SECURITY
• Relates to: MCSA 2000 | Security+ | MCSA 2003 | MCSA 2003 Upgrade
Microsoft certification is in the news a lot lately because of the Windows Server 2003 MCSE exams entering beta. However, Microsoft has also recently made some other significant certification announcements that should make your certification goals easier to achieve. With summer just around the corner, now is a great time to take advantage of these opportunities.
Leveraging CompTIA Security+ with Microsoft
Microsoft has just made achieving an MCSA or MCSE more flexible. Here's why. The CompTIA Security+ certification now qualifies as a stand alone elective to the Windows 2000 Microsoft MCSA program. You can use the Security+ as the one elective necessary to achieve your MCSA (Microsoft Windows 2000 MCSA requirements). You may still use the CompTIA A+ and CompTIA Network+ in combination as your MCSA elective.
In terms of the Windows 2000 MCSE, you can also count the CompTIA Security+ as an elective, but remember that the MCSE still requires that you complete two electives. Here is more information on the long lists of possible electives for this certification: Microsoft Windows 2000 MCSE requirements.
Apparently, Security+ will also fulfill a similar role in the Windows 2003 MCSA and MCSE certifications. Stay tuned
(For more information, click here: http://mcpmag.com/news/article.asp?editorialsid=582)
Microsoft Security Specializations
In another recent announcement, Microsoft introduced two brand new security specializations as a part of the Windows 2000 MCSA and MCSE programs: the MCSA: Security and the MCSE: Security. The nice part about these designations is that they are not based upon new exams but on existing Microsoft exams. That is part of the reasoning for calling them "specializations" rather than certifications.
CompTIA Security+ plays a role in these specializations as well, as it can be used as one of the two prescribed exams in the MCSA: Security or one of the three prescribed exams in the MCSE: Security.
MCSA: Security
Here are the requirements for the MCSA: Security.
1 Client Operating System exam
70-210 Windows 2000 Professional
or
70-270 Windows XP
2 Networking exams
70-215 Windows 2000 Server
70-218, Managing a Windows 2000 Network
2 Prescribed exams
70-214 Implementing Windows 2000 Security
70-227 Internet and Security Acceleration (ISA) Server
2000
or
CompTIA Security+
MCSE: Security
Here are the requirements for the MCSE: Security.
1 Client Operating System exam
70-210 Windows 2000 Professional
or
70-270 Windows XP
3 Networking exams
70-215 Windows 2000 Server
70-216 Implementing, and Administering a Windows 2000
Network
70-217 Implementing, and Administering Windows 2000
Directory Services
3 Prescribed exams
70-214 Implementing Windows 2000 Security
70-220 Designing Windows 2000 Security
70-227 Internet and Security Acceleration (ISA) Server
2000
or
CompTIA Security+
Microsoft is trying to position these Specialization designations, according to David Lowe, product manager for security with Microsoft's Training and Certification group, as follows:
"We don't really think that the industry has clearly defined security job roles yet. We recognize that in IT job roles, like systems administrator and systems engineer, there are a number of individuals who have a very specific concentration on a particular area and, obviously, in an important area as security. So that's what these specializations will allow individuals to demonstrate; they'll get to highlight their focus on platform-specific security and design skills."
(For more information, click here: http://mcpmag.com/news/article.asp?EditorialsID=579)
Summary
Tackling the Windows Server 2003 certifications is a smart goal. Along the way, though, by all means take advantage of the entry of CompTIA's Security+ into the Microsoft Windows 2000 MCSA and MCSE programs to achieve these certifications, if you don't already have them, and to achieve the MCSA: Security and MCSE: Security specializations.
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