Microsoft Certified: Azure Developer – Associate Exam AZ-203

This certification program evaluates and recognizes both the skill and experience on developing applications on Azure platforms. Through this exam, Microsoft validates the level of experience of an IT professional to design, develop, deploy, configure, monitor and maintain the application development capacity under the Azure platform.

A Brief About Microsoft Certified: Azure Developer – Associate Exam AZ-203

Microsoft had introduced AZ – 203 exams in early 2018 in order to replace AZ – 200 and/or AZ 201 and/or AZ – 202 exams, with a purpose to keep the course curriculum updated with the rapid updating of technology and innovation.

Microsoft has replaced AZ – 203 in early 2020 with the AZ – 204 exam, which was made available from February, 2020. Microsoft also offered a period to rollout both the AZ – 203 and AZ – 204 exams within a period of three months. According to Microsoft’s plan, AZ – 203 exams will no longer be valid after 31st August, 2020 and keep only AZ – 204 instead of AZ – 203 exams.

Target Audience For AZ – 203 Certification

IT professionals, passionate for developing their career as an expert Azure Developer, may consider AZ – 203 as the most appropriate certificate course for them. This course will allow the candidates to learn about developing and managing both the services and applications based cloud solutions on Azure platform. IT individuals looking for this exam are in a regular process of developing software from the scratch and through different phases like designing, deploying, debugging and maintaining. Candidates of this exam are also the partner of cloud solutions architects, Azure Administration, Azure DBAs and so on.

Azure developers are trained to design cloud based mobile and web applications. Throughout the preparation for the exam, they will learn to work with the complete lifecycle of an Application, from the development to deliverable. Microsoft Certified: Azure Developer – Associate Exam AZ-203 Certification is considered as a big milestone for those IT professionals who would like to work with the cloud technology under the Azure platform.

Learning Objectives of AZ – 203 Certification Exam

·       Design, develop, implement and configure Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), on Azure infrastructure.

(Weight distributed: 10% to 15%)

                           I.          Design Virtual Machine (VM) based solutions:

a.     Be able to provision Virtual Machine.

b.     Develop Azure Resource Management (ARM) template.

c.      Be able to work with the Disk Encryption Mechanism for Azure.

                         II.          Deploy Batch Processing Using Azure Service:

a.     Manage batch processes using Batch Service Application Programming Interface.

b.     Execute the batch process using the command line interface of Azure. Make sure the appropriate uses of Azure portal and other jobs.

c.      Develop a required program to run the batch processes in the Azure platform.

                        III.          Create containerized solution:

a.     Be able to develop AKS (Azure Managed Kubernetes) cluster.

b.     Develop solutions for container images.

c.      Be able to publish the image to the registry of the Azure container.

d.     Keep the Azure container working by using the instances of Azure.

·       Develop Computer Solutions based on Azure Platform as a Service (PaaS):

(Weight distribution: 20% to 25%)

                           I.          Develop web apps using Azure App Service:

a.     Be able to create web applications using Azure App Service.

b.     Develop the background processes of Azure services using WebJobs.

c.      Design and develop customized logging systems.

                         II.          Develop mobile apps using Azure App Services:

a.     Be able to include the option for push notification for mobile apps.

b.     Enable the synchronization of mobile apps offline.

c.      Deploy remote technical management policies and strategies for mobile apps.

                        III.          Develop required API apps for Azure App Services:

a.     Be able to create effective and efficient API (Application Programming Interface) Apps, required for Azure infrastructure.

b.     Be able to prepare the documentation for both the open sources and other tools.

                       IV.          Implementing Azure Functions:

a.     Design and develop for both input and output of a function on Azure platform.

b.     Design, develop and deploy functions, which are initiated by timers, webhooks and customized data operation.

c.      Be able to deploy durable functions for Azure platform.

d.     Be able to develop apps on Azure platform on visual studio.

·       Development of Azure Storage Management System:

(Weight distribution: 15% to 20%)

                           I.          Design solutions, which uses storage tables

a.     Develop and deploy strategies for tables.

b.     Design and develop effective code to run the query on table storage.

c.      Deploying the appropriate scheme for managing partitions.

                         II.          Design solutions for Cosmos DB Storage

a.     Develop, update, configure and manage data by using the most appropriate APIs.

b.     Applying the right partitioning scheme for Azure applications.

c.      Maintain the level of consistency for managing the application.

                        III.          Create solutions using relational database

a.     Deploy, configure and maintain relational databases on Azure platform.

b.     Develop elastic pools for Azure SQL Database.

c.      Design, develop, maintain, configure and manage date tables using effective and appropriate codes.

                       IV.          Create solution based on blob storage

a.     Shifting items in a blob storage between the containers and/or the accounts.

b.     Implement and retrieve properties and metadata.

c.      Deploy the leasing mechanism of blob storage.

d.     Deploy an appropriate method for archiving and retention of data.

·       Implementation of Azure Security

(Weight Distribution: 10% to 15%)

                           I.          Deploy the authentication process

a.     Deploy effective authentication mechanisms by implementing tokens, encryption and using security certification.

b.     Install and configure a multi-factor authentication process for Windows, using Azure Active Directory.

c.      Be able to install and configure Oauth2 authentication.

d.     Deploy Managed Service Identity (MSI) and/or Service Principal Authentication process.

                         II.          Implementation of an appropriate access control mechanism

a.     Install and configure Claim Based Access Control (CBAC) authorization process.

b.     Develop and deploy Role-Based Access Control for Azure infrastructure.

c.      Develop shared access signatures.

                        III.          Ensuring Secure Data Solution

a.     Implementation of easy to deploy and effective encryption and decryption method for secured data transmission in Azure platform.

b.     Design, develop, manage and configure security keys and certificates in order to ensure the security of data in Azure platform.

·       Design, Develop and Configure Azure Solution:

(Weight: 15% to 20%)

                           I.          Develop scalable code for both the services and the apps

a.     Deploy required rules and patterns for auto scaling.

b.     Installing codes that deal with temporary disruption.

                         II.          Integrating the identification and delivery of the content, within the system.

a.     Save and extract business data in Azure Redis cache.

b.     Develop code to deploy solutions for CDN.

c.      Be able to check the validation process of the cached content.

                        III.          Integrate applications to assist both the logging and the monitoring system

a.     Be able to configure the applications and keep it workable under the Azure infrastructure.

b.     Be able to work with Azure Monitor platform in order to configure and deploy application based solutions.

c.      Deploy application insights and web based debugging process in Azure infrastructure.

·       Connect third party applications to the Azure services

(Weight: 20% – 25%)

                           I.          Design Service Applications for Azure platform

a.     Be able to develop Logic Application.

b.     Be able design the connector for the Logic Application.

c.      Be able to create customized templates for Logic Apps.

                         II.          incorporate Azure search option with the newly developed solutions

a.     Be able to create a search engine in Azure.

b.     Have adequate knowledge and skill to import searchable data on Azure platform.

c.      Deploy an effective query mechanism for Azure search index.

                        III.          Deploy gateways for Application Programming Interfaces

a.     Earn required skill to design deploy instances for Accessory Protocol Interface Module (APIM) on Azure platform.

b.     Crete, configure and troubleshoot an effective authentication mechanism for Azure Application Programming Interface (API).

c.      Be able to define and document the policies for Azure Application Programming Interface.

                       IV.          Create solutions, which are event-based

a.     Be able to deploy applications, services and/or solutions using Azure Event Grid.

b.     Be able to deploy applications, services and/or solutions using Azure Notification Hubs.

c.      Be able to deploy applications, services and/or solutions using Azure Event Hub.

V. Design, develop and deploy solutions, which are message based

a.     Be able to deploy applications, services and/or solutions using Azure Service Bus.

b.     Be able to deploy applications, services and/or solutions using Azure Queue Storage Queue.

Job roles of AZ – 203 certified professional:

Usually Azure 203 certified professionals are considered as qualified candidates for the following jobs:

·       Azure Developer

·       IOT Azure Solution Architect

·       Cloud Security

·       Azure Product Manager

·       IaaS Cloud Operations Engineer

·       Business Analyst

·       Technical Architect

Average Salary

The average salary of AZ – 203 certified professionals is £87,395.

Prerequisite for Microsoft Certified: Azure Developer – Associate Exam AZ-203

Followings are some prerequisite for AZ – 203 exams

·       It is recommended that the candidates have at least one year of working experience and adequate knowledge to develop state of the art solutions and/or applications for Azure platform.

·       Candidates must have required skill on at least one, cloud based programming language.

·       It is also expected that the candidates are familiar with the tools, services, technologies, security protocols and communication process, provided by the Azure platform in order to create applications and services.

Details about the exam

·       Name of the exam: Microsoft Azure Developing Solutions

·       Code of the exam: AZ – 203.

·       Duration of the exam: Two hours thirty minutes

·       Total marks of the exam: 1000

·       Total number of questions: Around 40 to 60 questions

·       Passing score: 700

·       Cost of the exam: £130