AWS DevOps Engineer Professional vs Microsoft AZ-400: Which Path is Better?
DevOps has become a very popular career choice as companies move to the cloud and use more automation. To show your skills, two main certifications are important: the AWS Certified DevOps Engineer – Professional (DOP-C02) and the Microsoft Azure DevOps Solutions (AZ-400) exam.
Both certifications are advanced and can lead to well-paying DevOps jobs, but they focus on different systems. If you are thinking about whether to get the AWS DevOps Engineer Professional or Microsoft AZ-400, this guide will compare what each certification covers, the format of the exams, job opportunities, and career growth to help you decide
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What Is AWS DevOps Engineer – Professional?
AWS Certified DevOps Engineer Professional (DOP-C02) is an Amazon Web Services professional certification. It means you are able to automate and manage extensive AWS systems, and infrastructure automation and continuous delivery feature highly in it.
This exam covers:
- Designing and implementing CI/CD pipelines
- Automating infrastructure with CloudFormation and CDK
- Monitoring applications with CloudWatch and X-Ray
- Applying security and governance practices in DevOps workflows
It is for candidates who have over two years of experience in AWS in system deployment, operations, and maintenance. It contains 65 multiple-choice questions and takes 180 minutes, and this makes it one of the most challenging AWS certifications.
What Is Microsoft AZ-400?
Microsoft Certified: Azure DevOps Engineer Expert (AZ-400) can be considered one of Microsoft’s best certifications for those who develop and practice DevOps practices in Azure. The certification targets skills in planning, team work, and process management as compared to AWS, who concentrate more on technical skills.
Key areas tested include:
- Implementing source control with Git and GitHub
- Designing and maintaining CI/CD workflows using Azure Pipelines
- Managing infrastructure as code with ARM templates and Bicep
- Applying monitoring, governance, and compliance best practices
To take the exam, you must first earn either AZ-104 (Azure Administrator) or AZ-204 (Azure Developer). The exam has about 40–60 questions, with a 150-minute duration.
AWS DevOps Engineer Professional vs Microsoft AZ-400: Key Differences
Feature | AWS DevOps Engineer – Professional | Microsoft AZ-400 |
Cloud Provider | Amazon Web Services | Microsoft Azure |
Certification Level | Professional | Expert |
Prerequisites | Recommended: AWS Associate certifications | Required: AZ-104 or AZ-204 |
Exam Duration | 180 minutes | 150 minutes |
Exam Cost | $300 USD | $165 USD |
Primary Focus | CI/CD, automation, AWS-native services | DevOps strategy, Azure DevOps & GitHub |
Difficulty Level | High (deep technical expertise) | Moderate (mix of strategy + technical) |
Job Roles That Require These Certifications
- AWS DevOps Engineer Professional: AWS DevOps Engineer, Site Reliability Engineer (SRE), Cloud Automation Engineer, Solutions Architect.
- Microsoft AZ-400: Azure DevOps Engineer, Release Manager, Build Engineer, Cloud Operations Specialist.
Organizations using AWS-first infrastructures prefer AWS-certified engineers, while enterprises tied to Microsoft 365, Azure, and GitHub look for AZ-400-certified professionals.
Career Progression After These Certifications
- AWS DevOps Engineer Professional: Often followed by advanced certifications like AWS Solutions Architect Professional, or specialty certifications in Security, Data, and Networking.
- Microsoft AZ-400: Can lead to roles in Azure Solution Architecture, Cybersecurity, or enterprise DevOps management.
Both certifications pave the way to senior DevOps leadership roles, but the platform you choose depends on your company’s cloud ecosystem.
Which One Should You Choose?
Choose AWS DevOps Engineer Professional if:
- You work in AWS-heavy environments.
- You want deeper technical mastery of automation and infrastructure.
- Your career goal is senior-level AWS engineering or architecture
Choose Microsoft AZ-400 if:
- Your organization uses Azure and Microsoft services.
- You’re interested in collaboration, governance, and lifecycle DevOps.
- You want a certification with lower prerequisites and cost.
Certify360: Your DevOps Certification Partner
At Certify360, we understand how challenging these certifications can be. Our platform offers practice exams, detailed study guides, and expert mentorship to help you succeed in both AWS DevOps Engineer Professional and Microsoft AZ-400.
With real-world scenario-based learning, we ensure you gain not just exam readiness but also practical DevOps skills that employers demand.
FAQs:
Which exam is harder, AWS DevOps Engineer Professional or Microsoft AZ-400?
The AWS exam is more technically demanding, while AZ-400 balances strategy with technical depth.
Can I take AZ-400 without prior Azure certifications?
No. You must first clear AZ-104 or AZ-204 to be eligible.
Which certification is better for salary growth?
Both are lucrative, but AWS roles generally command slightly higher salaries globally.
