Developing Microsoft Azure Solutions
If you want to skip the journey, and my pitfalls, please skip to the section What You Need to Know.
As a developer and senior consultant part of my job is to stay up to date on new technologies. Early last year a couple colleagues and I set out to earn our Microsoft Certified Developer (MCSD) in Azure Solutions. There are three exams you need to pass in order to earn the certification 70-532 (discussed here), 70-533 and 70-534 (which will be out of scope for this post).
It looks like Microsoft learning has updated the track and now the exam is part of the MCSA track. Read more about becoming a Microsoft Certified Solutions Architect here.
I set out on the journey to becoming certified with the idea that I could study, pass the three exams and then I would be set for the next decade as a developer. After all, Azure is the next C#, right? I couldn't have been more wrong.
Studying for this exam has been a rich and rewarding experience. Because it covers such a broad subject matter I am better prepared to handle scenarios that used to cause me fear. I have found that I really enjoy learning and sharing this knowledge with others. And lastly, I have seen how I develop software and the tools I use change and grow in ways that I could not have anticipated before I started on this journey.
What is the 70-532 Exam
The 70-532 exam is an intentionally broad exam that covers a lot of the Azure platform. The objectives are still "technically" the same as they have been for a few years but the platform is constantly evolving as new technologies are added to the platform.
The exam covers four major areas:
Azure Resource Manager Virtual Machines
Design and Implement a Storage and Data Strategy
Manage Identity, Application, and Network Services
Design and Implement Azure PaaS Mompute and Web and Mobile Services
Where Things Faltered A Bit
When my colleagues and I started studying for the exam we picked up Zoiner Tejada's book "Exam Ref 70-532 Developing Microsoft Azure Solutions."
Note: as an example of how quickly Azure is changing as a platform, this book is now out of date and was originally published in February of 2015. By the time you come across this post there may be more topics and technologies introduced to the platform. Please post in the comments or Tweet me and I will make updates.
Our goal was to go through Mr. Tejada's book one chapter per week and finish it in five weeks with the final week used to study. The book was definitely excellent but it covered a bit too much. Azure was undergoing a change in the platform as they were changing from the Classic Azure Portal to the new Azure Portal. So, examples had to be given for both the old portal and the new portal. Luckily, the modern exam only covers the new portal so you don't need to worry about the two portals anymore.
Getting Back on Track
Things got back on track last summer when a manager at my company decided to run an "Azure boot camp" to prepare folks for taking the 70-532. We all registered for the Measure Up exam and did a combination of group and self study. The group would go over one section of the exam each week and then we would go over any areas we had questions on our own.
This was a decent way to study for the exam but the Measure Up exam is now actually a little bit dated as well (I recently used this for a "Azure boot camp" I ran earlier this year in the January to February timeframe).
Because one of my passions is helping others to learn I have decided I will once again run the "Azure boot camp" this summer using the following for our curriculum:
Recommendations for Self-Study
For this section you're going to need a free account on edX.com and a Pluralsight account. Note: Pluralsight has a free one-month trial so you can do all of these for free. Lastly, you will need an Azure Subscription. If you don't already have one you can sign up for a free Azure trial subscription.
- Start with Tim Warner's course Prepare to Pass the Azure Solutions (70-532) Exam. Tim goes over some really handy tips to remember as you set out on your journey to prepare yourself for the exam. Tim is a Pluralsight trainer and has a plethora of great courses on Azure that are available on the platform.
Highly recommended:
Next check out Sidney Andrews' excellent course DEV233x Developing Microsoft Azure Solutions on edX.com. I recommend going through all five modules and doing every example along with him. In total this course took me somewhere between 15 and 20 hours to complete.
John Papa and Shayne Boyer's course Play by Play: Understanding API Functionality Through Swagger is also a must.
Mark Heath's course Azure Functions Fundamentals is highly recommended as functions are being pushed heavily on the platform.
Optional:
Lastly, Tim Warner again has a few other course that you can use to help brush up in any areas that you're not 100% comfortable. Create and Manage Azure Virtal Machines, Design and Implement Web Apps and there are more which you'll find with a quick search in Pluralsight.
Still not comfortable? Check out Orin Thomas course Architecting Azure Solutions (70-534): Application Storage and Data Access, John Savill's course Architecting and Implementing Azure Networking and Sahil Malik's course Azure AD for Developers.
What You Need to Know
What You Need to Know
If you went through Sidney Andrews' course DEV233x Developing Microsoft Azure Solutions on edX.com and implemented the examples you will be in good shape. But I would recommend going through the list to the course on Azure Functions.
Unfortunately I cannot get too specific about these sections as the questions are protected and I am under an NDA. That being said, I can provide guidance on what you need to know.
Let's go through the need to know section by section:
Azure Resource Manager Virtual Machines: know how to create and deploy virtual machines using ARM Templates as well as the Azure CLI. Know how to prepare an on-premise machine and move it to the cloud. Know how to create a generalized image for building out a farm of machines.
Design and Implement a Storage and Data Strategy: know what the different storage skus are for. Know fault and update domains in both ARM and classic models (they're different). Know how to create a resource group and a disk using Powershell as well as Azure CLI. Know the different types of storage and what they are used for. Know how to know share data between regions.
Manage Identity, Application, and Network Services: Know how to set up basic Azure AD scenarios for authentication scenarios. Know how to create a VNET and assign a machine to it. Know load balancing scenarios.
Design and Implement Azure PaaS Compute and Web and Mobile Services: This is where things get a bit tricky as the platform expands. Know a bit about Azure Functions. Know how to use Document DB. Know how to make your Web App testable and have well defined end-points using Swagger. Know how to setup a Logic App.
Finally... Take the Exam
Once you're done studying be sure to pick a time and a place for your exam. Know what is expected when you take your exam.
They are now allowing for you to take the exam online so you can potentially take it from a home office. Just be sure to check out the requirements for your space well before you take the exam. You don't want to be cleaning your office or moving things as it gets close to exam time!
In Conclusion
This should give anyone a pretty solid study guide for the 70-532 / Course 20532C Exam. After going through the recommended material the reader should be ready to attempt the exam. If you don't pass on the first try, please regard it as a learning experience and attempt the exam again. It took me two tries to pass the exam and the first attempt I didn't pass due to just a few wrong answers! The subject matter is vast so don't get too down on yourself if you don't pass the first time out!
As folks attempt the exam and have contributions please feel free to leave updates in the comments section or Tweet me.