The QuickCert Blog

Upcoming Microsoft Releases and Courses

Heather Nasca Dulin — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 20:20:38 +0000

I hear whispers surrounding Microsoft trainers and the very community itself. Microsoft themselves have been making information more and more readily available concerning some of their new upcoming releases. Its exciting times to say the least. I will be discussing some of the new upcoming releases in this blog. I will also provide what I can in the way of links to more information, beta downloads, things like that. I would welcome your comments and anything else that may provide more insight or information that can be discussed on these technologies. What are your thoughts on the new releases from Microsoft? Are they needed or is it too soon after their last new release? This is pretty much open for discussion. I also wanted to give you a site to review and explore; as well as the informaton listed below for each technology. The Microsoft products and services information is located on a site called Because It’s Everybody’s Business.

These are in no particular order, just the way I wrote them down:

Visual Studio 2010 and .NET 4.0 Framework – The next edition of Visual Studio and the .NET Framework will be released soon. I hear the exams will go live on or around July 2nd, unless something changes. I saw a website that says Visual Studion 2010 will release on April 12th, click here for site. The site also gives you information on the different versions, Professional, Premium, Ultimate and Test Professional. Test Professional is a toolset for quality assurance teams. Ther is another site that I find particularly useful, it’s the What’s New in Visual Studio page. This is full of extremely useful information organized via a chart. The chart contains links to information about the new features and enhancements for the software product. Very nice. The last item that I have for you is a link to the Visual Studio Developer Center. This site has tons of informaton as well as links to other blogs specifically on Visual Studio. From what I have heard from Professionals and Developers alike, this new version has a ton of cool features and options. I haven’t seen much of them but I am anxious for a test drive with a Developer. Based on previous experience, I know training will be coming out shortly if it hasn’t already. I prefer to wait for the exams to release so I know everything and then some is covered. This is the path Quickcert has decided to follow. Our training products will be produced in July 2010 with one of the best developer instructors in the business today, Christopher Harrison of Geek Trainer.

Sharepoint 2010 – The newest version of Sharepoint seems to be garning a ton of traction these days. I know from speaking with Sharepointers who say they are anxious to see if things have been fixed, especially on the server side of things. If you are intersted in finding out or simply want a central Sharepoint 2010 information site this is for you: http://sharepoint2010.microsoft.com/Pages/default.aspx - They even put an item on this page in the upper right corner an opportunity to download the beta for Sharepoint 2010. This is great for those of us that like to start tinkering around with the software as early as possible. Especially if you plan on possibly including it in a service or solution offering. Another blog that I find very useful in regards to Sharepoint is this one: The Microsoft Sharepoint Blog – The Official Blog of the Microsoft Sharepoint Product Group - What better place for all things Sharepoint then from the Product Group themselves. There is always a ton of screenshots and how to’s on this site. Bookmark it and use it, it will become one of your most valuable resources in the months to come.

Office 2010 – Ideas Are Everything: http://www.microsoft.com/office/2010/en/default.aspx - They have added the beta download, a list of the top ten benefits of Office 2010, What’s New in 2010, FAQ, videos and other items to answer any and all questions you might have concerning Microsoft’s newest Office product.

Exchange 2010 – This looks to be the first one that will be released. I believe it has already. Though I haven’t seen too much buzz about it which I find extremely strange. There are a ton of resources online and available on this topic. One of the main sites I use is located here http://www.microsoft.com/exchange/2010/en/us/default.aspx. From this link you can find pretty much anything and everything you are looking for in regards to Microsoft Exchange 2010. There is a Case Studies section with a few on example. There is a News & Reviews section – Detailing Microsoft position, Why should you upgrade and of course Launch News. On the far right there is the Try & Buy section. You also have the ability to reach further into Microsoft offerings from this piont. Anything and everything like I said that has to do with Exchange Server 2010 in one form or another will be found here or from here.

With the release of this new software from Microsoft, people are going to want to be trained to use it properly and some will want to achieve certification. With that in mind QuickCert will soon have those available to customers. They are striving to release their training, educational and of course certification courses at or near the official Microsoft product release dates. Instead of waiting several months for some form of curriculum to be released by Microsoft. Quickcert has made the committment to change the industry. They understand that the speed of certification seems slower than the rest of the industry. They are working diligently with their MCTs to provide the best training, released at the same time as the software product at affordable prices. This is not always feasible, based on when the product is released.

As you monitor the release dates for the new products from Microsoft keep in mind that educational training and certification will soon be available to you.

Filed under: MCAD, MCITP, MCPD, MCSA, MCSD, MCSE, MCTS, Microsoft Certification, Microsoft Office, SharePoint, Uncategorized

Microsoft Exams- Subject to Change After Release

Heather Nasca Dulin — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 15:30:59 +0000

I read an interesting post today on Trika’s Microsoft Learning Blog regarding Microsoft exam changes. To give you an overview, Microsoft may update the content of their exams after their initial release; however the exam objectives themselves do not change. Microsoft does not alert customers regarding exam changes because any updated exam items continue to map to the course objectives. Any exam updates should not change how you study and prepare for the exams.

According to Microsoft, exams are updated for the following reasons:

When the underlying technology has a significant update that makes questions within the exam incorrect or irrelevant

When a question’s performance indicates that the question is not a fair/good representation of your skills and should not be on the test

When we feel an exam’s integrity may have been compromised.

We may update an exam to implement a new testing technology (i.e. simulations).

As a Microsoft Certified Partner, all QuickCert Microsoft Certification Training Courses are developed using the official Microsoft course curriculum. In developing our course content, QuickCert has access to the published objective domains, learning kits and prep guides, but not the actual exam questions. This is all keeping with ANSI and ISO accreditation standards. QuickCert courses are taught by MCT’s that are subject matter experts in their particular technology.

My take Trika’s post? If you have the recommended experience in the technology and have prepared for the exam using materials developed with the official course curriculum, any potential exam changes will not pose a problem for you. If you memorize questions and expect that you will pass your certification exams, you just may be out of luck.

In Demand Skills: Microsoft SharePoint Server 2007

Heather Nasca Dulin — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 20:19:22 +0000

Last week at the Tech Ed 2008 Conference in Orlando, FL, all the buzz was about Microsoft’s new SharePoint Server 2007. In short, SharePoint Server 2007 is an enterprise management tool organizations can use to facilitate collaboration, content management, implement business processes, and supply access to information that is essential to organizational goals and processes. One of the great features is that companies can use it to deploy behind the firewall Social Media platforms to facilitate communications and collaboration.

At the date of this publishing, only approximately 6,400 professionals have achieved the MCTS SharePoint Server 2007, Configuring certification to date. Yesterday, I read an article in Redmond Developer reporting a serious shortfall of talented SharePoint developers. My husband, an IT recruiter for a large, national staffing firm agrees with that assessment.

Want to brush up your skills with one of the hottest new technologies and make yourself more employable? Get certified in SharePoint Server 2007! It’s a single exam certification for achieving your MCTS.

Upgrade Paths to Server 2008 for MCSE’s and MCSA’s

Heather Nasca Dulin — Fri, 09 May 2008 15:22:45 +0000

The exams for Microsoft’s popular MCSE and MCSA for Windows Server 2003 certifications are not set to expire any time soon, and you have plenty of time to earn these valuable certifications. However, for Windows Server 2008, the MCSE and MCSA certifications will be replaced with Microsoft’s next generation MCITP Certification.

On Windows Server 2008, the equivalent certification to an MCSE 2003 Certification is the MCITP Enterprise Administrator 2008 Certification, which requires five exams as a stand-alone certification. The equivalent certification to an MCSA on Server 2003 is the MCITP Server Administrator 2008 Certification, which requires three exams as a stand-alone certification.

The MCSE and MCSA Certifications are still good certification choices as many large companies have yet to convert to the new Windows Server 2008 technologies, and HR Departments and hiring managers are very familiar with these certifications. These certifications in and of themselves will never expire, even when the exams are eventually phased out.

For those already holding their MCSA or MCSE 2003 or considering getting this certification, keep in mind that there is a simple upgrade path to the MCITP on Server 2008 that consists of a single exam. For MCSE’s this is exam 70-649 and for MCSA’s this is exam 70-648. This may be the simplest route and by broadening you skill set, will make you marketable to even more companies.

QuickCert’s upgrade courses for Windows Server 2008 are currently in development and scheduled for release in June of 2008.

CompTIA PDI+ Certification Course for Printing and Document Imaging Technicians

Heather Nasca Dulin — Fri, 02 May 2008 15:22:38 +0000

CompTIA has recently extended their reach of vendor-neutral certifications into the printing and document imaging industry with the new PDI+ certification, a certification for entry level printing and document imaging technicians. In this way, PDI+ is comparable to the A+ certification, though it is specifically for computer peripherals.

PDI+ certification training confirms a technician’s ability to install, connect, maintain, repair and support a variety of devices in printing and document imaging technologies, including printers, copiers, scanners and fax machines.

QuickCert’s CompTIA PDI+ Certification Training Course is delivered by one of the industries top instructors in document imaging diagnostics, repair, assembly and maintenance, who comes from the only accredited school in the United States for Document Imaging. Students will learn the skills necessary to excel in document imaging industry.

As computer peripherals become increasingly connected to large computer networks, making installations more complex, compliments to this certification for document imaging technicians include CompTIA’s A+ and Network+ Certifications.

More Microsoft Certification Changes- MOS = MCAS for Office 2007

Heather Nasca Dulin — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 17:50:47 +0000

Welcome to alphabet soup! In our latest installment, Microsoft has updated the MOS (Microsoft Office Specialist) certification to MCAS (Microsoft Certified Application Specialist) for Office 2007 products. The acronym change itself is not the only change to the actual certification.

MOS Certification for Office 2000, XP and 2003 contained three levels: Specialist, Expert and Master. In order to attain MOS Specialist Certification, you need to pass any one of the core exams (Word, Excel, Access, Outlook or PowerPoint). In order to attain the Expert level, candidates had to pass one of the expert level exams for Word or Excel. To attain Master level MOS certification, candidates had to pass three exams- the two core Master exams for Word and Excel plus one specialist exam for either Access, Outlook or PowerPoint.

The new MCAS Certification is streamlined- there is only one certification level for each of the exams for Word, Excel, Access, Outlook, PowerPoint and Vista. However, candidates can earn multiple MCAS certifications on the different office products.

People holding the MCAS and MOS credentials demonstrate advanced level of skill and proficiency on Microsoft Office Products, making this an ideal certification for business professionals.

Skills Increasing In Demand

Heather Nasca Dulin — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 14:17:01 +0000

According to a recent survey of more than 3500 IT managers by CompTIA, mobile and RF technology is the skill that is expected to increase in demand the most in the next five years, particularly in the healthcare and education industries.

Other skills expected to grow in importance in the next five years include Web-based technologies (such as Web 2.0, Service Oriented Architecture, Software-as-a-Service, Rich Internet Applications, and AJAX) and specific programming languages.

What does this mean for IT professionals? To stay ahead, and ensure a viable career, consider specializing in the skills expected to grow–mobile wireless technology, web-based technologies or specific programming languages. Good certifications to consider include CompTIA’s Network+, CWNA, and Microsoft MCTS and MCPD.

Certification and the IT Skills Gap

Heather Nasca Dulin — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 13:53:08 +0000

A recent research study released by CompTIA, the Computing Technology Industry Association, found skills gaps in several key IT areas.

When comparing reported proficiency in skills to the importance of those skills, the skill with the widest “gap” in proficiency is security/firewalls/data privacy.

The same study found that, according to respondents, the skill that is expected to grow most in importance over the next five years is RF mobile / wireless technology (39% say it will be important one year from now vs. 55% say it will be important five years from now).

More information on the CompTIA Skills Gap Study can be found at www.comptia.org/research.

What does this mean for IT professionals? Certification can fill the skills gap and prove to hiring managers that you have not only demonstrated a certain level of knowledge but have also taken the initiative to learn and get certified.

What certifications are right for you given these major skills gaps? It depends on your job function and role. If you are interested in IT Security consider the following: EC-Council Security5, CompTIA Security+, MCSE Security, MCSA Security and EC-Council CEH.

Interested in Mobile/ Wireless Technologies? Consider a certification like CWNA.

New Microsoft Certifications for Desktop Support

Heather Nasca Dulin — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 14:49:03 +0000

With the launch of the it’s next generation certifications and the Vista Operating System, Microsoft has begun what may become the gradual phase-out of the popular MCDST Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician certification, although no exams have been slated for retirement yet.

Two new MCITP certification tracks specifically for Desktop Support on Windows Vista are now available. The MCITP Enterprise Support (Desktop Support for large organizations) and MCITP Consumer Support (Desktop Support for small-to-mid size organizations) each consist of two exams. Exam 70-620: TS-Windows Vista Configuring is part of both curriculums. 70-622: PRO: Supporting and Troubleshooting Applications on a Windows Vista Client for Enterprise Support Technicians makes up the second exam for the MCITP Enterprise Support curriculum while 70-623: PRO: Supporting and Troubleshooting Applications on a Windows Vista Client for Consumer Support Technicians is the second exam in the MCITP Consumer Support Curriculum.

Is your company currently still running the XP Operating System? Then the MCDST certification is still viable and may be your best option. When your company converts to Vista, there is a single upgrade exam for people holding the MCDST credential to upgrade to MCITP Enterprise Support- Exam 70-621: PRO: UPGRADE: Upgrading Your MCDST Certification to MCITP Enterprise Support.

To make themselves additionally valuable to employers and stay ahead of the knowledge curve on Vista, Desktop Support Professionals can take both the MCSDT exams and then the MCITP Enterprise Support upgrade exam after receiving their MCDST certification.

Microsoft MCBDA, MCAD and MCSD Exams Retiring in 2009

Heather Nasca Dulin — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 20:41:45 +0000

If you were considering it, now is the time to get your MCAD , MCDBA, or MCSD certifications. Microsoft announced on March 31,2008 that the following exams will be retiring on March 31,2009.

Exam 70-300: Analyzing Requirements and Defining Microsoft .NET Solution Architectures
Exam 70-301: Managing, Organizing, and Delivering IT Projects by Using Microsoft Solutions Framework 3.0
Exam 70-305: Developing and Implementing Web Applications with Microsoft Visual Basic .NET and Microsoft Visual Studio .NET
Exam 70-306: Developing and Implementing Windows-based Applications with Microsoft Visual Basic .NET and Microsoft Visual Studio .NET
Exam 70-310: Developing XML Web Services and Server Components with Microsoft Visual Basic .NET and the Microsoft .NET Framework
Exam 70-315: Developing and Implementing Web Applications with Microsoft Visual C# .NET and Microsoft Visual Studio .NET
Exam 70-316: Developing and Implementing Windows-based Applications with Microsoft Visual C# .NET and Microsoft Visual Studio .NET
Exam 70-320: Developing XML Web Services and Server Components with Microsoft Visual C# and the Microsoft .NET Framework
Exam 70-330: Implementing Security for Applications with Microsoft Visual Basic .NET
Exam 70-340: Implementing Security for Applications with Microsoft Visual C# .NET
Exam 70-228: Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Enterprise Edition
Exam 70-229: Designing and Implementing Databases with Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Enterprise Edition

The MCAD , MCDBA, or MCSD certifications will not retire or be removed from your transcript when these exams do, but you will no longer be able to earn them if one of your required exams retires. This means you have one year to study and complete the exams for your certification.

For those deciding between your MCAD/MCSD or the next gen MCPD certification, keep in mind that upgrading to MCPD for .NET 2.0. only takes 1-2 exams, depending on the certification you hold and the track you decide to take. As many companies are slow to adopt the newest technologies and the older certifications are more currently more widely recognized by HR departments and hiring managers, this may be your best option.