AZ-500 (Azure Security)
Short review
Author: Stefan Waldvogel
Review AZ-500
Overview
AZ-500 is a certification for Microsoft's Azure cloud platform. The main focus is security, but there is about 25% overlap with AZ-104 which is the Azure Administrator.
How to prepare
This exam is difficult but there are a ton of free resources. The easiest resource is MS learn. This is Microsoft's training platform. docs.microsoft.com/en-us/learn/certifications/azure-security-engineer/
The platform is free and you can use sandboxes to sharpen your skills. The following picture shows the first steps.
AZ-500 is a certification for Microsoft's Azure cloud platform. The main focus is security, but there is about 25% overlap with AZ-104 which is the Azure Administrator.
How to prepare
This exam is difficult but there are a ton of free resources. The easiest resource is MS learn. This is Microsoft's training platform. docs.microsoft.com/en-us/learn/certifications/azure-security-engineer/
The platform is free and you can use sandboxes to sharpen your skills. The following picture shows the first steps.
The next useful free resource is on GitHub: github.com/MicrosoftLearning/AZ500-AzureSecurityTechnologies
Here you find all the labs and some other resources. If you combine both resources, you have a very solid knowledge.
On YouTube, I found this course helpful:
https://youtu.be/RSiYvksk8cY -> Susanth Sutheesh has a lot more cloud videos therefore you do not have to spend a single cent to get the knowledge.
How long do you need to get exam ready?
I studied about 2 months for it (7 days a week, 5 to 12 hours). Background: 0 (zero) knowledge in cloud.
Better way: AZ-900 -> AZ105 -> AZ500. If you take this way, you have a much better understanding about the admin side and the exam is much easier.
Advantages
Every single cloud cert is valuable. In the US we have about 300,000 available cloud jobs. You do not get a job in Cybersecurity... do not worry, grab one or two cloud certs and you get a job! Both field are tied together, it does not really matter where you start. The salary is is even better.
Disadvantages
I do not think this course has disadvantages. If you start with it, it is very hard.
Price
$15 to $165
Alternatives
AWS has a similar certification.
What next?
You can go for the advanced certs like Architect or expert level.
Conclusion
Cloud knowledge is very useful and most IT jobs nowadays touch cloud somewhere. The field is new and it is easier to catch up.
Here you find all the labs and some other resources. If you combine both resources, you have a very solid knowledge.
On YouTube, I found this course helpful:
https://youtu.be/RSiYvksk8cY -> Susanth Sutheesh has a lot more cloud videos therefore you do not have to spend a single cent to get the knowledge.
How long do you need to get exam ready?
I studied about 2 months for it (7 days a week, 5 to 12 hours). Background: 0 (zero) knowledge in cloud.
Better way: AZ-900 -> AZ105 -> AZ500. If you take this way, you have a much better understanding about the admin side and the exam is much easier.
Advantages
Every single cloud cert is valuable. In the US we have about 300,000 available cloud jobs. You do not get a job in Cybersecurity... do not worry, grab one or two cloud certs and you get a job! Both field are tied together, it does not really matter where you start. The salary is is even better.
Disadvantages
I do not think this course has disadvantages. If you start with it, it is very hard.
Price
$15 to $165
Alternatives
AWS has a similar certification.
What next?
You can go for the advanced certs like Architect or expert level.
Conclusion
Cloud knowledge is very useful and most IT jobs nowadays touch cloud somewhere. The field is new and it is easier to catch up.
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