Microsoft Azure and security skills

Keeping technical skills up-to-date is a journey and not a master move, so together with Microsoft we can offer you access to:

• Microsoft instructor-led courses 
• Microsoft exam prep sessions and practice test 
• Microsoft exams to earn certifications 

Simply pick the level you want to start from the learning paths below (fundamentals to start, then focus with advanced courses). You will then be able to book onto the courses, prepare for the exam, and earn the certification(s) you want. Or alternatively look at the courses available by date. 

Each course is available from ESI. 

The fundamentals courses and certifications are a great place to start. These courses require no pre-requisites or prior knowledge of Azure. 

Start with the:

• Azure fundamentals (AZ-900) If you are new to the cloud or Azure

Once you completed the fundamentals course you can then complete:

• Azure data fundamentals (DP-900) if you are new to data solutions on Azure 
• Azure AI-fundamentals (AI-900) if you are new to AI or AI on Azure 

For data roles, Microsoft have courses aligned to data science (machine learning), cloud data engineers, and data analysts (Power BI) and database admins (SQL).

We recommend you start with either the:

• Azure administrator (AZ- 104) implement, manage and monitor cloud solutions

Once you have completed this course you can move on to: 

• Azure data engineer (DP-203) deliver continuous value of data processes and technology 
• Azure data scientists (DP-100) build, train and deploy machine learning models

Alternatively you may want to start with the: 

Azure data analyst (PL-300) get insights from data assets by visualising in PowerBI.

Are you developing services in the cloud, IoT services, or responsible for the management and lifecycle of apps and services? Look no further than these learning pathways. 

Start with the:

• Azure administrator (AZ-104) implement, manage and monitor cloud solutions

Once you have completed this course you can develop your skills further with:

• Azure developer (AZ-204) design, build, test and maintain cloud apps
• Azure Devops engineer (AZ-400) deliver ongoing value to people, processes and technology 

If you need to be a confident user of Azure (Azure Admin), or be the architect of your organisations digital transformation (architect), then these pathways are for you.

Start with the:

• Azure administrator (AZ- 104) Implement, manage and monitor cloud solutions

Once you have completed this course you can move on to the:

• Azure architect (AZ- 305 ) design infrastructure solutions

You can integrate fantastic cloud technology like natural language processing (NLP), cognitive services, bots, computer vision and more.

We recommend you start with the:

• Azure administrator (AI-900) 1 day course

Once you have completed this course you might want to progress to:

• Azure architect (AI-102) 4 day course 

Do you have a security focus? Deep dive into Azure and Endpoint security, network security, data loss prevention (DLP), authentication and authorization.

Start your training with the:

• Azure security fundamentals (SC-900) start with the basics of security, compliance and identity on Azure

Then once you have completed this course you can progress to: 

• Security operations analyst (SC-200) investigate and respond to threats using Defender and Sentinel 
• Identify and access administrator (SC-300) design, implement and operate your identity and access systems
• Azure data analyst (SC-400) implement data loss prevention, labels and governance 

Learn how to plan, implement and manage (securely) an Azure Virtual Desktop infrastructure by starting with:

• Azure administrator (AZ-104) implement, manage and monitor cloud solutions

Once you have completed this training course you can move on to:

• Azure virtual desktop administrator (AZ-140) deliver virtual desktop experiences and remote apps on Azure 

Live and breath DHCP, IPV4/6 and can CIDR a network address range? Then you have perfectly transferable skills to the Azure Cloud… learn more with this learning pathway.

Start with the:

• Azure administrator (AZ-104) implement, manage and monitor cloud solutions

Then progress to the: 

• Azure network engineer (AZ-700 implement and manage network solutions in Azure

The following courses are available to book for February and March 2024. You will need to use your work NHS email address and book using the ESI portal . 

Watch the following videos to learn how to access the portal, book onto a course, book a practice test or an exam.