AZ-104 vs AZ-500: Which Azure Certification Should You Take?
👥 Who this guide is for: IT professionals, system administrators, security engineers, and anyone planning their Azure certification path.
📌 In this guide: Exam comparison | Job roles | Difficulty level | Prerequisites | Which one to take first | Career impact | Training options
Microsoft Azure offers two popular certifications for IT professionals: AZ-104 (Azure Administrator) and AZ-500 (Azure Security Engineer). Both are valuable, but they serve different career paths.
This guide helps you understand the differences and choose the right one for your career.
Quick Comparison
| Aspect | AZ-104 (Azure Administrator) | AZ-500 (Azure Security Engineer) |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Microsoft Azure Administrator | Microsoft Azure Security Engineer |
| Target role | System Administrator, Cloud Administrator | Security Engineer, Security Analyst |
| Focus area | Managing Azure resources, networking, storage, VMs | Security, identity, access control, threat protection |
| Prerequisites | Azure fundamentals (AZ-900 recommended) | Azure fundamentals + some security knowledge |
| Exam duration | 120-150 minutes | 120-150 minutes |
| Question types | Multiple choice, case studies, drag-and-drop | Multiple choice, case studies, drag-and-drop |
| Difficulty level | Intermediate | Intermediate to Advanced |
| Hands-on requirement | High – need practical experience | High – need security + Azure experience |
AZ-104: Microsoft Azure Administrator
What You Will Learn
The AZ-104 certification validates your ability to manage Azure identities, governance, storage, compute resources, virtual networks, and monitor Azure infrastructure.
Key skills covered:
- Manage Azure identities and governance (Azure AD, RBAC, policies)
- Implement and manage storage (Blob, Files, Table, Queue)
- Deploy and manage Azure compute resources (VMs, Containers, App Service)
- Configure and manage virtual networking (VNETs, Load Balancers, VPNs)
- Monitor and back up Azure resources (Azure Monitor, Backup, Site Recovery)
Who Should Take AZ-104?
Job Roles After AZ-104
- Azure Administrator
- Cloud Administrator
- System Administrator (Azure focus)
- Infrastructure Engineer
- DevOps Engineer (entry level)
AZ-500: Microsoft Azure Security Engineer
What You Will Learn
The AZ-500 certification validates your ability to implement security controls, maintain security posture, manage identity and access, protect data, applications, and networks in Azure.
Key skills covered:
- Manage identity and access (Azure AD, MFA, Conditional Access)
- Implement platform protection (Network Security Groups, Firewall, DDoS)
- Manage security operations (Security Center, Sentinel, Alerts)
- Secure data and applications (Encryption, Key Vault, Application Security)
- Configure and manage threat protection (Microsoft Defender for Cloud)
Who Should Take AZ-500?
Job Roles After AZ-500
- Azure Security Engineer
- Cloud Security Analyst
- Security Operations Engineer
- Identity and Access Management Specialist
- Compliance Engineer
Which One Should You Take First?
AZ-104 → AZ-500 is the most common path. Understanding Azure administration first makes Azure security concepts much easier to grasp.
Choose AZ-104 first if:
- You are new to Azure or cloud administration
- Your role involves managing Azure resources daily
- You want a broad foundation in Azure
- You plan to take AZ-500 later
Choose AZ-500 first if:
- You already have Azure administration experience
- Your role is specifically security-focused
- You are transitioning from on-prem security to cloud security
- You hold other security certifications (CISSP, Security+, etc.)
Exam Details
| Detail | AZ-104 | AZ-500 |
|---|---|---|
| Number of questions | 40-60 | 40-60 |
| Passing score | 700/1000 | 700/1000 |
| Exam cost (indicative) | $165 (approx ₹13,500) | $165 (approx ₹13,500) |
| Languages available | English, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, German, French, Spanish, Portuguese | English, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, German, French, Spanish, Portuguese |
| Renewal period | 1 year (free online renewal assessment) | 1 year (free online renewal assessment) |
📌 Note: Exam costs are set by Microsoft and may change. Check the official Microsoft website for current pricing in your region.
Training Options from Anvigya Digital Services
We provide instructor-led Azure training for corporate teams:
- Online instructor-led – Live classes over Zoom/Teams
- On-site corporate training – At your office (for organizations)
- Custom curriculum – Tailored to your team's skill level
- Hands-on labs – Real Azure environment for practice
⚠️ IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER
This comparison is for informational purposes only. Certification details, exam patterns, and requirements may change. Please refer to Microsoft's official website for the latest and most accurate information.
Microsoft, Azure, and related certifications are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
ANVIGYA DIGITAL SERVICES IS AN INDEPENDENT ORGANIZATION AND IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH OR ENDORSED BY MICROSOFT CORPORATION.
We do not sell exam vouchers. Certification exams must be booked directly with Microsoft or their authorized partners. Exam cost is not included in training fees.
Need Azure Training for Your Team?
We provide instructor-led AZ-104 and AZ-500 training – online or on-site. Hands-on labs included. Custom curriculum for corporate teams.
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