Microsoft Certified: Windows Server Hybrid Administrator Associate
This certification falls under the Microsoft Associate Level Certification Path
The windows server hybrid administrator exams series entails two exams and two learning paths at a high level for the AZ-800 you’re going to need to be familiar with integrating windows server environments with azures services and you’re going to need to be familiar implementing with managing windows server on premises as well for the AZ-801. For both exams you’re going to really need to know what windows server is how its setup on premise and in the cloud and how it interacts with multiple services and infrastructure.
The passing score for each exam is 700 and each section is weighed differently so if you take both exams you need to minimum score 1400 / 2000 , all Microsoft exams have a Max score of 1000 per exam.
Each exam covers a wide range of topics related to things like….
- Deploying packages through group policy
- Securing and updating your windows server environments
- Managing on premise identity and security
- Working with networking storage disaster recovery and clustering
- Using Administrative tools such as Admin Center, PowerShell, Azure Arc, Policy, Defender
If you’re preparing for this exam, you’re going to want to utilize multiple resources. Microsoft offers multiple aids in this department for the AZ-800
- Exam prep videos On Microsoft Learn
- Study guides on Microsoft Learn
- Practice Assessments on Microsoft Learn
Link to practice assessment
If you’re preparing for this exam, you’re going to want to utilise multiple resources. Microsoft offers multiple aids in this department for the AZ-801
- Exam prep videos On Microsoft Learn
- Study guides on Microsoft Learn
- Practice Assessments on Microsoft Learn
Link to practice assessment
If you’re on route to taking both exams you’re going to need to put some considerable study time behind you, to put this into context I took and passed the AZ-800 on the 19th December 2022 the following day I took and passed the AZ-801 on the 20th December 2022 and then on December 20th I received my full certification after taking both exams, so 1 day each per exam. Prior to taking these exams I studied for about 3 months for both.
The best way of explaining the way I tackled these exams would be I gave myself about 2 months of study one for each exam, even though I had been working infrastructure for 10 years I still felt these were going to challenge me, sense Microsoft retired both their MCSA And MCSE, I felt I had to update my skillset in the Windows Server Department learning journey.
If you’re planning on taking both exams, soon be sure to check out the Microsoft certification page to keep up to date with both exams, both exams’ versions were updated on January 29, 2024 for the AZ-800 and August 24, 2023 for the AZ-801 respectively meaning one exam is newer then the other now so content may be allotted harder, I have not doubted the AZ-800 will soon be updated in 2024.
The skills measured for this exam can be found on the exam page but in short, your skills are measured over the following technology stacks Dates 15/02/2024.
AZ-800
- Deploy and manage Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) in on-premises and cloud environments (30–35%)
- Manage Windows Servers and workloads in a hybrid environment (10–15%)
- Manage virtual machines and containers (15–20%)
- Implement and manage an on-premises and hybrid networking infrastructure (15–20%)
- Manage storage and file services (15–20%)
AZ-801
- Secure Windows Server on-premises and hybrid infrastructures (25–30%)
- Implement and manage Windows Server high availability (10–15%)
- Implement disaster recovery (10–15%)
- Migrate servers and workloads (20–25%)
- Monitor and troubleshoot Windows Server environments (20–25%)
As we can see from both exams there is allot of coverage across the board in terms of infrastructure both on premise and within Azure, I would highly recommend you undertake the learning paths in Microsoft learn, following this with the practice assessment and even complement this with Udemy which provides some quality learning for both of these exams and if your short on knowledge still check out John Savill’s Technical Training channel on YouTube.
Link here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpIn7ox7j7bH_OFj7tYouOQ
My Overall Experience in this Exam
The Score Reports
Ok, so looking back on both of these out of 2000 Available points I score 1,650 /2000 give me an 82.50% out of 100% Making me a B Student, not bad, I can be proud of that.
The Learning Point’s
So, what did I actually learn by taking both exams, 5 things.
- No matter how good you think you are with windows server when it comes to testing your knowledge both of these exams do exactly that.
- Always be prepared for Lab environment within your exams, these can ether make or break you’re passing scores.
- Recognize your weaker scoring areas even after you’ve passed your exams and try work on those, they will make you a better Windows Server Administrator for your future learnings.
- Be proud of the result you received when you’ve passed, if you haven’t passed yet remember FAIL Stands for your first attempt at learning and we are forever continually learning.
- Share your knowledge with others after passing both exams you’re going to want to share that knowledge but be ready not everyone wants to learn to be a server administrator always encourage others with an interest in windows servers and guide them with best practices.
My two highest scoring areas for the AZ-800
- Manage Windows Servers and Workloads in a Hybrid Environment (10-15%)
- Manage Virtual Machines and Containers (15-20%)
My two highest scoring areas for the AZ-801
- Secure Windows Server On-premises and Hybrid Infrastructures (25-30%)
- Implement and Manage Windows Server High Availability (10-15%)
My two lower scoring areas for both the AZ-800
- Implement and Manage an On-Premises and Hybrid Networking Infrastructure (15-20%)
- Manage Storage and File Services (15-20%)
My two lower scoring areas for both the AZ-801
- Migrate Servers and Workloads (20-25%)
- Monitor and Troubleshoot Windows Server Environments (20-25%)
My library for study consisted of
YouTube : John Savill’s Technical Training Videos
Microsoft Learn
- Exam Ref AZ-800 Administering Windows Server Hybrid Core Infrastructure with Practice Test
- Exam Ref AZ-801 Configuring Windows Server Hybrid Advanced Services
Udemy Course:
- AZ-800 Course Administering Windows Server Hybrid Core by John Christopher
- AZ-801 Configuring Windows Server Hybrid Advanced Services by John Christopher
Best of Luck in Your Studies
#always learning