In short: AZ-104 tests whether you can run Azure day to day: identities and governance, storage, compute, networking and monitoring. Spend most of your time in a real Azure subscription, not in videos.
AZ-104 (Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate) is the most common first Azure certification for IT professionals in Pakistan.
What the exam covers
Microsoft lists five skill areas. At the time of writing the weights were roughly:
| Skill area | Weight |
|---|---|
| Manage Azure identities and governance | 20–25% |
| Implement and manage storage | 15–20% |
| Deploy and manage Azure compute resources | 20–25% |
| Implement and manage virtual networking | 15–20% |
| Monitor and maintain Azure resources | 10–15% |
Microsoft updates the study guide regularly, so check the current AZ-104 skills outline on Microsoft Learn before you book. The passing score is 700 on a scale of 1 to 1000.
An 8-week study plan
| Week | Focus | Do this in the lab |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Entra ID, users, groups, RBAC | Create users and groups, assign a role at resource group scope |
| 2 | Governance | Apply Azure Policy, tags, locks and budgets |
| 3 | Storage | Storage accounts, blob tiers, file shares, SAS and access keys |
| 4 | Compute (VMs) | Deploy VMs, availability sets and zones, scale sets |
| 5 | Containers and App Service | Deploy a web app and a container instance |
| 6 | Networking | VNets, subnets, NSGs, peering, DNS, load balancer |
| 7 | Monitoring and backup | Azure Monitor alerts, Log Analytics, Backup and Site Recovery |
| 8 | Revision | Mock exams, weak topics, re-do labs you found hard |
Tips that save marks
- Know the scope: management group, subscription, resource group, resource. Many questions hinge on where a policy or role applies.
- Read networking questions twice: peering, NSG rules and routes are where most marks are lost.
- Practice ARM/Bicep reading: you may be shown a template and asked what it deploys.
- Use a free or trial subscription carefully: delete resources after each lab.
Read more in The AZ-104 Lab Mindset.
Check your readiness
Take the free AZ-104 practice test: 15 questions, an instant score and the topics to revise.
Learn it with a trainer
The AZ-104 course at INFOTICS is live, lab-based and follows the current skills outline. You can attend a free demo class first.
Frequently asked questions
Is AZ-104 hard?
It is an associate exam, but it is wide. People with some Windows, networking or Linux experience usually pass after 2 to 3 months of regular practice.
Do I need AZ-900 first?
No. AZ-900 is optional. If you already work in IT, you can go straight to AZ-104.
How long is the certification valid?
Microsoft role-based certifications are valid for one year and can be renewed free with an online assessment on Microsoft Learn.