Upgrading Your MCSE Certification on Windows Server 2003

Upgrading Your MCSE Certification on Windows Server 2003

You have your MCSE on Windows Server 2003, and you want to upgrade to Windows Server 2008. The first thing to remember is that this is a series of new certifications and, while there is an upgrade path, you are not earning an MCSA or MCSE on Windows Server 2008. Rather, you will earn a MCTS or MCITP on Windows Server 2008. Also remember that the era of the MCSA/MCSE certifications has ended – it is now MCTS and MCITP (and others beyond the scope intended here), and they have an entirely different focus.





The Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) is concerned with and focused on a deep understanding and use of a specific Microsoft product. The MCITP, on the other hand, represents a broader view of a series of products or integrated products, and it is concerned with planning and developing of the network architecture and design. The important thing to remember is that the MCTS is not
a prerequisite for the MCITP,

per se. In other words, you earn the MCTS de facto by simply passing the required tests for MCITP. You will earn the MCTS on several products if your goal is to earn the MCITP Server Administrator or Enterprise



Administrator on Windows Server 2008.

There are two MCITP tracks available for Windows Server 2008, the MCITP: Server Administrator or the MCITP: Enterprise Administrator (doesn’t mean you can’t get both; they are two separate certifications with different requirements and target audiences). Regardless of which track you
wish to pursue, you will need to take the 70-649 TS: Upgrading your MCSE on Windows Server 2003 to Windows Server 2008,
Technology Specialist exam. Passing this exam will earn you the: MCTS: Windows Server 2008 Active Directory, Configuration (equivalent to the 70-640 exam), the MCTS: Windows Server 2008 Network Infrastructure Configuration (equivalent to the 70-642 exam), and the MCTS: Window Server 2008

Application Infrastructure Configuration (equivalent to the 70-643 exam). One thing to keep in mind is that if you take and pass the 70-649 test, you also earn the same MCTS certifications that you would have earned by just taking the 70-648 exam.



Now that you have the 70-649 exam, you can decide which of the
MCITP tracks you
wish to pursue. If you want to earn the MCITP: Server Administrator, then you will need to pass the 70-646 Pro: Windows Server 2008, Server Administrator exam. If, on the other hand, you are interested in the MCITP: Enterprise Administrator, you still need to take the 70-649 TS: Upgrading your MCSE on Windows Server 2003 to Windows Server 2008, Technology Specialist, but in addition, you
will also need to take two other tests (for a total of 3 tests).

You can take either the 70-620: TS Microsoft Windows Vista,
Configuring OR70-624 TS: Deploying and Maintaining Windows Vista Client and 2007 Microsoft Office System Desktop (your choice here, but one of the two is required). The last test you need to take is the 70-647: Windows Server 2008, Enterprise Administrator. Once
you have taken all three – congratulations, you are now a MCITP: Enterprise Administrator. The value of certifications cannot be over-emphasized. A certification clearly demonstrates that an individual has met certain requirements and has a specific level of knowledge and skills. There have been significant changes to the Microsoft Certification programs in response to new technologies,
and pressure from companies and individuals. Introducing a differentiation of the ubiquitous MCP
Certification (take a test, any test, and you are an MCP) and the MCTS (product-specific) provides a qualitative approach to certification and applicability to job roles. The new MCITP certification relates more closely to the real job roles of IT professionals as it
can cover multiple disciplines. Understanding the upgrade path from Windows Server 2003 to 2008 can be daunting. There are several exams that can be used for different certifications and just understanding the difference
between the MCTS and the MCITP can be challenging, but very rewarding in the end.



Conclusion

There must be value and worth in earning a Microsoft certification if the program has lasted over 16 years and granted over 2 million certifications. Our old friend the MCSE is soon to phased
out. Those who hold this cherished certification should be proud of their achievements, and those who are on the path to earn the new
MCITP will continue the Microsoft Certification tradition established in 1992. While the new certifications have different names and professional focus, they will still command respect within the IT community. Their relevancy is assured by tying the MCTS to a particular product and demanding a deep knowledge of this product. The MCITP assures that anyone possessing this certification has a breadth of knowledge on various products and is concerned with the network architecture and design. These are exciting times in the Microsoft Certification world.



Learn More

Learn more about how you can improve productivity, enhance efficiency, and sharpen your competitive edge.

Check out the following Testkingdom courses:

Microsoft 2003 MCSA Self Study

Microsoft 2003 MCSE Self Study 

MCITP: Database Administrator Self Study 

MCITP: Enterprise Administrator Upgrade Self Study

MCITP: Enterprise Support Technician Self Study

MCITP: Server Administrator Self Study

MCITP: Server and Enterprise Administrator Combo Self Study

Managing Projects with Microsoft Office Project Server 2007 Self Study

MCTS: Microsoft Exchange Server 2007, Configuration Self Study



For more information  visit http://www.testkingdom.com or mail us
support@testkingdom.com to get direct consoling training advisor.
Our courses and enhanced, hands-on labs offer practical skills and tips that you can immediately put to use.

Our expert instructors draw upon their experiences to help you understand key concepts and how to apply them to your specific work situation. Choose from our more than 700 courses, delivered through Classrooms, e-Learning, and On-site sessions, to meet your IT and business training needs.

Upgrading Your MCSA on Windows Server 2003 Certification

Upgrading Your MCSA on Windows Server 2003 Certification

Let us say that you have your MCSA on Windows Server 2003, and you want to
upgrade your certification to Windows Server 2008, or you are not certified at
all on Windows Server 2003 and want to earn your
MCTS on Windows Server 2008. The first
thing to remember is that this is a series of new certifications and while there
is an upgrade path from Server 2003 to Server 2008, you are NOT earning an MCSE
on Windows Server 2008,

rather an MCTS or MCITP on windows
Server 2008. Also remember that the era of the
MCSA/MCSE certifications has ended –
it is now MCTS and MCITP (and others beyond the scope covered here) and have an
entirely different focus.

MCITP Online Training
- MCITP Online Certification -
MCITP Online Exams

The Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) has a different focus
then the Microsoft Certified Information Technology Professional (MCITP), and
the former is not a prerequisite for the latter (nor is it a “lesser”
certification!). The MCTS certification
is aimed at IT professionals who work with a specific Microsoft product or
platform. An IT pro who has earned an MCTS is expected to possess depth and
breadth of knowledge

and skills on a particular product or platform. They are expected to manage and
maintain the product or platform on a daily basis. They are also more concerned
with the day-to-day operations and short-term planning rather than long-term
planning and design and design.









There are three MCTS tracks available on Windows Server 2008:

MCTS: Windows Server 2008 Active Directory Configuration; MCTS: Windows Server
2008 Network Infrastructure Configuration, and MCTS: Windows Server 2008
Applications Infrastructure Configuration. You can take each of the tests
individually, or you can take the upgrade path by taking only one test. The
easiest route to upgrade your certification, if you are already an MCSA on
Windows Server 2003, is take (and pass, of course) the 70-648 TS: Upgrading your
MCSA on Windows Server 2003 to Windows Server 2008, Technology Specialist exam.
Passing this exam will earn you the MCTS: Windows Server 2008 Active Directory,
Configuration (equivalent to the 70-640 exam) and the MCTS: Windows Server 2008
Network Infrastructure Configuration (equivalent to the 70-642 exam). The last
of the three MCTS certifications – MCTS: Window Server 2008 Application
Infrastructure Configuration – is earned by passing the 70-643 exam. The other
part to earning your MCTS on any one of the three paths is to pass the 70-646
exam Windows Server 2008, Server Administrator.

The New Microsoft Certifications (MCTS, MCITP, MCM, and MCA)

The New Microsoft Certifications (MCTS,
MCITP, MCM, and MCA)



There are now four levels of “new” certifications: The Microsoft Certified
Architect, Microsoft Certified Master Series, Microsoft Certified
Information Technology Professional and the Microsoft Certified
Technology Specialist.






Architect Series: The Certified Architect program makes it easy for companies to
identify experienced IT architects who have completed a rigorous peer review
process Master Series: Master certifications identify individuals with the
deepest technical skills available on a particular Microsoft product.



Technology Series: Specialist certifications train IT professionals in
implementation, building, troubleshooting, and debugging of a specific Microsoft
technology.



Professional Series: Professional credentials validate the skill set required
for a particular job.



The Microsoft Certified Architect (MCA) is not a certification many will
achieve as it is not designed as

such. There are only 198 MCAs (as of 9 July 2008) worldwide, and they go through
a rigorous evaluation process (exam and board review).



Then there is the recently announced Microsoft Certified Masters Program (MCM).
There are currently

three tracks available: Exchange 2007, SQL 2008, and Windows Server 2008, with
two more coming out

soon: Office Communication Server 2007 and SharePoint 2007. You will have to
have your certified

Masters Certificate to apply for any of the MCA technical tracks. The Certified
Master shows that you have a very deep understanding as an expert on a specific
product. If you earn this certification, it demonstrates that you can design and
implement highly complex business solutions.



The Microsoft Certified Information Technology Professional (MCITP)
demonstrates your knowledge and ability to work on a “comprehensive set of
Microsoft technologies”5



The Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS)
is earned by taking a test on a particular product and demonstrates that you
have a deep understanding and knowledge of that product. It is also expected
that you perform day-to-day operations and are involved in short-term planning.



 

The Value and Worth of a Certification Is Validated

The Value and Worth of a Certification Is Validated

Individuals and employers have enough difficulties trying to understand the
value and worth of a certification, and this is made even more difficult when a
major certification vendor changes the entire structure and naming of their
certification program. Microsoft started such a restructuring last year and
continues to do so with the announcement of their new Master Certification and
exams. To give an example, there are some employers

who do not understand or know about the new
MCTS and MCITP certifications and
seek to hire new employees who have their MCSE (Microsoft Certified System
Engineer) on Windows Server 2008 – even though this certification doesn’t and
won’t exist.

Microsoft Certification

The MCSE certification was Microsoft’s premier certification up to 2006 when the
Microsoft Certified Architect
(MCA) was announced. The Microsoft Certified Professional program (MCP) has been
in place since 1992, with more than 2 million people having achieved a Microsoft
Certification worldwide.4 The MCSE
certification itself has been around since the NT3.5 days (mid-‘90s). It is
12+ years old in its current form, and we have developed a certain comfort and
familiarity with it. An entire generation of IT Professionals has “grown up”
knowing exactly where an MCSE fits into the certification scheme, and they also
have a good idea of what is involved in earning the MCSE, as well as the worth
of this certification, both financially and professionally.



This does not mean that there haven’t been additions and other enhancements to
the program over the years. The original MCSE was earned on a specific variant
of the NT system. Let’s say you earned your MCSE on NT 3.51 and then on NT4. You
were certified on those two systems – as a Systems Engineer. This same naming
approach held true for Windows Server 2000 and Server 2003. This meant that you
were an MCSE, MCSA, or an
MCP (this white paper addresses the IT
pros, not database administrators [DBA] and developers).

The New Microsoft IT Pro Certifications and Exams

The New Microsoft IT Pro Certifications and Exams



Introduction

f you have been in the IT field for any length of time, you are more than
aware of the plethora of certification providers and their certifications.
Trying to fathom what each certifications means; the worth of a certification,
and how a certification from one vendor compares to a certification from other
vendor (where applicable, ofcourse – having a certification on MS SQL cannot
readily compare to having a certification with Juniper Networks). One question
that is asked repeatedly by both employers and IT pros is whether there is value
or worth in obtaining a certification. This question comes from a number of
different quarters. To answer the question succinctly: yes, certifications are
valuable, to both employers and for IT pros. This white paper will address why
certifications are valuable. It will also cover the new Microsoft certifications
in general and the MCSA/MCSE Windows
Server 2003 to MCTS/MCITP Windows
Server 2008 upgrade path specifically

Microsoft Certifications

Reasons Why You Should Get Certified

There are a number of valid reasons why an individual should certify, and
why companies should encourage their employees to become certified and hire
certified individuals. Several studies show that companies that hire certified
individuals and encourage their employees to earn certifications do prosper
better than companies that don’t.




Top Ten Reasons To Hire a Microsoft Certified Profession (MCP)



1. Improve Project Deployments

Independent research1 has shown that organizations with a majority of their
teams certified by Microsoft reported significant improvements in delivering
projects on time and within budget.



2. Increase Customer Satisfaction

Certified staff help to increase customer satisfaction through improved
service, higher productivity, and greater self-sufficiency.



3. Improve Support Costs

Independent research2 has shown that organizations with certified staff
experience less network downtime and lower dependency on unplanned support.





4. Validate Vendor Qualifications

When outsourcing projects, certification provides assurance of vendors’
technical qualifications.



5. Gain a Competitive Advantage

Employees who hold Microsoft certifications bring more advanced skill sets
to provide higher levels of service and productivity, giving your business a
competitive advantage.



6. Benefit by Investing in Your Staff

Organizations that invest in certifying internal technicians generally
attain successful revenue results 3. 7. Increase Employee Satisfaction Employee
satisfaction and retention are higher when management facilitates employees'
career goals.



8. Objectively Benchmark Your Staff’s Talent

Certification serves as a reliable benchmark for hiring and promoting staff
employees, and ensures your organization is built on top-quality technical
talent.



9. Reward Employee Expertise

Certification recognizes and rewards productive employees by validating
their expertise. Certification also provides re-training opportunities so
existing employees can work more effectively with new technologies.



10. See Objective Results of Your Training Investments

Certification provides an excellent return on training and certification
investments by providing a standard method of determining training needs and
measuring results.



A November 2006 IDC study found that team performance increases when each new
team member becomes certified—every time.

• For each new team member who becomes a Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP),
team performance increases every time.

• The skill level of a team is directly responsible for how an organization
performs in several key IT functional areas.

• When you increase the concentration of Microsoft certified team members on a
team, you directly affect team performance.

• On average, MCPs make up 40 percent to 55 percent of top performing teams.

• Seventy-five percent of managers believe that certifications are important to
team performance.

• Sixty-six percent of managers believe that certifications improve the level of
service and support offered to customers.

• "…for each additional member of a team certified, team performance increases.
Whether the increase is

from 37 percent to 38 percent of the team being certified or from 60 percent to
61 percent of the team, the team performance increases overall." IDC, Value of
Certification: Team Certification and Organizational Performance, November 2009

MCITP Online Training -
MCITP Online Certification -
MCITP Online Exams

Top 10 best Information Technology certifications in the industry

10 best Information Technology certifications in the industry



IT certifications boast numerous benefits. They bolster resumes, encourage
higher salaries, and assist in job retention. But which IT certifications are
best?



Technology professionals generate much debate over just that question. Many
claim vendor-specific programs best measure a candidate’s skills, while others
propose vendor-independent exams are the only worthy way of measuring real-world
expertise. Still other observers believe the highest-level
accreditations—Microsoft’s MCSE or new Architect Series certification, Cisco’s
CCIE, etc.—are the only credentials that truly hold value.



The best IT certification for you, after all, is likely to be different from
that for another technology professional with different education, skills, and
goals working at a different company in a different industry. For that reason,
when pursuing any professional accreditation, you should give much thought and
care to your education, experience, skills, goals, and desired career path.



Once a career road map is in place, selecting a potential certification path
becomes much easier. And that’s where this list of the industry’s 10 best IT
certifications comes into play. While this list may not include the 10 best
accreditations for you, it does catalog 10 IT certifications that possess
significant value for a wide range of technology professionals.



1. MCITP



The new-generation Microsoft Certified IT Professional credential, or MCITP for
short, is likely to become the next big Microsoft certification. Available for a
variety of fields of expertise—including database developer, database
administrator, enterprise messaging administrator, and server administrator—an
MCITP validates a professional’s proven job-role capabilities. Candidates must
pass several Microsoft exams that track directly to their job role before
earning the new designation.



As with Microsoft’s other new-generation accreditations, the MCITP certification
will retire when Microsoft suspends mainstream support for the platforms
targeted within the MCITP exams. By matching the new certification to popular
job roles, as has been done to some extent with CompTIA’s Server+ (server
administrator) , Project+ (project manager), and A+ (desktop support)
certifications, Microsoft has created a new certification that’s certain to
prove timely, relevant, and valuable




2. MCTS



The new-generation Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) helps IT
staff validate skills in installing, maintaining, and troubleshooting a specific
Microsoft technology. The MCTS certifications are designed to communicate the
skills and expertise a holder possesses on a specific platform.



For example, candidates won’t earn an MCTS on SQL Server 2008. Instead, they’ll
earn an MCTS covering SQL Server business intelligence (MCTS: SQL Server 2008
Business Intelligence) , database creation (MCTS: SQL Server 2008, Database
Development) , or SQL server administration (MCTS: SQL Server 2008,
Implementation and Maintenance) .

These new certifications require passing multiple, tightly targeted exams that
focus on specific responsibilities on specific platforms. MCTS designations will
expire when Microsoft suspends mainstream support for the corresponding
platform. These changes, as with other new-generation Microsoft certifications,
add value to the accreditation.



3. Security+



Security continues to be a critical topic. That’s not going to change. In fact,
its importance is only going to grow. One of the quickest ways to lose
shareholder value, client confidence, and sales is to suffer a data breach. And
no self-respecting technology professional wants to be responsible for such a
breach.



CompTIA’s Security+ accreditation provides a respected, vendor-neutral
foundation for industry staff (with at least two years of experience) seeking to
demonstrate proficiency with security fundamentals. While the Security+
accreditation consists of just a single exam, it could be argued that any IT
employee charged with managing client data or other sensitive information
should, at a minimum, possess this accreditation. The importance of ensuring
staff are properly educated as to systems security, network infrastructure,
access control, auditing, and organizational security principles is simply too
important to take for granted



4. MCPD



There’s more to information technology than just administration, support, and
networking. Someone must create and maintain the applications and programs that
power organizations. That’s where the new-generation Microsoft Certified
Professional Developer (MCPD) credential comes into play.



The MCPD accreditation measures a developer’s ability to build and maintain
software solutions using Visual Studio 2008 and Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5.
Split into three certification paths (Windows Developer 3.5, ASP.NET Developer
3.5, and Enterprise Applications Developer 3.5), the credential targets IT
professionals tasked with designing, optimizing, and operating those Microsoft
technologies to fulfill business needs.

A redesigned certification aimed at better-measuring real-world skills and
expertise, the MCPD will prove important for developers and programmers. Besides
requiring candidates to pass several exams, the MCPD certification will retire
when Microsoft suspends mainstream support for the corresponding platform. The
change is designed to ensure the MCPD certification remains relevant, which is
certain to further increase its value.

5. CCNA



The Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) accreditation captures most of
the networking company’s certification glory. But the Cisco Certified Network
Associate (CCNA) might prove more realistic within many organizations.



In a world in which Microsoft and Linux administrators are also often expected
to be networking experts, many companies don’t have the budgets necessary to
train (or employ) a CCIE. But even small and midsize corporations can benefit
from having their technology professionals earn basic proficiency administering
Cisco equipment, as demonstrated by earning a CCNA accreditation.



As smaller companies become increasingly dependent upon remote access
technologies, basic Cisco systems skills are bound to become more important.
Although many smaller organizations will never have the complexity or workload
necessary to keep a CCIE busy, Cisco’s CCNA is a strong accreditation for
technology professionals with a few years’ experience seeking to grow and
improve their networking skills.



6. CompTIA A+



Technology professionals with solid hardware and support skills are becoming
tougher to find. There’s not much glory in digging elbow-deep into a desktop box
or troubleshooting Windows boot errors. But those skills are essential to
keeping companies running.

Adding CompTIA’s A+ certification to a resume tells hiring managers and
department heads that you have proven support expertise. Whether an organization
requires desktop installation, problem diagnosis, preventive maintenance, or
computer or network error troubleshooting, many organizations have found
A+-certified technicians to be more productive than their noncertified
counterparts.



Changes to the A+ certification, which requires passing multiple exams, are
aimed at keeping the popular credential relevant. Basic prerequisite
requirements are now followed by testing that covers specific fields of
expertise (such as IT, remote support, or depot technician). The accreditation
is aimed at those working in desktop support, on help desks, and in the field,
and while many of these staffers are new to the industry, the importance of an
A+ certification should not be overlooked.



7. PMP



Some accreditations gain value by targeting specific skills and expertise. The
Project Management Professional (PMP) certification is a great example.



The Project Management Institute (PMI), a nonprofit organization that serves as
a leading membership association for project management practitioners, maintains
the PMP exam. The certification measures a candidate’s project management
expertise by validating skills and knowledge required to plan, execute, budget,
and lead a technology project. Eligible candidates must have five years of
project management experience or three years of project management experience
and 35 hours of related education.



As organizations battle tough economic conditions, having proven project
scheduling, budgeting, and management skills will only grow in importance. The
PMI’s PMP credential is a perfect conduit for demonstrating that expertise on a
resume.



8. MCSE /
MCSA



Even years after their introduction, Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE)
and Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA) credentials remain
valuable. But it’s important to avoid interpreting these accreditations as
meaning the holders are all-knowing gurus, as that’s usually untrue.



In my mind, the MCSE and MCSA hold value because they demonstrate the holder’s
capacity to complete a long and comprehensive education, training, and
certification program requiring intensive study. Further, these certifications
validate a wide range of relevant expertise (from client and server
administration to security issues) on specific, widely used platforms.



Also important is the fact that these certifications tend to indicate holders
have been working within the technology field for a long time. There’s no
substitute for actual hands-on experience. Many MCSEs and MCSAs hold their
certifications on Windows 2000 or Windows Server 2003 platforms, meaning they’ve
been working within the industry for many years. While these certifications will
be replaced by Microsoft’s new-generation credentials, they remain an important
measure of foundational skills on Windows platforms.



9. CISSP



As mentioned with the Security+ accreditation earlier, security is only going to
grow in importance. Whatever an organization’s mission, product, or service,
security is paramount.



(ISC)², which administers the Certified Information Systems Security
Professional (CISSP) accreditation, has built a respected, vendor-neutral
security certification. Designed for industry pros with at least five years of
full-time experience, and accredited by the American National Standards
Institute (ANSI), the CISSP is internationally recognized for validating
candidates’ expertise with operations and network and physical security, as well
as their ability to manage risk and understand legal compliance responsibilities
and other security-related elements.




10. Linux+



While pursuing my first Microsoft certification 10 years ago, I remember
debating the importance of Linux with several telecommunications technicians.
They mocked the investment I was making in learning Microsoft technologies.
These techs were confident Linux was going to displace Windows.



Well, didn’t happen. Linux continues to make inroads, though. The open source
alternative is an important platform. Those professionals who have Linux
expertise and want to formalize that skill set will do well adding CompTIA’s
Linux+ certification to their resumes.

The vendor-neutral exam, which validates basic Linux client and server skills,
is designed for professionals with at least six to 12 months of hands-on Linux
experience. In addition to being vendor-neutral, the exam is also distribution
neutral (meaning the skills it covers work well whether a candidate is
administering Red Hat, SUSE, or Ubuntu systems).



Technology professionals almost always have strong reactions when debating
certification’s value. Listing the top 10 certifications leaves room, of course,
for only 10 credentials. That means many favorite and popular designations, such
as HIPAA and Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) certifications, have been necessarily omitted.
Other important accreditations, including those for VoIP providers and from PC
manufacturers, Red Hat, and even Apple, have also been left out here.