As cloud adoption becomes a cornerstone of modern enterprise IT, the need for skilled architects who can design scalable, secure, and cost-effective solutions is greater than ever. If you aim to become a trusted Azure Solution Architect, the AZ-305: Designing Microsoft Azure Infrastructure Solutions exam is your gateway.
But preparing for AZ-305 is not just about knowing Azure services. It is about understanding how to design real-world solutions that align with business goals, security policies, and budget constraints. From networking to identity, storage to business continuity—this exam brings it all together.
In this blog, we will break down how to effectively practice and prepare for the AZ-305 exam. You will learn about the exam structure, key domains, hands-on strategies, recommended study resources, and a step-by-step timeline to build both your knowledge and confidence.
What is the AZ-305 Exam?
The AZ-305: Designing Microsoft Azure Infrastructure Solutions exam is designed for professionals who want to demonstrate their ability to architect secure, scalable, and high-performing solutions on Microsoft Azure.
It is one half of the requirement to earn the prestigious Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert credential. To earn the full certification, you must pass both:
- AZ-104 (Azure Administrator – implementation-focused), and
- AZ-305 (Solution Architect – design-focused)
What Does the AZ-305 Exam Test?
This exam evaluates your ability to:
- Translate business needs into cloud architecture designs
- Select appropriate compute, storage, networking, and security components
- Design for governance, compliance, cost optimization, and disaster recovery
- Justify architectural decisions based on trade-offs, constraints, and best practices
AZ-305 is not about setting up services step by step. It is about making smart architectural decisions in real-world scenarios.
Whether you are working as an Azure administrator, developer, or infrastructure lead—this exam proves you are ready to take a seat at the architecture table. Here is the exam structure at a glance –
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Code | AZ-305 |
| Full Name | Designing Microsoft Azure Infrastructure Solutions |
| Certification Earned | Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert (with AZ-104) |
| Number of Questions | 40–60 |
| Question Types | Multiple choice, drag-and-drop, scenario-based, and case studies |
| Duration | 150 minutes |
| Passing Score | 700 out of 1000 |
| Delivery Method | Online proctored or in-person at Pearson VUE centers |
| Language Availability | English and other major languages |
| Prerequisite | AZ-104 (required to complete the certification path) |
| Focus Areas | Architecture design for identity, data, infrastructure, and business continuity |
Microsoft AZ-305 Exam Ouline and Documentation
The AZ-305 exam focuses on your ability to design solutions that meet business requirements using Microsoft Azure. It tests not just technical understanding, but also strategic design thinking across multiple domains.
1. Design Identity, Governance, and Monitoring Solutions (25-30%)
Design a solution for logging and monitoring
- Recommend a logging solution
- Recommend a solution for routing logs (Microsoft Documentation: Gateway Routing pattern)
- Recommend a monitoring solution
Design authentication and authorization solutions
- Recommend an authentication solution
- recommending an identity management solution (Microsoft Documentation: Microsoft Identity Manager 2016 news and updates)
- Recommend a solution for authorizing access to Azure resources
- Recommend a solution to manage secrets, certificates, and keys
Design governance
- Recommend a structure for management groups, subscriptions, and resource groups, and a strategy for resource tagging
- Recommend a solution for managing compliance
- Recommend a solution for identity governance
2. Design Data Storage Solutions (20-25%)
Design a data storage solution for relational data
- Recommend a solution for storing relational data
- Recommend a database service tier and compute tier
- recommending a solution for database scalability (Microsoft Documentation: Dynamically scale database resources with minimal downtime)
- Recommend a solution for data protection
Design data storage solutions for semi-structured and unstructured data
- Recommend a solution for storing semi-structured data (Microsoft Documentation: Choose a big data storage technology in Azure)
- Recommend a solution for storing unstructured data
- Recommend a data storage solution to balance features, performance, and costs
- Recommend a data solution for protection and durability (Microsoft Documentation: Azure customer data protection)
Design data integration
- recommending a solution for data integration (Microsoft Documentation: Integrate data into Microsoft Dataverse)
- recommend a solution for data analysis (Microsoft Documentation: Advanced analytics architecture)
3. Design Business Continuity Solutions (15-20%)
Design a solution for backup and disaster recovery
- Recommend a recovery solution for Azure and hybrid workloads that meets recovery objectives
- recommend a backup and recovery solution for compute (Microsoft Documentation: Azure Backup service)
- recommending a backup and recovery solution for databases (Microsoft Documentation: Back Up and Restore of SQL Server Databases)
- recommend a backup and recovery solution for unstructured data (Microsoft Documentation: Azure Storage archive, backup, and disaster recovery partners)
Design for high availability
- recommend a high availability solution for compute (Microsoft Documentation: Build solutions for high availability using availability zones)
- recommend a high availability solution for relational data storage (Microsoft Documentation: High availability for Azure SQL Database and SQL Managed Instance)
- Recommend a high availability solution for semi-structured and unstructured data
4. Design Infrastructure Solutions (30-35%)
Design a compute solution
- Specify components of a compute solution based on workload requirements
- recommend a virtual machine-based compute solution (Microsoft Documentation: Windows virtual machines in Azure)
- recommend a container-based compute solution (Microsoft Documentation: Choose an Azure compute service for your application)
- recommending a serverless-based compute solution (Microsoft Documentation: Serverless computing)
- Recommend a compute solution for batch processing
Design an application architecture
- recommend a messaging architecture (Microsoft Documentation: Asynchronous messaging options in Azure)
- recommending an event-driven architecture (Microsoft Documentation: Event-driven architecture style)
- recommend a solution for API integration (Microsoft Documentation: API Management)
- recommend a caching solution for applications (Microsoft Documentation: Caching)
- recommend an application configuration management solution (Microsoft Documentation: Configuration Manager)
- recommending an automated deployment solution for your applications (Microsoft Documentation: Deployment considerations for DevOps)
Design migrations
- evaluate a migration solution that leverages the Microsoft Cloud Adoption Framework for Azure (Microsoft Documentation: Get started with the Cloud Adoption Framework)
- Evaluate on-premises servers, data, and applications for migration
- Recommend a solution for migrating workloads to infrastructure as a service (IaaS) and platform as a service (PaaS)
- recommending a solution for migrating databases (Microsoft Documentation: Azure Database Migration Service)
- recommend a solution for migrating unstructured data (Microsoft Documentation: Azure Storage migration overview)
Design network solutions
- recommend a connectivity solution that connects Azure resources to the internet (Microsoft Documentation: Azure networking services overview)
- recommending a connectivity solution that connects Azure resources to on-premises networks (Microsoft Documentation: Connect an on-premises network to a Microsoft Azure virtual network)
- Recommend a solution to optimize network performance
- recommend a solution to optimize network security (Microsoft Documentation: Azure best practices for network security)
- recommend a load balancing and routing solution (Microsoft Documentation: Understand Azure load balancing)
How Difficult is the AZ-305 Exam?
The AZ-305 exam is considered moderate to high in difficulty, primarily because it tests not just your knowledge of Azure services but your ability to apply that knowledge in complex, real-world design scenarios. This is not an entry-level exam—it is designed for professionals with hands-on experience and architectural mindset.
Why Is AZ-305 Challenging?
| Challenge Area | Why It’s Difficult |
|---|---|
| Architecture-Level Thinking | Requires designing systems that balance performance, security, cost, and scalability. |
| Cross-Domain Knowledge | You need to understand networking, storage, identity, governance, and business needs. |
| Scenario-Based Questions | Most questions present complex business scenarios; you must choose the best-fit solution, not just a correct one. |
| Trade-off Evaluation | You must often pick between equally valid options based on cost, latency, or resilience. |
| Azure Best Practices | A deep understanding of Microsoft’s reference architectures and design principles is essential. |
Who Will Find It Easier?
- Azure administrators or engineers with 2+ years of experience
- Those who have already passed AZ-104
- Professionals involved in designing end-to-end cloud solutions
Who Might Struggle?
- Beginners with limited Azure or cloud design experience
- Candidates focused only on implementation rather than architectural trade-offs
- Those unfamiliar with cost optimization, compliance, or security strategies
AZ-305 is an exam that rewards strategic thinking and practical design skills. It is not about memorizing service limits—it is about knowing how to build the right solution for the right problem.
Step-by-Step Study Plan for AZ-305
To prepare effectively for the AZ-305 exam, you need a structured study schedule that balances theory with hands-on experience. Here is a 5-week timeline to help you cover all key topics and build real design skills:
| Week | Focus Area | Activities |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Identity, Governance & Monitoring | Study Azure AD, Conditional Access, RBAC, Azure Policies, Blueprints, Azure Monitor, and Alerts. Build governance models in a test tenant. |
| Week 2 | Data Storage Solutions | Compare Blob, Files, SQL, Cosmos DB, and manage backup/retention. Use scenarios to choose best-fit storage. |
| Week 3 | Infrastructure Design | Design VMs, load balancers, VNets, hybrid connectivity, container infrastructure. Use Azure Architecture Center. |
| Week 4 | Business Continuity Solutions | Study high availability, fault domains, availability zones, backup, and disaster recovery strategies. Practice using Azure Site Recovery. |
| Week 5 | Mock Exams & Review | Take 2–3 full-length practice exams from Skilr. Analyze results. Revisit weaker areas using Microsoft Learn modules and architecture case studies. |
How to Prepare successfully for the AZ-305 Exam?
Passing AZ-305 is not just about reading or watching videos—it is about learning to think like a cloud architect. You must practice designing systems that are secure, scalable, and aligned with business needs. Below are practical ways to strengthen your preparation.
| Practice Strategy | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Build Architecture Diagrams | Practice drawing solutions for high availability, hybrid setups, and cost control. |
| Use Microsoft’s Azure Architecture Center | Study reference architectures, best practices, and real-world patterns. |
| Set Up Governance Features | Create policies, RBAC roles, and management groups in a test environment. |
| Experiment with Network Designs | Create VNets, peerings, NSGs, route tables, VPN Gateways, and ExpressRoute setups. |
| Test Storage & Backup Solutions | Compare Blob, File, SQL, and Cosmos DB for various workloads. Implement backup and replication. |
| Use Azure Pricing Calculator & TCO Estimator | Learn how to evaluate cost-optimized solutions. |
| Solve Architecture Case Studies | Break down business needs, identify trade-offs, and explain your choices. |
Resources to Use for AZ-305 Practice
To succeed in the AZ-305 exam, use a mix of structured learning, hands-on practice, and real-world reference materials. Below are the most effective resources:
- Microsoft Learn – AZ-305 Learning Path
- Free, official modules covering all exam domains
- Includes interactive labs and self-paced learning paths
- Keeps your study aligned with Microsoft’s latest skill outline
- Microsoft Azure Architecture Center
- Real-world reference architectures and design principles
- Decision guides and performance trade-off scenarios
- Essential for understanding infrastructure and governance models
- Microsoft Docs
- Deep technical documentation for Azure services
- Ideal for reviewing specifics on networking, backup, identity, and more
- Frequently used in real-world solution design
- Skilr Learning YouTube Channel
- Visual explanations of complex architecture topics
- Scenario-driven breakdowns of hybrid cloud, networking, and governance
- Trusted by many AZ-305 candidates for supplemental learning
- Practice Exams
- Timed mock exams to simulate the real test
- Helps identify weak areas and improve time management
- Useful for getting used to scenario-based question formats
- Azure Pricing Calculator & TCO Estimator
- Practice building cost-efficient solutions
- Important for answering questions related to budgeting and trade-offs
- Community Forums and Groups
- Join Microsoft Tech Community, LinkedIn groups, or Reddit forums like r/AZURE
- Learn from the experience of other professionals
- Ask questions and review real implementation use cases
Career Impact of AZ-305 Certification
Earning the Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert certification through AZ-305 can significantly advance your cloud career. This credential validates your ability to design secure, scalable, and resilient cloud solutions—skills that are in high demand across industries.
Key Career Benefits:
- Recognition as an Azure Expert
- Demonstrates that you can lead architectural discussions, make design decisions, and guide technical teams.
- Earns respect from peers, clients, and hiring managers as someone with strategic insight—not just implementation skills.
- Better Job Opportunities
- Qualifies you for high-level roles such as Azure Solution Architect, Cloud Consultant, Infrastructure Architect, or Enterprise Cloud Strategist.
- Opens doors in multinational companies, consultancies, and enterprise IT departments.
- Higher Salary Potential
- Azure-certified architects often command 20–40% higher salaries than non-certified counterparts.
- Adds measurable value to your professional profile, especially in leadership or hybrid cloud positions.
- Bridge to Leadership Roles
- Architects are typically involved in long-term planning, client engagement, and cross-functional decision-making.
- The certification signals readiness for technical leadership roles.
- Future-Proof Career Path
- Azure is a rapidly growing platform. The AZ-305 certification ensures your skills are aligned with evolving business needs and cloud technologies.
Conclusion
The AZ-305 exam is not just a test—it is a professional milestone for anyone aiming to become an Azure Solutions Architect. While the exam is challenging, it is absolutely achievable with the right approach. It demands a strategic mindset, real-world design skills, and the ability to evaluate trade-offs in areas like cost, performance, and scalability.
By following a structured study plan, focusing on Microsoft Learn, practicing with architecture scenarios, and reviewing case studies, you will be well-prepared to pass the exam. More importantly, you will gain the confidence to design solutions that solve complex business problems using Azure.
