NotJustExamAbout the Microsoft Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104) exam
The AZ-104 exam earns the Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate credential. It validates that you can implement, manage, and monitor an organization's Microsoft Azure environment day to day — identities and governance, storage, compute, virtual networking, and ongoing operations. In practice it is the certification for the person who keeps Azure running, not the architect who designs it from scratch.
It is aimed at working IT professionals who already administer cloud workloads: people comfortable in the Azure portal, Azure CLI, PowerShell, Azure Resource Manager templates, and the broader Azure operations toolset. Microsoft suggests at least six months of hands-on Azure administration experience before sitting the exam.
AZ-104 matters because it is one of the most widely recognized role-based Azure credentials and a common prerequisite-in-spirit for higher-level tracks such as the Azure Solutions Architect path. For many administrators it is the certification a hiring manager actually looks for.
Microsoft Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104) exam format at a glance
Figures below are accurate to the best of our knowledge as of 2026; always verify on the official Microsoft Learn page before booking.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Exam code | AZ-104 |
| Number of questions | Typically 40–60 (varies per delivery) |
| Question types | Multiple choice, multiple response, drag-and-drop, hot area, case studies; labs may appear |
| Duration | Roughly 100–120 minutes of seat time (verify on official page) |
| Passing score | 700 out of 1000 (scaled, not a raw percentage) |
| Cost | About USD $165 (regional pricing and taxes vary) |
| Languages | English plus several others including Japanese, Chinese, Korean, German, French, Spanish |
| Delivery | Online proctored or at a Pearson VUE test center |
| Validity | One year; renew free online before expiry |
Microsoft Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104) domains & what they cover
The exam is organized into five skill areas. Approximate weightings as of 2026 (confirm on the official page, as Microsoft adjusts them periodically):
- Manage Azure identities and governance (20–25%) — Microsoft Entra ID users and groups, role-based access control, subscriptions, management groups, resource locks, tags, and policy. This is the access-and-guardrails layer of Azure.
- Implement and manage storage (15–20%) — storage accounts, blob and file shares, access tiers, shared access signatures, and securing and replicating data. Expect questions on choosing the right redundancy and access model.
- Deploy and manage Azure compute resources (20–25%) — virtual machines, availability sets and scale sets, ARM/Bicep templates, containers, and Azure App Service. The heaviest hands-on area for most candidates.
- Implement and manage virtual networking (15–20%) — virtual networks, subnets, network security groups, peering, DNS, load balancing, and connectivity. Networking trips up administrators who only used defaults.
- Monitor and maintain Azure resources (10–15%) — Azure Monitor, alerts, Log Analytics, Network Watcher, and backup and recovery. The smallest domain, but easy points if you have actually configured monitoring.
How hard is Microsoft Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104)?
AZ-104 is moderately hard. It is not the toughest Azure exam, but it is demanding for anyone who has only clicked through the portal a few times. The difficulty comes from breadth: you are expected to know networking, storage, identity, compute, and monitoring well enough to answer scenario questions that combine several of them.
Common sticking points are network security group rule evaluation, the difference between storage redundancy options, RBAC scope inheritance, and reading case-study scenarios under time pressure. The drag-and-drop ordering and hot-area questions also punish guesswork. A candidate with genuine hands-on experience typically needs four to eight weeks of focused study; someone newer to Azure should plan for two to three months and build a free-tier sandbox.
How to prepare for Microsoft Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104): a study plan
A phased approach works well:
- Weeks 1–2 — Identity, governance, storage. Work through Microsoft Learn modules for Entra ID, RBAC, subscriptions, policy, and storage accounts. Create users, assign roles, and build a storage account with each redundancy option in your own subscription.
- Weeks 3–4 — Compute. Deploy VMs from the portal, CLI, and an ARM/Bicep template. Configure scale sets, availability, and App Service. This is the largest and most practical domain — do it by hand, not just by reading.
- Weeks 5–6 — Networking and monitoring. Build VNets, subnets, NSGs, peering, and a load balancer; then wire up Azure Monitor, alerts, and a backup. Networking rewards repetition.
- Final week — Practice and review. Take timed practice questions, then study every miss until you understand why the right answer is right and the others are wrong.
Use practice questions diagnostically, not as a memorization shortcut. The goal is to expose gaps so you can return to the portal and actually perform the task. Treat any question you got right by luck as a question you got wrong.
Microsoft Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104) FAQ
How much does the AZ-104 exam cost?
It is approximately USD $165 in the United States as of 2026, with regional pricing, currency, and taxes varying. Confirm the current price on the official Microsoft page when you register.
What score do I need to pass?
You need 700 on a scale of 100 to 1000. This is a scaled score, so it does not translate directly to "70% of questions correct."
Are there prerequisites?
There are no mandatory prerequisites, but Microsoft recommends at least six months of hands-on Azure administration experience and familiarity with the portal, CLI, PowerShell, and ARM templates.
How long is the certification valid, and how do I renew?
The Azure Administrator Associate credential is valid for one year. You renew it for free through an online assessment on Microsoft Learn, available in the six months before it expires — no re-exam fee required.
What is the retake policy if I fail?
You can retake after a short waiting period (commonly 24 hours after a first attempt, with longer waits for subsequent attempts), and each attempt requires paying the exam fee again. Check the current Microsoft exam retake policy before rebooking.
Is AZ-104 worth it?
For administrators working with or moving to Azure, yes — it is among the most recognized role-based Azure credentials and a strong signal for cloud-operations roles, as well as a sensible step before architect-level certifications.