Microsoft Developing Solutions for Microsoft Azure (AZ-204) Exam Preparation

Creating Azure App Service Web Apps is a fundamental skill for developers working with Microsoft Azure. This topic covers the process of building, configuring, and deploying web applications using Azure App Service. Key aspects include understanding the App Service plan, configuring app settings and connection strings, setting up custom domains and SSL certificates, and implementing auto-scaling and deployment slots. Developers should also be familiar with various deployment methods, such as Azure DevOps, GitHub Actions, and FTP, as well as monitoring and troubleshooting techniques for Web Apps.

This topic is crucial to the AZ-204 exam as it forms a significant part of the "Implement Azure App Service Web Apps" section, which accounts for 15-20% of the exam content. Understanding Azure App Service Web Apps is essential for developing cloud-native applications and implementing modern web solutions on the Azure platform. It ties into other exam topics such as Azure Functions, API Management, and Azure Storage, making it a cornerstone of Azure application development knowledge.

Candidates can expect a variety of question types on this topic in the exam:

• Multiple-choice questions testing knowledge of App Service features and configurations
• Scenario-based questions requiring analysis of requirements and selection of appropriate App Service settings
• Code-completion questions involving Azure CLI or PowerShell commands for App Service management
• Case study questions that involve designing and implementing Web Apps as part of a larger solution

The depth of knowledge required will range from basic concept understanding to practical application of App Service features in complex scenarios. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate their ability to make informed decisions about App Service configuration and deployment strategies based on given requirements and constraints.

Azure Functions is a serverless compute service that enables you to run event-triggered code without explicitly provisioning or managing infrastructure. It allows developers to focus on writing code that responds to various events, such as HTTP requests, timer triggers, or changes in Azure services. Azure Functions supports multiple programming languages, including C#, JavaScript, Python, and Java. Key concepts include function apps, triggers, bindings, and scaling options. Developers can create functions that integrate with other Azure services, implement webhooks, or process data in real-time, making it a versatile tool for building scalable and efficient cloud-native applications.

Implementing Azure Functions is a crucial topic in the AZ-204 exam as it falls under the "Develop Azure compute solutions" domain, which accounts for 25-30% of the exam content. Understanding Azure Functions is essential for creating serverless architectures and event-driven applications in Azure. This topic relates closely to other exam objectives, such as implementing IaaS solutions, creating Azure App Service web apps, and implementing Azure security. Proficiency in Azure Functions demonstrates a candidate's ability to design and develop scalable, cost-effective solutions in the Azure ecosystem.

Candidates can expect various question types on Azure Functions in the AZ-204 exam:

• Multiple-choice questions testing knowledge of Azure Functions concepts, triggers, and bindings
• Scenario-based questions requiring candidates to choose the appropriate function type or configuration for a given use case
• Code completion or error identification questions related to Azure Functions implementation
• Questions on integrating Azure Functions with other Azure services or external APIs
• Performance and scaling scenarios, asking candidates to optimize Function Apps for specific workloads

The exam may also include hands-on labs or case studies where candidates need to demonstrate their ability to implement and troubleshoot Azure Functions in real-world scenarios. Candidates should be prepared to answer questions that require in-depth knowledge of Azure Functions features, best practices, and common pitfalls.

Developing solutions that use Cosmos DB storage is a crucial topic in the AZ-204 exam. Cosmos DB is Microsoft's globally distributed, multi-model database service designed for scalable and high-performance applications. Candidates should understand how to create and configure a Cosmos DB account, choose the appropriate API (SQL, MongoDB, Cassandra, Gremlin, or Table), and implement partitioning strategies. They should also be familiar with consistency levels, indexing policies, and how to perform CRUD operations using the SDK. Additionally, candidates should know how to implement server-side programming using stored procedures, triggers, and user-defined functions, as well as how to optimize query performance and manage throughput using request units (RUs).

This topic is essential to the overall AZ-204 exam as it covers one of the primary data storage options in Azure. Cosmos DB is a key component in building scalable, globally distributed applications, which aligns with the exam's focus on developing Azure solutions. Understanding Cosmos DB is crucial for designing and implementing cloud-native applications that require low-latency data access and global distribution. This knowledge ties into other exam topics such as implementing Azure security, monitoring, and optimizing Azure solutions.

Candidates can expect a variety of question types on this topic in the actual exam:

• Multiple-choice questions testing knowledge of Cosmos DB concepts, such as consistency levels, partitioning strategies, and APIs.
• Scenario-based questions that require candidates to choose the appropriate Cosmos DB configuration for a given application requirement.
• Code-completion questions involving SDK usage for CRUD operations or implementing server-side programming.
• Case study questions that may involve designing a data storage solution using Cosmos DB as part of a larger Azure-based application.
• Drag-and-drop questions for ordering steps to configure Cosmos DB features or optimize performance.

The depth of knowledge required will range from basic understanding of Cosmos DB concepts to practical application of these concepts in real-world scenarios. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate their ability to make informed decisions about Cosmos DB implementation and optimization in various application contexts.

Developing solutions that use blob storage is a crucial topic in Azure development. Azure Blob storage is a scalable object storage solution for unstructured data such as text, binary data, documents, and media files. Key aspects include understanding blob types (block, append, and page blobs), storage tiers (hot, cool, and archive), and access tiers. Candidates should be familiar with blob storage operations like creating containers, uploading, downloading, and deleting blobs. Additionally, they should know how to implement blob leases, manage metadata, and use Shared Access Signatures (SAS) for secure access. Understanding Azure Storage SDK and REST API for blob operations is also essential.

This topic is fundamental to the AZ-204 exam as it falls under the "Develop solutions that use Azure Storage" domain, which comprises about 15-20% of the exam content. Proficiency in blob storage is crucial for Azure developers, as it's a common requirement in many cloud-based applications. Understanding blob storage also relates to other exam topics, such as implementing Azure security and working with Azure Functions, as these often involve interacting with blob storage.

Candidates can expect various question types on this topic:

• Multiple-choice questions testing knowledge of blob storage concepts, such as identifying the appropriate blob type for a given scenario.
• Scenario-based questions that require analyzing a given situation and selecting the best blob storage solution or configuration.
• Code completion questions where candidates need to fill in missing parts of code snippets for blob storage operations using the Azure Storage SDK.
• Case study questions that involve designing a storage solution for a complex application, considering factors like performance, cost, and security.

The depth of knowledge required ranges from basic understanding of blob storage concepts to the ability to implement advanced features and troubleshoot issues in real-world scenarios.

Implementing user authentication and authorization is a crucial aspect of developing secure Azure solutions. This topic covers various methods to authenticate and authorize users in Azure applications, including Azure Active Directory (Azure AD), Microsoft Identity platform, and Azure AD B2C. Key concepts include implementing OAuth2 authentication, OpenID Connect, and multi-factor authentication. Developers should understand how to integrate these authentication mechanisms into their applications, manage user identities, and implement role-based access control (RBAC) to ensure proper authorization.

This topic is essential to the AZ-204 exam as it focuses on securing Azure applications and services, which is a fundamental requirement for any cloud-based solution. Understanding authentication and authorization mechanisms is crucial for developing robust and secure applications in Azure. It relates closely to other exam topics such as implementing Azure security and working with Azure App Service and Azure Functions, where secure user access is often required.

Candidates can expect various question types on this topic in the exam:

• Multiple-choice questions testing knowledge of Azure AD concepts, OAuth2 flows, and OpenID Connect protocols.
• Scenario-based questions requiring candidates to choose the appropriate authentication method for a given use case.
• Code-completion questions involving the implementation of authentication and authorization in Azure applications.
• Case study questions that assess the ability to design and implement secure authentication solutions for complex scenarios.

The depth of knowledge required includes understanding the underlying concepts of authentication and authorization, as well as practical implementation skills using Azure services and SDKs. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate their ability to configure and integrate various authentication methods in Azure applications.

Implementing secure cloud solutions in Azure involves several key aspects. This includes managing application authentication and access control using Azure Active Directory (Azure AD), implementing secure data solutions using Azure Key Vault for storing and accessing secrets, keys, and certificates, and securing application configuration data using App Configuration and Azure Key Vault. Additionally, it covers implementing secure Azure solutions using Azure Security Center, Azure Sentinel, and Azure Monitor, as well as securing Azure Storage accounts and implementing Managed Identities for Azure resources.

This topic is crucial to the AZ-204 exam as it focuses on one of the core skills required for developing secure and compliant Azure solutions. It aligns with Microsoft's emphasis on security in cloud environments and demonstrates a developer's ability to implement best practices for protecting applications and data in Azure. Understanding and implementing secure cloud solutions is essential for creating robust, enterprise-grade applications on the Azure platform.

Candidates can expect a variety of question types on this topic in the AZ-204 exam:

• Multiple-choice questions testing knowledge of Azure security services and their features
• Scenario-based questions requiring candidates to choose the most appropriate security solution for a given situation
• Code-completion questions involving the implementation of authentication and authorization in Azure applications
• Case study questions that assess the ability to design and implement comprehensive security solutions for complex Azure environments

The depth of knowledge required will range from basic understanding of Azure security concepts to the ability to implement and troubleshoot advanced security configurations in real-world scenarios.

Integrating caching and content delivery within solutions is a crucial topic in Azure development. It involves implementing Azure Cache for Redis to improve application performance and scalability by storing frequently accessed data in memory. This topic also covers Azure Content Delivery Network (CDN), which helps deliver content to users more efficiently by caching static assets at strategically placed points of presence (PoPs) around the world. Key aspects include configuring Redis caches, implementing data persistence, managing cached data, and setting up Azure CDN profiles and endpoints. Additionally, developers should understand how to integrate these services with their applications and optimize content delivery based on user location and request patterns.

This topic is essential to the AZ-204 exam as it directly relates to optimizing application performance and user experience in Azure-based solutions. Understanding caching and content delivery mechanisms is crucial for developing scalable and efficient applications in the cloud. It ties into broader exam concepts such as Azure service integration, performance optimization, and global application deployment. Mastery of this topic demonstrates a candidate's ability to design and implement high-performance solutions that can handle large-scale user demands and provide fast content delivery across different geographical regions.

Candidates can expect various question types on this topic in the AZ-204 exam:

• Multiple-choice questions testing knowledge of Azure Cache for Redis and Azure CDN features and configurations
• Scenario-based questions requiring candidates to choose the most appropriate caching or content delivery solution for a given application requirement
• Code-completion questions involving the implementation of Redis cache in an application or configuring Azure CDN endpoints
• Case study questions that require analyzing a complex scenario and recommending the best caching and content delivery strategies
• True/false questions on the capabilities and limitations of Azure caching and CDN services

The depth of knowledge required will range from basic understanding of concepts to practical implementation details and best practices for integrating these services into Azure solutions.

Instrumenting solutions to support monitoring and logging is a crucial aspect of developing and maintaining Azure applications. This topic covers the implementation of Application Insights for web applications and other Azure services, as well as the configuration of Azure Monitor logs. Key sub-topics include configuring instrumentation in cloud applications, creating log queries, and implementing application insights web tests and alerts. Developers need to understand how to use SDKs to collect custom events and metrics, implement code that handles transient faults, and configure crash monitoring and analytics tools.

This topic is essential to the AZ-204 exam as it relates directly to the "Monitor, troubleshoot, and optimize Azure solutions" domain, which comprises 10-15% of the exam content. Understanding how to instrument solutions for monitoring and logging is crucial for maintaining the health, performance, and security of Azure applications. It ties into other exam topics such as developing Azure compute solutions and implementing Azure security, as effective monitoring and logging are integral to these areas.

Candidates can expect various question types on this topic in the exam:

• Multiple-choice questions testing knowledge of Application Insights and Azure Monitor features and configuration options
• Scenario-based questions requiring candidates to select appropriate monitoring and logging solutions for given application requirements
• Code-completion questions involving the implementation of custom telemetry using the Application Insights SDK
• Case study questions that require analyzing log data and recommending appropriate actions based on the findings

The depth of knowledge required will range from basic understanding of monitoring concepts to the ability to implement and configure advanced logging and analytics features in Azure applications.

Implementing API Management in Azure is a crucial topic for the AZ-204 exam. It involves creating and managing APIs using Azure API Management, a fully managed service that acts as a facade for your backend services. Key aspects include creating and configuring API gateways, defining API policies for security and transformation, versioning APIs, and monitoring API usage. You'll need to understand how to import APIs, create products (collections of APIs), manage subscriptions, and implement rate limiting and quotas. Additionally, the topic covers securing APIs using OAuth 2.0, OpenID Connect, and other authentication methods.

This topic is essential to the overall AZ-204 exam as it focuses on a core Azure service for building and managing scalable, secure APIs. It aligns with the exam's emphasis on developing cloud-native solutions and integrating various Azure services. Understanding API Management is crucial for creating robust, enterprise-grade applications that can expose functionality to external consumers or internal systems securely and efficiently.

For the exam, candidates can expect a mix of question types related to API Management:

• Multiple-choice questions testing knowledge of API Management concepts, features, and best practices.
• Scenario-based questions requiring you to select the appropriate API Management configuration or policy for a given business requirement.
• Code-completion questions where you might need to fill in missing parts of an API policy definition or configuration script.
• Case study questions that involve analyzing a complex scenario and making decisions about API Management implementation, including security, scalability, and integration with other Azure services.

Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate a deep understanding of API Management concepts, as well as practical knowledge of how to implement and configure the service in real-world scenarios.

Developing event-based solutions is a crucial topic in the AZ-204 exam, focusing on building applications that respond to events in Azure. This includes working with Azure Event Grid, Event Hubs, and Service Bus. Event Grid is a fully managed event routing service that enables reactive programming, while Event Hubs is designed for high-throughput event streaming scenarios. Service Bus provides reliable message queuing and publish-subscribe messaging. Candidates should understand how to implement these services, configure event handlers, and design event-driven architectures in Azure.

This topic is essential to the overall AZ-204 exam as it covers a significant portion of the "Develop Azure compute solutions" domain. Event-based solutions are fundamental to building scalable, loosely coupled, and responsive applications in the cloud. Understanding these concepts is crucial for developers working with Azure, as they enable the creation of modern, distributed systems that can handle real-time data processing and integration scenarios.

Candidates can expect various question types on this topic in the exam:

• Multiple-choice questions testing knowledge of Azure event services and their features
• Scenario-based questions requiring candidates to choose the appropriate event service for a given use case
• Code completion or code correction questions related to implementing event handlers or configuring event subscriptions
• Case study questions that involve designing event-driven architectures for complex business scenarios

The depth of knowledge required will range from basic understanding of concepts to practical implementation details. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate their ability to select the right event service, configure event routing, and implement event-driven solutions in Azure.

Developing message-based solutions is a crucial topic in the AZ-204 exam, focusing on Azure's messaging services such as Azure Service Bus, Event Grid, and Event Hubs. This topic covers the implementation of asynchronous messaging patterns, which are essential for building scalable and loosely coupled distributed systems. Candidates should understand how to create and configure these services, implement message publishing and consumption, handle message sessions and dead-letter queues, and implement event-driven architectures using Azure Event Grid.

This topic is integral to the overall AZ-204 exam as it addresses one of the core skills required for developing Azure solutions. Understanding message-based architectures is essential for building modern, cloud-native applications that can handle high volumes of data and events. It relates closely to other exam topics such as implementing Azure Functions and developing for Azure storage, as these often work in conjunction with messaging services to create comprehensive cloud solutions.

Candidates can expect a variety of question types on this topic in the exam:

• Multiple-choice questions testing knowledge of Azure messaging service features and capabilities
• Scenario-based questions requiring candidates to choose the appropriate messaging service for a given use case
• Code completion or code correction questions focusing on implementing message publishers and consumers
• Case study questions that involve designing a message-based architecture for a complex business scenario
• Configuration questions related to setting up and securing Azure messaging services

The depth of knowledge required will range from basic understanding of concepts to practical implementation details. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate their ability to make architectural decisions, write code snippets, and troubleshoot common issues related to message-based solutions in Azure.