Professional Background
Over the past 15 years, I've held diverse roles that have shaped my technical expertise:
System Administrator
Network Engineer
NOC Engineer
SOC Engineer
Platform Engineer
Sr Platform Engineer
Sr Cloud Engineer
I share this not to boast, but to provide context for the experience I brought to my AZ-104 certification journey.
The Hybrid Reality
Let's be honest: while "cloud-first" is the buzzword, the reality is hybrid. During the exam, I found myself drawing on my networking fundamentals constantly. Understanding concepts like subnetting, routing, and network security isn't just helpful—it's essential for:
Virtual Network planning
Network Security Group configurations
VPN and ExpressRoute scenarios
Load balancer setups
Key Areas Where Experience Shines
Network Security Groups (NSGs)
Those years of configuring ACLs? They translate directly to NSG rules. The logic is the same—you're still controlling traffic flow, just in a cloud context.
Connectivity Solutions
Understanding the difference between site-to-site VPNs and ExpressRoute is much easier when you've configured physical WAN connections. The principles haven't changed, only the implementation.
Study Tips from the Trenches
Hands-on Labs are Non-Negotiable
Practice disaster recovery scenarios
Configure cross-region connectivity
Explore Azure Storage
Master AzCopy
Understand Azure File Sync
Design 3-Tiered Applications
Focus on Azure-Specific Services
Azure Monitor
Azure Backup
Azure Site Recovery
Azure Storage Services
Azure Load Balancers
Virtual Machines
Virtual Machine Scale Sets
The Reality Check
Here's what surprised me: while I could leverage my experience, Azure introduced new paradigms I had to master:
VM SKU sizing
Cross-Region replication
Monitoring from an Azure Perspective
Azure-based tools (PowerShell, AZ CLI, AzCopy)
Final Thoughts
The AZ-104 isn't just a cloud certification—it's a test of your ability to bridge traditional infrastructure knowledge with modern cloud services. Don't discount your networking experience; it's your secret weapon.
Remember: Azure isn't replacing the skills you have; it's extending them to the cloud.