Azure Administrator AZ-104 Certification Guide 2026: Complete Study Plan and Exam Tips

What is the Azure Administrator AZ-104 Certification?

The Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104) is one of the most valuable cloud certifications in 2026. With enterprises rapidly migrating to Microsoft Azure, certified administrators are commanding salaries between $120,000-$150,000 annually. This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to pass the AZ-104 exam on your first attempt.

The AZ-104 certification validates your expertise in implementing, managing, and monitoring Azure environments. It’s the foundation for advancing to Azure Solutions Architect Expert (AZ-305) and other specialized Azure certifications.

AZ-104 Exam Format and Requirements

Understanding the exam structure is essential for effective preparation:

• Exam Code: AZ-104
• Duration: 120 minutes (plus additional time for labs)
• Question Count: 40-60 questions
• Question Types: Multiple choice, drag-and-drop, case studies, and hands-on labs
• Passing Score: 700 out of 1000 (approximately 70%)
• Exam Cost: $165 USD
• Validity: 1 year (free renewal through Microsoft Learn)
• Prerequisites: None officially, but 6+ months Azure experience recommended

AZ-104 Exam Domains and Weightage 2026

The exam covers five domains with the following distribution:

Domain 1: Manage Azure Identities and Governance (20-25%)

• Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD): Users, groups, administrative units, guest access
• Role-Based Access Control: Built-in roles, custom roles, role assignments, PIM
• Subscriptions and Governance: Management groups, Azure Policy, resource locks, tags
• Cost Management: Budgets, cost analysis, Azure Advisor, reservations

Domain 2: Implement and Manage Storage (15-20%)

• Storage Accounts: Performance tiers, replication options, access tiers
• Blob Storage: Containers, lifecycle management, versioning, soft delete
• Azure Files: SMB/NFS shares, Azure File Sync, premium file shares
• Storage Security: SAS tokens, stored access policies, encryption, network rules

Domain 3: Deploy and Manage Azure Compute (20-25%)

• Virtual Machines: VM sizes, availability sets/zones, scale sets, dedicated hosts
• ARM/Bicep Templates: Infrastructure as code, deployment, template specs
• Containers: Azure Container Instances, Azure Container Registry, AKS basics
• Azure App Service: Web apps, deployment slots, scaling, custom domains, certificates

Domain 4: Implement and Manage Virtual Networking (20-25%)

• Virtual Networks: Address spaces, subnets, DNS settings, peering
• Network Security: NSGs, ASGs, Azure Firewall, DDoS Protection, Private Link
• Load Balancing: Azure Load Balancer, Application Gateway, Front Door, Traffic Manager
• Hybrid Connectivity: VPN Gateway, ExpressRoute, Virtual WAN, Azure Bastion

Domain 5: Monitor and Maintain Azure Resources (10-15%)

• Azure Monitor: Metrics, logs, alerts, action groups, Application Insights
• Azure Backup: Recovery Services vault, backup policies, file recovery
• Network Monitoring: Network Watcher, Connection Monitor, NSG flow logs
• Log Analytics: Workspaces, KQL queries, workbooks, insights

90-Day AZ-104 Study Plan

Month 1: Foundation (Days 1-30)

• Week 1: Create free Azure account ($200 credit), explore Portal, study Microsoft Entra ID
• Week 2: RBAC, management groups, Azure Policy, resource locks
• Week 3: Storage accounts, blob storage, Azure Files, access tiers
• Week 4: Virtual machines, availability options, VM scale sets

Month 2: Core Services (Days 31-60)

• Week 5: Virtual networking, subnets, NSGs, peering
• Week 6: Load balancers, Application Gateway, Traffic Manager
• Week 7: ARM templates, Azure CLI, PowerShell automation
• Week 8: Azure Monitor, backup, Log Analytics

Month 3: Practice and Review (Days 61-90)

• Week 9-10: Take 3-4 full practice exams, identify weak areas
• Week 11: Hands-on labs, focus on performance-based questions
• Week 12: Final review, exam day preparation

Best AZ-104 Study Resources 2026

Free Resources

• Microsoft Learn: Official learning paths covering all exam objectives
• John Savill’s YouTube: Comprehensive AZ-104 study playlist
• Azure Free Account: $200 credit + always-free tier services
• Microsoft Documentation: Official reference for all services

Paid Resources (Worth It)

• Scott Duffy (Udemy): Popular course with hands-on labs – $15-20
• Whizlabs Practice Exams: Realistic exam simulation – $20
• MeasureUp: Official Microsoft practice test partner – $99
• A Cloud Guru: Comprehensive course with sandbox environments

Essential Hands-On Labs

The AZ-104 includes performance-based questions. Master these labs:

• Create and manage Microsoft Entra ID users, groups, and administrative units
• Configure custom RBAC roles and assignments
• Implement Azure Policy and evaluate compliance
• Deploy VMs using Portal, CLI, and ARM templates
• Configure VM scale sets with autoscaling rules
• Set up virtual networks, peering, and NSGs
• Configure Azure Load Balancer and Application Gateway
• Implement Azure Backup and recovery
• Create Log Analytics workspace and run KQL queries

Exam Day Tips

• Time Management: 2-3 minutes per question; labs may take 15-20 minutes
• Complete Labs First: You cannot return to labs once you move past them
• Read Carefully: Look for keywords like “minimum effort,” “lowest cost,” “most secure”
• Use Process of Elimination: Eliminate obviously wrong answers first
• Flag and Review: Flag uncertain questions and review if time permits

Career Opportunities After AZ-104

The Azure Administrator certification opens these career paths:

• Azure Administrator: $100,000-$140,000
• Cloud Engineer: $110,000-$150,000
• DevOps Engineer: $120,000-$160,000
• Solutions Architect: $140,000-$180,000 (with AZ-305)

Free Certification Renewal

Microsoft offers free renewal through Microsoft Learn. Six months before expiration, complete a free online assessment to renew without retaking the full exam. This keeps your certification current at no additional cost.

Conclusion

The AZ-104 Azure Administrator certification is essential for anyone managing Azure infrastructure. With the 90-day study plan, quality resources, and hands-on practice outlined above, you can confidently pass the exam on your first attempt. Start your Azure journey today with a free account and Microsoft Learn’s comprehensive training paths.