70-413 Study guide

This exam is part of the Server Infrastructure MSCE exam and is the first of two exams. I have added some resources for those that wish to study to this exam down below J
If you wish you should buy this book as well it is a complete study guide book for the exam
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Exam-Ref-70-413-Implementing-Infrastructure/dp/0735673675/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1363123655&sr=8-1

(I have this book and its okay, it covers the exam objectives and nothing more)

CBTNuggets also has a video series for the certification as well
http://cbtnuggets.com/it-training-videos/microsoft/series/microsoft-windows-server-2012-70-413

You can also reach out to the study group community on Microsoft
http://borntolearn.mslearn.net/certification/server/w/wiki/496.413-designing-and-implementing-a-server-infrastructure.aspx#fbid=gMVg4JmZ6y_

DHCP resources:
http://blogs.technet.com/b/teamdhcp/archive/2012/07/15/bringing-powershell-to-dhcp-server.aspx

AD DS Powershell & Management

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh852274.aspx

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh831702.aspx

Print

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj134150.aspx

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj134156.aspx

Radius NPS 2012

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc755248.aspx

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc731320.aspx

IPAM:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh831353.aspx

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh831622.aspx

NPS:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh831683.aspx

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc726008.aspx

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc753389(v=ws.10).aspx

Deduplication

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/hh769303(v=vs.85).aspx

Rendom:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc732097(v=ws.10).aspx

Read-Only Domain Controllers:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj574152.aspx

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/bb891956(v=vs.85).aspx

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/949257

Active Directory cloning:

http://blogs.technet.com/b/askpfeplat/archive/2012/10/01/virtual-domain-controller-cloning-in-windows-server-2012.aspx

WDS 2012:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh831764.aspx

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc771324(v=ws.10).aspx

DNS 2012:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh831667.aspx

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee683892(v=ws.10).aspx

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc728412(v=ws.10).aspx

DNSSEC

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj200221.aspx

BranchCache

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd637832(v=ws.10).aspx

iSCSI

http://blogs.technet.com/b/filecab/archive/2012/05/21/introduction-of-iscsi-target-in-windows-server-2012.aspx

DFS

http://blogs.technet.com/b/josebda/archive/2009/03/10/the-basics-of-the-windows-server-2008-distributed-file-system-dfs.aspx

http://blogs.technet.com/b/askds/archive/2011/09/16/active-directory-site-topology-not-just-for-dcs.aspx

Group Policy

http://blogs.technet.com/b/askds/archive/2013/02/08/circle-back-to-loopback.aspx

CMAK

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc726035(v=ws.10).aspx

#cbtnuggets, #certification, #msca, #msce

New Exams for SharePoint, Lync and Exchange 2013 coming

Microsoft has published some information regarding the new certifications coming for Wave 15 deployment, this is regarding SharePoint, Lync and Exchange 2013.
This exams follow the new(old) MSCE certification tracks.

Exchange:
70-341 & 70-342 = MSCE Messaging
http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/certification/cert-exchange-server.aspx

Lync:
70-336 & 70-337 = MSCE Communication
http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/certification/cert-lync-server.aspx

SharePoint
70-331 & 70-332 = MSCE SharePoint
http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/certification/cert-sharepoint-server.aspx

I’m guessing most of them will be available from next year, since all of these products are still in preview. Even thou Lync exams states they will be available from November this year (perhaps this a typo? Im guessing all these products are going to be released at the same time, and will follow like System Center release.

Stay tuned for more!

#certification, #exams, #msce-communication, #msce-messaging, #msce-sharepoint

Comptia CASP (Advanced Security Practitioner)

I have always had a huge interest in Computer security, and I always believe that the best way to defend yourself from computer attacks is to be up-to-speed.
Computer attacks are becoming more and more sophisticated, and therefore you need to know all the aspects of your infrastructure in order be prepared.
If you are like me and like to pursue certifications and have an interest in security. I would suggest the following!

1: (If you want to move towards Microsoft, start with MTA security fundamentals –> http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/exam.aspx?ID=98-367&locale=en-us then continue on with either client, server, sql etc.)
2: (If you want to move towards Network, Citrix has an excellent security track. You have to start with CCNA then continue on with CCNA Security. http://www.cisco.com/web/learning/le3/learning_career_certifications_and_learning_paths_home.html)
3: (If you want a little of both and a bit more of the administrative part, pursue Comptia Security+ http://certification.comptia.org/getCertified/certifications/security.aspx)

When you have all of these, you can for instance start with EC-council exams, (CEH Certified Ethical Hacker contains a lot about how hackers think and how their gather information, great stuff!)

My next certification I’ve planned on taking is the Comptia CASP ( And I intend spending my holiday reading for it)

A little bit about the certification:
The CASP certification is an international, vendor-neutral exam that proves competency in enterprise security; risk management; research and analysis; and integration of computing, communications, and business disciplines.
The exam covers the technical knowledge and skills required to conceptualize, design, and engineer secure solutions across complex enterprise environments. It involves applying critical thinking and judgment across a broad spectrum of security disciplines to propose and implement solutions that map to enterprise drivers.

Number of questions
80 (maximum)

Length of Test
150 minutes

Passing Score
Pass/Fail only. No scaled score.

Recommended experience
10 years experience in IT administration, including at least 5 years of hands-on technical security experience

You can download the exam objectives here –> http://certification.comptia.org/Training/testingcenters/examobjectives.aspx
But I can give you the headlines.

Enterprise Security (This consists of the technical part of the exam)
40%

Risk Mgmt, Policy/Procedure and Legal (risk implications associated with business decisions, etc)
24%

Research & Analysis (Analyze industry trends and outline potential impact to the enterprise)
14%

Integration of Computing, Communications,
and Business Disciplines (The Administrative part)
22%

If you wish to study for this exam, I suggest buying a book from Amazon –> http://www.amazon.co.uk/CompTIA-Advanced-Security-Practitioner-Study/dp/1118083199/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1341916018&sr=8-1
But remember that Comptia recommends that you have 10 years experience in IT administration and and at least 5 years of technical security experience, like wise does the book. Not all terms in the book are explained as well as they should, so if there is something you are unsure about Google it or look it up in wikipedia.
And of course this is not as much a technical exam, it is split 50/50 into Technical and administrative (Much like the CISSP).

#ccna-security, #certification, #comptia, #comptia-casp, #microsoft-mta

News/Changes in Microsoft Certifications

Alot has happend in the Microsoft world of certification lately.
Microsoft has returned with the old certification track know as MCSE (And a new one called MCSA)

Changes?
The old track was known as (Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer) which existed for NT/2000/2003 server and such.
After they retired that track, Microsoft released the a new track (which is the current one) called MCITP (Microsoft Certified IT Professional ) & the MCTS. Now they are going back with the old track and doing some changes in the process.

The previous track will still exist until the products that have an exam attached to it exists. So if you have a certification on Server 2008 (MCITP or MCTS) you will have it as long as you live. Microsoft has released 2 different tracks of MSCA.

MSCA Windows Server 2008.
http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/certification/cert-windows-server-MCSA.aspx
If you have an Server Administrator or Enterprise Administrator you will automaticlly revice this title.

MCSA SQL Server 2012.
http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/certification/cert-sql-server-MCSA.aspx
This is the real first new products using the new certification track.

And note that MCSA is the entry level title, much like MCTS was. And MCSE is the expert level like MCITP was.

Another change is that if you take en exam using the new system you have to recertify every 3 years.

Regarding the MSCE exams ,there are also 2 tracks avaliable.

MSCE: Private Cloud:
http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/certification/cert-private-cloud.aspx
Where you need the MSCA Server 2008 done, and the new exams 246 & 247.

MSCE: SQL server 2012 (Which is split up in 2 parts )
http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/certification/cert-sql-server.aspx

New exams (Well not all of them are new but I thought I’d share them anyway)

70-321:  Deploying Office 365
http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/exam.aspx?ID=70-321&Locale=en-us

70-323:  Administering Office 365
http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/exam.aspx?ID=70-323&Locale=en-us 

(The two next exams are going to be released Q2/Q3 this year)

70-246:  Monitoring and Operating a Private Cloud with System Center 2012
http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/exam.aspx?ID=70-246

70-247: Configuring and Deploying a Private Cloud with System Center 2012
http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/exam.aspx?ID=70-247#tab2

70-243: Administering and Deploying System Center 2012 Configuration Manager
http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/Exam.aspx?ID=70-243&Locale=en-us

Looke like I have alot to do in the near future 🙂

#certification, #exams, #mcsa, #mcse