As cloud adoption matures across industries, Microsoft Azure continues to expand its influence as one of the leading cloud service providers globally. However, as enterprises scale their architectures across hybrid and multi-cloud environments, connectivity challenges become inevitable. Organizations increasingly need skilled professionals who can swiftly identify and resolve Azure-related networking issues. This is where the newly launched AZ-720: Troubleshooting Microsoft Azure Connectivity exam steps in.
The AZ-720 certification bridges a critical gap in Microsoft’s Azure certification ecosystem. While previous certifications focused on architecture, administration, and development, the AZ-720 drills deep into one of the most complex and often overlooked areas—connectivity troubleshooting. This certification is ideal for network engineers, cloud support specialists, and IT professionals who manage, maintain, and diagnose connectivity issues across Azure services.
In this first installment of the series, we explore the purpose, relevance, and scope of the AZ-720 exam and why it’s rapidly becoming an essential credential in the Azure certification landscape.
Why Microsoft Launched the AZ-720 Exam
The launch of AZ-720 is a response to real-world challenges that Azure users face daily. As organizations move toward cloud-native architectures, hybrid deployments and intricate virtual networking configurations present unique troubleshooting scenarios. Microsoft recognized that despite having professionals certified in Azure administration or networking fundamentals, many were ill-equipped to isolate and resolve real-time connectivity issues at scale.
The AZ-720 addresses this need by validating hands-on expertise in identifying network bottlenecks, understanding route propagation, examining DNS configurations, and more. This exam goes beyond theory and into applied problem-solving, focusing on real-world diagnostics rather than static concepts. It emphasizes skills that are indispensable in enterprise settings where uptime, latency, and bandwidth efficiency directly affect business continuity.
Microsoft’s goal with AZ-720 is to certify professionals who can function as the first responders to networking incidents in Azure environments—individuals who understand both the tools and the tactics needed to keep cloud architectures operating smoothly.
Who Should Take the AZ-720 Exam?
The AZ-720 is tailored for experienced professionals already working within Azure environments. It is not an entry-level exam; instead, it assumes a strong foundation in networking and cloud principles. Here are the primary audiences:
- Azure Network Engineers managing virtual networks, VPNs, and ExpressRoute
- Technical Support Engineers who troubleshoot cloud connectivity issues
- Cloud Solution Architects who integrate on-premises environments with Azure
- IT Operations staff responsible for service reliability and performance optimization
- Security engineers ensuring connectivity configurations align with compliance and security standards
The exam expects candidates to be proficient with Azure networking tools like Network Watcher, Azure Monitor, and the Azure Resource Manager. Familiarity with hybrid connectivity concepts, DNS configurations, firewalls, load balancers, route tables, and identity-related access paths is critical.
Skills Measured in the AZ-720 Exam
The AZ-720 is structured to test competencies across several high-level domains. Each domain encompasses a unique subset of skills required to diagnose and resolve specific connectivity issues in Azure. Below is a breakdown of the skills measured:
Troubleshoot Business Continuity Issues
This includes identifying problems with high availability and disaster recovery. Candidates must understand load balancer configurations, application gateway health probes, and traffic manager routing issues. Diagnosing virtual machine availability and ensuring zone redundancy are also essential components.
Troubleshoot Hybrid and Private Connectivity
Candidates should be capable of resolving problems with VPN connections, ExpressRoute circuits, and Azure Virtual WAN. Scenarios may involve tunnel stability, routing misconfigurations, or latency issues in cross-premises connectivity. Understanding BGP routing, network segmentation, and IP forwarding configurations is critical in this domain.
Troubleshoot Name Resolution Issues
DNS plays a pivotal role in Azure environments. This domain focuses on internal and external DNS resolution, Azure Private DNS Zones, conditional forwarding, and split-horizon scenarios. Candidates must know how to interpret nslookup outputs, diagnose propagation delays, and resolve common DNS misrouting issues.
Troubleshoot Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) Connectivity Issues
Azure hosts a wide range of PaaS offerings, and ensuring connectivity to these services is crucial. The exam tests understanding of service endpoint configurations, private link usage, firewall rules, and network security groups (NSGs) that may block or restrict access to PaaS resources.
Troubleshoot Authentication and Access Issues
Azure’s network layer is closely tied to identity and access configurations. This section explores diagnosing issues with Azure AD, role-based access control (RBAC), service principal authentication, and conditional access policies. Candidates should be adept at interpreting access logs and resolving permission-based connectivity failures.
Troubleshoot Routing Issues
This domain evaluates the ability to troubleshoot user-defined routes (UDRs), BGP propagation, subnet associations, and route priorities. Candidates will be presented with route diagnostic outputs and must determine root causes of misrouted or dropped packets.
Each skill domain emphasizes practical diagnostic approaches and decision-making in complex environments, making it a highly specialized and technical certification.
Exam Structure and Format
The AZ-720 exam comprises a mixture of multiple-choice questions, case studies, and drag-and-drop scenarios. Microsoft occasionally includes simulations that require navigating the Azure portal or CLI to resolve mock issues, though these are typically limited to test environments.
The exam duration is 120 minutes and includes approximately 40–60 questions. The passing score is 700 out of 1000, consistent with most other Microsoft role-based certifications. Candidates are encouraged to allocate ample time for case-based questions, which require comprehensive analysis.
One of the distinguishing features of this exam is its emphasis on troubleshooting logs, system metrics, and network topologies. Candidates must exhibit both speed and accuracy in identifying issues from multi-layered Azure deployments.
Key Prerequisites and Experience Recommendations
Before attempting the AZ-720, Microsoft recommends that candidates have the following prerequisites:
- Deep familiarity with Azure networking components like VNets, NSGs, ASGs, and route tables
- Understanding of hybrid network setups using ExpressRoute and VPN Gateway
- Experience with troubleshooting using tools such as Azure Network Watcher, Connection Monitor, and Log Analytics
- Solid grasp of identity and access configurations in Azure Active Directory
- Proficiency with CLI tools like PowerShell and Azure CLI
- Awareness of how to collect and interpret metrics from Azure Monitor and Application Insights
Although there is no mandatory prerequisite exam, having certifications such as AZ-104 (Azure Administrator Associate) or AZ-700 (Designing and Implementing Azure Networking Solutions) will give candidates a solid foundation. The AZ-720 builds upon concepts introduced in these exams but focuses more narrowly on issue resolution.
Why the AZ-720 Matters for Your Cloud Career
In a market where many cloud professionals focus on design and deployment, fewer specialize in remediation and troubleshooting. Holding a certification that highlights these problem-solving skills sets candidates apart from their peers. The AZ-720 validates your capacity to work under pressure, resolve high-priority outages, and contribute to incident management workflows.
Cloud troubleshooting professionals are increasingly in demand as enterprises scale up their Azure environments. A single misconfiguration or routing error can lead to service disruptions, loss of revenue, or even data exposure. Organizations are eager to hire or promote professionals who can prevent such events through early diagnosis and prompt resolution.
Earning the AZ-720 can open doors to roles such as:
- Cloud Infrastructure Engineer
- Azure Support Escalation Engineer
- Site Reliability Engineer (SRE)
- Azure Networking Specialist
- Cloud Solutions Analyst
Moreover, the AZ-720 demonstrates a commitment to lifelong learning and mastery of one of the most technical aspects of Azure—its connectivity fabric.
The Strategic Advantage for Organizations
Organizations that invest in AZ-720-certified professionals can expect improved uptime, reduced mean-time-to-resolution (MTTR), and better incident documentation. In complex Azure deployments involving hybrid or multi-cloud strategies, the troubleshooting capabilities validated by this exam can be a cornerstone of business continuity.
Moreover, as Microsoft continues to update its Azure ecosystem with evolving services, networking remains the backbone of reliable operations. Ensuring there are experts capable of handling unforeseen challenges means fewer escalations, faster triaging, and a more resilient cloud infrastructure.
Frequently Encountered Issues Covered by the AZ-720
Understanding the common scenarios covered by the AZ-720 can help candidates prepare more effectively. These include:
- Diagnosing misconfigured NSGs that block critical ports
- Troubleshooting failed VPN tunnel negotiations due to mismatched policies
- Resolving DNS misrouting when using custom resolvers or split-horizon DNS
- Interpreting effective routes to pinpoint route override issues
- Fixing broken application access due to misconfigured private endpoints
- Diagnosing issues with PaaS connectivity behind corporate firewalls
Each of these scenarios requires more than theoretical knowledge; they demand hands-on experience, investigative rigor, and familiarity with Azure’s diagnostic ecosystem.
What’s Ahead
The AZ-720: Troubleshooting Microsoft Azure Connectivity exam is a crucial evolution in Microsoft’s certification lineup. It targets an often-overlooked yet mission-critical domain—network diagnostics and resolution. By doing so, it equips IT professionals with the tactical skills needed to keep Azure deployments running smoothly and securely.
In this series, we will delve into strategies for preparing for the AZ-720 exam, including official resources, hands-on labs, training materials, and practical tips for mastering the exam’s most challenging topics.
Building a Pathway to Troubleshooting Mastery
The AZ-720: Troubleshooting Microsoft Azure Connectivity exam is not merely a theoretical evaluation; it is a rigorous test of practical experience, problem-solving agility, and in-depth knowledge of Azure’s complex networking layer. As covered in Part 1 of this series, the AZ-720 focuses on critical skills in diagnosing and resolving real-time connectivity issues across hybrid and cloud-native infrastructures. However, success in this exam demands more than a casual review of documentation.
Preparation for AZ-720 requires strategic planning, hands-on experimentation, and a strong grasp of both conceptual frameworks and applied tools. This second installment of the series explores how to prepare effectively, offering a roadmap of resources, learning methods, and focused strategies designed to maximize your chances of success.
Assessing Your Readiness
Before launching into preparation, it’s essential to evaluate your current expertise. Microsoft recommends that candidates have advanced knowledge in Azure networking, including hybrid connections, DNS resolution, service endpoints, user-defined routes, and platform authentication.
Ask yourself the following questions:
- Have you diagnosed VPN or ExpressRoute issues in live environments?
- Can you interpret diagnostic outputs from Azure Network Watcher and Route Tables?
- Are you familiar with configuring and troubleshooting private endpoints and service endpoints?
- Do you understand how role-based access control and conditional access affect connectivity?
If the answers to these are affirmative, you’re likely ready to begin focused exam prep. If not, consider spending time with foundational certifications like AZ-104 or AZ-700 to build a base before diving into AZ-720.
Understanding the Exam Objectives
Effective preparation starts with a clear grasp of the official skills outline provided by Microsoft. The AZ-720 skills are grouped into the following functional domains:
- Troubleshoot Business Continuity Issues
- Troubleshoot Hybrid and Private Connectivity
- Troubleshoot Name Resolution Issues
- Troubleshoot Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) Connectivity Issues
- Troubleshoot Authentication and Access Issues
- Troubleshoot Routing Issues
Each domain contains nuanced subtopics, and the questions often involve multi-step scenarios. Your study plan should aim to explore each of these domains in depth through documentation, real-world practice, and mock exam scenarios.
Building a Study Plan
A structured study plan should balance theory and practical application over several weeks. Below is a suggested 6-week framework:
Week 1: Review Azure Networking Fundamentals
- Study virtual networks (VNets), network security groups (NSGs), application security groups (ASGs), and user-defined routes (UDRs)
- Read Azure documentation on hybrid network configurations, including VPN Gateway and ExpressRoute
- Practice with Azure Virtual Network peering and subnets
Week 2: Troubleshoot Hybrid and Private Connectivity
- Learn how to configure and debug VPNs, ExpressRoute, and Virtual WAN setups
- Explore BGP configurations and routing diagnostics
- Perform hands-on labs on setting up and troubleshooting IPsec tunnels
Week 3: Understand DNS and Name Resolution
- Study Azure DNS, Private DNS Zones, and conditional forwarding
- Explore troubleshooting tools like nslookup, dig, and Azure Monitor logs for DNS issues
- Set up test environments to simulate name resolution failures
Week 4: Investigate PaaS and Routing Issues
- Review how to secure and connect to PaaS services using service endpoints and private endpoints
- Practice deploying App Services and Storage Accounts with custom networking rules
- Analyze and resolve broken connectivity using Network Watcher’s IP Flow Verify and Effective Routes
Week 5: Focus on Identity and Access Troubleshooting
- Deep dive into Azure Active Directory, service principals, and managed identities
- Explore access control diagnostics and analyze failed authentication logs
- Study the role of conditional access policies in connectivity failures
Week 6: Practice Exams and Scenario-Based Labs
- Take official or third-party AZ-720 practice exams to simulate real testing conditions
- Build custom troubleshooting scenarios in Azure using sandbox environments
- Review Microsoft Learn modules and consolidate your notes and weak areas
Official Microsoft Resources
Microsoft offers a variety of tools and learning paths to support AZ-720 preparation. Leveraging these resources can provide a well-rounded foundation.
Microsoft Learn
Microsoft Learn is the primary destination for structured, interactive, and role-based training. The following learning paths are particularly useful:
- Troubleshoot Azure network security
- Troubleshoot Azure VPN Gateway and ExpressRoute
- Diagnose and resolve name resolution issues in Azure
- Manage routing in Azure virtual networks
- Implement and troubleshoot private endpoints
- Secure and monitor network connectivity
These modules are interactive, free, and often include hands-on exercises through GitHub-hosted labs or sandboxed Azure environments.
Exam Skills Outline PDF
Microsoft publishes a detailed skills outline for each certification. Print or download the AZ-720 outline and use it as a checklist throughout your study process. It will ensure you cover every topic and don’t neglect minor sub-domains that often appear in exam questions.
Azure Documentation
Azure’s official documentation is thorough and continuously updated. Use it to dig deeper into services like:
- Azure Network Watcher
- ExpressRoute circuit troubleshooting
- DNS zone delegation
- Virtual Network service endpoints
- NSG flow logs
- Role-based access diagnostics
Familiarity with these docs will prepare you for scenarios where the UI changes or where detailed understanding is required to interpret logs and behavior.
Third-Party Training and Practice Exams
Beyond Microsoft’s resources, third-party platforms can enhance your preparation with diverse learning formats and instructor-led walkthroughs. Here are a few valuable options:
Pluralsight and LinkedIn Learning
These platforms offer in-depth video courses taught by Azure-certified professionals. Search specifically for courses covering Azure troubleshooting, hybrid networking, DNS, and security. Look for instructors with practical enterprise experience.
Whizlabs, MeasureUp, or ExamTopics
Practice exams are essential for building familiarity with the question structure and depth. Whizlabs and MeasureUp offer premium test banks for the AZ-720. ExamTopics, though community-contributed, can offer insights into question types and exam pacing.
YouTube Channels
Channels such as John Savill’s Technical Training and Adam Marczak – Azure for Everyone provide high-quality walkthroughs of complex Azure scenarios. These resources can supplement your understanding with real-world use cases.
Hands-On Practice is Non-Negotiable
The AZ-720 exam is deeply scenario-driven. Passive reading will not be sufficient to internalize the skills needed. Candidates must simulate the same scenarios the exam presents—hybrid network setups, broken routes, failed access attempts, and misconfigured DNS entries.
Build a Lab Environment
Use a personal Azure subscription or a Visual Studio subscription credit to build a lab. Create test VNets, configure VPN gateways, deploy web apps, and apply route tables. Then deliberately misconfigure components to practice troubleshooting and diagnostics.
Use Azure Network Watcher Extensively
Network Watcher is your best friend in preparation. Tools such as:
- IP Flow Verify
- Connection Monitor
- Next Hop
- Packet Capture
- Network Topology
will feature prominently in both your lab exercises and the exam. You should be able to interpret outputs quickly and decide on appropriate remediation steps.
Practice CLI and PowerShell Commands
Many exam questions include CLI snippets. Get comfortable with commands like:
- az network watcher test-connectivity
- az network list-effective-routes
- az network dns record-set list
- az network vnet subnet show
Understanding how to use these in context will give you a strategic advantage during the exam.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
Preparing for AZ-720 can be daunting. Many candidates stumble by making one or more of the following mistakes:
Relying Solely on Theory
Connectivity issues are rarely theoretical. If you do not actively build and break configurations, you will likely struggle to diagnose them in the exam.
Ignoring Non-Networking Factors
Access issues may stem from role misconfigurations, policy restrictions, or identity issues. Don’t assume every connectivity problem is a networking problem.
Underestimating Scenario Complexity
AZ-720 questions are layered. They often include multiple services interacting. Practice multi-component environments to prepare for that complexity.
Not Practicing Under Time Constraints
Even if you know the material, slow decision-making can cost you the exam. Take timed practice tests to simulate real conditions.
Study Groups and Forums
Studying in isolation can be limiting, especially when troubleshooting complex setups. Joining study groups or technical forums can expand your understanding through discussion and shared problem-solving.
Consider:
- Microsoft Tech Community (Azure Certification Forum)
- Reddit’s r/AzureCertification subreddit
- LinkedIn study groups for AZ-720
- Discord servers or Slack groups for Azure practitioners
These communities can also help you stay current with changes to the exam, platform updates, and newly discovered resources.
Mental Preparation and Exam-Day Strategy
Even seasoned professionals can feel overwhelmed during certification exams. Having a strategy for the exam day can make a significant difference.
Time Management
Allocate specific time windows per question. Flag long or complex ones for review. Finish shorter ones first to leave time for the heavyweights.
Use the Mark for Review Feature
The AZ-720 exam allows you to mark questions and return later. Use this liberally. Sometimes answering a future question clarifies a previous one.
Read Carefully, Twice
Many questions include multiple qualifiers or intentionally misleading information. Read the full context carefully and verify diagrams and logs before answering.
Stay Calm and Analytical
This is an exam about problem-solving under stress. Approach each question like a system fault ticket—methodically and without panic.
Preparation Is the Real Certification
While passing the AZ-720 exam earns you a respected credential, the true value lies in the preparation journey. By engaging with real-world labs, practicing complex configurations, and absorbing diagnostic techniques, you become not only a certified professional but also a reliable problem-solver for your organization.
Beyond the Certification
Earning the AZ-720: Troubleshooting Microsoft Azure Connectivity certification is a major accomplishment. It affirms your capability to navigate and resolve intricate Azure networking problems, and it validates your status as a resourceful technologist in cloud environments. Yet, the story does not end with passing the exam. In fact, it’s just the beginning.
This final part of the series investigates what comes after the AZ-720 exam. We explore how to capitalize on your credential in the job market, apply your knowledge in practical scenarios, and build a trajectory of continued growth within the Azure ecosystem. From real-world troubleshooting roles to future certifications and continuous learning strategies, this phase is critical to maximizing the value of your hard-earned expertise.
AZ-720 in the Real World: Practical Applications
While exam questions simulate complex scenarios, nothing compares to real production environments. The AZ-720 equips professionals with diagnostic skills across hybrid and cloud-native infrastructures, but how are these capabilities used day-to-day?
Working as an Azure Connectivity Specialist
In many organizations, troubleshooting connectivity issues forms a cornerstone of the cloud engineering function. Professionals may be tasked with:
- Diagnosing user access failures to apps hosted in Azure App Services or Azure Functions
- Investigating why site-to-site VPNs are intermittently failing between headquarters and branch offices
- Resolving latency spikes caused by inefficient routing or network security conflicts
- Tracking DNS propagation delays or misconfigurations that disrupt multi-region deployments
- Interpreting NSG flow logs and Network Watcher outputs to isolate connectivity black holes
Each of these tasks aligns closely with the AZ-720 skill domains. The exam doesn’t just prepare you to pass questions—it prepares you to respond competently to urgent, real-world demands.
Multicloud and Hybrid Environments
Many modern infrastructures aren’t confined to Azure alone. Enterprises often blend workloads across Azure, on-premises data centers, and even other cloud providers such as AWS or Google Cloud. The hybrid and VPN troubleshooting proficiencies developed during AZ-720 preparation are highly transferable.
This opens the door to roles involving:
- Cross-cloud connectivity troubleshooting
- Hybrid cloud architecture optimization
- Disaster recovery and business continuity planning
- Governance and compliance monitoring through network configurations
Thus, the skills honed for AZ-720 extend beyond exam boundaries and support strategic IT transformation initiatives across environments.
Azure Career Progression: Where to Go Next?
Now that the AZ-720 is under your belt, the logical next step is determining how to advance within Azure’s certification landscape and the broader field of cloud architecture.
Pairing with AZ-700 or AZ-305
Two certifications stand out as natural complements to AZ-720:
- AZ-700: Designing and Implementing Microsoft Azure Networking Solutions
While AZ-720 emphasizes fixing what’s broken, AZ-700 is about building it correctly from the outset. It covers in-depth topics such as Virtual WANs, custom DNS solutions, BGP route design, and network segmentation. - AZ-305: Designing Microsoft Azure Infrastructure Solutions
This architect-level certification prepares professionals to make high-level design decisions, including networking, identity, storage, and security. AZ-720’s granular troubleshooting experience will give you a distinct advantage in designing systems that avoid common pitfalls.
Together, AZ-720 and AZ-700 or AZ-305 create a well-rounded foundation for both hands-on and strategic roles in Azure networking and architecture.
Targeting the Azure Solutions Architect Expert Role
If your goal is to eventually hold the title of Azure Solutions Architect, completing AZ-305 after AZ-720 and AZ-700 positions you well. Your troubleshooting acumen becomes an indispensable asset during client consultations, migration strategies, or incident response planning.
Transitioning into DevOps and Security
AZ-720’s insights into identity, role-based access, and policy restrictions also have synergy with certifications like:
- AZ-400: Designing and Implementing Microsoft DevOps Solutions
- SC-300: Identity and Access Administrator Associate
- AZ-500: Microsoft Azure Security Technologies
These areas require nuanced understanding of how connectivity intersects with deployment pipelines, access controls, and secure configurations—all of which you’ve already encountered through the AZ-720 lens.
Job Roles and Industries That Benefit from AZ-720
Certification becomes especially valuable when aligned with industry needs. Let’s explore job roles that benefit directly from AZ-720 certification.
Cloud Network Engineer
These professionals specialize in building and maintaining cloud-native networks, and they are often the first responders when things go wrong. The AZ-720 certification validates skills in:
- Network diagnostics
- DNS and routing issue resolution
- Platform service access analysis
- Real-time monitoring using Azure-native tools
Azure Infrastructure Engineer
Infrastructure engineers with AZ-720 credentials are better equipped to:
- Architect and debug hybrid cloud connectivity
- Use Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC) to remediate configuration drifts
- Analyze and optimize network performance across availability zones
Cloud Support Engineer or Escalation Engineer
Many enterprise support teams now require AZ-720-level expertise for tier 2 and tier 3 support positions. The ability to trace fault paths, evaluate packet captures, or interpret service health alerts sets certified professionals apart.
Managed Service Providers (MSPs) and System Integrators
MSPs working across client environments frequently encounter the kinds of problems AZ-720 prepares you to solve—VPNs going down, latency anomalies, broken endpoints, and misconfigured access. Having the certification improves credibility and operational efficiency.
Consulting and Freelance Roles
Independent consultants offering cloud migration, optimization, or managed troubleshooting services will find AZ-720 adds substantial value to their profile. Clients increasingly seek credentialed experts for diagnostics, especially during post-migration turbulence.
Leveraging the Certification for Career Advancement
Passing the AZ-720 exam should be more than a personal milestone; it should become a strategic asset in your career portfolio. Here’s how to make it count:
Update Your LinkedIn and Resume
Highlight the certification under your skills and achievements. Be sure to elaborate on the technical domains it covers, such as:
- Azure network diagnostics
- VPN and ExpressRoute configuration
- DNS and routing fault resolution
- PaaS connectivity troubleshooting
- Access and identity issue resolution
Use the exam objectives as a reference to enrich your descriptions with specific keywords and project examples.
Share Your Certification Journey
Whether through a blog, YouTube video, or LinkedIn post, sharing your AZ-720 journey serves several purposes:
- Reinforces your own understanding
- Helps others who are preparing
- Enhances your visibility within the Azure community
You can break down study strategies, lab setups, or particularly tricky exam topics. This portrays you not just as a learner, but as a thought leader.
Request New Responsibilities at Work
Use your new qualification as leverage to request more advanced responsibilities. This could include:
- Leading cloud migration troubleshooting efforts
- Designing network recovery playbooks
- Spearheading cross-region or multicloud connectivity evaluations
- Training junior staff on Azure diagnostic tools
Showing initiative reinforces the business value of your certification.
Staying Sharp: The Need for Continuous Learning
Cloud technology evolves swiftly. Azure introduces new features, modifies behaviors, and retires older systems regularly. A certificate earned today must be supplemented by continual practice and exploration.
Subscribe to Azure Update Channels
Stay updated via:
- Azure blog announcements
- Microsoft Learn newsletters
- Azure Updates RSS feeds
- YouTube’s Azure Friday episodes
Changes to DNS resolution models, new diagnostic tools, or updated policies around ExpressRoute or routing can directly impact what you know.
Experiment with Emerging Tools
Stay ahead by testing new or experimental features, such as:
- Azure Load Testing
- New metrics in Network Watcher
- Azure Arc integration with hybrid networks
- Traffic mirroring or advanced threat detection
Each new tool adds a diagnostic layer to your skillset.
Participate in Technical Communities
Joining forums like Stack Overflow, GitHub Discussions, or Microsoft Q&A not only helps you troubleshoot in real time but also exposes you to novel challenges that refine your understanding.
Preparing for Recertification and Renewal
Microsoft certifications now require periodic renewal. Fortunately, renewals can often be completed for free via Microsoft Learn assessments. To renew AZ-720, you’ll need to demonstrate updated understanding in areas like:
- Latest enhancements in Virtual WAN or Private Link
- Changes in Azure Monitor or diagnostic interfaces
- Revised DNS behavior in private endpoints
- Security and compliance models tied to networking
Set a calendar reminder to check your renewal window and avoid certification expiration.
Azure Specializations and Niche Areas to Explore
After mastering Azure connectivity, you may wish to specialize even further. Potential pathways include:
Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) Connectivity
AVD environments rely heavily on precise network and identity configurations. AZ-720 skills transfer well into this context, making it a promising niche.
Networking for Containers and Kubernetes
Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) introduces complex networking patterns. Delving into:
- CNI plugins
- Pod subnetting
- Ingress controllers
- Network policies
can make you a valuable resource in DevOps-heavy organizations.
Cloud Governance and Policy
Connectivity issues sometimes stem from misaligned policies or role definitions. Specializing in Azure Policy, Azure Blueprints, and RBAC enforcement adds governance depth to your skillset.
Conclusion:
The AZ-720: Troubleshooting Microsoft Azure Connectivity exam is far more than a badge of honor. It is a rigorous, experience-driven credential that opens doors to advanced roles, richer client engagements, and deeper architectural insight.
After passing the exam, your mission is to use that knowledge. Apply it to live projects, educate others, seek out more difficult challenges, and never stop refining your diagnostic craft. The Azure ecosystem is broad, and troubleshooting is only one of its many frontiers. But for those who begin here, the possibilities are extensive.
The AZ-720 certifies your ability to solve what others avoid. That distinction—problem-solver, optimizer, leader—is what will define your future in cloud computing.