The AZ-102 Microsoft Azure Administrator Certification Transition certification exam tests and validates your expertise as an Azure Administrator around managing cloud services that span storage, security, networking, and compute capabilities within the Microsoft Azure cloud. This exam provides a upgrade / transition path from to the Azure Administrator certification for anyone who has already passed the older, existing 70-533 Implementing Azure Infrastructure Solutions certification exam.
The AZ-100, AZ-101, and AZ-102 certification exams are all being retired May 1, 2019. The newer AZ-103 Azure Administrator certification exam is being made available on May 1, 2019 as a consolidated replacement. This is being done to improve the certification path towards the Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate certification.
Certification Target Audience
The AZ-102 Microsoft Azure Administrator Certification Transition certification exam is geared towards Azure Administrators who manage cloud services that span storage, security, networking, and compute capabilities within the Microsoft Azure cloud. Exam candidates should have a deep understanding of each service across the full IT lifecyle, and take requests for infrastructure services, applications, and environments. They also make recommendations on services to use for optimal performance and scale, as well as provision, size, monitor, and adjust resources as appropriate.
When taking this exam, it’s recommended that candidates are proficient in the following tools:
- PowerShell
- Command-Line Interface (CLI)
Candidates should also have at least a basic familiarity with the following areas related to Microsoft Azure:
- Azure Portal
- ARM Templates
- Operating Systems
- Virtualization
- Cloud Infrastructure
- Storage Structures
- Networking
Transition from the 70-533 Infrastructure Exam
The wording used by Microsoft in the announcement of the new Azure Administrator (AZ-100, AZ-101, and AZ-102) exams hints that the pre-existing 70-533 Implementing Microsoft Azure Infrastructure Solutions exam will be replaced by the AZ-100 Microsoft Azure Infrastructure and Deployment and AZ-101 Microsoft Azure Integration and Security exams.
The AZ-102 Microsoft Azure Administrator Certification Transition exam is being made available as a sort of “upgrade” exam to take if you’ve already passed the 70-533 Implementing Microsoft Azure Infrastructure Solutions certification exam. This new AZ-102 exam tests and validates the skills and objective areas that are covered on the AZ-100 and AZ-101 exams, but are not covered on the older 70-533 exam. This will provide an upgrade path to earn the new Azure Administrator certification.
The overall set of exam objectives for the AZ-102 exam is a combination of both the following 2 exams:
- AZ-100 Microsoft Azure Infrastructure and Deployment
- AZ-101 Microsoft Azure Integration and Security
To view the most up-to-date list of these exam objectives, please reference the official AZ-102 exam page.
Happy Studying!
About the Author
Chris Pietschmann
Chris Pietschmann is a Microsoft MVP, HashiCorp Ambassador, and Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT) with 20+ years of experience designing and building Cloud & Enterprise systems. He has worked with companies of all sizes from startups to large enterprises. He has a passion for technology and sharing what he learns with others to help enable them to learn faster and be more productive.
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Is the AZ-102 exam going to be free of charge for someone who already passed the 70-533 exam? Like 70-533, will AZ-102 exam be used toward MSCE (Windows Server 2016)? Thank you.
It’s a separate exam, and like past upgrade exams I expect there will be a fee to take it. That’s the norm with all exams. In regards to MCSE, Microsoft hasn’t stated how the new role based certification paths will fit in with MCSE.. we’ll see
Thank you. I just find out there is a current 80% discount, which means I will take the AZ-102 for only $33.
I am interested how you got that discount, its current £113 GBP on Microsoft site
Hi, Chris. I used the following code: AZ102PLANS. I got it from their website and you have to take the exam by August 9th.
Just sat the beta exam, overall quiet unhappy with where they are heading. There were lots of “regurgutate this memorized book information” questions. eg “What ports are required for this?” or “Given the hardware specs of these VMs, what can you or can’t you do?”
In reality, I would just google these things. They seem to have gone backwards here. 2/10.
Hmm… That’s interesting to hear. I haven’t taken it yet, so I don’t know where it sits. I guess it’s a good thing it’s in Beta right now, so they can still get feedback and change things before the final release comes; which is planned to be about September around the Ignite conference.
How do these exam changes impact the MSCA – Linux on Azure? Frankly, I’m getting tired of these MS exams changing constantly. It was just in 2017 that Microsoft did a complete revamp of the Certification path, then you decided to drop 70-534 for 70-535 etc and now you are changing it again? It’s not wonder why the people I talk to about MS Certification say it’s not worth the time if you are always changing it every year.
Currently, there’s no indication that the MCSA and MCSE certifications are going away. All we know now is that the new certifications are being better aligned with Job Roles in mind, rather than being an expert at the technology overall. This is a good direction for the Microsoft Certification program, but only time will tell us exactly how Microsoft Learning is looking to move the certifications offered.
As far as being “tired of these MS exams changing constantly”, it makes sense that they change every so often. The latest restructure of the MCSA/MCSE certifications can a year and a half ago, and they are still offered. Plus, if you have earned one of these certifications, your certification is still valid and will remain active. 70-535 replaced 70-534 since the 534 architecture exam was outdated and needed to be updated / replaced to accurately reflect the current state of Microsoft Azure. Overall, Microsoft is changing / updating the certifications to match the pace of change in the technologies they test and validate skills against. I’m sorry you feel negative about this.
AZ-102 exam will retire on June 2019. So do we have to again go for the certification or it will be valid for some time. If yes till what time this validity will be there?
Your earned certification won’t disappear. It’s not entirely clear yet what Microsoft will do with the new certifications as they update the exams over time, but they will likely do the same as with the previous certifications; which is to label your certification with the year you earned it but keep it as “Active”.
Does AZ-102 have labs?
Yes, some of the new Microsoft exams to have “hands-on” type activities in them. I think this is what you mean about “labs”.