If you’re getting started with Azure training for yourself or your team, you’re likely considering a few things:

• How to get the information you need to complete specific tasks or do a specific job as quickly and efficiently as possible
• The cost
• Professional development

 In this post we’ll run through a combination of free Azure training and learning materials, as well as Microsoft’s Azure Certification Path to help you understand which courses, resources, and certifications are right for you or the members of your organization.

Free to Low Cost Azure Learning & Training Materials

The good news on learning Azure is there is a lot of documentation and support from Microsoft, and a robust community creating educational content. Below we’ll run through the most frequently recommended resources for learning Azure (as recommended by active Azure developers). 

Azure Materials on Microsoft Learn

While certifications have a moderate cost associated with them (more on that later in this article) Microsoft offers a lot of free Azure learning materials, including:

• Free courses
• Virtual training days
• Individual modules to learn more about specific topics

There is a mix of beginner content and more specialized content for specific areas like security, AI, DevOps, and more.

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/learn/azure/

Azure Training Courses On Udemy

Udemy is a marketplace for video courses, and offers a number of courses specific to Azure. Many are in the $15-$20 range, and some are designed to be preparation for individual certification exams.

One benefit for Udemy courses is you can see the course instructor’s biography to determine if you think they’re qualified, and can read reviews of the course. As with any marketplace, the quality of the content can vary wildly (including being worse than free materials) so keep that in mind. 

https://www.udemy.com/topic/microsoft-azure/

Azure Training Courses on Pluralsight 

Pluralsight is another course marketplace, but rather than per course they charge a monthly fee (starting at $29 / month). 

They have a few types of Azure content:

• Structured Azure “paths” with multiple modules walking you from beginner to more advanced topics
• Individual courses for specific certifications complete with practice exams
• Modules dedicated to Azure-related functions like compute, deployment, application services, etc.

If your preference is consistency and structure and you’re comfortable with the monthly pricing, this could be a good option for you:

https://www.pluralsight.com/browse/cloud/microsoft-azure 

A Cloud Guru Azure Courses

If you’re more of a hands-on learner, A Cloud Guru has more interactive course options featuring practice exams along with periodic quizzes, labs, and challenges. Access to courses starts at $35 / month as of the writing of this post. A Cloud Guru is actually a part of Pluralsight now, but the courses are still distinct.

https://acloudguru.com/courses/azure

Azure Training Videos on YouTube

Of course, there’s also YouTube. This content is free, but even more uneven than a course marketplace like Udemy (with fewer options to vet the content and the presenter before you dive in).

That said, there are a lot of channels where you can get very useful information from trusted sources (including Microsoft itself). A few worth checking out:

• Microsoft Azure: https://www.youtube.com/@MicrosoftAzure 
• Azure Academy: https://www.youtube.com/@AzureAcademy 
• Cloud Ranger: https://www.youtube.com/@CloudrangerNetwork 

Azure Learning & Training Challenges

As with anything there will be some challenges and pitfalls as you or your team members are skilling up with Microsoft Azure. Some common areas that developers referenced as pain points in getting up to speed with Azure training:

1. Complexity: Some users find Azure to be complex and confusing.
2. Documentation: While there is a lot of documentation and many find it helpful, some complain that it’s not clear or concise (an argument for choosing a course that fits your learning style).
3. Terminology: Like many platforms there is a set of terms specific to Azure to get up to speed with.
4. Pricing Structure: Understanding your cloud costs is important, and new users are sometimes surprised by costs if they don’t take the time to familiarize themselves with the pricing structure.
5. User Interface: Some users have reported the Azure user interface can be difficult to navigate, with a lot of menus and options that are not always intuitive.

Many of these difficulties are similar for any cloud computing platform, but they’re worth being aware of as you get started with Azure training.

Azure Training Tips

A few tips for those getting started with Azure training:

1. Start with the fundamentals: If you’re not familiar with basic Azure functionality, it’s a good idea to backfill this information with a more basic course before jumping to more specialized modules or certifications.
2. Use a variety of resources: Different resources have different functions: YouTube and Microsoft’s materials can be great for quickly learning something specific, but you may want to pair them with a more structured course like those mentioned above.
3. Focus on hands-on learning: Whether it’s via a course like A Cloud Guru or via access to Azure, eventually you’ll want to incorporate actual hands-on experience with the platform.
4. Engage with the community: There are a number of forums and Subreddits dedicated to Azure where you can have specific questions answered (and potentially get feedback from Azure users on which course would be the best fit for your specific needs).
5. Stay up to date: Azure is constantly updating both the platform and the certification program, so staying on top of news and information here is important.

The most important “tip” is to focus on finding a quality training resource that maps to the way you learn best.

The Azure Certification Path 2023

Azure offers a “Certification Path” with a series of individual certifications that range in price from $99-$165. This is a good opportunity to both learn Azure, and to add a certification and credential to your resume. 

Many of the courses outlined above serve as support materials for these individual certifications, and the individual certifications and exams often map to specific job functions. Below is a list of the certifications and associated exams:

Given the variety of exams and the varying level of experience required for each, finding the right course with the right learning style for you is the key to preparing for the exam.