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
Add or change Azure subscription administrators
Configure cost center quotas and tagging
LinkedIn Learning: Configure Cost Center quotas (check with a free trial)
Configure policies at Azure subscription level
Create a policy assignment to identify non-compliant resources
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
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
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
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
Create Azure sync group
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
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
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
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
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
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
Troubleshoot load balancing
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/load-balancer/load-balancer-troubleshoot
Monitor and Troubleshoot Virtual Networking
Monitor on-premises connectivity
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
Troubleshoot virtual network connectivity
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
Configure Express Route
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
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
Manage Azure AD Objects (Users, Groups, and Devices)
Create users and groups
Manage user and group properties
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-pta-quick-start
Use Azure AD Connect to configure federation with on-premises Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS)
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/authentication/tutorial-enable-writeback
Implement Multi-factor Authentication (MFA)
Configure user accounts for MFA
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
Configure verification methods
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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