The az 900 syllabus covers three primary domains with specific learning objectives. Describe Cloud Concepts, Describe Azure Architecture and Services, and Describe Azure Management and Governance each contain detailed objectives aligned with Microsoft's published certification exam guide.
The Microsoft Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900) exam tests your understanding of cloud computing concepts and Azure services. The official Azure Fundamentals syllabus is structured in three distinct domains, each with specific learning objectives and a defined emphasis within the exam.
Domain 1: Describe Cloud Concepts
This first domain introduces the fundamentals of cloud computing and forms the foundation for understanding everything that follows. You'll learn what cloud computing means, the shared responsibility model between cloud providers and customers, and how cloud services deliver value compared to traditional on-premises infrastructure.
The Describe Cloud Concepts objectives include:
- Define cloud computing and identify its core characteristics
- Understand the shared responsibility model and how it applies to different service types
- Identify public, private, and hybrid cloud models and recognize when to use each
- Describe the consumption-based model and how it differs from capital expenditure approaches
- Compare cloud pricing models and understand the cost implications of each
- Explain serverless computing and identify scenarios where it's appropriate
- Recognize the benefits of high availability and scalability in cloud environments
- Understand reliability and predictability features that cloud services offer
- Describe how cloud services improve security posture and governance capabilities
- Learn the manageability benefits that cloud platforms provide
- Compare Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS) models
Understanding these cloud fundamentals prepares you to discuss why organizations choose cloud solutions and what specific capabilities cloud services provide. This foundation makes learning Azure architecture and management topics much easier.
Domain 2: Describe Azure Architecture and Services
This domain emphasizes understanding Azure's structure and services, reflecting the importance of Azure knowledge within the certification. This domain covers Azure's organizational architecture and the core services you'll use to build solutions on the platform.
The Describe Azure Architecture and Services objectives include:
Core Azure Components
- Understand Azure regions, region pairs, and sovereign regions and their importance for compliance
- Learn about availability zones and how they support high availability and disaster recovery
- Recognize Azure datacenters and their geographic distribution across the globe
- Understand how resource groups organize and manage your Azure resources
- Learn about subscriptions and their role in resource management and billing
- Understand management groups and how they organize multiple subscriptions
- Grasp the hierarchy of resource groups, subscriptions, and management groups
Compute and Networking
- Compare compute types including containers, virtual machines, and serverless functions
- Understand virtual machine options such as Azure Virtual Machines, scale sets, availability sets, and Azure Virtual Desktop
- Learn the resources required to deploy and run virtual machines successfully
- Identify application hosting options for different types of workloads
- Understand Azure virtual networking, subnets, and how network peering works
- Learn about Azure DNS, Azure VPN Gateway, and Azure ExpressRoute
- Understand public and private endpoints and their security implications
Storage and Related Services
- Compare Azure Storage services and their specific use cases
- Understand storage tiers, redundancy options, and data protection strategies
Domain 3: Describe Azure Management and Governance
This domain focuses on the operational and management aspects of Azure. You'll learn how to manage costs, ensure compliance, deploy resources reliably, and monitor your Azure environment effectively. Topics here reflect practical skills needed for managing real-world Azure deployments.
The Describe Azure Management and Governance objectives include:
Cost Management
- Identify factors that affect costs in Azure including region, resource type, and consumption patterns
- Explore the Azure pricing calculator and learn how to use it for estimation
- Describe cost management capabilities available within your subscription
- Understand the purpose of resource tags and how they support cost tracking and allocation
Governance and Compliance
- Understand the purpose of Microsoft Purview in Azure and its role in data governance
- Describe Azure Policy and how it enforces organizational standards across your environment
- Learn about resource locks and how they prevent accidental deletion or modification
Resource Management and Deployment
- Understand the Azure portal and its capabilities for resource management
- Learn about Azure Cloud Shell, Azure CLI, and Azure PowerShell for automation
- Understand Azure Arc and how it extends Azure management to hybrid environments
- Grasp Infrastructure as Code (IaC) principles and their benefits for reproducibility
- Learn about Azure Resource Manager (ARM) and ARM templates for consistent deployments
Monitoring and Health
- Understand the purpose of Azure Advisor and how it provides recommendations
- Learn about Azure Service Health for staying informed about platform status
How These Domains Connect
The Azure Fundamentals syllabus is structured to build logically. You begin with cloud fundamentals, progress through Azure's architecture and services, then apply that knowledge to real-world management tasks. Understanding this progression helps you study more effectively and retain information better.
For more details on how you'll be tested, see the exam format & scoring page. If you're new to Azure, start with the prerequisites section to ensure you have the right background. The study plan shows how to allocate study time across these topic areas.
Exam facts on this page come from Microsoft’s own pages (official exam page). Prices, versions and policies change — confirm there before you book.