The ‘Practice First’ Approach That Guarantees AZ-104 Exam Pass

If you’ve cracked open the Microsoft AZ-104: Azure Administrator syllabus, you’ve probably felt that sinking feeling — hundreds of services, endless documentation, and unfamiliar acronyms.

Most learners make the same mistake: they spend months reading theory before ever logging into the Azure portal. The result? Burnout, surface-level understanding, and the dreaded “blank mind” when real-world scenarios show up on exam day.

But there’s a smarter, faster, and far more effective path — the Practice First Method.

This approach flips traditional studying on its head. Instead of passively reading documentation, you build first and learn through doing. You interact with real Azure environments, make mistakes, fix them, and then read the documentation to deepen understanding.

It’s the method praised by hundreds of successful AZ-104 candidates across Reddit, Microsoft Learn, and YouTube — and it’s the one that turns theory into mastery.

Why “Practice First” Works for the AZ-104 Certification

Think of studying Azure like assembling a Lego set. Would you rather memorize the entire manual before touching a single brick — or start building, checking the instructions only when needed?

Here’s why hands-on-first learning beats rote reading every time:

• Contextual Learning: You instantly understand why a service matters. Setting up a Virtual Network (VNet) or configuring Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) teaches more than any paragraph ever could.
• Targeted Focus: Labs expose your weak points quickly. You’ll know exactly what to study instead of wasting hours on topics you’ve already mastered.
• Real-World Skills: The AZ-104 certification exam isn’t just a test — it’s a validation of your ability to manage Azure environments in the real world. Employers value candidates who’ve actually used the portal, not just memorized it.

Even Microsoft itself emphasizes hands-on experience:

“Candidates should have practical experience implementing, managing, and monitoring an organization’s Microsoft Azure environment.” — Microsoft Certification Guide, 2025

Recommended Resources

AZ-104 Interactive Mindmap

To anchor back to what is needed to clear, use the below AZ-104 exam mindmap. Feel free to zoom in/out and scroll as needed.

/* —- Canvas container (full-width in post) —- */ .az104-mindmap-wrapper { position: relative; width: 100%; height: 80vh; /* adjust as needed */ background: linear-gradient(135deg, #1e3a8a 0%, #6d28d9 100%); overflow: hidden; margin: 2rem 0; border-radius: 12px; box-shadow: 0 8px 20px rgba(0,0,0,.15); } .az104-mindmap-wrapper canvas { display: block; cursor: grab; } .az104-mindmap-wrapper canvas:active { cursor: grabbing; } /* —- Controls —- */ .az104-controls { position: absolute; top: 16px; right: 16px; background: rgba(255,255,255,.95); backdrop-filter: blur(8px); padding: 10px; border-radius: 12px; box-shadow: 0 8px 20px rgba(0,0,0,.15); display: flex; gap: 8px; z-index: 10; } .az104-controls button { padding: 8px 14px; border: none; border-radius: 8px; background: #4f46e5; color: #fff; font-weight: 600; font-size: 14px; cursor: pointer; transition: all .2s; } .az104-controls button:hover { background: #4338ca; transform: translateY(-1px); }

AZ-104 Exam Free and Paid Resources

Now as we get started, let’s summarize the free and paid resources for AZ-104 exam:

Resource	Purpose
Microsoft Learn (Free)	Free, official learning paths to close theoretical gaps.
AZ-104 GitHub Labs (Free)	Core practice resource. Follow labs directly in the Azure portal.
Tutorials Dojo Practice Tests (Paid)	High-quality, scenario-based mock exams.
Azure Free Account	Sandbox for running all your labs safely.
Azure Architectures (Free)	Real-World Scenarios – Connects theory to production systems

The 6-Domains AZ-104 “Practice First” Plan

This plan divides the massive AZ-104 curriculum into six practical, digestible domains. For each one, follow this cycle:

Lab → Test → Read → Repeat.

AZ-104 Exam Six-Block Practice Plan

Block	Core Labs / Activities	Optional Deep Dives / Projects
1. Azure Identity	1. Manage Azure Active Directory Identities 2. Manage Subscriptions and RBAC 3. Manage Governance via Azure Policy	1. Explore relevant architecture patterns in the Azure Architecture Center – Identity 2. Build a mini project (e.g., secure a personal or company website) 3. After completing all blocks, return for Microsoft Cloud Workshop – Hybrid Identity
2. Azure Storage	1. Complete Azure Storage practice lab 2. Do The Cloud Resume Challenge, Chapters 1–2	1. Study and replicate patterns from Azure Storage Architecture Examples
3. Compute Services	1. Manage Virtual Machines 2. Implement Web Apps 3. Implement Azure Container Instances 4. Implement Azure Kubernetes Service 5. Extend Cloud Resume Challenge: build an API using Azure Functions with HTTP trigger	1. Explore Compute Architecture Patterns 2. Complete Building a Resilient IaaS Architecture workshop 3. Try Azure DevOps Labs: – Deploying to Azure VM using Deployment Groups – Deploying a Docker based web application to Azure App Service – Deploy existing .NET apps as Windows containers (Modernizing .NET apps)
4. Networking	1. Implement Virtual Networking 2. Implement Intersite Connectivity 3. Implement Traffic Management	1. Review Networking Architecture Patterns 2. Complete Enterprise-Class Networking in Azure from Microsoft Cloud Workshop
5. Monitor	1. Monitoring in Azure	1. Do the Monitoring Application Performance with Application Insights lab 2. Review monitoring architectures in the Azure Architecture Center
6. Backup & Recovery	– Data Protection in Azure	– Explore real-world tutorials and architecture patterns for Backup/DR in the Azure Architecture Center

Your Step-by-Step Hands-On AZ-104 Study Guide

Phase 1: Practice First (Domains 1–6)

Step 1: Execute the Lab

Jump straight into the corresponding lab. Resist the urge to read theory first. When you get stuck, troubleshoot using Google or Microsoft Docs — this mimics real-world problem-solving.

Pro Tip: Turn each lab into a micro-project. For example, during the Storage or Compute blocks, try integrating your setup into the Cloud Resume Challenge. It forces you to connect multiple services and think like an actual cloud admin.

Step 2: Take a Knowledge Check

Immediately after a lab, take a focused quiz on that topic.
Use:

• Microsoft Learn Assessments
• Practice test platforms like Whizlabs or Tutorials Dojo

Step 3: Fill the Gaps & Read Documentation

Review every missed question and read only the documentation that fills that knowledge gap.
Example: Struggled with Azure Policy? Spend 20 minutes on the Azure Policy Docs — not the entire Azure governance module.

Phase 2: The Final Sprint (Exam-Ready Mode)

After cycling through all six blocks, you’re ready for the final stage:

1. Schedule Your Exam

Commit by booking your exam 7–10 days in advance via Microsoft Certification Portal. A deadline sharpens focus.

2. Take Full-Length Mock Exams

Try mock exams from Tutorials Dojo, MeasureUp, or ExamTopics.
Note: MeasureUp is intentionally harder — treat it as overtraining, not a reflection of your readiness.

3. Final Gap Review

For every missed question in a mock exam, trace it back to the official doc or your lab. Never memorize answers — understand the “why.”

The Bottom Line

If you only read about Azure, you’ll passively understand it.
If you build in Azure, you’ll own it.

The “Practice First” method isn’t just about passing the AZ-104 — it’s about becoming the kind of Azure Administrator employers actually want.

So close that tab of 200-page PDFs and open the Azure portal instead.
Start building. Start breaking things. Start learning.

You’ll be amazed at how quickly clarity replaces confusion — and how that AZ-104 badge becomes yours.

Further Reading: How to Turn Certifications into Real Job Offers: Expert Guide