The AZ-800: Administering Windows Server Hybrid Core Infrastructure certification exam is designed for IT professionals who have experience managing Windows Server environments in both on-premises and hybrid cloud setups. This exam assesses your technical skills in deploying, managing, and maintaining Windows Server workloads, Microsoft Entra, networking, storage, and virtualization across hybrid environments using Microsoft Azure services.
The content of the exam will test your ability to perform the following:
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Deploy and manage Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) in on-premises and cloud environments
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Manage Windows Servers and workloads in a hybrid environmentÂ
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Manage virtual machines and containersÂ
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Implement and manage an on-premises and hybrid networking infrastructureÂ
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Manage storage and file servicesÂ
For more information about the AI-102 exam, you can check out this exam skills outline. This study guide will provide comprehensive review materials to help you pass the exam successfully.
Study Materials
Before attempting the Microsoft Certified: Windows Server Hybrid Administrator Associate (AZ-800), it is highly advised to go through these study materials. These resources are specifically designed to aid you in grasping the intricate concepts and services that will be addressed in the exam.
- Microsoft Learn – This website offers a variety of learning paths for different Microsoft certifications. For the AZ-800 certification exam, you can focus on the following topics:
- Azure Documentation – These documents provide an overview, tutorials, examples, and how-to guides that will enhance your knowledge of various Azure services.
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Azure FAQs – You can find the FAQs section in the Azure documentation. This section is a compiled list of commonly asked questions, use cases, and comparisons of various Azure services.
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Azure free account – The Azure portal offers a 12-month trial for hands-on experience, along with free credits available to spend during the first 30 days.
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Tutorials Dojo’s Azure Cheat Sheets – With our cheat sheets, you can easily grasp the information in Azure documentation. They are presented in bullet point format to emphasize key concepts.
Azure Services and Technologies to Focus On
The primary source of study for the AZ-800 exam is the official Azure documentation, which provides detailed coverage of hybrid Windows Server administration scenarios. To master the exam topics, a solid understanding of the following Azure services and technologies is essential:
- Microsoft Entra – Understand how Microsoft Entra supports hybrid identity, including synchronization with on-premises Active Directory using Microsoft Entra Connect and managing domain services in the cloud.
- Azure Arc-enabled Servers – Know how to connect, manage, and govern on-premises Windows Servers and Linux machines using Azure Arc, enabling unified hybrid management and monitoring.
- Azure Virtual Machines – Be proficient in deploying and managing Windows Server VMs in Azure, including VM scale sets, availability sets, and integration with on-premises infrastructure.
- Azure Virtual Network – Focus on configuring virtual networks, subnets, network security groups, DNS, and hybrid connectivity options such as VPN Gateway and ExpressRoute.
- Azure Storage and Azure Files – Understand how to implement Azure Storage solutions including Blob Storage and Azure Files, and how to integrate Azure Files with on-premises Windows Server via SMB and sync services.
- Azure Backup and Azure Site Recovery – Learn how to configure and manage backup and disaster recovery solutions for Windows Server workloads across hybrid environments.
- Azure Monitor and Log Analytics – Know how to implement monitoring and diagnostics using Azure Monitor and Log Analytics to track performance and troubleshoot issues in hybrid Windows Server environments.
- Azure Security Center -Understand how Azure Security Center provides unified security management and threat protection for hybrid Windows Server workloads.
We suggest that you check out Tutorials Dojo’s Azure Cheat Sheets, which provides bullet-point summaries of the most important concepts on different Azure services and related Azure functionalities. Make sure to spend ample time reviewing the official Azure documentation for each of these services to gain a comprehensive understanding for the AZ-800 exam.
For more Azure practice exam questions with detailed explanations, check out the Tutorials Dojo Portal:
Final Remarks
The AZ-800: Administering Windows Server Hybrid Core Infrastructure exam requires a solid understanding of both traditional Windows Server administration and modern Azure hybrid technologies. Mastery of Microsoft Entra for hybrid identity, Azure Arc for unified management, and key Azure services like Virtual Machines, Virtual Networks, and Azure Storage will be essential for success.
A practical, hands-on approach combined with studying official Microsoft documentation and guided learning paths will significantly improve readiness. Leveraging tools like Windows Admin Center and Azure Monitor further enhances the ability to manage and troubleshoot hybrid environments effectively.
Consistent review, practice exams, and real-world experience will help ensure confidence on exam day and prepare candidates to manage complex hybrid Windows Server infrastructures in production.