Azure Fundamentals in London
United Kingdom · Europe
What is Azure Fundamentals?
The Azure Fundamentals certification (AZ-900) is Microsoft's entry-level cloud credential, designed to validate your understanding of core cloud concepts, Azure services, security, privacy, compliance, and pricing models. It requires no prior technical experience, making it the ideal starting point for career changers, business analysts, and junior IT staff. In London — one of Europe's largest cloud computing hubs — Azure skills are in constant demand. Major financial institutions, consultancies, and tech firms across the City and Canary Wharf have standardised on Microsoft Azure, meaning even a foundational certification can open doors that were previously closed to non-certified candidates.
Exam details
- Exam cost
- $165 USD
- Duration
- 65 min
- Passing score
- 700
- Renewal
- Every 2 yrs
Prerequisites: None required
Is Azure Fundamentals worth it in London?
At $165 USD for the exam, AZ-900 is one of the most cost-efficient certifications available to London-based professionals. With the average IT salary in London sitting around $85,000/yr, a documented $6,000/yr salary uplift represents roughly a 7% pay increase from a single beginner-level credential. The exam can be prepared for in under three months alongside full-time work. London employers — particularly in banking, insurance, and consulting — increasingly list Azure familiarity as a baseline requirement. Holding the AZ-900 signals credibility, accelerates promotion conversations, and positions you for higher-value Azure associate-level certifications that carry even greater earning potential.
12-week study plan
Weeks 1–4
Cloud Concepts and Azure Core Services
- Study cloud computing models (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS) and the shared responsibility model using Microsoft Learn's free AZ-900 learning path
- Explore core Azure services: Compute (VMs, App Services), Networking (VNet, Load Balancer), and Storage (Blob, Disk, File)
- Create a free Azure account and navigate the portal hands-on to reinforce service familiarity
Weeks 5–8
Security, Compliance, Privacy, and Azure Pricing
- Study Azure security tools including Microsoft Defender for Cloud, Azure Active Directory, and Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)
- Review Azure compliance offerings, trust centre documentation, and data residency concepts relevant to UK/EU regulations
- Learn Azure cost management tools: Pricing Calculator, Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) Calculator, and Azure Advisor recommendations
Weeks 9–12
Practice Exams and Weak Area Consolidation
- Complete at least three full-length timed practice exams, targeting a consistent score above 85% before booking the real test
- Review every incorrect practice answer in detail — focus heavily on Azure governance tools like Policy, Blueprints, and Management Groups
- Schedule and sit the AZ-900 exam; use Pearson VUE's online proctoring or visit a local test centre in London for in-person sitting
Recommended courses
pluralsight
Azure Fundamentals Learning Path
Tech skills platform — monthly subscription
View on Pluralsight →Exam tips
- 1.Know the difference between Capital Expenditure (CapEx) and Operational Expenditure (OpEx) cold — Azure's cost model questions appear frequently and hinge on this distinction.
- 2.Memorise the specific Azure SLA uptime percentages for key services like VMs and Storage, as the exam tests whether you can select the right service tier for a given availability requirement.
- 3.Understand Azure regions, availability zones, and availability sets as separate concepts — confusing these three is one of the most common reasons candidates lose marks on AZ-900.
- 4.Pay close attention to the Azure governance section: know what Azure Policy, Management Groups, Resource Locks, and Blueprints each do and when you would use one over another.
- 5.Use Microsoft Learn's official AZ-900 learning path as your primary study resource — the exam is written by Microsoft, and the Learn content closely mirrors the exact language and framing used in real exam questions.