Microsoft has opened the beta for Exam AZ-802: Administering Windows Server — the single exam that replaces the AZ-800/AZ-801 pairing and earns the newly renamed Microsoft Certified: Windows Server Administrator Associate credential. The first 300 people to sit the beta on or before July 22, 2026 can get 80% off with the code AZ802Chandler. Here's exactly what changed, what's tested, and what to do if you're mid-way through AZ-800 or AZ-801.
What's Changing: One Exam Instead of Two
Since 2021, earning the Windows Server Hybrid Administrator Associate certification meant passing two separate exams — AZ-800 (Administering Windows Server Hybrid Core Infrastructure) and AZ-801 (Configuring Windows Server Hybrid Advanced Services). Microsoft is consolidating both into a single exam, AZ-802: Administering Windows Server, and renaming the certification itself.
| Old Path | New Path |
|---|---|
| Certification: Windows Server Hybrid Administrator Associate | Certification: Windows Server Administrator Associate |
| Exams required: AZ-800 and AZ-801 (2 exams) | Exam required: AZ-802 (1 exam) |
| Both exams retire September 30, 2026 | AZ-802 currently in beta; becomes the sole path once AZ-800/AZ-801 retire |
Note the dropped word: the certification is now "Windows Server Administrator Associate," not "Windows Server Hybrid Administrator Associate." The content itself is still squarely about hybrid on-premises/Azure administration — Active Directory, Azure Arc, Azure Files, Azure Update Manager all remain core topics — but Microsoft has simplified the credential name.
AZ-802 at a Glance
Practice assessments typically appear within 8 weeks of an exam going GA, so don't expect an official practice test until AZ-802 exits beta.
Already work with hybrid Windows Server and Azure?
AZ-802 overlaps heavily with AZ-104 (Azure Administrator) on identity, Azure Arc, and hybrid networking. Sharpen those fundamentals with 40 free AZ-104 practice questions while you wait for AZ-802 study materials to mature.
Skills Measured (7 Domains)
Per Microsoft's official AZ-802 study guide, the exam essentially merges the AZ-800 and AZ-801 objective domains into one. Here's the current weighting:
What each domain actually tests
AD DS deployment
Domain controllers on-prem and in Azure, RODCs, FSMO roles, multi-site/multi-forest trusts and replication, Group Policy.
Storage and file services
Azure Files and Azure File Sync (including DFS migration), Windows Server file shares, FSRM, Storage Spaces Direct, Storage Replica, BitLocker.
Monitoring and troubleshooting
Performance Monitor, Windows Admin Center alerts, Azure Monitor data collection rules and VM Insights, plus troubleshooting AD replication, Kerberos, and disk encryption.
Hybrid workload management
Windows Admin Center, PowerShell remoting with JEA, Azure Arc–enabled servers, VM extensions on non-Azure machines, Azure Update Manager, Automation runbooks.
Virtual machines
Hyper-V guest management (checkpoints, replicas, NIC teaming, GPU partitioning) alongside Azure VM storage, scale sets, availability zones, and JIT/Bastion access.
Networking
DNS integration with AD DS, conditional forwarding, DNSSEC, and DHCP scopes/high availability across hybrid scenarios.
Security
Exploit protection, Credential Guard, Local Administrator Password Solution (LAPS), Defender for Servers, AD hardening, and Microsoft Entra Password Protection.
The AZ802Chandler Beta Discount
Microsoft is running its usual beta-exam incentive for AZ-802, with a hard cap on eligibility:
- • 80% off the exam fee using code AZ802Chandler at checkout
- • Limited to the first 300 candidates — first-come, first-served
- • Must be taken on or before July 22, 2026
- • Not available in Turkey, Pakistan, India, or China
- • Not a private access code — anyone can use it until seats or the date run out
Beta exam trade-offs to weigh:
Beta results aren't scored immediately — expect a wait of several weeks after the beta period closes before you know if you passed. There's also no official practice assessment yet. If you administer hybrid Windows Server environments day-to-day, your hands-on experience is effectively your study material and the discount makes the beta worth taking. If you're learning the content from scratch, it may be safer to wait for general availability and proper study resources.
What Happens to AZ-800 and AZ-801
Both AZ-800 (Administering Windows Server Hybrid Core Infrastructure) and AZ-801 (Configuring Windows Server Hybrid Advanced Services) retire on September 30, 2026. Until then, they'll still appear on the certification page alongside AZ-802 as valid ways to earn the credential.
If you already hold the Hybrid Administrator Associate certification
Your credential remains valid. Annual renewal is done through a free Microsoft Learn assessment — that process is unaffected by the exam consolidation.
If you've passed AZ-800 but not AZ-801 (or vice versa)
You need to complete the second exam before September 30, 2026 to earn the certification through the two-exam path. After that date, only AZ-802 counts.
If you haven't started studying yet
Go straight to AZ-802. Studying AZ-800/AZ-801 material now means learning content for exams that disappear in a matter of months, and AZ-802 covers the same ground in one sitting.
Who Should Take AZ-802
Per Microsoft's audience profile, this exam targets administrators, not architects — people who deploy, configure, secure, and troubleshoot Windows Server day-to-day rather than design the overall infrastructure.
You should have hands-on experience with:
- • Windows Admin Center, Hyper-V, and PowerShell
- • Azure Arc, Azure Monitor, and Azure Update Manager
- • Microsoft Defender for Cloud
- • Active Directory Domain Services
It's a strong fit for infrastructure engineers and system administrators managing on-premises Windows Server alongside a growing Azure footprint — exactly the mix most enterprises still run.
Building Azure and Windows Server skills together?
AZ-104 shares core hybrid identity, Azure Arc, and networking ground with AZ-802. Practice free before deciding which exam to sit next.
Related Resources
New Microsoft Beta Exams 2026
Full timeline of all 9 new beta exams launching in 2026, including the original AZ-802 preview.
AZ-104 Study Guide 2026
Complete Azure Administrator exam prep — overlaps with AZ-802 on identity, storage, and networking.
Is AZ-104 Worth It in 2026?
Salary data and job market analysis for Azure Administrator certification holders.
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