Azure Fundamentals in Manila
Microsoft's entry-level Azure certification covering cloud concepts, core Azure services, security, privacy, and pricing.
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, pricing, and governance. In Manila, where the IT and BPO sectors are rapidly migrating workloads to cloud platforms, this certification signals to employers that you understand the infrastructure underpinning modern enterprise software. Whether you're a fresh graduate, a career-switcher, or an IT support professional looking to move up, AZ-900 provides the foundational vocabulary and credibility needed to get noticed. Manila's growing base of multinational tech firms and Microsoft partners means demand for Azure-literate candidates is consistently high and still outpacing supply.
At $165 USD for the exam and no prerequisites required, AZ-900 is one of the lowest-barrier, highest-return certifications available to Manila-based IT professionals. With the average IT salary in Manila sitting around $20,000 per year, a verified average uplift of $6,000 annually represents a 30% salary increase — an extraordinary return on a single certification. That uplift typically materializes through promotions, role transitions into cloud support or administration, or competitive offers from Manila's expanding roster of Microsoft-partnered firms. The certification renews every two years, keeping your credential current without excessive ongoing cost. For anyone early in their cloud career in Manila, AZ-900 is simply the most cost-effective first step available.
Exam details
Prerequisites: None required
12-week study plan
Exam tips
Don't overlook the Azure governance and compliance domain — questions on Azure Policy, Blueprints, and the Microsoft Trust Center appear more frequently than most study guides suggest.
Learn the difference between Azure availability zones, availability sets, and region pairs — these are commonly confused and frequently tested with scenario-based questions.
Memorize the shared responsibility model for IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS precisely — Microsoft tests the boundaries of what the customer versus Microsoft is responsible for across multiple question types.
Use the official Microsoft Learn AZ-900 modules as your primary source; third-party materials sometimes reference outdated service names or features that no longer match current exam content.
Pay close attention to Azure SLAs and how combining services affects the composite SLA — the exam includes calculation-style questions where you need to understand that chaining services reduces the overall uptime guarantee.