Azure Administrator
Validates skills in managing Azure identities, storage, compute, virtual networks, and monitoring in enterprise environments.
Full guide →CEH
Certified Ethical Hacker — offensive security certification covering penetration testing methodologies and hacking tools.
Full guide →Azure Administrator vs CEH
Which certification is right for your career?
Full comparison
| Category | Azure Administrator | CEH |
|---|---|---|
| Exam cost | ✓$165 USD | $1199 USD |
| Avg salary uplift | +$15,000/yr | +$15,000/yr |
| Passing score | 700/1000 | 70/1000 |
| Exam duration | 100 min | 240 min |
| Renewal period | Every 1 years | Every 3 years |
| Issued by | Microsoft | EC-Council |
| Difficulty |
Azure Administrator
AZ-900 recommended, 6 months Azure administration experience
CEH
2 years IT security experience or EC-Council official training
- You have hands-on cloud experience and want to move into engineering or architecture
- You want a potential +$15,000/yr salary uplift
- Your role involves managing cloud identity, storage, networking, and compute day-to-day
- You have 2–4 years in security and want to specialise your role
- You want a potential +$15,000/yr salary uplift
- You're drawn to offensive security, ethical hacking, or red-team work
Azure Administrator and CEH lead to entirely different careers — cloud computing vs cybersecurity. The right choice depends on which field aligns with your current job or target role. If you want both eventually, start with Azure Administrator — it's the quicker win at the intermediate level.
Best Azure Administrator courses
Best CEH courses
Is Azure Administrator harder than CEH?
Both Azure Administrator and CEH are rated intermediate difficulty.
Which pays more — Azure Administrator or CEH?
Azure Administrator has an average salary uplift of +$15,000/yr, while CEH has +$15,000/yr. Azure Administrator has the higher salary impact.
Which should I get first — Azure Administrator or CEH?
Azure Administrator is the better starting point — it's rated intermediate and costs less. Use it as a stepping stone toward CEH.
Can I get both Azure Administrator and CEH?
Yes — many professionals hold both. Azure Administrator and CEH complement each other, covering cloud computing and cybersecurity respectively. Holding both signals broader expertise and typically commands a higher salary than either cert alone.
Which is worth it in 2026 — Azure Administrator or CEH?
Both are worth it in 2026. Azure Administrator offers a +$15,000/yr average salary uplift; CEH offers +$15,000/yr. Azure Administrator has the higher salary ceiling — making it the stronger ROI if you can only choose one.