AZ-700 Certification Guide 2026: How to Pass the Microsoft Azure Network Engineer Exam

If you want to design, secure, and scale cloud networks, the Microsoft Certified: Azure Network Engineer Associate (AZ‑700) is one of the best ways to prove it. This guide walks you through everything you need to know—from what the certification covers and how the exam works, to a practical study plan and hands‑on labs. Whether you’re a student breaking into cloud or an early‑career professional leveling up, this is your step‑by‑step playbook.

What Is the Microsoft Certified: Azure Network Engineer Associate?

The Azure Network Engineer Associate validates that you can design, implement, and manage Azure networking solutions used in real organizations. The official exam is AZ‑700: Designing and Implementing Microsoft Azure Networking Solutions. The certification page outlines the credential, registration, languages, and renewal details; it’s a great place to bookmark for announcements and updates.

Why it matters:

• It focuses on production‑grade Azure networking—beyond basic VNet creation. Expect topics like BGP route control, Private Link, ExpressRoute, Virtual WAN, and L7 application delivery.

• It maps to common enterprise topologies such as hub‑and‑spoke and Virtual WAN landing zones used in cloud adoption programs.

• It’s vendor‑official and renews annually via a free assessment, helping you stay current as Azure releases new networking features.

Actionable takeaway:

• Skim the official certification page first to see exam languages, scheduling options, and renewal policy. Make this your source of truth for logistics and policy changes.

Who Should Take AZ‑700?

This certification is a fit if you:

• Work (or want to work) as an Azure Network Engineer, Cloud/Network Architect, Infrastructure Engineer, or SRE responsible for connectivity, routing, and application delivery in Azure.

• Already understand basic Azure administration and core networking concepts like subnets, IP addressing, DNS, routing, and firewalls.

• Want a structured way to move from “I can deploy a VNet” to “I can design and operate a secure, global, multi‑tier Azure network.”

Actionable takeaway:

• If you’ve completed or are working toward AZ‑104 (Administrator Associate), AZ‑700 is a natural next step to specialize in networking.

What You’ll Learn: Skills Measured on AZ‑700

Microsoft publishes a detailed, versioned study guide with skill weights. As of early 2026, the exam covers five major areas. Here’s a learner‑friendly view and how to practice them.

1) Design and implement core networking infrastructure (about 25–30%)

• Virtual networks: IP planning, address spaces, subnets, IPv4/IPv6, VNet peering (regional/global).

• Routing: System routes vs user‑defined routes (UDR), BGP for dynamic routing, route tables and associations, effective routes.

• Name resolution: Azure DNS (public/private), Private DNS zones, hybrid DNS patterns.

• NAT and egress: NAT Gateway vs SNAT, outbound control, scaling outbound connectivity.

• Monitoring and troubleshooting: Network Watcher, Connection Monitor, NSG flow logs, Network Insights.

Hands‑on idea: Build two VNets with overlapping and non‑overlapping address spaces; test peering, UDRs, and NAT Gateway egress with and without custom routes.

2) Design, implement, and manage connectivity services (about 20–25%)

• VPNs: Site‑to‑site (S2S), point‑to‑site (P2S), tunnel types, authentication (RADIUS, certificates, Entra ID), redundancy and SLA design.

• ExpressRoute: Circuits, peering models, FastPath, failover strategies, encryption over ER, provider models.

• Virtual WAN: Hub design, routing intent/rules, transit between VNets/branches, scaling many sites/users.

Hands‑on idea: Simulate a branch and a data center using separate VNets. Configure S2S and P2S, then compare to a Virtual WAN hub. Practice failover and route control.

3) Design and implement application delivery services (about 15–20%)

• Load balancing choices: Azure Load Balancer (L4), Application Gateway (L7), Front Door (global L7), and when to use each.

• Web application firewall (WAF): Modes, policies, exclusions, tuning for false positives.

• Gateway Load Balancer: Service insertion patterns (e.g., third‑party appliances).

Hands‑on idea: Deploy a two‑tier web app. Place Azure Load Balancer in front of the app tier and Application Gateway + WAF in front of the web tier. Add Front Door for global routing and test failover.

4) Design and implement private access to Azure services (about 10–15%)

• Private Link and private endpoints: How PaaS services become reachable privately inside your VNets.

• Service endpoints vs Private Link: Pros/cons, security differences, cost and DNS considerations.

• DNS integration: Private DNS zones, split‑brain DNS, hybrid name resolution.

Hands‑on idea: Create a Storage Account and SQL Database with Private Endpoints. Wire up Private DNS zones so VMs and on‑prem devices resolve and connect privately.

5) Design and implement Azure network security services (about 15–20%)

• Network segmentation: NSG and ASG design, inbound/outbound rules, rule scoping.

• Azure Firewall/Firewall Policy: Rule collection groups, DNAT/SNAT, IDPS features, centralized vs per‑VNet.

• DDoS protection: Network‑level protections, recommended patterns for critical public endpoints.

• Monitoring and SecOps: Flow logs, alerts, Defender for Cloud recommendations.

Hands‑on idea: Build a hub‑and‑spoke. Place Azure Firewall in the hub, NSGs in spokes, and enforce egress inspection with UDRs to the firewall.

Actionable takeaway:

• Copy the skill bullets into your study tracker. Every item should have at least one hands‑on task and one short-note summary in your own words.

Exam Format, Time, and Passing Score

Key facts you should know before booking:

• You’ll typically see a mix of multiple‑choice, drag‑and‑drop, hot areas, and case studies. Some sittings may include labs, but not all do.

• Exam time is currently 100 minutes for associate‑level exams; total seat time is longer due to check‑in and instructions. Your scheduling confirmation shows the exact time.

• The passing score is 700 out of 1000.

Actionable takeaway:

• Spend 10–15 minutes with Microsoft’s Exam Sandbox and “exam experience” guidance so there are no surprises with question styles, breaks, or the interface.

Prerequisites and Recommended Experience

There’s no formal prerequisite exam for AZ‑700. That said, you’ll learn faster if you:

• Are comfortable deploying core Azure services (VMs, storage, identity integration).

• Know networking basics: IP addressing and subnetting, DNS, routing concepts, and firewall logic.

• Have some exposure to Azure AD (Microsoft Entra ID) for VPN auth scenarios.

Actionable takeaway:

• If you’re newer to cloud or networking, skim a quick subnetting refresher and complete a couple of Azure fundamentals modules before diving into the AZ‑700 path.

Price, Booking, and Retake Policy

• Price: Microsoft publishes country/region‑specific exam fees. In the United States, advanced role‑based exams like AZ‑700 are US$165. Prices vary globally and appear during checkout.

• Booking: You can schedule online or at a test center through Pearson VUE directly from the certification page.

• Retakes: After a first failure, you can retake in 24 hours. For subsequent attempts, there’s a 14‑day wait between tries (maximum of five attempts per 12 months). Each attempt usually requires a new payment unless your voucher includes a retake.

Actionable takeaway:

• If budget is tight, start with the free Microsoft Learn materials and AZ‑700 Practice Assessment. Only add a paid practice test or course once you’ve located specific weaknesses.

Renewal and Staying Current

• Renewal: The certification is valid for one year and can be renewed for free by passing a short, online assessment on Microsoft Learn during the 6‑month window before your cert expires.

• Why this helps: The AZ‑700 skill set evolves with Azure networking features. The renewal model keeps your knowledge active without another full, paid exam.

Actionable takeaway:

• After passing, set a calendar reminder five months before your expiration date to complete the renewal assessment with time to spare.

A Practical 6–8 Week Study Plan

This plan assumes you’re balancing study with work or school. If you have more experience, compress to 4–6 weeks; if you’re newer, expand to 10–12 weeks.

Week 1: Orientation and core VNets

• Read the full study guide to understand the scope and weights.

• Deploy two VNets with subnets, address planning, and peering (regional and global).

• Learn UDRs and effective routes. Capture your lab architecture and route tables in notes.

Week 2: DNS and NAT

• Configure Azure DNS and Private DNS zones. Practice name resolution inside VNets.

• Add NAT Gateway; compare SNAT exhaustion and outbound control with/without NAT.

• Start the free AZ‑700 Practice Assessment to surface weak spots.

Week 3: VPN fundamentals

• Build P2S with certificate and Entra ID auth to understand client configuration.

• Build S2S between simulated “branch” and “hub” VNets; test redundancy and failover.

• Review exam question types and timeboxing with the Exam Sandbox.

Week 4: ExpressRoute and Virtual WAN

• Study ER concepts (circuits, peering, FastPath) and design for resiliency.

• Create a Virtual WAN hub and connect multiple VNets/users; explore routing intent.

• Diagram traffic flows from branch to workload and back; note any gotchas you find.

Week 5: App delivery and WAF

• Compare Azure Load Balancer vs Application Gateway vs Front Door. Build a small two‑tier app behind an L7 gateway with WAF policy.

• Add Gateway Load Balancer in front of a VM‑based NVA for service insertion; document pros/cons.

Week 6: Private access and security

• Configure Private Link for Storage/SQL; wire Private DNS; validate no public exposure.

• Implement NSG/ASG segmentation and route egress through Azure Firewall in the hub.

• Turn on DDoS where appropriate and review monitoring with Network Watcher/Insights.

Final 1–2 weeks (buffer):

• Take a reputable practice test to replicate timing and stress. Close gaps with focused labs and docs.

• Skim through the skill bullets again and write a 1–2 sentence “proof point” for each—what you did in a lab that demonstrates it.

• Book your exam at a time of day when you’re most alert.

Actionable takeaway:

• Treat your lab like a mini‑project: a hub‑and‑spoke or Virtual WAN landing zone with hybrid connectivity, app delivery, Private Link, and central egress inspection. This mirrors real exam scenarios and real jobs.

Hands‑On Labs You Can Reuse at Work

Build once, apply everywhere. Here’s a compact lab sequence that meets most skill areas:

• Foundation

  • Hub‑and‑spoke with address planning, peering, UDRs, NAT Gateway for outbound.

• Hybrid connectivity

  • P2S for developers, S2S to a “branch,” and design notes for ExpressRoute.

  • Virtual WAN hub with at least two connected VNets; validate transitive routing.

• App delivery

  • Application Gateway + WAF in front of a web tier, Azure Load Balancer for app tier. Optional: Front Door for global routing.

• Private access and DNS

  • Private Link for Storage/SQL and Private DNS zones (link to VNets, test resolution).

• Security and monitoring

  • Azure Firewall in the hub; NSG/ASG in spokes; DDoS for public endpoints. Network Watcher Connection Monitor and NSG flow logs.

Actionable takeaway:

• Version‑control your Bicep/Terraform/ARM templates for the lab. Rebuild on demand to practice and to demonstrate IaC skills during interviews.

Real‑World Architecture Patterns You’ll Be Asked About

• Hub‑and‑spoke landing zone

  • Central hub for shared services (Firewall, DNS, monitoring), spokes for workloads. Clear segmentation and transitive routing patterns align with enterprise security baselines.

• Virtual WAN at scale

  • Managed global transit with branches/users/VNets hanging off Microsoft’s backbone. Strong fit for large, distributed enterprises and SASE‑style designs.

• Private access by default

  • Private Link/private endpoints for PaaS, Private DNS for name resolution, and outbound internet via central egress with inspection.

• Global application delivery

  • Front Door for global L7 routing, Application Gateway for regional WAF, and Azure Load Balancer for L4 scale; pick based on latency, layer, and policy needs.

Actionable takeaway:

• Don’t just memorize features—explain when and why you’d pick vWAN vs hub‑and‑spoke or Front Door vs Application Gateway. That’s how case studies are framed.

The Exam Experience: What It Feels Like

• Question styles

  • Multiple‑choice (single/multiple answers), drag‑and‑drop, hot areas, case studies requiring you to parse a scenario, and sometimes labs. Practicing under time helps reduce cognitive load.

• Timing strategy

  • Budget roughly 1.5–2 minutes per non‑case item. For case studies, skim the scenario, answer the low‑hanging fruit first, flag the rest, and circle back.

• Breaks and navigation

  • Learn the rules for section locks and breaks before your exam so you don’t lose time navigating the UI.

Actionable takeaway:

• Run one or two fully timed practice sets. Even strong candidates can get tripped up by time pressure more than content.

Career Value and ROI

• Roles this unlocks

  • Azure Network Engineer, Cloud Network Architect, Infrastructure Engineer, SRE with networking remit. The certification validates the exact skill set those roles need.

• Measurable benefits

  • Industry research reports that certifications are linked with promotions, pay raises, and better project outcomes. While numbers vary, many certified pros report career acceleration after earning role‑based credentials.

• Signaling

  • Job descriptions for Azure networking roles commonly list AZ‑700 or the full title as preferred or required, especially in enterprise and MSP environments.

Actionable takeaway:

• Add the certification to your résumé and LinkedIn with a one‑line summary of your lab (hub‑and‑spoke or vWAN, Private Link, WAF, central egress). Hiring managers love real examples.

Common Pitfalls (and How to Avoid Them)

• Studying features, not decisions

  • Fix: For every service, write “When I’d use it” and “When I wouldn’t” in one sentence each.

• Skipping DNS details with Private Link

  • Fix: Practice name resolution flows for hybrid (on‑prem to Azure) and multi‑VNet.

• Underestimating routing interactions

  • Fix: Trace usable routes (system + UDR + BGP) and confirm with effective routes on NICs or via Network Watcher tools.

• Ignoring ops and monitoring

  • Fix: Turn on flow logs, Connection Monitor, and experiment with alerting before the exam.

• No timeboxing practice

  • Fix: Do at least one realistic, timed run using a practice assessment or reputable practice test.

Actionable takeaway:

• Keep a “gotchas” page during study. If you surprise yourself in a lab, that’s a likely exam scenario—write it down and test it twice.

Your Exam‑Day Checklist

• Before the exam

  • Valid ID matches your Microsoft profile; system test passed for online proctoring; quiet, private room reserved; power and internet redundancy planned; arrive/check in 30 minutes early.

• During the exam

  • Pace yourself; flag hard items; complete all questions; leave 10 minutes at the end for review of marked items if the section allows.

• After the exam

  • If you pass, celebrate and update your profiles the same day. If not, use the score report to target weak areas and retake when you’re ready.

Actionable takeaway:

• Reduce friction: set up your space, test your system, and secure backup internet (hotspot) if possible. Most exam stress is logistics, not knowledge.

Recommended Resources (Curated)

Use these official and reputable resources first:

• Certification and scheduling page: details, languages, booking (Pearson VUE), renewal, and policies.

• AZ‑700 Study Guide: definitive, versioned “skills measured” with the latest update date.

• Exam duration and experience: timing, breaks, question types, and the Exam Sandbox.

• Free learning path and Practice Assessment: structured modules plus a readiness check.

• Official course AZ‑700T00‑A: guided, instructor‑led track aligned to the exam.

• MicrosoftLearning AZ‑700 GitHub labs: hands‑on exercises you can reuse.

• Exam Readiness Zone videos: short, exam‑focused sessions to reinforce key areas.

• Reputable practice tests: use to find gaps and practice timing, not to memorize answers.

Actionable takeaway:

• Bookmark the certification page and study guide; check them again the week before your exam for any “skills measured” updates.

FAQs

Q1: How many questions are on AZ‑700, and how long do I get?

Most Microsoft role‑based exams include 40–60 questions. AZ‑700’s current exam time is 100 minutes for the core assessment (your total seat time is longer due to check‑in and instructions). Your confirmation page is the final authority.

Q2: What score do I need to pass?

You need 700 out of 1000 to pass.

Q3: Do I need to pass AZ‑104 first?

No. There’s no formal prerequisite. However, familiarity with Azure administration and networking fundamentals makes AZ‑700 preparation much smoother.

Q4: How much does the exam cost?

Pricing varies by country/region. In the United States, advanced role‑based exams like AZ‑700 are US$165. Final pricing is shown during scheduling.

Q5: How do renewals work?

You can renew for free each year by passing a short, online, open‑book assessment on Microsoft Learn during the 6‑month window before your certification expires.

Conclusion: If you want to prove you can design and run serious Azure networks, AZ‑700 is a smart, practical credential. Use the official study guide to anchor your plan, build a reusable landing‑zone lab, and practice decisions—not just features. Book your date, follow the 6–8 week roadmap, and you’ll walk into the exam with confidence.