When a job stops offering breakthroughs and each week feels like the last one, a respected credential can be the new start you have been looking for. For IT professionals eyeing a meaningful move, the Microsoft Administering Visual Studio Team Foundation Server certification makes a visible difference, and RealVCE prepares you for the 070-496 exam with 97 practice questions built around the real objectives.
Microsoft 070-496 Exam Overview:
| Certification Vendor: | Microsoft |
|---|---|
| Exam Name: | Administering Visual Studio Team Foundation Server |
| Exam Number: | 70-496 |
| Exam Price: | USD $165 (regional pricing may vary) |
| Available Languages: | Simplified Chinese, Japanese, English |
| Certificate Validity Period: | Retired (exam no longer offered) |
| Passing Score: | 700 (out of 1000) |
| Exam Duration: | 120 minutes |
| Real Exam Qty: | 40-60 |
| Exam Format: | Multiple choice, Scenario-based questions, Case studies |
| Related Certifications: | Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer (MCSD) |
| Recommended Training: | Microsoft Learn (DevOps and TFS/Azure DevOps learning paths) |
| Exam Registration: | Microsoft Credentials (Archived/Retired Certification Info) |
| Sample Questions: |  |
| Exam Way: | Computer-based exam delivered at authorized testing centers or online proctored delivery (when available at time of offering). |
| Pre Condition: | No formal prerequisites required, but recommended experience with Visual Studio Team Foundation Server administration and software development lifecycle concepts. |
| Official Syllabus URL: | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/credentials/ |
Microsoft 070-496 Exam Syllabus Topics:
| Section | Objectives |
|---|---|
| Topic 1: Manage and administer Team Foundation Server infrastructure | - Install and configure TFS components
|
| Topic 2: Manage work items and Agile planning | - Work item tracking
|
| Topic 3: Maintain and optimize TFS environment | - Performance monitoring and troubleshooting
|
| Topic 4: Manage source control | - Git integration in TFS
|
| Topic 5: Manage build and release processes | - Build definitions and agents
|
070-496 Exam Questions Answered: Format, Topics, and Prep
The 070-496 exam is the official assessment for the Microsoft Administering Visual Studio Team Foundation Server certification offered by Microsoft. It checks whether you can apply the knowledge areas in the exam objectives to practical situations, and passing it earns a credential that employers across the industry recognize. For professionals who feel stuck in their current role, it is often the most concrete next step available.
No formal prerequisites required, but recommended experience with Visual Studio Team Foundation Server administration and software development lifecycle concepts.
The official outline for the 070-496 exam highlights these domains:
- Manage build and release processes ()
- Manage work items and Agile planning ()
- Maintain and optimize TFS environment ()
Weighting your study time toward the heavier domains first is a sensible strategy, and the Microsoft Administering Visual Studio Team Foundation Server practice questions at RealVCE follow the same objective structure.
Microsoft recommends the following training resources for 070-496 exam candidates:
Pairing official courses with timed practice sessions tends to work well, since one builds knowledge and the other builds exam-day rhythm.
The 070-496 exam gives you 120 minutes minutes to answer 40-60 questions. That pace leaves little room for hesitation, which is why rehearsing under a timer — for example with the online test engine at RealVCE, where you can set the session length just like the real test — is such a useful habit.
The online test engine is exclusive to RealVCE and runs on any electronic device — phone, tablet, or computer — with no installation barriers. It recreates the atmosphere of the real 070-496 exam: you set the test time the way it will be on exam day, work through the Microsoft Administering Visual Studio Team Foundation Server practice questions under that pressure, and at the end the engine marks the questions you got wrong and reminds you to practice them again next time. Over a few sessions, that loop turns weak areas into reliable ones.
To pass the 070-496 exam you need a score of 700 (out of 1000), and the registration fee is USD $165 (regional pricing may vary). Since each attempt costs the full fee, arriving over-prepared is cheaper than arriving under-prepared — timed mock sessions and repeated review of missed questions are the usual ways candidates close that gap.
Registration for the 070-496 exam is handled through the official channels below:
Once your practice scores look consistent, booking a date gives your preparation a firm deadline to work toward.
Right after payment you get instant access to the 070-496 exam product — 97 practice questions for the Microsoft Administering Visual Studio Team Foundation Server exam with expert-verified answers — and the download link is also emailed to you automatically, typically within a minute. Your purchase includes 365 days of free updates; our team checks for exam changes daily, and when a new version is released the system sends it straight to your mailbox. A 50% renewal discount applies if you extend updates beyond the first year, and payment by Credit Card is handled through a secure checkout.
Microsoft Administering Visual Studio Team Foundation Server Sample Questions:
Your network environment includes the following:
- Multi-tier Microsoft Visual Studio Team Foundation Server (TFS) 2012 server environment with HTTPS/ SSL configuration - Microsoft Exchange Server 2010 with SMTP listening on Port 587, requiring SSL and allowing open relay
You want to be able to inform team members about changes to projects, work items, and builds.
You need to configure email notifications for TFS 2012 using the least amount of administrative effort.
What you should do?
- A. From the Command prompt, run the command TFSConfiq ConfigureMail /FrornEmailAddress: tfsadmin?contoso.com / SmtpHost: SMTPSVR1 /Port: 58] /SSL.
- B. Install and configure SMTP Service by using IIS Manager on the TFS Server.
Configure the TFS Email Alert Setting to use SMTP Service.
Configure the SMTP Service to send mail to Exchange by using port 587 and SSL. - C. Install and configure SMTP Service by using IIS Manager on the TFS Server.
Log on to the application-tier server.
From the SharePoint Central Administration website, configure outgoing email settings. - D. Log on to the application-tier server.
From the TFS Administration Console, enable Email Alert Settings by entering the 5MW Server and the From address, and then editing the Advanced SMTP Settings.
Correct Answer: D 🗳️
Your organization uses a Microsoft Visual Studio Team Foundation Server (TFS) 2010 environment on a Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 server.
The Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 server has a SQL Server 2008 R2 environment, as well as a Microsoft Office SharePoint Foundation 2010 environment. Your organization wants to perform an in-place upgrade to the 2013 version of TFS.
You need to prepare the environment to meet the minimum requirements for the upgrade.
What should you do?
- A. Upgrade the SharePoint Server to Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2013, Enterprise edition.
- B. Upgrade all tiers to Windows Server 2012.
- C. Add a test lab server.
- D. Upgrade SQL Server to SQL Server 2012 SP1.
Correct Answer: A 🗳️
Explanation: Only visible for RealVCE members. You can sign-up / login (it's free).
Your network environment includes a Microsoft Visual Studio Team Foundation Server (TFS) 2012 server.
You need to be able to trace bugs to the code that addresses the bug.
What should you do?
- A. Enable the Work Items check-in policy. In the Edit options of the policy, select Bug from the list of work item types.
- B. Enable the Work Items check-in policy. In the Edit options of the policy, select the Active Bugs query.
- C. Enable the Work Items check-in policy and request that all developers associate the work item to the appropriate bug at the time of check-in.
- D. Enable the Changeset Comments check-in policy.
Correct Answer: C 🗳️
Your company uses Microsoft Visual Studio Team Foundation Server (TFS). You have permissions to modify work items.
The current product backlog item WIT is functioning properly. However, the product owner needs to track each product backlog item's estimated value to the company. The company has a system that ranks value by using a grading system of A-E. The company needs a new field in the product backlog item that captures this system and only allows A-E.
You need to modify the product backlog item WIT on the server.
Which two actions should you perform? Each correct answer presents a complete solution.
- A. Use the TFS administration console to add a field product backlog item WIT.
- B. Use witadmin.exe to download the XML Edit the XML to add the field, and use witadmin to upload the edited XML document.
- C. Use the process template manager, and download the process template. Use the process template editor to edit the WIT. Upload the edited template as a new process template.
- D. Use the process template editor to add a field to the existing WIT.
Correct Answer: A,C 🗳️
Explanation: Only visible for RealVCE members. You can sign-up / login (it's free).
DRAG DROP
You have a Microsoft Visual Studio Team Foundation Server (TFS) 2010. A new server is installed with Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard.
You want to migrate TFS to the new hardware and upgrade it to TFS 2013. You install TFS 2013 on the new hardware.
You need to complete the migration and upgrade.
Which three actions should you perform in sequence? To answer, move the appropriate actions from the list of actions to the answer area and arrange them in the correct order.
Correct Answer:
Beau 
Ian 
Daniel 
Maurice 
Hazel 
Noah 
Christine 
Myron 
Craig 
Jenny 
Merle 
Camille 
