Tech Certification

It's not exactly the most controversial statement to say that cloud computing has generated some buzz over the last few years, and with good reason - according to a recent IDC study, the cloud computing industry is expected to generate upwards of US$1.5 trillion in revenues and 14 million jobs, all by 2015. Even if those estimates are optimistic, all signs point to a growing adoption of cloud services on a massive scale, over the course of the next few years.

Because of that, Microsoft has recently announced a significant re-vamp of its certifications, to reflect the changing emphasis on cloud computing. Several certifications are being changed and/or introduced, including:

• The Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA) - the entry-level certification for technical professionals
• The Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE) - the flagship Microsoft certification for IT professionals
• The Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer (MCSD) - identical level of certification to the MCSE, but with a focus on application & software development
• The Microsoft Certified Solutions Master (MCM) - the most advanced certification offered by Microsoft.

In this About.com article we take a look at the 'new' MCSE, how it's different from the previous certification with that acronym, and how it reflects Microsoft's new emphasis on cloud computing. Existing Microsoft certifications such as the Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP) and the Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) will continue to be valid for some time, but the 'writing is on the wall' (in terms of longevity) for most of those certifications. Microsoft is offering special upgrade paths for each, as IT professionals and developers look to migrate into the new framework, and the old certifications will begin to sunset as new technologies and tests are developed.

The 2012 RSA Conference in San Francisco was the setting for a number of interesting announcements, not the least of which was the formation of a new joint venture among security certification authorities, in an effort to both standardize the criteria for achieving various security certifications, and define the focus and relationships between different security specializations and their associated certifications.

This is a very positive step forward in the field, because one of the chief criticisms of IT security certifications in the past has been that no one certification can be clearly delineated from another, so that individuals with one certification often have difficulty differentiating their skills or specialties from other individuals with different certifications. And because the field of security is so vast, it can be difficult for companies to understand exactly what area of security is covered by what certification, and where gaps in the knowledge-base of their security staff might exist. Before now, there wasn't any one unifying effort to coordinate and define the boundaries and synergies between different security certifications.

The list of participating organizations is pretty impressive, with CompTIA, the EC-Council, and (ISC)2 all represented, among others. Those organizations are responsible for the Security+, Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), and Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) certifications, respectively.

So far, there haven't been any announcements as to how this new initiative might affect current and future security certifications, but this is a step in the right direction, and hopefully will have the added benefit on enhancing the value of security certifications and credentials even more.

Are certifications outdated? That's the conclusion from an analyst who studies the industry. An article on the tech job search site Dice.com quotes David Foote as saying the following:

"We've reached a point in our evolutionary rung that has outdistanced the value of certifications," says David Foote, chief executive and chief research officer for Foote Partners. "It is not that technology is not important, but other skills - especially in customer-facing jobs - are more important."

Although I disagree with the thrust of that quote -- in fact, there are several other folks quoted in the story who affirm the value of certifications -- Foote does make a valuable point. Soft skills, like communication, are becoming increasingly important.

Knowing how to write clear, concise emails, for example, can go a long way toward helping your career. Talking to non-tech-savvy folks in a way that doesn't make them feel stupid is another way. Sending out plenty of warning -- at least two emails -- before making a major computer system change that will affect the way your end-users go about doing their jobs is another.

Do you get my point here? Knowing the technology is only half the battle. You have to remember the other people in your organization, and make things as easy for them as possible with good communication. You might be surprised -- it could be those skills, not your wizardy with Group Policy -- that gets you that promotion and raise.

Certification, it seems to me, garners a lot more interest among the IT administrator audience than developers. Though there are plenty of certifications available for the programmer crowd, I don't sense the same level of passion that I do among admins.

But I don't know if this is a faulty perception on my part, or the reality. What do you say? If you're a developer and not interested in certification, why not? Or if you do get certified, what do you find it does for you? I'd like to get a good conversation going about this. Respond below, or feel free to send me an email, so we can talk directly about this.

A new report by an analyst with Forrester Research indicates that we may be entering a boom period for IT.

The report, highlighted by Redmond magazine, says that the uptick should kick in next quarter, i.e. next January. Actually, says the analyst, the boom started in 2007, but was stalled because of the recession and related financial problems. Here's the money quote from the story:

"The whole PC category had been going into a slump both from the release of Vista and because of emerging technologies such as netbooks and smart phones ... We see the release of Windows 7 as playing a factor in new capital investment in PCs, especially for companies that have not refreshed their PCs in four or five years."

What does that mean for certification? Good news all around. With an increase in spending will come an increase in jobs, and certification can help you land one of those jobs. In addition, Microsoft is already starting to release Windows 7 exams, and more are coming. In other words, there's never been a better time to get certified.

Lots of news coming out of Oracle certification these days. This time, it's certification opportunities at Oracle's conference, Oracle OpenWorld 2009.

OpenWorld, which starts Oct. 11 in San Francisco, is making its premier show more certification-friendly than ever. To start with, there's the Oracle Certification Program (OCP) lounge. The lounge is basically an informal networking space that allows attendees to rub elbows with other Oracle credential-holders. One additional perk is free access to  Self Test Software practice exams, to help you prepare for your next cert.

Oracle certification staff will also be available throughout the show, if you have any questions/comments. I find that making your opinion known in these types of settings can be valuable for you and the staff; if they're real professionals, they take any such feedback seriously.

Finally, there are several certification sessions being presented at the show. That's an excellent chance to learn more about the various certification offerings from Oracle.

One thing I don't see offered on the OpenWorld website is onsite certification testing. If this is the case, it seems like a missed opportunity to me. This is your certified community, Oracle; let them get or upgrade certifications while they're there! If onsite testing is being offered, I'm hoping someone from Oracle can correct me, and I'll add an update. It's offered at many vendor-sponsored shows, and always seems to be popular.

Oracle has added a management interface to its certification holders that acts as a one-stop shop.

Called CertView, it requires a username and password. Once logged on, a host of information is available, including certification history, certification logos, and a very cool tool that allows you to verify your certification to a third party.

This last function is pretty exciting, I think. It gives a potential or current employer, or client, the ability to check out your certifications for themselves. They will get a login that will allow them to examine the section of CertView that contains your certifications. Very easy, very slick.

Note that at your first logon, you'll need to provide demographic information from Pearson VUE, Oracle's new testing partner. I only bring this up because Oracle had a big "Warning" sign about it in its CertView overview video. Have that information on hand before you register for CertView, and enter it carefully, as you'll be locked out for awhile if you don't punch it in correctly.

I really like CertView, and the forward thinking it represents from Oracle. It's a terrific tool for credential holders.

As I mentioned last month, Oracle has switched vendors for its certification testing. At that time, the new company hadn't been announced.

Now it has. Prometric is out, Pearson VUE is in. Oracle made the change with very little fanfare, no doubt spurred by concerns among cert holders. They should be able to breathe easier, as Pearson is a very well known, well-respected certification testing vendor (as is Prometric).

Go to the Pearson VUE website to set up your account and make sure all your testing and certification data transferred over properly.

A couple of Microsoft certifications pertaining to Windows Server 2008 have received a rare boost -- ANSI accreditation.

The company announced on its Born To Learn blog that the certifications attained that ISO 17024 approval. The certifications are:

• Microsoft Certified IT Professional: Windows Server 2008 Server Administrator
• Microsoft Certified IT Professional: Windows Server 2008 Enterprise Administrator

What does that mean for those who have gotten those credentials? Increased prestige -- these are the first two product-specific certs to get ISO 17024 accreditation. Microsoft says on the blog, correctly, that

ANSI accreditation is recognized as the highest standard in personnel certification accreditation and is the only accreditation that is recognized by governments around the world.

That's the other big perk -- it makes you more valuable. It's a certification that may be able to help you land public-sector jobs, which require more than just a vendor cert. Getting ANSI means the cert meets specific requirements, certain standards. And in this environment, every advantage, no matter how small, is crucial.