I'm gearing up to take the AZ-104 exam, but I'm finding it tough to wrap my head around all the different services like Entra ID, Azure, and M365. I'm fairly new to IT and currently working in a Help Desk role where I mainly deal with on-prem (Active Directory) systems. I'm eager to go beyond just theory and get some hands-on experience, as that's how I learn best. However, many features seem to require paid licenses, making it challenging. I'm looking for tips on: 1. How to structure my study and practice when I can't just try every service for free. 2. Ideas for building a home lab or project that feels realistic and helps me get familiar with Azure admin tasks. 3. Useful projects or exercises for learning Azure admin tasks that really apply in the real world, beyond just passing the exam. Any advice for studying efficiently and affordably would be greatly appreciated!
5 Answers
Why not create a new Microsoft account to take advantage of the free credits? You should have enough to run basic labs and experiments without breaking the bank.
I recommend starting with the Microsoft Learning paths for the AZ-104 and definitely check out John Savill's YouTube videos. Once you're familiar with the basics and terminology, you can use AI like GPT to generate tasks for automation or any specific skills you want to work on. Don't forget to sign up for the trial subscription—just make sure to set reminders to cancel after 30 days so you don't get charged!
That's a smart move! Those trial subscriptions can be super useful if you're careful about managing your resources.
Consider signing up for courses on platforms like Udemy; they often provide access to temporary environments where you can deploy resources and get practical experience.
That's true! Those courses can offer structured learning and sometimes even create the environments you need.
I’ve been using ChatGPT to come up with project ideas, and then I started using the Azure pay-as-you-go model. Just remember to turn off the VMs and delete resources when you're done to avoid unnecessary costs! That way, you can learn hands-on without overspending.
You could also start with some fundamental certifications like AZ-900 or DP-900. These give you a solid foundation before diving into AZ-104. Building up your skills gradually really helps.
Great idea! Just make sure to maximize the use of those credits while you can.