Levels in IT Certification

If you are looking into IT Certifications, there are several levels of certification that you can prepare for yourself for. These will be divided according to the vendor and will also be different in relation to the type of IT Certification you are trying to go for.

IT Certification programs will be planned by levels of complexity, allowing you to first learn the basics of a technology, and then move into problems of higher complexity.

Entry Level Certification
The first set of IT Certification levels that you will have to go through are the entry level Certifications.
The first level that several certification programs offer is known as the specialist program. This allows you to study one of the programs and know the details about what this program is. It often times includes knowing how to maintain as well as troubleshoot with the program. You can also get training at an associate level. Depending on the types of programs you are using, entry level may also include the ability for you to become a developer on specific technologies.

Intermediate Level Certification

In the intermediate level IT Certification, there are more tools that you will be able to learn at the advanced level, which can help you in using effective tools and developing specific programs faster.
If a certain program isn’t working, then you will learn how to fix or develop the program. This can be done not only for things such as web development and software, but also for becoming a systems expert. People certified with intermediate level certifications, usually become administrator for databases, systems, or certification. With intermediate level training, an individual also has the possibility of becoming an advisor for security and technology based programs.

Advanced Level Certifications
Generally, these types of IT Certifications will include a variety of programs that are combined together. By doing this, one can become an expert in the particular information technology program that they were interested in. Developers, Administrators, Advisors, and Technical experts all become a part of this particular IT Certification area. At this point, one will also be able to advance into understanding the entire infrastructure of the system that they are working with. They will also be able to work with deployment, meaning that they can effectively use the security programs as well as the storage areas that are available in systems.

ADOBE Professional Certifications

Adobe has been a ubiquitous name in the field of multimedia.

From Photoshop to AIR, the company has products for every field of multimedia.

Adobe provides certifications for multimedia professionals through the Pearson Vue channel in India.

Certifications are at 2 levels with the lower being Adobe Certified Associate (ACA) and the ACE (Adobe Certified Expert) being the higher level of certification.

Adobe certifications have been known to be a tough nut to crack and clearing them considered a significant achievement in the industry. At Par with other certifications like Microsoft, multiple papers will give you higher Levels.

A examination is also available for faculties viz. Adobe Certified Instructor (ACI).

For more details on the exams visit

http://www.adobe.com/support/certification/ace_certify.html

or contact your nearest Pearson Vue.

Till next time,

Ciao

NIIT adjudged Finalist for the 2009 Microsoft Worldwide Partner Awards

NIIT, leading Global Talent Development Corporation and Asia’s largest IT Trainer, today announced that it has been selected as a 2009 Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference Awards finalist in Learning Solutions, Innovative Partner of the Year.

NIIT’s ‘Integrated Program for Developing Skills and Certification on.NET – GNIIT’ has been selected by Microsoft as one of the two finalists for Partner of the Year, in the category, Learning Solutions Innovative Partner of the Year. The Learning Solutions, Innovative Partner of the Year award recognizes partners’ commitment and ability to deliver high-quality innovative learning services to meet customer needs. It also validates the effect of technical training, skills assessment, student mentoring, and Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) exam preparation on customer satisfaction, and the application of Microsoft technology to solve business problems.

Mr. G. Raghavan, President, Global Individual Learning Solutions, NIIT said, “We are pleased to have been selected as a 2009 Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference Awards finalist in Learning Solutions, Innovative Partner of the Year. At NIIT, it has been our constant endeavor to address the skills gap in IT industry by enhancing employability of the workforce and making them Industry Ready. We hope to continue providing innovative range of programs as a solution to manpower needs in the industry.”

“Partners are the key to igniting business innovation through great technology as well as helping customers drive down costs. Congratulations to the 2009 WPC Award finalists who have demonstrated a superior level of expertise as well as a focus on delivering customer value. We look forward to seeing our partners fulfill their limitless potential as they continue to provide customers with world-class Microsoft solutions” said Allison L. Watson, Corporate Vice President, Worldwide Partner Group, Microsoft Corp.

Source: NIIT

Know About the 70-290 Certification

Two important system administration certifications from Microsoft are Microsoft Certified System Administrator (MCSA) and Microsoft Certified System Engineer (MCSE). Each of these certifications can be achieved by passing certain exams associated with these.

The 70-290 exam is falls under the MCSE certification path, and certifies that the individual is skilled to manage and maintain Windows 2003. The important concepts covered in 70-290 are listed below;

Managing and Maintaining Physical and Logical Devices

• Manage basic and dynamic disks.
• Optimize server disk performance.
• Troubleshoot server hardware devices.
• Install and Configure server hardware devices.
• Monitor server hardware.
  

Managing Users, Computers and Groups

• Manage local, roaming and mandatory user profiles.
• Create and manage computer accounts in Active Directory environment.
• Create and manage groups.
• Create and manage user accounts.
• Troubleshoot user accounts.
• Troubleshoot user authentication issues.
  

Managing and Maintaining Access to Resources

• Configure access to shared folders.
• Troubleshoot terminal services.
• Configure file system permissions.
• Troubleshoot access to files and shared folders.

Managing and Maintaining a Server Environment

• Monitor and analyze events.
• Manage software update infrastructure.
• Manage software site licensing.
• Manage servers remotely.
• Troubleshoot print queues.
• Monitor system performance.
• Monitor file and print servers
• Manage a web server.
• Monitor and optimize a server environment for application performance.

Manage and Implement Disaster Recovery

• Perform system recovery for a server.
• Mange backup procedures.
• Recover from server hardware failures.
• Restore backup data.
• Schedule backup jobs.

The 70- 290 examination is a multiple choice questionnaire, and the candidate needs to select the 'best' answer, out of the options. The minimum passing score for this exam is 700 out of 1000. All Microsoft Certifications exams are administered by Prometric.

Here are some of typical questions asked by Microsoft in 70-290 exam:
Q 1. _________ is a command-line tool that enables you to manage objects, such as disks, partitions, and volumes from the command-line.
a.DiskMan, b. DiskPerf, c. DiskPart, d. DiskCom

Q 2. In Windows Server 2003, a group denotes a set of users, computers, contacts, and other groups that can be used as Security groups and _______________.
a. Fax Groups,
b. E-mail Distribution Groups,
c. Name Resolution Groups,
d. None of the Above

Q3. When you copy a shared folder, ____________________
a. The original shared folder is still shared, but the copy is not shared.
b. The original folder as well as the copy is shared.
c. The original folder is not shared anymore, but the copy is shared.
d. The original shared folder and the copy both are not shared anymore.

Q4. What should you do when you want to track disk space use on a per-user basis, but do not want to deny users access to a volume?
a. Enable disk quotas,
b. Enable disk quotas and set the disk quota warning level,
c. Enable the disk quota warning level only,
d. Disable disk quotas

Q5. What are the advantages of network backup?
a. Network backup can be used to back up the entire network and requires fewer tape drives, or disks.
b. Network backup decreases network traffic,
c. Network backup can be used to backup the Registry on remote computers.
d. All of the above

MCSE exams are quite challenging, and are not easy to clear. Therefore, it is recommended to practice well, both for theoretical as well as practical questions.

Upgrade to MCTS on Windows Server 2008

Microsoft continues to update its IT certifications, providing individuals an opportunity to earn certifications on its Windows Server 2003 and 2008 products. Since Microsoft runs on variety of server formats, it is important that you get an extensive set of certifications, and should always check with your current or prospective employer to ensure that you are studying for the proper exam. As many IT companies are planning to upgrade to the new Windows Server 2008 technology, developing a complete MCSE study plan is important.

With Windows Server 2008, Microsoft introduces a new set of certification options. In the prior versions of Windows server, the Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA) and Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) certifications have been pretty standard. The certification path has changes for Windows Server 2008and following are the steps to upgrade.

Windows Server 2008 is a next-generation server operating system that helps IT maximize control over its infrastructure, while providing unprecedented availability and management that leads to a significantly more secure, reliable, and robust server environment.

People Certified with MCSA and MCSE on Windows Server 2003 should consider taking the appropriate upgrade test to make the immediate transition to Windows Server 2008.For the MCSA, the test is 70-648; for the MCSE, the test is 70-649.These tests will be used as a bridge form MCSE/MCSA 2003 to MCTS: Windows Server 2008 Certifications.

Exam 70-649 is for IT professionals who currently hold an MCSE on Windows Server 2003certification and work in medium to large companies. The MCSE on Windows Server 2003 is a prerequisite for this exam. Exam 70-648 is for IT professionals who currently hold an MCSA on Windows Server 2003 certification and work in medium to large companies. The MCSA on Windows Server 2003 is a prerequisite for this exam.

Source: Microsoft

LPI Certification – Give Your Career A Winning Edge

Linux Professional Institute Inc. (LPI) is a non-profit organization that provides non vendor-centric professional certification for Linux system administrators and programmers. LPI is recognized worldwide as the premier organization advocating and assisting in the professional use of Linux, Open Source, and Free Software.

Linux Professional Institute Certification (LPIC) program is planned to certify the expertise of IT professionals using the Linux operating system and its associated tools. LPIC program consists of three levels of certification: LPIC-1, LPIC-2 and LPIC-3. Linux Professional Institute Certifications are offered through the testing centers of both Pearson VUE and Prometric.

1. Junior Level Linux Professional (LPIC-1): LPIC-1 is an entry level certification in Linux Professional Certification hierarchy. This certification is designed for individuals who has been performing basic system administration tasks and who needs to install, configure, and manage a Linux-based system. To earn LPIC-1 certification, candidate must pass two exams; 101 and 102.

2. Advanced Level Linux Professional (LPIC-2): LPIC-2 is an advanced level professional certification, covers implementing and managing web, file and security features on the Linux server. The objective of this certification to administer a small to medium-sized site containing Microsoft and Linux server and plan, implement, maintain and troubleshoot a small mixed network including LAN server, Internet Gateway and Internet Server. There are 2 exams; 201 and 202 that candidate must pass to earn LPIC-2 certification. Pre-requisites: Candidate must have an active LPIC-1 Certification.

3. Senior Level Linux Professional (LPIC-3): LPIC-3 is planned for enterprise-level Linux Professionals. LPIC-3 has been developed with the effort of many Linux professionals around the globe and contribution from some of the world's leading technology companies. LPIC-3 is the supreme level of professional, distribution-neutral Linux certification in IT industry. LPIC-3 consists of one exam: 301 for LPIC-3 Core. There are various specialties on which LPIC-3 is available; Mixed Environment, Security, High Availability and Virtualization, Web and Intranet. Pre-Requisites: you must have an active LPIC-2 certification to receive LPIC-3 certification.

Microsoft Certified System Administrator

MCSA certification helps IT professionals to advance their career by having much needed skills to manage and troubleshoot networks in Windows environment. MCSA professionals are hired as manager in organizations to configure, manage and troubleshoot the Windows Server. MCSA is considered a reliable credential for promotion and hiring. MCSA on Windows Server 2003 certification will not retire.

MCSA certifies a possessor’s ability to "implement, manage, and maintain the typically complex computing environment of medium and large-sized organizations”. This certification helps professionals advance your career by showing employers that you have the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively manage and troubleshoot network environments running on Windows server systems. Like MCSE, MCSA is also available on Windows Server 2000.

It is recommended by Microsoft that a, MCSA candidate should have one to twelve months of experience in working with a desktop operating system, a network operating system, and an existing network infrastructure.

To earn MCSA certification for Windows Server 2003, candidate must pass four exams:

• Two Core Networking System
  
• One Core Client Operating System
• One Elective exam

Core Networking Exams (Compulsory)

1. 70-290 : Managing and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Environment
2. 70-291 : Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure

Client operating systems (choose one)

1. 70-620 : Configuring Windows Vista
2. 70-270 : Installing, Configuring, and Administering Windows XP Professional

Elective Exam (Choose one)

1. 70-284:Implementing and Managing Microsoft Exchange Server 2003
2. 70-431:Microsoft SQL Server 2005 – Implementation and Maintenance

All MCSA exams are taken by Prometric, at various Prometric test Centers all over the globe. MCSA professional work in various job roles like; Network Administrator, System Administrator, Information Technology Engineer, Information Systems Administrator, Network Technician. An average salary of MCSA professional is Rs. 2.5LPA. As per the latest analysis, MCSA comes under Top 15 IT Certifications in demand.

An Overview of Red Hat Certifications

Red Hat is a company in the free and open source software sector, and a major Linux distribution vendor. It is not only appreciated for its technical proficiency, but also for the social initiatives taken by it. Red Hat certifications are among the most esteemed certifications in IT.

After the successful completion of Red Hat Certification training you will be skillful enough to be praised by the respectable organizations. Red Hat Certifications will separate you and your skills from the rest. In such a competitive industry, the fact that you have obtained a certification from Red Hat will give you that much desired recognition.

A full hierarchy of Red Hat certifications provides the comprehensive and flexible program required by the highly specialized enterprise IT organization of today. The most common and well-known Red Hat certification is the Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE).

Red Hat Certification path:

1) Red Hat Certified Technician (RHCT) : Red Hat Certified Technician is the fastest-growing credential in all of Linux. RHCT is the best first step in establishing Linux credentials and is an ideal initial certification for those transitioning from non-UNIX®/ Linux environments. To achieve this certification, candidate must pass RH202 RHCT exam and for this candidate must complete two courses; Red Hat Linux Essential and System Administration of Red Hat Linux.

2) Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE) : Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE) is a performance-based test that measures actual competency on live systems. RHCE proves an individual's ability to configure networking services and security on servers running a Red Hat OS. RHCE Certificate is granted upon passing the RH302 RHCE Exam, a performance-based test on live equipment that measures actual competencies at server system administration, setup of networking services, and network security, and diagnostics and troubleshooting. RHCE comes under top 9 IT Certifications in Demand.

3) Red Hat Certified Architect (RHCA) : Red Hat's Enterprise Architect courses provide in-depth, hands-on training for senior Linux system administrators responsible for the deployment and management of many systems in large enterprise environments. To accomplish RHCA certification, candidate must have current RHCA certificate and must pass all five additional performance-based exams.

IT Certifications in Demand

We had earlier posted an article on what are the most in-demand IT Certifications
A simple analysis of IT Jobs posted on two of the biggest job portals in India has led to the following insight: According to our analysis, 90% of all Certification requiring IT jobs demand either of the following 9 certifications: MCSE, CCNA, ITIL, OCA, OCP, CCNP, CISSP, RHCE and PMP Certifications.
This analysis might help you decide which IT Certification to go for!

HP Certifications - A Reliable Choice

The HP Certified Professional program is a top-grade certification program. This aims to certify the technical and sales proficiency as well as expertise needed to plan deploy, support and service HP technology and solutions. The technical credibility you gain from your certification and experience will drive you to further in your career.

There are various benefits of HP Certifications; HP Software Certified Professional Program prepares you to meet today's challenges with the business and technical skills you need.
• Gain the skills you need for handling HP technologies
• Get connected to the latest HP technology, experts and continuing education opportunities
• Earn cool rewards - discounts to HP Software events, HP Software Certified Professional merchandise, networking events and more
• Prove your value - demonstrate a higher level of performance, knowledge and expertise
• Join a global network - more than 130,000 HP Certified Professionals worldwide

The scope will become wider and there'll be utility available for you to ponder over and make it fit according to your needs. The tools and methods you use will come straight out of your certifications and may build up as you grow in your career. There are several tracks available including HP Operations, HP Quality Center, HP NonStop Systems, HP Blade and ProCurve Networking, among others. The average salary of HP Certified Professional having an experience of less than 1 year is around Rs. 3 Lacs per annum.

HP Software Certification

Accredited Integration Specialist (AIS)
The AIS (Accredited Integration Specialist) is designed for individuals working in Enterprise Network environments and serves to prove their competencies in planning and the integration and support of technical solutions in business class, networked environments.

Accredited Systems Engineer (ASE)
ASE (Accredited System Engineer) is a medium grade certification is designed for individuals working in Enterprise Network environments and serves to prove their competencies in design support and integrate platform, operating system, storage, network and option components to solve business needs. It is required to have HP's AIS certification for the ASE track you wish to pursue. The additional requirements vary widely depending on your choice of track.

Master Accredited Systems Engineer (MASE)
Master ASE requires an individual to gather customer business requirements, and design, integrate and support a full solution including application, middleware, platform, operating system, storage, and network and option components. There are several tracks to choose from including ProLiant, SAN, ProCurve and NonStop. It is required to have HP ASE certification. Additional requirements vary widely depending on your choice of track.

IBM DB2 Certification

DB2 is one of IBM's families of relational database management system (RDBMS) software products within IBM's Information Management Software line. There are several editions and versions of DB2, which operate on devices ranging from palmtops to mainframes. Frequently DB2 refers to the DB2 Enterprise Server Edition, which runs on UNIX, Windows, Linux and z/OS servers.

DB2 completely dominates on mainframes. IBM is one of the top two commercial database vendors for both UNIX and Linux systems. On Windows servers, Microsoft's SQL Server leads in market, in spite of that DB2 presents a reasonable presence nonetheless. Currently IBM offers various training and certification paths on DB2. The average salary for IBM certified DB2 DBA is approx. Rs.93,000.

There are three levels; entry, intermediate and advanced in IBM DB2 Certification hierarchy.
1. IBM Certified Database Associate - DB2 9 Fundamentals

This Certification is an entry level DBA. To earn this certificate, candidate must have knowledge about the fundamental concepts of DB2 9 through applied experience or formal education. Database Associate must have in-depth knowledge of basic SQL, understand how to install, create databases and its various objects. To attain IBM Certified Database Associate - DB2 9 Fundamentals certification, candidate must pass 1 test i.e. Test 730.

2. a). IBM Certified Database Administrator - DB2 9 DBA for Linux, UNIX and Windows

IBM Certified Database Administrator is the prime Database Administrator for DB2 on Linux, UNIX and Windows Servers. This DBA has significant experience on DB2 9, especially the new features and functionality related to DB2 9. To achieve this certification candidate has two paths: either passes 2 tests or 3 tests.

1. Two Tests - Test 700 or Test 730 and Test 731
2. Three Tests - Test 700 or Test 730, Test 701 and Test 736.

b). IBM Certified Database Administrator - DB2 9 DBA for z/OS

IBM Certified DBA has significant experience as DBA and possesses broad experience of DB2 9 including all the new features and functionality related to version 9. This specialist is capable of performing the intermediate to advanced tasks related to database design and implementation, operation and recovery, security and auditing, performance, and installation and migration/upgrades specific to the z/OS operating system. Candidate must possess two years of experience in Database Administrator on z/OS system, knowledge about Java and C++. This Certification requires 2 tests. Any 1 of following tests: Test 700 or Test 730 and Test 732.

3. IBM Certified Advanced Database Administrator - DB2 9 for Linux, UNIX and Windows

IBM Certified Advanced Database Administrator is the senior DBA for the DB2 products on one or more of the following platforms: Linux, UNIX and Windows. This individual has vast experience as a DBA and extensive knowledge of DB2 9. This person is capable of performing the complex tasks for instance; performance, high availability, security and networking. This Certification has 2 paths:

Path 1 requires 3 tests:

a) Choose 1 from following:

1. Test 700 - DB2 V8.1 Family Fundamentals.
2. Test 730 - DB2 9 Family Fundamentals

b) Test 731 - DB2 9 DBA for Linux UNIX and Windows
c) Test 734 - DB2 9 Advanced Database Administrator for Linux,UNIX and Windows

Path 2 requires 4 tests:

a) Choose 1 from following:

1. Test 700 - DB2 V8.1 Family Fundamentals
2. Test 730 - DB2 9 Family Fundamentals

b) Test 701 - DB2 V8.1 for Linux UNIX and Windows Database Administration
c) Test 736 - DB2 9 Database Administrator for Linux UNIX and Windows Upgrade
d) Test 734 - DB2 9 Advanced Database Administrator for Linux UNIX and Windows


All IBM DB2 Test are conducted by Prometric at various Prometric Test Centers all over the world.