There is no shortcuts to get the certification done without understanding Windows Azure concepts . you will need to know at Architect level on what Azure can offer and how to leverage different options for a particular scenario.
Below references are useful in getting the windows Azure certification.
1) http://learning.microsoft.com/manager/LearningPlanV2.aspx?resourceId=30f78dea-f126-4b01-82eb-52cbc908e4ec&clang=en-US&cats=d4e8e42c-3d5a-4a6e-915d-d99556a49bd7
2) http://blogs.msdn.com/b/buckwoody/archive/2011/01/31/certification-notes-70-583-designing-and-developing-windows-azure-applications.aspx
3) • Moving Applications to the Cloud:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff728592.aspx
• Developing Applications for the Cloud:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff966499.aspx
4) Windows Azure Platform Training Kit has presentations, labs and other material for learning: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=413E88F8-5966-4A83-B309-53B7B77EDF78&displaylang=en
5) http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/ff380142
6) the exam preparation guide (http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/exam.aspx?ID=70-583#tab2) gives you good information about what exam is asking.
