CredenTrek For Microsoft AZ-900
Choose It Right. Pass It Smart. Turn It into a Career.
AZ-900 is not a list of definitions. Learn what the exam really asks.
Candidates memorise IaaS, PaaS and SaaS, then meet questions that ask which service, tool or model fits a situation. Others study names Microsoft has replaced, book with a work account they later lose, or leave a practice machine running. This book shows you the whole exam on one map and every decision around it.
In publication on Amazon. The buttons appear here as soon as the listing is live.
Edition 2026.2 · Verified 9 October 2026. All 3 skill groups, 11 skill areas and every listed skill verified against Microsoft's AZ-900 study guide (skills measured as of 20 July 2026), including current product names.
Where candidates go wrong
AZ-900 has a reputation as the easiest Microsoft exam, so candidates underprepare in the wrong places. They learn definitions, then meet questions that ask which service, tool or model fits a situation. They spend most of their time on cloud concepts, although Azure architecture and services carry the largest share of the exam.
Others make costly practical mistakes. They study from material that still says Azure Active Directory and Security Center. They register with a work account and lose their exam record when they change jobs. Some open a practice subscription, leave a virtual machine running and receive a bill when the free credit ends.
The gap this book fills
Most AZ-900 resources are video courses or banks of practice questions. Few show you the whole exam on one map and then help with every decision around it. Should you take it, how do you study safely and what do you do with the result? This book does both, and checks every changeable fact against Microsoft's own documents.
AZ-900 at a glance
These facts were checked against the Azure Fundamentals certification page, the AZ-900 study guide and Microsoft Learn's credential policies in October 2026. Confirm them on learn.microsoft.com before you act.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Credential | Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals |
| Exam | AZ-900: Microsoft Azure Fundamentals |
| Issuing body | Microsoft |
| Level | Fundamentals (beginner) |
| Prerequisites | None |
| Skills measured | As of 20 July 2026: three skill groups, 11 skill areas |
| Time | 45 minutes of exam time; allow 65 minutes in the seat |
| Questions | Microsoft states that most exams have 40 to 60 questions |
| Passing score | 700 on a scale of 1 to 1,000 |
| Exam fee | Set by country or region; check when you book |
| Delivery | Pearson VUE test centre or online; Certiport for students |
| Languages | 13, including Arabic |
| Validity | Fundamentals certifications do not expire |
What changed in the latest updates
Microsoft updated the skills measured on 20 July 2026. The skill groups and weights did not change. Microsoft marked minor changes in three skill areas: compute and networking services, tools for managing and deploying resources, and monitoring tools. Use material that lists skills as of 20 July 2026, and treat any older list with care.
Product names have changed more than the skills. Material written before these renames teaches names the exam no longer uses.
| Name in older material | Name in the current study guide |
|---|---|
| Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) | Microsoft Entra ID |
| Azure AD Domain Services | Microsoft Entra Domain Services |
| Azure AD Conditional Access | Microsoft Entra Conditional Access |
| Azure Security Center | Microsoft Defender for Cloud |
| Azure Purview | Microsoft Purview |
Table 5.2 · Renamed products you will meet on the exam under their current names.
The English version is updated first. Microsoft states that other languages usually follow about eight weeks later, so a candidate sitting in Arabic or another language may briefly see the previous version.
What you will learn
You will learn what the AZ-900 exam tests in full: the three skill groups, all 11 skill areas and every skill Microsoft lists under them, explained in plain English. You will see how the exam is timed and scored, which services candidates confuse most and what changed in the update of 20 July 2026. You will test yourself with 17 practice questions.
Around that content, you will learn how to decide whether AZ-900 is the right first credential and how to plan your study hours. You will also learn to book, meet the identity rules, budget, contact Microsoft and Pearson VUE and turn the credential into real progress at work.
What you will have at the end
| Output | Where you build it |
|---|---|
| A written go or no-go decision, with your credential choice | Chapter 3 |
| An identity, account and booking readiness checklist | Chapter 4 |
| A self-rating on all 11 skill areas | Chapter 5 |
| A weekly study plan split by skill group | Chapter 7 and Appendix B |
| A practice subscription protected by a budget | Chapter 7 |
| A three-level budget | Chapter 9 and Appendix C |
| Six message templates for Microsoft and Pearson VUE | Chapter 10 and Appendix D |
| A job search, salary and service plan | Chapters 11 to 13 |
| CV lines, two small projects and interview stories | Chapter 14 and Appendix F |
| A plan to keep your knowledge current | Chapter 15 |
| Your score on 17 practice questions | Appendix G |
Sixteen chapters in six stages
- 1What AZ-900 Really Is
- 2The Professional Picture
- 3Is It Right for You Now?
- 4Eligibility and Requirements
- 5The Exam Map
- 6Choosing Your Study Route
- 7Your Adaptive Study Plan
- 8Scheduling and Exam Day
- 9Costs and Budget
- 10Official Communication
- 11Where It Is Valued Most
- 12Reading Salaries by Region
- 13Freelancing and Consulting
- 14Turning It into Career Proof
- 15Keeping It Active
- 16What Comes Next
Appendices. A. Official Sources Map · B. Weekly Plan Template · C. Budget Template · D. Message Templates · E. Exam-Day Checklist · F. CV and LinkedIn Template · G. Practice Questions · H. Glossary
Try three practice questions
Three of the book's 17 questions, written for the book in the style of the exam. They are not Microsoft questions.
Group 1 · Cloud computing. A company pays for computing only while its servers run and pays nothing when they stop. Which model does this describe?
- ACapital expenditure model
- BConsumption-based model
- CFixed-price model
- DLicence-only model
Show answer
Group 1 · Cloud service types. A team wants to deploy its web code without managing operating systems or patches. Which service type fits best?
- AInfrastructure as a service (IaaS)
- BPlatform as a service (PaaS)
- CSoftware as a service (SaaS)
- DOn-premises hosting
Show answer
Group 1 · Cloud computing. Under the shared responsibility model, which responsibility always stays with the customer, whatever the service type?
- APhysical datacentre security
- BThe host operating system
- CInformation and data
- DNetwork cabling
Show answer
Paperback and Kindle
For IT support staff, students and career changers, and for sales, finance and project staff in organisations that run on Microsoft.
In publication on Amazon. The buttons appear here as soon as the listing is live.
Companion reading and kit
Search links on Amazon for items candidates often use alongside this book. We do not review them; check that any edition matches your exam version.
- AZ-900 exam referencesSearch on Amazon ↗
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Independent publication. Not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by Microsoft. Microsoft, Azure and related names are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies.