February 3, 2010

All About Cisco’s CCNP Overhaul for 2010

On January 25, Cisco announced a complete redesign of the exams and the requirements for the Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) certification. The new program is a three-step track of exams that focus on specific job tasks, including IP Routing, IP Switched Networks and IP Network Troubleshooting. According to Cisco the new exams “reflect the evolving job tasks of global network professionals.” Here’s a brief breakdown of the exams required for the new CCNP certification.

ROUTE (642-902) – Available March 10, 2010:
According to the Cisco Learning Network website, passing the new ROUTE (642-902) exam will “certify that the successful candidate has the knowledge and skills necessary to use advanced IP addressing and routing in implementing scalable and secure Cisco ISR routers connected to LANs and WANs.” The topics for the exam are:

  • Implement an EIGRP based solution, given a network design and a set of requirements
  • Implement a multi-area OSPF Network, given a network design and a set of requirements
  • Implement an eBGP based solution, given a network design and a set of requirements
  • Implement an IPv6 based solution, given a network design and a set of requirements
  • Implement an IPv4 or IPv6 based redistribution solution, given a network design and a set of requirements
  • Implement Layer 3 Path Control Solution

SWITCH (642-813) – Available March 10, 2010:
Cisco’s new SWITCH (642-813) is an important part of the CCNP certification. Accoding to Cisco, passing this exam will “will certify that the successful candidate has important knowledge and skills necessary to to plan, configure and verify the implementation of complex enterprise switching solutions using Cisco’s Campus Enterprise Architecture.” The topics for SWITCH (642-813) include:

  • Implement VLAN based solution, given a network design and a set of requirements
  • Implement a Security Extension of a Layer 2 solution, given a network design and a set of requirements
  • Implement Switch based Layer 3 services, given a network design and a set of requirements
  • Prepare infrastructure to support advanced services
  • Implement High Availability, given a network design and a set of requirements

TSHOOT (642-832) – Available April 30, 2010
TSHOOT is Cisco’s toubleshooting and problem solving component of the CCNP. According to Cisco “the TSHOOT 642-832 exam will certify that the successful candidate has important knowledge and skills necessary to (1) plan and perform regular maintenance on complex enterprise routed and switched networks and (2) use technology-based practices and a systematic ITIL-compliant approach to perform network troubleshooting.” The are just two topics for this exam, although the second topic is a 25-point list of protocols that the candidate must be able to troubleshoot. The topics are:

  • Maintain and monitor network performance
  • Troubleshoot Multi Protocol system networks

The new three-exam series replaces the previous four-exam track that included BSCI (642-901), BCMSN (642-812), ISCW (642-825) and ONT (642-845). The final day to take four-exam series tests is July 31, 2010. There will be a brief time (from March 10 through July 31, 2010) when exams for both series will be available.

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February 1, 2010

CompTIA Announces Changes to A+, Network+ and Security+…….Twice.

At the beginning of the year, CompTIA announced that people with the A+, Network+ and Security+ certifications would have to renew their certifications every three years to keep their credentials valid. Previously, there had been no renewal required and each of those three certifications remained valid forever. The new requirements were similar to those for other popular industry certifications including the Cisco CCNA. Under the new requirements, everyone who held an A+, Network+ or Security+ would have to recertify or lose their certification.

Then, about a week later, CompTIA adjusted the new requirements. In a press release titled “CompTIA Certification Renewal Policy Clarified,” CompTIA announced that current A+, Network+ and Security+ certification holders (as well anyone who earns those certifications in 2010) would not be required to renew their certifications. According to the release “All individuals currently certified in CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+ and/or CompTIA Security+ will retain their “certified for life” status with no requirement to recertify or retest. Individuals who become certified in CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+ or CompTIA Security+ by December 31, 2010 also will be considered certified for life.”

So now the only candidates that will be required to renew their certifications are those who get certified after January 1, 2011. Those people will need to follow one of the recertification methods every three years to keep their certification up-to-date. These new rules will make it tougher to stay certified, but should improve the value and credibility of the certifications. With the new criteria, these certifications now carry ISO 17024 accreditation. And with a recertification requirement, employers are ensured that people with the A+, Network+ and Security+ have the most recent skills.

The most straight forward way to recertify is to pass your certification exam again. But that’s not the only way. CompTIA is giving you the option to perform activities that earn you Continuing Education Units (CEUs) you may use toward recertification. To renew the A+, one must earn 20 CEUs. For the Network+ it’s 30 CEUs and for Security+ it’s 50 CEUs. Some of the CEU-eligible activities include:

* Teaching, lecturing or presenting industry content relevant to the highest level CompTIA Certification.
* Attendance at relevant industry events, seminars or conferences.
* Full participation in CompTIA exam development workshops.
* Publishing a relevant industry article, white paper, blog or book.

For more information about CompTIA certification, check out the official CompTIA website or give our career counselors a call at 1-800-418-6789.

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January 19, 2010

Exclusive A+ 2009 Video Preview : Video Cards

We really enjoy the new A+ 2009 LearnSmart Video Training more and more everyday. It’s filled with some of the most entertaining and clever video instruction methods ever released. Instead of just using boring slides and arrows to illustrate training topics and software components, your instructor Mike Meyers shrinks down and gets in there himself! I can’t describe it well enough to do it justice, so why not take a look yourself. Watch the following clip and learn about Video Cards from Mini-Mike, your instructor for CompTIA A+ 2009 LearnSmart Video Training.

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January 8, 2010

PrepLogic Responds to Your Feedback

Hello everyone!

As most of our customers know, each of our practice exam questions feature a little blue link at the top of the engine that enables you to issue feedback for that question.  This is a great benefit for us for a couple of reasons. First,  it helps us identify and correct the rare spelling/content errors that appear.  It also helps us keep in touch with customers and take the pulse of the people who are using our training to get ready for the exam .  We felt like this would be a neat opportunity to take some of the feedback people have sent us recently and use our blog as a way for us to answer those questions, personally.  So, let’s start it off with a good question regarding the Certified Ethical Hacker exam.  Specifically, question number 249, which reads:

What are some common ways to prevent password guessing on a Windows Machine?  Select the best answers:

A.) Block ports 135-139

B.) Enforce Complex passwords

C.) Log security events 529 and 539

D.) Use NTInfoScan (now CIS)

E.) Use L0phtcrack

Obviously we can eliminate answer choice D as it’s a vulnerability scanner.  The latter is eliminated because, while it is an password auditing tool, it would only help us—at best—identify weak passwords.  The correct answers, then, are A, B and C.  The feedback we received from the customer is as follows:

“The Question is asking for ‘ways to prevent’ but logging does not prevent anything.  It is a detective control.”

Allow us to elaborate, a bit.  It’s true that logging is a detective control, but remember that the question is asking for ways to prevent a very specific kind of network attack: password guessing.  Logging security events 529 and 539—the log on and log off events, respectively—will allow us to see where on the system someone might be attempting to gain access through password guessing.  Without the logs, we’d be hard pressed to identify and counteract the threat.

Ok, our next comment comes from question number 114 of the CompTIA A+ IT Technician (220-602) practice exam.  The question reads:

You are configuring an email application on a laptop for a new user. The user is a salesperson and will be traveling most of the time. The email client and the email server both support the IMAP and POP3 protocols for receiving mail and you need to determine which to use. Which of the following characteristics about the users’ needs would be most important in determining which protocol to use? Select the best answer.

A.) The user has a significant amount of disk space available.

B.) The user requires that all email delivery be encrypted.

C.) The user needs to access her email from multiple machines or email clients.

D.) The user requires access to existing email messages, even while offline.

The correct answer is C.  Here’s the feedback we got from the customer:

“This question clearly states ‘You are configuring an email application on a laptop for a new user. The user is a salesperson and will be traveling most of the time….’ Yet, the answer to the question implies the user will not be using the laptop. The correct answer according to the test is ‘The user needs to access her email from multiple machines or email clients.’ If that is the case, why state that a laptop is being configured for the user. The answer is B, or is this a trick question?”

You’re right, technically it is a trick question. But it is similar to the type of question you’ll find on the actual A+ exam.  The question relies on your assumption that because we opened with a laptop that means the salesperson will necessarily use the laptop.  This question is less about the hard, technical knowledge required to be a PC tech and more about preparing you for the kinds of questions you’ll encounter on CompTIA’s tests .  A+ may be an entry-level certification, but the test is no joke (one of the most gifted technicians I’ve known failed the 600 series A+ three times).  They will try to trick you.  You have to be able to see through distracters, like the laptop in this question, and get to the meat of what they’re looking for.

Alright, that’s all for now.  Keep the feedback coming in, folks!

Posted in A+ Certification, Certification, Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), Microsoft, Preplogic, Uncategorized | No Comments »

December 18, 2009

Microsoft Lab Exams

So, there’s been a lot of confusion, lately, over the sudden emergence of a lab-based version of Microsoft’s Active Directory Exam, labeled 83-640.  Microsoft’s exam page was published back in November of last year and since then, questions have just been flying all over the forums and blogosphere about what this means for Microsoft Certifications.  Let’s see if we can’t answer some of the questions and dispel some of the rumors.

First, the test itself: 83-640 is a performance-based exam with a multiple choice component.  So, you get the best of both worlds.  Sounds great, right?  In theory, a virtual lab would be a better demonstration of a candidate’s ability to actually use the given product, rather than simply memorize and regurgitate facts on a fully multiple choice exam.   That creates trust between the successful candidate and an employer and adds value to the certification as a whole.  Win for everyone.

Unfortunately, it looks like there’s a few snags.  Distribution appears to be a big one.  83-640 is offered here in the US, but only in specific areas.  The official word from Microsoft is that before an area can begin offering the virtual lab, they have to meet some fairly stringent infrastructure requirements.  This is because the content for the labs is offered over the Internet on virtual machines.  Once the area meets the infrastructure requirements, they have to test a bunch of people.  Once Microsoft seems reasonably sure that the area can adequately handle the load, they pull 70-640 from the roster.

In practice, things seem a little spotty.  Pay attention to the comments on the page we linked above.  One imagines offering content over the Internet, rather than on site, would pose some serious security and QoS risks, even on the best of days.

So, moving forward, what does this mean for Microsoft certs?  For the time being, not a lot.  Microsoft is quick to point out that the expense of developing and delivering lab based exams is prohibitive, and they are proceeding with caution.  Comments on both borntolearn and technet blog posts all indicate that we may see a single new lab exam sometime next year, but as to when all of Microsoft’s exams will switch format—that remains to be seen.

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November 25, 2009

The Latest on Windows 7 Certifications

The release of Windows 7 has been a big story in retail and business news, and it’s becoming a big story in IT certification news, too. The Operating System exam is a huge component for most Microsoft certifications, and with Windows 7 users no longer have to take exams with the word “Vista” in the title. According to Microsoft “Windows 7 is the new Microsoft operating system designed to enhance your organization’s desktop environment.” To certify your abilities on this technology, Microsoft has launched a full complement of Windows 7 exams and certifications. Let’s take our first look.

Windows 7 Specialist Series Exams
The first Specialist Series exam released for Windows 7 is Exam 70-680: TS: Windows 7, Configuring. By passing this exam, a candidate will earn the MCTS Windows 7 Configuration certification.  According to the exam’s details, this exam is for people who “operate in computing environments that use Microsoft Windows 7 as a desktop operating system in an enterprise environment.” In addition to the Specialist Series certification you can earn with this exam, it’s a core component of more advanced certifications including MCITP: Enterprise Administrator and two newly announced certifications, MCITP: Enterprise Desktop Administrator 7 and MCITP: Enterprise Desktop Support Technician 7 (see below for more about them).  Keep reading after the jump for  a short breakdown of the topics areas you’ll need to know for this exam: Read the rest of this entry »

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November 18, 2009

Renew your CCNA and get a bonus Cisco Certification

So it’s been nearly three years and now the time has come to renew your CCNA certification.  By now you (hopefully) have a few years of Cisco networking experience under your belt.  This is a great time to make yourself more marketable.  Here’s a cool new option that people are just starting to learn about – Cisco gives you some attractive options to beef up your credential while you renew.  Now when you want to renew your CCNA certification, you have the option to take one of the specialized CCNA concentration exams (CCNA Security, CCNA Voice, CCNA Wireless). By taking this option you can renew your CCNA certification PLUS get credit for the additional CCNA specialized certification. It’s like getting two certifications for the price of one. Let’s take a look at these CCNA concentrations and what they can do for you. Read the rest of this entry »

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November 2, 2009

MCITP Server Administrator – How to become one

The ranks of MCITP Server Administrators are growing. As of November 2 there are over 15,000 people with the MCITP Server Administrator certification worldwide. There are 15,123 to be exact.

  • Do you want to be number 15,124?
  • Are you ready to advance your career?
  • Is now the time to show that you have Server 2008 leadership and problem solving skills?

Excellent! Let’s take a look at what it takes to become a certified MCITP Server Administrator Read the rest of this entry »

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October 30, 2009

Preplogic Halloween: My! What Big Claws You Have!

halloween_costumePrepLogic is taking casual Friday to the extreme. Check out Sean, who’s celebrating Halloween a little early in the PrepLogic sales department. (My favorite part is the headphones he has on top of his “ears.”) If you called up this afternoon, you may not have known that you were speaking about your IT career training with the Big Bad Wolf (or GI Joe, Spider Man or one of the many other costumes our guys got decked out in).

Our Tampa, Florida offices are right around the corner from Ybor City and the big Guavaween festival coming up this weekend and our sales guys are ready to go. And let’s not forget about the people from our editorial, marketing and accounting departments getting their kids ready to scare the neighbors and fill up their bags with candy. But that doesn’t mean things aren’t business as usual. Everyone’s still working full force to get you the high quality training you need for your career — they’re just doing it in costume!

Have a happy and safe Halloween!

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October 21, 2009

A+ certified, what’s next?

So, in those first few months after I got my A+, I tried some old school kind of things, like cold-calling local businesses in my home town, walking up to the doors of some of the bigger corporations (my hometown is the host of Aflac, home of that annoying duck voiced by Gilbert Godfrey) and, eventually, driving up to the local metropolis—Atlanta, in my case—and doing the same thing there. I actually didn’t have a lot of success finding a job that way, but I did learn a few important lessons about the hunt. For instance, be prepared for a large degree of cluelessness on the part of human resource personnel. As it turns out, most people don’t know what an A+ or Net+ certification means, who CompTIA is and why any of that stuff is important. Try not to get discouraged when you hit roadblocks like that. You can actually use that cluelessness as a conversation starter to explain what your certification means. At the very least, it gives you the opportunity to explain your qualifications and what sort of job roll you might be able to play.

Learn to market yourself. This is a big one. And, today, you have so many places to market yourself for free. Start a blog about the job hunt and the things you’re doing to stay current in the industry and get hired. Leverage all those social networking sites you’re a part of. I’ve seen three people get jobs simply by posting a status message that says, “Hey, I just got my whatever certification and if anyone knows anybody looking, let me know!” I have a former CPA relative that gets Facebook contacts hired to positions at his previous customers’ places of business all the time.

Another thing to keep in mind: you’re now officially “that guy or gal” that your friends go to for basic technical support. In our ever more connected society, that’s networking you just can’t buy. So, sure, go fix Aunt Patty’s printer problem; but make sure you tell her to let her friends and associates know what a great techie you are. Within a month or so of doing pro bono work for your circle of acquaintances, you should have a pretty nice list of contacts you can mine for job search data. Read the rest of this entry »

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Posted in A+ Certification | 3 Comments »

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