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AZ-900 Study Guide

AZ-900 Study Guide 2026: Exam Topics, Weightage & Prep Tips

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AZ-900 Study Guide 2026: Exam Topics, Weightage & Preparation Tips

If you are new to cloud computing and preparing for the Microsoft AZ-900 Azure Fundamentals exam, this blog will help you. At Whizlabs, we’ve worked with thousands of learners worldwide, and we understand exactly where candidates struggle and where they easily score.

In this blog, we walk you through the AZ-900 exam topics in detail, based on:

  • Our in-depth analysis of the official Microsoft AZ-900 syllabus
  • Insights from our Azure-certified experts
  • Feedback from learners who have successfully cleared the AZ-900 exam

By the end of this blog, you’ll clearly understand:

  • What topics should you cover for the AZ-900 exam syllabus
  • Which sections carry more weight and difficulty
  • Where to focus your preparation time for maximum results

Let’s get started.

AZ-900 Study Guide Exam Syllabus and Topic Weightage

AZ-900 Exam Domain Weightage Focus Areas
Azure Cloud Concepts 25–30% Foundational cloud knowledge and core concepts
Azure Architecture and Services 35–40% Azure infrastructure, services, and real-world use cases
Azure Management and Governance 30–35% Cost optimisation, governance, and resource administration and monitoring

 

Azure Cloud Concepts Explained for AZ-900

Fundamentals of Cloud Computing

You will learn the basics of cloud computing in this subject and how cloud platforms provide on-demand access to computing resources. Also, cover the practical definition of cloud computing, and the reasons why companies are switching from traditional data centres. The focus is on understanding the goal of cloud computing instead of decoding complex solutions.

Shared Responsibility Model and Cloud Deployment Models

The diverse cloud deployment models: public, private, and hybrid, along with their applications, are explained here. The shared responsibility paradigm, which outlines what Microsoft Azure controls (such as physical data centers and underlying technology) and what clients are in charge of (like data, identities, and access management), is also covered in this section.

Consumption-Based Pricing and Cloud Cost Models

This area focuses on how cloud services are priced. You will comprehend pay-as-you-go pricing, the distinction between capital expenditure (CapEx) and operational expenditure (OpEx), and how businesses manage cloud expenditures. The intention is to assist you in understanding why cloud pricing is opposed to traditional IT investments. And provides flexibility and cost effectiveness.

Cloud Service Types in Azure

This topic explains the three main cloud service models. Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) offers users control over operating systems and applications in addition to networking, storage, and virtual machines. Programmers can write and run programs without worrying about infrastructure thanks to Platform as a Service (PaaS). Software as a Service (SaaS) uses a subscription model to provide fully managed online applications.

You’ll concentrate on distinctions and use cases rather than technical implementation.

Benefits of Cloud Services in Azure

The reasons why businesses use cloud platforms are highlighted in this section. Among the primary benefits are high availability, scalability, dependability, constant performance, and integrated security. You will also learn how governance and manageability technologies help businesses maintain control over cloud systems as they expand.

 

Azure Architecture and Core Services for AZ-900

Core Architectural Components of Azure

You will become familiar with the fundamental building blocks of Azure’s global infrastructure. This includes understanding Azure regions and region pairs, availability zones and availability sets, how Azure datacenters operate, and how resources are organised using management groups, subscriptions, and resource groups.

To better understand how Azure resources are structured and managed at scale, refer to Azure Resource Manager template overview.

Azure Compute Services Overview

This topic introduces Azure services that provide computing power. You will learn the purpose of Azure Virtual Machines, Azure Virtual Desktop, Azure App Service, Azure Functions (serverless), Azure Container Instances, and Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS). The focus is on recognising when to use each service, rather than how to configure them.

For deeper clarity on container-based workloads, explore Azure Container Instance.

Azure Networking Services Explained

Networking concepts explain how Azure resources communicate securely. You’ll learn about Azure Virtual Network (VNet), traffic distribution using Load Balancer and Application Gateway, secure connectivity via VPN Gateway and ExpressRoute, name resolution using Azure DNS, and global content delivery through Azure CDN.

Azure Storage Services

This section covers how data is stored in Azure. Azure Blob Storage, Disk Storage, File Storage, and Data Lake Storage use cases will be clear to you. It also explains redundancy options and storage tiers, which will help you comprehend how Azure strikes a balance between cost, durability, and performance.

Azure Database Services

You can discover more about Azure’s managed database services here. This comprises Azure Cosmos DB, Azure SQL Database, and Azure SQL Managed Instance. Rather than database management activities, the focus is on comprehending managed databases, scalability, and worldwide availability.

 

Azure Management, Security, and Governance for AZ-900

Identity, Access, and Security in Azure

Microsoft Entra ID (Azure Active Directory) and Azure identity management are the main topics of security fundamentals. You will investigate authentication techniques, including passwordless authentication, Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), and Single Sign-On (SSO). Additionally covered in this part are Microsoft Defender for Cloud, Azure Role-Based Access Control (RBAC), and the Zero Trust security concept.

Azure Cost Management and Billing

This topic explains how Azure facilitates tracking and expense planning. You’ll discover how to use the Azure Pricing Calculator and Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) Calculator, track and minimise expenses by applying resource tags, and keep an eye on expenditures with Azure Cost Management and Billing.

Governance and Compliance Tools

You will learn about how governance ensures consistency and compliance in Azure environments through solutions like Microsoft Purview, Azure Policy, and Resource Locks. This helps enterprises satisfy compliance needs, apply standards, and prevent unplanned changes to critical resources.

Monitoring and Management Tools

Performance and dependability are maintained with the aid of monitoring services. Azure Monitor, Azure Advisor, Azure Service Health, and Application Insights are introduced in this part, along with an explanation of how these tools offer visibility into system health, performance problems, and service failures.

Deployment and Management Tools

Using tools like the Azure Portal, Azure Cloud Shell (CLI and PowerShell), ARM templates for infrastructure as code, and Azure Arc for handling multi-cloud and hybrid formats, you will learn how to manage and deploy Azure resources.

For exam-focused preparation tips and proven strategies, check AZ-900 certification tips and tricks.

AZ-900 Exam Difficulty Level and Domain-Wise Analysis

Focus on use cases and concepts for the AZ-900 rather than establishing methods. You’ll be ready for the test if you can describe how a service works and when it’s used.

Difficulty Level of the AZ-900 Exam Domains

We classify the difficulty as follows based on actual exam comments and the analysis of our AZ-900 experts:

  • Cloud Concepts: Easier
  • Azure Architecture and Services: Moderate to Difficult
  • Azure Management and Governance: Moderate

We typically find that Cloud Concepts require less preparation than Architecture & Services and Management & Governance. These parts require more than simply theoretical knowledge of Azure tools, services, and real-world scenarios.

Preparation Tip: Give these areas more study time and use practical application to reinforce what you’ve learned.

AZ-900 Exam Tips and Preparation Strategy

Use Official Microsoft Resources

We strongly recommend:

These resources are free, up-to-date, and aligned with exam objectives.

Practice with Sample Questions

Practice tests play a crucial role in exam readiness. They help you:

  • Identify weak areas
  • Understand question patterns
  • Improve time management

Along with Microsoft’s official practice tests, Whizlabs AZ-900 practice tests are designed to closely mirror the real exam and help boost confidence.

Gain Hands-On Experience

Hands-on learning reinforces theory. We suggest:

  • Using Azure Free Tier
  • Practising through labs and sandbox environments
  • Exploring basic deployments like VMs, storage accounts, and web apps

This practical exposure significantly improves exam performance.

 

AZ-900 FAQs 

1. Is the AZ-900 Microsoft Azure Fundamentals exam hard?
No. As AZ-900 is a beginner-level exam, most candidates pass on their first attempt with structured preparation and basic hands-on experience.

2. Will the AZ-900 certification expire?
Yes. The AZ-900 certification is valid for two years.

3. How many attempts are allowed for AZ-900?
Following Microsoft’s retake policy, you can attempt the AZ-900 exam up to five times per year.

4. Is AZ-900 useful for Indian professionals?
Absolutely. In India, AZ-900 is valuable for professionals working in IT services, cloud support, consulting, and global delivery teams serving international clients.

Conclusion

The AZ-900 Microsoft Azure Fundamentals certification is an excellent starting point for anyone entering the cloud computing ecosystem. It validates your understanding of cloud concepts, Azure services, pricing models, and governance skills that are in demand both in India and global markets.

At Whizlabs, we’ve seen that success in AZ-900 comes from a balanced approach: clear concepts + hands-on practice + quality Practice exams.

Whether you’re a graduate, working expert, or ready to shift career, AZ-900 sets the stage for advanced Azure certifications and career growth in a cloud environment.

Your cloud journey starts here. Stay curious, keep practising, and grow with Azure.

About Basant Singh

Basant Singh is a Cloud Product Manager with over 18+ years of experience in the field. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Instrumentation Engineering, and has dedicated his career to mastering the intricacies of cloud computing technologies. With expertise in Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP), he stays current with the latest developments in the industry. In addition, he has developed a strong interest and proficiency in Google Go Programming (Golang), Docker, and NoSQL databases. With a history of successfully leading teams and building efficient operations and infrastructure, he is well-equipped to help organizations scale and thrive in the ever-evolving world of cloud technology.

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