Survey: Not enough IT staff

ISACA recently surveyed more than 3,700 IT professionals, titled Governance of Enterprise IT: Issues and Challenges. The survey reveals that 52% of the respondents believe businesses do not have enough IT personnel. 44% said that they are planning to increase their investments in IT in the next 12 months.

The demand for professionals has increased, especially in the governance area – ISACA recently gave out 5,000^th Certified in the Governance of Enterprise IT (CGEIT) certification.

More information about ISACA certifications can be found on their website.

ISACA also has three other certifications: CISA, CISM and CRISC.

Video: Cisco explains its CCDA exam

Cisco's CCDA is a three-day course designed to give you a foundation knowledge of network design using Cisco's SONA (Service Oriented Network Architecture) methodology.

Microsoft introducing colour codes in their exams

Microsoft will be adding colour codes to improve readability of their developer exams for certifications. Beginning with Visual Studio 11 portfolio, Microsoft will be adding default Visual Studio colours in their developer exams.

Microsoft will initially role this change out in beta exams, and then based on feedback will make them live across their certification exams.

ITIL launches Master and new MALC qualifications

ITIL has released its Master qualification, which is the highest level in the Official Qualification Scheme. The credential is different from other core qualifications – professionals have to hand in a written submission and give an interview for assessment.

The accreditor has also finished reviewing the Managing Across the Lifecycle (MLAC) credential. The new qualification has a higher difficulty level than the intermediate qualifications. The exam length has increased from one and a half to two hours. The number of questions on each exam has increased from eight to ten.

Full release here: http://www.itil-officialsite.com/News/New_MALC_Qualification_Launched.aspx

ASL and BiSL exams now available via APMG

APMG has signed a contract with ASL BiSL Foundation and will run the ASL and BiSL qualifications. The ASL and BiSL exams will be processed only through APMG. 

Richard Pharro, CEO, APMG said, “This is an important step in creating international awareness and demand for the ASL and BiSL qualifications. We plan to ensure candidates who currently do not have access to ASL and BiSL will be able to access training in their region. We are experts in translating material and rolling it out globally. This is good news for candidates and for the ASL BiSL Foundation.”

Lucille van der Hagen, Managing Director of the ASL BiSL Foundation said, “From today, our examinations will be processed by APMG. We hope that in the future more candidates who want qualifications in ASL and BiSL will be able to take the exams in their own language because of our partnership. We chose to work with APMG because of its wide international network, its high quality standards and service level and its good relationships with owners of related qualification schemes like PRINCE2® and ITIL.”

A guide to help you get to the Cloud

More and more companies are adapting the Cloud form of computing in their systems. CompTIA has released a guide which provides you with basic knowledge on cloud computing. 

The guide, Build a Successful Solution Provider Business Plan for Cloud Computing, provides actionable steps for IT channel leaders attracted to Cloud and want to implement it in their organisations. 

Download your copy here: http://www.comptia.org/landingpages/lead/cloud.aspx

Video: Microsoft explains trick questions in their exams

Microsoft talks about the trick questions in their exams, in their ACE (Ask certification expert) videos. They say that exams are becoming more challenging and you need experience, along with knowledge to counter it.

Watch here:

Cisco releases videos to aid CCNA Security exam preparation

The Cisco Learning Networks has launched a series of three video lectures on “CCNA Security: IPSec VPNs”.

IPSec is a core section of CCNA Security exam and you need to master it to certify. Brad Graham from Cisco answers frequent questions on IPSec, including operation, configuration and troubleshooting.

The first video of the series is available and new videos are launched till June 6. To watch the videos, visit: https://learningnetwork.cisco.com/docs/DOC-15048

Cisco to retire CCIP certifcation

The Cisco Certified Internetwork Professional (CCIP)certification is set to retire on October 29, 2012. Cisco will not be issuing any new CCIP certs after that date.

If you’re interested in a professional level Cisco Service Provider certification, Cisco recommends the new Cisco CCNP Service Provider certification.

With CCIP retiring, professionals will not be able to recertify the CCIP certs after 29 October 2012.

For those who have already certified in CCIP, you may be able to get credit towards the CCNP Service Provider certification.

For more information on which CCIP exams give you  credit for CCNP Service Provider cert, visit: https://learningnetwork.cisco.com/docs/DOC-14595

Cisco announces a new training initiative with EMC and VMware

Cisco has collaborated with EMC and VMware to provide certs to many of the popular technologies. The main topics which the new initiative focuses on are Cloud Architecture, Virtualisation, Storage, Data Networking and Data Science.


Courses are offered in bundles, targeting specific technologies and job roles, like cloud architect, systems administrator, data centre network design, data scientist, backup and recovery. This initiative makes it simpler for IT Managers and practitioners to plan the education development path by recommending training for proficiency in a discipline.


Jeanne Beliveau-Dunn, vice president and general manager of Learning@Cisco, said: “IT organisations must cultivate new cloud architecture skills, understand how to use big data and maintain deep domain expertise with a renewed understanding of virtualisation and technology convergence. With this offering Cisco and EMC are leading the way in transforming skills for the next generation of IT professionals.”

ISACA releases a new whitepaper on Virtualised Desktop Infrastructure

ISACA has released a new whitepaper, titled Virtualised Desktop Infrastructure (VDI). The whitepaper mentions a new phase of virtualisation which enables simpler provision of desktops and applications, and decreases downtime during desktop hardware failure. It covers risk, governance and assurance considerations for VDI.

To download the Whitepaper, visit: http://www.isaca.org/Knowledge-Center/Research/Pages/White-Papers.aspx

Video: Cisco explains CCNA 640-802 exam

CCNA is a beginning-level certification that aims to provide a solid foundation in Cisco networking. In this video, Cisco gives an overview of CCNA certification and the CCNA 640-802 exam. It talks about the question types, length, curriculum, how to register, etc. and also provides resources which can help you study for the exam.

Why Microsoft wants you to recertify

Microsoft explains why they've introduced the need for recertification every three years:

Oracle offers Beta Exams

Oracle offers a series of Beta exams, which they use to test and evaluate new exam questions. The exams are offered at discounted prices and contain about 120-200 questions. If you pass the beta version of the exam in an Oracle certification path, you will gain your Oracle certification and will receive it via mail.

To know more about the Beta exams and the availabilities, visit: http://education.oracle.com/pls/web_prod-plq-dad/db_pages.getpage?page_id=182&p_org_id=1001&lang=US

CompTIA focusing more on Wireless Security

CompTIA has started focusing more on wireless security principles in a number of their cert exams. It is being tested in the Network+ and Security+ exams and is being added to the new A+ exam as well.

The video below explains the basic user interface settings of wireless:

CompTIA releases Storage+

CompTIA, powered by SNIA, have released a new vendor-neutral Storage+ certification, which validates your competency required of IT storage professional.

The exam covers configuring basic networks, including archive, backup and restoration technologies. You’ll learn the fundamentals of business continuity, application workload, system integration and storage and system administration.

You need at least twelve months of experience to be eligible for the certification. CompTIA recommends A+ Network+ prior to the Storage+ certification.

Microsoft offers 2-for-1 vouchers

Microsoft has released “Two-for-one” exam vouchers, which gives professionals’ free exam voucher for the next version of the chosen technology path for free. Microsoft has launched the vouchers to ease the transition to Cloud technologies. The vouchers are valid for the exams purchased and taken between April 11, 2012 and June 30, 2012. The voucher is emailed when the new exams are released and is valid for 90 days after the new cert becomes available.

To find out more about the 2-for-1 voucher and to apply, visit: https://www.bsf01.com/creatives/prometric/Microsoft_TwoForOne/TwoForOne_Home.aspx

Take It Again Vouchers by IBM

Take It Again is a voucher program by IBM Professional Certification, where you purchase specially priced vouchers so in case you do not pass an exam, you’re eligible to retake the same exam at no additional costs. The vouchers can be acquired from January 1 2012 to November 30, 2012.

Obtain your Take It Again voucher from the Prometric Take It Again Web Site. Take It Again vouchers can be used only at an Authorized Prometric Test Centre.

Certifications for VARs and MSPs to tackle cyber security

According to a report by WebWire, professionals and businesses should aim for CompTIA Security+, CISSP and CEH to show that they are serious about data security. All three of these certifications show a comprehensive knowledge of cyber security.

SP Home Run Inc. recommends the following three IT security certs for small VARs and MSPs looking for a very rapid credibility boost:

• CompTIA Security+ covers network security, cryptography, identity management, and compliance. It is a vendor-neutral certification. Although it has no prerequisites, it recommends two years of prior networking experience.
• (ISC)2 CISSP -  requires at least five years of security experience. CISSP exam covers the 10 areas in the Common Book of Knowledge (CBK).
• EC-Council Certified Ethical Hacking – The CEH cert focuses on web and application protection, preventing the penetration of networks and applications, and finding vulnerabilities in the existing security measures.

"Data security specialists have become pretty important within the past few years" said Joshua Feinberg, Business Development Director of SP Home Run Inc. "Because of the constant security threats that affect small and large businesses, IT security certifications can be a very wise investment for a small VAR or MSP to help them distinguish themselves from the competition"

Microsoft Learning announces new Jump Start: Windows Server 2012

Microsoft Learning is releasing a new two-day Jump Start on Windows Server 2012. Jump start courses are free virtual courses, which are accelerated and advanced. They assume a certain level of knowledge and move quickly from topic to topic. On June 21-22, from 9:00am – 4:00pm PDT, Microsoft personnel talk about the feature sets of Windows Server 2012 and explain how each can improve your day-to-day IT environment.

More information:

• Course: “Windows Server 2012: Preparing for the Datacenter Evolution”
• When: June 20-21, 2012 from 9:00am – 4:00pm PST
• Where: Live virtual classroom (online)
• Cost: FREE

To register, click here