AZ-120 Highlights You Should Know
AZ-120 is the Microsoft exam for the Microsoft Certified: Azure for SAP Workloads Specialty certification. In 2026, it covers four domains: Design and implement infrastructure for SAP workloads on Azure (30–35%), Design and implement high availability and disaster recovery (HA/DR) for SAP workloads on Azure (25–30%), Migrate SAP workloads to Azure (10–15%), and Maintain SAP workloads on Azure (25–30%). A passing score of 700 on a scale of 100-1000 is required. Pricing is typically $165 USD but varies based on the exam’s proctoring location. This is a highly advanced exam with an unstated prerequisite of extensive SAP Basis/HANA and Azure IaaS (AZ-104/AZ-305 level) experience. A typical preparation window is 8–16 weeks for experienced professionals. The recommended study path combines the official Microsoft Learn materials with mandatory, extensive hands-on labs and full-length practice exams. The certification must be renewed annually via a free online assessment. This guide details official resources, including the study guide, scheduling pages, and exam policies.
Introduction: What is the AZ-120 and Why Does It Matter?
The AZ-120 certification is one of Microsoft’s most challenging and prestigious specialty credentials. It is designed for experienced architects and engineers who are tasked with running mission-critical SAP workloads—the digital core of many of the world’s largest enterprises—on the Microsoft Azure platform. This exam is not about general cloud knowledge; it’s a deep, technical validation of your ability to design, implement, and maintain highly available, scalable, and secure SAP solutions on Azure.
This certification solves a critical enterprise problem: how to successfully migrate and operate complex, performance-sensitive SAP systems in the cloud. An Azure for SAP Workloads Specialist is the bridge between the world of SAP Basis administration and Azure infrastructure. Earning the AZ-120 proves you have mastered this niche, demonstrating your expertise in selecting the correct VM families, storage solutions like Azure NetApp Files, and networking configurations to meet the strict requirements of SAP. It signals to employers that you can be trusted with their most vital business systems.
Quick Facts & Exam Details
| Detail | Information |
| Exam Name | AZ-120: Planning and Administering Microsoft Azure for SAP Workloads |
| Provider | Microsoft |
| Prerequisites | None officially, but extensive, hands-on experience with both SAP (Basis, NetWeaver, HANA) and Azure (IaaS, networking, storage) is a mandatory practical prerequisite. |
| Passing Score | 700 on a scale of 100-1000. |
| Exam Duration | Approximately 120 minutes. |
| Question Types | Multiple-choice, multi-select, case studies, and complex scenario-based questions. |
| Exam Cost | $165 USD. Note: Prices vary by country and are subject to change. Always confirm the final cost during the registration process. |
Is This Certification Right for You?
This is a specialty exam for seasoned IT professionals. This certification is NOT for beginners. You are the ideal candidate if you are:
- An SAP Basis Administrator or SAP Architect responsible for planning and executing a migration to the cloud.
- An Azure Solutions Architect or Infrastructure Engineer who has been tasked with designing and supporting infrastructure for SAP workloads.
- A Technology Consultant specializing in SAP cloud migrations.
Candidates for this exam are expected to be deeply familiar with SAP NetWeaver, S/4HANA, SAP HANA, and their underlying architectural components, as well as the full range of Azure IaaS services.
Exam Blueprint: Skills You’ll Be Tested On
The AZ-120 exam tests your ability to make sound architectural and operational decisions for SAP on Azure. Always check the official Microsoft exam page for the latest skill breakdown.
- Design and implement infrastructure for SAP workloads on Azure (30–35%)
This domain is about building the foundation. It tests your ability to select the correct SAP-certified VM SKUs (M-series, E-series), design storage solutions for performance and resilience (Ultra Disk, Premium SSD, Azure NetApp Files), and configure networking with optimal latency (ExpressRoute, Proximity Placement Groups). - Design and implement high availability and disaster recovery (HA/DR) (25–30%)
Here, you’ll prove your skills in making SAP systems resilient. This requires deep knowledge of configuring high-availability clustering for SAP central services (ASCS) and databases (especially HANA System Replication with Pacemaker), and designing multi-region disaster recovery strategies using Azure Site Recovery. - Migrate SAP workloads to Azure (10–15%)
This domain focuses on the process of moving existing SAP systems to Azure. You will be tested on your knowledge of different migration strategies and tools, such as the Database Migration Option (DMO) and the use of Azure Migrate. - Maintain SAP workloads on Azure (25–30%)
This section covers the day-to-day operational excellence of running SAP on Azure. It tests your ability to implement backup and restore strategies (Azure Backup for SAP HANA), monitor performance and cost, and automate management tasks.
Your Strategic Study Plan for Success
Passing the AZ-120 is a significant challenge that requires a deep, hands-on study approach.
Phase 1: Validate Your Prerequisites (Critical)
- Assess Your Foundation: Before you even start, be honest about your skills. You need a strong foundation in both Azure IaaS (at an AZ-104 or AZ-305 level) and SAP Basis administration. If you are weak in either area, you must build that knowledge first.
- Start with Microsoft Learn: Begin with the official AZ-120 learning path on Microsoft Learn. This is your primary source of truth and is structured to cover every exam objective.
Phase 2: Deep Dive with Hands-On Labs (The Core of Your Prep)
- Build the Infrastructure: Getting hands-on is the hardest but most important part. Use an Azure free account or a pay-as-you-go subscription. Your goal is to build the infrastructure for an SAP deployment. This includes deploying the specific VM SKUs, setting up the complex networking with multiple NICs and load balancers, and configuring Azure NetApp Files.
- Leverage the SAP Cloud Appliance Library (CAL): Getting access to SAP software can be difficult. The SAP CAL allows you to deploy pre-configured SAP systems into your own Azure subscription. This is an invaluable tool for practicing real-world configurations.
- Focus on HA/DR: The most complex labs involve high availability. Spend significant time learning how to configure a Linux Pacemaker cluster for SAP HANA or the ASCS instance. This is a common and challenging topic on the exam.
Phase 3: Final Prep with Case Studies (Weeks 9-12)
- Use High-Quality Practice Exams: The AZ-120 is heavy on complex case studies. Practice exams are essential for learning to parse these long scenarios, identify the key business and technical requirements, and make the correct architectural trade-offs.
- Analyze Your Choices: When you get a question wrong, don’t just memorize the answer. Understand why a particular VM size or storage type was the correct choice for that specific SAP workload and its performance requirements.
- Review SAP Notes and Azure Docs: The exam is based on real-world best practices. Familiarize yourself with key SAP Notes related to running SAP on Azure and the core Azure documentation for SAP workloads.
Career and Salary Opportunities
The Azure for SAP Workloads Specialty is a niche skill set that commands a premium salary.
- Market Demand: There is a massive global push for large enterprises to migrate their SAP systems to the cloud. This has created a severe shortage of professionals with the hybrid skills to do it successfully.
- Salary Expectations: An expert-level certification in this high-demand area leads to a top-tier salary.
- According to ZipRecruiter, the average annual salary for an “SAP on Azure Architect” in the United States is approximately $162,152, with salaries frequently ranging from $139,000 to $183,500.
- For a “SAP Basis Administrator” with Azure skills, salaries can be significantly higher than for those with only on-premises experience.
Exam Logistics: Policies You Need to Know
- Retake Policy: If you do not pass on your first attempt, you must wait 24 hours before retaking it. For all subsequent attempts, a 14-day waiting period is imposed. You may not take the same exam more than five times in a 12-month period.
- Certification Validity: The Microsoft Certified: Azure for SAP Workloads Specialty certification is valid for one year.
- Renewal Process: You must renew your certification annually by passing a free, online, unproctored renewal assessment on Microsoft Learn. This assessment is shorter and focuses on recent updates to the technology.
- Scheduling: You can schedule your exam to be taken at a testing center or online via the official Microsoft certification website.
Practical FAQs & Common Challenges
How much SAP Basis experience do I really need?
A significant amount. You must be comfortable with core SAP architecture concepts like the difference between ASCS, PAS, and AAS instances. You need to understand how HANA System Replication (HSR) works and what its requirements are. The exam will not ask you to perform Basis tasks, but it will expect you to design an Azure infrastructure that correctly supports these components.
What are the most challenging topics on the exam?
The most difficult topics are consistently reported to be the high-availability and disaster recovery configurations. This includes the intricate details of setting up Linux Pacemaker clusters, configuring STONITH devices (like the Azure Fence Agent), and correctly designing storage with Azure NetApp Files for NFS shares used by the cluster.
Should I take the AZ-104 or AZ-305 before attempting the AZ-120?
Absolutely. Knowing equivalent to the AZ-104 (Azure Administrator) is the absolute minimum requirement. However, since the AZ-120 is heavily focused on design and architecture, knowing the AZ-305 (Azure Solutions Architect Expert) is a much better indicator of readiness.
Is it possible to do hands-on labs without a real SAP license?
This is the primary challenge for many candidates. While difficult, it is possible to practice the Azure infrastructure part without a license. You can still build the complex VNet, deploy the certified VMs, configure the load balancers, and set up the storage. To practice the SAP-specific configuration, using the SAP Cloud Appliance Library (CAL) to deploy a trial system into your Azure subscription is the most effective approach.
How long should I realistically study for this exam?
For a professional who is already experienced in both SAP Basis and Azure IaaS, 8-12 weeks of focused study is a realistic timeline. If you are an expert in one area but new to the other, you should plan for a much longer period of 6+ months to learn the missing foundational skills first.
What are the official prerequisites for this certification?
There are no official, mandatory prerequisites. However, Microsoft’s guidance and the exam’s content make it clear that this is an expert-level exam intended for those with extensive prior experience in both SAP and Azure.
Is this more of an Azure exam or an SAP exam?
It is a true hybrid, and that’s what makes it so difficult. It tests your ability to apply Azure services to solve specific, and often very rigid, SAP architectural requirements. You must be fluent in both the language of SAP (SIDs, instance numbers, HSR) and the language of Azure (VM SKUs, ANF, Proximity Placement Groups).
Conclusion: Your Next Step
Achieving the Microsoft Certified: Azure for SAP Workloads Specialty certification is a formidable accomplishment that places you in an elite group of IT professionals. It signifies that you have mastered the complex challenge of running enterprise SAP systems on the world’s leading cloud platform. The journey is intense and requires a deep commitment to hands-on learning, but the career and financial rewards are unparalleled.
Your path to becoming a certified expert starts now. Take the first step by visiting the official Exam AZ-120 page on Microsoft Learn to review the skills outline and begin your journey.
