AZ-900 Study Guide UK 2026
Complete AZ-900 Microsoft Azure Fundamentals study guide for UK engineers 2026. Exam structure, all topic domains, free and paid resources, UK exam booking guide. The best starting point for Azure certification.
Prices last verified: March 2026
Exam Details
AZ-900
Skills measured
- ›Cloud concepts (25–30%)
- ›Azure architecture and services (35–40%)
- ›Azure management and governance (30–35%)
Recommended study resources
AZ-900 Microsoft Azure Fundamentals
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What is AZ-900?
AZ-900 is Microsoft's entry-level Azure certification, validating foundational knowledge of cloud concepts and Azure services. It is designed for anyone who wants to demonstrate that they understand what Azure is, how it is priced, and where it fits in modern IT — without requiring hands-on technical experience or a developer background.
There are no technical prerequisites for AZ-900. It is suitable for business analysts, project managers, IT support staff, developers new to cloud, and anyone beginning their Azure certification journey. The exam consists of 40–60 questions including multiple choice, drag-and-drop, and yes/no scenarios. The passing score is 700/1000, and the cost is £100 — the cheapest Microsoft certification available.
AZ-900 is the most popular Azure certification in the UK by exam volume. It is widely required for client site access at major UK consultancies including Accenture, Capgemini, KPMG, and Deloitte. While the credential has no formal expiry date, it is worth reviewing your knowledge annually as Azure evolves and new services become exam-relevant.
Who Should Take AZ-900?
AZ-900 is the right certification if you fall into any of these groups:
Perfect for
- ›IT professionals moving into cloud roles
- ›Business analysts working with Azure teams
- ›Project managers overseeing Azure projects
- ›Developers seeking Azure fundamentals before specialising
- ›Anyone required by their employer to hold basic Azure certification
Stepping stone to
- ›AZ-104 — Azure Administrator (operations)
- ›AZ-204 — Azure Developer Associate (development)
- ›AZ-305 — Solutions Architect (architecture)
- ›SC-200 — Security Operations Analyst (security)
- ›AZ-500 — Azure Security Engineer (security)
Exam Topic Breakdown
AZ-900 covers three domains. Unlike specialist exams, the content is broad rather than deep — you need to know what each service is and when to use it, not how to configure it in detail.
Domain 1 — Cloud Concepts
25–30%- ›Benefits of cloud: scalability, reliability, security, governance, manageability
- ›Cloud service types: IaaS, PaaS, SaaS
- ›Shared responsibility model
- ›Cloud models: public, private, hybrid
Domain 2 — Azure Architecture and Services
35–40%- ›Core compute: VMs, containers, Azure Functions, App Service
- ›Azure storage: Blob, Files, Queues, Tables
- ›Azure networking: VNet, VPN Gateway, ExpressRoute, DNS, Load Balancer
- ›Azure identity: Microsoft Entra ID, MFA, RBAC
- ›Azure monitoring: Monitor, Log Analytics, Advisor, Service Health
Domain 3 — Azure Management and Governance
30–35%- ›Cost management and Azure pricing models
- ›Azure subscriptions and management groups
- ›Azure Policy and Blueprints
- ›Azure Arc
- ›Service Level Agreements (SLAs)
- ›Azure support plans
Domain 3 covers Azure pricing directly — this is where AzureCalc.uk calculators are directly relevant study material.
UK Context
At £100, AZ-900 is the cheapest Microsoft certification available and the most commonly reimbursed by UK employers as continuing professional development (CPD). Many UK organisations have made it a baseline requirement rather than an optional credential.
Major UK consulting firms — including the Big 4 (Deloitte, KPMG, EY, PwC) and large system integrators — require all cloud-facing staff to hold AZ-900 before working on client sites. In the UK public sector, organisations including NHS Digital, HMRC, DVLA, and the Cabinet Office operate significant Azure estates; AZ-900 is frequently required for contractors and permanent staff on these programmes.
Pearson VUE test centres are available across the UK — London, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Bristol, Edinburgh, Cardiff, and Belfast — and online proctored sittings are available from home for candidates who prefer not to travel.
Free Study Resources
AZ-900 is one of the few Microsoft certifications that is genuinely passable using free resources alone. The official Microsoft Learn path plus the free practice assessment is sufficient for the majority of candidates.
Microsoft Learn — Official AZ-900 learning path
6 modules, approximately 10 hours total
AZ-900 free practice assessment
50 questions, available directly on Microsoft Learn at no cost
AZ-900 study guide PDF
Official Microsoft document listing all exam objectives
Adam Docherty — AZ-900 YouTube series
Well-regarded free video course
FreeCodeCamp AZ-900 full course (YouTube)
3+ hours, highly rated by UK candidates
A Cloud Guru free tier
Limited free access to AZ-900 content
Paid Study Resources
AZ-900 is passable with free resources alone. Paid resources are recommended if you want a structured programme with video explanations, want practice tests beyond the official 50-question assessment, or want to maximise your score.
AZ-900 Microsoft Azure Fundamentals
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AZ-900 Official Practice Test
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AZ-900 Practice Tests
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Recommended Study Plan
AZ-900 is achievable in two weeks studying one to two hours per day part-time. The exam covers breadth rather than depth, so a focused two-week pass is more effective than a long drawn-out study period.
Week 1 — Core Concepts and Architecture
Cloud concepts (Domain 1)
Complete Microsoft Learn Module 1 — IaaS/PaaS/SaaS, shared responsibility
Azure compute and storage
VMs, Blob Storage, App Service, Azure Functions
Azure networking and identity
VNet, Load Balancer, Microsoft Entra ID, RBAC
Week 2 — Governance and Exam Prep
Azure management and governance (Domain 3)
Cost management, Azure Policy, SLAs, support plans
Free Microsoft Learn practice assessment
50 questions — free, identifies weak areas
MeasureUp or Whizlabs practice tests
Timed, exam-format questions to build confidence
Review weak areas and book exam
Go back to Microsoft Learn on topics where you scored low
Azure Pricing in the AZ-900 Exam
Domain 3 includes Azure pricing and cost management — and it is tested in more detail than many candidates expect. The exam covers:
- Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) and the Azure TCO calculator
- Azure pricing models: pay-as-you-go, reserved instances, spot instances
- Cost-saving features: Azure Hybrid Benefit, reserved capacity
- Azure Cost Management + Billing
The best way to understand Azure pricing is to use the actual pricing calculators for the services most commonly featured in AZ-900 exam questions. AzureCalc.uk covers UK South pricing for Blob Storage, Azure Functions, and App Service — three services that appear regularly in exam scenarios:
Blob Storage Calculator
Estimate Hot, Cool, Cold and Archive tier costs for UK South.
Azure Functions Calculator
Estimate GB-second and execution costs for Consumption and Premium plans.
App Service Calculator
Compare Windows and Linux tiers from Free to Premium v3.
After AZ-900 — What Next?
AZ-900 is a foundation, not a destination. Once you hold AZ-900, the right next certification depends on your role:
Operations / Administration
AZ-104 Azure Administrator
Managing subscriptions, storage, VMs, networking, and identity
Development
AZ-204 Azure Developer Associate
Building and deploying Azure applications
Security (SOC / Threat)
SC-200 Security Operations Analyst →Microsoft Sentinel, Defender XDR, threat hunting
Security (Engineering)
AZ-500 Azure Security Engineer →Implementing security controls across Azure infrastructure
Architecture
AZ-305 Azure Solutions Architect
Designing cloud solutions, identity, data, and infrastructure
AZ-900 Official Practice Test
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