Clarity: MCSA vs. MCSE: the what and why

December 19, 2012 7 Comments

This article was originally published in June, 2012. Due to the relevance and current interest in certifications I decided to republish. -MDG

When I found out that Microsoft Learning was (again!) revamping the certification stack, I thought to myself that after all these years it might be time to stop chasing certifications.  After all, when they created the MCTS/MCITP model I had to essentially start from scratch, and if they were doing that again it might not be worth the effort.

Let me clarify that statement… Certifications are extremely valuable and necessary to an IT Pro, but at a certain point you have proven yourself… I have by now passed over 35 Microsoft exams, and expect that by now people know that I am established.

I stated in an article earlier this month that certifications are not for our current job, they are for your next job.  Unfortunately, as a contract worker, I am always working for my next job.  That means that I always have to maintain my certifications current, or at least I cannot let them get stale… Once I became an MCITP: Enterprise Admin on Server 2008 I might have gotten away with not taking my exams for Windows Server 2012… but because the new generation revolves around solutions rather than products I expected I would need at least my MCSE: Private Cloud… then people looking at my credentials would know I knew at least Windows Server 2008 R2 and System Center 2012.

Cert StackI like the way the new certification ‘pyramid’ is designed.  The ‘junior certification’ is the Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate, which is product-focused.

As I stated earlier, the requirements for an MCSA: Windows Sever 2008 are the same requirements you previously needed for the legacy MCITP: Server Administrator.  It is three exams, and you are certified.  I assume that when Windows Server 2012 comes out there will be a new MCSA for that platform, and I have no early insight into what that will look like, nor how many exams will be required.

My point is this though.  Now that the junior certification is now three exams deep, it is going to be harder for people to claim the title.  When I first got certified any exam you took earned you the title Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP).  I knew people who passed one exam, and coasted on that certification for years.  Heck, I was one of them for about a year… at least the first exam that I took was for Windows 2000 Professional, and not a sales-related exam, which gave you the same MCP title.

That problem was supposed to be resolved in the next generation, the MCTS/MCITP era.  At the beginning there was talk that not every exam would earn you that MCTS certification, and I believe that on the dev side there were a couple of those.  However on the IT Pro side there was never an exam that did not give you a cert… so when I passed three exams to get my MCITP: Virtualization Administrator cred, I had three certs, including two MCTS and the one MCITP.

I was asked this morning by Veronica Sopher of Microsoft Learning what I thought of the 70-246 exam, and my first response was it was ugly.  However that was my way of saying that it was tough, and that it tested your knowledge of a lot of different products in a relatively small number of questions.  In truth I am glad that it was as tough as it was (now that I have passed) because it means that Microsoft is trying to make earning your senior certifications more difficult, which means that you will really need to know your stuff.  A step in the right direction, no doubt!

As for the Master level – the Microsoft Certified Solutions Master – I assume this is still going to be out of my grasp, until I decide to take a job running the infrastructure for a major international company.  I like what I do, so I don’t know that is in the cards.  However If you are an MCSM (equivalent to the former Microsoft Certified Master / MCM) then you are certainly recognized as a very top expert in the technology.

If the MCSM is anything like the old MCM then you not only have to know the technology, you then have to spend several weeks in Redmond on the Microsoft Campus learning from the product team, and then have to pass a series of exams and boards.  There is a reason they are called Masters… it is not for the faint of heart!

I appreciate Microsoft Learning’s revamped certification plan.  It makes it harder to ‘just get by’ and easier to distinguish IT pros by the exams they have passed.  I think it’s a step in the right direction, and look forward to seeing what other MCSE tracks will be revealed as the next generation of Windows operating systems launch later this year!

Filed under Certifications, Certs, MCSE, Microsoft Learning, Private Cloud Tagged with , , , , , , , , ,

Learn About The Microsoft Private Cloud to Win a Trip for Two to Mexico!

August 8, 2012 Leave a comment

Microsoft has released new and exciting products that will change the way IT Pros utilize Virtualization and Microsoft Private Cloud solutions.   Two products which are a part of these great changes are the newly released System Center 2012 and the soon to be released Windows Server 2012.  Both of these solutions were designed to make virtualization and extending to the private cloud simpler and much more efficient. 

With these new changes to Infrastructure and the IT world, it’s a great time to learn about these new solutions and keep yourself and your organization ahead of the curve in terms of where technology is headed.  In fact, Microsoft has even added an incentive to learn about their Private Cloud solutions through the Skyrocket Sweepstakes! 

Entering is easy!  All you have to do is register, and then download a free TechNet evaluation like Windows Server 2012 RC or System Center 2012 to get started.  Every applicable evaluation you download gives you an entry into the sweepstakes! And the best part is the more evaluations you download, the better your chances.  And what’s the prize you may ask? Oh, just a 7 day, 8 night trip for two to Cozumel, Mexico!

The contest ends September 6th so don’t wait!  Register now!

TWITTER POSTS

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FACEBOOK POSTS

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FACEBOOK POST – V2 Keep yourself ahead of the curve in terms of where technology is headed. Register for a Microsoft Guided Lab today for a chance to try the technology and win a free trip to Mexico! http://bit.ly/MZCnjQ

FACEBOOK POST – V3 What are your thoughts on the new System Center 2012 and Windows Server 2012?  Let us know by downloading a free evaluation and automatically be entered for a chance to win a Mexican getaway! http://bit.ly/MZCnjQ

FACEBOOK POST – V4 Get free training on The Microsoft Private Cloud, through Microsoft’s Virtual Academy. Complete one of the 6 courses for an entry into Microsoft’s Skyrocket Sweepstakes! http://bit.ly/MZCnjQ

Filed under Contest, Private Cloud

MCSE Private Cloud… Not easy, but valuable!

June 20, 2012 4 Comments

This morning before I started teaching I came into the training centre early to sit an exam.  It is not the ideal way to take exams – I showed up at 7:30, knowing I had to start teaching at 9:00 – but sometimes it is the only way that you can make it work, and besides, pass or fail I am usually a quick exam taker.

When Microsoft Learning announced the new generation of Microsoft certifications a couple of months ago I was surprised to see just how much of what I have already accomplished would count toward my new certifications.  Any IT Pro who held the MCITP: Server Administrator (or MCITP: Enterprise Administrator) would already hold the new certification, Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate.  Cool.  Out of the gate I already had a new cert!

The MCSA is a prerequisite to earn your Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE): Private Cloud, which in the immediate would be my next goal.  The MCSE would require MCSA, plus two more exams (70-247 and 70-246). mcse-private-cloud

The Private Cloud certification would be great, but nobody said it would be easy.  Fortunately I had two things going for me:

  • I was able to sit the beta teach for class 10751A: Private Cloud Configuration and Deployment with System Center 2012.  It was held the second week of April in Redmond, Washington, and I had a great time learning.  This class aligns with exam 70-247, which would become irrelevant due to my next point.
  • If you have already passed exam 70-659 TS: Windows Server 2008, Server Virtualization then you do not need exam 70-247.

In other words, it looked to me that I was one exam short of earning my MCSE (again). Okay, I can live with that.  All I would have to do is pass an exam based on one product… which until recently was actually seven products, each with their own exam (or two).  Although I was competent in the older versions of some of these products, and even an expert in one or two, this would be a tall order.  I would probably sit this one out for a few months, while working on other things.  It was not a question of procrastinating, I just had other things to do… and at $150/exam, it seemed like a waste to spend the money if I didn’t know I had a good chance of passing.

Then I got lucky.  Microsoft Learning announced that attendees at Microsoft TechEd 2012 in Orlando would be able to sit the exam for free.  Cool!  On the one hand, I had absolutely no time to prepare; on the other hand, it was free, and I would be able to see the types of questions they would ask, and then better prepare for the exam.

I have said before and I will say again, it is better to know the product than it is to study for an exam.  I broke this rule for this exam, because while I ‘know’ it, I do not consider myself nearly proficient in it to pass an exam without studying.  However when you know how to read the questions, once you have seen the exam you will know what you have to study.  There were a lot of terms and processes I had confused in my head, and based on my first (unsuccessful but free) viewing of the exam I was able to go back, study those terms and processes, and knock the exam out of the park.

This morning, June 20th, I signed onto the exam computer and was nervous… the questions were still tough, and it was a very rigorous exam – asking questions on several components of System Center 2012.  When I hit the ‘End Exam’ button I was not at all confident, but I was certainly moreso than I was last week in Orlando, when the results were in line with that confidence level.  When the screen flashed its congratulatory message and told me my score, I was thrilled… and I was an MCSE again.

I have a lot more to do… as the score report states, the Sectional Results …’indicates your relative performance on each section of this exam.  We hope this information will help you determine areas, if any, for further development.’  I certainly have several of those, and will be spending a lot of my downtime over the next few months working on these.  However in the meantime I can take a deep sigh of relief, knowing that I have earned that elusive MCSE (again).

Filed under Certification Exams, Certs, MCITP, MCSE, Private Cloud Tagged with , , , ,

Get Your Head in the Cloud!

May 7, 2012 1 Comment

In case you missed it, Microsoft released the System Center 2012 bundle a few weeks ago.  Well after the incredible success of Microsoft Canada’s IT Pro Virtualization Boot Camp we have decided to do it again! Starting this week Microsoft Canada, the IT Evangelism Team, and a select group of MVPs will be presenting two events in cities across the country!

Private Cloud Boot Camp

Do you keep hearing the term Private Cloud wherever you go? Are you curious to understand how you can enable Private Cloud in your organization? Curious to understand how System Center 2012 can be used to enable self-service for you organization while allowing you to maintain control of the environment? Want to understand how to manage all of your virtualization hosts from a single toolset? If you answered yes to any or all of these questions, you need to be at the Private Cloud Boot Camp.

The Private Cloud Boot Camp provides a full-day, hands-on experience where you will learn about these topics and more in a fun and collaborative environment:

  • Understand the System Center 2012 offering and Microsoft’s vision for Private Cloud
  • Configure System Center 2012 to manage a Private Cloud infrastructure
  • Create virtual machine and service templates to support the Private Cloud environment
  • Enable self-service allowing users to provision their infrastructure within established policies and service offerings
  • Monitor your Private Cloud infrastructure using System Center Operations Manager 2012
  • Automatically respond to critical incidents and remediate issues without human intervention
  • See how new functionality in Windows Server 2012 will provide additional capabilities to help take your Private Cloud to the next level

Private Cloud Boot Camps are currently scheduled in the cities listed below.  Click on the city or date to register for the event nearest you.

    I will be at the events in Mississauga, Calgary, Ottawa, and Montreal.  I know, I would have loved to do all of them, but scheduling conflicts prevented it – I am teaching (in Toronto) the week of the Vancouver events, speaking (in New Orleans) the day of the Edmonton event, and will be at TechEd (in Orlando) for the Winnipeg event.  Please know though that I still love your cities, and will be back soon!

Windows Server 2012 Install Camps

Here’s your opportunity to install Windows Server 2012 on your own notebook computer and learn how to take advantage of many of the new features of Windows Server 2012 from Microsoft evangelists, MVPs and experts in your region (and from across the country).  We’ll even provide you with a USB key to help make the install an easy and quick experience!

A Microsoft Windows Server 2012 Install Camp event will show you how to

  • build your private cloud, offer private cloud services, or securely connect to public cloud services.
  • increase your efficiency, availability, and manageability.
  • leverage an open application and web platform for the datacenter and the cloud.

If you are an IT Professional or partner excited about the upcoming release of the Windows Server 2012 technology you need to register and learn about Windows Server 2012 first-hand!

Register now for the Windows Server 2012 Install Camps near you by clicking on the city name and date.  These are evening events in all cities starting at 7pm and going until 9pm.  Arrive starting at 6:30pm to get a good seat and setup your notebook!

Again, I will be in Mississauga, Montreal, and Calgary for these events… I just couldn’t get to all of these cities this time around.

I am looking forward to seeing you at the events in your city, and remember: space is limited so sign up now! The $25 registration cost goes directly to supporting your local user group, so in a way… you are paying yourself forward!

Filed under Boot Camp, Install Camp, Private Cloud, System Center, Windows Server 8

Let’s Get Real: Virtualization Talk on TechNet Radio

April 19, 2012 Leave a comment

Last month I sat down with John Weston for another TechNet Radio segment.  John is a Senior IT Pro Evangelist with Microsoft (South Central District).  He and I have a lot of things in common, the newest of which is that we are both VMware Certified Professionals on vSphere 5.  We were discussing it and realized that Microsoft has been making incredible process with their virtualization and Private Cloud story, but that VMware was still at the head of the pack, and to deny that would be folly.

One of the reasons we both became VCPs was so that instead of spouting the Microsoft company line about the competition, we would have the credentials and credibility to discuss the comparison, and that VMware professionals would know that we had taken the time to learn their platform before saying we are just as good.

It is amazing that we can say that.  However I just spent a week in the beta teach of one of the new Private Cloud classes at Microsoft, and my excitement about our manageability strategy is redoubled.  Knowing what is coming next – Hyper-V v3.0 with Windows Server 2012 – makes me shiver with anticipation about teaching these classes, because Microsoft is simply going to leapfrog the competition in the virtualization space.

You can listen to our conversation here: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/edge/technet-radio-community-corner-microsoft-private-cloud-vs-vmware-with-microsoft-mvp-mitch-garvis.aspx . We discuss the Private Cloud, and if virtualization is the cloud or if it is simply a component of it.  We also discuss all sorts of other topics – John and I always have a great conversation when we get together, and I think it’s pretty entertaining.  We hope you do to!

Filed under Private Cloud, System Center, TechNet Radio, Virtualization

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