Tips to Pass Microsoft MCSA Azure Certification with ExamSnap for Future Cloud Administrators and Architects

Certification is not only one of the best ways to express yourself among the professionals, but also an excellent solution to motivate yourself to get new skills. If you are interested in expanding your knowledge, then you must certainly go for one of Microsoft certifications. As a leading IT company, Microsoft offers a number of credentials for specialists working in different technical fields. Here are a few levels in Microsoft certification program: MTA, MCSA, MCSD, and MCSE. You can opt for an appropriate level of certification based on your current skills and career ambitions.

Azure-related certifications are available on MCSA, MCSE, and MCSD levels. Today we will talk about Microsoft Azure certification on the associate level (MCSA) and discuss one of the possible ways to attain it. So, let’s start from the beginning.

MCSA: Cloud Platform Certification

MCSA: Cloud Platform certification can be obtained through the passing of two exams. There will be four exams offered: 70-532, 70-533, 70-535, and 70-537. You need to choose and successfully pass two of them. Here is a brief description of these tests:

70-532: Developing Microsoft Azure Solutions Exam

First, if all pay your attention that this exam is retiring on December 31, 2018. 70-532 exam is focused on topics such as creating and management of Azure Resource Manager Virtual Machines, Data Strategy, Network Services, and more.

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70-533: Implementing Microsoft Azure Infrastructure SolutionsExam

This exam is also retiring on December 31, 2018. 70-533 exam is intended to assess knowledge related to the Service Apps of Azure App, ARM Templates, Azure Operations, Azure Identities, and more.

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70-535: Architecting Microsoft Azure Solutions Exam

Also, the exam is retiring on December 31, 2018. 70-535 test is designed to evaluate the skills linked to the designing of Compute Infrastructure, Networking Implementation, Identity Solutions, Security Solutions, and more.

70-537: Configuring and Operating a Hybrid Cloud with Microsoft Azure Stack Exam

This exam is in development now.

Upon successful completion of two required exams, you can move to MCSE: Cloud Platform and Infrastructure of MCSD: App Builder certification. However, let’s not be too hasty: you need to pass your first exam and then only choose your next options.

If you are an IT enthusiast or work in the sphere of Information Technology, you must have heard about the transition of Architecting Microsoft Azure Solutions exam code from 70-534 to its newer 70-535 version. These changes have been acclaimed since the first day of its launch. Fortunately, there is no need to be worried about the new features of the exam, as this article has every bit of information you might need while preparing for it. Let’s take 70-535 exam as an example and take a look at how the credential process works.

MCSA Certification with Microsoft 70-535: Architecting Microsoft Azure Solutions Exam

This Microsoft exam is designed to test key capabilities of implementing Azure solutions. Since it primarily focuses on Azure solutions, you can expect a range of Azure-related questions in this certification test.

Before taking the test, you should ideally have a solid understanding of Azure and its major features. You should also be proficient with DevOps technologies. The good thing about Microsoft 70-535 is that it does not focus only on architecture like its predecessor, Microsoft 70-534. Although you may complete the test faster, its usual estimated duration is 150 minutes.

Microsoft 70-535 exam is available in English only and holds around 40-60 questions. The exam questions are usually in the multiple-choice format with several answers. The test is not free, and its price is as approximately $165, depending on your country of residence. To ensure that you don’t waste your money, you need to score the passing score of at least 70%. The ideal candidates for this exam are cloud solution experts and software architects, but other relevant professionals can also take the test and acquire the credential.

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Microsoft 70-535: Core Skills Tested

The platform named Cloud Academy has launched a learning path comprising various Azure platform courses with the aim to assist IT professionals in passing Microsoft 70-535. The exam consists of the following six sections, measuring different core skills:

1. Design Compute Infrastructure

Covering 20-25%, this section tests at least 5 key abilities, including designing solutions using virtual machines (VMs), designing solutions for serverless computing, designing Microsoft-based solutions, designing a web application, and creating compute-intensive applications.

Each section requires specific skills that are easy to gain if you don’t forget about revision. In order to tackle the questions of this section, you must have a clear understanding of operating systems, ARM templates, cloud infrastructure, networking, virtualization, and Azure Portal. Also, you should be excellent in using the command-line interface and Power Shell.

2. Design Data Implementation

While dealing with the questions in this section, you need to know how to design the five types of data implementation design. Typically, you need to design for Azure storage solutions, Azure data services, relational database storage, NoSQL storage, and Cosmos DB storage. This section may cover between 10% and 15% of Microsoft 70-535 exam.

3. Design Networking Implementation

Unlike the other two, this section measures only four skills. It primarily deals with designing Azure virtual networks, external connectivity for Azure virtual networks, security strategies, and connectivity for hybrid applications. It also covers only 10-15% of the entire exam.

4. Design Security and Identity Solutions

This sections includes a wide range of questions and covers approximately 20-25% of the Microsoft 70-535 test. The key skills you will be asked to demonstrate here include designing an identity solution, securing resources by using healthy providers, designing a data security solution, designing a mechanism of governance, policies for administering Azure resources and managing security risks by using an appropriate security solution.

5. Design Solution Using Platforms Services

This part of the exam deals with creating a design for the Internet of Things (IoT), designing artificial intelligent services, messaging solutions architects and media server solutions. Like most of the other sections, it only takes 10-15% of the total exam paper.

6. Design for Operations

The last section tests only three key abilities of the exam takers. You are required to show that you are able to design an application monitoring and alerting strategy, a platform monitoring an alerting strategy, and an automatic operation strategy. It also covers 10-15% of the certification test.

It is worth noting that each of the skills highlighted in each section requires a specific understating in order to complete the test successfully. Hence, you need to be well-prepared for every question. In order to pass the exam easier, consider purchasing the Architecting Microsoft Azure Solutions official study guide, which is available on various online platforms. The book will help not only with the major skills listed above but also with other useful skills that you might need in your area of work.

Microsoft 70-535: Preparation Process

While you need to be knowledgeable in the six spheres described above, you also need to consider other essential factors. The exam is certainly challenging but not difficult to the extreme. Therefore, extensive practice and revision are the main factors you should bear in mind before sitting for this certification test.

However, you do not need to limit yourself with those six sections. Explore more questions available on 70-535 Exam Preparation Learning Path, which offers the candidates a variety of revision questions and materials. Revision books are also a good source for preparing for this certification exam. The best of such books include the following;

Architecting Microsoft Azure Solutions by Haiti Bai, Dan Stolts, and Steve Maier
Azure for Architects by Ritesh Modi
Architecting Microsoft Azure Solutions Exam Guide by SjoukjeZaal

You can also opt for practice tests, which will help you to learn more about the exam pattern and the types of questions asked in the exam.

Download Practice Tests on ExamSnap and PrepAway

Conclusion

Mastering Microsoft 70-535 exam and other tests related to MCSA: Cloud Platform certification (70-532, 70-533, or even forthcoming 70-537) is a challenging but completely achievable task. In order to pass it, you might need to create an account on Cloud Academy. By doing this, you will gain easy access to the preparation materials and enhance your competence in the area before you sit for the exam.

If using online resources is not suitable for you, you can always consider hiring a professional in the IT field, so that you can clear your doubts on questions or concepts that you do not seem to understand. Apart from hiring a personal tutor, you are free to discuss the issues related to the exam with other aspiring test takers. This will help you prepare for 70-535 exam and improve your skills.