How certified are you?
“Same as you.”
Of course you are. I’m an MCITP: Server Administrator and MCITP: Enterprise Administrator. I was also an MCSE on Server 2003, 2000, 2000: Security, and MCSE on NT 4. I was even an MCP on Windows 3.11.
“Wow.. you’re old.”
Shut up. I was 13 at the time.**
I tell you this because I want you to understand that I take my technology certifications very seriously. Time-and-time again it has helped me in my career; sometimes in concrete ways, but more often just in the proof that I “have what it takes” to learn and excel and grow into new technology areas. I’m currently working on my MCITP: Windows Server 2008 R2, Virtualization Administrator certification. (1 test down; 2 to go)
With all of the focus on “the cloud” in business (and for “the consumer”), you’d think that Microsoft Learning would be considering a certification track that will address the various aspects of the cloud, so that a professional can prove they “have what it takes” in that area, too.
“Well do they?”
Yes. Well.. they’re working on it, at least. Microsoft doesn’t yet have an official “Cloud Certification”. But the Microsoft Learning site does have a “Cloud Services Portal” specifically for cloud-related skills, study materials, and certifications. Much of the foundation for doing work in “the cloud” has been around for awhile in the form of server, virtualization, and management tools (the foundations of the cloud; whether private or public). Here’s how they describe the resources on the Cloud Services Portal:
Microsoft cloud services: Training and certification
Cloud technology creates new opportunities and job roles, but it also impacts current ones. Over the next year, we will introduce new certifications on Microsoft cloud services and will update many of our current certifications to include cloud-related skills. We’ll provide training for these cloud computing offerings through Official Microsoft Learning Products, including Microsoft Press books, Microsoft Official Courses, and Official Microsoft E-Learning.
We recommend that you start by building skills that apply to both on-premise computing and cloud computing. If you already have on-premise skills, you can enhance your skill set to include cloud computing.
As I understand it, they’re doing with the certification tracks what you’re doing with your skillset: Laying the foundation. I don’t know if we’ll see a “MCITP: Private Cloud Administrator” or “MCITP: Windows Azure Administrator” certification specifically. Or perhaps the next versions of existing MCITP tracks will be expanded to include cloud-related areas. But in either case, it’s not too late, and it’s not too early to start working towards a new certification.
That said here are some resources for you:
- You can subscribe to updates (RSS), to keep up-to-date on cloud-related training opportunities.
- And Microsoft recently announced the new Microsoft Virtual Academy, which contains free self-paced training for IT Pros. The initial set of content is all cloud-related (Windows Azure, SQL Azure, Azure Security Overview, and Building a Private Cloud).
- And finally, if you’re interested in working your way towards the cloud by focusing on Virtualization, you should check out the Microsoft Virtualization Training Portal. Come and be MCITP:Virtualization Administration certified with me.
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Are you certifiable? Do you have a lower MCP number than I do? Are you interested in being certified for the cloud? Do you even care about professional certifications? Add a comment and share with us what’s on your mind.
Tomorrow in lucky part 13 I’m going to point you to a huge list of cloudy resources.
**That’s a lie. The year was 1994, and I was actually 31. So yeah.. I guess I am old. But I have a low-5-digit MCP number and tons of real-world experience that I’m very proud of. Do you really want to challenge me to a “geek-off”, sonny-boy?
Absolutely Full of I.T. 