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AZ-900 is a sensible first Azure certification if you want a broad grounding in cloud concepts and Azure services. Prepare against Microsoft’s three exam domains, use its free learning paths and practice assessment to find gaps, and treat the credential as a foundation—not proof of hands-on administration skill.
What AZ-900 covers—and who it suits
Microsoft describes Azure Fundamentals as a beginner-level certification covering cloud concepts and Microsoft Azure. It calls the credential “a common starting point in a journey towards a career in Azure.” The exam covers Azure architecture and services, including compute, networking, and storage, as well as security, governance, and administration tools. Microsoft identifies technology professionals in areas such as infrastructure management, database management, and software development among its intended audience. Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals
That makes AZ-900 useful for building a shared vocabulary and understanding how Azure’s main pieces fit together. It is a breadth-first exam: it tests foundational knowledge, not whether you can independently implement or operate a production Azure environment. The official sources describe its purpose as foundational; they do not establish that it is required before other Azure certifications. If you already know the fundamentals and want to demonstrate role-specific skills, compare the relevant role-based certification path rather than assuming you must take AZ-900 first.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsWhat to study for the current AZ-900 exam
Microsoft’s study guide lists the skills measured as of July 20, 2026. The percentages are approximate shares of the exam, so use them to allocate attention rather than as a promise about the exact questions you will see.
#1 Best Overall
| Exam domain | Approximate share | Topics to understand |
|---|---|---|
| Describe cloud concepts | 25–30% | Cloud computing, shared responsibility, public, private, and hybrid cloud models, and migration concepts. |
| Describe Azure architecture and services | 35–40% | Core architecture; compute, networking, and storage; identity and security topics including Microsoft Entra ID and Domain Services, authentication, external identities, Conditional Access, RBAC, Zero Trust, defense in depth, and Defender for Cloud. |
| Describe Azure management and governance | 30–35% | Cost factors and pricing tools; Microsoft Purview, Azure Policy, and resource locks; portal and command-line tools; Azure Arc; infrastructure as code and ARM templates; and monitoring tools such as Azure Monitor, Log Analytics, alerts, Application Insights, Advisor, and Service Health. |
Source: Microsoft Learn’s AZ-900 study guide, skills measured as of July 20, 2026. Azure architecture and services has the largest stated weight range, so give it substantial study time, but do not neglect either of the other domains.
Focus on what each service or tool is for and how it differs from nearby options. For example, be able to explain the role of an identity or governance tool in a scenario, rather than only recognizing its product name. The study guide is updated over time; Microsoft says English-language exam updates come first and localized versions may follow. Check the current guide and the details for your exam language close to test day.
A practical AZ-900 preparation plan
Microsoft links three self-paced learning paths under “Introduction to Cloud Infrastructure.” Their displayed durations are estimates for the course content, not a guarantee of the total time you will need to prepare.
| Learning path | Displayed course duration | Related exam domain |
|---|---|---|
| Cloud concepts | 56 minutes | Describe cloud concepts |
| Azure architecture and services | 2 hours 48 minutes | Describe Azure architecture and services |
| Azure management and governance | 1 hour 21 minutes | Describe Azure management and governance |
Durations shown on Microsoft’s Azure Fundamentals certification page; they are course estimates, not a recommended or sufficient total study schedule.
- Check the study guide. Use the current AZ-900 study guide as your checklist. Note unfamiliar terms and confirm which skills are measured for your exam date.
- Work through all three learning paths. Start with cloud concepts, then cover architecture and services, and finish with management and governance. Read actively: write down distinctions you tend to confuse and explain them in your own words.
- Use the practice assessment to diagnose gaps. Microsoft links a practice assessment from the certification page. Treat its results as a guide to topics to revisit, not as a guarantee of your exam result.
- Review weak areas against the guide and learning material. Return to the relevant objectives and lessons. Make sure your preparation covers all three domains, not just the topics that feel familiar.
- Try the exam sandbox. Microsoft also links a sandbox so you can familiarize yourself with the exam interface and question types before test day.
Microsoft recommends training and hands-on experience before taking the exam. The cited materials do not prescribe a universal number of preparation hours or promise that a particular practice score predicts passing, so base your schedule on your own familiarity and the gaps you find.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Exam duration, score, languages, and fee
- Passing score: 700 or greater, according to Microsoft’s 2026 AZ-900 study guide.
- Exam time: 45 minutes for this assessment on Microsoft’s certification page, retrieved October 7, 2026. Microsoft lists 65 minutes as the seat duration for Fundamentals exams when instructions and other exam steps are included. These are different measures of time, not conflicting durations.
- Languages: The retrieved Microsoft materials list English, Japanese, Simplified Chinese, Korean, Spanish, German, French, Indonesian (Indonesia), Arabic (Saudi Arabia), Traditional Chinese, Italian, Brazilian Portuguese, and Russian. Check the exam page for current availability and localization timing.
- Fee: The US listing retrieved displayed $99 USD, but Microsoft says the fee depends on the country or region where the exam is proctored. Check the current local exam listing for your price.
- Exam experience: Microsoft says exams are proctored and may include interactive components. Microsoft Learn access is not available during Fundamentals exams, so plan to answer from your preparation rather than relying on an in-exam lookup. Check the current scheduling information for the specific exam experience.
Sources: AZ-900 study guide, Azure Fundamentals certification page (retrieved October 7, 2026), and Microsoft’s exam duration and exam experience guidance.
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