The AZ-802: Administering Windows Server exam is the new Microsoft certification exam for Windows Server administrators who manage workloads across on-premises, cloud, and hybrid environments. As the official replacement for AZ-800: Administering Windows Server Hybrid Core Infrastructure and AZ-801: Configuring Windows Server Hybrid Advanced Services, both retiring on September 30, 2026, the AZ-802 exam provides a streamlined path for earning the Microsoft Certified: Windows Server Administrator Associate certification. To prepare efficiently and pass the exam easily, candidates can use the most valid AZ-802 Prep Guide with Practice Test Questions from PassQuestion, which covers the latest exam objectives, including AD DS, Windows Admin Center, Azure Arc, Azure Update Manager, Hyper-V, hybrid networking, storage and file services, Windows Server security, monitoring, and troubleshooting.

What Is the AZ-802 Administering Windows Server Exam?

The AZ-802: Administering Windows Server exam validates your ability to deploy, implement, manage, and troubleshoot Windows Server as a workload in on-premises, cloud, and hybrid environments. Microsoft describes the related certification as validating skills across Windows Server workloads, including identity, security, networking, storage, monitoring, and modern administration technologies.

This exam is intended for professionals who administer Windows Server environments and work with tools such as Windows Admin Center, Hyper-V, PowerShell, Azure Arc, Azure Monitor, Azure Update Manager, and Microsoft Defender for Cloud. Candidates should also understand Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) and how Windows Server integrates with Microsoft Azure services.

Why AZ-802 Replaces AZ-800 and AZ-801

Previously, candidates had to pass two exams: AZ-800: Administering Windows Server Hybrid Core Infrastructure and AZ-801: Configuring Windows Server Hybrid Advanced Services. Microsoft now identifies AZ-802 as the continuing path after AZ-800 and AZ-801 retire, creating a more streamlined certification route for Windows Server administrators.

The new AZ-802 exam combines essential Windows Server administration skills into one exam experience. It keeps traditional Windows Server responsibilities such as AD DS, DNS, DHCP, Hyper-V, file services, storage, and troubleshooting, while placing stronger emphasis on modern hybrid management with Azure Arc, Azure Update Manager, Azure Monitor, OSConfig baselines, SMB over QUIC, Microsoft Entra Password Protection, and GPU partitioning.

Who Should Take the AZ-802 Exam?

The AZ-802 exam is suitable for Windows Server administrators who manage infrastructure across local datacenters, cloud environments, and hybrid deployments.

This exam is especially useful for:

• Windows Server administrators
• Hybrid infrastructure administrators
• Systems administrators
• Infrastructure engineers
• Azure administrators working with Windows Server workloads
• IT professionals managing AD DS, Hyper-V, networking, storage, and security
• Candidates preparing for the Microsoft Certified: Windows Server Administrator Associate certification path

Candidates should be comfortable collaborating with architects, administrators, and engineers because Windows Server administration often requires coordination across identity, networking, security, monitoring, storage, and cloud teams.

AZ-802 Exam Details

Microsoft currently notes that AZ-802 is the available path after AZ-800 and AZ-801 retire, and its certification page lists a 120-minute proctored exam with a passing score of 700. 

AZ-802 Skills Measured at a Glance

Deploy and Manage Active Directory Domain Services

Exam Weight: 20–25%

This domain focuses on core identity administration with Active Directory Domain Services. Candidates should know how to deploy and manage domain controllers locally and in Azure, configure Read-Only Domain Controllers, manage account security, and troubleshoot FSMO roles.

You should also understand how to manage multi-site, multi-domain, and multi-forest environments. This includes domain and forest trusts, AD DS sites, replication, users, groups, service accounts, Group Policy, and Group Policy preferences. This area is important because identity remains one of the foundations of Windows Server administration.

Manage Windows Server Instances and Workloads in a Hybrid Environment

Exam Weight: 10–15%

This domain covers remote and hybrid management of Windows Server. Candidates should understand how to deploy and use Windows Admin Center, configure PowerShell remoting, manage double-hop authentication, apply Just Enough Administration, configure SSH, and manage Remote Desktop access.

The hybrid side includes Azure Arc-enabled Windows Server, device configuration through Azure Arc, VM extensions on non-Azure machines, Azure Update Manager, and Azure Automation runbooks. This area reflects the modern direction of Windows Server administration, where administrators manage servers across both local and cloud-connected environments.

Manage Virtual Machines

Exam Weight: 10–15%

This domain focuses on Hyper-V and Azure VM administration. Candidates should understand how to manage Hyper-V hosts and guest VMs, configure Enhanced Session Mode, use PowerShell Direct and SSH Direct, enable nested virtualization, configure memory settings, manage checkpoints, configure integration services, and implement Hyper-V Replica.

You should also understand how to manage Windows Server VMs in Azure, including storage, resizing, VM scale sets, availability sets, availability zones, JIT VM access, Azure Bastion, and VM network configuration. Newer areas such as GPU partitioning are also important for modern virtualization scenarios.

Implement and Manage On-Premises and Hybrid Networking Infrastructure

Exam Weight: 10–15%

This domain covers Windows Server networking services, especially DNS and DHCP. Candidates should know how to integrate DNS with AD DS, create and manage DNS zones and records, configure forwarding and conditional forwarding, implement hybrid name resolution, configure DNS policies, and manage DNSSEC.

For IP addressing, candidates should understand DHCP server configuration, scopes, reservations, DHCP high availability, and troubleshooting IP addressing in hybrid environments. This domain is essential because name resolution and IP addressing problems can affect authentication, application access, server management, and hybrid connectivity.

Manage Storage and File Services

Exam Weight: 15–20%

This domain focuses on Windows Server file services and modern cloud-connected storage. Candidates should understand Azure Files, Azure file shares, Azure File Sync, permission management, monitoring, DFS migration to Azure File Sync, and file share migration to Azure Files.

On Windows Server, you should understand file share access, File Server Resource Manager, DFS, SMB over QUIC, SMB settings, disks, volumes, Storage Spaces, Storage Spaces Direct, Storage Replica, Data Deduplication, SMB Direct, Storage QoS, NTFS, ReFS, iSCSI, BitLocker Drive Encryption, and encrypted volume recovery. This domain is highly practical because storage and file services remain critical in many enterprise environments.

Secure Windows Server Infrastructure

Exam Weight: 10–15%

This domain covers operating system security and AD DS protection. Candidates should know how to configure exploit protection, Application Control for Windows, Credential Guard, Defender SmartScreen, Windows Firewall, Local Administrator Password Solution, Defender for Servers, and security baselines with OSConfig.

For AD DS security, candidates should understand password policies, Microsoft Entra Password Protection for AD DS, protected users, domain controller hardening, restricted access to domain controllers, user account security options, built-in administrative group security, AD delegation, and authentication protocols. This area is important because Windows Server administrators must protect both servers and identity infrastructure.

Monitor and Troubleshoot Windows Server Environments

Exam Weight: 15–20%

This domain tests your ability to monitor servers and resolve real-world issues. Candidates should understand Performance Monitor, data collector sets, Windows Admin Center alerts, System Insights, event logs, Azure Monitor data collection rules, Azure Monitor alerts, and VM Insights.

Troubleshooting topics include connectivity, name resolution, Windows Update, Time service, performance, VM issues, Azure Arc extension issues, disk encryption, storage, AD Recycle Bin recovery, Directory Services Restore Mode, SYSVOL recovery, AD replication, Kerberos, authentication, secure channel issues, and computer account trust problems. This domain is especially important because the exam targets administrators who must maintain reliable Windows Server environments.

How to Prepare for the Windows Server Administrator AZ-802 Exam

1. Focus on Key Objectives

Start by reviewing all seven skill areas and their exam weights. Give extra attention to AD DS, storage and file services, and monitoring and troubleshooting, because these areas represent a large portion of the exam. Make sure you understand both traditional Windows Server administration and hybrid management with Azure services.

2. Build Hands-On Experience

Practice in a lab environment with Windows Server, Active Directory, DNS, DHCP, Hyper-V, PowerShell, Windows Admin Center, Azure Arc, Azure Monitor, Azure Update Manager, and Microsoft Defender for Cloud. Hands-on experience helps you understand how features work in real environments and prepares you for scenario-based exam questions.

3. Use Valid Practice Questions

Valid AZ-802 Practice Test Questions from PassQuestion can help you understand the exam format, review key concepts, and identify weak areas before the real test. Practice questions are especially useful for testing your knowledge of AD DS, hybrid management, VM administration, storage, security, and troubleshooting.

4. Review Weak Areas Carefully

After each practice session, review incorrect answers and revisit the related objectives. Spend extra time on complex topics such as AD DS replication, Kerberos authentication, Azure Arc extensions, SMB over QUIC, Storage Spaces Direct, OSConfig baselines, BitLocker recovery, and Azure Monitor data collection rules.

Final Thoughts: Prepare for the New AZ-802 Windows Server Administrator Exam

The AZ-802: Administering Windows Server exam represents Microsoft's streamlined path for validating Windows Server administration skills across on-premises, cloud, and hybrid environments. Instead of preparing for both AZ-800 and AZ-801, candidates can now focus on one modern exam that covers identity, hybrid management, virtualization, networking, storage, security, monitoring, and troubleshooting.

With a clear study plan, hands-on practice, and the most valid AZ-802 Prep Guide with Practice Test Questions from PassQuestion, you can prepare effectively for the new Windows Server Administrator Associate exam and build confidence for exam success.