“Two clouds, one choice—pick the path that lifts your voice!”
Introduction
Cloud computing is becoming an essential skill for IT professionals, and certifications can help you stand out in the job market. Whether you're a beginner looking to break into cloud computing or an experienced engineer wanting to validate your skills, AWS and Azure offer foundational certifications to help you get started. In this post, we'll compare AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner (CLF-C02) and Microsoft Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900) to help you decide which certification suits your goals best.
Exam Overview
| Feature | AWS CLF-C02 | Azure AZ-900 |
|---|---|---|
| Exam Duration | 90 minutes | 60 minutes |
| Number of Questions | 65 | 40-60 |
| Question Type | Multiple choice & multiple response | Multiple choice, true/false, drag & drop |
| Validity | 3 years | Lifetime |
Ease of Learning
- AWS CLF-C02: Covers a broad range of AWS services, concepts, and best practices. Requires understanding of pricing, security, and cloud computing basics.
- Azure AZ-900: Focuses on Microsoft Azure’s core concepts, with an emphasis on services, security, and cost management.
Winner: AZ-900 is slightly easier because of its simpler question format and shorter duration.
Question Difficulty
- AWS CLF-C02: Requires practical understanding and real-world scenarios. Some questions are tricky and require analyzing different services.
- Azure AZ-900: More straightforward questions, including true/false and drag & drop, making it beginner-friendly.
Winner: AZ-900 is easier, but AWS CLF-C02 provides a stronger challenge for real-world scenarios.
Industry Adoption & Job Opportunities
- AWS: Amazon Web Services dominates the cloud market with 31% market share, making AWS certifications highly valued.
- Azure: Microsoft Azure holds 24% market share, with strong adoption in enterprises using Microsoft products (e.g., Office 365, Windows Server).
Winner: AWS has a broader global reach, but Azure is a great choice if you're targeting enterprise jobs.
Career Benefits
-
AWS CLF-C02:
- Ideal for those pursuing AWS Associate-level certifications.
- Helps in cloud-related job roles like Cloud Engineer, DevOps, and Solutions Architect.
- Recognized in startups and enterprises alike.
-
Azure AZ-900:
- Good for IT professionals in Microsoft-centric environments.
- Leads to Azure role-based certifications like Azure Administrator (AZ-104) or Azure Solutions Architect (AZ-305).
Winner: AWS CLF-C02 is more flexible, but AZ-900 is better for Microsoft-focused careers.
Should Experienced Engineers Take These Certifications?
If you are already working in IT or cloud computing, you might wonder whether these foundational certifications are worth your time. Here’s what you need to consider:
- AWS CLF-C02: Useful if you plan to advance to AWS Associate or Professional certifications. It provides a strong foundation but may be too basic for those with hands-on AWS experience.
- Azure AZ-900: Good for professionals working in Microsoft-based environments who want to expand their Azure knowledge. If you already use Azure daily, you might want to skip this and go for AZ-104 or AZ-305.
Verdict: If you're experienced, these exams can still be useful for filling knowledge gaps or earning an official certification, but you might want to jump straight to mid-level or advanced certifications.
Final Verdict: Which One to Choose?
| Criteria | Winner |
|---|---|
| Easiest for Beginners | AZ-900 |
| Industry Demand | AWS CLF-C02 |
| Better for Microsoft-based jobs | AZ-900 |
| Broader Career Opportunities | AWS CLF-C02 |
| Exam Simplicity | AZ-900 |
- If you want an easier start, go with Azure AZ-900.
- If you want the most widely recognized certification, go for AWS CLF-C02.
Both are great for beginners, so pick based on your career goals!
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