Azure / Expert / AZ-305
Azure Solutions Architect Expert
Choose architecture from identity, data, continuity and infrastructure requirements. Justify the closest alternative and its trade-offs.
Passing AZ-305 alone does not award the Expert credential: Microsoft also requires Azure Administrator Associate. Confirm current credential prerequisites before booking.
THE REVISION PATH
Your topics, in order.
Read. Recall. Explain the alternative.
Microsoft Entra ID and Azure RBAC
Entra identifies the principal; Azure RBAC authorises an action at a scope.
Subscriptions, Policy and Cost Governance
RBAC decides who may act; Policy evaluates what configuration is acceptable.
Storage Access, Encryption and Redundancy
Network reachability, authorisation and encryption are separate storage controls.
Blob Storage and Azure Files
Versions preserve earlier content; soft delete recovers deletion; lifecycle controls aging.
ARM Templates and Bicep
Declare the desired resources, inspect the proposed change and preserve clear ownership.
Virtual Machines, Disks and Scale Sets
Size for the bottleneck, place for failure and distinguish stopped from deallocated.
App Service and Container Platforms
Separate image storage, execution, application configuration and the hosting plan.
Virtual Networks, Routes and Secure Access
Check the effective route and the effective rule in both directions.
DNS and Load Balancing
DNS answers names; Layer 4 forwards connections; Layer 7 routes application requests.
Azure Monitor, Logs and Alerts
Metrics quantify, logs explain, traces connect and alerts start a response.
Azure Backup and Site Recovery
Backup restores a point; replication supports failover; neither is proven until tested.
Architecture Requirements and Landing Zones
Start with constraints and ownership; pick services only after defining the boundaries.
Data Architecture and Business Continuity
Data model, consistency, recovery and operating responsibility determine the storage choice.
How this guide is organised
Original revision notes arranged around practical decisions. The linked official objectives define the mapped scope; primary documentation supports the explanations. Read each topic, answer without looking, then explain why another option would fail.
- Official exam guide ↗ Scope authority
Revision material supports preparation; it does not guarantee every possible exam question. Check the exam version and official objectives before booking.