Best Azure certifications
The best Azure certifications in 2026
Microsoft's Azure certifications are organised by role: fundamentals first, then associate-level credentials for administrators, security analysts, and identity specialists, then expert-level architecture and DevOps. The right one depends on the job you do or want, not on collecting badges in order.
This list is ordered from the most accessible starting point to the most advanced. Each entry notes who it suits and links to a full practice question set so you can gauge your readiness before you book.
- 1
Best first Azure certification
The fundamentals credential covering cloud concepts, core Azure services, and pricing. No prerequisites, and the standard entry point whether you are technical or not.
Practise AZ-900 questions - 2
Best security-side starting point
Fundamentals of security, compliance, and identity across Microsoft's cloud. A good first step if your interest in Azure is the security track rather than infrastructure.
Practise SC-900 questions - 3
Best data-side starting point
Covers core data concepts and how relational, non-relational, and analytics workloads run on Azure. The natural first step toward the data and analytics tracks.
Practise DP-900 questions - 4
Best for Azure administrators
The associate-level credential for managing identities, storage, compute, and networks in Azure. The most widely requested Azure certification in infrastructure job listings.
Practise AZ-104 questions - 5
Best for identity and access specialists
Focuses on Microsoft Entra ID: identities, authentication, access management, and identity governance. A strong associate-level pick as identity becomes the security perimeter.
Practise SC-300 questions - 6
Best for security operations
Covers threat detection and response with Microsoft Sentinel and Defender. Suits analysts working in or moving into a security operations centre.
Practise SC-200 questions - 7
Best for solution architects
The expert-level design credential covering identity, governance, storage, compute, and networking architecture. Microsoft recommends AZ-104-level knowledge first.
Practise AZ-305 questions - 8
Best for DevOps engineers
Expert-level DevOps: pipelines, source control strategy, infrastructure as code, and monitoring across GitHub and Azure DevOps. Requires an associate certification as a prerequisite.
Practise AZ-400 questions - 9
Best for security architects
The expert-level cybersecurity architecture credential, spanning zero-trust strategy, GRC, and security operations design. The capstone of the Microsoft security track.
Practise SC-100 questions
Frequently asked questions
- Which Azure certification should I start with?
- Start with Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900). It has no prerequisites and gives you the base vocabulary every later Azure certification assumes. If you already know your track, SC-900 (security) or DP-900 (data) are equally valid first steps.
- AZ-104 or AZ-305 - which comes first?
- AZ-104 first. It is the associate-level administrator credential, and Microsoft recommends AZ-104-level knowledge before attempting the expert-level AZ-305 architecture exam.
- Do Azure certifications expire?
- Fundamentals certifications (AZ-900, SC-900, DP-900) do not expire. Associate and expert certifications are valid for one year and renew free through an online, unproctored renewal assessment on Microsoft Learn.
Browse the full certification catalogue for every exam we cover.