Certification Information

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.

The MCSE 70-294 exam is based on planning, implementing, and maintaining the Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Active Directory infrastructure. It is a fairly difficult exam with a difficulty rating of 4/5 and consists of approximately 50 questions, most of which are form-based multiple choice questions but there are also drag and drop questions, hot spot questions, task simulation questions and list, sort and order questions. You will have 2 hours (120 minutes) to complete the exam.

When you pass the 70-294 Implementing, Managing, and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure exam, you achieve Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) status if it’s the first exam you pass. You also receive credit toward Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) on Microsoft Windows Server 2003 certification as the 70-294 exam is a core exam for the MCSE on Windows Server 2003 certification.

What you need to know for the Microsoft 70-294 exam

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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.

The Cisco 640-816 Interconnecting Cisco Networking Devices Part 2 (ICND2) exam replaced the Cisco 640-811 Interconnecting Cisco Networking Devices (ICND) exam in November last year. Like the CCNA 640-811 exam, the 640-816 exam is based on selecting, implementing, configuring and maintaining basic networks using Cisco networking devices and has a difficulty rating of about 3½/5, making it a moderate exam. The exam consists of approximately 45 to 55 form-based multiple choice, drag and drop questions, and task simulation questions and you will have 1 ¼ hour (75 minutes) to complete the exam.

It is recommended that you do the 640-816 ICND2 exam after you have successfully passed the 640-822 ICND1 exam. As with the 640-811 exam, you achieve credit towards the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certification when you pass the 640-816 ICND2 exam and if you already passed the 640-822 exam, you would achieve the CCNA status, which you will hold for three years. After three years you need to recertify by passing the current CCNA exam, or pass the current ICND exam, or pass any professional level or Cisco Specialist exam (but not one of the Sales Specialist exams), or pass a current CCIE written exam.

What you need to know for the Cisco 640-816 exam

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The Cisco 640-822 Interconnecting Cisco Networking Devices Part 1 (ICND1) exam is part of the two exam option for the CCNA certification that was introduced a few years ago. It replaces the now retired 640-821 Introduction to Cisco Networking Technologies (INTRO) exam. The exam focuses on basic networking and is recommended as the first exam to be taken in two exam option for the CCNA certification and has a difficulty rating of about 3½/5. The exam itself consists of between 50 and 60 questions that you have to answer within 1½ hours (90 minutes).

When you pass the 640-822 ICND1 exam you receive credit towards your CCNA certification. You also achieve the newly introduced Cisco Certified Entry Networking Technician (CCENT) certification. However, the CCENT certification is valid for only three years and will require recertification. To recertify you must pass the current ICND1 or ICND2

What you need to know for the Cisco 640-822 exam

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The Cisco CCNA 640-802 exam recently replaced the now retired CCNA 640-801 exam, the popular single exam option (or composite exam) for the Cisco CCNA certification. Not much has changed however. The exam is still moderately difficult with a difficulty rating of 3½/5 and you still have 1½ hours (90 minutes) to complete the exam but the exam now consists of between 50 and 60 questions (down from between 55 and 65 questions for the old 640-801 exam).

What’s new in the Cisco 640-802 exam?

The new 640-802 exam places less emphasis on Wide Area Networks (WANs) and more emphasis in Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs) and Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6). With less emphasis on WANs, Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) for switched digital WAN services has disappeared altogether!

What you need to know for the Cisco 640-802 exam

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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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