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RetiredCurrent: AI-200

Microsoft · AZ-204 · Associate

Developing Solutions for Microsoft Azure

The AZ-204 certification validates skills in designing, building, testing, and maintaining cloud applications and services on Microsoft Azure.

This exam has been retired.

50Mock exam questions
100minTime limit
700/ 1000Passing score

Overview

About the exam

The AZ-204 certification validates skills in designing, building, testing, and maintaining cloud applications and services on Microsoft Azure. It covers Azure compute solutions, storage, security implementation, API management, monitoring, and integration with Azure services including Azure Functions, App Service, Cosmos DB, Azure CDN, and container-based solutions.

This certification is targeted at professional software developers with one to two years of Azure development experience. Candidates should be proficient in at least one Azure-supported programming language and skilled in using Azure SDKs, Azure Resource Manager, data storage options, and service-to-service authentication.

Try the practice preview

Try five AZ-204 questions

Try five practice questions from the app’s current Developing Solutions for Microsoft Azure question bank, with answers and explanations.

Develop for Azure storage2 / 5

You are working with Azure Cosmos DB for NoSQL. Which consistency level provides the strongest consistency guarantees but has the highest latency?

AlexFull explanation from Alex

Per Microsoft docs, Strong consistency provides linearizability — reads always return the most recent committed write. It has the highest write latency because data must replicate and commit synchronously across regions. The five levels from strongest to weakest: Strong, Bounded Staleness, Session, Consistent Prefix, Eventual.

Why distractors are wrong:

  • Eventual: Weakest consistency with lowest latency and no ordering guarantees.
  • Session: Mid-tier; guarantees monotonic reads/writes only within a client session.
  • Bounded staleness: Near-strong but allows a configurable lag window (time or operations).

Exam tip: Know all five levels in order. Strong = linearizability + highest latency. Write latency equals 2x RTT between farthest regions.

Sourcelearn.microsoft.com

Develop Azure compute solutions3 / 5

In Azure Functions, what is the difference between a trigger and a binding?

AlexFull explanation from Alex

Per Microsoft docs, a trigger causes a function to execute and defines how it is invoked. Each function must have exactly one trigger. Bindings declaratively connect functions to external resources for input/output without writing connection boilerplate. A function can have multiple input and output bindings but only one trigger.

Why distractors are wrong:

  • 'Trigger sends data out; binding receives in': Reversed — triggers invoke the function; bindings handle data I/O in both directions.
  • 'Same thing with different names': Triggers and bindings serve fundamentally different purposes (invocation vs. data connection).
  • 'Triggers work only with HTTP': Triggers support HTTP, timer, queue, blob, Cosmos DB, Event Hub, and many more services.

Exam tip: One trigger per function (invocation). Multiple bindings allowed (data I/O). Bindings are declarative — no SDK connection code needed.

Sourcelearn.microsoft.com

Implement Azure security4 / 5

What is the primary difference between a system-assigned managed identity and a user-assigned managed identity in Azure?

AlexFull explanation from Alex

System-assigned managed identities are tied to a single Azure resource's lifecycle: created when the resource is created, deleted when the resource is deleted (1:1 relationship). User-assigned managed identities are standalone Azure resources with independent lifecycles that can be shared across multiple resources (many-to-many). Distractor analysis: Both types are free—no cost difference. Both support the same authentication mechanisms—no certificate vs. secret distinction. Both can access the same Azure services via RBAC—access scope depends on role assignments, not identity type. Ref: learn.microsoft.com/entra/identity/managed-identities-azure-resources/overview

Sourcelearn.microsoft.com

Monitor, troubleshoot, and optimize Azure solutions5 / 5

You are developing a REST API hosted in Azure App Service. You need to enable Application Insights for monitoring without modifying your application code. Which feature allows this?

AlexFull explanation from Alex

Auto-instrumentation (codeless attach) enables Application Insights monitoring without any code modifications. In App Service, enable it through the Azure portal or CLI. It automatically collects request telemetry, dependency tracking, exception logging, and performance counters for .NET, Java, Node.js, and Python. Distractor analysis: Manual SDK instrumentation requires adding NuGet/npm packages and code changes. Custom telemetry processors require SDK integration and code to filter/modify telemetry. OpenTelemetry SDK also requires code changes to configure exporters. Auto-instrumentation trades customization depth for zero-code setup speed. Ref: learn.microsoft.com/azure/azure-monitor/app/codeless-overview

Sourcelearn.microsoft.com

Exam domains

What's on the exam

Exam blueprint: AZ-204

Develop Azure compute solutions25–30%

Implement containerized solutions (Container Registry, Container Instances, Container Apps), implement Azure App Service Web Apps (deployment, diagnostics, autoscaling, deployment slots), and implement Azure Functions (triggers, bindings)

≈ 14 h
Develop for Azure storage15–20%

Develop solutions using Azure Cosmos DB (SDK operations, consistency levels, change feed) and Azure Blob Storage (properties, metadata, lifecycle management)

≈ 10 h
Implement Azure security15–20%

Implement user authentication and authorization (Microsoft Identity platform, Microsoft Entra ID, shared access signatures, Microsoft Graph) and implement secure Azure solutions (App Configuration, Key Vault, Managed Identities)

≈ 10 h
Monitor, troubleshoot, and optimize Azure solutions5–10%

Monitor and troubleshoot solutions using Azure Monitor Application Insights (metrics, logs, traces, availability tests, alerts)

≈ 5 h
Connect to and consume Azure services and third-party services20–25%

Implement Azure API Management (create instances, document APIs, configure access, policies), develop event-based solutions (Event Grid, Event Hubs), and develop message-based solutions (Service Bus, Queue Storage)

≈ 13 h

Format

Exam format and question types

The exam consists of 40–60 questions to be completed in approximately 100 minutes (100 minutes if labs are included). Question types include multiple-choice, multiple-select, drag-and-drop, hot area, and case study formats. Questions are code-heavy and scenario-based, often presenting code snippets and asking you to identify correct implementations or troubleshoot issues. Reserve extra time for case study sections with code.

Question types: AZ-204

Multiple Choice33%

Select the single answer that best meets the question’s requirements.

Drag & Drop13%

Move items into the slots, groups, or sequence specified by the task.

Troubleshooting11%

Use the symptoms and constraints in a scenario to identify a cause or choose a fix.

Multiple Response11%

Select multiple answers. Follow the question’s instructions on how many to choose.

Dropdown9%

Choose options from dropdown menus to complete a statement or configuration.

Command Line8%

Enter or select the command, flag, or syntax needed for the task.

Ordering8%

Arrange the steps in the sequence needed to complete the process.

True / False7%

Decide whether a statement is true or false, paying attention to its conditions and wording.

Study notes

Common pitfalls

Topics to review: AZ-204

  1. 01Cosmos DB APIs

    Not understanding the differences between Cosmos DB APIs (NoSQL, MongoDB, Cassandra) and correct partition key strategies.

  2. 02Auth Implementation

    Confusing MSAL, Microsoft Identity Platform, and managed identities for different authentication scenarios.

  3. 03Azure Functions

    Struggling with function triggers, bindings, and Durable Functions orchestration patterns and their appropriate use cases.

  4. 04Caching Strategy

    Overlooking Azure Cache for Redis patterns and CDN caching behaviors for performance optimization.

  5. 05Container Solutions

    Not distinguishing when to use Azure Container Instances, Container Apps, or Azure Kubernetes Service.

Practice with questions and explanations in Pass-IT →

Questions

Frequently asked questions

How long is the Developing Solutions for Microsoft Azure exam?

The AZ-204 exam has 50 questions and a 100-minute time limit.

What is the passing score for Developing Solutions for Microsoft Azure?

The passing score for the AZ-204 exam is 700 / 1000.

Which pitfalls should I review when preparing for Developing Solutions for Microsoft Azure?

Topics to review include Cosmos DB APIs, Auth Implementation, Azure Functions, Caching Strategy, Container Solutions. Work through examples to check that you understand the distinctions and can explain your answer.