Microsoft adds infra‑security‑AI certs

Microsoft is rolling out new credentials that tie together cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence, with free Microsoft Learn training and practice assessments alongside them. (techcommunity.microsoft.com) In a March 3, 2026 post, Microsoft said new certification exams would begin rolling out in beta “this month” and go live later in 2026. The company’s broader credentials catalog now spans role-based certifications and shorter Applied Skills assessments. (techcommunity.microsoft.com) (learn.microsoft.com) The company has already been filling in adjacent pieces of that map. In February 2026, Microsoft said four new artificial intelligence certifications were generally available, covering roles from Microsoft 365 Copilot administration to business-side artificial intelligence adoption. (techcommunity.microsoft.com) Microsoft’s newer training also shows how it is defining the overlap. Its “Secure AI-Ready Infrastructure” learning path teaches Microsoft Foundry hubs and projects, network isolation, managed identities, and container governance in one track. (learn.microsoft.com) A certification is a proctored exam for a broader job role; an Applied Skills credential is a shorter lab test for a specific task. Microsoft says both sit inside the same credentials system and are meant to verify practical, workplace skills. (learn.microsoft.com) (techcommunity.microsoft.com) The free prep matters because Microsoft has attached it directly to exam pages and Learn modules rather than treating training as a separate product. Its certification support pages say candidates can take free practice assessments, while the main Learn site offers self-paced modules and instructor-led options. (learn.microsoft.com) (microsoft.com) The infrastructure side is also being updated to absorb artificial intelligence work. Exam AZ-305, the Azure Solutions Architect Expert exam, is scheduled for an English-language update on April 17, 2026, and Microsoft’s study guide says it covers identity, governance, monitoring, storage, business continuity, and infrastructure design. (learn.microsoft.com 1) (learn.microsoft.com 2) On the security side, Microsoft published new artificial intelligence security training on February 10, 2026 and added an Applied Skills credential for securing artificial intelligence solutions in the cloud. That lab-based assessment covers Defender for Cloud, Foundry environments, identity controls, and responsible artificial intelligence safeguards. (techcommunity.microsoft.com) Microsoft is also reshaping older artificial intelligence credentials around production operations. Its March 2026 certification post said the new Machine Learning Operations Engineer Associate certification replaces Azure Data Scientist Associate, whose Exam DP-100 retires on June 1, 2026. (techcommunity.microsoft.com) The through line is that Microsoft no longer treats infrastructure, security, and artificial intelligence as separate lanes in its training catalog. Its current Learn pages bundle Azure administration, identity, governance, security controls, and artificial intelligence platform work into the same preparation paths, and the company is using certifications to formalize that mix. (learn.microsoft.com 1) (learn.microsoft.com 2)