What is Microsoft Azure? Azure certification for professionals

Cloud platforms, also referred to as Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), are used by a wide variety of businesses to store data, handle machine-learning, and more. IT professionals looking to enhance their resume should therefore consider certification for these tools. As one of the biggest options on the market, that includes Microsoft Azure.

See also: What is AWS certification?

But just what is Azure? What services are included? In this post, we will explore the platform in detail from the perspective of the IT services provider or developer.

What is Azure?

Microsoft Azure is a cloud platform that offers a number of apps and services for businesses. These include, but are not limited to, services in the following categories:

• Containers
• Compute
• Machine learning
• Developer tools
• IoT

You can find a full list of services here.

Like other cloud platforms, Microsoft uses a scalable pricing strategy. This means businesses only pay for the infrastructure they use, ensuring seamless scaling to meet the demands of customers.

Understanding how to use Microsoft Azure as a developer means being able to help employers and clients design, launch, and manage these solutions: whether that means storing and securing customer information, or using natural language processing via machine learning.

What is Azure certification?

Microsoft Azure certification demonstrates that a professional has a solid understanding of the Azure cloud platform and the services that comprise it. These are industry-recognized and highly regarded certifications that are in high demand among employers. With cloud computing among the fastest growing technologies, this is a fantastic way to future-proof your resume.

There are actually 12 different Microsoft Azure Certifications, each one specializing in certain areas. These include the likes of Microsoft Certified Azure Data Scientist and Microsoft Certified Azure AI Engineer. Certifications are also divided into Fundamentals, Associate, and Expert levels.

Beginners may wish to start with the Fundamentals Exam (AZ-900), while more experienced users can demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of Microsoft Azure services with the Microsoft Certified Solutions Architect certification.

Is an Azure certification worth it?

For professionals, the question often is which cloud platform to gain certification with. Microsoft Azure currently owns a 14% market share in this sector, but Amazon Web Services (AWS) is the market leader with a 33% share. Google Cloud is another competitor that is particularly well-known for its focus on machine learning via the powerful “Tensor Flow” platform.

The bottom line is that AWS certification will appeal to the widest range of employers and will be the priority for many professionals. However, the more of these certifications you possess, the more companies will be interested in hiring your services. This is particularly true considering the wide use of other Microsoft services such as Office 365 and Teams among countless organizations. Microsoft remains an extremely popular choice due to its integration with many such tools, and because of its brand recognition.

How to get started

Those looking to augment their resume with a Microsoft Azure certification should first consider online training. This will provide the necessary knowledge to pass exams. Android Authority readers can get huge discounts on a number of great Azure courses that act as a complete preparation for certification. Microsoft Azure: Complete Guide to Solution Architect Exam prepares students for one of the most popular Microsoft Azure exams, for just $24 (73% off the usual asking price). For an even more complete option, consider The Essential Microsoft Azure Certification Bundle with a huge 97% discount that puts it at just $29.99.

Let us know what you think of Azure in the comments below. Will you be adding Microsoft Azure certification to your arsenal? Does your organization rely on Microsoft Azure?