Forum Discussion
Windows Server Administrator Associate AZ-802 curated learning path
Hi there,
Can someone point me in the right direction for AZ-802 exam preparation?
I've been trying to use Microsoft Learn to study for AZ-802 (Administering Windows Server), but I keep running into the same issue: I can find the exam objectives, but not a clear, end-to-end learning path.
I found the official study guide:
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-ca/credentials/certifications/resources/study-guides/az-802
The problem is that it only outlines the exam topics. From there, am I supposed to manually search Microsoft Learn for content covering each objective? That feels pretty fragmented and difficult to organize into a study plan.
Is there a single page or learning path that consolidates all the relevant Microsoft Learn content for AZ-802? Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.
5 Replies
- maskwillBrass Contributor
Yes — your impression is understandable. Microsoft’s AZ-802 study guide is primarily an exam blueprint, rather than a single linear course. However, Microsoft Learn now has several learning paths that explicitly say they prepare you for AZ-802.
A practical AZ-802 Microsoft Learn path
I’d organize your preparation roughly like this:
AD DS — start here
Deploy and manage Active Directory Domain Services — about 7h 43m.
Covers domain controllers, FSMO, users/groups, trusts, replication, sites, and Group Policy. This maps directly to the largest AZ-802 domain: Deploy and manage AD DS (20–25%).
Hybrid Windows Server administration
Manage Windows Server instances and workloads in a hybrid environment — about 8h 7m.
Focus on Windows Admin Center, PowerShell remoting, Azure Arc, Azure Update Manager and hybrid management.
Hyper-V / VMs
Manage Virtual Machines.
Covers Hyper-V configuration and management and Azure VM concepts.
Networking
Work through the networking material referenced by the AZ-802 study guide, particularly Windows Server networking, DNS/DHCP, routing and hybrid connectivity. The current exam explicitly includes on-premises and hybrid networking (10–15%).
Storage and file services
Make sure you cover disks/volumes, Storage Spaces, Storage Spaces Direct, Storage Replica, Data Deduplication, SMB, NTFS/ReFS, iSCSI and BitLocker. These are explicitly listed in the current AZ-802 objectives.
Security
Secure Windows Server infrastructure — about 14h 6m.
This is a substantial path covering Windows Server hardening, LAPS, security baselines, Defender, Group Policy security, authentication and AD security.
Monitoring and troubleshooting
Monitor and troubleshoot Windows Server environments — about 7h 33m.
This is particularly relevant because monitoring/troubleshooting accounts for 15–20% of the current exam. It covers Performance Monitor, Event Viewer, Azure Monitor, networking, Windows Update and AD troubleshooting.
The important bit
Don't use the old AZ-800/AZ-801 learning paths as your primary AZ-802 curriculum. The current AZ-802 objectives were updated, and Microsoft explicitly lists the seven areas above in the current study guide.
Also, Microsoft currently describes AZ-802 as covering:
AD DS — 20–25%
Hybrid Windows Server — 10–15%
Virtual machines — 10–15%
Networking — 10–15%
Storage/file services — 15–20%
Security — 10–15%
Monitoring/troubleshooting — 15–20%
So yes, there is considerably more relevant Learn content than the study-guide page initially makes obvious. The trick is that Microsoft has split it across several learning paths rather than presenting one giant "AZ-802 course.
One other useful page is the current Windows Server Administrator Associate certification page, although Microsoft currently says “No training available for this exam” on that certification page, which explains some of the confusion.
- Cesar CabreraCopper Contributor
Thanks Julian, this has the seven (7) core domains included for AZ-802, it is great and I don't know why Microsoft has not simply placed this Course as the Learning Path for the Exam.
- akb1985Brass Contributor
Please compare the study guide of 802 with 800 and 801 and find the learning paths and modules for common skills in 802.
- akb1985Brass Contributor
No training available for this exam - that’s what the Microsoft learn page says for now. I will suggest to map the 802 study guide with 800 and 801 learning paths and modules for common topics. For any gaps refer to Learn articles and blogs.
You may compare the study guideshttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-in/credentials/certifications/resources/study-guides/az-800#deploy-and-manage-active-directory-domain-services-ad-ds-in-on-premises-and-cloud-environments-3035 and
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-in/credentials/certifications/resources/study-guides/az-802#deploy-and-manage-ad-ds-2025