Architecture begins with the business constraint
AZ-305 concerns designing Azure infrastructure solutions, including identity, governance, monitoring, storage, continuity and infrastructure. Microsoft expects substantial operational knowledge and experience understanding how decisions affect the complete solution. The Azure Solutions Architect Expert credential has requirements beyond simply reading an AZ-305 syllabus; verify its prerequisite route before booking. Older headlines referring to 2024 should be read as historical context. Build a current decision portfolio using the April 2026 outline and the Azure Well-Architected Framework rather than repeating a list of reasons to obtain a badge.
Distinguish three directory models
Azure AD is the former name of Microsoft Entra ID. It supplies cloud identity and access capabilities. On-premises Active Directory Domain Services provides traditional domain services under the organisation’s administration. Microsoft Entra Domain Services, formerly Azure AD Domain Services, provides managed domain capabilities for scenarios needing features such as domain join and legacy authentication. A name similarity does not make these interchangeable. For a legacy application, identify its actual protocol and domain dependencies before proposing migration; an application using cloud sign-in and one requiring traditional domain services present different design questions.
Choose storage from access behaviour
Compare an application’s object data, shared files, virtual-machine disks and relational records. Blob storage, Azure Files, managed disks and database services serve different access and management needs. Ask about access protocol, concurrency, latency, structure, throughput and retention before selecting a product. In a worked case, a photo archive needs economical object storage and lifecycle management, whereas a legacy application expecting a network file share needs a different evaluation. Do not infer that the cheapest capacity price produces the lowest total cost when access, transfer and operational effort are included.
Treat recovery as part of storage design
A retailer wants to recover from both a regional disruption and accidental data deletion. Define acceptable data loss and outage duration separately, then assess availability, replication, backup and restore capabilities against those requirements. Explain what happens when a mistaken deletion is replicated. Document recovery dependencies such as identity, networking, keys and application configuration, not only the data service. A credible architecture includes a test plan with observable success criteria and a named owner; a diagram with a second region does not establish recoverability.
Make governance and monitoring operational
Define subscriptions and resource organisation in terms of ownership, policy, access and cost accountability. Identify which logs are necessary to diagnose an outage, who can read them and how long the organisation needs them. Use a fictional incident where application access fails despite healthy compute. Trace identity, network and data dependencies before recommending additional capacity. This develops architectural reasoning across boundaries and demonstrates why a design must serve administrators and responders as well as the initial deployment team.
Build a reviewable portfolio and a realistic value case
Write three architecture decision records: an identity model, a storage selection and a continuity design. Each should state requirements, alternatives, the selected approach, limitations and a validation method. Ask a peer to change one constraint, such as residency or recovery time, and explain how the recommendation changes. Is AZ-305 valuable for everyone? It is most relevant when the target role includes cross-service design and stakeholder advice. It does not guarantee a salary or architect job. Pair the credential with administration evidence, clear communication and examples of decisions that survive operational review.
Official references
Certification requirements and programme terms can change. Use the issuer’s current page and your account to confirm details before applying or paying.