r/AzureCertifications

Hello everyone!

I'm looking for ways to get more hands-on practice.

My school gives me access to Azure VMs for specific labs, but I don’t have a proper Azure environment where I can freely deploy resources and experiment. Microsoft Learn is useful, but I’m mainly looking for something similar to the old Azure sandboxes, or any cheap/free alternative where I can practice deploying and managing Azure resources.

I’m currently working through RBAC and using Microsoft Learn and YouTube. I’ve also got the Microsoft Exam Ref books for Azure Fundamentals and Azure Administrator.

What resources did you guys use to prepare for AZ-104? Any good practice labs, exam-style questions, or platforms where I can actually be given tasks like “deploy this VM” or “configure this resource”?

Any advice or recommendations would be appreciated!

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for advice from anyone who has experienced a Microsoft certification exam restriction.

My Microsoft exam was revoked during the exam session, and Microsoft’s security team later confirmed that they had recorded evidence of me using a cell phone. I appealed the restriction, but the appeal was rejected.

One important detail is that the actual exam had not even started. The restriction happened before I could see or attempt Question 1 — I did not answer a single exam question.

The email I received from Microsoft says:

* The restriction will remain for 6 months.
* After 6 months, the restriction will be partially lifted and I can take exams at test centers, but not through online proctoring.
* After 1 year, the online proctoring restriction will also be lifted.
* The restrictions will automatically be lifted.

My situation is a little complicated because I newly joined one organisation and I am in the holding pool and I have a mandatory certification plan where I’m required to complete one role based certification within 2 weeks.

I can currently log into my existing Microsoft account and it even allows me to proceed with scheduling an exam. I obviously don’t want to assume that means the restriction has been lifted.

My questions are:

1. Has anyone had a similar Microsoft restriction and successfully taken a Microsoft exam at a Pearson VUE test center after the 6-month period?
2. Is there any legitimate way to complete Microsoft certifications during the first 6 months, or do I simply need to wait for the test-center restriction to be lifted?
3. Since I need to complete a certification within two weeks for work, what would be the best way to handle this situation?

I just need to understand my legitimate options because the certification requirement at work is time-sensitive.

Any advice from people who have actually gone through a similar situation would be greatly appreciated.