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MicrosoftAZ-104

Azure Administrator in Bangalore

Validates skills in managing Azure identities, storage, compute, virtual networks, and monitoring in enterprise environments.

Salary uplift
+$15k
Exam cost
$165
Duration
100 min
Passing score
700
Difficulty
intermediate
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◆ 01 / About

What is Azure Administrator?

The Microsoft Azure Administrator certification (AZ-104) validates your ability to manage Azure identities, governance, storage, compute, and networking — core responsibilities for any cloud operations role. In Bangalore, where multinational tech firms, Indian IT giants like Infosys and Wipro, and a dense startup ecosystem all run significant Azure workloads, this credential carries real weight with hiring managers. The city has become one of Asia Pacific's most active cloud hiring markets, and employers consistently list AZ-104 as a preferred or required qualification for mid-level cloud roles. If you're already working in IT infrastructure or DevOps in Bangalore, this certification is a direct path to moving into dedicated Azure administration positions.

With an average IT salary of around $28,000 per year in Bangalore, an AZ-104 certification that delivers a $15,000 annual uplift represents a more than 50% increase in earning potential — one of the strongest ROI ratios of any intermediate cloud credential in the region. The exam costs $165 USD, meaning you recover that investment within the first week of a higher-paying role. Bangalore's cloud talent market remains undersupplied relative to demand, particularly for administrators who can manage hybrid environments and enforce governance at scale. Renewing annually keeps your credential current and your market value high as Azure's feature set evolves. The math here is straightforward: cost is minimal, upside is significant.

◆ 02 / Exam details

Exam details

Exam cost
$165 USD
Duration
100 min
Passing score
700
Renewal
Every 1 yrs

Prerequisites: AZ-900 recommended, 6 months Azure administration experience

◆ 03 / Study plan

12-week study plan

1
Azure Foundations and Identity ManagementWeeks 1–4
Review Azure Active Directory concepts including users, groups, roles, and conditional access policiesPractice creating and managing subscriptions, management groups, and RBAC role assignments in a free Azure sandboxStudy Azure governance tools — Policy, Blueprints, and Cost Management — using Microsoft Learn modules
2
Compute, Storage, and Networking Core ServicesWeeks 5–8
Deploy and configure virtual machines, availability sets, VM scale sets, and Azure App Service environments hands-onWork through Azure storage account configuration including blob tiers, lifecycle policies, shared access signatures, and Azure FilesBuild and troubleshoot virtual networks, NSGs, VNet peering, Azure DNS, and VPN Gateway configurations in the portal and via CLI
3
Monitoring, Backup, and Exam ReadinessWeeks 9–12
Configure Azure Monitor, Log Analytics workspaces, alerts, and Application Insights for a sample workloadPractice Azure Backup, Recovery Services Vaults, and Site Recovery failover scenarios using guided labsComplete three to four full-length AZ-104 practice exams, review every incorrect answer against official Microsoft documentation, and focus revision on your weakest domain
◆ 04 / Exam tips

Exam tips

Know the difference between Azure Policy, RBAC, and resource locks cold — AZ-104 frequently presents scenarios where you must pick the correct enforcement mechanism, and mixing them up is one of the most common failure points.

Practice creating and interpreting ARM templates and Bicep files; the exam includes questions where you must read a template snippet and identify what it deploys or what parameter is missing.

Spend dedicated time on networking — VNet peering, NSG rule evaluation order, Azure Load Balancer vs Application Gateway, and Private Endpoints appear heavily and require hands-on familiarity, not just conceptual knowledge.

Use the Azure CLI and PowerShell for at least half of your lab work; the exam includes command-based questions and knowing which cmdlets and flags to use in context will save you time under pressure.

During the exam, flag and skip any question you are unsure about rather than stalling — AZ-104 is time-pressured, and returning to flagged questions with fresh eyes after completing the rest of the paper frequently produces better answers.

◆ 05 / FAQ

Frequently asked questions

AZ-104 is rated intermediate difficulty and is noticeably harder than AZ-900. It tests practical, scenario-based skills across five domains — not just definitions. Candidates with at least six months of hands-on Azure administration experience typically find it manageable with 8–10 weeks of focused preparation. Without real-world Azure exposure, expect to spend extra time in lab environments before sitting the exam.
◆ 06 / Other certifications in Bangalore