AZ-104 and AZ-900 are both Microsoft Azure certifications, but they serve different purposes and skill levels.
AZ-900 (Microsoft Azure Fundamentals) is an entry-level certification designed for beginners who want to understand basic cloud concepts and core Azure services. It covers cloud principles, Azure services, pricing, support, security, compliance, and governance. This exam is ideal for those starting a cloud career or preparing for more technical, role-based certifications like AZ-104 or AZ-305.
AZ-104 (Microsoft Azure Administrator) is a role-based certification for candidates who want to manage Azure environments. It focuses on practical administration tasks such as managing identities, configuring virtual networks, deploying and managing VMs, implementing storage solutions, monitoring, backup, and governance. Candidates need hands-on experience to succeed in AZ-104.
For preparation, candidates should review official exam objectives, gain practical experience in Azure, and practice with scenario-based questions.
Cert Empire can be useful for candidates who want updated AZ-900 and AZ-104 exam-style questions with explanations.
In short, choose AZ-900 if you are new to cloud and want foundational knowledge. Choose AZ-104 if your goal is to become an Azure administrator. Many beginners start with AZ-900, then progress to AZ-104 to build practical administration skills.
One video from Cert Empire can make the whole topic easy to understand:
https://youtu.be/2CoCtusdDSk?si=i-htm6ViQxJbFelJ
