Buzzword

Buzzword

All About Microsoft Certification

There are more Microsoft certifications than ever, which means that choosing one isn't as easy as it used to be.

If you're considering pursuing a Microsoft certification, you may already have discovered that the number of Microsoft certifications is legion. This has come about because Microsoft has redesigned the structure of its certification program several times as it worked to come up with a sustainable, straight forward structure. However, each certification in the latest crop comes in a wide array of variations, and on top of that, the old certifications never went away, and some of them are in fact still relevant to IT professionals today. All of this makes the menu of choices a little overwhelming.

Another reason for this article is that, as of this writing, Microsoft forces you to install their new Silverlight plug in before you can view certification information, and many of us would rather not do that...

Read the full article here: All About Microsoft Certification

All About Microsoft Certification

There are more Microsoft certifications than ever, which means that choosing one isn't as easy as it used to be.

If you're considering pursuing a Microsoft certification, you may already have discovered that the number of Microsoft certifications is legion. This has come about because Microsoft has redesigned the structure of its certification program several times as it worked to come up with a sustainable, straight forward structure. However, each certification in the latest crop comes in a wide array of variations, and on top of that, the old certifications never went away, and some of them are in fact still relevant to IT professionals today. All of this makes the menu of choices a little overwhelming.

Another reason for this article is that, as of this writing, Microsoft forces you to install their new Silverlight plug in before you can view certification information, and many of us would rather not do that...

Read the full article here: All About Microsoft Certification

Exam 70-620: Windows Vista Configuration

Officially launched January 4, 2007, Exam 70-620: Microsoft Windows Vista, Configuring earns Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist: Windows Vista, Configuration certification.

The certification is aimed at technical staff having at least a year of experience providing phone support in organizations ranging from retail stores to enterprise-scale environments.

Microsoft recommends candidates have experience

• Repairing network issues
• Troubleshooting Windows desktops
• Configuring security and applications
• Repairing logon problems
• Resetting passwords
• Eliminating desktop program conflicts

To successfully pass the exam, candidates must demonstrate proficiency

• Installing and upgrading the new OS
• Configuring and troubleshooting Vista's post-installation system settings
• Configuring security features (including user account controls, Windows Defender and Windows Firewall).

Technology professionals must also demonstrate expertise configuring

• Network connectivity
• Applications included with Vista (including Windows Mail, Windows Meeting Space, Windows Calendar, Windows Fax and Scan and Windows Sidebar)
• Mobile computing features.

Further, candidates must also prove their ability to maintain and optimize Vista performance.

Read more here.

Vista Vulnerability Study Puts Microsoft on Defensive

Microsoft and some independent security researchers had the blogosphere buzzing Wednesday over a series of denunciations after one company claimed that Vista was more vulnerable to malware and other exploits than previous operating systems.

Late last week, a study by Sydney, Australia-based anti-virus concern PC Tools suggested that although Vista was an improvement over Windows XP in respect to system fortitude, it is more easily encroached upon by malware and other exploits than Windows 2000.

PC Tools found that for every 1,000 machines running Vista, 639 suffered from cases of malware in varying degrees. Among machines running Windows 2000, 586 were found compromised; for Windows 2003, 478.

Read the full article here: Vista Vulnerability Study Puts Microsoft on Defensive

Windows 2008 Exams On Last Leg of Development

Microsoft's Learning Group closes beta testing on several new Windows Server 2008 exams, with release soon after the software launches next month.

Windows Server 2008 rounds the corner toward release at the end of next month. And the Microsoft Learning Group, for its part, has been keeping pace with new exams that are slated to be generally available at Prometric testing centers soon after the software hits shelves. According to blog posts from Trika Harms zum Spreckel, a member of the marketing team in the Microsoft Learning Group, MCPs will see a healthy mix of MCTS and MCITP exams in the weeks to come.

The MCITP: Enterprise Administrator title, on the other hand, requires a bit more network design-based expertise and an understanding of network infrastructure in the context of the enterprise. So, Microsoft makes the bar for obtaining this title a bit higher, with candidates having to pass at least four of the following MCTS level exams: 70-640, 70-642, 70-643 and 70-620 TS: Windows Vista, Configuring or 70-624 TS: Deploying Vista and Office Desktops (70-620 and 70-624 have been available since soon after the release of Vista last year). Over on the Professional level, candidates finally have need to pass one more exam, 70-647, to obtain MCITP nirvana.

Windows 2008 Exams On Last Leg of Development

Migrating from MCSA/MCSE on Windows 2003

As it has done in the past, the Microsoft Learning Group incorporates transition exams into both Windows 2008-based MCITP tracks for MCSA and MCSE on Windows 2003 titleholders.

For those with MCSA on Windows 2003 certificates who want to upgrade to MCITP: Server Administrator, candidates need only pass two exams: 70-646 on the Pro level and 70-648 TS: Upgrading MCSA on Windows Server 2003 to Windows Server 2008, Technology Specialist, an exam that has been available since Octob er 2007.

For the more comprehensive MCITP: Enterprise Administrator, MCSAs have to pass either of the Vista exams (70-620 or 70-624), plus 70-643 and 70-647, as well as the transitional 70-648 exam.

For MCSEs taking on the MCITP: Server Administrator requirements means passing the same 70-646 exam, but a different transition exam: 70-649 TS: Upgrading from MCSE on Windows 2003 to Windows 2008, Technology Specialist (that one has also been available since October 2007). MCSEs migrating to the Enterprise-grade title take a similar path as MCSAs, but substitute 70-649 for 70-648.

Windows 2008 Exams Go Live

Microsoft releases three new exams for its newest network operating system in March.

Windows 2008 Exams Go LiveThe Microsoft Learning Group has released three new exams for Windows Server 2008. All three are available worlwide at Prometric testing centers. The release comes quickly on the heels of the official release of Microsoft's newest network operating system software in Los Angeles at the end of February.

• 70-640 TS: Windows Server 2008 Active Directory, Configuring
• 70-642 TS: Windows Server 2008 Network Infrastructure, Configuring
• 70-643 TS: Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure, Configuring

Why not tie exams to employment?

Here’s an idea worth considering: Currently in the IT world, multiple-choice and practicum-based exams are used to authenticate your skills, give you something to put on your resume and allow your employer to advertise that they have a certain number of certified administrators/technicians/etc.

It seems to me that here’s an opportunity for employers to incorporate practicum-based exams into the actual hiring process, and for testing centers to fulfill a purpose beyond what they currently do...

Computer Certification: 2007 in Review and a Peek at What Lies Ahead

There was plenty going on in the certification marketplace in 2007, and the industry is showing signs of emerging from the relative doldrums of the last few years. From players large to small, certification vendors kept busy rolling out new exams and updating existing ones to incorporate the latest products and technologies. Going beyond maintenance, certification vendors are exhibiting an increasing will to revitalize the perception of computer certifications by employers and certification candidates, not just through wishful thinking, but with concrete action plans. It is not clear yet, however, how strong the will is to do this and what resources will truly be put into it, so success is far from assured.

What happened to the good old-fashioned MCSE?

Windows Server 2008 will be released early next year. That's right...I said it, another major server OS will be released with undoubtedly more to learn! However, with this release, Microsoft is also rolling out major changes to its certification program. All of us old MCSEs are in for some big changes.

For example, the MCSE we're all familiar with is going away. Yep, you heard it, completely going away! Instead, new certification titles, like MCTS, or Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist: Active Directory Configuration or Application Platform Configuration, will be the certification de jour.

Here's an overview of the new Windows Server 2008 certification program. Specifically, it will address:

• New changes in the Windows Server 2008 certification program
• What you need to do to transition your Windows Server 2003 MCSE skills to 2008
• What you need to do to go from Windows 2000 MCSE to 2008
• Learn practical tips on what you can do now to start planning

The world's most popular certification is going through a major remodel-are you ready?

Novell Certified Engineer (NCE)

Novell has announced a new certification to help Certified Novell Engineers (CNEs) migrate to Linux: the Novell Certified Engineer (NCE). This isn't just a simple reshuffling of the acronym; the NCE is intended to further cement the move away from all NetWare platforms in favor of Open Enterprise Server.

To become certified, you must pass a single exam: NCE Enterprise Services (050-709). While not currently available, the exam is expected to be practicum-based and priced at $195, the same as similar Novell exams.

For those new to Novell, four courses are recommended in preparation for taking the exam:

• Novell Networking and Services for Linux
• Administering Novell Open Enterprise Server 2 for Linux
• Implementing Novell Open Enterprise Server 2 for Linux
  Deploying Novell Open Enterprise Server 2 for Linux
• For those already certified as CNEs, only the latter two courses are recommended.

New Novell Certified Engineer Cert Coming

Novell recently announced on its Web site that it will be launching a new high-level cert for Linux professionals, the Novell Certified Engineer (NCE), next year.

Although it's name is similar to the company's longstanding Certified Novell Engineer (CNE), the NCE is a new title for Linux IT pros.

Top 10 Overlooked Windows Server 2008 Features

Windows Server 2008 is on its way. With the first release candidate in the pipeline, it shouldn't be long before release to manufacturing and general availability.

With such a long development time (it's the first new Windows Server OS since 2003,) the showstopping new features have been well publicized: Most IT pros are familiar with at least some of the details of Server Core, PowerShell and Windows Server Virtualization (codenamed Viridian). But Windows 2008 includes a lot more than those headliners.

To that end, we're presenting the Top 10 overlooked features of Windows 2008. We spoke with Ward Ralston, senior technical product manager for Windows Server, to help us build our list. These items haven't garnered the same kind of press attention, hype and word-of-mouth as the others, but they're nonetheless important - maybe very important - to your network.

70-623: Exam Review

Exam 70-623 PRO: stands alone as a Microsoft certification. The exam targets IT professionals who work within the consumer market supporting end users. Familiar with The Geek Squad? Well, that's the target audience. Exam 70-623 gives this group a way to prove their knowledge supporting users with installation, configuration and troubleshooting retail versions of Windows Vista installed on consumers' machines.

70-623: Exam Review

70-622: Road to Enteprise Support and Vista

Exam 70-622 PRO: Installing, Maintaining, Supporting, and Troubleshooting Applications on the Windows Vista Client-Enterprise, is a mouthful and it's also a good test of your ability to roll out applications on this or any Windows-based network. Exam 70-622 is one of two exams that you'll need to pass (along with completion of a Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist exam, such as 70-620: Vista Configuration) in order to obtain a Microsoft Certified IT Professional: Enterprise Support Technician certification.

I took 70-622 while it was in beta (which this exam is based on). During the beta, I was given 180 minutes to complete 75 questions. The final version is 90 to 120 minutes for about 50 questions.

This exam was wide in scope and tests one's knowledge of all aspects of installing, maintaining, supporting and troubleshooting applications on Windows Vista on an enterprise network in these key areas:

• Deploying Vista
• Managing Vista security
• Managing, maintaining systems that run Vista
• Configuring, troubleshooting network connections

PRINCE2 and ITIL Certification Practice Exams for ClearScope

Seems there is a new practice exams vendor - ClearScope Training. They offer PRINCE2, ITIL and MSP certification practice exams.

From their web site:

ClearScope is a powerful software-based test engine with dynamic features and interactive multimedia to reinforce your understanding of the subject matter – while simulating the real exam.

Our certification practice exams are the most accurate you will find on the market today. Download and install ClearScope today and get certified faster than you ever thought possible.

Certification advice from the trenches

To certify is a huge step - it changes your identity (those capital letters at the end of your name), it proves to others that you're qualified, and more than anything, it increases your probability of getting hired and getting paid more.

Passing your exams not only tests your knowledge, but also your perseverance and dedication. To succeed, you need to devote a good amount of resources, time and money to earning your cert. And the tricky part can be deciding what those resources are, how much time to invest, and how much money you will realistically spend.

MCSA/MCSE Upgrade Exams To Retire 2008

In keeping with an exam retirement policy that has been in place since October, the Microsoft Learning Solutions group has announced retirement of two exams for Windows 2000 next year. Those announcements were unveiled during a Certification Live Meeting that took place online this week.

The two exams placed on that retirement list are 70-292, Managing and Maintaining Windows Server 2003 for an MCSA-Windows 2000, and 70-296, Planning, Implementing, and Maintaining Windows Server 2003 for an MCSE-Windows 2000.

Read more here.