Free course on Microsoft Learn
Microsoft's Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900) is a free course on Microsoft Learn introducing Microsoft Azure, the cloud platform. You learn core Azure services, basic architecture, pricing, and security. The course prepares you for the AZ-900 certification exam. After finishing, you understand Azure and can discuss cloud concepts. Azure competes with AWS and Google Cloud. It's strong in enterprise (Windows, SQL Server integration) and Microsoft tooling. The main limitation: AZ-900 is entry-level. For real Azure work, you need deeper courses like AZ-104 or AZ-900 is often a stepping stone.
Microsoft was the second-largest infrastructure-as-a-service provider worldwide in 2024, with 23.9% market share behind AWS at 37.7% (source: gartner.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2025-08-06-gartner-says-worldwide-iaas-public-cloud-services-market-grew-22-point-5-percent-in-2024).
Microsoft Learn's first learning path for the AZ-900 Azure Fundamentals certification. Covers cloud computing concepts, deployment models, and shared responsibility in the cloud. Part one of a four-part Introduction to Cloud Infrastructure series that maps to the full AZ-900 exam.
Cloud ComputingBeginner
freeCodeCamp's full AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner exam prep course (second edition). 13 hours of structured content covering every domain of the CCP exam: cloud concepts, security, technology, and billing. Includes a free practice exam from ExamPro.
Cloud ComputingBeginner
AWS's official free training preparing you for the Cloud Practitioner certification. Covers core AWS services, pricing, security, and cloud fundamentals. The standard on-ramp into the AWS ecosystem.