Azure Fundamentals in Miami
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. It requires no prior IT experience, making it an ideal starting point for career changers and early-stage tech professionals. In Miami, where the tech sector is expanding rapidly across finance, healthcare, and logistics, cloud literacy is becoming a baseline expectation rather than a bonus. Employers across Brickell, Wynwood, and the broader South Florida corridor are actively hiring for cloud-adjacent roles, and an AZ-900 signals that you speak the language of modern infrastructure — even at a foundational level.
At $165 for the exam, the AZ-900 is one of the highest-ROI certifications available at the beginner level. Miami IT professionals earn an average of $80,000/yr, and certified candidates report a salary uplift of around $6,000/yr — meaning the cert pays for itself within the first week of a new role. Beyond the raise, holding an AZ-900 opens doors to higher-level Azure certifications that command significantly larger premiums. Miami's growing startup ecosystem and the relocation of major financial firms to South Florida have created genuine demand for cloud-literate workers. Getting certified now positions you ahead of the curve in a local market that's still catching up to coastal tech hubs.
Exam details
Prerequisites: None required
12-week study plan
Exam tips
Memorize the difference between Azure regions, availability zones, and availability sets — this distinction appears frequently and trips up many candidates.
Understand the Azure pricing calculator and TCO calculator separately; know which tool is used for estimating migration savings versus planning new workloads.
Don't just read about Azure services — log into the free Azure portal and locate Blob Storage, Virtual Machines, and Azure Active Directory yourself so the concepts stick.
Pay close attention to the shared responsibility model and know exactly which security tasks belong to Microsoft versus the customer for IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS deployments.
Use Microsoft's official AZ-900 study guide and skills measured document from the Microsoft Learn website — the exam is written directly from this outline, so align your study to it.