Updated for 2026 Exam Objectives

AZ-104 Practice Test

AZ-104 is where free resources stop being enough.

This is an associate-level exam that tests real-world scenarios, not just definitions. Our 500 questions are calibrated to match that difficulty — so the real exam doesn't surprise you.

Start Free Practice — 40 Questions

No credit card required. Upgrade to full 500 questions for $14.99 when ready.

500 Exam-Style Questions
7-Day Money-Back Guarantee

Is this for you?

Your AZ-104 exam is in the next 2-4 weeks
You've studied the concepts but aren't sure you'll pass
You want questions harder than the real exam
You want to understand why answers are correct, not just memorize

This is NOT for you if:

You're looking for braindumps or exam leaks
You haven't started studying the concepts yet
Most successful candidates start practice 2-3 weeks before their exam
Updated for April 2026 exam blueprint

AZ-104 Exam Details

What to expect on exam day

Questions

40-60 questions

Duration

120 minutes

Passing Score

700/1000

Exam Cost

$165 USD

Exam Domains Covered

Master all topics tested on the AZ-104 exam

1

Manage Azure identities and governance (20-25%)

2

Implement and manage storage (15-20%)

3

Deploy and manage Azure compute resources (20-25%)

4

Implement and manage virtual networking (15-20%)

5

Monitor and maintain Azure resources (10-15%)

Test Yourself Right Now

Try 5 real practice questions — no signup needed

🎯

5 Free AZ-104 Questions

See how ready you are for the AZ-104 exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation so you learn as you go.

No account requiredTakes 2-3 minutesInstant results

Why Practice with MSCertQuiz?

Microsoft Learn teaches concepts. We prepare you for the actual exam.

1

Scenario-based questions that match AZ-104's real-world testing style

2

Explanations teach the reasoning behind each answer — critical for case-study questions

3

Calibrated to associate-level difficulty so you're not under-prepared

4

Updated for the latest 2026 exam objectives — no outdated material

Not sure if you're ready for the AZ-104 exam?

Take the free AZ-104 Readiness Check →

What Our Users Say

“AZ-104 was the hardest Microsoft exam I've taken. The scenario-based questions here were almost identical in style to the real thing. Passed with 760 — would have failed without this prep.”

NK

Naveed K.

AZ-104 Certified

“The NSG, storage, and identity questions were spot-on. I kept scoring 65% in practice until the explanations showed me why I was picking the wrong answers. Eventually hit 85% and passed the real exam.”

JR

Jessica R.

Azure Administrator

“Coming from AWS, I needed to learn Azure fast for a new role. The AZ-104 questions covered real admin scenarios, not just definitions. Passed in 6 weeks of prep.”

PT

Pavel T.

Passed AZ-104 first try

Choose Your Plan

Start free, upgrade when you're ready to get serious

Free

Good for exploring the platform

$0
  • 40 practice questions
  • Practice mode only
  • Progress tracking
  • No exam simulation mode
Start Free

AZ-104 Full Access

Best if your exam is in the next 2-4 weeks

$14.99one-time
  • 500 practice questions
  • Practice & Exam modes
  • Detailed explanations
  • Lifetime access
Get AZ-104 Access — $14.99

7-day money-back guarantee

BEST VALUE

Pro — All Certs

Best if you're planning multiple Microsoft exams

$11.99/month
  • ALL certifications included
  • Unlimited questions
  • New certs added free
  • Cancel anytime
View Pro Plans

Save 30% vs buying individually

Your AZ-104Exam Won't Wait

Candidates who complete at least 2 full mock exams pass at significantly higher rates than those who only study passively.

Don't risk $165 USD on the real exam without testing yourself first.

Start Free Practice Now

No credit card required • 40 free questions • Upgrade for $14.99 when ready

Official Microsoft Resources

Our practice questions are aligned with official Microsoft exam objectives. We recommend studying with Microsoft Learn first, then using MSCertQuiz to test your readiness.

View Official AZ-104 Exam Details

AZ-104 Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about the AZ-104 Azure Administrator certification

How hard is the AZ-104 exam?
AZ-104 is significantly harder than AZ-900 — roughly 30–40% of first-time candidates fail. It is an associate-level exam that tests real-world Azure administration scenarios with case studies, drag-and-drop sequencing, and PowerShell/CLI command identification. The 120-minute time limit and scenario-based format require hands-on Azure portal experience, not just reading. Most candidates need 8–12 weeks of preparation combining Microsoft Learn, Azure free tier labs, and realistic practice questions.
Is AZ-104 worth it in 2026?
Yes — AZ-104 is one of the most in-demand Microsoft certifications in 2026. Azure Administrator roles in the US typically pay $85,000–$130,000 depending on experience and location, with senior roles reaching $150,000+. AZ-104 is listed as a requirement or strong preference in most Azure cloud engineer, DevOps engineer, and SRE job postings, and is the recommended foundation before pursuing AZ-305 (Solutions Architect) or AZ-400 (DevOps Engineer).
What's the difference between AZ-900 and AZ-104?
AZ-900 tests foundational cloud concepts at a beginner level. AZ-104 tests hands-on Azure administration skills at an associate level — you need to know how to actually configure resources, troubleshoot issues, and implement solutions, not just define them.
How long should I study for AZ-104?
Most successful candidates spend 4-8 weeks preparing, combining hands-on Azure lab practice with our practice tests. AZ-104 requires real understanding, not memorization. We recommend completing at least 3 full practice rounds, focusing on areas where you score below 80%.
How is MSCertQuiz different from free AZ-104 resources?
Free resources rarely cover AZ-104 adequately because associate-level questions require scenario-based thinking. Our 500 questions include complex scenarios with detailed explanations of why each answer is correct or incorrect — teaching the decision-making process, not just facts.
How much does the AZ-104 exam cost in 2026?
The AZ-104 exam costs $165 USD in 2026. This is the standard Microsoft Associate-level certification pricing. Pricing varies by country due to Microsoft's market-based pricing: approximately ₹4,800 INR in India, £113 GBP in the UK, and €165 EUR in most European markets. Confirm the exact current price on the official Microsoft Learn scheduling page for your region before booking. Microsoft Ignite, Enterprise Skills Initiative (ESI), and Microsoft Learn Cloud Skills Challenges occasionally provide free vouchers.
What is the AZ-104 passing score in 2026?
The AZ-104 passing score is 700 out of 1000 in 2026. This has been stable since the exam launched. Microsoft uses scaled scoring rather than a straight percentage — some questions carry more weight than others, and case studies often count for multiple points. Consistently scoring 80%+ on realistic practice tests gives you a comfortable margin on exam day.
Does the AZ-104 certification expire?
Yes — AZ-104 is a role-based Associate certification and expires one year after the pass date. Microsoft requires you to renew annually via a free online assessment on Microsoft Learn. The renewal assessment opens 6 months before expiry, and you can retake it for free until you pass. Unlike the original certification exam (which costs $165), renewals are free and shorter (typically 25–35 questions).
What is the average AZ-104 salary in 2026?
AZ-104-certified Azure Administrators in the US earn $85,000–$130,000 USD on average in 2026, depending on experience and location. Entry-level roles start around $70,000–$90,000, mid-level Azure administrators average $95,000–$120,000, and senior administrators or cloud engineers with AZ-104 plus additional certifications (AZ-305, AZ-400) regularly clear $130,000–$160,000. Major metros (San Francisco, New York, Seattle) pay 20–35% above the national average; remote-friendly Azure roles have narrowed the gap.
How is AZ-104 different from MS-102?
AZ-104 is the Azure Administrator certification ($165) focused on managing Azure cloud infrastructure — VMs, VNets, storage, identity (Entra ID), RBAC, governance, and monitoring. MS-102 is the Microsoft 365 Administrator certification ($165) focused on managing Microsoft 365 tenants — Defender XDR, Purview compliance, Entra ID identity for M365, and tenant configuration. Both are Associate-level and require annual renewal. Take AZ-104 if you administer Azure cloud resources; take MS-102 if you administer Microsoft 365 environments. They overlap minimally on identity, and many enterprise admins eventually earn both.
How is AZ-104 different from MD-102?
AZ-104 covers Azure cloud administration — provisioning and managing cloud resources like VMs, storage, networks, and identity. MD-102 covers endpoint and device administration — Microsoft Intune, Windows Autopilot, compliance policies, app protection, and Defender for Endpoint. AZ-104 is for cloud administrators; MD-102 is for endpoint administrators. They cover different roles with minimal overlap. Both are $165 Associate-level certifications with annual renewal.
How is AZ-104 different from AZ-305?
AZ-104 (Associate, $165) tests your ability to implement and manage Azure resources — actually configuring VMs, networks, storage, and identity. AZ-305 (Expert, $165) tests your ability to design Azure solutions — choosing the right services, justifying architectural trade-offs, and designing for scalability, security, and cost. AZ-104 is implementation; AZ-305 is design. Microsoft strongly recommends passing AZ-104 before AZ-305, as AZ-305 assumes deep hands-on Azure experience. AZ-305 questions are scenario-heavy and often have multiple defensible answers.
How many questions are on the AZ-104 exam?
The AZ-104 exam contains 40–60 questions in 120 minutes. The exact count varies per attempt — Microsoft does not publish it in advance. Question types include multiple choice, drag-and-drop, sequence ordering, PowerShell/CLI completion, and case studies. Case studies count for multiple points and require you to read a business scenario before answering 4–6 related questions. Time management matters: budget roughly 90–120 seconds per standalone question and 8–12 minutes per case study.

AZ-104 Exam Cost 2026

The AZ-104 exam costs $165 USD in 2026. This is the standard Microsoft Associate-level certification price. Pricing varies by country due to Microsoft's market-based pricing — approximately ₹4,800 INR in India, £113 GBP in the UK, and roughly €165 EUR in most European markets. Always confirm the current price on the official Microsoft Learn scheduling page for your region before booking.

There are no formal prerequisites, though Microsoft strongly recommends 6 months of hands-on Azure administration experience and prior completion of AZ-900 fundamentals. AZ-104 is a role-based Associate certification and expires annually — renewal is free via a shorter online assessment on Microsoft Learn. Microsoft Ignite, Enterprise Skills Initiative (ESI), and Microsoft Learn Cloud Skills Challenges occasionally offer free or discounted exam vouchers.

AZ-104 vs AZ-900: Implementation vs Concepts

The two most-searched Azure certifications, but the gap between them is large. AZ-900 validates conceptual understanding; AZ-104 validates hands-on administration.

AZ-900AZ-104
LevelFundamentalsAssociate
Cost$99$165
Duration45 min120 min
Question styleMultiple choice, drag-dropScenario-based, case studies, PowerShell/CLI
Study time2–3 weeks8–12 weeks
Expires?NoAnnual renewal (free)
Best forResume signal, foundationAzure administrators, cloud engineers

AZ-900 is not a hard prerequisite, but AZ-104 assumes you understand cloud concepts (shared responsibility, regions, governance) that AZ-900 explicitly teaches. Skipping AZ-900 typically adds 2–3 weeks to AZ-104 preparation time.

AZ-104 vs MS-102 vs MD-102: Which Admin Role?

Three Microsoft Associate-level administrator certifications, three different roles. The right one depends on which environment you manage day-to-day.

AZ-104MS-102MD-102
RoleAzure AdministratorMicrosoft 365 AdministratorEndpoint Administrator
FocusAzure cloud infrastructure (VMs, networks, storage, identity)M365 tenant management, Defender XDR, Purview, Entra for M365Intune, Windows Autopilot, device compliance, app protection
Best forCloud engineers, SREs, infrastructure adminsM365 admins, collaboration platform engineersEndpoint admins, desktop engineers, mobility specialists
Salary range (US)$85K–$130K$75K–$115K$70K–$105K
Overlap with AZ-104—Identity (Entra ID) basics onlyMinimal

AZ-104 vs AZ-305: Implementation vs Design

AZ-104 (Associate, $165) tests your ability to implement and manage Azure resources — configuring VMs, networks, storage, RBAC, and monitoring. AZ-305 (Expert, $165) tests your ability to design Azure solutions— choosing services, justifying trade-offs, and designing for scale, security, and cost. AZ-305 questions are scenario-heavy and often have multiple defensible answers; understanding Microsoft's preferred patterns and the Azure Well-Architected Framework matters more than recalling configuration commands. Microsoft strongly recommends passing AZ-104 first — most successful AZ-305 candidates have 1–3 years of AZ-104-equivalent hands-on experience.

AZ-104 Salary and Job Outlook (2026)

AZ-104 is one of the highest-leverage Microsoft certifications for salary growth. Reported US salary ranges in 2026:

  • • Junior Azure administrator (0–2 yrs): $70,000–$90,000 USD
  • • Azure administrator (2–5 yrs): $95,000–$120,000 USD
  • • Senior Azure administrator / cloud engineer (5+ yrs): $120,000–$150,000 USD
  • • AZ-104 + AZ-305 (Solutions Architect): $130,000–$170,000 USD
  • • AZ-104 + AZ-400 (DevOps Engineer): $125,000–$165,000 USD

Major US metros (San Francisco, New York, Seattle, Boston) pay 20–35% above the national average. Remote-friendly Azure roles have narrowed the metro gap since 2022. Internationally, AZ-104 is recognized as a strong signal of cloud competency — particularly in the UK, Germany, India, and Australia where Azure adoption is high.

AZ-104 Exam Topics 2026: Domain Breakdown

AZ-104 covers five domains. Microsoft refines wording periodically but the weights have remained stable. Always verify the latest objectives on the official Microsoft Learn AZ-104 page.

Manage Azure Identities and Governance

20–25%

Microsoft Entra ID users, groups, and devices, administrative units, B2B and B2C basics, RBAC (built-in roles and custom roles), subscriptions, management groups, resource groups, Azure Policy, Resource Locks, Tags.

Implement and Manage Storage

15–20%

Storage account types and redundancy (LRS, ZRS, GRS, RA-GRS, GZRS), Blob containers and access tiers (Hot, Cool, Cold, Archive), lifecycle management, Azure Files and File Sync, storage security (SAS, access keys, private endpoints), AzCopy and Storage Explorer.

Deploy and Manage Azure Compute Resources

20–25%

VM sizing, deployment, disks, VM extensions, availability sets vs. availability zones, VM Scale Sets, autoscale, Azure App Service, Container Instances, AKS basics, ARM templates and Bicep.

Implement and Manage Virtual Networking

15–20%

VNets, subnets, NSGs and Application Security Groups, Azure DNS, VNet peering, VPN Gateway, ExpressRoute basics, Azure Firewall, load balancers (Public/Internal Standard), Application Gateway, network routing and User Defined Routes.

Monitor and Maintain Azure Resources

10–15%

Azure Monitor (metrics, logs, alerts, action groups), Log Analytics workspaces and KQL basics, Application Insights, Azure Backup (VMs and Recovery Services Vault), Azure Site Recovery, Network Watcher.

AZ-104 Study Plan: 8-Week Schedule

Most candidates pass AZ-104 with 8–12 weeks of preparation. This 8-week plan assumes you already have AZ-900 knowledge and basic Azure portal familiarity:

  • Week 1–2: Identity and Governance — Entra ID, RBAC, subscriptions, Policy. Practice with the Azure free tier portal.
  • Week 3: Storage — storage accounts, redundancy options, Blob tiers, Azure Files. Build 2–3 storage accounts hands-on.
  • Week 4–5: Compute — VMs, Scale Sets, App Service, containers, ARM/Bicep templates. Deploy at least 5 VM configurations.
  • Week 6: Networking — VNets, NSGs, peering, VPN, Load Balancer, Application Gateway. This is the most error-prone domain on the exam.
  • Week 7: Monitoring — Azure Monitor, Log Analytics, Backup, Site Recovery. Take 40 free practice questions to find weak areas.
  • Week 8: Two full timed mock exams. Review every wrong answer. Target consistent 80%+ before booking. Pay particular attention to case study time management.

Also Preparing For

Candidates studying AZ-104 often prepare for these certifications next.

AZ-900

Azure Fundamentals

Practice test →AZ-305

Designing Microsoft Azure Infrastructure Solutions

Practice test →MS-102

Microsoft 365 Administrator

Practice test →