AZ-104: Azure Administrator — Exam Overview

What Is This Exam?

AZ-104 certifies you as an Azure Administrator — the person who deploys, manages, and monitors Azure resources day-to-day. This is a practitioner exam, not an architect exam. You are tested on how to operate Azure, not what pattern to choose.

Think like an IT admin with Azure hands, not like a cloud architect.

Exam At a Glance

Question Types

Understanding the format is half the battle.

1. Multiple Choice (most common)

Pick one of four. Read all options before answering — Microsoft loves to make two answers "almost right." The wrong options are usually right in a different context.

2. Multiple Select

"Select all that apply" or "select two." No penalty for wrong answers — never leave blanks.

3. Drag and Drop / Order

Match concepts to categories or arrange steps. Common for replication type comparisons, backup tiers, or deployment sequences.

4. Hot Area

Click the correct region of a screenshot or diagram. Usually tests which portal blade or button to use.

5. Case Studies

A scenario followed by several related questions. Read the scenario once carefully before answering. All questions in a case study share the same context — earlier answers don't lock in your choices.

6. Live Lab Tasks (hardest section)

You get a real Azure environment and must complete hands-on tasks:

• Example: "Create a storage account named stprod001 in West US with Zone-Redundant Storage."
• Tasks are pass/fail per task. Partial work doesn't score.
• This section is at the end of the exam and cannot be skipped once started.
• Allocate at least 30 minutes for labs.

⚠️ You cannot return to earlier multiple-choice sections once you start the lab section.

Domain Weights

Compute is the highest-weight domain. Networking is the trickiest. Identities has the most common conceptual trap.

Scoring

Microsoft uses scaled scoring — harder questions are worth more points. You need 700/1000, which is roughly 70%, but because of scaling, targeting 80%+ correct is the realistic safety margin.

There is no penalty for wrong answers — always guess if unsure.

How to Approach the Exam

1. Read the question stem twice. Identify: what resource, what action, what constraint.
2. Eliminate two obviously wrong answers first. You'll usually be choosing between two plausible options — this doubles your focus.
3. Watch for scope qualifiers. Many wrong answers are correct in a different scope (e.g., works for VMs but not App Service, works at subscription but not resource group).
4. "Cheapest / least administrative effort" is usually correct. Microsoft favors the simplest solution that meets the stated requirement.
5. Flag and move. Don't spend more than 2 minutes on any single question during pass 1.
6. Save 30 minutes for live labs. They require real portal navigation and CLI commands.

Domain Quick Map

Domain 1: Identities & Governance
 └─ Entra ID, users/groups, RBAC, Management Groups, Policy, Locks

Domain 2: Storage
 └─ Storage accounts, replication (LRS/GRS/ZRS), tiers, SAS, lifecycle, File Sync

Domain 3: Compute
 └─ VMs, VMSS, availability sets/zones, App Service, ACI, ARM/Bicep, Bastion

Domain 4: Networking
 └─ VNet/NSG/ASG, VNet Peering, VPN/ER, DNS, Load Balancer, App Gateway, Firewall, UDR

Domain 5: Monitor & Maintain
 └─ Azure Monitor, Log Analytics, Alerts, Backup, Site Recovery, Update Manager

3-Month Study Plan

Rule of thumb: If you can't complete a lab task in the portal in under 5 minutes, you need more repetition. Live lab tasks in the real exam have no guide — just memory.

Key Resources

Start your Azure free account today. Reading alone will not pass the live lab section. You need hands-on repetition.

Before Your Exam Day

• Ensure your government ID name exactly matches your Pearson VUE account name
• Test your environment (webcam, mic, desk space) if taking online — do the system check 24 hours before
• Arrive (or open the online check-in) 15 minutes early
• No notes, no second monitors, no phones
• Water is allowed in a clear container at most testing centers