the AZ-104 certification, I knew I was stepping into a more hands-on role within Azure’s ecosystem. Unlike foundational exams like AZ-900, AZ-104 dives into the operational responsibilities of an Azure Administrator—making it both rewarding and demanding.

In this post, I’ll walk you through how I passed AZ-104 on my first try, covering everything from preparation strategies to exam-day tips.

Why I Chose AZ-104

I had been working in a hybrid cloud environment for a while and realized that Azure was becoming more central to our infrastructure. To stay relevant and grow my skills, AZ-104 felt like the natural next step. It’s ideal if you’re looking to validate your ability to manage cloud services like virtual machines, storage, networking, and identity.

Exam Overview

Exam Code: AZ-104

Duration: ~120 minutes

Question Format: Multiple choice, case studies, drag-and-drop, command line snippets

Passing Score: 700/1000

Cost: $165 USD (price may vary by location)

Prerequisite: None officially, but hands-on experience is highly recommended

My Study Plan

I gave myself 4 weeks of focused study time, allocating 2 hours per day on weekdays and 3–4 hours on weekends.

Week 1: Understand the Blueprint

I downloaded the official Microsoft skills outline and broke down each section into smaller learning goals.

I created a Notion board to track topics I’d studied vs. those I hadn’t touched yet.

Week 2: Learning Through Microsoft Learn

Microsoft Learn’s AZ-104 learning paths are 100% free and incredibly thorough.

I covered topics like:

Managing Azure identities and governance

Implementing storage solutions

Deploying and managing Azure compute resources

Configuring virtual networks

Monitoring resources

I took notes and practiced using Azure’s free trial environment side-by-side with the modules.

Week 3: Labs & Hands-On Practice

This week was all about touching real Azure.

**I spun up:
A virtual machine and configured NSGs (network security groups)

Blob and file storage accounts with lifecycle policies

A virtual network with subnets, route tables, and peerings

Azure AD roles and RBAC assignments

This hands-on experience turned theoretical concepts into real understanding.

Week 4: Practice Tests & Final Review

I purchased a couple of practice exams from trusted platforms like Tutorials Dojo and MeasureUp.

Here’s what helped:

Simulating real exam conditions (timed tests, no Googling)

Reviewing every incorrect answer in detail

Focusing more on the areas I was weak in (e.g., monitoring and identity)

By the end of this week, I was scoring consistently above 80% in mock tests, which gave me the confidence to schedule the real deal.

Exam Day Experience

I chose the online proctored option through Pearson VUE. Here’s how I prepared:

Cleared my desk, set up my laptop in a quiet room, and tested my webcam and microphone 30 minutes before the exam.

You’re not allowed to leave the room, wear headphones, or have notes—so be fully prepared and well-rested.

The exam had a mix of multiple-choice questions, case studies, and a few drag-and-drops. Some questions required familiarity with Azure CLI and PowerShell syntax, so don’t ignore those during prep.

Time was enough—I finished with 15 minutes to spare and used that time to review flagged questions.

What Helped the Most

Microsoft Learn modules (especially with their interactive labs)

Hands-on practice using Azure Portal, CLI, and PowerShell

Taking practice tests to get used to the format and pacing

Staying consistent with study hours instead of cramming

Final Thoughts

AZ-104 is not an easy exam—but it’s absolutely manageable with the right plan. If you're serious about managing Azure services in a real-world environment, this certification will push you to a higher level of technical depth and confidence.

The key is structured learning, hands-on labs, and regular self-assessment. Whether you're doing this to advance your career, shift into a cloud role, or just challenge yourself—this certification is worth it.

Now that I’ve cleared AZ-104, I’m eyeing AZ-500 or AZ-305 as my next move.

If you're preparing for AZ-104, feel free to ask questions—I’m happy to help however I can!

DEV Community: Dale rose