Microsoft Cloud Skills Challenge
30 Days to Learn It
How do you plan on thriving in your field? Complete a challenge within 30 days and take the next step in becoming a subject matter expert.
Start your journeyDevelop proficiency with the most in-demand skills and advance your career
30 Days to Learn It can help you build skills and start your preparation for Microsoft Certifications for AI, DevOps, Microsoft 365, low code, IoT, data science, cloud development, and more. Select your challenge below, work through learning modules, and exchange ideas with peers through a global community forum.
20% PRODUCTIVITY INCREASE
Trained and certified teams responsible for core IT activities are generally more productive than uncertified staff.[1]
58% EXPERIENCED CAREER IMPROVEMENT
More than half of certified professionals reported that Azure certifications have helped them improve their career progression opportunities.[2]
42% RECEIVED HIGHER PAY
In one survey, almost half of the professionals who earned Azure certifications ended up increasing their salary.[2]
1Source: IDC White Paper, sponsored by Microsoft, Benefits of Role-Based Certifications (June 2020)
2Source: Nigel Frank Microsoft Azure Salary Survey (June 2020)
Achieve your career goals
You can be eligible for 50 percent off the cost of a Microsoft Certification exam by completing your challenge within 30 days. See Terms and Conditions for eligibility details.
Azure Network Engineer
Gain expertise in planning, implementing, and maintaining Azure networking solutions, including hybrid networking, connectivity, routing, security, and private access to Azure services. This learning journey is designed for participants who have experience with networking concepts and connectivity methods.
Azure Data Fundamentals
Gain a foundation in core database concepts in cloud environments and data services including relational data, nonrelational data, big data, and analytics. This learning journey is designed for participants with both technical and nontechnical backgrounds.
Azure Database Administrator
Begin learning how to manage the operational aspects of cloud-native and hybrid data platform solutions built with Microsoft SQL Server and Microsoft Azure Data Services. This learning journey is designed to equip participants with a variety of methods and tools to perform day-to-day operations at an introductory level.
Information Protection Administrator
Protect your organization’s information and resources by learning how to create policies that enable content classification, prevent data loss, and meet governance requirements.
Windows Server Hybrid Administrator
Gain expertise in configuring and managing Windows Server on-premises, hybrid, and infrastructure as a service (IaaS) platform workloads. This learning journey is designed for participants who administer core and advanced Windows Server workloads and services using on-premises, hybrid, and cloud technologies.
Azure Cosmos DB Developer
Start developing modern applications in the cloud with a fully managed, NoSQL database. This learning journey is designed for participants with experience designing, implementing, and monitoring cloud native applications that store and manage data.
Azure Virtual Desktop Fundamentals
Gain the ability to plan the architecture for an Azure Virtual Desktop deployment, manage access and security, manage user environments and apps, and monitor and maintain an Azure Virtual Desktop environment.
Build apps with Microsoft Graph
Microsoft Graph is the gateway to data and intelligence in Microsoft 365. It allows a programmability model to access the data in Microsoft 365, Windows 10, and Enterprise Mobility + Security. Use Microsoft Graph to build apps for organizations and consumers that interact with millions of users.
Azure AI Fundamentals
Get a solid foundation in machine learning and AI concepts including computer vision, natural language processing, and conversational AI. This learning journey is designed for participants with both technical and nontechnical backgrounds.
Designing Azure Infrastructure Solutions
Design cloud and hybrid solutions that run on Microsoft Azure, including compute, network, storage, monitoring, and security.
Microsoft 365 Developer
Design, build, test, and maintain apps and solutions with Microsoft 365, Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Identity, and Microsoft Graph. Customize solutions to increase productivity and collaboration.
Java on Azure Developer
Start developing modern Java applications in the cloud with managed compute, databases, and DevOps services. This learning journey is designed for participants with familiarity developing and running Java applications and beginner-level experience with cloud infrastructure.
Azure Developer
Participate in all phases of cloud development to create end-to-end solutions. Design, build, test, and maintain cloud applications using compute, storage, management, and security services on Azure.
DevOps Engineer
Design and implement DevOps processes and practices. Develop an instrumentation strategy with logging, telemetry, and monitoring. Manage source control with GitHub to foster collaboration and automate build and deployment processes.
Power Platform App Maker
Build solutions including apps, AI, and reporting with low code and configuration. Simplify, automate, and transform tasks and processes using the Microsoft Power Platform.
Azure Synapse Analytics
Take your data analytics skills to the next level with Azure Synapse Analytics. Learn how to integrate, transform, and consolidate data from various structured and unstructured data systems into structures that are suitable for building analytics solutions.
Azure Data Scientist
Design and implement a data science solution on Azure. Learn how to build machine learning models, no-code predictive models, and ML solutions, and run data science workloads in the cloud.
Your path to success
Be prepared and stay motivated
After you choose a challenge, you’ll receive a welcome email with all the information you need to get started. You can manage your progress through the challenge page and exchange ideas with peers through a global community forum.
Sharpen your technical skills
30 Days to Learn It can help you build the technical skills you need to advance your career with free self-paced, interactive learning modules that can increase your productivity and efficiency.
You can be eligible for 50 percent off Microsoft Certification exams
Complete your challenge within 30 days to be eligible for 50 percent off the cost of a Microsoft Certification exam. Terms and Conditions apply.
Frequently asked questions
How do I start a challenge?
To start this challenge, register by clicking the "Begin now" button. You'll be asked to log in to your Microsoft Learn account and will be added to the challenge.
If you don’t have a Microsoft Learn account, that is okay. You can create a free account by selecting “Create account” from the login screen when joining the challenge.
How do I complete the challenge?
To complete a challenge, you'll need to finish the designated collection of Learn content before the challenge end date (within 30 days of signing up for the challenge).
How can I tell if I’ve completed the challenge?
In the 'where you stand' section you will see a fraction that equals 100% (i.e. 8/8 or 5/5 or 12/12).
What if my module completions aren't showing up?
The challenge page and 'where you stand' section take up to a few hours to refresh. Please wait a few hours and check again.
How do I find all of my challenges?
You can find all the challenges you've previously participated in, or are currently participating in, on the challenge tab in your Learn account profile.
How can I make sure I receive Cloud Skills Challenge emails?
Update and save your “Email for notifications” in your Learn account profile.
What should I do if I’m having trouble completing a module?
For all issues with Microsoft Learn content please review the Learn troubleshooting page.
When will I receive my discounted certification exam code?
Discounted certification exam codes will be delivered by email within 3 days of completing all modules within a challenge. You will need to have an “Email for notifications” saved in your Microsoft Learn profile prior to completing the challenge to receive this email.
I completed more than one challenge, but only received one discounted certification exam code.
Each person is only eligible to receive one (1) discounted certification exam code every six months. If you complete an additional challenge more than six months after receiving your first code, you will be eligible for another code at that time.