IT Support (22) close to AZ-104 – How to move into SysAdmin / Cloud?

Posted by Dannyeloso@reddit | sysadmin | View on Reddit | 5 comments

Hi all, I’m 22, currently working in IT Support (\~1 year) handling AD, basic GPOs, M365/Exchange admin, and some basic Azure identity tasks. Most of my role is still helpdesk, but I want to transition into SysAdmin / junior cloud roles. I’m close to scheduling AZ-104 and have been completing the official Microsoft labs, deploying resources myself (RBAC, VNets, storage, VMs, monitoring, governance). I understand the fundamentals, but I want to know what actually makes someone job-ready beyond certification. From your experience, after AZ-104, should I focus on: * Automation (PowerShell / Azure CLI) * Terraform / Infrastructure as Code * More complex Azure projects and networking * Multi-cloud exposure (AWS fundamentals) * Or other practical skills that hiring managers value? I want to move out of helpdesk and gain real infrastructure responsibilities within 6–12 months. Any guidance on prioritizing skills or projects would be much appreciated.

5 Comments

[-]

TurnoverEmergency352@reddit

to move up fast, automate tasks with powershell, learn terraform by deploying real azure resources, and use infros for hands on iac practice beyond labs.

UsersLieAllTheTime@reddit

Automation for sure, the language isn't the most important to me but I would recommend PowerShell if you continue being in a microsoft / microsoft cloud shop

Charming_Cupcake5876@reddit

Az-104 absolutely decimated me and i've never recovered.

DarthPneumono@reddit

Don't hard focus on specific tools unless you've got a specific goal in mind, learn the basics because they transfer very well even if the specifics of implementation don't. Automation is and will always be critical to almost any environment, scripting and infrastructure and most important knowledge of how those pieces fit together. Infrastructure as code is just one of many parts of that. There will also always be demand for network talent, and as a sysadmin you definitely want the basics as a bare minimum. (More sysadmins could stand to learn a lot more networking, we should all have the basics...) Also, work on interpersonal skills. Unfortunately still required even in the mostly-technical positions, if only to get past HR.

iamLisppy@reddit

Buy yourself or have the company buy it the book called PowerShell in a Month of Lunches and I would say give a looksie loo at this site [Learn to Cloud - Your Path to Cloud Computing](https://ca-ltc-api-dev.whiteocean-ee25ad60.centralus.azurecontainerapps.io/) Since you're 22 and only have \~1 YOE thus far, enjoy your journey and try not to rush going into a big boy role. Took me about \~3 years to get into my jr sysadmin role and now transitioned out of jr to not jr after about a year at a new company. Really dig into getting the fundamentals of IT down! To ask you further: what does your day to day tasks look like? Actually describe stuff you work on or with to give us all a better idea to further help you.

Reply to Post

5 Comments