Azure Solutions Architect Expert Renewal
Once again its that time to recertify, 2022 is going to be the year of renewal and recertification!
After holding the Azure Solutions Architect Expert certification since 2018, I noticed that Microsoft have changed the process in which renewal takes place on this and other Azure certifications.
In place of just writing another exam based on the syllabus you have already studied and been tested on, Microsoft have implemented a renewal process focused on studying Microsoft Learn modules and then writing an online assessment annually to regain and renew your certification. This is a really a great approach as it gets you to keep learning constantly as well as forces you to recertify annually to keep current.
This effectively replaces the previous method of recertifying every two years with a recertification exam. This process has been seamlessly implemented and really gets you to focus in on key study areas that you may or may not have had recent experience in. This is a great way to get you to use Microsoft Learn modules to increase your skills, get exposure to new concepts and recertify your existing certification that you have already had to write numerous official exams in order to gain. This online assessment is completed annually in order to keep your certification and automatically extends the expiration date on the certificate based on your existing transcript.
Please take note: Microsoft will send you reminders on a monthly basis from three months before the expiration of the certificate which gives you ample time to study the Learn modules and complete the assessment before expiration. The certification will renew for a year from the expiration date. The online assessment can also be written at any time during the renewal period. You will get multiple attempts to write if you do not pass the first time, but there are some waiting periods between attempts.
I really think that this is a great innovation from Microsoft Azure and think it would be great if other public cloud platforms could also look into implementing a similar renewal process in order to assist students. There is also, of course, the fact that there is no cost involved in this renewal process which is really a game changer for people who have invested so much time and costs in achieving these certifications.
Azure Solutions Architect Expert: Microsoft Learn Modules
The below list of Microsoft Learn modules can be studied prior to the online assessment. Please note: This is not compulsory in order to complete the assessment but they are really good if you are trying to brush up on or have not been exposed to these concepts since writing your last exam. The Learn modules focus in on a few of the Well-Architected Framework pillars: performance efficiency, security, Cost and also focus in on designing monitoring on Azure. Further reading on the Well-Architected Framework: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/architecture/framework/
They then move into Azure Site Recovery (ASR) and Azure backups. There are also some practical labs on Azure SQL DB's. Overall, its around six and half hours on Learn modules before going ahead to take your assessment.
- Design a holistic monitoring strategy on Azure
- Microsoft Azure Well-Architected Framework - Performance efficiency
- Microsoft Azure Well-Architected Framework - Security
- Protect your Azure infrastructure with Azure Site Recovery
- Protect your virtual machines by using Azure Backup
- Back up and restore your Azure SQL database
- Use monitoring and analytics to gain cost insights
- Analyze your Azure infrastructure by using Azure Monitor logs
Please see the below link to the official Microsoft Learn modules required for study: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/learn/certifications/azure-solutions-architect/renew
By using the above link you are also able to check whether you are eligible for renewal.
Quick tip: Make sure you sign into the above portal using your existing MCP login details. You are also able to add additional Learn profiles within your account if these are separate.
Please find the below link for further reading on the renewal process: https://aka.ms/CertRenewalOverview
I have found the overall renewal process simple, well implemented and innovative!
Good luck on completing your Azure Solutions Architect renewal in 2022!
AZ-302 Transition into Architecture
I had the opportunity last week to write the new beta Microsoft AZ-302 transition exam for the new role based Azure Solutions Architect qualification being provided by Microsoft on their Azure Cloud Platform. This exam is only available if you have completed the 70-535 exam for Architecting Azure Solutions which I have previously written about.
This is a new exam that was released at the end of September 2018 and is still currently in beta meaning that you do not receive any results immediately after writing this exam. Microsoft confirms that you should receive transcript entry two weeks later if you pass.
As this is a new exam in beta there is currently very limited available study materials. In fact Microsoft have not released any practise tests or courses on this exam as of October 2018.
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/learning/exam-az-302.aspx
The best pace to start preparing for this exam is by viewing the official exam page listed above. On this page you will find the exam section breakdown on the AZ-302:
Determine Workload Requirements (15-20%)
Design for Identity and Security (5-10%)
Design a Business Continuity Strategy (15-20%)
Implement Workloads and Security (5-10%)
Implement Authentication and Secure Data (5-10%)
Develop for the Cloud (45-50%)
As you can see from the breakdown the last section is Develop for the Cloud (45-50%) this section is very important and something that was not tested at this level in the 70-535. If you do not have extensive Cloud development background its best to start doing so now.
I used the following sources for studying for this exam including hands on labs and practising within an Azure subscription. The best place to find these is in the new Microsoft Learning portal within the Azure website. This is a great place to run through study courses and labs without having to create an Azure trial. Experience and skills are really key here.
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-gb/learn/azure
I also used the following free resource on Microsoft Azure courses which is great!
https://www.getazureready.com/
The Microsft Azure documentation is another great place to read up and study, here are some sample links to read that are related to this exam and that I read before writing:
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/active-directory/develop/v1-protocols-openid-connect-code
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/active-directory/develop/v1-protocols-oauth-code
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/site-recovery/vmware-azure-set-up-replication
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/storage/common/storage-redundancy
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/site-recovery/site-recovery-test-failover-to-azure
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/site-recovery/site-recovery-network-design
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/site-recovery/site-recovery-failover
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/site-recovery/site-recovery-workload
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/site-recovery/concepts-traffic-manager-with-site-recovery
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/architecture/guide/design-principles/
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/architecture/guide/design-principles/redundancy
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/architecture/guide/design-principles/self-healing
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/security-azure-encryption-overview
https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/solutions/confidential-compute/
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-functions/durable-functions-overview
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/sql-database/sql-database-elastic-transactions-overview
I would go through all the documentation related to the exam sections above and constantly keep reading through the relevant documentation on the study section that you are focusing on as this gives you some good perspective and a high level understanding on solutions.
To sum up the above resources are a good place to start for this exam but this exam is not at all easy especially if you don't have strong cloud development background. Developing for the Cloud would be a great place to start learning or brushing up before tackling this exam. The key take away is that you really need strong Azure experience and high level understanding. This is not a standard architect level exam and will really take you into a technical deep dive so practise, skills and deep knowledge are really important.
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