Azure Administrator AZ-104 Guide 2026: Exam Prep & Analysis
🌟 Featured Pillar Guide: 2026 Edition #
As enterprises consolidate their AI workloads on Azure, mastering the balance between governance and agility is paramount. This 5,000-word guide maps out the 2026 certification landscape, focusing on the critical leap from Administrator to Solutions Architect.
The Microsoft Azure Administrator (AZ-104) certification is the backbone of any Azure-based cloud strategy. While architects design the blueprint, the Administrator ensures the foundation is secure, resilient, and cost-optimized.
Drawing from my 21+ years of experience in global infrastructure, I’ve deconstructed the AZ-104 curriculum into actionable ‘Drills’. These notes focus on the ‘How-To’ of Azure —— from Entra ID (formerly Azure AD) governance to complex VNet peering and site-to-site VPNs.
🗺️ AZ-104 Administration Matrix (Knowledge Domains) #
To master the AZ-104, I’ve categorized my 10+ deep-dive drills into the five core functional domains. Each analysis focuses on real-world administrative trade-offs.
🆔 Domain 1: Manage Azure Identities and Governance (15-20%) #
In the enterprise, identity is the new perimeter. This domain focuses on Microsoft Entra ID, Role-Based Access Control (RBAC), and Azure Policy. My drills analyze how to implement the principle of least privilege (PoLP) while managing multiple subscriptions and management groups without creating administrative bottlenecks.
💾 Domain 2: Implement and Manage Storage (15-20%) #
Storage is more than just Blobs. It’s about securing data with SAS tokens, optimizing costs via Access Tiers (Hot/Cool/Archive), and managing Azure Files for hybrid environments. I break down the trade-offs between storage redundancy (LRS vs. GRS) and retrieval latency.
💻 Domain 3: Deploy and Manage Azure Compute Resources (20-25%) #
This is the heart of Azure operations. From automating VM deployments with ARM templates or Bicep to managing Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) and App Services. My focus here is on high availability—using Availability Sets and Zones to ensure your EdTech platform stays online.
🌐 Domain 4: Configure and Manage Virtual Networking (20-25%) #
Networking is often the most challenging domain. We dive deep into VNet Peering, Azure Bastion, Network Security Groups (NSGs), and Azure Load Balancer. I provide logical breakdowns of how traffic flows in a hub-and-spoke topology and how to troubleshoot connectivity in hybrid setups.
📈 Domain 5: Monitor and Maintain Azure Resources (10-15%) #
A CTO’s nightmare is a system that fails silently. This domain covers Azure Monitor, Log Analytics, and Backup/Recovery Services. I analyze how to set up proactive alerting and ensure your RTO/RPO targets are met through Azure Site Recovery.
💎 The CTO’s Execution Edge #
On Stonehenge EdTech, we don’t just provide answers. We provide Administrative Logic:
- Cost Governance: How to use Azure Tags and Budgets to prevent “Cloud Shock.”
- Hybrid Readiness: Bridging on-premises data centers with Azure using VPN or ExpressRoute.
- Automation First: Why manual clicks in the portal are the enemy of scalability.
👇 All AZ-104 Administrative Drills (Recent First) #
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