How to Become a Microsoft Azure Architect? A Complete Overview

If you are determined to achieve a great career in Information Technology (IT) Cloud services, becoming a Microsoft Azure Architect is a good choice. Now, the question arises: How do you become a Microsoft Azure Architect?

According to the report provided by Statista, Almost 70% of businesses globally use Microsoft Azure for its Cloud services. Microsoft Azure has a notable presence in the hybrid cloud market, which has become a prime field of focus for investors. Thus, it’s the right time to invest in building a career in this field. To upgrade your IT career, check out this blog to learn how to become a Microsoft Certified Azure Solutions Architect.   

Table of Contents

1) Who is an Azure Architect?  

2) Importance of Azure Architects 

3) Roles and responsibilities of a Microsoft Certified Azure Architect 

4) How to become an Azure Architect? 

5) Essential skills for a Microsoft Azure Architect  

6) Azure Architect tools 

7) Salary of an Azure Architect

8) Eligibility criteria for the Azure Solution Architect exam  

9) Conclusion

Who is an Azure Architect? 

Before knowing who an Azure Architect is, let us first understand what Azure is.   

Wondering What is Microsoft Azure? It is a public Cloud Computing platform developed to manage, provide access, and develop applications and services around the global data centres including services like Azure Virtual Machine for flexible computing resources. Microsoft owns and operates it, thus providing unparalleled cloud computing solutions and a broad range of cloud services.   

This explanation about Microsoft Azure should have given you a little idea about who an Azure Architect is, right?   

Coming back to who an Azure Architect is –These are professional Cloud Architects working with IT specialists to develop feasible solutions for Microsoft Azure Cloud Computing including integration with Azure Pipelines for efficient deployment and automation of cloud resources. Such individuals understand the technical details, phases, team roles, and the complete life cycle of software projects. 

A responsible, accountable and committed Azure Architect available throughout the project's life. Their main responsibilities include budgeting, backup planning, and solutions recovery. 

Importance of Azure Architects

The demand for Azure Architects is on the rise. Azure Architects specialise in devising and executing solutions using Azure, playing a pivotal role in assisting companies with the following:

1) Cost reduction: By embracing Cloud solutions, companies can curtail expenses associated with investing in new hardware. To facilitate this transition, organisations must bring Azure Architects on board to aid in developing new solutions utilising Azure. 

2) Enhanced client solutions: To attain the status of an Azure Architect, professionals must navigate a rigorous certification path and complete specialised examinations. Only the most accomplished Architects achieve this status, which frequently signifies that certified Azure Architects bring a high degree of effectiveness and innovation to the table.

3) Adoption of cutting-edge technologies: Cloud-based solutions hold greater promise as they offer greater flexibility in terms of updates and customisation. By enlisting the expertise of Azure Architects, companies ensure they remain at the forefront of technological advancements.

Roles and responsibilities of a Microsoft Certified Azure Architect

As a Microsoft Certified Azure Solutions Architect, you may anticipate having the position of a Solutions Architect. To perform the duties as a Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect, you must efficiently direct and oversee decision-making in each area In addition to these, the other roles and responsibilities expected from a person in this role are listed below:

a) Verify the application of architectural standards and principles, globally applicable product specifications, usability design standards, and other regulations.

b) Possess the potential to act and think of several possibilities (hypothesis).

c) Offer proactive engineering standards, procedures, and advice on best practices.

d) Achieve a balance between planned strategies and practical implementation.

e) Engineering staff members give direction and as-built configuration checks throughout the building process.

f) Examine various architectural alternatives, considering their usefulness and impact while offering suggestions.

g) Show confidence in demonstrating your analytical and technical problem-solving skills.

h) Ability to lead a team of one or more Architects to direct them and  achieve a single objective. 

Professionals who play a significant role in protecting an organisation’s data can join the Microsoft Azure Security Technologies AZ500 Course to gain skills for security purposes.

How to become an Azure Architect?

A strategic approach involving education and certification is essential to becoming an Azure Architect. Here’s a guide to help you achieve this goal:

Consider obtaining a formal degree

A formal degree in computer science or a related field lays the groundwork for a career as an Azure Architect. It provides a comprehensive understanding of fundamental IT concepts, which are crucial for grasping the complexities of cloud computing.

Develop relevant skills

As an aspiring Azure Architect, you must develop a robust skill set tailored to Cloud Computing. It includes:

a) Cloud services: Gain a deep understanding of Azure services and their integration to form comprehensive solutions.

b) Programming: Enhance your ability to automate tasks and script solutions using languages like PowerShell and Azure CLI.

c) Networking: Learn about network configuration, including VPNs, CDN, and ExpressRoute, which are essential for designing robust Azure Architectures.

d) Security: Understand security protocols and tools to protect data and manage user access.

Become an Azure Administrator Associate

Achieving the Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate certification is crucial to becoming a certified Azure Architect. This credential is obtained by demonstrating proficiency in Azure administration, including managing Azure’s infrastructure services. Additionally, passing the AZ-305 exam, which covers fundamental Azure infrastructure solutions, is essential. To enhance your likelihood of success on this exam. Cultivating robust IT operations skills is advisable to enhance your likelihood of success on this exam. 

Get the Azure Expert Certification

After acquiring the Azure Administrator Associate certification, the Microsoft Certified Azure Solutions Architect Expert is the next step. This expert-level certification is obtained by passing two exams:

a) AZ-303: Microsoft Azure Architect Technologies: This exam tests your ability to implement and monitor an Azure infrastructure, implement management and security solutions, and solve problems.

b) AZ-304: Microsoft Azure Architect Design: This exam focuses on designing solutions that run on Azure, including computing, network, storage, and security.

c) Continual learning: Azure is ever-evolving, introducing new features and services regularly. Stay updated with the latest trends and updates in Azure services. Engage with the community through forums, attend webinars, and participate in local or online user groups.

d) Networking and mentorship: Networking with professionals in the field can provide insights and opportunities. Seek mentorship from experienced Azure Architects who can guide your career development.

Gain in-depth knowledge about how to design networking and access solutions with our Designing Microsoft Azure Infrastructure Solutions AZ305 Course - join now! 

Essential skills for a Microsoft Azure Architect 

Employers often seek Azure Architects with robust skill sets essential for effective stakeholder collaboration, client-oriented solution development, and leading application development teams. Aspiring Azure Architects should concentrate on honing these critical skills:

Leadership abilities

An Azure solutions Architect is a technical expert and a leader who steers a team towards achieving common goals. This role often involves working within larger, cross-functional teams and collaborating with professionals from various departments. Effective leadership is characterised by inspiring and motivating team members, monitoring their performance, and fostering a collaborative environment. 

Leadership also involves promptly addressing design issues and efficiently delegating tasks to maximise the team’s productivity and potential. Developing these skills requires practice, self-awareness, and adapting to team dynamics and individual needs.

In-depth design expertise

Azure Architects must have extensive knowledge of solution design. This includes familiarity with RESTful APIs, integration patterns, and other prevalent architectural styles in cloud-based solutions. They must also stay abreast of industry trends and design principles to ensure that the solutions they deliver are functional and adhere to best practices.  

While practical experience is the most effective way to gain this knowledge, those aspiring to become Azure Architects can start by studying case studies, attending workshops, and participating in discussions with experienced Architects to learn from their insights and experiences.

Decisive action

The fast-paced nature of technology projects, especially those involving Cloud Architecture like Azure, requires Architects to make quick and effective decisions. This skill is crucial in ensuring that the architecture and app development teams can meet client requirements within the constraints of time and resources. Effective decision-making involves:

a) Analysing the situation.

b) Weighing the pros and cons of different approaches.

c) Choosing the best course of action.

It also includes the ability to innovate under pressure and make technology choices that balance customer constraints with the need for robust, scalable solutions.

Gain knowledge of processing options available for building Data Analytics solution in AZ with our Microsoft Azure Data Fundamentals DP900 Course and stay ahead of the curve.  

Azure Architect tools

Azure offers architectural tools for designing and managing robust cloud solutions. Here are five key Azure Architect tools explained:

a) Azure Architecture Center: A comprehensive guide for architecting solutions on Azure, it provides best practices, patterns, and guidance across various technology areas.

b) Azure Well-Architected Framework (WAF): This framework offers a set of quality-driven tenets and architectural decision points to help solution Architects build reliable, secure, and performant workloads on Azure.

c) Azure Advisor: A personalised cloud consultant, Azure Advisor analyses your Azure resources and offers recommendations to optimise your deployments for cost, performance, high availability, and security.

d) Azure DevOps: It provides developer services for support teams to plan work, collaborate on code development, and build and deploy applications.

e) Azure Monitor: This tool enables you to collect, analyse, and act on telemetry data from your Azure and on-premises environments. It helps you understand your applications' performance and proactively identify issues affecting them.

These tools are part of a broader ecosystem designed to support the deployment and operation of applications on Azure. They help Architects and Developers create scalable, resilient solutions that are aligned with Microsoft’s best practices.

Eligibility criteria for the Azure Solution Architect exam 

All Microsoft Fundamental Certifications are optional. However, acquiring one is better to gain a competitive advantage in the job market. Developing these certifications aims to educate candidates on their respective products.   

The current requirements or prerequisites to earning a Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert Certification are as follows:

a) Azure Administrator Associate Certification AZ-104 

b) AZ-305: Designing Microsoft Azure Infrastructure Solutions exam 

The domains covered under the AZ-305: Designing Microsoft Azure Infrastructure Solutions exam are: 

a) Design identity, governance, and monitor solutions 

b) Design data storage solutions 

c) Design business continuity solutions 

d) Design infrastructure solutions 

e) Microsoft Azure framework 

Salary of an Azure Architect

The salary of an Azure Architect can vary significantly depending on the country and the experience level. Here’s a table summarising the average annual salaries for Azure Architects in different countries:
 

                                                                                                  Source: Glassdoor

Conclusion

After reading this blog, we hope you understand How to Become a Microsoft Azure Architect. Learning how to become one will help you navigate the job market and learn how to identify the skills and qualifications needed to succeed. This knowledge will prepare you for the challenges of the role and help you stand out in the competitive field of Cloud Computing. 

Are you interested in enhancing your Azure skills and building your IT career? Register for our Microsoft Azure Training to gain knowledge of Azure services, Cloud concepts and more.