Microsoft Certified: Azure Network Engineer Associate Study Guide: Everything You Need to Know 2025
Your complete roadmap to passing the AZ-700 certification exam. This comprehensive study guide covers all 4 exam domains with detailed explanations, study tips, and practice resources.
Quick Start
Essential steps to begin your preparation
Review Exam Objectives
View all domains →Take Assessment Quiz
Free practice test →Follow Study Plan
8-week roadmap →Full Practice Exams
Start practicing →Exam Domains & Objectives
Master these 4 domains to pass the AZ-700 exam
Design, Implement, and Manage Hybrid Networking
Design and Implement Core Networking Infrastructure
Design and Implement Routing and Load Balancing
Monitor and Troubleshoot Network Infrastructure
8-Week Study Plan
Follow this structured plan to prepare for your Microsoft Certified: Azure Network Engineer Associate exam
Foundation
Understand core concepts and exam objectives
Focus Areas:
- Design, Implement, and Manage Hybrid Networking
- Design and Implement Core Networking Infrastructure
Deep Dive
Master advanced topics and practical applications
Focus Areas:
- Design and Implement Routing and Load Balancing
- Monitor and Troubleshoot Network Infrastructure
Practice & Review
Take practice exams and review weak areas
Focus Areas:
Final Prep
Full practice exams and last-minute review
Focus Areas:
- Full-length practice tests
- Review all domains
Curated Study Resources
AI-curated resources with real links to help you prepare for the Microsoft Certified: Azure Network Engineer Associate exam
Complete Study Guide for Microsoft Certified: Azure Network Engineer Associate (AZ-700)
The AZ-700 certification validates your expertise in designing, implementing, and managing Azure networking solutions. This associate-level certification demonstrates your ability to plan and deploy core network infrastructure, hybrid connectivity, application delivery, and network security services. It's highly valued for professionals managing Azure network resources in enterprise environments.
Who Should Take This Exam
- Network Engineers transitioning to cloud
- Azure Administrators focusing on networking
- IT Professionals managing hybrid cloud infrastructure
- Network Architects working with Azure solutions
- DevOps Engineers handling network automation
Prerequisites
- Basic understanding of networking concepts (OSI model, TCP/IP, DNS, routing)
- Familiarity with Azure portal and basic Azure services
- Experience with Azure Virtual Networks recommended
- Understanding of on-premises network infrastructure
- Knowledge of PowerShell or Azure CLI basics (helpful but not required)
Official Resources
AZ-700 Official Exam Page
Official exam landing page with skills measured, exam details, and registration information
View ResourceAZ-700 Study Guide - Skills Measured
Detailed breakdown of all exam objectives and skills measured
View ResourceAzure Networking Documentation
Comprehensive documentation covering all Azure networking services
View ResourceAzure Virtual Network Documentation
In-depth documentation for Azure VNets, subnets, and connectivity
View ResourceAzure VPN Gateway Documentation
Official documentation for site-to-site and point-to-site VPN connectivity
View ResourceAzure ExpressRoute Documentation
Complete guide to private connections between on-premises and Azure
View ResourceAzure Load Balancer Documentation
Documentation for Layer 4 load balancing solutions
View ResourceAzure Application Gateway Documentation
Layer 7 load balancing and web application firewall documentation
View ResourceAzure Network Watcher Documentation
Network monitoring and diagnostic tools documentation
View ResourceAzure Virtual WAN Documentation
Documentation for global transit network architecture
View ResourceMicrosoft Learn - AZ-700 Learning Path
Official training course modules aligned with exam objectives
View ResourceRecommended Courses
AZ-700: Designing and Implementing Microsoft Azure Networking Solutions
Microsoft Learn • 32 hours
View CourseExam Prep AZ-700: Designing and Implementing Microsoft Azure Networking Solutions
Pluralsight • 20 hours
View CourseRecommended Books
Exam Ref AZ-700 Designing and Implementing Microsoft Azure Networking Solutions
by Harshul Patel
Official Microsoft exam reference guide covering all AZ-700 exam objectives with practice questions
View on AmazonMicrosoft Azure Network Security: Secure your network infrastructure with Azure
by Mustafa Toroman
Comprehensive guide to Azure network security features and best practices
View on AmazonMastering Azure Virtual Networks: Design and implement Azure Virtual Networks
by Nilansh Bansal
Deep dive into Azure VNets, connectivity options, and network architecture patterns
View on AmazonPractice & Hands-On Resources
Microsoft Official Practice Assessment for AZ-700
Official practice questions from Microsoft to assess your readiness
View ResourceAzure Free Account
Free Azure account with $200 credit for 30 days and free services for 12 months to practice hands-on
View ResourceMicrosoft Learn Sandbox
Temporary Azure subscription provided within Microsoft Learn modules for hands-on practice
View ResourceAzure Network Labs on GitHub
Community-contributed hands-on labs and scenarios for Azure networking
View ResourceMeasureUp Practice Tests for AZ-700
Premium practice exams with detailed explanations (official Microsoft practice test provider)
View ResourceWhizlabs AZ-700 Practice Tests
Multiple practice exams with detailed explanations and performance tracking
View ResourceAzure Networking Quickstart Templates
ARM templates for quickly deploying common Azure networking scenarios
View ResourceCommunity & Forums
Microsoft Tech Community - Azure Network Security
Official Microsoft community for Azure networking discussions, announcements, and best practices
Join Communityr/AzureCertification
Reddit community dedicated to Azure certifications with exam experiences, study tips, and resources
Join Communityr/Azure
General Azure subreddit with networking discussions and real-world scenarios
Join CommunityMicrosoft Q&A - Azure Networking
Official Microsoft Q&A platform for Azure networking technical questions
Join CommunityAzure Greg Blog
Popular blog with Azure networking tutorials, exam tips, and architecture guides
Join CommunityJohn Savill's Technical Training
YouTube channel with in-depth Azure technical content and certification study sessions
Join CommunityStudy Tips
Hands-On Practice is Critical
- Create an Azure free account and practice every configuration in the portal
- Build complete network architectures combining multiple services (VNet + VPN + Load Balancer)
- Use Azure CLI and PowerShell commands alongside portal practice
- Document your lab configurations to reinforce learning
- Break things intentionally to understand error messages and troubleshooting
Master the Service Comparison
- Create comparison tables for VPN Gateway vs ExpressRoute vs Virtual WAN
- Understand when to use Standard Load Balancer vs Application Gateway vs Front Door vs Traffic Manager
- Know the differences between service endpoints, private endpoints, and Private Link
- Compare NSG rules vs Azure Firewall vs Application Gateway WAF
- Understand SKU differences and their capabilities for each service
Focus on Network Watcher Tools
- Practice using IP Flow Verify for NSG troubleshooting scenarios
- Understand Next Hop for routing troubleshooting
- Use Connection Troubleshoot for end-to-end connectivity issues
- Configure and interpret NSG flow logs
- Practice packet capture scenarios
- Know which diagnostic tool to use for specific problem types
Understand Azure Networking Architecture
- Study hub-and-spoke network topology patterns
- Understand transit routing scenarios and limitations
- Know how to design for high availability and disaster recovery
- Learn Azure networking limits and quotas by heart
- Understand the order of NSG rule processing and evaluation
- Master effective routes and route precedence
Exam-Specific Preparation
- The exam includes case studies - practice designing complete solutions, not just individual services
- Expect scenario-based questions requiring you to choose the best solution among multiple options
- Review the skills measured document and ensure you've covered every bullet point
- Practice with timed mock exams to improve time management
- Focus extra time on the 30% routing and load balancing domain
- Know pricing implications for different networking solutions
Documentation and Reference Skills
- Familiarize yourself with the Azure networking documentation structure
- Bookmark key reference pages for VPN Gateway configurations, ExpressRoute requirements
- Understand how to read network topology diagrams quickly
- Practice creating architecture diagrams to explain your designs
- Review Azure networking best practices documentation
Exam Day Tips
- 1Arrive 15 minutes early for online exams or 30 minutes for test center exams
- 2Read each question carefully - Azure exams often have very specific wording that matters
- 3For case study questions, take notes on requirements before jumping to questions
- 4Flag questions you're unsure about and review them at the end if time permits
- 5Watch for keywords like 'minimum administrative effort', 'lowest cost', or 'highest availability' - they guide you to the expected answer
- 6Remember that you cannot return to previous sections in some question types, so be thorough
- 7If a question seems to have multiple correct answers, choose the BEST answer that meets all stated requirements
- 8For troubleshooting questions, eliminate obviously wrong answers first and think about the systematic approach
- 9Manage your time - aim for about 90 seconds per question on average
- 10Don't panic if you encounter topics you haven't seen - use logical reasoning and elimination
- 11The exam may include preview questions that don't count toward your score - give them your best effort anyway
Study guide generated on January 8, 2026
Pro Study Tips
Expert advice to maximize your study effectiveness
Active Learning Strategies
- Hands-on practice: Apply concepts in real scenarios
- Teach others: Explain concepts to reinforce learning
- Take notes: Write summaries in your own words
Exam Day Preparation
- Get enough sleep: Rest well the night before
- Review key points: Go through your notes and cheat sheets
- Time management: Practice pacing with timed exams
Continue Your Preparation
More resources to help you succeed
Complete Microsoft Certified: Azure Network Engineer Associate Study Guide
This comprehensive study guide will help you prepare for the AZ-700 certification exam offered by Microsoft Azure. Whether you are a beginner or experienced professional, this guide covers everything you need to know to pass on your first attempt.
What You Will Learn
Our study guide covers all 4 exam domains in detail:
- Design, Implement, and Manage Hybrid Networking (25%)
- Design and Implement Core Networking Infrastructure (25%)
- Design and Implement Routing and Load Balancing (30%)
- Monitor and Troubleshoot Network Infrastructure (20%)
Recommended Timeline
Most candidates need 6-8 weeks of dedicated study to pass the Microsoft Certified: Azure Network Engineer Associate exam. We recommend studying 1-2 hours daily and taking practice exams weekly to track your progress.
Next Step: Start with our free practice test to assess your current knowledge level.