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Obama wins but U.S. deeply divided

2012-11-07T11:24:00.002-08:00

President Obama thanked his supporters

Fresh from a decisive re-election win, President Barack Obama returns from the campaign trail on Wednesday with little time to savor victory, facing urgent economic challenges, a looming fiscal showdown and a still-divided Congress able to block his every move.

Obama defeated Republican challenger Mitt Romney on Tuesday night in a grueling presidential race and used his acceptance speech in front of a huge cheering crowd in Chicago to strike a conciliatory note toward his political opponents.

But in the cold light of the 2012 election's morning-after, it was clear that even though voters have endorsed a second Obama term, the president will have a hard time translating that into a mandate to push forward with his agenda.

Americans chose to preserve the status quo of divided government in Washington. Obama's fellow Democrats retained control of the Senate and Republicans kept their majority in the House of Representatives, giving them power to curb the president's legislative ambitions on everything from taxes to immigration reform.

This is the political reality that Obama - who won a far narrower victory over Romney than his historic election as the country's first black president in 2008 - faces when he returns to Washington later on Wednesday.

House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, spoke of a dual mandate. "If there is a mandate, it is a mandate for both parties to find common ground and take steps together to help our economy grow and create jobs," he said.

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky had a more harsh assessment.

"The voters have not endorsed the failures or excesses of the president's first term," McConnell said. "They have simply given him more time to finish the job they asked him to do together" with a balanced Congress.

Obama's more narrow victory was nothing like the jubilant celebration in 2008, when his hope-and-change election as the nation's first black president captivated the world. This time, Obama ground it out with a stay-the-course pitch that essentially boiled down to a plea for more time to make things right and a hope that Congress will be more accommodating than in the past.

The most pressing challenges immediately ahead for the 44th president are all too familiar: an economy still baby-stepping its way toward full health; 23 million people out of work or in search of better jobs; civil war in Syria; a menacing standoff over Iran's nuclear program.

Sharp differences with Republicans in Congress on taxes, spending, deficit reduction, immigration and more await. While Republicans control the House, Democrats have at least 52 votes in the Senate and Republicans 45. One newly elected independent isn't saying which party he'll side with, and races in Montana and North Dakota were not yet called.

Votes also were being counted Wednesday in the Montana and Washington gubernatorial races.

Obama's list of promises to keep includes many holdovers he was unable to deliver on in his first term, such as rolling back tax cuts for upper-income people, overhauling immigration policy and reducing federal deficits. Six in 10 voters said in exit polls that taxes should be increased, and nearly half of voters said taxes should be increased on incomes over $250,000, as Obama has called for.

"It's very clear from the exit polling that a majority of Americans recognize that we need to share responsibility for reducing the deficit," Maryland Rep. Chris Van Hollen, the top Democrat on the House Budget Committee, told CNN. "That means asking higher-income earners to contribute more to reducing the deficit."

Even before Obama gets to his second inaugural on Jan. 20, he must deal with the threatened "fiscal cliff." A combination of a $600 billion package automatic of tax increases and steep across-the-board spending cuts are set to take effect in January if Washington doesn't quickly reach a budget deal. Experts have warned that the economy could tip back into recession without an agreement.

Newly elected Democrats signaled they want compromise the avoid the fiscal cliff.

Sen.-elect Tim Kaine, a former Virginia governor who defeated Republican George Allen, said on NBC's "Today" show that voters sent a message they want "cooperative government." But he also says the election results show that the public doesn't want "all the levers in one party's hands" on Capitol Hill.

From Massachusetts, Elizabeth Warren said on "CBS This Morning" that those who voted for her opponent, Republican Sen. Scott Brown, expressed a desire for lawmakers to work together. She says: "I heard that loud and clear."

December surprise?

Investors have had a tendency to downplay problems emanating from Washington only to find themselves surprised when lawmakers cannot get together on critical issues.

The market reacted harshly to Washington gridlock after failed legislation to backstop the banks in 2008 and again during protracted talks to raise the U.S. debt ceiling in 2011. Strategists said a re-elected Obama would be keen to avoid another bruising repeat.

Quinnipiac University: Master of Science in Information Technology

2012-08-26T12:37:00.000-07:00

Accelerate Your IT Career

The MSIT is a business degree for people who manage information technology systems and staff, or who aspire to be IT managers. Quinnipiac University began the Master of Science in Information Technology (MSIT) program in 2001 directly in response to a growing industry need for leaders in IT management.

The Leading Edge

Unlike other programs taught in engineering departments, the QU MSIT is taught in Quinnipiac’s School of Business. It combines in-depth grounding in current IT technologies and a practical, hands-on business format. This is the leading edge where there are very few competing programs.

Rigorous and Fast Paced

This rigorous, fast-paced, and demanding curriculum appeals strongly to working IT professionals preparing to move into management. The program may also be appropriate for people in fields with intensive IT support experience or for recent undergraduates with IT degrees who wish to enter the job market with a competitive edge.

Meets the Demands of Working Professionals

Originally taught on campus, the MSIT moved to a completely online curriculum in 2010, in response to requests from working professionals asking for a more flexible schedule. Coursework remains cutting edge, team based, and collaborative.

Highly Supportive

With a cohort of experienced IT professionals from around the country, a highly collaborative environment, and a current student-to-faculty ratio of only 10:1, student support is a hallmark of Quinnipiac’s MSIT program. Students connect and learn from each other and from the individual attention of our distinguished professors.

Master of Business Administration

2012-08-26T12:24:00.000-07:00

The Master of Business Administration (MBA or M.B.A.) is a master's degree in business administration, which attracts people from a wide range of academic disciplines. The MBA designation originated in the United States, emerging from the late 19th century as the country industrialized and companies sought out scientific approaches to management. The core courses in the MBA program are designed to introduce students to the various areas of business such as accounting, finance, marketing, human resources, operations management, etc. Students in MBA programs have the option of taking general business courses throughout the program or can select an area of concentration and focus approximately one-fourth of their studies in this subject.

Accreditation bodies exist specifically for MBA programs to ensure consistency and quality of graduate business education. Business schools in many countries offer MBA programs tailored to full-time, part-time, executive, and distance learning students, with specialized concentrations.

History

The first graduate school of business in the United States was the Tuck School of Business, part of Dartmouth College Founded in 1900, it was the first institution conferring advanced degrees (masters) in the commercial sciences, specifically, a Master of Science in Commerce degree, the forebear of the modern MBA degree.
In 1908, the Graduate School of Business Administration (GSBA) at Harvard University was established; it offered the world's first MBA program, with a faculty of 15 plus 33 regular students and 47 special students.
The University of Chicago Booth School of Business first offered working professionals the Executive MBA (EMBA) program in 1943, first available in permanent campus in three continents (Chicago, London and Singapore) and this type of program is offered by most business schools today.
In 1946, Thunderbird School of Global Management was the first school to offer an MBA program focused on global management.
In 1950, the first MBA degrees awarded outside the United States were by the Richard Ivey School of Business at The University of Western Ontario in Canada, followed in 1951 with the degree awarded by the University of Pretoria in South Africa. In 1955, the Institute of Business Administration, Karachi was established under the University of Karachi in Pakistan, in collaboration with the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and became the first Asian business school to offer an MBA program under the US MBA model. In 1957, INSEAD became the first European business school to offer an MBA program. In 1986, the Roy E. Crummer Graduate School of Business at Rollins College (Florida) was the first MBA program to require every student to have a laptop computer in the classroom. Initially, professors wheeled a cart of laptops into the classroom.
The MBA degree has been adopted by universities worldwide, and has been adopted and adapted by both developed and developing countries.

Program content

Most top MBA programs cover similar subjects within their core required courses. For information about the typical content of an MBA program's core curriculum, see the overview at the Wikiversity MBA topic page. MBA programs expose students to a variety of subjects, which students may choose to specialize in a particular area. Students traditionally study a wide breadth of courses in the program's first year, then pursue a specialized curriculum in the second year. Full-time students typically seek an internship during the interim. Typical specializations include: accounting, economics, entrepreneurship, finance, international business, management science, marketing, operations management, organizational behavior, project management, real estate, and strategy, among others.
Many individuals choosing a specialized field of study, such as real estate or accounting, are well-suited for their respective industries through pursuing a Master of Real Estate Development or Master of Science in Accounting degree, for example. Other specialized programs include Master of Science in Finance, Master of Science in Information Systems, Master of Science in Supply Chain Management.

MBA degree and current financial crisis

The Financial crisis of 2007–2010 has raised new challenges and questions regarding the MBA degree. Graduates of MBA programs have a reported tendency to go into Finance shortly after receiving the degree. As the field of Finance is tightly linked to the global economic downturn, anecdotal evidence suggests new graduates are stepping onto alternate paths.

Deans at top business schools have acknowledged media and public perception of the MBA has shown some shifts as a result of the financial crisis.
Articles about public perception related to the crisis range from schools' acknowledgment of issues related to the training students receive to criticisms of the MBA's role in society.

Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)

2012-08-26T12:15:00.000-07:00

The Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Program is a professional credential offered by the CFA Institute (formerly AIMR) to investment and financial professionals. A candidate who successfully completes the program and meets other professional requirements is awarded a "CFA charter" and becomes a "CFA charterholder".

The CFA designation

The CFA charter is a qualification for finance and investment professionals, particularly in the fields of investment management and financial analysis of stocks, bonds and their derivative assets. The program focuses on portfolio management and financial analysis, and provides a generalist knowledge of other areas of finance. Additionally, the CFA charter has experienced increasing relevance and demand within corporate finance.

The CFA designation was first awarded in 1963. As of March 2012, CFA Institute has about 107,000 members in 138 countries around the world, including about 98,000 CFA charterholders.

Requirements

To become a charterholder a candidate must satisfy the following requirements.

Have four years (48 months) of qualified work experience (or a combination of education and work experience acceptable by the CFA Institute). However individual level exams may be written prior to satisfying this requirement
Complete the CFA Program (mastery of the current CFA curriculum and passing three six-hour examinations)
Become a member of the CFA Institute and apply for membership to a local CFA member society
Adhere to the CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct

Independent of any other requirements for becoming a charterholder, the CFA Program takes an average of four years for candidates to complete.

History

The predecessor of CFA Institute, the Financial Analysts Federation (FAF), was established in 1947 as a service organization for investment professionals in its societies and chapters. The earliest CFA charter holders were "grandfathered" in through work experience only. Then, the series of three exams was established along with requirements to being a practitioner for several years to qualify to take the exams. In 1990, in hopes of boosting the credential's public profile, CFA Institute (formerly the Association for Investment Management and Research or AIMR) was created from the merger of the FAF and the Institute of Chartered Financial Analysts (ICFA). The CFA program began in the United States but has become increasingly international with many people becoming charter-holders across Europe, Asia and Australia. By 2003 fewer than half the candidates in the CFA program were based in the US and Canada, with most of the other candidates based in Asia or Europe. India and China have shown some of the highest growth from 2005 to 2006 with increases of 25% and 53% respectively in the total number of charterholders.

Process

The basic requirements for participation in the CFA Program include holding or being in the final year of a university degree (or equivalent as assessed by CFA Institute), or having four years of qualified, professional work experience in an investment decision-making process. To obtain the charter, however, a candidate must have completed a university degree (or equivalent) and four years of qualified, professional work experience, in addition to passing the three exams that test the academic portion of the CFA program, as discussed below.

Candidates take one exam per year over three years (assuming a pass on the first attempt). Fees as of December 2009 for each exam range from $710 to $955, depending on the date on which the candidate registers to take the exam, plus an additional $400 to $480 for program enrollment for new members. Exams are challenging, with 38% passing the Level I, 42% passing Level II, and 52% passing Level III exam in June 2012. It should be noted that level 2 and 3 pass rates apply to candidates that must have already passed the prior level.

All three exams are administered on paper on a single day; the Level I exam is administered twice a year (usually the first weekend of June and December). The Level II and III exams are administered once a year, usually the first weekend of June. Each exam consists of two three-hour sessions. Level I has 240 independent, multiple-choice questions - all information required to answer the question is contained in the question. Level II has 120 multiple-choice questions, organized as 20 six-question item sets, each set having its own vignette of facts. To answer each question, the candidate must refer to the vignette as there is insufficient information in the question stem. Level III consists of a session of constructive response, essay-type questions, and a session of 10 six-question item sets as in the Level II exam. On the multiple-choice/item set sections, there is no penalty for wrong answers. For the test, only two models of calculator are allowed (the Hewlett Packard 12C including the HP 12C Platinum, and the Texas Instruments BA II Plus including the BA II Plus Professional).

Candidates who have taken the exam receive a score report that is intended to be fairly unspecific: there is no overall score for the test, only a Pass/Fail result, and a range within which his or her performance for each topic area falls: below 50%, between 50% and 70%, and above 70%. Additionally, failing candidates are informed of their decile rank within the body of failing candidates. The passing grade for the exams had been defined as 70% of the top percentage of exam papers until 1989; since then, the grading method is not explicitly published and the minimum passing score is set by the Board of Governors after each exam. The Board of Governors reviews the results of the standard setting process and input from psychometricians.

Standard setting is a process that defines the passing score of the exam. The CFA exam utilizes the modified Angoff method which is a commonly used approach to setting standards for certification and licensure examinations. Subject matter experts review the exam and recommend a minimum passing score for the "just-qualified candidate". The minimum passing scores are presented to the Board of Governors in a report. The Board of Governors is not bound by this recommendation, but does recognize it as very important information.

London School of Business and Finance

2012-08-26T12:00:00.000-07:00

The London School of Business and Finance (informally LSBF) is a private business school based in London, United Kingdom. It offers Master's degree programmes in management, finance and marketing; bachelor degrees; executive and corporate training; and professional qualification training for the ACCA, CFA, CIM and CIMA qualifications. LSBF's programmes are currently validated by partner institutions including the University of Bradford, the University of Central Lancashire, Grenoble Graduate School of Business and London Metropolitan University.

LSBF is based in Holborn, with two campuses in central London. In addition the school has campuses in Manchester and Birmingham, United Kingdom; Toronto, Canada; and Singapore. LSBF's teaching and education philosophy is based on offering students the opportunity to pursue both an academic degree and a professional qualification simultaneously.

History

The London School of Business and Finance was founded by Aaron Etingen in 2003. It began as a provider of accountancy and finance programmes and training for professional qualifications such as ACCA and CIMA, later expanding to provide undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in partnership with other higher education institutions.

LSBF opened its first campus outside of the UK in Toronto, Canada, in February 2011. In June 2011, LSBF opened an institute in Singapore, the first Asia-Pacific campus of a UK-based business school. At both international campuses, the school provides accounting programmes and professional qualification training.

In October 2011, the British television channel BBC Three featured the LSBF School of English in a documentary about a group of young immigrants who went to the UK to realise their professional ambitions. One of the students was an LSBF student who enrolled for an English course to be prepared for an important job interview.

In December 2011, the comedian Jo Brand interviewed a group of LSBF business students at the LSBF's London campus as part of a programme which was broadcast on BBC4 in February 2012.

The school also has a partnership with the India-based education provider CL Educate.
In 2012, LSBF formed a partnership with London Metropolitan University, as part of which a suite of new London Metropolitan University-validated undergraduate, postgraduate and professional programmes will be delivered by LSBF at its UK campuses, for both UK and international students.
In August 2012 after a visit from the concerns team LSBF faced wide ranging criticism from the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education over its academic standards and quality of delivery. The report referred to a disputed agreement between the LSBF Group and the University of Wales, which has now ended.

Academics

Programmes

LSBF collaborates with Grenoble Graduate School of Business to provide two year Master’s degree programmes including MBA, MSc in Finance, and Master of International Business (MIB) and MSc Fashion and Luxury Management in addition to one undergraduate degree, the Bachelor in International Business. The school also provides dual MBA programs, which combine an MBA degree with another program, such as ACCA, CFA or CIMA.

In partnership with the London Metropolitan University, LSBF offers a range of undergraduate, postgraduate and professional programmes, including MBA Global, MSc Finance & Investment, BSc Business Management and Diplomas in Accounting & Finance and Strategic & Financial Management.
With the University Of Central Lancashire (UCLAN), LSBF delivers a range of undergraduate programmes including Bachelors in Business Administration, Bachelors in Accounting & Financial Studies and LLB Law.
LSBF offers an LLM in International Business Law in association with Bradford University.
LSBF is also certified by the ACCA for tuition for the Diploma in Financial Management

Online programmes

LSBF delivers a wide range of programmes through the e-learning platform InterActive. This includes MBA, MSc in Finance, MSc in Marketing, ACCA, CIMA, CFA and a range of over 20 online Postgraduate Certificates. Through InterActive, students have access to online classrooms, discussion forums and a range of resources including live and recorded video lectures, 24-hour technical support service, online library and Harvard Business School 'Case in Point' publications to support their learning activities.

In 2010 LSBF developed two applications using the social media platform Facebook: The LSBF Prep Centre for ACCA, a comprehensive study resource for students of ACCA, and the LSBF Global MBA, the world's first Master’s degree that is delivered entirely on Facebook, in a ‘try before you buy’ manner. Both applications offer study material that is available for all to view, free of charge.

Students of the LSBF Global MBA have an additional option to opt in for evaluation and pay for their qualification.

Scholarships and bursaries

LSBF's patron, Prince Michael of Kent, sponsors a scholarship scheme at the LSBF for students from emerging markets countries. LSBF's other scholarship programmes include a Corporate scholarship, with a focus on connecting students directly with corporate employers via the LSBF Corporate Division, and The Women in Business Scholarship, intended to help more females to become corporate leaders. There are also scholarships sponsored by LSBF's Principal and Vice Rector.

LSBF offers bursaries to Singaporean students who have completed the ACCA to pursue Master's degrees online, or in the UK.

QAA assessment

LSBF were visited by the QAA as part of an investigation into ultimately well-founded concerns about the poor standards and quality of higher education offered at LSBF. The report was released to the public on 9 August 2012. The investigating team found that a partnership between LSBF and the University of Wales had recruited more students than its resource base justified, placing an intolerable burden on physical and human resources. The report stated that LSBF had recruited students to pathways which were not validated (no award would be received from the University) despite advertising these courses as validated. They also expressed deep concerns over the technical and English language competence of some staff, a lack of transparency over bottom-line fees, alleged misinformation over visa working restrictions, confusion over the availability of some pathways, the non-availability of some textbooks, and the limited usefulness of the evaluation and representative systems. It went on to state that a number of weaknesses were attributable to a range of factors including institutional immaturity and an inadequate understanding of the expectations of a higher education provider in the UK. It found that in one intake 54% of the students had complained about the poor quality of LSBF education. Furthermore, it stated that the admissions process (largely devolved to FBT/LSBF from the University) was insufficiently closely managed, and led to the acceptance of many inappropriate students. It concluded that more recently LSBF had put in place measures to strengthen its quality management arrangements, but nonetheless requested it to report within 6 weeks an action plan to address the issues. In reference to the QAA report in 2012 the Times Higher Education reported that "Watchdog sniffs out business school failures". The article relates to the Birmingham-based Finance Business Training, which is jointly run with the London School of Business and Finance (LSBF), accepted "many inappropriate students" and at one point had a student complaint rate of 54 per cent, the agency found during an investigation between January and April. The report says that there have been "significant improvements" in a number of areas, including teaching quality. However, claims that the problems had been "decisively corrected" understate "the nature and extent of the challenges". The two colleges have the same principal and academic framework, and began validation agreements with London Metropolitan University in April after the Wales partnership ended in November 2011. LSBF's new academic partner London Metropolitan Universities tier 4 sponsor license was suspended in July 2012. London Met said that it had been aware of a "range of concerns" at the institutions when it announced a "large-scale" validation scheme in April, and that it was working to ensure compliance with the QAA. LSBF are not a degree awarding power and therefore rely on UK Universites to validate and award their qualifications.

Griffith College ACCA School

2012-08-26T11:14:00.000-07:00

Griffith College ACCA School is committed to the facilitation of all ACCA students. So whether you are in rural Ireland or a busy parent, Griffith College can come to you. Griffith College offers ACCA Distance Learning Courses in the Irish Variant – now with the added option of online video support for a wide selection of papers. The programme is designed for you as a student studying predominantly on their own with online support. It is structured in such a way as to promote self-managed learning. The course incorporates activities throughout to help consolidate your learning and give you the opportunity to relate your knowledge to a practical, workplace situation.

Subjects Provided

F1 Accountant in Business (Inclusive of Recorded Lectures/Classes)
F2 Management Accounting (Inclusive of Recorded Lectures/Classes)
F3 Financial Accounting Int (Inclusive of Recorded Lectures/Classes)
F4 Corporate and Business Law (Inclusive of Recorded Lectures/Classes)
F5 Performance Management (Inclusive of Recorded Lectures/Classes)
F6 Taxation (Inclusive of Recorded Lectures/Classes)
F7 Financial Reporting ((Inclusive of Recorded Lectures/Classes)
F8 Audit & Assurance (Inclusive of Recorded Lectures/Classes)s)
F9 Financial Management (Inclusive of Recorded Lectures/Classe

The Distance Learning Program will provide the following benefits:

Recorded Lectures/Classes available to students to view and review One to One advice from a tutor
Indepth Course Material
Mock Exams
Access to student intranet (moodle.gcd.ie)
Marked Homework
Revision Courses at discounted prices

Kaplan Financial Ltd

2012-08-26T11:08:00.000-07:00

Kaplan Financial Ltd was founded in 1958 and is one of the UK’s leading providers of training in accountancy and financial services. Kaplan Financial is part of Kaplan Inc., a subsidiary of The Washington Post Company (NYSE: WPO). Kaplan Financial has been providing professional accountancy, tax and financial qualifications for more than 50 years. It serves more than 48,000 students a year, both in the UK and overseas. Kaplan Financial offers courses in 28 training centres throughout the UK as well as home study and online learning.

Kaplan Financial prepares students for professional accountancy and tax exams including the AAT, ACA, ACCA, and CIMA, and investment qualifications such as CFA, CAIA, FRM, IAQ, IMC and SII. Kaplan Financial also offers a range of postgraduate courses including MBA, MA and MSc, as well as management and personnel qualifications.

History

Kaplan Financial was formerly known as the Financial Training Company, then as FTC Kaplan after its acquisition in February 2003 by Kaplan, Inc., a global provider of education and training services. FTC also produced exam-focussed study materials, test prep and courses for the American Academy of Financial Management, AAT, ACCA and CIMA that were also used widely in other training institutions in the public and private sectors. These materials are now produced by Kaplan Publishing, another company in the Kaplan group.

Acquisitions

Major acquisitions in the last decade include:

2003—UK Accountancy Tuition Centres Ltd (ATC), provider of accountancy and professional training in the UK
2003—Emile Woolf Colleges Ltd., provider of CIMA and ACCA training
2003—AT Foulks Lynch Ltd., publisher of accountancy training materials for ACCA, CIMA, AAT and CAT syllabi
2003—Portman College of Management, a Newcastle-based professional school offering management training programmes
2008—Hawksmere Limited, a London-based training and conference provider
2009—West of England Language Services Limited (WELS), an international group of English language schools located in the United States, Australia, and the UK

Awards

In July 2009 Kaplan Financial was the first ACCA distance learning provider to be awarded Platinum status by the ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants). This is the highest status awarded to a tuition provider.

AIS - HP ProLiant ML/DL/SL Servers

2012-05-15T04:16:00.000-07:00

This certification validates that the technical professional is able to fully prepare a ProLiant expandable tower (ML), rack mount (DL) or scalable (SL) server for the customer so that it can be placed into a test environment or into production, or be ready for the customer to install his applications. This includes all aspects of installation and startup tasks (hardware configuration, operating system installation, HP driver installation, and full management instrumentation). The candidate should have knowledge of how HP ProLiant ML/DL/SL solutions address real problems customers are facing today.

The training that leads to this certification provides the perfect foundation for understanding the 6th generation of this family of server products.

Why Earn This Certification

Businesses around the world rely on HP ProLiant ML expandable tower servers, HP ProLiant DL rack mount servers, and HP ProLiant SL scalable system servers for the highest level of efficiency, insight and control. The "ProLiant" brand is synonymous with "industry standard server." This certification provides a foundation for acquiring certifications that support more advanced ProLiant solutions capabilities.

Ideal Candidate

HP partner, employee or customer technical professionals who design and implement SMB or enterprise computing solutions based on the ProLiant server family.

AIS - HP BladeSystem Solutions

2012-05-15T04:01:00.001-07:00

This certification validates that the professional is able to fully prepare a BladeSystem solution for the customer so that it can be placed into a test environment or into production, or be ready for the customer to install his applications. This individual performs all aspects of Installation and Startup Services, including hardware configuration, operating system installation, HP driver installation, and full management instrumentation. This individual also should have knowledge of performance enhancement tools like the Essentials Suite of products. This is a foundational certification for understanding the technical aspects of a converged infrastructure environment. The certification and its associated training include content pertaining to both HP Integrity blades and HP ProLiant blades.

Ideal Candidate

HP partner, employee or customer technical professionals who design, implement or support solutions based on the HP BladeSystem platform.

The required exam

Exam PRA-S27: Practice exam for "Implementing HP BladeSystem Solutions"

HP Master ASE - Storage Solutions

2012-05-15T03:23:00.000-07:00

This master-level certification validates the technical expert's ability to drive storage strategy at the overall infrastructure level rather than the product level. Master ASE certified professionals shift the storage infrastructure to deliver cloud services and mission-critical applications from a cloud data center, leveraging CloudSystem Matrix and using Storage Provisioning Manager to auto-provision multi-tiered storage in a federated data center.

Why Earn this Certification?

The data center is undergoing its most dramatic shift since the move to client server computing 20 years ago. HP sees two major tectonic shifts happening in IT: the move to secure multi-tenant computing, and the shift to cloud delivery models. HP Storage is best positioned to capitalize on these trends and deliver leading solutions to the challenge of today's unpredictable workloads and explosive data growth that legacy storage architectures are unable to meet.

The Master ASE has the broad knowledge and skills necessary to architect a customer's enterprise-wide storage solution that will drive business enablement. This professional ensures that the storage architecture is:

Virtualized to allow dynamic provisioning of resources to support applications when capacity is needed most

Capacity optimized to lower the cost and reduce management complexities when responding to explosive data growth

Application integrated to enable smooth orchestration across the network and allow massive data sets to bypass network limitations

Standardized on common platforms and components to lower costs and enable scale-out architectures

Ideal Candidate

HP partner, employee or customer technical professional who defines business requirements, designs multi-site complex solutions and manages the deployment of sophisticated enterprise storage solutions.

HP Master ASE - Converged Infrastructure Architect

2012-05-15T03:00:00.002-07:00

The HP Master ASE - Converged Infrastructure Architect certification validates that the candidate has the vast technical knowledge and experience required to architect and oversee (at every level) the implementation of a highly-effective Converged Infrastructure solution. Additionally, and equally important, this candidate has the proven ability to present and explain this solution to the highest level of management, selling Converged Infrastructure, based on the business value it will deliver, while relating the customer's business problems to IT solutions.

Designed for a very elite group of top professionals across the globe, this certification signals that the architect is most highly qualified to:

Lead an organization's data center transformation.
Design and drive the development, specification and communication of the architecture plans.
Select and recommend the appropriate components, technologies and products.
Set the strategy for enterprise information across the new infrastructure.
Effectively participate in business transformation projects.
Identify opportunities to provide innovative solutions.
Communicate with the high level decision makers.

Ideal Candidate

HP partner, employee or customer technical integration professional who has a minimum of ten years experience in enterprise level infrastructure design. Typical candidates often hold any of the following job roles or certifications:

IT Architect/ Enterprise Architect
Principal Technology Consultant.
HP ExpertONE certified professional with a current ASE or Master ASE and APC

Prerequisites

No formal prerequisite certifications are required. However, a candidate should have the following:

Very strong management-level presentation skills together with exceptional business skills
ITIL (Information Technology Infrastructure Library), TOGAF (The Open Group Architecture Framework), or similar certification, or equivalent experience
Strong technical background in IT technologies, including (but not exclusive to) servers,storage, networking, management and software, power & cooling, data centers, virtualization, and cloud computing
Technology and design expertise in data centers
Presales experience in competitive data center and/or cloud computing environments, including designing cost-effective data center solutions, solution sizing, developing proposals and Proof of Concepts, managing resources to implement a solution, coordinating technical and business resources, and leading change efforts and governance processes
Concepts, managing resources to implement a solution, coordinating technical and business resources, and leading change efforts and governance processes
Experience and knowledge with HP Converged Infrastructure and its related technologies, including (but not exclusive to) Flex Fabric, Smart Grid, Matrix OE, and others
Familiarity with the Alinean tool, BladeSystem Power Sizing Tool, and eConfigure or Sales Builder for Windows

The required exam:

Entrance exam (HP0-D18)
Board Review Exam ( HP0-D19: create a Converged Infrastructure business solution and present to the board)

HP networking certification

2012-05-11T04:56:00.002-07:00

HP networking solutions are built to deliver predictable performance, high availability, and security, using products and technologies that offer scalability, cutting-edge features, energy efficiency, and reduced complexity.

The HP ExpertONE program offers a full range of networking curricula, from beginning-level courses all the way up to Master engineer classes. You'll also find fast-track programs that let you leverage your current industry certifications from Cisco and other companies, building on the investment you've already made in networking education.

As a participant in the HP ExpertONE networking training and certification program, you'll gain:

Access to robust courseware
Rapid professional cross-certification
Proven practices for networking interoperability
Differentiation in the job market

Technical certification path:

Sales Certification:

Product Certification:

HP networking certifications: APP (Accredited Presales Professional)

2012-05-10T17:49:00.000-07:00

The APP and Technical Qualifications are credentials that HP Resellers may need to attain in order to meet specific contractual requirements. These credentials are not designed or intended to be used for career advancement.

Enterprise Networking has two Presales certifications:

1. HP APP – Enterprise Networking

This presales networking certification provides comprehensive understanding of HP’s scalable network architecture, necessary to design complex core, data center and campus LAN networks. Design concepts and architectures include multiple tiered network architectures, Cloud based networks, and converged networks, comprised of SANs and servers. Technologies covered include Converged Enhanced Ethernet (CEE), Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE), Intelligent Resilient Framework (IRF) and Multi Protocol Label Switching (MPLS).

Audience

Technical networking professionals who plan and design enterprise networking solutions based on HP products and technologies. This certification is limited to HP employees and HP Partners.

The required exam

HP2-Z21 Planning and Designing HP Enterprise Networking Solutions

2.1. HP APP – Network Security

Note: This credential is restricted to the Americas region.

The Accredited Presales Professional (APP) certification provides technical IT Professionals with the knowledge of HP products and solutions to sell and support them effectively. If you are looking to become an HP authorized partner or self maintainer this is the place to start.
This is a credential which HP Resellers may need to attain in order to meet specific contractual requirements and are not designed or intended to be used for career advancement.

Audience
This certification is ideal for anyone looking to provide hardware troubleshooting and repair for HP equipment.

(Note: In order to sell or provide warranty support for HP products, you must be employed by an authorized HP partner or authorized self-maintainer customer.)

The required exam

HP2-Z09 TippingPoint Advanced Technical Security Products

2.2. HP APP – S-Series Networking Products
Note: This credential is restricted to EMEA and APJ locations.

The Accredited Presales Professional (APP) certification provides technical IT Professionals with the knowledge of HP products and solutions to sell and support them effectively. If you are looking to become an HP authorized partner or self maintainer this is the place to start.
This is a credential which HP Resellers may need to attain in order to meet specific contractual requirements and are not designed or intended to be used for career advancement.

Audience
This certification is ideal for anyone looking to provide hardware troubleshooting and repair for HP equipment.

(Note: In order to sell or provide warranty support for HP products, you must be employed by an authorized HP partner or authorized self-maintainer customer.)

The required exam

HP2-Z20 Introduction to HP TippingPoint Security Products

HP networking certifications: APS (Accredited Platform Specialist)

2012-05-10T06:04:00.001-07:00

APS (Accredited Platform Specialist) has one Certification path:

Accredited Platform Specialist (APS)

An APS (Accredited Platform Specialist) can also verify that a device is operating "as shipped from the factory". Since APS technicians work on one device and one technical issue at a time under the direction of a higher skilled individual (who, for example, creates configurations and does troubleshooting), APS certificate holders should recognize the limits of their certificate's scope and know when to use appropriate escalation procedures.

Audience

Field repair engineers who perform basic troubleshooting, repair, installation, configuration, and/or verification on HP Networking products (including hardware and internal operating system) to operational level as from factory. The scope of this certification covers HP Networking Switches up to Layer 3, HP Networking wireless products (Access Points and Wireless Controllers), HP Networking WAN routers. This course is to new and experienced field engineers who need to become familiar with wired and wireless HP Networking hardware and software.

The required exam

HP2-Z12 - Servicing HP Networking Products Exam Prep Guide

HP networking certifications: HP Advanced Sales Certified

2012-05-10T05:39:00.000-07:00

The HP Advanced Sales Certified enables the sales professional to apply consultative selling skills focused on solutions and strategies that will position him or her as the trusted advisor to the Enterprise customer. Achievement of this certification will demonstrate command of HP’s FlexNetwork Architecture, ability to retire quota using the primary benefits of the FlexNetwork Architecture and to present at C-Level a compelling business case for investment in HP Networking solutions.

HP Advanced Sales Certified has the following certification path:

1. HP ASC – Networking

The Accredited Sales Consultant certification will enable sales representatives to develop a long-term, value-added relationship with their customers. This certification focuses on how to engage customers at an executive level to gain a deeper understanding of their mission-critical business issues and how to design a comprehensive HP networking solution that will meet customers’ evolving networking requirements.

Audience

Reseller and HP Sales Representatives who recommends HP networking products and solutions.

The required exam

HP2-Z16 Selling HP E-Series Networking Solutions

2. HP ASC – Enterprise Networking

The ASC (Accredited Sales Consultant) certification will enable sales representatives to develop a long-term, value-add relationship with their customers. This certification expands the skills of the Sales Professional by focusing on how to engage customers at an executive level to gain a deeper understanding of their mission-critical business issues and how to design a comprehensive HP networking enterprise solution that will meet customers' evolving networking requirements.

Audience

Reseller and HP Sales Representatives who recommends HP enterprise networking products and solutions.

The required exam

HP2-Z17 Selling HP Enterprise Network Solutions

HP networking certifications: HP Sales Certified

2012-05-10T05:14:00.000-07:00

The HP Sales Certified certification designates an individual who is knowledgeable about networking concepts and can describe the features, functions and positioning of the products in the HP Networking portfolio. The certification is focused at the foundational level to develop strong competence in product, technology, and selling skills. Skills include identifying target markets and customers, understanding and positioning features that address customer pain points and deliver business benefits. Competency will be established for recognizing cross- and up-sell opportunities in Converged Infrastructure. These certifications are restricted to HP Employees and Partners

HP Sales Certified has two paths:

1. HP Sales Certified – Networking

The certification is focused at the foundational level to develop strong competence in product, technology, and selling skills. Skills include identifying target markets and customers, understanding and positioning features that address customer pain points and deliver business benefits. Competency will be established for recognizing cross- and up-sell opportunities in Converged Infrastructure. These certifications are restricted to HP Employees and Partners.

The required exam

HP2-Z22 Selling HP Network Solutions

2. HP ASP – Network Security

The ASP (Accredited Sales Professional) designation certifies that an individual is knowledgeable of networking concepts and can describe the features, functions and positioning of the products in the HP networking portfolio. It also certifies that the candidate has the sales skills to understand the customer's business environment and can recommend a security networking product or solution to meet the customer's networking needs.

Audience

Reseller and HP Sales Representatives who recommends HP networking security products and solutions.

The required exam

HP2-Z14 Selling HP S-Series Networking Solutions

HP networking certifications: Master ASE (Accredited System Engineer)

2012-05-10T04:42:00.000-07:00

Attaining Master ASE certification signifies your master-level ability to perform consultative planning, architecting, and leading the deployment of HP Networking solutions for enterprise environments. A symbol of excellence, Master ASE certification can be attained in the following two discipline areas.

Master ASE (Accredited System Engineer) has two Certification paths:

1.HP Master ASE - Network Infrastructure

The Master Accredited Systems Engineer (Master ASE) - Network Infrastructure certification signifies to employers that you possess the highest levels of skill, including master-engineer ability to design and troubleshoot advanced network solutions for enterprise networks and the data center. This certification also signifies an individual has the skill to migrate customers from proprietary to open-standard technologies.

Audience

Professionals who design, implement, maintain and troubleshoot advanced network solutions based on HP Networking products in large enterprise environments including: HP Reseller and Service Authorized Partners, Customer IT Staff, HP Field Presales and Competency Center Solution Architects, HP Services Field and Call Center Support Engineers.

The required exams

HP0-Y36 Deploying HP Enterprise Networks
HP0-Y37 Migrating and Troubleshooting HP Enterprise Networks

2. HP Master ASE – Wireless Networks Implementer

The Master Accredited Systems Engineer (Master ASE) – Wireless Networks certification signifies to employers that you possess the highest levels of skill, including master-engineer ability to successfully plan, design, implement and troubleshoot enterprise level HP wireless networks, including how to integrate into the existing wired infrastructure. It also addresses CIO’s number one concern with regard to wireless networks – security. Wireless Master ASEs have the ability to protect an HP Networking wireless solution from security threats using appropriate policies to ensure proper implementation of security standards.

Audience

Professionals with 3-5 years of experience designing, implementing, maintaining and troubleshooting advanced wireless network solutions based on HP Networking products in large enterprise environments including: HP Reseller and Service Authorized Partners, Customer IT Staff, HP Field Presales and Competency Center Solution Architects, HP Services Field and Call Center Support Engineers.

What's New?

This certification has been redesigned to focus on new HP MSM solutions, covering advanced topics such as troubleshooting enterprise level wireless networks and security requirements.

The required exam

HP0-Y27 Deploying HP Enterprise Wireless Networks

HP networking certifications: ASE (Accredited System Engineer)

2012-05-10T04:04:00.004-07:00

The ASE certification is for anyone who deploys complex networking solutions. An ASE is able to design, implement, and troubleshoot a HP-based network solution with the following elements: advanced switching and interior routing for IP networks; core and edge network infrastructure incorporating backbones, VLANs, and network access security.

ASE (Accredited System Engineer) has three Certification paths:

1. HP ASE - Network Infrastructure

Accredited Systems Engineer (ASE) networking certifications are awarded to network engineers who have the knowledge and ability to deploy complex networking solutions. An HP ASE networking certification signifies that the individual is fully able to design and implement an HP open-standards based network solution.

An engineer with an ASE – Network Infrastructure certification is capable of designing, implementing and troubleshooting secure network solutions for large and complex, multivendor campus LAN environments using HP E- and A-Series network technologies, including those that interoperate with non-HP networking solutions.

Audience
Anyone who deploys complex solutions based on HP technologies including: HP Reseller and Service Authorized Partners, Customer IT Staff, HP Field Presales and Competency Center Solution Architects, HP Services Field and Call Center Support Engineers.

The required exams

HP0-Y43 - Implementing HP Network Infrastructure Solutions
HP0-Y32 Designing & Troubleshooting Open Standards Networks

2. HP ASE - Network Security

The HP ASE – Network Security certification signifies that an individual has significant knowledge in the area of network security, possessing the abilities to design and implement secure solutions for large, complex network environments specializing the deployment of advanced defense and protection capabilities using HP TippingPoint technologies.

Audience

Professionals who design, implement, maintain and troubleshoot advanced network security solutions based on HP Networking products in large enterprise environments including: HP Reseller and Service Authorized Partners, Customer IT Staff, HP Field Presales and Competency Center Solution Architects, HP Services Field and Call Center Support Engineers.

The required exams

HP0-Y40 Implementing HP Network Infrastructure Security
HP0-Y42 Implementing HP TippingPoint Solutions

3. HP ASE - Wireless Networks

An engineer who has earned this certification can design and implement complex WLAN network solutions for large campus LAN environments using HP E-Series wireless technologies, and also has the foundational skills needed to implement A-Series wireless solutions.

Audience

Anyone who deploys complex solutions based on HP technologies including: HP Reseller and Service Authorized Partners, Customer IT Staff, HP Field Presales and Competency Center Solution Architects, HP Services Field and Call Center Support Engineers.

The required exams

HP0-Y43 Implementing HP Network Infrastructure Solutions
HP0-Y33 Implementing HP Wireless Networks

HP networking certifications: AIS (Accredited Integration Specialist)

2012-05-09T06:12:00.001-07:00

The AIS is able to design a HP Networking customer solution based on intermediate switching and basic routing environments.

AIS (Accredited Integration Specialist) has two Certification paths:

1. HP AIS – Network Infrastructure:

The HP Accredited Integration Specialist (AIS) is the entry level networking certification. Achieving the AIS standard indicates that a network engineer can deploy business-class to mid-size networks.

This certification identified an engineer who is capable of implementing HP E-Series wired network solutions for small to mid-market customers, and who has foundational knowledge of wireless technologies and HP A-Series solutions for large scale networks and the data center.

There are three paths to achieve this certification, as outlined below. The exams you must pass are dependent upon which achievements you currently hold.

Path 1

If you are just starting with networking certification, you should take the proctored Implementing HP Networking Technologies (HP0-Y30) exam.

Path 2

For those who are already certified by HP or certain other vendors, HP appreciates the time, effort, and money that you have invested in your current certification. If you have one of the certifications listed below, you can take an online exam instead of the proctored exam and obtain the HP AIS – Network Infrastructure [2011] certification more conveniently.

AIS – HP ProCurve Networking (2004 or later)
H3CNE
CCNA – Any track
CCDA
3Com DP
3Com IAP

Path 3

If you have already achieved AIS – HP ProCurve Networking (2008 or later) certification, and you take and pass the Migrating to 3Com/H3C Routing and Switching (HP2-Z08) exam (which tests you only on HP A-Series products), you do not need to take either the proctored HP0-Y30 exam or the online HP2-Z18 exam. You will automatically be awarded HP AIS – Network Infrastructure [2011] certification.

2. HP AIS – Network Security:

The AIS - Network Security certification signals to employers and colleagues that this engineer can design and implement fundamental security solutions for small to mid-market networks, and that the engineer also has foundational knowledge of advanced security solutions based on HP TippingPoint technologies.

Audience

Professionals who small to midrange solutions based on HP technologies including HP Reseller Systems Engineers, Customer IT Staff, HP System Engineers, HP Services Field & Call Center Support Engineers.

Exam HP2-Z19: Implementing HP Network Security Solutions

This exam is for networking professionals who sell, support, and use HP.

Examples of job roles include:

Reseller and customer network specialists
System Engineers
Network Engineers
HP Field System Engineers
HP Services Technical Support and Field Services

Minimum qualifications

To pass this exam, you should have at least 1 year experience implementing or maintaining networking products and solutions, including familiarity with network security features. Exams are based on an assumed level of industry-standard knowledge that may be gained from the training, hands-on experience, or other pre-requisite events.

Relevant certifications

After passing this exam, your achievement may be applied toward more than one certification. To determine which certifications will be credited with this achievement, log into The Learning Center and view the certifications listed on the exam’s More Details tab. You may be on your way to achieving additional HP certifications.

Exam details

The following are details about the exam:

Number of items: 66
Item types: multiple choice (single-response), multiple choice (multiple-response)
Exam time: 1 hour 30 minutes (90 minutes)
Passing score: 73%

Microsoft Certified Master: Windows Server 2008 R2: Directory

2012-05-06T15:18:00.002-07:00

The Active Directory directory service of the Windows Server 2008 operating system provides the means to manage the identities and relationships that make up an organization’s network. Thus, to help develop, deliver, and manage rich user experiences and applications; provide a highly secure network infrastructure; and increase technological efficiency and value, an organization needs a Microsoft Certified Master (MCM) on Windows Server 2008 R2: Directory. An MCM will have a demonstrated and proven expertise in the entire Active Directory product suite, including Active Directory Domain Services, Active Directory Lightweight Directory Services, Active Directory Federation Services, and Active Directory Certificate Services. The Microsoft Certified Master on Windows Server 2008 R2: Directory certification will develop the next generation of technical leaders in this critically important IT service.

Join the exclusive community of Active Directory technical experts
All Microsoft Certified Masters become an immediate part of an exclusive community of Active Directory experts that includes fellow MCM graduates and members of the Active Directory product group as well as valuable resources to which they can contribute and from which they can draw the collective knowledge of that community at any time.

Certified individuals prove their technical mastery
In designing and building customer-specified directory solutions, Microsoft Certified Masters understand how design decisions affect the final solution. They troubleshoot and diagnose Active Directory services configuration and performance issues, and they have the detailed knowledge and skills that are required to successfully operate and manage enterprise-class Active Directory customer solutions based on the following services:

Active Directory Domain Services

Use Active Directory Domain Services, formerly known as Active Directory Services, to design the central location for configuration information, authentication requests, and information about all of the objects that are stored within an organization’s forest.

Active Directory Lightweight Directory Services

Optimize use of the Active Directory Lightweight Directory Service, formerly known as Active Directory Application Mode, for directory-enabled applications.
Build a location to support the application configuration and directory data and another location for security accounts.

Active Directory Certificate Services

Use certificates to prove the identity of users or computers, as well as to encrypt data during transmission across unsecured network connections.
Enhance security by binding the identity of a person, device, or service to a private key.

Active Directory Federation Services

Design a highly secure, highly extensible, and Internet-scalable identity access solution that allows organizations to authenticate users from partner organizations.
Grant external users secure access to your organization’s domain resources.
Simplify integration between untrusted resources and domain resources in an organization.

Optimize your Windows Server 2008 R2 Active Directory investment by hiring an MCM
According to research firm Gartner Group, 80 percent of all unplanned downtime is caused by people and process issues, not by hardware and software failure.* Optimize your IT investment resources and take full advantage of the power and diversity of Active Directory by employing a Microsoft Certified Master to lead your design, migration, implementation, and critical troubleshooting activities.

Advanced training deepens the technical skills of experienced Windows Server 2008 R2 Active Directory professionalsThe MCM program—a mixture of presentations, whiteboard discussions, group study, and goal-based labs—provides the most in-depth and comprehensive training that is available today for Active Directory and Windows Server 2008.

Prerequisites
Prerequisites for entry into the program include the following knowledge and experience:

1. Five or more years of hands-on experience installing, configuring, and troubleshooting Active Directory in complex enterprise environments.

2. A thorough understanding of Active Directory design and architecture.

3. A 300-level understanding of site component topology, forest operations and topology, the Active Directory distributed file system, file replication services, security, client interactions, and Group Policy.
For example, you should be able to:

Troubleshoot and repair broken replication for common issues (for example, secure channel, beyond TSL, and name resolution dependencies)
Understand USN Rollback, and how to correct any potential failure points
Effectively use BASL, site links, site costing, change notification, or other advanced features
Understand how FRS and DFSR function (and differ)
Understand common issues with FRS, and how to repair them, such as Journal Wrap, Morphed Folder, and Auth/Non-Auth Restore

4. A basic understanding of Active Directory Certificate Services, Active Directory Federation Services, and Active Directory Lightweight Directory Services.

5. Functional skills in basic protocol analysis, Hyper-V, scripting, PKI, and IP addressing and routing.

6. Ability to speak, understand, and write fluent English.

7. An MCSE certification on Microsoft Windows 2000 Server or Windows Server 2003, or a Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP): Enterprise Administrator certification.

If you have either or both of the preceding MCSE certifications, you must also have passed:

Exam 70-219: Designing a Microsoft Windows 2000 Directory Services Infrastructure (retired exam)

Exam 70-297: Designing a Windows Server 2003 Active Directory and Network Infrastructure

If you have the MCITP: Enterprise Administrator certification, no additional exams are required.

Microsoft Certified Master: Microsoft SQL Server 2008

2012-05-06T15:03:00.001-07:00

In today’s competitive market, data management requirements are more complex and diverse than ever before. Transactional and business intelligence data must be managed efficiently while providing enhanced security, availability, reliability, manageability, integration, performance, and data integrity. The investment in Microsoft SQL Server 2008 provides a more secure, reliable, and scalable platform for storing mission-critical information and delivering the right information to users, while reducing the time and cost of managing data. An organization that wants to make the most of its data should have a Microsoft Certified Master (MCM) on Microsoft SQL Server 2008 on staff.

The MCM program on Microsoft SQL Server 2008 is designed to provide the most experienced and talented IT professionals worldwide with validation and recognition of their in-depth technical expertise in Microsoft SQL Server.

A Microsoft Certified Master for SQL Server 2008 is the highest level of SQL Server technical certification offered by Microsoft and can be achieved by passing these two exams in the following sequence:

Exam 88-970: SQL Server 2008 Microsoft Certified Master: Knowledge Exam
Exam 88-971: SQL Server 2008 Microsoft Certified Master: Lab Exam

Test your technical skills for today’s complex data management requirements and tomorrow’s challenges. Designed by experts for experts, these challenging exams test your in-depth technical knowledge and help validate your ability to make effective design, deployment, and operational decisions when using SQL Server 2008.

Certified individuals prove their technical mastery
To obtain an MCM on SQL Server 2008 certification, you must prove your mastery in a virtual lab environment that emulates an enterprise infrastructure of the Microsoft SQL Server 2008 platform. You are tasked to troubleshoot and diagnose configuration and performance issues, and demonstrate and deploy the detailed knowledge and skills that are required to successfully design, operate, and manage an enterprise-class SQL Server 2008 infrastructure.

Organizations looking for large, complex, or highly available SQL Server solutions benefit from the expertise of a MCM on SQL Server. These experts work with customers to successfully design, implement, troubleshoot, and support SQL Server 2008 solutions, in a number of scenarios, including:

Public-facing websites that serve millions of customers
Enterprise intranet solutions that serve global organizations with hundreds of thousands of users
Consolidation platforms that host terabytes of content for large organizations
SQL Server 2008 consolidation scenarios, multi-tenancy, enterprise data warehousing, and business intelligence
Highly available solutions that require constant uptime
High transaction volume systems that require optimally configured solutions to ensure maximum throughput

The enterprise infrastructure of the Microsoft SQL Server 2008 platform

Preparing for the required exams
Although the most effective preparation is real-world, hands-on experience, there are a number of training resources that can help prepare you for the Knowledge and Lab Exams.

Accelerated Exam Preparation program for Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server 2008
The SQL MCM Accelerated Exam Preparation program is designed to prepare SQL Server MCM candidates to take the Knowledge Exam and/or the Lab Exam for the SQL Server 2008 Microsoft Certified Master program. Candidates may participate in a scheduled series of live online sessions, subscribe to practice labs, or choose a bundle of both offerings.

a) SQL MCM Sessions: starting March 6, 2012
Take a scheduled series of seven weeks of live online sessions with a presenter, who is a SQL MCM, including a review of an exam topic and open Q&A time. Two sessions of two hours each will be delivered weekly, with each week focusing on one of the seven exam topic areas.

b) SQL MCM labs
Get a two month subscription for practicing with 20 SQL MCM-level labs in a hosted SQL Server VM environment. The labs will be associated with the weekly exam topics. This is an easy to use, anytime access lab environment to practice the skills you need.

Practice labs for SQL Server MCM
If you want to access practice labs, but without the two-month commitment required by the Accelerated Exam Preparation program, the same labs are also available right now in one week or one month increments. The labs cover advanced SQL Server topics geared to helping you prepare for Master level certification. The goal of these hands-on lab materials is to give you an understanding of the features of SQL Server 2008 that a Microsoft Certified Master may use when designing and implementing solutions for business requirements.

Recommended skills and experience
Individuals interested in pursuing a Microsoft Certified Master on SQL Server 2008 certification typically have five or more years of hands-on SQL Server experience in mission-critical environments, with competencies that include:

Designing and implementing high-performance, scalable, and secure enterprise environments
Troubleshooting the most challenging SQL Server issues
Managing multiple instances of SQL Server, including the use of a variety of features and tasks, with a thorough understanding of SQL Server design and architecture.
A thorough understanding of SQL Server core engine components and dependencies, such as online transaction processing (OLTP), high availability, disaster recovery, performance tuning and optimization, the SQL Server operating system (SQLOS), the storage engine, the relational engine, security, manageability, and data distribution.

Microsoft Certified Master: Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010

2012-05-06T13:35:00.003-07:00

Microsoft SharePoint Server is the fastest growing server product in Microsoft history. With this success, there is an increased demand from SharePoint customers and partners for individuals who possess an in-depth, hands-on, technical understanding of SharePoint Server 2010.

The Microsoft Certified Master (MCM) on Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010 certification is developing the next generation of technical leaders in this dramatically growing business. A combination of expert technical instructor-led training, white board discussions, goal-based labs, and thorough exam testing delivers the most in-depth and comprehensive training available today for Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010 delivered by top SharePoint experts. Successful completion of this program demonstrates knowledge of SharePoint Products and Technologies at a deeper level than has ever been assessed before. Graduates of this program are recognized by Microsoft as the top SharePoint experts in the world.

Join the exclusive community of SharePoint technical experts
All Microsoft Certified Masters become an immediate part of an exclusive community of SharePoint Server 2010 experts, which includes fellow MCM graduates and members of the SharePoint product group as well as valuable resources to which they can contribute and from which they can draw the collective knowledge of that community at any time.

Certified individuals prove their technical mastery
Microsoft Certified Masters on SharePoint Server 2010 deliver high-performance, scalable solutions that meet even the most complex customer requirements. These experts possess the comprehensive product knowledge and experiential skills to successfully design, build, deploy, migrate, and troubleshoot enterprise-class SharePoint Server 2010 environments based on customer requirements. Organizations looking to onboard large, complex, or highly customized SharePoint Server 2010 environments will significantly benefit from the expertise of a SharePoint MCM. These product experts work with customers to successfully implement SharePoint Server 2010 solutions, including (but not limited to) the following scenarios:

Public-facing websites serving millions of customers
Enterprise intranet solutions serving global organizations with hundreds of thousands of users
Collaboration platforms hosting terabytes of content for large organizations
Business intelligence solutions for large financial customers
Knowledge management solutions focused on a large store of information
Enterprise Search implementations scaling to tens of millions of search items
Multitenant and SharePoint online-based environments
Large, team-based, custom development environments

No matter what the complexity, size, or requirements are, customers who engage a Microsoft Certified Master on SharePoint Server 2010 will significantly increase the likelihood of a successful, properly designed solution and will reduce the overall risk associated with the project.

Optimize your SharePoint Server 2010 IT investment with an MCM
IT environments comprise three basic elements—people, process, and technology. According to research firm Gartner Group, 80 percent of all unplanned downtime is caused by people and process issues, not by hardware and software failure.* Optimize your IT investment resources and take full advantage of the power and diversity of the SharePoint Server 2010 platform by employing a Microsoft Certified Master to lead your design, migration, implementation, and critical troubleshooting activities.

Advanced training deepens the technical skills of experienced SharePoint professionals
The MCM SharePoint Server 2010 certification process includes three weeks of in-depth technical training at the Microsoft campus in Redmond, Washington, in the United States, where candidates will receive training and knowledge transfer from some of the top SharePoint experts in the world.
The MCM certification on SharePoint Server 2010 training activities include:

Configuring, operating, and customizing multiple SharePoint Server 2010 farms. Each candidate operates a dedicated server that hosts these virtual environments, using Microsoft Hypervisor Technology (Hyper-V) technology
Training and lab assignments focused on critical tasks, including capacity planning, disaster recovery, performance tuning and testing, and logical architecture design
Team exercises where students design and plan for key workloads and large environments
A "deep dive" into the core technical design of SharePoint Server 2010 and a transfer of the knowledge needed to make wise choices in complex deployment scenarios

Other training topics include enterprise development with SharePoint Server 2010, enterprise search, business connectivity services, and upgrading from prior versions of SharePoint.

Prerequisites
Prerequisites for entry into the program include the following knowledge and experience:

1 A thorough understanding of Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010 design and architecture.

2. A thorough understanding of Microsoft ASP.NET, Windows Server, Internet Information Services, and other core technologies upon which SharePoint Products and Technologies depend.

3. The ability to speak, understand, and write in fluent English.

4. The following experience:

Hands-on experience via early adoption programs with Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010: installing, configuring, troubleshooting, and custom development
Three or more years of hands-on experience with Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007: installing, configuring, troubleshooting, and custom development

5. Candidates must have passed the following exams prior to applying to the program:

Exam 70-573: TS: Microsoft SharePoint 2010, Application Development
Exam 70-576: PRO: Designing and Developing Microsoft SharePoint 2010 Applications
Exam 70-667: TS: Microsoft SharePoint 2010, Configuring
Exam 70-668: PRO: SharePoint 2010, Administrator

Microsoft Certified Master: Microsoft Lync Server 2010

2012-05-06T06:06:00.003-07:00

When businesses communicate today, they have proliferating options: from phone, fax, and email to instant messaging, electronic whiteboards, and web conferences. As increasingly mobile employees collaborate with colleagues around the globe, providing them with the most appropriate communications capability in a robust, enterprise-class fashion becomes essential. Microsoft Lync Server 2010 combines voice, data, and video to eliminate roadblocks in communications and improve productivity for individuals and workgroups. Individuals with a Microsoft Certified Master (MCM) on Lync Server 2010 certification have the depth and breadth of skill to help an organization implement communications options, such as software-powered voice, PBX integration, instant messaging, on-premise audio and video conferencing, application sharing, and mobile access to meet their business needs.

MCMs on Lync Server 2010 design and build high-quality unified communications solutions, which reduce travel costs, cut the time needed to complete projects, shorten the sales cycle, and minimize telephony costs.

Join the exclusive community of Microsoft Lync Server experts

MCMs on Lync Server 2010 may be eligible to participate in an exclusive community of Lync Server experts, which includes fellow MCMs and the Microsoft Lync Server product group.

Prove your technical mastery

Candidates who successfully complete the program have an in-depth understanding of the Lync Server 2010 platform. In designing and building customer-specified solutions, MCMs on Lync Server 2010 fully understand how technical design decisions affect the final solution. Not only can they troubleshoot and diagnose configuration and performance issues, but they can also operate and manage an enterprise-class Microsoft Lync Server 2010 infrastructure. Organizations looking to design and deploy large, complex, or highly customized Microsoft Lync Server 2010 environments will significantly benefit from the expertise of a MCM on Lync Server 2010. These product experts work with customers to successfully implement Lync Server 2010 solutions, including (but not limited to) the following scenarios:

Globally dispersed, highly available infrastructures serving thousands of users for voice, instant messaging, presence, and conferencing
Mobile or remote work forces
Complex voice or multivendor PBX integration
Conferencing solutions, including third-party interoperability
Line-of-business application integration
Upgrade and migrations

Employing certified individuals protects and optimizes organizations’ Lync Server 2010 IT investments

IT environments are comprised of three basic elements: people, process, and technology. According to the research firm Gartner Group, 80 percent of all unplanned downtime is caused by people and process issues, not by hardware and software failure. Optimize your IT investment resources and take full advantage of the power and diversity of the Microsoft Lync Server 2010 platform by employing a Microsoft Certified Master on Lync Server 2010.

Advanced training deepens and broadens the technical skills of experienced communications professionals

The certification process for the Microsoft Certified Master on Lync Server 2010 includes three weeks of in-depth technical training at the Microsoft campus in Redmond, Washington, in the United States. It covers the individual core Lync Server 2010 technologies as well as broader architectural and operational areas such as telephony integration, upgrade and migration, application integration, performance analysis, management, and operations. As part of their training, candidates complete many highly challenging independent lab exercises, which allow them to develop and apply their learning in an environment where instructor and peer support is readily available.

Prerequisites

Prerequisites for entry into the program include the following knowledge and experience:

1. Two or more years of hands-on experience with Office Communications Server 2007: installing, configuring, and troubleshooting (or equivalent experience).

2. Practical, hands-on experience with Microsoft Lync Server 2010: installing, configuring, and troubleshooting all workloads in multiple deployment scenarios.

3. A thorough understanding of Microsoft Lync Server 2010 design and architecture.

4. A thorough understanding of Active Directory directory service , Domain Name System (DNS), traditional telephony concepts, VoIP, and other core network services related to Lync Server.

5. Ability to speak and write fluent English.

6. Successful completion of the following certifications:

Exam 70-638: TS: Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007, Configuring
Exam 70-664: TS: Microsoft Lync Server 2010, Configuring
Exam 70-665: PRO: Microsoft Lync Server 2010, Administrator

And one of the following:

Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) on Windows Server 2003

successful completion of two of the following exams, as indicated:

Exam 70-294: Planning, Implementing, and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Active Directory Infrastructure

Exam 70-640: TS: Windows Server 2008 Active Directory, Configuration

Exam 83-640 (retired) and Exam 70-297: Designing a Windows Server 2003 Active Directory and Network Infrastructure

Exam 70-642: TS: Windows Server 2008 Network Infrastructure, Configuring

Microsoft Certified Master: Microsoft Exchange Server 2010

2012-05-06T05:38:00.004-07:00

Communication drives business. Whether onsite or in the cloud, Microsoft Exchange Server 2010 is a critical infrastructure to ensure availability and security of an organization’s email, calendar, and contacts. Microsoft Certified Masters (MCMs) who are certified on Exchange Server 2010 are specialists in the design, migration, implementation, and optimization of the mail experience across multiple devices —which in turn helps lower messaging costs and helps ensure availability and security.

Join the exclusive community of Exchange Server 2010 technical experts

All Microsoft Certified Masters on Exchange Server 2010 become an immediate part of an exclusive community of experts that includes fellow graduates and members of the Exchange Server product group as well as valuable resources to which they can contribute and from which they can draw the collective knowledge of that community at any time.

Prove your technical mastery

Earning an MCM: Exchange Server 2010 certification demonstrates your detailed knowledge and skills in successfully designing, implementing, managing, and troubleshooting an enterprise-class Exchange Server infrastructure. MCMs can help organizations optimize messaging; map major initiatives and projects; identify and rate the impact of people, process, and technology gaps; design and build customer-specific messaging solutions; and prioritize IT assets for maximum impact and return on investment. IT professionals can achieve an MCM: Exchange Server 2010 by passing two exams, in the following sequence:

MCM: Exchange Server 2010, Knowledge Exam
MCM: Exchange Server 2010, Lab Exam

Designed by specialists for specialists, these exams test and validate your in-depth technical knowledge of Exchange Server 2010. Starting in July 2011, Prometric will offer the Knowledge Exam at select testing centers worldwide. Microsoft offers the Lab Exam via direct remote proctoring at select Microsoft facilities worldwide.

Employing certified individuals protects and optimizes organizations’ Exchange Server 2010 IT investments

IT environments are comprised of three basic elements: people, process, and technology. According to the research firm Gartner Group, 80 percent of all unplanned downtime is caused by people and process issues, not by hardware and software failure.* Optimize your IT investment resources and take full advantage of the power and diversity of the Exchange Server 2010 platform by employing an MCM: Exchange Server 2010 to lead your design, migration, implementation, and troubleshooting activities.

Advanced training deepens and broadens the technical skills of experienced professionals

Although training attendance is no longer a mandatory requirement for achieving MCM: Exchange Server 2010, candidates can prepare for the required exams by participating in three weeks of in-depth technical training at the Microsoft campus in Redmond, Washington, in the United States. This intensive training covers the individual core Exchange Server 2010 technologies as well as broader architectural and operational areas, such as high availability of a messaging service, co-existence and migration, transport, performance analysis, management, and operations. As a part of their training, candidates complete many independent lab exercises, which allow them to develop and apply their learning in an environment where instructor and peer support are readily available. Training activities for the MCM: Exchange Server 2010 include:

A "deep dive" into the core Exchange Server 2010 technologies with members of the Microsoft Exchange Center of Excellence or technology subject matter experts.
Exercises in which candidates work to produce a design to meet a set of requirements for a highly available environment, build and test their solutions, and then present their findings to the class.
Working through a multitude of migration and co-existence scenarios. During the long days of instruction and study groups, candidates have direct access to Microsoft and partner industry experts.

Microsoft IT professional: Microsoft Certified Database Administrator (MCDBA)

2012-05-06T05:21:00.000-07:00

The Microsoft Certified Database Administrator (MCDBA) certification provides proof of your ability to design, implement, and manage SQL Server 2000 databases. If you work with SQL Server 2008 or SQL Server 2012 databases, see below for our recommended certifications.

Level: One year of experience working with Microsoft SQL Server

Audience: IT professional

Type: Microsoft Certification

Overview

Individuals who hold the MCDBA certification have proven their ability to design, implement, and manage the administration of SQL Server 2000 databases. While three exams that are included in the requirements for earning this certification are still available, all other required exams are retired.

We recommend the following SQL Server certifications—choose one that reflects your job role, career goals, and version of SQL Server:

Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE): Data Platform—for database professionals who build enterprise-scale data solutions on-premise or in cloud environments
MCSE: Business Intelligence—for database professionals who develop and deploy business intelligence solutions and reports.
Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP) certifications: for database professionals who design, implement, build on, troubleshoot, and support SQL Server 2008 solutions
Microsoft Certified Master (MCM): for senior-level IT professionals who seek in-depth and comprehensive training on implementing SQL Server 2008 solutions

Certifications

To earn the Microsoft Certified Database Administrator (MCDBA) credential, you must pass four exams (in any order):

One Microsoft SQL Server Administration exam
One SQL Server Design exam
One Microsoft Windows 2000 Server or Windows Server 2003 exam
One elective exam

Note All exams in this certification track are retired, Except the following Exams:

Managing and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Environment: Exam 70-290
Implementing, Managing, and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure: Exam 70-291
Planning and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure: Exam 70-293