Target Audience and Prerequisites
This certification test is intended for those specialists who are responsible for designing and building Cloud-based software solutions utilizing the Microsoft Azure platform. The candidates for this exam should have at least one to two years of experience with Microsoft Azure. They should also have the ability to accomplish programming tasks in a language that is supported by Azure. In addition, the applicants must be proficient in Azure PowerShell, Azure SDKs, app authentication and authorization, Azure CLI, APIs, monitoring, debugging, performance tuning, data connections, and data storage options.
In general, there are no special requirements that Microsoft lists for its AZ-204 exam. But it is recommended that the students taking this test have the subject matter expertise in building, evaluating, designing, and maintaining Cloud applications and services particularly on Microsoft responsibilities for an Azure Developer.
Microsoft AZ-204 Exam Syllabus Topics:
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
Develop Azure compute solutions (25-30%) | |
| Implement IaaS solutions | - provision virtual machines (VMs) -configure, validate, and deploy ARM templates - configure container images for solutions -publish an image to the Azure Container Registry -run containers by using Azure Container Instance |
| Create Azure App Service Web Apps | - create an Azure App Service Web App - enable diagnostics logging - deploy code to a web app -configure web app settings including SSL, API settings, and connection strings -implement autoscaling rules including scheduled autoscaling and autoscaling by operational or system metrics |
| Implement Azure functions | - create and deploy Azure Functions apps -implement input and output bindings for a function -implement function triggers by using data operations, timers, and webhooks - implement Azure Durable Functions - implement custom handlers |
Develop for Azure storage (15-20%) | |
| Develop solutions that use Cosmos DB storage | - select the appropriate API and SDK for a solution - implement partitioning schemes and partition keys -perform operations on data and Cosmos DB containers -set the appropriate consistency level for operations - manage change feed notifications |
| Develop solutions that use blob storage | - move items in Blob storage between storage accounts or containers - set and retrieve properties and metadata -interact with data using the appropriate SDK - implement data archiving and retention |
Implement Azure security (20-25%) | |
| Implement user authentication and authorization | - authenticate and authorize users by using the Microsoft Identity platform -authenticate and authorize users and apps by using Azure Active Directory -create and implement shared access signatures |
| Implement secure cloud solutions | - secure app configuration data by using App Configuration Azure Key Vault -develop code that uses keys, secrets, and certificates stored in Azure Key Vault -implement solutions that interact with Microsoft Graph |
Monitor, troubleshoot, and optimize Azure solutions (15-20%) | |
| Integrate caching and content delivery within solutions | - configure cache and expiration policies -configure cache and expiration policies for Azure Redis Cache -implement secure and optimized application cache patterns including data sizing, connections, encryption, and expiration |
| Instrument solutions to support monitoring and logging | - configure an app or service to use Application Insights -analyze and troubleshoot solutions by using Azure Monitor -implement Application Insights web tests and alerts |
Connect to and consume Azure services and third-party services (15-20%) | |
| Implement API Management | - create an APIM instance - configure authentication for APIs - define policies for APIs |
| Develop event-based solutions | - implement solutions that use Azure Event Grid -implement solutions that use Azure Notification Hubs -implement solutions that use Azure Event Hub - import OpenAPI definitions |
| Develop message-based solutions | - implement solutions that use Azure Service Bus -implement solutions that use Azure Queue Storage queues |
Reference: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/learn/certifications/exams/az-204
Microsoft AZ-204 and Skills Measured
The AZ-204 certification exam is designed to evaluate the candidates’ capability to perform specific technical tasks. These include developing Azure solutions; connecting to and utilizing Azure services as well as 3rd-party services; implementing Azure security; monitoring, optimizing, and troubleshooting Azure solutions. The details of these topic areas are enumerated below:
Develop Azure Solutions: 25-30%
- Developing Azure Application Service Web Applications: this requires skills in developing Azure App Service Web Apps; allowing diagnostics logging; deploying code to web apps; configuring web app settings, which include connection strings, API, and SSL; implementing auto-scaling rules such as scheduled auto-scaling and scaling by a system or operational metrics.
- Implementing Azure Functions: this covers skills, such as implementing output and input binding for functions; implementing function triggers with the use of data operations, webhooks, and timers; implementing Azure Durable Functions.
- Implementing Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) Solutions: the candidates are required to possess competence in providing virtual machines; configuring virtual machines for remote access; creating ARM templates; publishing images to Azure Container Registry; creating container images for solutions with the use of Docker; running containers with the use of Azure Container Instances when Azure Kubernetes Services are not within scope.
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