Microsoft revamps its certification program

The Microsoft Learning Group stated in a recent press release, that it is retooling the Microsoft certification program to address the increasing role of cloud computing in the IT and developer professions. The previous credentials for MCSE and MCSD are back. Indeed, MCSE is now Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert and MCSD is now the Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer.

Microsoft is revamping its certification program to meet increasing demand for cloud-computing skill sets, with a new focus on system planning and design. The program now features three new skill levels: Associate, Expert, and Master.

  • The Associate Level comprises of the Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA) certification. This level represents a foundation and is the prerequisite certification necessary to earn an MCSE.
  • The Expert Level comprises of the Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE) or its developer equivalent, Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer (MCSD), and is Microsoft’s flagship certification for individuals who want to lead their organization’s transition to the cloud.
  • The Master Level is the Microsoft Certified Solutions Master (MCSM) certification that differentiates the select few from their peers and represents the highest bar of knowledge and skills validation.

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Comptia certifications to divide into levels

CompTIA has announced four certification level series that test various knowledge standards, from entry to expert-level. The CompTIA certification program has been reorganized and repositioned from a collection of entry-level credentials to a multi-level program. These four levels are:

CompTIA Mastery Series: CompTIA Mastery certifications cover the advanced practice of a specific IT area. Candidates targeting this track must be able to integrate multiple enterprise disciplines through the application of advanced skills.

  • CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP): This certification covers the advanced topics related to enterprise security; risk management; research and analysis; and integration of computing, communications, and business disciplines.

CompTIA Professional Series: The CompTIA certification program has been reorganized and repositioned from a collection of entry-level credentials to a multi-level program. CompTIA professional certifications cover the technical skills and knowledge needed to succeed in a specific IT career.

  • CompTIA A+: This certification relates to preventative maintenance, basic networking, installation, troubleshooting, communication and professionalism, etc.
  • CompTIA Network+: This certification includes managing, maintaining, troubleshooting, operating and configuring basic network infrastructure.
  • CompTIA Project+: This certification covers the entire process of project management, including initiation, planning, execution, acceptance, support and closure.
  • CompTIA Security+: This certification validates the knowledge of system security, network infrastructure, cryptography, assessments and audits.
  • CompTIA CDIA+: This certification tests the knowledge and skills needed in the document imaging sales field, including planning, designing and specifying a document imaging management system.
  • CompTIA CTP+: This certification validates the knowledge of designing, implementing and managing voice and data networks.
  • CompTIA CTT+: This certification includes the knowledge and skills needed for the technical training field, including classroom preparation, presentation, communication, facilitation and evaluation in both traditional classroom and virtual classroom environments.
  • CompTIA PDI+: This certification explains the knowledge and skills needed for technicians in the printer and document-imaging field, such as basic electromechanical components and tools, print engine and scan processes, color theory and networking.
  • CompTIA Linux+ Powered by LPI: This certification includes user administration, file permissions, software configurations and the fundamental management of Linux systems.
  • CompTIA Server+: This certification explains the areas such as RAID, SCSI, managing multiple CPUs and disaster recovery.
  • CompTIA Storage+ Powered by SNIA: This certification includes storage components, connectivity, storage management, data protection and storage performance.

CompTIA Speciality Series: The CompTIA Speciality certifications cover the business and technical knowledge needed for specific vertical or niche markets. Specialty certifications can be taken in combination with other CompTIA certifications as well. Some of the Specialty certifications are as follows:

  • CompTIA Cloud Essentials: This certification explains what cloud computing means from a business and technical perspective, as well as what is involved in moving to and governing the cloud.
  • CompTIA Green IT: This certification covers the knowledge needed to implement environmentally sound techniques within an organization’s IT infrastructure.
  • CompTIA Healthcare IT Technician: This certification validates the knowledge of methods to implement, deploy, and support healthcare IT systems in various clinical settings.
  • CompTIA IT for Sales: This certification covers the professional knowledge in technology basics necessary to complete sales activities with customers in technical fields.

CompTIA Basic Series: CompTIA basic certifications cover foundational topics and issues in IT and are suited for individuals looking to enter jobs that involve computers.

  • Strata IT Fundamentals: This is the only credential in this group so far, and it covers the fundamentals A+. This certification includes the basic understanding of PC components, functionality, compatibility and related technology topics.

New Updates in March 2012

Newly Released PrepKits

  • CRISC – Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control Practice Test
  • 504 Questions, 102 Quizzes, 286 Study Notes
    The ISACA Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control certification (CRISC) exam is designed for IT professionals who have hands-on experience with risk identification, assessment, and evaluation, risk response, risk monitoring, IS control design and implementation, and IS control monitoring and maintenance. .

PrepKit Upgrades

New Updates in February 2012

Newly Released PrepKits

  • CRISC – Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control Practice Test
  • 303 Questions, 102 Quizzes, 235 Study Notes
    Exam ISACA Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control certification (CRISC) exam is designed for IT professionals who have hands-on experience with risk identification, assessment, and evaluation, risk response, risk monitoring, IS control design and implementation, and IS control monitoring and maintenance. .

  • CAS-001 – CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner Practice Test
  • 331 Questions, 100 Quizzes, 394 Study Notes
    CompTIA Exam CAS-001: Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP) exam is an internationally targeted validation of advanced-level security skills and knowledge. The CAS-001 CASP exam will certify that the successful candidate has the technical knowledge and skills required to conceptualize, design, and engineer secure solutions across complex enterprise environments.

     

PrepKit Upgrades

New uCertify Courses: As of 3/1/2012

Course Name: CompTIA Cloud Essentials (CLO-001)

Companies will continue to shift towards cloud environments in 2012 whether they are public clouds or privately managed and secured cloud environments- read full article here. Whether you are new to IT or an established IT professional, knowing the fundamentals of Cloud Computing is essential. CompTIA’s Cloud Essentials certification is an excellent way to get started.

 


Course Name: VMWare vSphere (VCP)

For the student looking to really get hands on with virtualization technology, check out our VMWare vSphere VCP test prep. As the demand for IT professionals with datacenter virtualization skills increases, achieving VCP certification confirms that you have the education needed to successfully install, deploy, scale and manage VMware vSphere environments, as well as the skills obtained by a minimum of six months experience with VMware infrastructure technologies.

 


Course Name: CompTIA Strata Green IT

Green computing is big these days. As companies look for ways to cut data center space, power and cooling costs, IT professionals that pass the Strata Green IT exam validate that they have the aptitude needed to effectively implement and measure Green IT programs and investments, including: A specialized knowledge of current IT methodologies. The ability to develop, deploy, and calculate true ROI for green IT initiatives. Knowledge of cost-cutting power management and IT virtualization techniques. Proven understanding of environmentally-sound waste disposal.


Course Name: Healthcare IT (HIT-001)

Electronic Health Records (EHR) are buzzing these days, with recent focus on Health Care Information Technology. With HIPAA regulations already in effect, and more on the way, the world is moving towards a digital age in health care. IT professionals looking to work in the healthcare industry need to understand the how these rules and regulations impact the way they do their jobs. CompTIA’s Healthcare IT Technician certification offers an excellent introduction to these topics.


Course Name: Project Management Professional (PMP)

Project Management Professional (PMP) PMP PMI’s certification provides the skills and abilities to manage large projects with critical paths, critical dates, available resources, and track the progress of the project from inception to completion. uCertify offers a great PMP course booked by a respected expert in the field with an excellent reference guide, videos and of course, hundreds of real world practice questions.


Course Name: Network+ 2012 (N10-005)

Network administrators have always played a crucial, behind the scenes role in keeping an organization’s infrastructure running smoothly and securely. With the continuous growth of IT adoption across organizations of all sizes across the globe, and the explosion of wireless technologies, keeping networks safe from external attacks is more important than ever. CompTIA’s Network+ 2012 edition broadens the spectrum for Network+ certification with coverage of virtual networking and advanced network security with seven layer of Open System Connection model.


Course Name: Storage+ Powered by SNIA (SG0-001)

CompTIA in collaboration with the Storage Network Industry Association (SNIA) recently released the Storage+ Powered by SNIA certification to fill the need for professionals configure basic networks to include archive, backup, and restoration technologies. The certification is comprehensive validation of the knowledge and skills necessary to support various solutions and technologies in data storage, storage networking, data protection, and the underlying interconnect technologies. An excellent certification for both network and system administrators.


Course Name: Advanced Security Practitioner (CAS-001)

With the growing threat of security attacks, organizations are paying much needed attention to protecting their networks and data. CompTIA’s Advanced Security course is targeted at individuals that have years of “hands-on” security, keeping networks running and secure. The depth of knowledge required is much more than for the Security+ course: the test candidate is expected to know about port scanners, vulnerability scanners, protocol analyzers, switchport analyzers, network enumerators, password crackers, fuzzing, and attack tool frameworks.

 


Course Name: Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA courses)

The MTA certifications need no introduction. uCertify has had practice tests for these exams for a while now, but they have recently been upgraded to courses with a reference guide and the status of being Microsoft approved courseware. The MTA certification creates a new entry point for these people to help them jumpstart their career aspirations. Each MTA Certification exam will cover a broad technology area, including:

  • Microsoft Software Development Fundamentals (98-361)
  • Microsoft Windows Fundamentals (98-362)
  • Microsoft Web Development Fundamentals (98-363)
  • Windows Server Administration Fundamentals (98-365)
  • Microsoft Database Fundamentals (98-364)
  • Microsoft Networking Fundamentals (98-366)
  • Microsoft Security Fundamentals (98-367)
  • Microsoft .NET Fundamentals (98-372)

Course Name: Program Management Professional (PgMP)

The PMI Program Management Professional certification exam is a complex certification ideal for project and program managers that multi-task multiple projects. It is a far more exclusive certification than the more common PMP cert, requiring more than double the experience years and hours. However, project managers looking for that major extra boost to direct enterprise critical projects, find the certification well worth the effort and cost.


Course Name: Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP)

The Business Analyst (BA) role has become essential in today’s workplace as a vital component of a successful project. The business analysis field has been accelerating at a rapid pace, and this acceleration has caused some understandable growing pains. Among the challenges are a lack of standardization, inconsistent terminology across organizations, and difficulty in assessing knowledge and skills of BAs. The CBAP (Certified Business Analysis Professional) certification program created by the International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA) is proof of a BA practitioner’s understanding and mastery of these standards for business analysis. 1:37 PM Friday, March 02, 2012