thinQmaster Virtual testing partner Adaptive practice exams that find your weak spots and drill them. Every answer explained. From $69
Enroll

thinQmaster

Find your exam

Five questions free, before you decide.

Step 1 · choose a vendor

In one of our camps? Your practice exams come with the tuition — they are on your study page already.

Microsoft · Linux & Systems · Associate

Microsoft Windows Server Hybrid Administrator (AZ-800/801) exam guide

Exam AZ-802 (replaced AZ-800 and AZ-801)

Microsoft replaced the two-exam Windows Server Hybrid Administrator path (AZ-800 and AZ-801, retired September 2026) with a single exam, AZ-802: Administering Windows Server. It validates managing AD DS, Windows Server workloads, Hyper-V, networking, storage and security in on-premises and hybrid Azure environments.

QuestionsSee official page
Time limit100 minutes
Passing score700 (1-1000 scale)
Exam fee$165 USD
Valid for1 years
DeliveryPearson VUE test center or online proctored

Format: Multiple choice, drag-and-drop, hot area, build list and case studies; may include labs (120 minutes if labs are included). Fee note: US price; varies by country. Student and Microsoft Learn challenge discounts sometimes available.

Who it's for

Windows Server administrators who manage on-premises infrastructure and extend it to Azure with Azure Arc and hybrid services.

What the exam covers

Deploy and manage AD DS (20-25%)—
Manage Windows Server instances and workloads in a hybrid environment (10-15%)—
Manage virtual machines (10-15%)—
Implement and manage an on-premises and hybrid networking infrastructure (10-15%)—
Manage storage and file services (15-20%)—
Secure Windows Server infrastructure (10-15%)—
Monitor and troubleshoot Windows Server environments (15-20%)—

A dash means the vendor does not publish a weight for that domain.

Eligibility & prerequisites

Required: None

Recommended: Experience with Windows Admin Center, Hyper-V, PowerShell, Azure Arc, Azure Monitor, Azure Update Manager, Defender for Cloud and AD DS.

Keeping it active

Role-based certifications are valid 1 year. Renew free by passing an unproctored online renewal assessment on Microsoft Learn in the 180 days before expiry; no fee and no retest required.

Skills & careers

Skills it validates

  • Deploying and managing AD DS domains, forests, trusts and Group Policy
  • Hybrid identity with Entra Connect/Cloud Sync
  • Hyper-V and Azure VM management
  • DNS, DHCP and hybrid networking
  • File services, Storage Spaces and Azure File Sync
  • Securing servers with Defender for Cloud and hardening baselines
  • Monitoring and patching with Azure Monitor and Update Manager via Azure Arc

Job roles

Windows Server AdministratorSystems AdministratorHybrid Infrastructure EngineerInfrastructure EngineerActive Directory Administrator

Where it fits in your path

Planning a degree too? See how this cert earns college credit in the College Credit Navigator.

Build my study plan

  1. Week 1: Read the AZ-802 study guide (note there are two skills-measured versions by date)
  2. Week 2: AD DS - deployment, FSMO, sites, trusts, Group Policy, hybrid identity sync
  3. Week 3: Compute and networking - Hyper-V, Azure VMs, Azure Arc onboarding, DNS/DHCP, VPN and hybrid connectivity
  4. Week 4: Storage and file services - Storage Spaces Direct, DFS, Azure File Sync
  5. Week 5: Security, monitoring and troubleshooting - Defender for Cloud, Windows Admin Center, Azure Monitor, Update Manager
  6. Week 6: Practice assessment and lab rebuild

Make it yours: pick your exam date and weekly hours. We'll split your time by domain weight and give you a printable plan.

Exam-day tips

  • Check the study guide for which skills-measured version applies on your exam date
  • Many training resources are still labeled AZ-800/AZ-801 - they help, but verify against AZ-802 objectives
  • AD DS is the single largest domain; know trust types and FSMO role placement
  • Expect PowerShell cmdlet recognition questions
  • Azure Arc is the glue for hybrid management questions

Key terms for this exam

All 97 terms Study with thinQcards™

Commonly confused on this exam

Frequently asked questions

Are AZ-800 and AZ-801 retired?

Yes, both retired in September 2026 and were replaced by the single AZ-802 exam.

Do I keep my certification if I passed AZ-800 and AZ-801?

Yes, it remains on your transcript and renews through the annual online assessment.

How much is AZ-802?

$165 USD in the United States.

Is one exam easier than two?

There is less total exam fee and scheduling, but AZ-802 covers the combined scope, so study time is similar.

Is Windows Server certification still worth it?

Yes for organizations running hybrid infrastructure; AD DS and file services remain core in most enterprises.

Official page: learn.microsoft.com. Reviewed November 2026. Vendors change fees and objectives, so confirm with the vendor before you book. Spot something out of date? Tell us.