Preparing for AZ-900 Microsoft Azure Fundamentals Exam? This study guide will help you do that

1. Preparing for AZ-900 Microsoft Azure Fundamentals Certificate exam? Don’t know
where to start? This post is the AZ-900 Microsoft Azure Fundamentals Certificate Study
Guide (with links to each exam objective).
I have curated a list of articles from Microsoft documentation for each objective of AZ-
900 exam. I hope this article will be your AZ-900 Exam Study Guide. Also, please share
the post within your circles so it helps them to prepare for the exam. To view the pdf
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2. Understand cloud concepts (15-20%)
Describe the Benefits and Considerations of Using
Cloud Services
Understand terms such as High Availability, Scalability, Fault Tolerance, and Disaster
Recovery
https://blog.interfaceware.com/disaster-recovery-vs-high-availability-vs-fault-
tolerance-what-are-the-differences/
Understand terms such as Scalability and Elasticity
https://blog.turbonomic.com/blog/on-technology/cloud-elasticity-vs-cloud-scalability
Understand terms like Agility
https://www.cio.com/article/2416812/cloud-computing–two-kinds-of-agility.html
Understand the principles of economies of scale
The principles of economies of scale
Understand the differences between Capital Expenditure (CapEx) and Operational
Expenditure (OpEx)
Capital Expenditure (CapEx) and Operational Expenditure (OpEx)
Understand the consumption-based model
Consumption-based model
Describe the Differences between Infrastructure-as-a-
service (IaaS), Platform-as-a-service (PaaS) and
Software-as-a-service (SaaS)
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/learn/modules/principles-cloud-computing/5-types-
of-cloud-services

3. Describe the Differences between Public, Private and
Hybrid Cloud Models
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/learn/modules/principles-cloud-computing/4-cloud-
deployment-models
Understand Core Azure Services (30-35%)
Understand the Core Azure Architectural Components
Describe Regions
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/learn/modules/explore-azure-infrastructure/2-azure-
datacenter-locations
Describe Availability Zones
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/learn/modules/explore-azure-infrastructure/4-
availability-zones
Describe Resource Groups
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-resource-manager/resource-group-
overview
Describe Azure Resource Manager
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-resource-manager/resource-group-
overview
Describe the benefits and usage of core Azure architectural components
LinkedIN Learning: Core Azure Architectural Components
Describe Some of the Core Products Available in Azure
Describe products available for Compute like Virtual Machines
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-ca/azure/virtual-machines/windows/overview
Describe products available for Compute like Virtual Machines Scale Sets

4. https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/overview
Describe products available for Compute like App Service Functions
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/overview
Describe products available for Compute like Azure Container Instances (ACI)
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-instances/container-instances-
overview
Describe products available for Compute like Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS)
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/intro-kubernetes
Describe products available for Networking like Virtual Network
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-network/virtual-networks-overview
Describe products available for Networking like Load Balancer
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/load-balancer/load-balancer-overview
Describe products available for Networking like VPN Gateway
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/vpn-gateway/vpn-gateway-about-vpngateways
Describe products available for Networking like Application Gateway
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/application-gateway/overview
Describe products available for Networking like Content Delivery Network
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cdn/cdn-overview
Describe products available for Storage like Blob Storage
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/storage/blobs/storage-blobs-overview
Describe products available for Storage like Disk Storage
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machines/windows/managed-disks-
overview
Describe products available for Storage like File Storage

5. https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/storage/files/storage-files-introduction
Describe products available for Storage like Archive Storage
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-in/azure/storage/blobs/storage-blob-storage-tiers
Describe products available for Database like Cosmos DB
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-in/azure/cosmos-db/introduction
Describe products available for Database like Azure SQL Database
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/sql-database/sql-database-technical-overview
Describe products available for Database like Azure Database for MySQL
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/mysql/overview
Describe products available for Database like Azure Database for PostgreSQL
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/postgresql/overview
Describe products available for Database like Azure Database Migration Service
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/dms/dms-overview
Describe the Azure Marketplace and its usage scenarios
https://azuremarketplace.microsoft.com/en-us/about
TechTarget: definition/Microsoft-Azure-Marketplace
Describe Some of the Solutions Available on Azure
Describe Internet of Things (IoT) and products that are available for IoT on Azure such
as IoT Hub and IoT Central
https://www.ibm.com/blogs/internet-of-things/what-is-the-iot/
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/iot-fundamentals/iot-introduction
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/iot-hub/about-iot-hub
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-in/azure/iot-central/overview-iot-central

6. Describe Big Data and Analytics and products that are available for Big Data and
Analytics such as SQL Data Warehouse, HDInsight and Azure Databricks
https://www.sas.com/en_in/insights/big-data/what-is-big-data.html
https://www.sas.com/en_us/insights/what-is-analytics.html
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/sql-data-warehouse/sql-data-warehouse-
overview-what-is
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/hdinsight/hdinsight-overview
https://databricks.com/blog/2017/11/15/a-technical-overview-of-azure-databricks.html
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/sql-data-warehouse/sql-data-warehouse-
overview-what-is
Describe Artificial Intelligence (AI) and products that are available for AI such as Azure
Machine Learning Service and Studio
https://www.datarobot.com/wiki/artificial-intelligence/
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-in/azure/machine-learning/studio/what-is-ml-studio
(Studio)
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/machine-learning/service/overview-what-is-
azure-ml (Service)
Describe Serverless computing and Azure products that are available for serverless
computing such as Azure Functions, Logic Apps and Event Grid
https://aws.amazon.com/lambda/serverless-architectures-learn-more/
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-functions/functions-overview
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/logic-apps/logic-apps-overview
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/event-grid/overview
Describe DevOps solutions available on Azure, such as Azure DevOps and Azure
DevTest Labs
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/user-guide/what-is-azure-
devops?view=azure-devops
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-in/azure/lab-services/devtest-lab-overview

7. Describe the benefits and outcomes of using Azure solutions
https://azure.microsoft.com/en-ca/solutions/
Understand Azure Management Tools
Understand Azure tools such as Azure Portal, Azure PowerShell, Azure CLI, and Cloud
Shell
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-portal/azure-portal-overview
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/azure/get-started-azureps?view=azps-
2.8.0
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/cli/azure/get-started-with-azure-cli?view=azure-cli-
latest
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cloud-shell/overview
Understand Azure Advisor
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/advisor/advisor-overview
Understand Security, Privacy, Compliance,
and Trust (25-30%)
Understand Securing Network Connectivity in Azure
Describe Network Security Groups (NSG)
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-network/security-overview
Describe Application Security Groups (ASG)
https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/applicationsecuritygroups/
Describe User Defined Rules (UDR)
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-network/virtual-networks-udr-overview

8. Describe Azure Firewall
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/firewall/overview
Describe Azure DDoS Protection
https://azure.microsoft.com/en-ca/blog/azure-ddos-protection-service-preview/
Choose an appropriate Azure security solution
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/fundamentals/services-technologies
Describe Core Azure Identity Services
Understand the difference between authentication and authorization
Medium Post: authentication-vs-authorization
Describe Azure Active Directory
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/active-directory/fundamentals/active-
directory-whatis
Describe Azure Multi-Factor Authentication
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/active-directory/authentication/concept-mfa-
howitworks
Describe Security Tools and Features of Azure
Describe Azure Security Center
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security-center/security-center-intro
Understand Azure Security Center usage scenarios
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security-center/security-center-using-
recommendations
Describe Key Vault
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/key-vault/key-vault-overview

9. Describe Azure Information Protection (AIP)
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/information-protection/what-is-information-
protection
Describe Azure Advanced Threat Protection (ATP)
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure-advanced-threat-protection/what-is-atp
Describe Azure Governance Methodologies
Describe policies and initiatives with Azure Policy
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/overview
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/overview
Describe Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/role-based-access-control/overview
Describe Locks
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-resource-manager/resource-group-lock-
resources
Describe Azure Advisor security assistance
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/advisor/advisor-security-recommendations
Describe Azure Blueprints
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/blueprints/overview
Understand Monitoring and Reporting Options in Azure
Describe Azure Monitor
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-monitor/overview
Describe Azure Service Health

10. https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/service-health/
Understand the use cases and benefits of Azure Monitor and Azure Service Health
https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/what-s-the-difference-between-azure-monitor-
and-azure-service-health/
Understand Privacy, Compliance and Data Protection
Standards in Azure
Understand industry compliance terms such as GDPR, ISO and NIST
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/compliance/gdpr
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/TrustCenter/Compliance/iso-iec-27018
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/trustcenter/compliance/NIST_CSF
Understand the Microsoft Privacy Statement
https://privacy.microsoft.com/en-us/privacystatement
Describe the Trust center
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/trust-center/product-overview
Describe the Service Trust Portal
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/compliance/get-started-with-service-
trust-portal
Describe Compliance Manager
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSF39Oq8Xgs
Understand Azure Government cloud services
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-government/documentation-
government-welcome
Describe Azure China cloud services
https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/global-infrastructure/china/

11. Understand Azure Pricing and Support (20-
25%)
Understand Azure Subscriptions
Describe an Azure subscription
MSDN Blog: arunrakwal/2012/04/09/create-windows-azure-subscription/
Understand the uses and options with Azure subscriptions, such access control and offer
types
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/role-based-access-control/role-assignments-
portal
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/billing/billing-how-to-switch-azure-offer
Understand subscription management using Management groups
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/management-groups/overview
Understand Planning and Management of Costs
Understand options for purchasing Azure products and services
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/learn/modules/predict-costs-and-optimize-
spending/1a-purchasing-products
Understand options around Azure Free account
https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/resources/videos/azure-friday-azure-free-account/
Understand the factors affecting costs such as resource types, services, locations,
ingress and egress traffic
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/learn/modules/predict-costs-and-optimize-
spending/1b-factors-affecting-cost
Understand Zones for billing purposes
https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/pricing/details/bandwidth/
Understand the Pricing calculator

12. https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/learn/modules/predict-costs-and-optimize-
spending/2-estimate-costs-with-the-azure-pricing-calculator
Understand the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) calculator
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/learn/modules/predict-costs-and-optimize-
spending/3a-total-cost-of-ownership
Understand best practices for minimizing Azure costs such as performing cost analysis,
creating spending limits and quotas, using tags to identify cost owners, using Azure
reservations, and using Azure Advisor recommendations
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management/quick-acm-cost-analysis
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/billing/billing-spending-limit
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/machine-learning/service/how-to-manage-
quotas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHQYcYGKuyw
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/billing/billing-save-compute-costs-reservations
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-ca/azure/advisor/advisor-cost-recommendations
Describe Azure Cost Management
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management/overview-cost-mgt
Understand the Support Options Available with Azure
Understand support plans that are available such as Dev, Standard, Professional Direct
and Premier
https://azure.microsoft.com/en-ca/support/plans/
Understand how to open a support ticket
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-supportability/how-to-create-azure-
support-request
Understand available support channels outside of support plan channels
https://azure.microsoft.com/en-ca/support/faq/ (Check the question ‘What support is
included without an Azure Support plan?’)

13. Describe the Knowledge Center
https://azure.microsoft.com/en-ca/resources/knowledge-center/
Describe Azure Service Level Agreements (SLAs)
Describe a Service Level Agreement (SLA)
https://azure.microsoft.com/en-in/support/legal/sla/summary/
https://azure.microsoft.com/en-gb/support/legal/sla/
Understand Composite SLAs
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/architecture/reliability/requirements
Understand how to determine an appropriate SLA for an application
MSDN Blog: how-to-calculate-sla-for-a-product/
Understand Service Lifecycle in Azure
Understand Public and Private Preview features
Access public and private preview features
Understand the term General Availability (GA)
General Availability On Wikipedia
Understand how to monitor feature updates and product changes
https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/updates/ (Check this page for feature updates)
This brings us to the end of AZ-900 Study Guide

14. What do you think? Let me know in the Comments section if I have missed out
on anything. Also, I love to hear from you how your preparation is going on!
In case you are looking for other Azure certification exams check out this page