Early Experts Exam Study Guide for 70-533: Implementing Microsoft Azure Infrastructure Solutions

One of the greatest challenges with certification exams is finding study materials for new exams. To get you started, I've starting pulling together some resources I've collected based off the targets skills listed for 70-533.

Exam 70-533 is one of three exams that can be successfully passed to complete the Microsoft Specialist certification on Microsoft Azure.  The other exams in this series include:

70-532, Developing Microsoft Azure Solutions

70-534, Architecting Microsoft Azure Solutions

This exam guide is not intended as a replacement for any formal training on Microsoft Azure or for this exam that might come available in the future, however we all have to start somewhere, right? You can find the PDF version of the exam guide here and it will be updated as I collect additional resources.

If you also plan to prepare for Exam 70-532, you can find some study resources at:

• Exam prep course for Exam 70-532 on Microsoft Virtual Academy
• Study guide that Jeremy Foster is building here.

If you plan to prepare for Exam 70-534, check out these resources:

• Early Experts Study Guide for 70-534

If you are looking for study resources for other Microsoft certifications and  you didn't get here from there already, check out http://EarlyExperts.net for other study guides and information.

Certification Update

With the new year, you might be taking a fresh look at some certifications to round out your resume or impress your boss.  Now is the time to tackle them, because the free "2nd Shot" is back!

Between January 5 and May 31, 2015, take any Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) or Microsoft Dynamics exam, and get a free Second Shot if you fail the first take.  Learn more! 

Speaking of certifications, the new Azure certifications are available.  Just one test and you can be Microsoft Specialist in Developing or Architecting Microsoft Azure Solutions or Implementing Azure Infrastructure.

Oh, Pearson Vue, How I Missed You... Sort Of.

If you are a Microsoft MCP, MCSA, MCITP, MCSE or have historically taken Microsoft exams for a few years now, you'll likely already been through the switch from Pearson Vue to Prometric and now here it is, coming full circle again, back to Pearson Vue.

Years ago, I LOVED my local Pearson Vue test center. It was in building on the same block as my place of employment and I had taken so many exams around that time that they greeted me by name when I walked into the office.  When things switched to Prometric, well, it was like I lost a friend.  But there was a local Prometric test center not far from work as well and my testing life went on.

So here we are again, switching back to Pearson Vue.  Check out the blog BornToLearn blog to find out more about some of the new features you can take advantage of, including being able to schedule exams directly from the Microsoft Learning portal using your Microsoft Account.  If you haven't checked out the updated portal for tracking your certification and reviewing you transcript, you should.  It's much easier to navigate than in the past.

Plus they are beta testing being able to take exams from home or at work!  Alas, there doesn't seem to be any testing centers within walking distance of my office (or in my city at all) so I might consider trying that out.

You can schedule with Prometric OR Pearson Vue until the end of the year. Starting in 2015, Pearson Vue will be the sole testing provider for all your MCP needs.

Good luck on your next test!

Checking In... Happy Tuesday!

Ah... Life.  How it gets in the way of things sometimes.  I'm looking forward to some slowing down of things as we get into June and July, which gives me some time to concentrate on finishing up with updating my MCSE.

Microsoft has been busy updating certifications in the last year, so now you'll find options for the MTA (Technology Associate), MCSA (Solutions Associate) and the MCSE (Solutions Expert).  I'm working toward the Server Infrastructure MCSE, so I still have exams 70-413 and 70-414 to go.

For preparation, I've got a copy of the 70-413 Exam Ref book, but I also like to mix up my studying materials with content from MVA (Microsoft Virtual Academy) and TechNet documentation to fill in areas where I might need some extra clarification.  What's nice about the Virtual Academy is that you can add the courses to your profile and then work through them at your own pace. Finally, I look for sessions from TechEd and other conferences that I'm might have attended that line up with test concepts.

If there is good in-person training in my area, I look for that as well. If you are in the SF area (or can get there easily, don't miss out on the chance to attend TechDays, organized by PacITPros.  This low-cost, two day event has a line up of great speakers and there is sure to be a topic for everyone. Register at www.techdays.org.

Today, I reviewed the booklet of sessions from TechEd for Monday (baby steps!) and here is what is on my short list to watch this week (Warning: these might completely unrelated to my exam studying):

1. Windows PowerShell Unplugged with Jeffery Snover (DCIM-B318)
2. Microsoft Azure Storage (DCIM-B384)
3. Hybrid Identity: Extending Active Directory to the Cloud (PCIT-B313)

Also, if you are looking to learn more about Windows 8.1 in the Enterprise, register for an upcoming MVA JumpStart in mid-June! The instructors are Tommy Patterson and Simon May, so it's sure to be an enjoyable and educational few days.

Date: June 17, 18, & 19, 2014

Registration page: http://www.microsoftvirtualacademy.com/liveevents/windows-8-1-update-for-enterprise-jump-start

Windows 8.1 Update for Enterprise Jump Start

Are you tackling BYOD? Windows 8.1 Update, Windows Server 2012 R2, and Windows Phone can help! Find out how in this demo-filled, three-day Jump Start course with live Q&A. Plus, get the latest from the TechEd and Build conferences, and prepare for MCSE: Desktop Infrastructure and MCSA: Windows 8.1 certifications.

Seasoned experts share real-world experience as they explore the new feature set in Windows 8.1 Update. Dive deep into key enterprise scenarios around System Center Configuration Manager 2012 R2 and Windows Intune management and security, and explore virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI), disk deduplication and tiering, and the Remote Desktop app.

Windows 8.1 Update can simplify the management of tomorrow's IT environments, while tangibly improving today's end-user experience. Sign up for this fast-paced Jump Start, and find out more.

Anyway, happy Tuesday folks!

Certification Notes: For the Summer, Consider 70-417

Looking for something else to read about? Need to add something else to your list of things to accomplish?

If you hold any of the current certifications list below and haven't thought about taking an exam in a while, you might want to check your calendar and thing about upgrading your certifications this summer. Several of the exams required for these certifications will be retired on July 31, 2013 and the certification will then be considered "legacy" and no longer attainable once August roles around.

• MCITP: Server Administrator on Windows Server 2008
• MCITP: Enterprise Administrator on Windows Server 2008

The 70-417 exam is the upgrade exam for to bring all these certifications up the new MCSA: Windows Server 2012. This exam also will also upgrade:

• MSCA: Windows Server 2008
• MCITP: Virtualization Administrator on Windows Server 2008 R2
• MCITP: Enterprise Messaging Administrator 2010
• MCITP: Lync Server Administrator 2010
• MCITP: SharePoint Administrator 2010
• MCITP: Enterprise Desktop Administrator on Windows 7

While this might not affect your current certification status, it's always a good thing to check in on retiring exams regularly and reassess your goals for staying current with technologies.

Surprise - You Might Have a New Certification!

Last week, Microsoft announced some new changes with the certification program, particularly bringing back the MCSE title for Cloud technologies. MCSE now stands for Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert instead of the older Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer.  And the related certification, the MSCA has also been updated.

With all these new changes the exams associated with the achievement of these new titles has been adjusted slightly, which may mean you might just be an new MSCA without even trying.

Yesterday, I got an email congratulating me on my recent certification, the Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate for Windows Server 2008.  That was a fun surprise, so congrats to any other newly minted MSCAs out there!

To find out more about the new certification offerings go to http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/certification/cert-overview.aspx

Want to be an MCT? Here’s your chance!

The upcoming 2011 North American MCT Summit offers a unique opportunity for anyone seeking to become a Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT). Prior to the event, on October 18, there will be a 1.5 day train-the-trainer (TTT) boot camp. This will, assuming successful completion of the session, satisfy the presentation skills requirement for becoming an MCT.

Because the boot camp will be right before the MCT Summit, held October 19-21, upon completion you can then attend the Summit where you'll be able to connect with other MCTs and continue to expand your skill set.

The cost for the event is $700,which includes the TTT event, your MCT fee through the current enrollment period (which ends in April of 2012), and entry to the MCT Summit. Learn more about the MCT Summit at http://www.mctsummit.org/.

Have an Opinion about Microsoft Recertification?

Microsoft Learning is conducting a survey about the value of certifications and how those certifications keep pace with evolving technologies and products from Microsoft.  If you are interested in taking a short survey abou the topic, do so by August 8th.

For more information, please check out the original blog post on the Born to Learn blog.

Need A Second Shot?

Microsoft Learning and Prometric have brought back the "Second Shot" offer until June 30, 2011.  Sign up for an exam and pay 15% of the regular exam price in addition and you can re-take your exam if you don't pass it the first time.

Personally, I'd rather have less Second Shot offers and have the second shot be free, instead of the 15% surcharge for the off chance I don't pass.  Of course if you are serious about getting some exams under your belt, you might want to consider the certification packs - up to 20% off and the second shot is free for packs of 2-5 exams.

Blog Highlights for October

October is just flying by, but I thought I’d take a moment to toss out a some other great blogs and recent posts that have caught my eye in the last few weeks.  (Many are by some of my fellow Microsoft MVPs, too!)

For those of you in the Exchange camp, check out BlankMan’s Blog, by Nicolas Blank, an Microsoft Exchange MVP. He’s recently posted a link to the Exchange 2010 Architecture Poster and a overview about Exchange 2010 SP1. 

Thinking about IPv6? Don’t miss out on some recent posts on www.howfunky.com, the blog by Microsoft MVP, Ed Horley.  Are you an ostrich or not when it comes to IPv6? You might want to find out.

Maybe you are on the certification path, if so, don’t miss out on some of the posts on the Born to Learn blog, geared to keep you up to date with the latest in Microsoft certification.  Born to Learn recently highlighted MVP Justin Rodino, who will be presenting a session on Windows 7 at the upcoming Certified Career Conference on November 18th.

Finally, since I’ve spent a lot of time in airports this month, I’m finding the TSA Blog to be particularly interesting. Learn about upcoming technologies, changes in protocols and tips on packing so you can breeze through security. Maybe I’ll cross paths with you at the airport.

Can Your Certification Exams Go Further?

Looking for the chance to have that latest Microsoft certification do even more for you?  How about counting towards college credit?

In case you missed this post from the Born to Learn Blog, 21 Microsoft certifications and exams, including several of the new MCITP or MCTS certifications can be added to your transcript with the American Counsel on Education.  This transcript can then be submitted to other traditional institutions for review toward a computer science degree.

I was excited to see that even the older MSCE certification can count, but only if you’ve achieved it in the last 3 years.  In addition to the Microsoft Technical Certifications, there is a selection of Microsoft Office Certifications that can also count towards credit.

The process to register and submit your exams for credit is pretty straight forward, just follow the instructions in the post by the Born to Learn Blog.  Go forth and study!

Certification - Where to Get Training?

Enjoyed a great PacITPros meeting this week and had several members ask me about certification, specifically how to prepare for exams for relatively low cost. Of course, effective studying means you need to know your best way of absorbing information - some people read, some like hands-on, some like the lecture setup. Personally, I'm a "reader", but here is a list of resources that should have a little something for everyone.

Microsoft Learning Snacks - Short Silverlight presentations on a variety of products and technologies.

Online Training - browse the training catalog for free or low-cost online courses. Also check out the e-reference library, which requires a subscription, but there is a 10-day free trial.

TechNet Virtual Labs - Want to play with software but don't have any machines? These 90 minute labs might just be the thing.

Microsoft Springboard - Geared to provide whitepapers, videos, forums and other resources for Windows client operating systems. The forums have over a 90% answer rate! Also, don't miss out on the free Proof-of-Concept Kit for deploying Windows 7 and Office 2010. Complete with virtual machines, you can practice deploying Windows 7 and using several of the deployment tools.

TechNet Library - technical documentation for IT pros for all the Microsoft products and technologies. It can be dry, but it might just be the explanation you are looking for.

Good luck on your next exam!

Wow...Time Flies!

When did it become June already?

The month started out with a bang - if you are a Bay Area techie, hope you didn't miss out on the PacITPros meeting on June 1st. We enjoyed a presentation by Mark Vinokur with Citrix who covered XenDesktop and XenClient and demostrated how at Citrix, employees can simply subscribe to a service IT provides, and how IT can assemble the right desktop to the right user on the fly.

Next week, I'll be heading out to New Orleans to attend TechEd. It's going to be a busy week, but if you are going to be there, be sure to swing by the TLC area where I'll be helping out at the Springboard booth. I'm hoping I'll be able to find some time to blog about what's going on and some of the sessions I'm planning to attend, so stay tuned!

Finally, I'm bummed that Microsoft has suspended 83-640 and is reverting back to 70-640 starting yesterday (June 2nd). Granted the exams cover the same skills and objectives, so it won't affect your certification goals, but I really enjoyed taking that exam back in it's beta days. It really felt like how I regularly worked and I thought it would really let IT Pros show their true colors while testing. Not everyone is a great standardized test taker and the simulation exam went a long way toward making the test close to "real-life". I hope they work out the kinks and get it back online soon.

Gearing Up for Vitualization Certification

There are several virtualizations exams available from Microsoft, some shiny and new and one that's been around for a bit of time now. There is indication that there will be an new MCITP certification that's not yet on the Microsoft certification list - MCITP: Windows Server 2008 R2, Virtualization Adminstrator.

At the moment, there are 3 exams that count toward this certification, though without final say from Microsoft website, I'm currently thinking that the full certification is not fully baked yet. However, no reason you can't get started. In the past, I've taken 70-652 (TS: Windows Server Virtualization, Configurating) which is a stand-alone Technology Specialist exam for virtualization with Hyper-V on Windows 2008. It does not cover Server 2008 R2 technologies.

The other 3 exams, are new and are specifically geared toward Windows Server 2008 R2.

• 70-669 TS: Windows Server 2008 R2, Desktop Virtualization
• 70-659 TS: Windows Server 2008 R2, Server Virtualization
• 70-693 Pro: Windows Server 2008 R2, Virtualization Administrator

There is very little study/prep materials available for these exams at the moment, however expect you'll need to know about configuring and managing Hyper-V and RDS, as well as VDI, MED-V and App-V technologies.

Don't forget, the Microsoft Second Shot offer is still available for exams taken through June 30th. Drop me an email if you need a voucher number for the second shot offer.

Microsoft Expands “Elevate America” Program to California

Looking for more technology training and certification opportunities? An article on SFGate.com yesterday details the expansion of Microsoft’s Elevate America program to California.

This program offer vouchers for online training and certifications for a variety of Microsoft business software. While predominately for business products like Microsoft Office, some vouchers will be available for IT Professional training.

Vouchers will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis through CareerOneStop and you can search for locations in your area. Other states that are currently distributing vouchers as part of the program are Colorado, Iowa, Georgia and Michigan.

You can also follow the Elevate America (@elevateamerica) program on Twitter.

Certification Discounts

There are a few Microsoft and Prometric exam discount programs going on right now. If you have plans for working on a certification in the upcoming months, these deals might help you along.

• Microsoft Second Shot - good for exams taken by June 30, 2010. You have to take the first attempt of the exam (and the 2nd attempt if needed) by the deadline.
• Prometric 15% Off - schedule your exam by the end of February and take it by April 30, 2010.

These offers can't be combined, but if you've got a few exams in the pipeline you might be able to take advantage of both.

My 2010 Reading List: So Far

It's unfortunate that I feel like I'm starting the year already behind on my "tech" reading list. Here's a quick list of I have within arms reach.

• Mastering Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 by C. A. Callehan - This has been a great resource for my first attempt at implementing SharePoint. It's a hefty book, I wish it included a PDF version I could convert onto my Kindle.
  
• Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 : The Complete Reference by Richard Luckett, William Lefkovics, Bharat Suneja and MCITP: Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 Messaging Design and Deployment Study Guide - These have been part of my Exchange certification study materials, as well as a starting point for deciding if its worth migrating to Exchange 2007 or skipping to Exchange 2010.
  
• Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V: Insiders Guide to Microsoft's Hypervisor by John Kelbley, Mike Sterling and Allen Stewart - Would you believe I got this free from NetApp? It got several good reviews on Amazon, so I'm looking forward to getting a chance to sit down with it.
  
• Group Policy: Fundamentals, Security, and Troubleshooting by Jeremy Moskowitz. I've read his Windows 2000 Group Policy book years ago, so I much appreciated winning this one from him via Twitter.

In addition to books, I've downloaded several whitepapers onto my Kindle for those free moments on the subway:

• Implementing and Administering Certificate Templates in Windows Server 2008
• Windows Server 2008 Active Directory Certificate Services Step-By-Step Guide
• Exchange Server 2010: What's New and What's Changed by Allan Jacobs

New Years Resolution: Get Certified!

Is your New Years' resolution to finally sit down and take some Microsoft exams? I'm planning to work a bit harder toward my Exchange 2007 MCITP certification in the first half of 2010. Just because Exchange 2010 is released doesn't mean that taking the time to learn an "older" technology isn't useful. Especially if that is what you are faced with administering on a day to day basis.

If you haven't visited the Microsoft Learning website recently, it's worth a look. Microsoft has updated several of their charts and learning paths to make the changes between the MCSE program and the MCTS and MCITP programs a lot clearer. I'm a fan of the the "Certification by Technology" chart that lists out each major product line and the certification paths available.

There are also some downloadable charts detailing the upgrade paths from older certifications, complete with recommendations for online or live training and reading materials. Finally, the Learning Catalog has several free "clinics" covering topics such as "Exchange 2010 in the Enterprise" and "Exploring Microsoft Virtualization". They are easy place to get started.

Here's to a productive 2010!

Tech Tidbits - PDFs on Kindle 2, Beta Exams

For those of you who like to be on the bleeding edge of Microsoft exam offerings, don't miss out on the Microsoft Beta Exam Announcements blog. Right now there are 3 new beta exams available:

• 71-663 - Pro: Designing and Deploying Messaging Solutions with Microsoft Exchange Server 2010
• 71-580 - TS: Windows Mobile® 6.5, Application Development
• 71-579 - TS: Windows Mobile® 6.5, Configuring

Also, Amazon released a firmware update for the Kindle 2 that increases the battery life by several days and added support for native PDFs, which was originally only available in DX version. I don't expect I'll be dumping my Kindle "classic" immediately, but I will put a few whitepapers on my husband's to see how it handles diagrams and other components that don't convert well to the regular Kindle format.

Finally, don't miss out the PacITPros December meeting. Check out www.pacitpros.org for details and to RSVP.

Configuring Server 2008 AD - Traditional vs. Virtual Lab Exam

There has been some recent chatter on the web about the 83-640 exam, which is the "virtual lab" version of the 70-640 exam, TS: Windows Server 2008 Active Directory, Configuring. Both of these exams are available by Prometric (at least in CA), but 83-640 is not currently listed as an official exam option for the MCITP: Enterprise Administrator or for the MCITP: Server Administrator if you refer to the MCITP certification list. However, the exam details for 83-640 note that it DOES count toward them. It's hard to say if or when this new version will officially replace the traditional exam.

I did have the chance to sit for the pilot of this test held in late 2008, when it was numbered as 70-113. While the test did have a multiple-choice section, the sections that were done in the virtual lab were actually fun. Yes, I thought the test was fun.

It really gives someone who works a lot with Windows a chance to showcase their skills without having to memorize the exact name of the tab or screen where a setting is located, as is often the case with the regular exam format. Instead, you worked on a fully functional server, making about 10 configuration changes in each test segment. I had access to everything I would have on a "real" server - I could click around to review all the tabs, settings and tools and even had access to the help files. Once all the tasks were completed, you close out that segment and move onto the next.

The experience was as close to a true work environment as you could possibly get for a test. We all know that on any given day, we may not know exactly where to go for what needs to be done, but we certainly know it when we see it. And browsing a few tabs or pressing F1 is part of the process to jog our memories and get us back on track.

If I was given the choice to take 70-640 or 83-640 to meet my certification requirements, I'd look to take the "virtual lab" version, hands down. I hope Microsoft looks to this new format for future exams.