Certification Information

To help me decide on which route to follow to upgrade my MCDBA to MCITP Database Administrator 2008, I’m taking a closer look at the exams for the MCITP Database Administrator 2008 certification, beginning with the prerequisite Microsoft 70-432 TS: Microsoft SQL Server 2008, Implementation and Maintenance exam, which happens to be the only exam required for the MCTS: SQL Server 2008, Implementation and Maintenance certification. This is generally the first step in preparing for an exam - discovering what is covered by the exam.

Obviously, the first place to look is at the official preparation guide for the MCTS 70-432 exam from Microsoft Learning. The most important information we’re looking for here is the exam objectives. So here it is:

The MCTS 70-432 Exam Objectives

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The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) has announced changes to the CompTIA Network+ program and the release of a new CompTIA Network+ exam, the N10-004 exam to reflect current developments in data and communications networks. The updated CompTIA Network+ exam places more emphasis on network security and wireless networking, while still focusing on implementing, maintaining, managing and troubleshooting a network. In addition, the successful candidate must be able to describe various networking technologies; understand basic network design principles; understand the various network wiring standards; and use the proper network diagnostic and testing tools.

The old N10-003 Network+ exam will be retired at the end of July 2009 and will be replaced by the N10-004 exam.

For more information on the CompTIA Network+ certification program, visit the CompTIA Network+ website.

As an old Microsoft Certified Database Administrator (MCDBA) I have great interest in the new Microsoft SQL Server 2008 database administrator exams, unfortunately I didn’t have much interest in the SQL Server 2005 exams and having skipped the Microsoft SQL Server 2005 exams, I’m now looking at upgrading my MCDBA to Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP): Database Administrator on SQL Server 2008 certification.

I’m looking at two options: upgrading to MCITP: Database Administrator on SQL Server 2005 and then to MCITP: Database Administrator on SQL Server 2008 or just do the MCITP: Database Administrator on SQL Server 2008 exams.

Option 1: The Upgrade exams

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Citrix Education has announced the next generation of Citrix Certified Administrator (CCA) certifications and the retirement of the CCA for MetaFrame Access Suite 3.0 certification and the CCA for MetaFrame XP Presentation Server certification effective May, 15 2009. After May, 15 2009, the CCA for MetaFrame Access Suite 3.0 and the CCA for MetaFrame XP Presentation Server certifications will still be recognized by Citrix Systems but will be marked “expired”. Professionals that hold these certifications will be able to update their certifications to the new CCA for Citrix XenApp 5 certification.

In addition, the CCA for Citrix XenApp (Presentation Server 4) certification will be discontinued on January 5, 2009, but professionals who obtained this certification by passing the 1Y0-259 Citrix Presentation Server 4.5: Administration exam prior to the discontinuation date will have their certifications updated automatically to CCA for XenApp 5 for Windows Server 2003 as the 1Y0-259 exam will be the only exam requirement for the CCA for Citrix XenApp 5 for Windows Server 2003 certification. The CCA for Citrix XenApp (Presentation Server 4) will remain valid but will no longer be attainable. A CCA for Citrix XenApp 5 for Windows Server 2008 certification will also be available.

For more information on the Citrix CCA certification, visit the Citrix Education website.

In 2005 Microsoft introduced a whole new generation of certifications to replace the Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician (MCDST), Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA), Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE), Microsoft Certified Database Administrator (MCDBA), Microsoft Certified Application Developer (MCAD), and Microsoft Certified Solution Developer (MCSD) certifications, which are being phased out as the exams for those certifications are being retired. But it’s not only the certification names that have changed; the nature of the exams has also changed. Take the old MCSE 70-216 Implementing and Administering a Microsoft Windows 2000 Network Infrastructure exam for example and compare it to the equivalent Windows Sever 2008 exam, the MCTS 70-642 Windows Server 2008 Network Infrastructure, Configuring exam. The MCSE 70-216 was the mother of all MCSE core exams in terms of complexity and difficulty.

A typical 70-216 question would read something like:
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The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) has announced updates to its vendor-neutral Security+ certification exam, which became available in the middle of last month. The new certification, which is still based on a single Security+ exam, places more emphasis on addressing, mitigating and resolving specific security issues, rather than simply recognizing the various vulnerabilities and security issues.

As a result, a new SY0-201 Security+ exam will replace the current SY0-201 exam. The latter will be retired at the end of July 2009. The new exam is also available in German, Japanese, Chinese and Korean, in addition to English.

For more information on the CompTIA Security+ certification program, visit the CompTIA Security+ website.

Cisco Systems has recently announced a major change to the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certification in the form of the new CCNA specialization tracks for Security, Voice and Wireless. The traditional CCNA certification will remain however as the basis for the specialized tracks. What this means is that once you’ve achieved your CCNA certification, you can take an addition exam, that Cisco System calls concentration exams to achieve a specialized CCNA certification. The three new CCNA exams are as follows:

• CCNA Security
  • 640-553 Implementing Cisco IOS Network Security (IINS)
• CCNA Voice
  • 640-460 Implementing Cisco IOS Unified Communications (IIUC)
• CCNA Wireless
  • 640-721 Implementing Cisco Unified Wireless Networking Essentials (IUWNE)

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Last week Cisco Systems launched the new the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) exams and a new entry-level certification, the Cisco Certified Entry Networking Technician (CCENT) certification, which will exist alongside the CCNA certification. Announced at the end of June already, the new certification will be achieved by CCNA candidates that take the two-exam option and successfully complete the first exam, the Cisco 640-822 Interconnecting Cisco Networking Devices Part 1 (ICND1) exam. However, CCNA candidates who opt for the single exam option (that is the 640-802 composite exam) won’t achieve the CCENT, which is a bit odd as the 640-802 exam is a composite of the 640-822 and 640-816 Interconnecting Cisco Networking Devices Part 2 (ICND2) exams?

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