What the Microsoft AZ-900 is and who it is for
The AZ-900, Microsoft Azure Fundamentals, is the entry point to the Azure certification path. It validates foundational knowledge of cloud concepts and Azure services: cloud models, core Azure compute, networking, storage, security, governance and pricing. It is written for both technical and non technical candidates, so it suits sales and account teams, project managers and analysts as much as it suits people who plan to go on to the AZ-104 or the AZ-305.
There are no prerequisites, the certification never expires and there is no renewal requirement. That makes it the cheapest permanent line on a CV in the whole Microsoft programme, and it is a foundation every Azure certification above it builds on.
One thing to be aware of before you pick study material: Microsoft last revised the skills measured on 20 July 2026. Anything written before mid 2026 may describe an exam that no longer exists in that form.
Microsoft AZ-900 at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Exam code | AZ-900 |
| Questions | 40 to 60 |
| Time allowed | 45 minutes |
| Passing score | 700 out of 1000 |
| Exam fee | US$99 in the US, priced in local currency elsewhere |
| Languages | Available in multiple languages |
| Where you sit it | Pearson VUE and Certiport |
| Certification valid for | Never expires, no renewal required |
What is on the exam
Describe cloud concepts (25 to 30%). This domain tests whether you understand what the cloud is and why organisations use it. Expect questions on the shared responsibility model, the differences between public, private and hybrid cloud, infrastructure, platform and software as a service, and the benefits Microsoft emphasises: high availability, scalability, reliability, predictability, security and manageability. It also covers the consumption based pricing idea that underpins everything else.
Describe Azure architecture and services (35 to 40%). The largest domain. It covers how Azure is organised, from regions and availability zones to subscriptions and resource groups, and then walks through the core services: compute options such as virtual machines and containers, networking, storage types and tiers, identity with Microsoft Entra ID, and the basics of securing an environment. The July 2026 revision tightened the compute and networking objectives here, so make sure your material reflects the current list.
Describe Azure management and governance (30 to 35%). This covers how you control and pay for what you build: cost management and pricing tools, governance features such as policies and locks, the deployment tooling used to create resources, and monitoring. The revised blueprint also tightened the deployment tooling and monitoring objectives, which is why older study notes can leave you short in this domain.
Why people fail it
Most candidates find the AZ-900 manageable, and that is precisely the problem for the ones who do not pass. It is a fundamentals exam, but it is still a Microsoft exam: the questions are worded carefully, several options are partly true, and 45 minutes for up to 60 questions leaves little time to think each one through from first principles.
The bigger risk in 2026 is studying for the wrong version. Microsoft revised the skills measured on 20 July 2026, tightening the compute and networking, deployment tooling and monitoring objectives. A course or question set written before that date may skip topics that are now tested and spend time on ones that are not. If your practice material does not say it is aligned to the 20 July 2026 blueprint, treat it with suspicion.
The third trap is weight. Cloud concepts is the domain people enjoy and remember, but architecture and services plus management and governance together account for at least 65% of the exam. Candidates who can explain the shared responsibility model but cannot say what a resource group does, or which tool estimates cost before deployment, run out of easy marks quickly.
A study plan that fits the exam
Four weeks is enough for most people, and less if you already work around Azure. The split below follows the domain weights, with the largest domain getting the most time.
- Week 1: cloud concepts. The shared responsibility model, cloud models, service types and the benefits of cloud computing. Finish the week with the free AZ-900 practice questions to see how Microsoft phrases fundamentals questions.
- Week 2: Azure architecture and services, part one. Regions, availability zones, subscriptions and resource groups, then compute and networking. Open a free Azure account and create a virtual machine and a virtual network so the terms are concrete.
- Week 3: Azure architecture and services, part two, then start management and governance. Storage types and tiers, identity and access with Microsoft Entra ID, and security basics. In the second half of the week move to cost management and pricing tools.
- Week 4: management and governance, then timed runs. Governance features, deployment tooling and monitoring. Then sit timed sessions using the questions only copy from the AZ-900 practice question pack, aligned to the 20 July 2026 blueprint, and read the explanations for anything you missed.
On exam day
The AZ-900 is delivered through Pearson VUE and Certiport. Certiport delivery is common through schools and academic programmes, while Pearson VUE covers testing centres and online proctoring, so check which route your booking uses and follow its check in instructions.
The time limit is the thing to respect. You have 45 minutes for between 40 and 60 questions, which can mean under a minute each. Do not linger. Answer what you know, flag what you do not, and return to the flagged questions with whatever time remains. Read the options carefully, because the wrong answers on a fundamentals exam are usually real Azure features applied to the wrong situation.
The pass mark is 700 out of 1000 on a scaled score. Answer everything.
Frequently asked questions
Is the practice question pack enough on its own?
It is practice, not a course. For a fundamentals exam it goes a long way, because the 474 questions and their explanations cover the objectives at the level the exam tests them and show you the question style. If you have never used Azure at all, spend a few hours with the free tier and an introductory resource first, then use the pack to check what stuck and to rehearse under time.
What happens if I fail the AZ-900?
You can retake it. Microsoft sets waiting periods between attempts and charges the fee again, so check the current retake policy on the Microsoft Learn certification page before you rebook. Each attempt costs US$99 in the US, so a couple of timed practice runs before the first booking is cheaper than a second sitting.
Does the AZ-900 expire?
No. The certification never expires and carries no renewal requirement. It stays on your transcript permanently.
Has the exam changed recently?
Yes. Microsoft revised the skills measured on 20 July 2026, tightening the compute and networking, deployment tooling and monitoring objectives. Make sure any material you use is aligned to that date.
Try 10 free questions, then get all 474 AZ-900 practice questions with full explanations for US$39, pass or your money back: get the AZ-900 pack.