Hands-on labs provide an opportunity for learners to experiment in a practical environment without the risk of affecting their primary systems. These immersive environments accelerate the learning process and help users gain a deeper understanding of tools and technologies.
The AZ-900: Microsoft Azure Fundamentals certification is an ideal entry point for individuals new to the Azure platform. This certification primarily targets IT professionals starting their journey into Azure, emphasizing the importance of hands-on experience in addition to theoretical knowledge.
This blog will guide you through some of the most effective hands-on labs to help you prepare for the AZ-900 exam, making sure you understand the practical aspects of Azure’s services and interface.
A Comprehensive Overview of the AZ-900 Microsoft Azure Fundamentals Exam
The AZ-900 exam, also known as the Microsoft Azure Fundamentals certification, is an essential certification designed for individuals aspiring to demonstrate their foundational understanding of cloud computing and the ways in which Microsoft Azure delivers its suite of powerful cloud-based services. With the rapid growth of cloud technology, understanding its key principles is crucial for IT professionals, and this exam provides an introduction to Azure’s core services and its broad ecosystem.
The AZ-900 exam is ideal for those who are relatively new to cloud computing, specifically Microsoft Azure, and it acts as an entry-level certification for anyone looking to build a career in the cloud space. Candidates do not need to have prior technical expertise in IT or cloud environments to sit for this exam, making it accessible to a wide audience, including business professionals, project managers, and those seeking to transition into cloud roles.
In this in-depth guide, we will cover the core topics and knowledge areas that are assessed in the AZ-900 exam, along with a detailed explanation of the key concepts that you should master. We will also provide insights into how the exam labs platform can be a valuable resource for your exam preparation, enabling you to simulate real-world scenarios and enhance your learning experience.
Core Topics Assessed in the AZ-900 Exam
The AZ-900 certification exam assesses the fundamental principles of cloud services, their implementation in Azure, and how organizations can leverage Microsoft Azure’s vast capabilities to meet business goals. To successfully pass the exam, candidates should have a strong grasp of the following core topics:
1. Understanding Cloud Concepts
The foundation of the AZ-900 exam lies in grasping essential cloud computing concepts. This includes an understanding of the basic types of cloud models, such as public cloud, private cloud, and hybrid cloud, and how each differs in terms of data management, security, and service delivery.
It is important to understand the different cloud deployment models and how they provide flexibility, scalability, and cost-efficiency. Moreover, candidates must be familiar with the benefits of cloud computing, such as resource pooling, high availability, and disaster recovery, and how cloud services can enable organizations to scale operations seamlessly.
Candidates will also learn about cloud service models like IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service), PaaS (Platform as a Service), and SaaS (Software as a Service). Understanding these service models and how they apply to Microsoft Azure will be crucial in answering exam questions and understanding real-world scenarios in cloud deployment.
2. Core Azure Solutions and Management Tools
Azure offers a wide array of tools and solutions that enable businesses to build, deploy, and manage applications through Microsoft’s vast cloud platform. Candidates should familiarize themselves with Azure’s various management tools, including the Azure Portal, Azure CLI (Command-Line Interface), and Azure PowerShell. These tools allow users to efficiently manage resources, monitor services, and execute administrative tasks within the Azure environment.
Furthermore, the AZ-900 exam evaluates knowledge of Azure’s key services, including Azure Virtual Machines (VMs), Azure Blob Storage, Azure SQL Database, and Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS). Understanding how to provision and configure these services, alongside gaining insights into Azure’s operational and management solutions, will help you optimize the deployment of cloud-based resources.
By becoming proficient in these core tools, candidates will not only perform well on the exam but also gain practical skills to manage a cloud infrastructure effectively.
3. Identity, Governance, Privacy, and Compliance in Azure
As organizations shift to the cloud, managing identity and access becomes a critical concern. The AZ-900 exam tests your knowledge of Azure’s identity management services, such as Azure Active Directory (Azure AD). Understanding identity federation, role-based access control (RBAC), and multi-factor authentication (MFA) is vital to securing cloud resources and ensuring that only authorized users can access critical data.
Additionally, candidates need to understand Azure governance tools that help manage and monitor the cloud environment. These tools include Azure Policy, Azure Blueprints, and Azure Security Center, which allow administrators to define and enforce organizational policies, automate processes, and ensure compliance with regulatory standards.
Azure’s compliance offerings are also a major focus in this section. Microsoft Azure adheres to a broad array of compliance standards, including ISO 27001, GDPR, SOC 1, 2, and 3, and more. Understanding these compliance requirements and knowing how to ensure data privacy and protection is paramount, particularly for businesses operating in regulated industries.
4. Understanding Key Azure Services
Microsoft Azure offers a diverse set of services across different domains, and a deep understanding of these services is essential for the AZ-900 exam. Key services you should familiarize yourself with include:
- Azure Compute: Azure Virtual Machines (VMs), App Services, Azure Functions, and Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) for containerized applications.
- Azure Storage: The ability to store data securely in Azure Blob Storage, File Storage, Disk Storage, and Queue Storage.
- Azure Networking: An understanding of Azure Virtual Networks (VNets), VPN Gateway, ExpressRoute, and Azure Load Balancer is crucial for managing network traffic and ensuring secure connectivity.
- Azure Databases: Knowledge of Azure SQL Database, Cosmos DB, and Azure Database for MySQL/PostgreSQL is important for managing relational and non-relational databases in the cloud.
By grasping the features and functionalities of these core Azure services, you can efficiently address the needs of businesses while implementing cloud solutions that drive innovation and business growth.
5. Security and Networking Features in Microsoft Azure
Security is one of the most critical concerns in cloud computing, and Azure offers a wide range of tools to safeguard data, applications, and network resources. As a part of the AZ-900 exam, you should be familiar with the key security services within the Azure ecosystem, such as Azure Security Center, Azure Sentinel, and Azure Key Vault.
These tools enable organizations to monitor security threats, configure firewalls, and store secrets like API keys or database credentials securely. Moreover, candidates should understand network security features like Network Security Groups (NSGs), Azure Firewall, and DDoS Protection to safeguard against external threats.
It is essential to comprehend the importance of encryption and how Azure secures data both at rest and in transit. Azure’s built-in encryption capabilities help protect sensitive information, complying with industry standards such as FIPS 140-2.
6. Azure Cost Management and Service Level Agreements (SLAs)
In addition to technical proficiency, candidates must also understand how to manage costs and service levels in the Azure environment. Azure provides tools like Azure Cost Management + Billing, which allow organizations to track, allocate, and optimize their cloud spending effectively.
The AZ-900 exam evaluates your ability to use cost analysis features to monitor consumption and manage budgets efficiently. Furthermore, you should understand Azure’s Service Level Agreements (SLAs), which outline the uptime guarantees for different services and the financial penalties for service outages. Having a deep understanding of SLAs helps organizations ensure that their cloud services meet performance expectations while avoiding unforeseen costs.
By mastering these elements of cost management and SLAs, you can ensure that your organization’s cloud infrastructure remains both cost-efficient and high-performing.
The Crucial Role of Hands-on Labs in AZ-900 Exam Preparation
When preparing for the AZ-900 Microsoft Azure Fundamentals certification, theoretical knowledge alone is not enough. While understanding the concepts of cloud computing and Azure’s architecture is fundamental, gaining practical experience is equally vital for solidifying your understanding and ensuring success in the exam. This is where hands-on labs play a pivotal role. These immersive learning tools provide real-world scenarios, enabling learners to apply their knowledge of Azure and its services in a controlled, risk-free environment.
Hands-on labs offer unique opportunities for candidates to practice what they’ve learned, allowing them to interact with Azure’s vast array of services without the fear of making mistakes that could impact their personal or professional environments. This hands-on approach not only builds technical proficiency but also enhances problem-solving skills, helping learners gain a deeper and more practical understanding of Azure. In turn, this practical experience helps reinforce theoretical knowledge, bridging the gap between textbook learning and real-world applications.
Why Practical Labs Are Essential for AZ-900 Success
The AZ-900 exam focuses on foundational knowledge of Microsoft Azure, including cloud concepts, core services, security, and cost management. While you may read about these topics and attend training sessions, hands-on labs allow you to interact directly with Azure’s platform, thereby helping you to:
- Reinforce theoretical knowledge: Applying what you’ve learned about Azure services and their functionalities gives you the ability to better understand how these services fit together in real-world scenarios.
- Improve retention: Active engagement with the platform, through task-based learning, allows you to retain complex concepts more effectively than passive learning methods.
- Boost confidence: Gaining practical experience with Azure tools like Virtual Machines, Azure Active Directory, Azure Storage, and more will prepare you for the challenges you may face during the AZ-900 exam, giving you confidence in your ability to navigate the platform’s features.
The Benefits of Hands-on Labs for AZ-900 Preparation
Using hands-on labs as part of your AZ-900 study plan offers a multitude of advantages that make your preparation more effective, engaging, and aligned with real-world scenarios. Below are some of the key benefits of using examlabs hands-on labs for your exam preparation:
1. Ready-to-Use Azure Environments with Commercial Subscriptions
One of the most significant advantages of using hands-on labs for AZ-900 preparation is the access to ready-to-use Azure environments with commercial subscriptions. These pre-configured environments allow learners to dive directly into Azure’s platform without the need for setting up their own Azure subscriptions. These environments provide an authentic, secure environment where you can explore the various Azure services—from virtual machines to databases—and learn how to manage and configure them as you would in a real-world scenario.
Additionally, using commercial subscriptions allows learners to explore Azure’s full range of services without the limitations imposed by free-tier subscriptions, which may restrict access to certain features or resources. By engaging in hands-on practice with full functionality, learners gain a more complete understanding of how the platform operates and can explore Azure services in depth.
2. 24/7 Support from Qualified Instructors
Even though hands-on labs provide a self-guided learning experience, 24/7 support from qualified instructors ensures that you are never left stranded. Whether you’re stuck on a specific task or need further clarification on an Azure concept, having access to expert instructors can make a significant difference in your preparation.
This level of support ensures that your learning experience is uninterrupted and that you always have the assistance you need to solve issues, troubleshoot problems, and optimize your approach to different Azure tasks. This guidance can help accelerate your learning curve, ensuring that you don’t waste time on mistakes and can stay on track toward exam success.
3. Step-by-Step Guidance through Each Lab
Hands-on labs are often structured to provide step-by-step guidance through each exercise, ensuring that even beginners with limited knowledge of Azure can follow along and perform the tasks required for the lab. These structured exercises make it easier to understand complex concepts, as each step is explained in detail, offering insight into the process, decision-making, and outcome of each task.
The step-by-step format ensures that learners build their skills progressively, starting with the basics and advancing to more complex tasks as they gain confidence. This scaffolded approach ensures that students master each stage of Azure’s functionalities and prepare for real-world applications of these concepts.
4. Immersive, Real-Time Lab Experiences
In addition to the structured guidance, hands-on labs offer immersive, real-time lab experiences that simulate actual cloud computing tasks and scenarios. These real-time labs help students tackle real-world challenges, such as managing Azure virtual machines, configuring networks, or troubleshooting service issues.
By performing these tasks in a simulated environment, learners gain a deeper understanding of Azure’s functionalities, workflows, and best practices. Real-time experiences are valuable because they expose students to the challenges and nuances of working with cloud infrastructure, providing the opportunity to make mistakes, learn from them, and improve.
Additionally, these real-world simulations help learners develop the problem-solving and decision-making skills they will need to succeed in the workplace. The experience gained in these labs directly translates to the real-world cloud roles where you’ll be required to manage and optimize Azure resources.
How Hands-on Labs Enhance Your Learning Experience
Incorporating hands-on labs into your AZ-900 exam preparation provides the opportunity to practice your Azure skills in a dynamic and engaging environment. Here’s how:
- Active Learning: Engaging with Azure’s features in real-time ensures that you are learning by doing, rather than just reading or listening to lectures. Active participation leads to deeper learning and retention.
- Better Understanding of Azure Services: Practicing with Azure services firsthand allows you to understand how they work together. For example, you might provision a virtual machine, configure network settings, and then use storage services—all in one lab exercise. This helps you gain a holistic understanding of Azure’s capabilities.
- Real-World Application: By solving problems and completing tasks in the labs, you simulate the challenges you will face on the job. This hands-on experience with Azure will make it easier to adapt to real-world situations in your cloud career.
- Enhanced Exam Readiness: After completing the hands-on labs, you will be far more prepared for the AZ-900 exam, as you will have already worked through the exam’s practical components. The familiarity with Azure tools, resources, and services gives you the confidence to tackle the exam’s questions and scenarios.
In preparation for the AZ-900 Microsoft Azure Fundamentals exam, hands-on labs offer a critical advantage that cannot be overstated. They provide learners with the opportunity to apply their knowledge, explore Azure services in a risk-free environment, and enhance their technical skills. By offering ready-to-use environments, 24/7 instructor support, detailed guidance, and real-time experiences, hands-on labs create an immersive, engaging, and effective learning experience that prepares you for the challenges of the AZ-900 exam and beyond.
Platforms like examlabs provide comprehensive, practical exercises that are specifically designed to help candidates succeed in their AZ-900 exam preparation. These practical labs bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and real-world application, ensuring that you are not only prepared for the exam but also equipped with the skills to manage and optimize Azure services in real-world environments.
Incorporating hands-on labs into your study routine will enhance your understanding, boost your confidence, and give you the tools needed to pass the AZ-900 exam with flying colors.
Essential Features of AZ-900 Hands-on Labs for Exam Preparation
When preparing for the AZ-900 Microsoft Azure Fundamentals exam, it’s crucial to understand the practical aspects of Azure services to fully grasp the theoretical knowledge. One of the most effective ways to bridge the gap between theory and practice is through hands-on labs. These labs provide a structured yet immersive learning experience, allowing you to interact with Microsoft Azure in a controlled environment. Examlabs offers a wide array of hands-on labs designed specifically for AZ-900 preparation, giving learners the tools to gain real-world experience and achieve certification success.
These labs are structured to not only enhance your understanding of cloud computing but also to boost your technical proficiency in using Azure services. Below are the key features that make hands-on labs an essential part of your AZ-900 exam preparation.
1. Global Access to Azure Labs
One of the key advantages of hands-on labs is their global accessibility. Whether you’re at home, in the office, or on the go, these labs can be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection. This flexibility allows learners to study and practice at their own pace and convenience, eliminating the barriers of location and time zones.
Having global access to Azure labs means that you can engage with the content whenever it suits you, making it ideal for individuals with varying schedules or those balancing other commitments alongside exam preparation. Additionally, you can pause and resume the lab sessions as needed, ensuring you have complete control over your learning experience.
2. Real-Time Collaboration and Interaction
Hands-on labs go beyond passive learning by incorporating real-time collaboration, a feature that is particularly beneficial for learners who thrive in interactive environments. These labs encourage communication and teamwork between learners, instructors, and fellow participants.
Through real-time collaboration, learners can engage with others, ask questions, share insights, and work through challenges together. This collaborative environment fosters a community of learners who can support one another throughout the preparation process. Moreover, having access to qualified instructors during the lab sessions allows you to clarify doubts instantly, ensuring that you don’t get stuck on difficult concepts and can keep progressing smoothly.
This collaborative approach helps simulate the type of teamwork you would encounter in a professional Azure environment, where cross-functional collaboration and communication are key components of success.
3. Scalability of Lab Events Based on Learning Needs
Another standout feature of AZ-900 hands-on labs is their scalability. These labs are designed to adjust according to the number of participants and the specific learning needs of each individual. Whether you’re part of a small group or a larger cohort, the labs can scale to accommodate varying levels of demand.
For instance, if you’re part of a team or organization preparing for the AZ-900 exam, the lab events can be customized to fit your group’s specific requirements. Whether it’s a tailored set of exercises or a full-on Azure service deployment simulation, the scalability of these labs ensures that every learner receives a personalized and impactful experience.
This flexibility makes examlabs a versatile platform for individuals, small teams, or large corporate groups, ensuring that the learning experience is both efficient and effective for all participants, regardless of the scale.
4. In-Depth Lab Insights for Continuous Improvement
One of the most powerful features of examlabs is the ability to gain in-depth insights into your performance throughout the lab exercises. Learners can track their progress, monitor attendance, and analyze lab participation metrics, which provides valuable feedback on their strengths and areas for improvement.
These detailed insights allow you to identify which areas of Azure require more attention, helping you focus your efforts on mastering those concepts. For instance, if a particular service or feature within Azure is challenging for you, the lab insights can highlight this, so you can revisit it and gain a better understanding.
Furthermore, instructors can use these metrics to provide personalized feedback, guiding you on how to refine your learning strategy for more effective exam preparation. By actively monitoring your performance, you can make informed decisions about how to adjust your study methods and approach to Azure, ensuring that your preparation is always on track.
5. Hands-on Labs for Comprehensive Learning
Unlike traditional study methods that focus primarily on reading or watching instructional videos, hands-on labs offer learners the opportunity to directly interact with Azure services. This interaction fosters a deeper understanding of how Azure’s complex cloud infrastructure operates. Key features like Azure Virtual Machines, Azure Active Directory, Azure Storage, and more can be explored in real-time, allowing you to gain practical experience with services that you will need to master for the AZ-900 certification.
Completing these labs will give you a well-rounded, holistic view of how Azure works. From provisioning resources to configuring networking, these hands-on tasks mimic the day-to-day challenges of working with Azure in a professional environment. This direct engagement with the platform boosts your problem-solving skills and makes it easier to handle the types of questions and tasks you will encounter in the exam.
6. Structured and Guided Learning
Each AZ-900 hands-on lab comes with step-by-step guidance, ensuring that learners can follow along and execute tasks correctly. These labs are carefully crafted to guide learners through the process of Azure resource deployment, management, and troubleshooting, making it easy to stay on track and achieve the desired outcomes.
The structured approach allows learners to build their skills progressively, starting with simpler tasks and gradually moving to more complex scenarios. By following the step-by-step instructions, learners can confidently execute even advanced Azure tasks without the fear of making costly mistakes.
7. Cost-Efficient Learning
While practical learning opportunities like hands-on labs usually come with high costs, examlabs offers a cost-efficient solution. By providing access to ready-to-use Azure environments, these labs eliminate the need for purchasing separate Azure subscriptions or cloud resources. This means you can practice without worrying about the additional costs typically associated with cloud resource usage.
Furthermore, the scalability of the labs ensures that you only pay for what you need, making it easier for individuals and organizations to tailor their learning experiences within a budget.
The AZ-900 Microsoft Azure Fundamentals exam requires a combination of theoretical knowledge and practical skills to be truly successful. Examlabs’ hands-on labs provide an excellent platform for gaining real-world experience with Azure, ensuring that you can apply what you’ve learned in a safe and supportive environment.
The global access, real-time collaboration, scalability, in-depth insights, and structured guidance offered by these labs make them an invaluable tool for anyone preparing for the AZ-900 certification. With these features, learners can enhance their understanding of Azure services, build their confidence, and approach the exam with the hands-on experience needed to succeed.
By incorporating hands-on labs into your Azure study plan, you’re not just preparing for an exam—you’re preparing for a successful career in the ever-growing world of cloud computing.
Top AZ-900 Hands-on Labs to Boost Your Exam Preparation
When preparing for the AZ-900 Microsoft Azure Fundamentals exam, hands-on practice is key to mastering the platform’s core services and functionalities. Examlabs’ comprehensive hands-on labs provide learners with the opportunity to gain practical experience with Azure, giving them the confidence to tackle the AZ-900 exam. These labs cover a variety of essential Azure services, helping you not only pass the exam but also build the foundational skills needed for real-world cloud computing tasks.
Below, we highlight some of the best AZ-900 hands-on labs that cover a broad range of Azure services, offering learners valuable experience with common tasks they may face as cloud professionals.
1. Deploying a Windows VM Using ARM Templates
One of the core tasks that cloud professionals frequently perform is provisioning virtual machines (VMs). This hands-on lab allows you to explore Azure Resource Manager (ARM) templates—a powerful tool for automating the deployment and management of Azure resources. In this lab, you’ll learn how to deploy a Windows Virtual Machine (VM) using an ARM template. This is a critical skill for anyone preparing for the AZ-900 exam as understanding automation and resource management is a key component of cloud computing.
Key Tasks:
- Launch the lab environment: Begin by setting up the lab environment where you will carry out all deployment tasks. This provides a safe, pre-configured space where you can experiment with Azure services.
- Explore the ARM template: Familiarize yourself with the structure and components of the ARM template. ARM templates are JSON files that define the resources and configurations to be deployed in Azure. Understanding the syntax and logic of ARM templates is crucial for automating cloud resource management.
- Deploy the ARM template: Once you understand the components, you’ll deploy the ARM template to create a Windows VM in Azure. During this step, you will apply configurations, manage resources, and monitor the deployment process.
- Verify the deployment: After the VM is deployed, you’ll verify the success of the deployment by logging into the VM and ensuring that it operates as expected. This final verification step reinforces your understanding of the entire deployment process.
Why This Lab Matters:
By completing this lab, you’ll gain practical experience with Azure Resource Manager (ARM), one of the most essential tools for managing and automating Azure resources. This experience is not only important for the AZ-900 exam but also in real-world cloud environments, where automation and resource provisioning are crucial to efficiency.
2. Managing Azure Storage Accounts
In the world of cloud computing, managing data storage is a foundational skill. This hands-on lab provides learners with practical experience in creating and managing Azure Storage accounts, one of the core services within Microsoft Azure. Storage accounts are essential for storing and managing data in the cloud, and understanding how to manage these accounts is a critical part of the AZ-900 certification.
Key Tasks:
- Create an Azure Storage Account: In this lab, you will create a storage account within Azure, which will be used to store various types of data such as blobs, files, and queues. This task introduces you to the process of configuring and managing storage resources in Azure.
- Configure Storage Options: Explore the different types of storage options available in Azure, such as Blob storage, File storage, and Queue storage. You will gain insight into when and how to use each type, depending on your use case.
- Upload and Manage Data: Upload different types of data (e.g., text files, images) to your Azure Storage account. This hands-on exercise gives you the skills to manage data within the cloud, ensuring that you can efficiently store, access, and secure your resources.
- Set Up Access Control: Secure your data by setting up access control policies using Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) and Shared Access Signatures (SAS). These tools help you ensure the security of your storage resources, a critical component of any cloud solution.
Why This Lab Matters:
Storage management is one of the foundational concepts in Azure. This lab gives you practical experience in handling cloud storage resources, an essential skill for anyone working with cloud solutions. Additionally, it helps you understand the importance of security and access control in cloud environments.
3. Creating and Managing Azure Virtual Networks
Networking is an essential part of any cloud-based infrastructure. This lab allows you to get hands-on experience with Azure Virtual Networks (VNets), which are fundamental for setting up secure, isolated environments in the cloud. You’ll learn how to create and manage VNets, configure subnets, and manage network security groups (NSGs) for controlling traffic.
Key Tasks:
- Create a Virtual Network: In this lab, you will create an Azure Virtual Network, which provides a private, isolated environment for your cloud resources. Virtual Networks are used to connect Azure resources such as VMs and databases.
- Configure Subnets: Within the Virtual Network, you will create subnets to logically segment your network. This is important for optimizing resource management and applying specific security measures to different parts of your infrastructure.
- Set Up Network Security Groups (NSGs): Learn how to implement NSGs to control inbound and outbound traffic to your resources. NSGs are a critical tool for ensuring the security of your Azure environment by regulating access to various resources.
- Verify Network Connectivity: Test your network by deploying resources into the virtual network and ensuring that they can communicate with each other securely.
Why This Lab Matters:
Mastering Azure networking is vital for passing the AZ-900 exam. The ability to configure VNets, subnets, and NSGs allows you to design secure and efficient cloud infrastructures. This lab is critical for developing the networking skills required to implement and manage a cloud-based network securely.
4. Configuring Azure Active Directory (Azure AD)
Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) is a cloud-based identity and access management service, crucial for managing users, groups, and permissions in Azure. This lab provides practical experience with Azure AD, allowing you to create and configure users, assign roles, and secure your resources.
Key Tasks:
- Create and Manage Users: You will learn how to create user accounts within Azure AD, an essential skill for managing identities in the cloud. This task is critical because users and identities play a central role in securing cloud resources.
- Assign Roles and Permissions: Explore role-based access control (RBAC) by assigning different roles to users in Azure AD. This is important for defining permissions and ensuring users have access to the right resources.
- Integrate Azure AD with Azure Resources: Learn how to integrate Azure AD with other Azure services like Azure Storage and Virtual Machines, allowing you to control access to these services based on user roles.
Why This Lab Matters:
Azure AD is at the heart of identity and access management in Azure, making it a critical topic for the AZ-900 exam. By completing this lab, you will understand how to configure and manage identities and roles, which is key for securing access to Azure services and resources.
Hands-on labs are an essential part of AZ-900 preparation, allowing you to gain practical experience with key Azure services and concepts. Labs such as Deploying a Windows VM using ARM Templates, Managing Azure Storage Accounts, Creating Virtual Networks, and Configuring Azure Active Directory will help you develop the practical skills necessary to succeed in the AZ-900 Microsoft Azure Fundamentals exam.
By practicing with these labs, you will not only pass the AZ-900 exam but also build the foundational skills needed to succeed in a cloud computing career. These hands-on experiences will make you feel confident in your ability to work with Azure services, setting you up for success as a cloud professional.
By incorporating these hands-on labs into your study routine, you will ensure that you’re fully prepared for the AZ-900 exam and ready to tackle real-world challenges with Microsoft Azure.
2. Deploying Container Instances with ARM Templates
Learn how to deploy container instances using ARM templates in this hands-on exercise.
Tasks:
- Launch the lab environment
- Review the ARM template
- Deploy the ARM template
- Validate the deployment
3. Creating a Batch Account Using ARM Templates
This lab walks you through creating an Azure Batch account using ARM templates, which also includes the creation of associated storage resources.
Tasks:
- Launch the lab environment
- Explore the ARM template
- Deploy the ARM template
- Validate the deployment
4. Configuring DNS Zones and Alias Records
Understand how to create DNS zones and alias records in Azure DNS with detailed step-by-step instructions.
Tasks:
- Launch the lab environment
- Create a public DNS zone and A record
- Test IP resolution using the A record
- Set up Azure alias records pointing to a load balancer
5. Setting Up Internal Load Balancer for VMs
This lab demonstrates how to create an internal load balancer (ILB) to distribute traffic between virtual machines.
Tasks:
- Create a virtual network
- Deploy the load balancer
- Set up NAT gateway and VMs
- Test the load balancer functionality
6. Deploying an Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) Cluster
Deploy an Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) cluster using ARM templates.
Tasks:
- Launch the lab environment
- Explore the ARM template
- Deploy the AKS cluster
- Verify the deployment
7. Creating Activity Log Alerts
Learn how to set up activity log alerts to monitor Azure infrastructure events.
Tasks:
- Configure Azure Activity Log alerts
- Set up email notifications for alert events
- Test add monitor log notifications
8. Creating a NAT Gateway Using ARM Templates
This lab focuses on deploying a NAT gateway using ARM templates to manage network traffic.
Tasks:
- Launch the lab environment
- Explore the ARM template
- Deploy the NAT gateway
- Validate the deployment
9. Deploying a Windows VM with Bicep Templates
Learn how to deploy a Windows VM using a Bicep template, a new language for describing Azure resources.
Tasks:
- Explore the Bicep file
- Deploy the Bicep file
- Verify the deployment
10. Creating and Managing Virtual Machines
Learn to create both Windows and Linux VMs, and gain insights into managing these resources.
Windows VM Tasks:
- Deploy a Windows 2019 datacenter VM
- Connect to the VM using RDP
Linux VM Tasks:
- Deploy an Ubuntu Server VM
- Connect to the VM via SSH
11. Configuring Storage Accounts and Blob Storage
Understand how to create and manage storage accounts, including Blob storage and file shares.
Tasks:
- Launch the lab environment
- Create a storage account and container
- Upload files to Blob storage
- Create and manage file shares
12. Understanding Network Security Group (NSG) Rules
Learn how to configure and manage network security group rules to control traffic to Azure resources.
Tasks:
- Deploy a virtual machine
- Configure NSG rules to allow RDP and HTTP traffic
13. Exploring Azure Database Services
This lab helps you understand the different database services available in Azure, including Cosmos DB, MySQL, and PostgreSQL.
Tasks:
- Launch the lab environment
- Create a Cosmos DB account
- Create MySQL and PostgreSQL databases
How to Access AZ-900 Hands-on Labs
Follow these steps to access the AZ-900 hands-on labs:
- Visit the Examlabs Hands-on Labs Library
- Register on the platform
- Select “Get Started” to begin your learning journey
- Choose your desired cloud platform (Azure, AWS, or GCP)
- Pick either “Guided Labs” or “Lab Challenges” based on your learning preferences
- Select the relevant certification and job role
- Begin practicing with your chosen labs
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What skills are tested in the AZ-900 exam?
The AZ-900 exam evaluates knowledge in core Azure services, cloud concepts, security, governance, compliance, cost management, and Azure pricing.
Q: What are some of the best hands-on labs for AZ-900?
Labs covering virtual machine creation, storage accounts, load balancing, database services, and networking security are essential for AZ-900 preparation.
Q: What career roles can you pursue with AZ-900 certification?
Job roles include Azure Administrator, Developer, Security Engineer, and Data Engineer, among others.
Q: Which Azure certification has the highest salary potential?
The Azure Solutions Architect Expert certification tends to offer the highest salary opportunities.
These hands-on labs will prepare you to tackle the AZ-900 exam with confidence, providing practical experience with essential Azure services. With over 300+ hands-on labs available, you can immerse yourself in real-world scenarios that will deepen your understanding and readiness for the certification exam.
Explore the virtual labs at Examlabs to practice and enhance your Azure skills, and take the next step in your cloud career.
Conclusion
The AZ-900 Microsoft Azure Fundamentals exam provides an essential starting point for anyone looking to build a solid foundation in cloud computing. By mastering the core topics such as cloud concepts, Azure’s services, and security, candidates will not only pass the exam but also gain the knowledge needed to manage cloud resources effectively in real-world scenarios.
Preparation for the AZ-900 exam can be significantly enhanced using examlabs, a trusted platform that offers comprehensive study materials, practice tests, and detailed explanations to help you prepare for the certification exam. With the proper resources and understanding of Azure’s capabilities, you can confidently pursue a career in cloud computing and help businesses leverage the power of Microsoft Azure for their success.
As you continue your journey with Microsoft Azure, this fundamental knowledge will serve as the cornerstone for more advanced certifications and cloud-related roles. With the right preparation and continuous learning, the AZ-900 exam will be the first step toward unlocking vast career opportunities in the world of cloud technology.