Best way to prepare for Azure certification

In the growing world of cloud computing, Azure has grown as one of the best providers of cloud computing services. Azure is a cloud computing platform and web portal that lets you access and manage Microsoft's cloud services and resources. Depending on the requirements, these services and resources store and alter your data. All you require is an active internet connection and the ability to connect to the Azure portal to access these resources and services.  

Microsoft offers various Azure certifications. Each certification has its unique attribute to provide IT professionals with essential knowledge and skills to learn about cloud computing. There are 11 amazing Azure certifications that you can choose based on your current level of expertise. They are:

1. Microsoft Certified Azure Fundamentals (Fundamentals)
2. Microsoft Certified Azure Administrator (Associate)
3. Microsoft Certified Azure Developer (Associate)
4. Microsoft Certified Azure AI Engineer Associate (Associate)
5. Microsoft Certified Azure Data Engineer Associate (Associate)
6. Microsoft Certified Azure Security Engineer (Associate)
7. Microsoft Certified Azure Data Scientist (Associate)
8. Microsoft Certified Azure Solutions Architect (Expert)
9. Microsoft Certified Azure DevOps Engineer (Expert)
10. Microsoft Certified Azure for SAP Workloads (Specialty)
11. Microsoft Certified: Azure IoT Developer (Specialty)

These Azure certifications look simple but tough to beat. If you want to pass your certification exam on your first attempt, you must be properly prepared. Here are some of the preparation tips for the Azure certification exam:

1. Begin small
2. Examine the Exam Outline thoroughly
3. Pay close attention to the exam format
4. Join Microsoft Learn courses
5. Hands-on experience
6. Consult the Microsoft documentation
7. Training video and courses
8. Training with an instructor
9. Form a habit of reading
10. Take practice exams
11. Participate in Study Groups
12. Relax yourself

1. Begin small

Even if you know everything about the Azure certification exam, you may be confused about where, to begin with. But if you are unaware of Azure certification, then taking the AZ-900 Azure Fundamentals exam is highly recommended as your first step. The Microsoft Azure Fundamentals AZ-900 Exam will help you grasp how Microsoft Azure works without going into too much detail about the technology. It is an entry-level Azure certification. The Microsoft AZ-900 examinations concentrate on the core concepts rather than the testing procedure. This will help you to soak in the knowledge of fundamental cloud computing concepts. After completing the above-mentioned Microsoft Azure Certification Path, you can choose the best career path for you.

2. Examine the Exam Outline thoroughly

After selecting an Azure certification exam, the first and most important step in your preparation is to read the exam outline.  The exam outline helps you to understand what will appear in the exam. Exam outline will assist you in structuring the exam in your head. Microsoft provides all of the facts on the certification page to make the preparation process easier. This comprises the skills measured, requirements, exam outline, and exam resources. Microsoft also provides a learning route, training and certification guide, and policies to assist and study the appropriate topics.

3. Pay close attention to the exam format

Having a strong knowledge of the exam format and question types before taking the exam can be quite beneficial. Microsoft specifies the question types for the various exam formats. As a result, it's critical to grasp the different types of questions and respond to them. This will assist you in obtaining the maximum number of points for each question. Microsoft provides official practice tests. However, you may also locate some trustworthy Microsoft Azure exam questions to help you prepare properly. Knowing about the exam format will help you to manage your time during the examination. You will have an idea of how much time to spend on a question. 

4. Join Microsoft Learn courses

Microsoft announced Microsoft Learn, a free learning site that provides insight into a variety of Microsoft technologies, including Azure. Furthermore, Microsoft Learn provides information on multiple learning paths based on the work position and abilities necessary. The primary goal is to provide you with an opportunity for hands-on learning so that you can build practical skills through interactive training. It's also free as an add-on. You can also use additional online expert courses and YouTube resources to keep your knowledge up to date and expand your preparation. You can take online courses through sites like udemy.com, which provides online courses, but you will have to pay for the course.

5. Hands-on experience

There's no doubt that having practical knowledge and hands-on experience with any technology helps to learn more effectively. Having hands-on experience means you will have technical knowledge of Azure-based services, which will help you better understand theoretical knowledge and perform better in the examination. In addition to free learning tools, Microsoft Learn also provides a free Azure account. In order to pass the tests, you must also seek out opportunities to improve your abilities and test your knowledge. 

6. Consult the Microsoft documentation

While studying for any Microsoft Azure exam, you can rely on Microsoft Azure Documentation. Every subject matter of the certification is extremely extensively documented and discussed for reference in Microsoft Docs. This will allow you to understand the knowledge and facts behind the Azure certification. This Microsoft documentation is extensive, so you have a good vocabulary to understand it. You must first study the abilities tested on the exam page before looking for specific Microsoft Docs.

7. Training video  and courses

You may find a variety of training courses that give video-based Azure exam preparations online. Microsoft recommends looking over the various Microsoft Azure Certification resources and checking the reviews to discover the best match. There are also many Microsoft Learning Partners that provide online courses. These video training and courses provide you with in-depth visual knowledge and technical expertise to teach you about the Azure certification. Since the training video and courses come with a trainer teaching, it will help you learn faster than reading books.

8. Training with an instructor

Microsoft also offers a variety of self-study learning tools to help you prepare for Microsoft Azure Certification exams. But it is more efficient to train with an instructor in a classroom. An instructor will teach you the basics and all the necessary details stepwise. This will help you to remember the details properly. Having an instructor means you can make direct conversation on any doubts and resolve them quickly. However, you can combine in-person or online training with various courses for various technologies. In that situation, you may make strategic initiatives on your requirements.

9. Form a habit of reading

If you prefer to read books, Microsoft Press offers publications written by specialists. You can get expert-written books to help you study more and prepare for the Microsoft Azure exams. Studying from a book will help you to retain information for a longer time. It helps to train your mind. It would be best if you formed a habit of reading to develop your mental strength to understand the subject matter and tackle questions. 

10. Take practice exams

There are several official practice exams for Microsoft Azure Certification examinations. Furthermore, the practice exam is regarded as an excellent tool for determining your learning curve. A practice exam will help you to understand the structure of the exam. It will assist you in understanding the difficulty of the exam. Also, make sure you know where you are in the preparation process. Additionally, it is strongly advised that you use approved practice examinations and dependable study tools for Microsoft Azure Certification.

11. Participate in Study Groups

Joining online forums and discussion groups is strongly recommended. These communities include a number of certified experts. This will assist you in contacting professionals and assist you in resolving any doubts you may have. In general, these study groups assist you in gaining more structure in your learning route and gaining a different perspective. Also, you can start a healthy discussion and enhance your understanding of any topic.

12. Relax yourself

You must ensure that you are entirely comfortable on the day of the exam. You shouldn't worry about it and should get enough sleep before the exam to avoid any interruptions. Also, arrive early to the test center so that you have enough time and don't have to hustle so that you can concentrate on the exam. Furthermore, you can take an exam online using at-home testing to make things simple. In such an instance, Pearson Vue offers OnVUE, an online proctoring service that allows you to take the exam from the comfort of your own home or business.

Conclusion

Microsoft Azure certification is useful on a variety of levels. A career in Microsoft Azure will continue to expand at a faster rate. If you want to dramatically boost your career, then Azure certification is best for you. Follow the above-mentioned preparation tips and earn yourself an Azure certification. Good Luck!!!