CEH vs Azure AI Fundamentals
Which certification is right for your career? Here's the full breakdown.
EC-Council
CEH
CEH v13
Certified Ethical Hacker — offensive security certification covering penetration testing methodologies and hacking tools.
Full guide →Microsoft
Azure AI Fundamentals
AI-900
Microsoft's entry-level AI certification covering machine learning, computer vision, NLP, and generative AI on Azure.
Full guide →Side-by-side comparison
| Category | CEH | Azure AI Fundamentals |
|---|---|---|
| Exam cost | $1199 USD | ✓$165 USD |
| Avg salary uplift | ✓+$15,000/yr | +$7,000/yr |
| Exam duration | 240 min | 65 min |
| Renewal period | Every 3 years | Every 2 years |
| Issued by | EC-Council | Microsoft |
| Difficulty | Intermediate | Beginner |
CEH — Prerequisites
2 years IT security experience or EC-Council official training
Azure AI Fundamentals — Prerequisites
None required
Get CEH if…
- •You have 2–3 years of IT experience and want to specialise
- •You want a +$15,000/yr salary boost
- •You prefer credentials from EC-Council
Get Azure AI Fundamentals if…
- •You're entering cybersecurity and need a recognised entry point
- •You want a +$7,000/yr salary boost
- •You prefer credentials from Microsoft
Best CEH courses
Best Azure AI Fundamentals courses
Frequently asked questions
Is CEH harder than Azure AI Fundamentals?
CEH is harder — rated intermediate vs beginner.
Which pays more — CEH or Azure AI Fundamentals?
CEH has an average salary uplift of +$15,000/yr, while Azure AI Fundamentals has +$7,000/yr. CEH has the higher salary impact.
Which should I get first — CEH or Azure AI Fundamentals?
Azure AI Fundamentals is the better starting point — it's rated beginner and costs less. Use it as a stepping stone toward CEH.