Complete guide to the Microsoft AZ-900 Azure Fundamentals exam — format, topics covered, pass mark, cost, difficulty, and how to prepare.
AZ-900, or Microsoft Azure Fundamentals, is the entry-level certification in Microsoft's Azure certification path. It validates that you understand the foundational concepts of cloud computing and know what Microsoft Azure services exist and why they're used.
It is not a hands-on technical exam — you won't be asked to configure a VM or write ARM templates. It's a knowledge exam testing whether you understand cloud concepts and can identify which Azure service solves which business problem.
AZ-900 was introduced in 2018 and has become one of the most popular IT certifications globally, particularly for people new to cloud computing or Microsoft technologies.
Question types include multiple choice (one correct answer), multi-select (choose all that apply), drag and drop, and occasionally case study scenarios. The exam is available in English and several other languages.
Microsoft publishes the official exam objectives, broken into three domains:
Cloud computing definitions, IaaS/PaaS/SaaS, public/private/hybrid models, benefits including elasticity, scalability, HA, fault tolerance, CapEx vs OpEx, shared responsibility model.
Regions, availability zones, resource groups, subscriptions, compute (VMs, App Service, Functions, Containers), networking (VNet, VPN, ExpressRoute), storage (Blob, File, Queue, Table), identity (Entra ID, RBAC, MFA), security (Defender, Sentinel, Key Vault).
Azure Pricing Calculator, TCO Calculator, Cost Management, Azure Advisor, Azure Policy, Blueprints, Management Groups, SLAs, Azure Monitor, Service Health, support plans.
Microsoft designed AZ-900 for anyone who wants to demonstrate foundational cloud knowledge. You do not need a technical background. Common candidates include:
AZ-900 is one of the most accessible IT certifications available. Most people with 2 weeks of consistent study pass on their first attempt. It's rated as a beginner exam and does not require prior Azure or cloud experience.
The main reasons people fail are: not doing enough practice questions, trying to memorise rather than understand, and underestimating the governance and cost management sections. Study with practice questions, not just content reading, and most people find it very manageable.