AZ-900 (Microsoft Azure Fundamentals) is one of the most popular first certifications for students and working professionals in India. It is short, it needs no coding, and it gives you the basic cloud knowledge that every IT, data and AI job now expects.
But many people fail or lose time because they study without a plan. This guide gives you a simple 4-week study plan, explains what the exam covers, and shares tips to pass on your first attempt.
What is the AZ-900 exam?
AZ-900 is Microsoft's entry-level exam for cloud computing on Azure. When you pass, you earn the Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals certification. It proves you understand:
- What cloud computing is and why companies use it
- Core Azure services like virtual machines, storage, networking and databases
- How Azure handles cost, security, governance and compliance
There are no prerequisites. It is a good fit for freshers, B.Com/B.Sc/BCA students, sales and support staff, and anyone planning to move into cloud, data or AI roles.
AZ-900 exam syllabus (skills measured)
As per the official AZ-900 study guide on Microsoft Learn, the exam has three areas:
- Describe cloud concepts (25โ30%): cloud computing, shared responsibility model, public/private/hybrid cloud, consumption-based pricing, serverless, benefits of cloud, and IaaS, PaaS and SaaS.
- Describe Azure architecture and services (35โ40%): regions, availability zones, resource groups, subscriptions, management groups, compute, networking, storage, and identity, access and security.
- Describe Azure management and governance (30โ35%): cost management, governance and compliance tools, tools for managing and deploying resources, and monitoring tools.
Microsoft updates the syllabus from time to time, so always read the latest study guide on Microsoft Learn before your exam.
4-week AZ-900 study plan
This plan assumes about 1 to 2 hours a day. Go faster if you already know some IT basics.
Week 1: Cloud concepts
- Learn what cloud computing is, in simple words.
- Understand public, private and hybrid cloud with one real example each.
- Learn IaaS, PaaS and SaaS. Tip: think of renting a flat (IaaS), a hostel room (PaaS) and a hotel stay (SaaS).
- Learn the shared responsibility model: what Microsoft manages and what the customer manages.
Week 2: Azure architecture and core services
- Regions, region pairs, availability zones and datacenters.
- The hierarchy: management groups, subscriptions, resource groups and resources.
- Compute: virtual machines, containers, Azure Functions (serverless) and App Service.
- Networking: virtual networks, VPN Gateway, ExpressRoute and DNS.
- Storage: storage accounts, blob, file, queue and table storage, and redundancy options.
Week 3: Security, identity, cost and governance
- Microsoft Entra ID, multi-factor authentication, conditional access and role-based access control (RBAC).
- Zero Trust and defence in depth, at a basic level.
- Pricing calculator, cost management and tags.
- Azure Policy, resource locks and Microsoft Purview at a basic level.
- Azure portal, Cloud Shell, Azure CLI, PowerShell, Azure Arc and ARM templates.
- Azure Advisor, Service Health and Azure Monitor.
Week 4: Practice and revision
- Take the free practice assessment on Microsoft Learn.
- Write down every question you got wrong and revise that topic.
- Make one page of short notes per exam area and revise it daily.
- Book the exam once you score well and feel confident on all three areas.
Tips to pass AZ-900 on the first attempt
- Use a free Azure account for practice. Creating a resource group or a storage account once makes the theory easy to remember.
- Learn the "why", not just the name. Questions often describe a business need and ask which service fits.
- Watch similar names. Azure Policy vs RBAC, availability zones vs regions, and Azure Monitor vs Service Health are common mix-ups.
- Read each question fully. One word like "minimise cost" or "no management" changes the right answer.
- Do not rely on dumps. They are often outdated and break Microsoft's exam rules. Understanding is safer and helps in interviews too.
Is AZ-900 worth it for jobs?
AZ-900 alone will not make you a cloud engineer. Its real value is that it gives you the cloud basics that every next step needs. Recruiters see it as a sign that you have started your cloud journey seriously. After AZ-900, choose a role-based path:
- Cloud admin: AZ-104
- Data: DP-900, then DP-700 (Fabric Data Engineer)
- Data analyst: PL-300 Power BI
- AI: AI-900 Azure AI Fundamentals
Read our guides on the best Microsoft certifications for freshers in India and Microsoft certification exam fees in India to plan your path.
Prepare for AZ-900 with Ab Jeetenge
Ab Jeetenge's AZ-900 Azure Fundamentals course includes 25 hours of training plus practice exams, with live and on-demand learning. Ab Jeetenge is a Certiport Authorized Test Center in India. See more on our Microsoft courses page, compare plans on the offers page, or explore all cloud computing courses.
Frequently asked questions
Is AZ-900 good for freshers in India?
Yes. AZ-900 has no prerequisites and does not need coding. It teaches the basic words and ideas of cloud computing and Microsoft Azure, so it is a common first certification for freshers, non-IT graduates and people moving into cloud, data or AI roles.
How long does it take to prepare for AZ-900?
It depends on your background. Many beginners study for about 3 to 4 weeks with 1 to 2 hours a day. If you already work in IT, you may need less time. Regular practice tests matter more than the number of days.
What is the passing score for AZ-900?
Microsoft role-based and fundamentals exams use a scaled score from 1 to 1000, and you need 700 or more to pass. Always check the official exam page on Microsoft Learn for the latest rules.
What is the AZ-900 exam fee in India?
Microsoft sets the fee by country and can change it. Check the official AZ-900 exam page on Microsoft Learn before booking. You can also read our guide to Microsoft certification exam fees in India.
Does the AZ-900 certification expire?
Microsoft fundamentals certifications, including Azure Fundamentals, do not expire. Associate and expert certifications must be renewed every year through a free online assessment.
What should I do after AZ-900?
Pick a role-based path: AZ-104 for Azure administration, DP-900 then DP-700 for data, AI-900 for AI basics, or PL-300 for Power BI. Choose the one that matches the job you want.
Start your cloud career today
Follow the 4-week plan, practise on a free Azure account, and use the Microsoft Learn practice assessment before you book. If you want guided training and help choosing your next certification, call or WhatsApp +91 7303080255 or view the AZ-900 course.
