Cisco Wireless Certifications get a Refresh

Cisco recently updated their wireless exams to version 2.0 for both CCNA Wireless and CCNP Wireless.The new version brings a much needed update that is more in line with current Cisco wireless technologies.

Some of the updated content includes more recent versions of WLC (Wireless Lan Controller) and client software. They've also expanded 802.11n support and added more information about Video over wireless and Voice over wireless. Check Cisco's website for more details.

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Microsoft MTA vouchers

In its part of 20 years| 20 ways, a year long effort which celebrates 20 years of Microsoft certification, Microsoft has partnered with Net Hope Academy to give aspiring young IT professionals a chance to earn a Microsoft Technology Associate MTA certification.

MTA certification is an entry-level certification designed to help individuals take their first step toward a career as an IT professional or developer. Learn more about Microsoft Technology Associate here.

Microsoft has donated up to 1,000 vouchers to NetHope academy for distribution around the world with specific locations in Africa and Kenya in general, to illegible and aspiring technology professionals. The donated vouchers and free learning resources will help one earn a Microsoft Certification.

In this program, there are 7 different options for MTA certification where students can show their competency; Windows Azure, Window Server Administration, Virtualization Administration, Enterprise messaging, Lync Server 2010, Sharepoint 2010 application development and developing Windows phone Applications.

 Request an MTA Exam Voucher here.

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IT Certification and Experience: Which comes first.

When i earned my first cert as an MCP, i expected to be a hot cake opening doors like i owned the city. How wrong i was! It later dawned on me that i was a newbie who had the right credentials but lacked experience.

Certifications are a way of demonstrating the knowledge and experience that one has already accumulated. They hardly give you a direct path to that dream job or make you an exception. In many cases HR departments will focus on finding experienced and certified individuals. Infact having a couple of certifications without having any experience raises red flags and makes prospective employers suspicious. Having experience is what speaks loudest.

Too often many of this certification available in the IT industry are all paper based..read the study guides and you have all you need to pass the certification exam. After all there are certified chaps who have passed tests, but who when required on the job, cannot perform the simplest if IT tasks.
It is always advised that one acquires the experience; and no...you don't have to have paid experience. you can volunteer to help fix computers and set-up basic networks in small and medium enterprises.

In my own humble opinion, you shouldn't be able to get a certification without proof of related hands on experience. A certification without any experience is like shooting yourself in the foot. The correct path for professional certification is acquire the knowledge and experience and then earn the certification.

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CompTIA Announces New Data Storage Certification

CompTIA and the Storage Networking Industry Association  (SNIA) has introduced a new exam and certification targeted towards IT storage professionals with atleast 12 months of experience.

ComTIA Storage+ powered by SNIA is relevant to a number of positions in the IT industry, including Storage administrators, system administrators and network engineers.
The certification comes at a time when organisations are scrambling to come up with strategies to manage the massive volumes of data they're generating.

"The rise in mobile computing, the shift to cloud-enabled services, a need for heightened security and a host of other factors add to the complexity of this environment, which can challenge even the most seasoned IT storage pro. Together with SNIA we've developed a certification that will help individual IT workers keep pace with the changing storage landscape and empower employers to validate the skills of their IT professionals," said Terry Eradle-CompTIA executive president.

The exam certifies that a successful candidate has the knowledge and skills required to configure basic data storage and storage networks to include archive back-up and restoration technologies. Though not required,either CompTIA A+, Network+ or Security+ is recommended as a prerequisite.

The exam costs Sh.29,000 in Kenya.

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