AZ-700 · ● Active · Associate · Microsoft
Exam facts
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost | $165 USD |
| Duration | 100 minutes |
| Questions | 40–60 (mixed format: multiple choice, multiple response, drag & drop, scenario-based) |
| Passing | 700/1000 scaled |
| Format | Multiple choice, multiple response, drag & drop, scenario-based labs |
| Delivery | Pearson VUE (online proctored or test center) |
| Languages | English (regional translations available) |
| Valid | 1 year from date earned |
| Renewal | Free renewal exam covering updated Azure tools and features; alternative: pass AZ-305 |
| Prerequisites | None formal; AZ-900 or equivalent knowledge recommended; hands-on Azure experience expected |
| Released | 2022-03-28 |
| Retiring | N/A (no retirement announced) |
Vendor source — Microsoft Learn ↗
Official exam guide — Study Guide for Exam AZ-700 ↗
Exam objectives — Official Exam Guide ↗
About
The AZ-700 validates expertise in designing, implementing, and managing Azure networking infrastructure at scale. Released in March 2022, this Associate-level exam is the primary credential for cloud network engineers specializing in hybrid connectivity, VPNs, ExpressRoute, network security, routing, and private access to Azure services. It is distinct from AZ-104 (Administrator) and AZ-305 (Solutions Architect), focusing specifically on networking depth across the Azure platform. Target audience: network professionals transitioning to Azure, Azure administrators specializing in networking, and infrastructure engineers building enterprise-grade hybrid connectivity solutions. Certification validity is 1 year; renewal is free if you pass the updated renewal exam, or you can recertify by passing AZ-305.
Domain context — Cloud
Hyperscale public cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP, OCI) and their ecosystem certifications. Networking forms a critical pillar of cloud infrastructure.
Read full deep dive — Microsoft Azure →
Topics covered
Exam objectives by domain weight (from official blueprint):
- Design and implement core networking infrastructure (20–25%)
- Design, implement, and manage connectivity services (20–25%)
- Design and implement application delivery services (20–25%)
- Secure network connectivity to Azure resources (15–20%)
- Design and implement private access to Azure services (5–10%)
Core topics include:
- Virtual networks, subnets, IP addressing, and network segmentation
- Hybrid connectivity (VPN Gateway, ExpressRoute, site-to-site/point-to-site VPNs)
- Routing and traffic engineering (user-defined routes, Network Watcher)
- Load balancing and application delivery (Azure Load Balancer, Application Gateway, Traffic Manager, Azure Front Door)
- Network security (Network Security Groups, Azure Firewall, DDoS Protection Standard, Web Application Firewall)
- Private access patterns (Private Link, Private Endpoints, service endpoints)
- Network monitoring and diagnostics (Network Watcher, Traffic Analytics, Connection Monitor)
Source: Official exam guide ↗
Common skills at Cloud · Associate
Shared content for the Cloud domain at Associate level — not specific to this cert.
- Design and architect cloud infrastructure at scale (compute, storage, networking, databases)
- Understand cloud-native patterns and distributed systems concepts
- Design for high availability, disaster recovery, and business continuity
- Implement security controls and encryption in cloud environments
- Cost optimization and resource governance
- Multi-region and hybrid deployment patterns
- API design and integration in cloud platforms
- Observability, logging, and monitoring at cloud scale
Recommended courses at Cloud · Associate
| Provider | Title | Cost | URL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Learn (Official) | Design and Implement Microsoft Azure Networking Solutions (AZ-700) | Free | ↗ |
| John Savill (YouTube) | AZ-700 Study Playlist & Study Cram | Free | ↗ |
| CBT Nuggets | AZ-700: Azure Network Engineer Associate | $399–$699/year | ↗ |
| Pluralsight | AZ-700 Microsoft Azure Network Engineer Associate | $299–$399/year | ↗ |
| Udemy (Various) | AZ-700 Azure Network Engineer Associate (multiple instructors) | $15–$100 | ↗ |
| Coursera | Azure Network Engineer: AZ-700 Exam Prep & Certification | $39–$49/month | ↗ |
| Whizlabs | AZ-700 Microsoft Azure Networking Exam | $99–$199 | ↗ |
Course-selection rule: Link only courses explicitly branded for AZ-700, not generic "Azure Networking" content. Microsoft Learn is free and official; YouTube channels (Savill, others) offer free video playlists; paid platforms typically bundle AZ-700 into broader annual plans.
Practice exams
| Provider | Title | Cost | URL |
|---|---|---|---|
| MeasureUp (Official Microsoft Partner) | AZ-700 Designing and Implementing Azure Networking Solutions | €99–€119 (30-day to 1-year) | ↗ |
| Whizlabs | AZ-700 Practice Tests with Hands-on Labs | $99–$199 | ↗ |
| Microsoft (MindhHub) | Official Microsoft Practice Test | $99 | ↗ |
Practice rule: MeasureUp is Microsoft-endorsed and includes 116+ questions in certification and practice modes. Whizlabs includes hands-on lab components. Official Microsoft practice tests via MindhHub provide the closest match to actual exam format. Use at least two sources to identify weak areas.
Books
| Title | Author | Publisher | Year | ISBN | URL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exam Ref AZ-700: Designing and Implementing Microsoft Azure Networking Solutions | Charles Pluta | Microsoft Press / Pearson | 2022 | 978-0-13-768277-5 | ↗ |
| Exam Ref AZ-700 with Practice Test (eBook) | Charles Pluta | Microsoft Press | 2023 | 978-0-13-787408-8 | ↗ |
Book rule: The Exam Ref series by Charles Pluta is the official Microsoft Press study guide aligned to the current AZ-700 exam objectives (published 2022, updated through 2023). No other major publishers (Sybex, O'Reilly, Apress) have AZ-700-specific books; if seeking additional reading, use Microsoft Learn modules and official documentation.
Typical job titles at Cloud · Associate
Azure Network Engineer · Cloud Network Engineer (Azure) · Network Engineer (Cloud) · Senior Network Engineer (Azure focus) · Cloud Infrastructure Engineer (Networking)
(Job titles drawn from current job-board postings and LinkedIn profiles listing AZ-700 or Azure networking as required/preferred.)
Salary
| Region | Range | Source |
|---|---|---|
| USD | $120,313 – $183,236 (average $147,725) | Glassdoor Cloud Network Engineer ↗ · Salary.com ↗ |
| ZAR | R488,413 – R803,148 (entry to senior level) | PayScale ZA — Network Engineer ↗ · PayScale ZA — Systems Admin (Azure) ↗ |
| GBP | £80,000 – £130,000 (London/SE England premium; regional variation significant) | IT Jobs Watch ↗ · Reed.co.uk network roles ↗ |
| EUR | €70,000 – €115,000 (Germany/France/Netherlands; regional cost-of-living variance) | Glassdoor EU ↗ |
Salary context: USD data from Glassdoor (2026) reflects cloud-specific networking roles; Microsoft is the top employer for this role. ZAR data reflects entry-to-senior network engineer ranges; Azure certifications typically add 10–20% premium over general network engineering roles. GBP and EUR data drawn from regional job boards; actual salaries vary significantly by metro area and company size. Use local job-board filters (Pnet, CareerJunction, PayScale ZA for South Africa) for current regional benchmarking.
Skills validated
Cert-specific — what this exam tests, distinct from general Cloud Associate skills.
- Azure Virtual Network (vNets) design and management
- Hybrid connectivity technologies: VPN Gateway, ExpressRoute, site-to-site and point-to-site VPNs
- Advanced routing: User-Defined Routes (UDRs), Border Gateway Protocol (BGP), route optimization
- Load balancing: Azure Load Balancer, Application Gateway, Azure Traffic Manager, Front Door
- Application delivery patterns: CDN integration, traffic engineering
- Network security: Network Security Groups (NSGs), Azure Firewall, Web Application Firewall (WAF), DDoS Protection Standard
- Private access: Private Link, Private Endpoints, service endpoints, and secure connectivity to PaaS services
- Network monitoring and diagnostics: Network Watcher, Traffic Analytics, Connection Monitor, diagnostics tooling
- IP addressing and network segmentation: subnetting, CIDR, IPv6 readiness
- Azure networking SDKs and CLI tools
Related certifications
- Stacks with: AZ-104 Azure Administrator Associate ↗ — foundational admin skills complement networking depth
- Prerequisite for: AZ-305 Azure Solutions Architect Expert ↗ — networking is a pillar of architecture design
- Complements: AZ-500 Azure Security Engineer Associate ↗ — network security overlaps significantly
- Entry point from: AZ-900 Azure Fundamentals ↗ — recommended knowledge base
- Vendor overview: Microsoft Ecosystem Overview ↗
Sources
- Microsoft Learn — Azure Network Engineer Associate ↗
- Study Guide for Exam AZ-700 ↗
- AZ-700 Training Path (Microsoft Learn) ↗
- Exam Ref AZ-700 (Microsoft Press) ↗
- MeasureUp Practice Test ↗
- Whizlabs AZ-700 Practice ↗
- Robert Half Salary Guide 2026 ↗
- Glassdoor Azure Salary Data ↗
- CBT Nuggets AZ-700 Course ↗
- Pluralsight AZ-700 Course ↗
Last verified: 2026-05-01 Parent ecosystem: Microsoft Azure → Parent domain: Cloud → Vendor overview: Microsoft →