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The AZ-802: Administering Windows Server exam is the new Microsoft certification exam designed to replace the AZ-800: Administering Windows Server Hybrid Core Infrastructure and AZ-801: Configuring Windows Server Hybrid Advanced Services exams, which will retire in September 2026. To prepare effectively for this updated certification, candidates can use the latest Windows Server Administrator AZ-802 Study Guide from Passcert, which contain key exam objectives and real questions with answers to help you pass the exam easily. These updated preparation materials help candidates review essential Windows Server administration skills, including Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS), hybrid management, Hyper-V virtualization, Azure integration, networking, storage, security, monitoring, and troubleshooting. By studying the AZ-802 exam topics and practicing with updated preparation resources, candidates can build the skills required to manage modern Windows Server environments across on-premises, cloud, and hybrid infrastructures.

What Is the AZ-802 Windows Server Administrator Certification?

The AZ-802: Administering Windows Server exam validates the skills required to deploy, implement, manage, and troubleshoot Windows Server workloads across on-premises, Azure, and hybrid environments.

This exam is part of Microsoft’s updated Windows Server certification path and provides a streamlined assessment experience by combining the essential skills previously covered in:

• AZ-800: Administering Windows Server Hybrid Core Infrastructure
• AZ-801: Configuring Windows Server Hybrid Advanced Services

Both AZ-800 and AZ-801 exams are scheduled to retire in September 2026.

The new AZ-802 exam focuses on the practical skills needed by modern Windows Server administrators, including hybrid cloud management, security, automation, virtualization, storage, networking, and monitoring.

What’s New in the AZ-802 Exam?

Microsoft is updating its Windows Server certification track by transitioning from Microsoft Certified: Windows Server Hybrid Administrator to Microsoft Certified: Windows Server Administrator Associate. This updated certification validates skills in deploying, implementing, managing, securing, and troubleshooting Windows Server.

The new exam provides a focused, streamlined validation by combining essential skills into one experience while prioritizing the most relevant scenarios for modern administrators.

Key updates include:

• A unified exam covering both core infrastructure and advanced services.
• Expanded hybrid management scenarios using Azure Arc, Azure Update Manager, and Azure Monitor.
• Updated security and protocol coverage, including OSConfig baselines, SMB over QUIC, Microsoft Entra Password Protection, and GPU partitioning.

Who Should Take the AZ-802 Exam?

As a candidate for this Microsoft Certification, you’re responsible for deploying, implementing, managing, and troubleshooting Windows Server as a workload in on-premises, cloud, or hybrid environments.

You administer identity, security, management, compute, networking, storage, and monitoring for Windows Server.

You typically collaborate with architects, administrators, and engineers.

For this exam, you should have experience administering Windows Server by using technologies such as Windows Admin Center, Hyper-V, PowerShell, Azure Arc, Azure Monitor, Azure Update Manager, and Microsoft Defender for Cloud. You should also be familiar with Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS).

AZ-802 Exam Skills Overview

The AZ-802 exam evaluates six major skill areas:

AZ-802 Exam Topics Explained

1. Deploy and Manage Active Directory Domain Services (20–25%)

Active Directory Domain Services remains a core component of Windows Server administration.

Candidates should understand how to:

• Deploy and manage domain controllers
• Deploy domain controllers in Azure
• Configure Read-Only Domain Controllers (RODCs)
• Manage FSMO roles
• Configure domain and forest trusts
• Manage AD DS sites
• Configure replication
• Create and manage users and groups
• Manage service accounts
• Implement Group Policy and Group Policy preferences

A strong understanding of AD DS architecture and troubleshooting is essential for success on the AZ-802 exam.

2. Manage Windows Server in Hybrid Environments (10–15%)

Modern Windows Server administration requires integration between on-premises environments and Azure services.

Key topics include:

• Windows Admin Center deployment
• Remote PowerShell management
• PowerShell Just Enough Administration (JEA)
• SSH management
• Remote Desktop configuration
• Azure Arc-enabled Windows Server
• Azure VM extensions
• Azure Update Manager
• Azure Automation runbooks

Candidates should understand how Azure services simplify management of hybrid Windows Server environments.

3. Manage Virtual Machines (10–15%)

This domain focuses on Hyper-V and Azure virtual machine management.

Candidates should understand:

Hyper-V Management

• Enhanced Session Mode
• PowerShell Direct
• Nested virtualization
• VM memory configuration
• Integration services
• Device assignment
• GPU partitioning
• VM checkpoints
• Hyper-V Replica
• Virtual switches
• NIC teaming

Azure Virtual Machines

Topics include:

• VM storage management
• VM resizing
• Availability sets and availability zones
• Just-in-Time VM access
• Azure Bastion
• Azure VM networking

4. Implement Hybrid Networking Infrastructure (10–15%)

Networking skills are essential for Windows Server hybrid environments.

Candidates should understand:

DNS Management

• DNS integration with AD DS
• DNS zones and records
• Forwarding and conditional forwarding
• Hybrid DNS resolution
• DNS policies
• DNSSEC

DHCP Management

• DHCP server configuration
• DHCP scopes
• IP reservations
• Troubleshooting IP addressing
• DHCP high availability

5. Manage Storage and File Services (15–20%)

Storage and file services represent a significant portion of the AZ-802 exam.

Candidates should understand:

Azure Storage Services

• Azure Files
• Azure file shares
• Azure File Sync
• File share permissions
• DFS migration

Windows Server File Services

• File shares
• File Server Resource Manager (FSRM)
• Distributed File System (DFS)
• SMB management
• SMB over QUIC

Windows Server Storage

Important technologies include:

• Storage Spaces
• Storage Spaces Direct
• Storage Replica
• Data Deduplication
• SMB Direct
• Storage QoS
• NTFS and ReFS
• iSCSI
• BitLocker Drive Encryption

6. Secure Windows Server Infrastructure (10–15%)

Security is a major focus area of the new AZ-802 exam.

Candidates should understand:

Windows Server Security

Topics include:

• Exploit protection
• Application Control
• Credential Guard
• Microsoft Defender SmartScreen
• Security baselines
• OSConfig
• Windows Local Administrator Password Solution (LAPS)
• Defender for Servers
• Windows Firewall

Active Directory Security

Candidates should know:

• Password policies
• Microsoft Entra Password Protection
• Protected users
• Domain controller hardening
• Authentication protocols
• AD delegation
• Administrative group security

7. Monitor and Troubleshoot Windows Server Environments (15–20%)

The AZ-802 exam also validates troubleshooting skills.

Candidates should understand monitoring with:

• Performance Monitor
• Data Collector Sets
• Windows Admin Center
• System Insights
• Event Logs
• Azure Monitor
• VM Insights
• Alerts

Common troubleshooting scenarios include:

• Connectivity issues
• DNS problems
• Windows Update failures
• Time synchronization issues
• Performance problems
• Azure Arc extension issues
• Storage problems
• Disk encryption issues

AD troubleshooting topics include:

• AD Recycle Bin recovery
• Directory Services Restore Mode (DSRM)
• SYSVOL recovery
• Replication troubleshooting
• Kerberos issues
• Secure channel problems

Best Study Tips for Administering Windows Server AZ-802 Exam

1. Understand the AZ-802 Key Domains

Start by reviewing the official AZ-802 exam objectives and understanding the weight of each knowledge area. Focus on major topics such as Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS), hybrid Windows Server management, virtualization, networking, storage, security, and monitoring. A clear understanding of the exam structure helps you create an effective study plan and prioritize important skills.

2. Gain Hands-On Experience

Practical experience is crucial for preparing successfully for the AZ-802 exam. Build hands-on skills by working with technologies such as Windows Admin Center, PowerShell, Hyper-V, Azure Arc, Azure Monitor, Azure Update Manager, and Microsoft Defender for Cloud. Creating test environments and practicing real-world administration scenarios can help you better understand how Windows Server works in hybrid environments.

3. Review Updated AZ-802 Practice Materials

Using updated AZ-802 Administering Windows Server practice materials from Passcert can help you become familiar with exam question formats, review key concepts, and identify important knowledge areas. Practice questions enable you to assess your preparation level and boost your confidence before taking the certification exam.

4. Focus on Weak Areas

After reviewing exam topics and completing practice tests, identify areas where your knowledge needs improvement. Spend additional time strengthening weaker skills, such as AD troubleshooting, Azure hybrid services, storage configuration, security implementation, or performance monitoring, to ensure a more balanced understanding of all AZ-802 objectives.

Conclusion: Prepare for the Future of Windows Server Administration

The AZ-802: Administering Windows Server exam represents Microsoft’s updated approach to validating Windows Server hybrid administration skills. By replacing AZ-800 and AZ-801 with a unified certification experience, Microsoft focuses on the technologies administrators use today, including Azure integration, hybrid management, security, automation, and cloud-based operations.

By mastering AD DS, virtualization, networking, storage, security, monitoring, and Azure hybrid services, and by practicing with updated AZ-802 exam preparation resources, candidates can successfully prepare for the new Windows Server Administrator certification and advance their careers in modern IT infrastructure management.