The Only Guide you’ll Need to Become the Next Microsoft Azure Cloud Administrator


Overall starting a career at Microsoft Azure has a number of benefits and many people try their skills on this platform. If you are interested in azure cloud administration then stick around. 

This post is a comprehensive guide on how to become a Microsoft Azure cloud administrator. We’ll give detailed answers to your questions to help you in your new journey to the IT world.  

What is a Microsoft Azure Cloud Administrator and is it a good career?

Microsoft Azure cloud administrator is a person skilled in Azure services, tools, and Azure cloud infrastructure for public clouds.

This employee is supposed to be familiar with Google Cloud and AWS too. He is a part of the team responsible for Azure solutions and cloud infrastructure implementation. 

Azure cloud administrators perform, manage, and keep control over the virtual network, storage, and computing inside the cloud. 

It’s perhaps one of the most requested positions at Microsoft Azure and other IT companies and is becoming more and more popular. So, if you have decided to start your career with this profession then I am here to tell you that it’s a smart decision and don’t give up.

What are the most essential skills that Microsoft Azure Administrators should have?

Future Azure administrators usually study for several months to get the skills they need for the job. Those skills include:

  • Familiarity with running virtual machines on the cloud

    Cloud virtual machines are the digital variety of physical computers that can run in a cloud. Just like physical machines, they have the ability to run an operating system, store data, connect to networks, and complete some other computing functions.

  • Familiarity with Kubernetes and Docker 

    Kubernetes is a platform made to run and manage containers from many container runtimes. Docker is one of those runtimes supported by Kubernetes. 

  • Ability to secure data from unauthorized access

    This is the function of confidentiality. It’s the act of protecting the information from unauthorized access or disclosure. 

  • Familiarity with Microsoft Hyper-V

    Microsoft Hyper-V is a hardware virtualization product created by Microsoft. It allows you to develop and run a software version of a computer. That’s what we call a virtual machine. Any virtual machine is able to perform like a physical computer. 

  • Familiarity with VMware vSphere

    VMware vSphere is a virtualization tool that provides a suite of software components such as ESXi, vCenter Server. 

  • Familiarity with storage performance

    This is the use of Microsoft tools to store VM virtual hard disks (VHDs), app data, database files, and user data.

  • Familiarity with the network

    This is the skill of understanding the required Azure networking tasks. Azure networking allows you to connect multiple resources via the Internet. With the help of Azure tools, your network becomes stronger and easier to manage. 

  • Familiarity with security performance

    With the help of this skill, you can keep control over Microsoft's multiple security systems. 

  • JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) & PowerShell 

    Soon or later, you’ll get the chance to use those two skills. So if you have the resources and time to learn them beforehand, that would be more than beneficial for you.

    Candidates showing those two skills on their resumes have more chances to get the position of Azure Cloud Administrator. However, they are not mandatory, and focusing on the main tasks is actually more important. 

What are the roles and responsibilities of a Microsoft Azure Administrator?

As an Azure Administrator, you are responsible for several tasks including: 

  1. 1

    Deploying and adjusting virtual networks: VMs into virtual networks.

  2. 2

    Organizing routing paths, especially in a hybrid cloud.

  3. 3

    Controlling private and public IP addresses for the VMs as well as for other chosen Azure resources. 

  4. 4

    Backing up VMs and coming up with possible failover restore.

  5. 5

    Accounting VM for optimum cost, conduct, and security. 

  6. 6

    Backing up data and recovering it when needed. 

  7. 7

    Securing storage data, resources, and Azure Active Directory accounts. 

What are the average salaries for a Microsoft Azure Cloud Administrator?

The average pay for a Microsoft Azure Administrator in the US is $50.48 an hour.  Azure admins make up to $120,000 per year. Entry-level employees may start with $101,034 per year and professionals make up to $140,000 per year.

The 5 highest paying Microsoft Azure Certifications are:

  • Azure Solutions Architect Expert with $133,185 annually. 

  • Azure Developer Associate with $129,705 annually. 

  • Azure Security Engineer Associate with $127,505 annually. 

  • Azure Data Fundamentals with $121,570 annually. 

  • Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals with $113,576 annually. 

Which certification do you need to have in order to get a job as an Azure Administrator?

As an Azure administrator, you are supposed to get Azure Fundamentals certification. First, you need to get acquainted with the basics and then get expert-level certificates. For this certification, you need to pass the AZ-900 exam. The exam fee is $99. 

Another certificate that’s a big plus to have in hand is the Azure Associate Administrator certification. The exam fee is $165.

Best online resources to study and prepare for the Azure Administrator Certification?

The 3 most trustworthy resources to study and prepare for the Azure Administrator Certification are Udemy, Pluralsight, and Whizlabs. These are the best platforms for beginners. 

Udemy: AZ-104 Microsoft Azure Administrator Certification 2023

The course includes 25.5 hours on-demand video, 34 articles, 19 downloadable resources, 2 practice tests. This course is meant for students who want to pass the Microsoft exam AZ-104. Before you may start the preparation, you need to have basic knowledge. 

The topics it includes are as follows: Manage Azure identities and governance, deploy and manage Azure compute resources, implementing and managing storage, as well as monitoring and backing up Azure resources. 

The course gives a full lifetime access. You need to have basic knowledge about Azure platform and its performance, cloud concepts as well as IT experience in networking, Virtual Machines, and other IT infrastructure aspects. 

Pluralsight: Microsoft Azure Administrator: Manage Data in Azure Storage

This course you’ll learn about the basics of managing data in Azure Storage, AZCopy, Azure Storage Explorer  management. The course helps you to gain the knowledge you need to pass Exam 104: Microsoft Azure Administrator.

The first part of the course is about working with Azure import/export service with a 23 minute duration. The second part is about managing data with Azure storage explorer and AZcopy and it’s 29 minutes. You can start with a free trial. 

Whizlabs: Exam AZ-104: Microsoft Azure Administrator

This course includes 280+ unique practice questions. Based on the actual exam questions, 96+ video lectures with 27 numbers of AZ-104 hands-on labs developed by Whislab’s Azure expert team. 

This course gives you a complete understanding of how the AZ-104 exam is designed and what you need to expect from it. This course gives unlimited access for 2 years.

The prerequisites for this course are experience or familiarity in using core Azure services, Azure workloads, security, and governance as well as an experience using PowerShell, Azure CLI, Azure portal, and Azure Resource Manager templates.

What are the career advantages of working as an Azure Administrator?

Those interested in developing their career with cloud technology or expanding their skills in Azure DevOps certainly try to build a career at Microsoft Azure.

Perhaps the role you take there doesn’t matter from the beginning of your career because when you are already working there you consider yourself quite successful and that’s true. 

Azure administrators have the potential to grow and make their careers better day by day. And the main advantages of working as an Azure Administrator are as follows: 

  • 3 other careers 

    Working as an Azure cloud administrator, opens a door for 3 other careers such as Azure System Administrator, Azure Cloud Architect, and DevOps

    These career paths have the highest demand these days and if you are already skilled in fundamentals of the Azure administration then it’s the time to grow and reach more proficient roles. 

  • Other skills 

    It develops other skills to understand Azure tools such as Powershell, Azure portal, Arm templates, Operating systems, Virtualization, Cloud infrastructure, Storage structures, and Networking. 

  • Higher-paid job

    Microsoft Azure has the second-largest market in the industry. The demand for Azure administrator experts gets higher and the chance to jump from mid to advanced-level jobs is increasing. This career also opens a door for a higher-paid job. 

How to improve your skills and become a successful Azure Cloud Administrator in 2023?

It’s important to note that having only an Azure administrator certification is not enough for you to stand out. You should take the time to learn new tools and services.

You are expected to get high-level skills and showcase them in particular situations. So, additional superpower skills that can help you become more successful as an Azure administrator are:

  • PowerShell

    PowerShell is a scripting language used to build, test and deploy solutions as well as to automate the management of systems. It allows you to create reusable tools that you can use in scripts. 

  • JavaScript Object Notation

    JSON or JavaScript Object Notation is a standard text-based format for storing and transporting data. It’s used to transmit data in web applications. 

  • Python

    Python is an interpreted programming language used to build software and websites. It’s also used for automating tasks, and conducting data analysis.

  • Bash

    Bash is an application used for software testing, compilation, debugging source code, and software testing. 

Conclusion

For those looking for a serious career, Microsoft Azure is truly a great platform to get started at. However, one should consider the fact that working at Microsoft Azure is not easy and there are many challenges waiting for you.

As an IT professional and cloud administrator you are supposed to learn a lot about Azure tools and services. The demand for certified Azure talents is rapidly increasing, meaning you are on the right path by choosing the career of an Azure cloud administrator. 

FAQ

Is it hard to get an Azure Admin job?

Since there is a high demand for Azure Admin experts, it’s easy to find an Azure Admin job. However, the application process is not that easy and you have to showcase your skills with all your power. 

Can you get an Azure Admin job with no experience?

At least 1 year of experience is mandatory but freshers can also apply. You just need to realize that the candidate has to be familiar with the tools he is going to use while working, that’s why some experience in the field is required. 

Is Azure administrator in demand?

With the rising tendency of cloud computing technology, the role of Azure Administrators is in high demand.  

Does Azure Admin require coding?

No, azure admin doesn’t need to have coding skills. 

How stressful is the Azure Administrator job?

If the job is remote, you’ll face some difficulty learning several new project paths. Also, according to the reviews of previous Microsoft employees, the biggest stress comes from the management team.

They say that managers are not encouraging and helpful. They don’t like to discuss new ideas.

About the author

Youssef

Youssef is a Senior Cloud Consultant & Founder of ITCertificate.org

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