NETWORK WORLD NEWSLETTER: DAVE KEARNS ON WINDOWS NETWORKING TIPS
07/06/05
Today's focus: What you can really take away from Microsoft's
latest certification
Dear security.world@gmail.com,
In this issue:
* Microsoft unveils 'elite' education program
* Links related to Windows Networking Tips
* Featured reader resource
_______________________________________________________________
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WHAT YOU CAN DO TO PREVENT DATA-THEFTS?
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_______________________________________________________________
Today's focus: What you can really take away from Microsoft's
latest certification
By Dave Kearns
Evidently there are way too many Microsoft Certified
Professionals (MCP) in the world, because the company has just
launched a new certification program which it claims is targeted
for "professionals [who] have 10 or more years of experience,
possess strong technical and leadership skills and form an elite
community." Well, depends on how you define "elite," doesn't
it?
In this case, elite means about the same as "fraternal" - the
procedure is similar to how you get into a fraternity.
The new certification is called Microsoft Certified Architect
(MCA), and the only way to achieve this certification is to "...
pass a rigorous review board with previously certified
architects."
<aside> This begs the question of who approved the first
certified architects, then, hmm? But that's probably
embarrassing to ask. So we won't. </aside>
Now you probably think that as a network manager you can create
the network architecture, so you'd be eligible for this
certification, right? Well, here's how Microsoft describes the
"target market" for the MCA:
"This certification is targeted to practicing solutions
architects and infrastructure architects who have successfully
applied frameworks and methodologies to create an architecture
that serves the entire IT lifecycle. These architects can employ
multiple technologies to solve business problems and provide
business metrics and measurements to describe the success or
failure of the projects they drive." (See
<http://www.networkworld.com/nlwnt3012> )
Check that language. It's obviously aimed at consultants,
because only they could interpret that paragraph.
Still, the really nice thing about new certifications is that it
drives the sponsor to create new educational materials. I've got
nothing against learning and tools for learning, just the
pompous language (and the secret handshakes) of the "elite"
certification programs.
So if you head over to the Microsoft Architecture Resource
Center ( <http://www.networkworld.com/nlwnt3013> ), you'll find
lots of things that might actually help you to do your job more
effectively or efficiently. The "Think Ahead" section, for
example, is further divided into four areas:
1. Integrating Systems & Applications
2. Improving Design & IT Efficiency
3. Securing Enterprises & Applications
4. Increasing Business Flexibility
Each of these, in turn, is broken into three disciplines:
1. Enterprise Architecture
2. Infrastructure Architecture
3. Solution Architecture
And each of these disciplines contains white papers, case
studies, tools and descriptions, and occasional tips and tricks
to help you understand the architecture of your systems as well
as to improve upon them.
I often poke fun at certification programs that serve, as far as
I can tell, to reassure non-technical people that technical
folks understand technology. But the tools and the educational
materials that certification programs provide are a wonderful
education for those who use them properly.
_______________________________________________________________
To contact: Dave Kearns
Dave Kearns is a writer and consultant in Silicon Valley. He's
written a number of books including the (sadly) now out of print
"Peter Norton's Complete Guide to Networks." His musings can be
found at Virtual Quill <http://www.vquill.com/>.
Kearns is the author of three Network World Newsletters: Windows
Networking Tips, Novell NetWare Tips, and Identity Management.
Comments about these newsletters should be sent to him at these
respective addresses: <mailto:windows@vquill.com>,
<mailto:netware@vquill.com>, <mailto:identity@vquill.com>.
Kearns provides content services to network vendors: books,
manuals, white papers, lectures and seminars, marketing,
technical marketing and support documents. Virtual Quill
provides "words to sell by..." Find out more by e-mail at
<mailto:info@vquill.com>
_______________________________________________________________
This newsletter is sponsored by DuPont
Limiting the Plenum Cable Fire Risks
Concerns are rising about the growing number of combustible
cables present in commercial buildings required to service the
ever-increasing demands of IT networks. More workstations are
taxing our infrastructure. These concerns are the thrust behind
new "limited combustible" cables that reduces fire safety risk.
Learn more by reading this white paper now.
http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=107804
_______________________________________________________________
ARCHIVE LINKS
Breaking Windows networking news from Network World, updated
daily: http://www.networkworld.com/topics/windows.html
Operating Systems Research Center:
http://www.networkworld.com/topics/operating-systems.html
Archive of the Windows Networking Tips newsletter:
http://www.networkworld.com/newsletters/nt/index.html
_______________________________________________________________
FEATURED READER RESOURCE
FOCUS ON RECOVERY
IT professionals are changing the way they back up and recover
data, experts say, with new emphasis on the speedier fetching of
data made possible by advancing technologies. At a recent
storage conference in Orlando, disk-based backup solutions were
touted - find out if attendees agreed and if faster storage
solutions will soon be available. Click here:
<http://www.networkworld.com/news/2005/062005-data-recovery.html>
_______________________________________________________________
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