Azure Fundamentals Service Guide
Azure Services for AZ 900 – What You Must Know to Pass the Exam
If you’re preparing for the Azure Fundamentals certification, it’s essential to understand the most commonly tested Azure services for AZ 900. Microsoft expects candidates to be familiar with core categories like compute, networking, storage, and identity. This guide summarizes the must-know services and how they appear in the exam.
Core Azure Compute Services
- Azure Virtual Machines (VMs): On-demand computing resources that support Windows or Linux OS.
- App Service: Host web apps and REST APIs with built-in scalability.
- Azure Container Instances (ACI): Lightweight containers for microservices.
- Azure Functions: Serverless code triggered by events.
Microsoft Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900) is the perfect starting point for anyone looking to enter the cloud computing field. Whether you’re an IT professional or a beginner, this certification will boost your cloud knowledge and career prospects. In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know to pass the AZ-900 exam on your first attempt.
For AZ-900, you do not need to configure these services in depth. You need to know the purpose of each service and recognize which option fits a scenario. For example, a virtual machine gives more control, App Service reduces server management, and Azure Functions is useful for event-driven serverless tasks.
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Select the plan that matches your preparation goals.
Essential Azure Storage Services
- Blob Storage: Object storage for unstructured data like images or documents.
- Disk Storage: High-performance disks for use with VMs.
- File Storage: Managed file shares using SMB protocol.
- Queue Storage: Message queuing for decoupled systems.
Key Networking Services for AZ 900
- Virtual Network (VNet): Secure communication between Azure resources.
- Load Balancer: Distributes traffic across multiple services or VMs.
- VPN Gateway: Secure connection between on-premises and Azure networks.
- ExpressRoute: Dedicated private network link to Azure.
Identity, Access, and Governance Services
- Azure Active Directory (AAD): Identity and access management (IAM) for users and apps.
- Role-Based Access Control (RBAC): Permission management at a granular level.
- Azure Policy: Enforce rules across resources.
- Azure Blueprints: Define repeatable governance environments.
How to Remember Azure Services by Category
Where apps and workloads run
Think VMs, App Service, containers, and Functions.
Where data is stored and retrieved
Think Blob, Disk, Files, and Queue Storage.
How resources communicate securely
Think VNets, Load Balancer, VPN Gateway, and ExpressRoute.
How access and rules are controlled
Think identity, RBAC, Policy, and repeatable standards.
Sample AZ-900 Exam Questions
Use these examples to test whether you can connect the service name to the correct use case.
Question 1:
Which Azure service would you use to host a serverless function that triggers on a timer?
Question 2:
What service would you use to store large unstructured data such as video files?
Additional Tips
- Group services by category (Compute, Storage, etc.) to memorize faster.
- Use flashcards or diagrams to visualize how services interact.
- Check out Microsoft’s official Azure product overview.
A useful review habit is to ask: what problem does this service solve? If you can answer that clearly, you are much more likely to handle scenario-based AZ-900 questions correctly.
Conclusion
These Azure services for AZ 900 are fundamental to the exam and your cloud career. Focus on understanding what each service does, when it’s used, and how it fits into Azure’s ecosystem. For a complete overview, read our AZ-900 Study Guide to reinforce your knowledge.