Five real DevOps Engineer projects mapped directly to the AZ-400 exam objectives. Mark a step complete and HandsOnCert commits the evidence — pipeline YAML, IaC templates, deployment configs — straight to your own GitHub repo. The portfolio employers actually click into.
$79 one-time · Project 1 free · No subscription
Every project maps to an official AZ-400 exam domain. Each one ends with evidence committed to your GitHub repo automatically.
Set up a GitHub repo with branch policies, pull request templates, and a project board for work item tracking. Configure code review requirements and CI status checks before merge. Commit your branch policy configuration and PR workflow evidence.
Processes and Communications — 10-15% of examImplement a branching strategy (trunk-based or GitFlow), configure Git hooks, and set up a monorepo or multi-repo structure with appropriate access controls. Commit your branching strategy documentation and repo structure.
Source Control — 10-15% of examBuild a CI pipeline using GitHub Actions or Azure Pipelines that runs tests and builds artifacts on every push, then a CD pipeline that deploys to a staging environment with approval gates. Commit your pipeline YAML files and run history.
Build & Release Pipelines — 40-45% of examIntegrate a security scanning step (dependency or container scanning) into your pipeline, configure secret management using a secure vault, and set up compliance gates that block deployment on policy violations. Commit your security pipeline configuration.
Security & Compliance — 10-15% of examConfigure Application Insights or equivalent monitoring for a deployed application, set up alerts for key metrics, and create a dashboard showing deployment frequency and failure rate. Commit your monitoring configuration and dashboard screenshots.
Instrumentation Strategy — 15-20% of examEvery completed step auto-commits evidence to your own repo. No fake portfolio templates — real configs, real screenshots, real history.
No simulators. You work in the actual Azure console and tools, the same ones you'll use on the job and in the AZ-400 exam.
Stuck on a step or an exam concept? Cert Buddy is trained on AZ-400 objectives and helps you debug and understand — not just copy-paste.
Every chargeable resource has a clear alert telling you exactly when to stop, deallocate, or delete — so a lab break doesn't become a surprise bill.
Get the full AZ-400 lab guide as a PDF — step-by-step instructions, screenshots to capture, and an exam quick-reference section.
$79 once. No subscription, no recurring charges. Or get All-Access to all 21 cert paths for $199.
Are the AZ-400 hands-on labs free?
Project 1 (Processes and Communications) is completely free, including unlimited access to Cert Buddy for that project and the manual GitHub commit workflow. The remaining 4 projects unlock for a one-time payment of $79.
Do these labs use Azure Pipelines or GitHub Actions?
HandsOnCert's AZ-400 labs primarily use GitHub Actions since you're already working in GitHub for the portfolio commit feature — but the underlying DevOps concepts (CI/CD, branching, security scanning) map directly to Azure Pipelines as well, which the AZ-400 exam also covers.
How does the GitHub portfolio auto-commit work for AZ-400?
When you mark a lab step complete, HandsOnCert commits your pipeline YAML, IaC templates, and configuration evidence directly to your own GitHub repository via OAuth. This is especially valuable for AZ-400 since your portfolio shows real working CI/CD pipelines.
How long does the AZ-400 path take to complete?
The 5 projects take approximately 12 hours total, covering processes, source control strategy, build/release pipelines, security and compliance, and instrumentation — the same domains tested on the AZ-400 exam.
Do I need other Azure certifications before AZ-400?
AZ-400 requires either AZ-104 (Azure Administrator) or AZ-204 (Azure Developer) as a prerequisite according to Microsoft. HandsOnCert's AZ-104 path is a common first step for those pursuing AZ-400.
Is AZ-400 worth it alongside Terraform certification?
Yes. AZ-400 covers DevOps practices broadly, while TF-003 (Terraform Associate) covers infrastructure as code specifically. They pair well — AZ-400's pipeline and process knowledge plus Terraform's IaC skills cover the full DevOps toolchain.
Start Project 1 free — no credit card required. See exactly how the GitHub auto-commit works before you pay anything.
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