I just did the Microsoft Applied Skills “Configure secure access to your workloads using Azure networking,” and I think this is probably the best way to learn Azure or other MS cloud services out there. They’re still not as famous as certifications, which is a shame. They’re way closer to real-life and everyday cloud administrator tasks than certifications.
Currently, there are 36 different applied skills credentials. Topics vary between Azure, AI, Defender, Data management, and so on. First, you can go through the usual Microsoft Learn modules to learn about the topic you’re interested in. Once you’re ready, you can start the assessment. For the networking one I did, a window with different e-mails showed up. All included some tasks in the networking area to solve. When you’re ready, you can go into the actual Azure portal, deploy, and configure resources like Azure Firewall and its rules. This is a really great way to learn with hands-on tasks, like you would get in your job.
I have to say, the applied skills are not that easy to pass. You need around 70% what doesn’t leave much room for errors. But still, I really enjoyed it to validate my skills in the Azure networking area. Bonus tip: When you apply for a job, you can share your Microsoft Learn transcript. Applied skills will show up there, beside your certifications. To find it, go into your Microsoft Learn profile, Transcript. You can export it to a PDF or even generate a share link for the company you’re applying to. They can click on that link and verify that you actually hold these applied skills and certifications.
