Andrew Brown's Azure Fundamentals Course #1

Jul 7, 2024

Lecture Notes: Andrew Brown's Azure Fundamentals Course #1

Introduction

  • Speaker: Andrew Brown
  • Course: Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900)
  • Purpose: Prepare for Azure certification, essential for cloud roles
  • Benefits: Enhance resume, get cloud roles, add certification to LinkedIn
  • Support: Purchase optional paid materials for better exam odds and course support
  • Instructor Experience: Teaches AWS, Azure, GCP, Kubernetes, Terraform, etc.
  • Get Certification: Watch videos, participate in hands-on labs, take the free practice exam

Understanding Azure Fundamentals

  • Certification Name: Microsoft Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900)
  • No Prerequisite: Basic IT experience is helpful but not mandatory
  • Key Coverage Areas:
    • Basics of cloud computing
    • Benefits of cloud services
    • Core services: Computing, networking, storage, databases
    • Identity, security, governance
    • Pricing and cost management tools
    • Managing resources via Azure portal, SDK, CLI
  • Positioning: Ideal for those new to cloud, non-technical backgrounds, those needing strategic info on adoption/migration, senior cloud engineers needing a refresh

Value and Exam Details

  • Value: Provides a broad view of cloud architecture and Azure, promotes big-picture thinking
  • Difficulty: Easy relative to other certifications, foundational knowledge focus
  • Preparation: 30 hours study for beginners, 6 hours for experienced professionals
  • Exam Format: Multiple choice, multiple answer, drag and drop, yes/no questions
  • Time: 45 minutes for the exam
  • Scoring: Must score 700 out of 1000
  • Valid Forever: No need for recertification

Azure Certification Pathway

  • Starting Point: AZ-900 (Azure Fundamentals)
  • Next Steps: Common tracks include Administrator (AZ-104), Developer (AZ-204), Solutions Architect (AZ-305 or older AZ-303/304)
  • Other Specializations: Security (SC-900), AI (AI-900), Data (DP-900), etc.
  • Associate and Expert Levels: Certifications like AZ-500 for Security Engineer, AZ-400 for DevOps, etc.

Study Strategy and Support Tools

  • Recommended Study Time: 1-2 hours per day for 14 days
  • Hands-On Practice: Use Azure portal, Labs, SDKs, CLI
  • Practice Exams: Practice exams are crucial
  • Testing Locations: Online or Pearson VUE test centers; in-person preferred

Content Outline and Domains

  • Domains:
    • Cloud Concepts: 25-30% (13-15 questions)
    • Azure Architecture and Services: 35-40% (major content area)
    • Azure Management and Governance: 30-35% (14-16 questions)
  • Topic Examples: Identity (Azure AD), Pricing, Subscriptions, Cost Management tools, core services (VMs, Functions, Databases, Storage)

Learning Tools and Resources

  • Sandbox Environment: Create an Azure account for practical hands-on practice
  • Reading Materials: Familiarize with the study guide on Microsoft’s learning platform
  • Azure Exam Sandbox: Emulates Pearson VUE experience with various question formats
  • Global Pricing Differences: Know costs can vary by location of test

Initial Azure Concepts and Services

  • Cloud Evolution: From dedicated servers to virtual servers to shared hosting to cloud hosting
  • Benefits: Cost-effectiveness, global availability, security, reliability, scalability, elasticity, currency
  • Service Types: IaaS (VMs), PaaS (App Services), SaaS (365, Google App Engine)
  • Cloud Responsibility Models: On-premise, IaaS, PaaS, SaaS
    • Clear distinction of customer responsibility vs. cloud provider responsibility

Learning Outcomes

  • Comprehensive understanding of Azure and cloud concepts
  • Preparation for AZ-900 exam
  • Foundation for further Azure specialization

Recommendation

For a deeper learning experience, engage thoroughly with lecture content, hands-on labs, and supplementary study materials. The combination of different learning methods enhances understanding and retention, essential for passing the certification exam and applying the knowledge in practical cloud roles.