AZ-103 Exam Study Guide (Azure Administrator)

Preparing for the AZ-103 Microsoft Azure Administrator exam? Don’t know where to start? This post is the AZ-103 Study Guide (with links to each exam objective for the Azure Certification).

I have curated a list of articles from Microsoft documentation for each objective of the AZ-103 Azure Administrator exam. I hope this article will be your AZ-103 Study Guide for the exam. Also, please share the post within your circles so it helps them to prepare for the exam.

AZ-103 Azure Administrator Course (Online)

Pluralsight (Learning Path)	Azure Administrator Preparation Path [Free trial]
LinkedIn Learning [Free trial]	Azure Cert. Prep. for Administrators [Learning Path]
Skylines Academy	AZ-103 Certification: Azure Administrator
Udemy	Administrator Role Certification Course

AZ-103 Azure Administrator Practice Test

Whizlabs Exam Questions	5 Practice Tests (275 questions) & [Online Course]
Skylines Sample test	AZ-103 Azure Administrator Practice test
Udemy Practice Tests	Azure Admin. (120 Practice Test Questions)

AZ-103 Azure Administrator Other Materials

Skylines Academy	Labs for Azure Administrator Certification
Amazon e-book (PDF)	Azure Administrator Exam Reference Book

To view other Azure certificate study guides, click here

If you are looking for the new Azure Administrator exam study guide (AZ-104) in beta, check here. If you are confused, if you should take az-103, or wait for az-104, this post will help answer some of your queries.

Full Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. I receive a commission when you purchase through them.

Looking for AZ-103 dumps? Read this!

Using az-103 exam dumps can get you permanently banned from taking any future Microsoft certificate exam. Read the FAQ page for more information. However, I strongly suggest you validate your understanding with practice questions.

AZ-103 Azure Administrator Exam Details

AZ-103 Exam duration: 210 minutes; 60 questions; pass score 700/1000; no negative marking
Question types: 2 labs (with several tasks), 2-4 Case studies & Multiple-choice questions
Multiple-choice questions are of following types:
- - Single-correct answer
  - Up to ‘n’ correct answers (they tell how many answers to choose)
  - Fill in the blanks
  - Order statements in the right order
The exam is divided into sections. You can go back and update the answer but only within sections. Once you are out of a section, you cannot go back

AZ-103 Azure Administrator Exam Tips

Don’t worry memorizing PowerShell/CLI. Understand the structure of the syntax
For PowerShell, focus on the new ‘AZ’ module, not the older ‘AzureRM’
Between PowerShell and CLI, the focus is more on PowerShell commands
Labs don’t mandate the use of CLI or PowerShell; Only the result matters
Don’t fret about ARM templates. You just need to understand its layout. You will not be required to create one but will be asked to pick the missing syntax
Don’t worry about memorizing trivial information like CDN features, SKU details, etc., as these can change too often and cannot be meaningfully tested
Expect questions on cost optimization/effectiveness
Take an Azure subscription & practice the labs from Microsoft Learning
Definitely, do a practice test to gauge your preparedness before the exam
Other common questions on Azure Certification & study tips are covered here
Preferably, avoid taking the exam from home. There have been a lot of issues
Expect the labs to be very slow. It will test your patience

Manage Azure subscriptions and Resources (15-20%)

Manage Azure Subscriptions

Assign administrator permissions

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/billing/billing-add-change-azure-subscription-administrator

Configure cost center quotas and tagging

LinkedIn Learning: Configure Cost Center quotas (check with a free trial)

Configure policies at Azure subscription level

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/assign-policy-portal

Analyze Resource Utilization and Consumption

Configure diagnostic settings on resources

Linkedin Learning: Configure Diagnostic Setting (check with a free trial)

Create a baseline for resources

LinkedIn Learning: Creating a Baseline for Resources (check with a free trial)

Create and test alerts

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-monitor/platform/alerts-metric

Analyze alerts across subscription

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-monitor/platform/alerts-managing-alert-instances

Analyze metrics across subscription

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-monitor/platform/metrics-charts

Create action groups and action rules

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-monitor/platform/action-groups

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-monitor/platform/alerts-action-rules

Monitor for unused resources

https://docs.bmc.com/docs/reclaiming-the-unused-and-overallocated-azure-virtual-machines

Monitor spend

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/billing/billing-getting-started

Report on spend

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/billing/billing-download-azure-invoice-daily-usage-date

Utilize Log queries in Azure Monitor

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-monitor/log-query/query-language

View alerts in Azure Monitor

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-monitor/platform/alerts-metric#view-and-manage-with-azure-portal

Manage Resource Groups

Use Azure policies for resource groups

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/enforce-tag-on-resource-groups

Configure resource locks

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-resource-manager/resource-group-lock-resources

Configure resource policies

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/tutorials/create-and-manage

Implement and set tagging on resource groups

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-resource-manager/resource-group-using-tags

[Watch a video]: on Resource Groups & Tagging

Move resources across resource groups

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-resource-manager/resource-group-move-resources

Remove resource groups

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-resource-manager/resource-manager-quickstart-create-templates-use-the-portal

Managed Role based Access Control (RBAC)

Create a custom role

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/role-based-access-control/tutorial-custom-role-powershell

Configure access to Azure resources by assigning roles

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/role-based-access-control/role-assignments-portal

Configure management access to Azure

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/role-based-access-control/role-assignments-portal

Troubleshoot RBAC

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/role-based-access-control/troubleshooting

Implement RBAC policies

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/role-based-access-control/conditional-access-azure-management

Assign RBAC Roles

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/role-based-access-control/quickstart-assign-role-user-portal

Implement and Manage Storage (15-20%)

Create and Configure Storage Accounts

Configure network access to the storage account

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/storage/common/storage-network-security

Create and configure storage account

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/storage/common/storage-quickstart-create-account

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/storage/common/storage-account-manage

Generate shared access signature

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/storage/common/storage-dotnet-shared-access-signature-part-1

Install and use Azure Storage Explorer

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/vs-azure-tools-storage-manage-with-storage-explorer

Manage access keys

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/storage/common/storage-account-manage

Monitor activity log by using Monitor Logs

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/storage/common/storage-monitor-storage-account#configure-logging

Implement Azure storage replication

MSDN Blog: Azure Storage Replication Implementation

Implement Azure AD authentication

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/storage/common/storage-auth-aad-app

Import and Export Data to Azure

Create export from Azure job

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/storage/common/storage-import-export-data-from-blobs

Create import into Azure job

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/storage/common/storage-import-export-data-to-blobs

Use Azure Data Box

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-quickstart-portal

Configure and use Azure blob storage

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/storage/blobs/storage-quickstart-blobs-portal

Configure Azure content delivery network (CDN) endpoints

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cdn/cdn-create-a-storage-account-with-cdn

Use Azure Data Factory to transfer data to Azure

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-factory/copy-activity-overview

Configure Azure Files

Create an Azure file share

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/storage/files/storage-how-to-create-file-share

Create Azure File Sync service

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/storage/files/storage-sync-files-deployment-guide?tabs=azure-portal

Create Azure sync group

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/storage/files/storage-sync-files-deployment-guide?tabs=azure-portal

Troubleshoot Azure File Sync

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/storage/files/storage-sync-files-troubleshoot

Implement Azure Backup

Configure and review backup reports

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/backup/backup-azure-configure-reports

Perform backup operation

https://azure.microsoft.com/en-in/blog/microsoft-azure-block-blob-storage-backup/

Create Recovery Services Vault

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/backup/backup-create-rs-vault

Create and configure a backup policy

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/cli/azure/backup/policy?view=azure-cli-latest

Perform a restore operation

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/sql-database/sql-database-recovery-using-backups

Amazon link (affiliate)

Deploy and Manage Virtual Machines (VMs) (15-20%)

Create and Configure a VM for Windows and Linux

Check out this course on Azure VM

Configure high availability

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machines/windows/tutorial-availability-sets

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tXoWN6Ucuw

Configure monitoring, networking, storage, and virtual machine size

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machines/windows/tutorial-monitoring

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machines/windows/tutorial-virtual-network

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machines/windows/managed-disks-overview

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machines/windows/sizes

Deploy and configure scale sets

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/quick-create-portal

Automate Deployment of VMs

Modify Azure Resource Manager (ARM) template

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/architecture/building-blocks/extending-templates/update-resource

Configure location of new VMs

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/site-recovery/azure-to-azure-tutorial-migrate

Configure VHD template

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machines/windows/create-vm-specialized

Deploy from template

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machines/windows/ps-template

Save a deployment as an ARM template

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machines/windows/download-template

Deploy Windows and Linux VMs

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machines/windows/ps-template

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machines/linux/create-ssh-secured-vm-from-template

Manage Azure VM

Add data discs

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machines/windows/attach-disk-ps

Add network interfaces

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-network/virtual-network-network-interface-vm

Automate configuration management by using PowerShell Desired State Configuration (DSC) and VM Agent by using custom script extensions

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/automation/automation-dsc-getting-started

https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/stefan-stranger/using-azure-custom-script-extension-to-execute-scripts-on-azure-vms/

Manage VM sizes

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machines/windows/sizes

Move VMs from one resource group to another

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machines/windows/move-vm

Redeploy VMs

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machines/troubleshooting/redeploy-to-new-node-windows

Soft delete for Azure VMs

https://docs.microsoft.com/bs-latn-ba/azure/backup/backup-azure-security-feature-cloud#soft-delete

Manage VM Backups

Configure VM backup

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/backup/quick-backup-vm-portal

Define backup policies

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/backup/backup-azure-vms-encryption

Implement backup policies

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/backup/backup-azure-arm-vms-prepare

Perform VM restore

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/backup/backup-azure-arm-restore-vms

Azure Site Recovery

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/site-recovery/azure-to-azure-quickstart

Configure and Manage Virtual Networks (30-35%)

Create Connectivity between Virtual Networks

Create and configure VNET peering

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKGsf6J4IVI

Create and configure VNET to VNET connections

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/vpn-gateway/vpn-gateway-vnet-vnet-rm-ps

Verify virtual network connectivity

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/vpn-gateway/vpn-gateway-verify-connection-resource-manager

Create a virtual network gateway

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/vpn-gateway/create-routebased-vpn-gateway-portal

Implement and Manage Virtual Networking

Configure private and public IP addresses

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-network/virtual-network-public-ip-address

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-network/virtual-networks-static-private-ip-arm-pportal

Configure network routes

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-network/tutorial-create-route-table-portal

Configure network interface

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-network/virtual-network-network-interface

Configure subnets

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-network/virtual-network-manage-subnet

Configure virtual network

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-network/manage-virtual-network

Configure Name Resolution

Configure Azure DNS

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/dns/dns-getstarted-portal

Configure custom DNS settings

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/dns/dns-custom-domain

Configure private and public DNS zones

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/dns/private-dns-getstarted-powershell

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/dns/dns-delegate-domain-azure-dns

Create and Configure a Network Security Group (NSG)

Create security rules

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-network/manage-network-security-group

Associate NSG to a subnet or network interface

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-network/manage-network-security-group

Identify required ports

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-network/security-overview

Evaluate effective security rules

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-network/virtual-network-network-interface

Implement Application Security Groups

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-network/tutorial-filter-network-traffic#create-application-security-groups

Implement Azure Load Balancer

Configure the internal load balancer

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/load-balancer/tutorial-load-balancer-basic-internal-portal

Configure load balancing rules

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/load-balancer/configure-load-balancer-outbound-cli

Configure a public load balancer

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/load-balancer/load-balancer-get-started-internet-availability-zones-zonal-powershell

Troubleshoot load balancing

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/load-balancer/load-balancer-troubleshoot

Monitor and Troubleshoot Virtual Networking

Monitor on-premises connectivity

https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/step-by-step-monitoring-on-premise-active-directory-via-azure-ad-connect-health/

Use Network resource monitoring

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-monitor/insights/network-performance-monitor

Use Network Watcher

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/network-watcher/network-watcher-create

[Watch a video]: Demonstration on Network Watcher

Troubleshoot external networking

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/vpn-gateway/vpn-gateway-troubleshoot-site-to-site-cannot-connect

Troubleshoot virtual network connectivity

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/network-watcher/diagnose-communication-problem-between-networks

Integrate On premises Network with Azure Virtual Network

Create and configure Azure VPN Gateway

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/vpn-gateway/vpn-gateway-tutorial-create-gateway-powershell

Create and configure site to site VPN

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/vpn-gateway/vpn-gateway-howto-site-to-site-resource-manager-portal

Configure Express Route

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/expressroute/expressroute-howto-circuit-portal-resource-manager

Verify on premises connectivity

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/vpn-gateway/vpn-gateway-verify-connection-resource-manager

Troubleshoot on premises connectivity with Azure

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/vpn-gateway/vpn-gateway-troubleshoot-site-to-site-cannot-connect

Use Azure network adapter

https://www.thomasmaurer.ch/2018/09/windows-server-azure-network-adapter/

Manage Identities (15-20%)

Manage Azure Active Directory (AD)

Add custom domains

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/active-directory/fundamentals/add-custom-domain

Azure AD Join

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/active-directory/user-help/user-help-join-device-on-network

Configure self-service password reset

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/active-directory/authentication/quickstart-sspr

Manage multiple directories

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/Azure-Active-Directory-Identity/Creating-and-Managing-Multiple-Windows-Azure-Active-Directories/ba-p/243428

Manage Azure AD Objects (Users, Groups, and Devices)

Create users and groups

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/active-directory/fundamentals/add-users-azure-active-directory

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/active-directory/fundamentals/active-directory-groups-create-azure-portal

Manage user and group properties

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/active-directory/fundamentals/active-directory-users-profile-azure-portal

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/active-directory/fundamentals/active-directory-groups-settings-azure-portal

Manage device settings

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/active-directory/devices/device-management-azure-portal

Perform bulk user updates

https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/active-directory/bulk-user-modification/

Manage guest accounts

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/active-directory/b2b/b2b-quickstart-add-guest-users-portal

Implement and Manage Hybrid Identities

Install Azure AD Connect, including password hash and pass-through synchronization

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/active-directory/hybrid/how-to-connect-install-express

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/active-directory/hybrid/how-to-connect-password-hash-synchronization

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/active-directory/hybrid/how-to-connect-pta-quick-start

Use Azure AD Connect to configure federation with on-premises Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS)

https://www.codetwo.com/admins-blog/how-to-sync-on-premises-active-directory-to-azure-active-directory-with-azure-ad-connect/

Manage Azure AD Connect

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/active-directory/hybrid/how-to-connect-post-installation

Manage password sync and password writeback

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/active-directory-domain-services/active-directory-ds-getting-started-password-sync-synced-tenant

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/active-directory/authentication/tutorial-enable-writeback

Implement Multi-factor Authentication (MFA)

Configure user accounts for MFA

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/active-directory/authentication/howto-mfa-userstates/user-accounts

Enable MFA by using bulk update

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/active-directory/authentication/howto-mfa-userstates/bulk

Configure fraud alerts

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/active-directory/authentication/howto-mfa-mfasettings/fraud

Configure bypass options

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/active-directory/authentication/howto-mfa-mfasettings/bypass

Configure Trusted IPs

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/active-directory/authentication/howto-mfa-mfasettings/Trusted-Ips

Configure verification methods

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/active-directory/authentication/howto-mfa-mfasettings/Verification

This brings us to the end of AZ-103 Study Guide

What do you think? Let me know in the comments section if I have missed out on anything. Also, I love to hear from you about how your preparation is going on!

In case you are looking for other Azure certification exams check out this page

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