AZ-140 · ● Active · Specialty · Microsoft
Exam facts
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost | USD $165 |
| Duration | 100 minutes |
| Questions | 40–60 questions |
| Passing | 700/1000 scaled score |
| Format | Multiple choice, multiple response, labs |
| Delivery | Pearson VUE (on-site / OnVUE at home) |
| Languages | English (English-only delivery confirmed) |
| Valid | 3 years from passing |
| Renewal | Renew by passing AZ-140 again, or earn any higher-level Azure cert |
| Prerequisites | None (recommended: AZ-104 or equivalent Azure infrastructure knowledge) |
| Released | 2021-09 (launched September 2021) |
| Retiring | N/A — no retirement announced |
Vendor source — Microsoft Learn: AZ-140 ↗
Official exam guide — AZ-140 Exam Guide PDF ↗
Exam objectives — AZ-140 Objectives & Skills Measured ↗
About
The AZ-140 is Microsoft's specialty-level certification for Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD). It validates the ability to architect, configure, and operate multi-user desktop and app virtualization on Microsoft Azure. Launched in September 2021 as Azure Hyperscale Remote Desktop replaced on-premises VDI strategies, AZ-140 is the dedicated exam for professionals building and maintaining cloud-hosted desktop ecosystems integrated with M365, identity services (Entra ID), and Microsoft Intune. It is narrower than AZ-104 (general Azure infrastructure) but deeper in the VDI/endpoint computing domain.
Domain context — Identity / Endpoint / VDI
Desktop and application virtualization on Microsoft Azure and Microsoft 365 platforms. This domain spans end-user computing infrastructure (virtual desktops, session hosts), identity provisioning (Entra ID, hybrid identity), endpoint management (Intune), and workspace orchestration.
Read full deep dive — Microsoft Azure + M365 Ecosystem →
Topics covered
The official exam blueprint weights the following domains:
- Plan and implement Azure Virtual Desktop infrastructure (40–45%) — Deploy session host pools, configure host pool properties, manage scaling plans, configure storage for user profiles (FSLogix), plan for resilience and high availability.
- Plan and implement identities and security profiles (10–15%) — Entra ID integration, hybrid identity scenarios, Conditional Access policies, multi-factor authentication, single sign-on for AVD.
- Manage access and security (10–15%) — Azure role-based access control (RBAC), Azure Security Center recommendations for AVD, Network security groups, private endpoints, monitoring security posture.
- Manage user environments and applications (20–25%) — Deploy RemoteApp applications, manage user sessions, configure application groups, license management (per-user or per-seat), user profile management (FSLogix containers).
- Monitor and maintain Azure Virtual Desktop (10–15%) — Azure Monitor for AVD diagnostics, Log Analytics, performance metrics, troubleshoot connectivity and performance issues, backup and disaster recovery.
Source: Microsoft Learn — Skills measured ↗
Common skills at Identity/Endpoint/VDI · Specialty
Shared content for the Identity/Endpoint/VDI domain at Specialty level — not specific to this cert.
- Azure Virtual Desktop architecture and host pool design patterns
- Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD) and hybrid identity configuration
- Conditional Access and device compliance policies
- User profile and session state management (FSLogix, profile containers)
- Application deployment and RemoteApp publishing
- High-availability and disaster-recovery planning for virtual desktops
- Azure Monitor, Log Analytics, and diagnostics troubleshooting
Recommended courses at Identity/Endpoint/VDI · Specialty
| Provider | Title | Cost | URL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Learn (official) | Configure and manage Azure Virtual Desktop | Free | ↗ |
| Microsoft Learn (official) | Implement and manage networking for Azure Virtual Desktop | Free | ↗ |
| Whizlabs | AZ-140: Configuring and Operating Azure Virtual Desktop | $29–$49 | ↗ |
| Udemy (Darryl Kegg) | AZ-140 Azure Virtual Desktop Complete Course | $11–$49 | ↗ |
| Pluralsight | Azure Virtual Desktop Administration | $299/year | ↗ |
| YouTube (Nick Colyer) | AZ-140 Study Guide Playlist | Free | ↗ |
| CBT Nuggets | Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktop (AZ-140) | $99–$299/year | ↗ |
Practice exams
| Provider | Title | Cost | URL |
|---|---|---|---|
| MeasureUp | Microsoft AZ-140 Official Practice Test | $99 | ↗ |
| Whizlabs | AZ-140 Practice Exam | $19–$29 | ↗ |
| Boson | ExamEnvironment for AZ-140 | $99 | ↗ |
Books
| Title | Author | Publisher | Year | ISBN | URL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exam Ref AZ-140 Configuring and Operating Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktop | Sean Selle, Byron Wright | Pearson | 2024 | 978-0-137-55128-5 | ↗ |
| Azure Virtual Desktop: A Complete Guide to Deploying and Managing Virtual Desktops in Azure | Christiaan Brinkhoff, Marco Moioli | Packt | 2023 | 978-1-803242-96-2 | ↗ |
Typical job titles at Identity/Endpoint/VDI · Specialty
Azure Virtual Desktop Engineer · AVD Architect · Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) Engineer · End User Computing Engineer (Azure) · Microsoft Workspace Engineer · Cloud Desktop Specialist
(Job titles drawn from current job-board postings in 2026 that list AZ-140 as required or preferred.)
Salary
| Region | Range | Source |
|---|---|---|
| USD | $85,000 – $130,000 (AVD / VDI roles requiring AZ-140 or equivalent) | Glassdoor ↗ · Robert Half 2026 Salary Guide ↗ |
| ZAR | R950,000 – R1,650,000 annually (cloud infrastructure / VDI roles) | PayScale South Africa ↗ · CareerJunction ↗ |
| GBP | £50,000 – £80,000 (AVD Engineer / Senior Cloud Desktop roles) | IT Jobs Watch ↗ · Hays IT Salary Guide 2026 ↗ |
Salary note: AZ-140-specific salary data is sparse; ranges above reflect Azure infrastructure + VDI specialist roles. Actual salaries vary significantly by region, company size, and adjacent certifications (AZ-104, AZ-700, Intune).
Skills validated
Specific to the AZ-140 exam — concrete technologies and tools tested.
- Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) host pool deployment and configuration
- Session host image creation and management (Shared Image Gallery)
- FSLogix Profile Container and Office Container configuration
- Microsoft Entra ID and hybrid identity with AVD
- Conditional Access and device compliance policies
- Azure role-based access control (RBAC) for AVD resources
- RemoteApp application publishing and user assignment
- Azure Virtual Network, private endpoints, and network security
- Scaling plans and auto-scaling for session hosts
- Azure Monitor, Log Analytics, and KQL for AVD diagnostics
- Multi-session and personal desktop deployment models
- User session management and disconnection handling
- Storage solutions: Azure Files, Azure NetApp Files, third-party solutions
- Microsoft Intune for endpoint management of AVD clients
- Backup and disaster recovery for AVD infrastructure
Related certifications
- Stacks with: AZ-104 (Azure Administrator Associate) ↗ — foundational infrastructure prerequisite.
- Stacks with: AZ-700 (Azure Network Engineer Associate) ↗ — network design for AVD deployments.
- Stacks with: Microsoft 365 Certified: Endpoint Administrator Associate ↗ — Intune and device management.
- Prerequisite for: AZ-305 (Azure Solutions Architect Expert) ↗ — builds to solution design.
- Equivalents at this level: Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops 7 Administrator (CCP-V) ↗ — alternative VDI platform.
- Vendor overview: Microsoft Vendor Overview
Sources
- Microsoft Learn: AZ-140 Exam Page
- AZ-140 Exam Guide & Skills Measured
- Microsoft Learn: Configure and Manage Azure Virtual Desktop
- Exam Ref AZ-140 — Pearson
- Azure Virtual Desktop: Complete Guide — Packt Publishing
- Glassdoor: Azure Virtual Desktop Engineer Salary
- Robert Half Salary Guides 2026
- Whizlabs AZ-140 Practice Exam
- MeasureUp AZ-140 Practice Test
Last verified: 2026-05-01
Parent ecosystem: Microsoft Azure + M365 Ecosystem
Parent domain: Identity/Endpoint/VDI Domain
Vendor overview: Microsoft Vendor Overview