Azure Security Engineer Associate

cybersecurity Intermediate Updated: 2025-04-10 Methodology

The Microsoft Certified: Azure Security Engineer Associate (AZ-500) validates skills in managing identity and access, securing networking, compute, and data, plus managing security operations in Azure cloud environments.

$125K
Avg Salary
55%
Pass Rate
12.0K
Job Listings
120h
Study Time
$165
Exam Cost

Exam Details

Exam CodeAZ-500
Exam Cost$165 USD
Duration150 minutes
Questions60
Passing Score700/1000
ProviderMicrosoft
Difficulty7/10

Salary Data

Professionals holding the Azure Security Engineer Associate certification earn between $95,000 and $165,000 annually, with an average of $125,000.

Job market demand trend: Growing (+14% YoY)

Prerequisites

  • Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104) strongly recommended
  • Experience with Azure security services (Defender, Sentinel, Key Vault)
  • Understanding of networking, identity (Entra ID), and cloud security concepts

Skills Covered

Azure Identity & Access Management (Entra ID)Network Security (NSG, Firewall, WAF)Azure Key Vault & Data EncryptionMicrosoft Defender for CloudMicrosoft Sentinel (SIEM)Security Operations & Incident Response

Best Study Resources

Official

Microsoft Learn — AZ-500 Learning Path

 Free Course

John Savill — AZ-500 Study Cram

 Practice Exams

MeasureUp Practice Exams

 Hands-on Labs

Microsoft Applied Skills Labs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is AZ-500 worth it for security professionals?
Yes, especially if you work in or plan to work in Azure environments. With enterprises increasingly moving to Azure, cloud security skills are in high demand. AZ-500 holders earn an average of $125K and the certification is often required for Azure security architect roles.
How hard is the AZ-500 exam?
Moderately to highly challenging with an estimated 55% pass rate. It includes multiple-choice questions, case studies, and hands-on labs. Strong hands-on experience with Azure security services is essential — theory alone won't pass this exam.
Should I get AZ-104 before AZ-500?
While not strictly required, AZ-104 (Azure Administrator) provides foundational Azure knowledge that makes AZ-500 significantly easier. Most successful candidates have AZ-104 or equivalent hands-on Azure experience before attempting AZ-500.

Data Sources

  • Salary data — Aggregated from job postings and salary surveys (US median)
  • Job listings — Active postings across major job boards
  • Pass rates — Community-reported estimates (not official vendor data)
  • Exam details — Microsoft official documentation