The mission of IIBA is to develop and maintain standards for the practice of business analysis and certification of its practitioners. Certified Business Analysis Professionals are experts in identifying the business needs of an organization in order to find out the best solutions, a role that is more and more seen as a vital element of any successful project. More and more companies are acknowledging the CBAP® designation and the value and expertise that these professionals bring to their organizations.

Before applying for CBAP, a Business Analyst must meet the following eligibility criteria:              

1. Work Experience Requirement
   Approx five (5) years (i.e., 7500 hours) of business analysis work experience in the last ten years engaged in tasks specifically related to the knowledge areas as defined within the BABOK^®. The ten (10) year timeframe is based on the application date.
2. Knowledge Areas Requirement
   Demonstrated experience and expertise (i.e., a minimum of 900 hours (i.e., 6 months) of business analysis work experience occupied in tasks specifically related to the knowledge areas as defined within the BABOK in at least four of the six knowledge areas.
3. Education Requirement
   The minimum education requirement is high school or equivalent.
4. Professional Development Requirement
   21 hours of professional development in the last four years. The professional development content must be directly related to business analysis or its essential competencies and must be completed by the application date.
5. Reference Requirement
   Two references from a career manager, client (internal or external) or Certified Business Analysis Professional are required. These references must indicate that you are a suitable candidate for the CBAP^® certification.

After your application is approved, you are eligible to write the CBAP exam at any time within 1 year from the date of application approval. The final step in the certification process is to write and pass a comprehensive examination.

The exam 640-802 is conducted to award the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certification to successful candidates. The syllabus for the exam includes a wide range of topics, such as WAN connections, network security implementation, types of network, details of network media, basics of routing and switching, understanding the TCP/IP and OSI models, IP addressing.

It is highly recommended that candidates should develop their skills and knowledge in the following areas prior to attempting 640-802 exam.

1.  Thorough understanding of the purposes and functions of different network devices;

2.  Practical knowledge of components required for specific networks;

3. Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) and TCP/IP models along with their protocols in a network;

4.  Understanding of networking and web applications;

5.  Interpretation of network diagrams;

6. Identifying and troubleshooting common problems in networks;

7. Knowledge of network segmentation and traffic management;

8. Verification of network status and usage of basic utilities like ping, telnet, SSH, and ipconfig;

9. Routing concepts and operation of routers; CLI basics;

10. Good knowledge of VLANs, VTP, RSTP, VLSM, LAN, WAN to name a few.

It is recommended that candidate must have at least around one year experience, in the networking field before he attempt to take the CCNA certification test. This experience will not only allow you to learn more about the hardware involved, but it will also allow you to learn about the different information that you will need to know on the test.

The process of getting the CCNA Certification test is complex, but it is manageable and many people are doing it every year. However confident you may be, it is not possible for you to master the entire syllabus without proper guidance.

The following practice exam questions are for the Cisco CCNA 640-802 exam and will definitely help you towards your certification efforts.

Question 1: Which statement about MAC addresses is correct?

a. The MAC address can never be changed.
b. A MAC address is represented by binary digits that are organized in pairs.
c. A MAC address is a number in hexadecimal format that is physically located on the NIC.
d. It is not necessary for a device to have a unique MAC address to participate in the network.

Question 2: Which of the following is an IOS command that can be used to increase the security of unused switch ports?

a. Port security
b. Mac-secure
c. Firewall
d. Shutdown

Question 3: IP addresses are represented by:

a. 16-bit decimal numbers
b. 32-bit binary numbers
c. 8 sets of 4-bit decimal numbers
d. 8-bit binary numbers

Question 4: What does the command IP route 192.168.50.0; 255.255.255.0 ; 10.2.1.3 specify?

a. The router should use network 192.168.50.0 to get to address 10.2.1.3.
b. Both 192.168.50.0 and 10.2.1.3 use a mask of 255.255.255.0.
c. You want the router to trace a route to network 192.168.50.0 via 10.2.1.3.
d. The router should use address 10.2.1.3 to get to devices on network 192.168.50.0.

Question 5: Which of the following protocols is an example of an exterior gateway protocol?
a. BGP
b. RIP
c. EIGRP
d. OSPF

In addition to providing numerous quality and performance enhancements, Oracle Database 10g significantly reduces the costs of managing the IT environment, with a simplified install, greatly reduced configuration and management requirements, and automatic performance diagnosis and SQL tuning.

Oracle9i Database provides efficient, reliable, secure data management for high-end applications such as high-volume on-line transaction processing (OLTP) environments, query-intensive data warehouses, and demanding Internet applications. Oracle also offers several additional optional database products that enhance the capabilities of Oracle9i Database for specific application requirements.

Additional features in 10g over the 9i:

• Transparent Data Encryption
• Grid computing – an extension of the clustering feature (Real Application Clusters)
• Manageability improvements (self-tuning features)
• Performance and scalability improvements
• Automated Storage Management (ASM)
• Automatic Workload Repository (AWR)
• Automatic Database Diagnostic Monitor (ADDM)
• Flashback operations available on row, transaction, table or database level
• Ability to UNDROP a table from a recycle bin
• Ability to rename table spaces
• Ability to transport table spaces across machine types (E.g Windows to Unix)
• Proactive Performance Monitoring
• Improved Flashback Technology
• Automatic Storage Management (ASM) and hence better RAC
• Data Pumps
• The Enterprise Manager (EM)

Clearly Oracle 10g is a positive change over its predecessor and therefore the OCA 10g Certification will draw more demand than Oracle 9i.

PRINCE2 is flexible, adaptable and as much as a Project method can be, friendly. PRINCE2 pull together common names and descriptions into a structure that anyone familiar with PRINCE2 can understand, regardless of background and industry. PRINCE2 is designed to be generic and can be used for projects of any nature.

The major attribute of PRINCE2 are:

• Its focus on business justification.
• Its product-based planning approach.
• Its emphasis on dividing the project into manageable and controllable stages.
• Its flexibility to be applied at a level appropriate to the project.

APM is the governing body for PRINCE2 worldwide; they look after the accreditation, exams and licensing of PRINCE2. Most organizations around the world recognize PRINCE2 as a standard methodology. There are two qualification levels: PRINCE2 Foundation and PRINCE2 Practitioner.

PRINCE2 Foundation level is for those who wants to learn the basics and terminology of PRINCE2. The PRINCE2 Foundation examination is aiming to measure whether a candidate would be able to act as an informed member of a project management team using the PRINCE2 methodology within a project environment supporting PRINCE2. Currently, Prince2 2009 Foundation Examination format is available. Prince2 2005 Foundation Examination Format is also available till December 31^st, 2009.

PRINCE2 Practitioner is the highest level qualification and is appropriate for those with the need to manage projects within a PRINCE2 environment. This objective is to measure whether a candidate could apply PRINCE2 to the running and managing of a non-complex project within an environment supporting PRINCE2.

Prince2 Exams can be taken at any accredited training company. These exams run only on certain days and places are pretty much booked in advance, sometimes there is a 4-6 weeks waiting list. If you are based outside the UK and wish to complete a PRINCE2 exam, it is usually possible to sit them in a British Council office. Please contact the APM Group directly for more information on public exams. Price list of Prince2 Exams:

Foundation = £200 including VAT
Practitioner = £370 including VAT
Both = £540 including VAT

From Photoshop to AIR, the company has products for every field of multimedia.

Adobe provides certifications for multimedia professionals through the Pearson Vue channel in India. Certifications are at 2 levels with the lower being Adobe Certified Associate (ACA) and the ACE (Adobe Certified Expert) being the higher level of certification.

Adobe certifications have been known to be a tough nut to crack and clearing them considered a significant achievement in the industry. At Par with other certifications like Microsoft, multiple papers will give you higher Levels.

A examination is also available for faculties viz. Adobe Certified Instructor (ACI).

For more details on the exams visit: Adobe or contact your nearest Pearson Vue.

IT Certification programs will be planned by levels of complexity, allowing you to first learn the basics of a technology, and then move into problems of higher complexity.

Entry Level Certification

The first set of IT Certification levels that you will have to go through are the entry level Certifications.

The first level that several certification programs offer is known as the specialist program. This allows you to study one of the programs and know the details about what this program is. It often times includes knowing how to maintain as well as troubleshoot with the program. You can also get training at an associate level.

Depending on the types of programs you are using, entry level may also include the ability for you to become a developer on specific technologies.
Intermediate Level Certification

In the intermediate level IT Certification, there are more tools that you will be able to learn at the advanced level, which can help you in using effective tools and developing specific programs faster.

If a certain program isn’t working, then you will learn how to fix or develop the program. This can be done not only for things such as web development and software, but also for becoming a systems expert. People certified with intermediate level certifications, usually become administrator for databases, systems, or certification. With intermediate level training, an individual also has the possibility of becoming an advisor for security and technology based programs.

Advanced Level Certifications

Generally, these types of IT Certifications will include a variety of programs that are combined together. By doing this, one can become an expert in the particular information technology program that they were interested in. Developers, Administrators, Advisors, and Technical experts all become a part of this particular IT Certification area. At this point, one will also be able to advance into understanding the entire infrastructure of the system that they are working with. They will also be able to work with deployment, meaning that they can effectively use the security programs as well as the storage areas that are available in systems.

NIIT’s ‘Integrated Program for Developing Skills and Certification on . NET – GNIIT’ has been selected by Microsoft as one of the two finalists for Partner of the Year, in the category, Learning Solutions Innovative Partner of the Year. The Learning Solutions, Innovative Partner of the Year award recognizes partners’ commitment and ability to deliver high-quality innovative learning services to meet customer needs. It also validates the effect of technical training, skills assessment, student mentoring, and Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) exam preparation on customer satisfaction, and the application of Microsoft technology to solve business problems.

Mr. G. Raghavan, President, Global Individual Learning Solutions, NIIT said, “We are pleased to have been selected as a 2009 Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference Awards finalist in Learning Solutions, Innovative Partner of the Year. At NIIT, it has been our constant endeavor to address the skills gap in IT industry by enhancing employability of the workforce and making them Industry Ready.  We hope to continue providing innovative range of programs as a solution to manpower needs in the industry.”

“Partners are the key to igniting business innovation through great technology as well as helping customers drive down costs. Congratulations to the 2009 WPC Award finalists who have demonstrated a superior level of expertise as well as a focus on delivering customer value. We look forward to seeing our partners fulfill their limitless potential as they continue to provide customers with world-class Microsoft solutions” said Allison L. Watson, Corporate Vice President, Worldwide Partner Group, Microsoft Corp.

Source: NIIT.com

The 70-290 exam is falls under the MCSE certification path, and certifies that the individual is skilled to manage and maintain Windows 2003. The important concepts covered in 70-290 are listed below;

Managing and Maintaining Physical and Logical Devices

• Manage basic and dynamic disks.
• Optimize server disk performance.
• Troubleshoot server hardware devices.
• Install and Configure server hardware devices.
• Monitor server hardware.

Managing Users, Computers and Groups

• Manage local, roaming and mandatory user profiles.
• Create and manage computer accounts in Active Directory environment.
• Create and manage groups.
• Create and manage user accounts.
• Troubleshoot user accounts.
• Troubleshoot user authentication issues.

Managing and Maintaining Access to Resources

• Configure access to shared folders.
• Troubleshoot terminal services.
• Configure file system permissions.
• Troubleshoot access to files and shared folders.

Managing and Maintaining a Server Environment

• Monitor and analyze events.
• Manage software update infrastructure.
• Manage software site licensing.
• Manage servers remotely.
• Troubleshoot print queues.
• Monitor system performance.
• Monitor file and print servers
• Manage a web server.
• Monitor and optimize a server environment for application performance.

Manage and Implement Disaster Recovery

• Perform system recovery for a server.
• Mange backup procedures.
• Recover from server hardware failures.
• Restore backup data.
• Schedule backup jobs.

The 70- 290 examination is a multiple choice questionnaire, and the candidate needs to select the ‘best’ answer, out of the options. The minimum passing score for this exam is 700 out of 1000. All Microsoft Certifications exams are administered by Prometric.

Here are some of typical questions asked by Microsoft in 70-290 exam:

Q 1._________ is a command-line tool that enables you to manage objects, such as disks, partitions, and volumes from the command-line.

a. DiskMan, b. DiskPerf, c. DiskPart, d. DiskCom

Q 2.In Windows Server 2003, a group denotes a set of users, computers, contacts, and other groups that can be used as Security groups and _______________.

a. Fax Groups, b. E-mail Distribution Groups, c. Name Resolution Groups, d. None of the Above

Q3. When you copy a shared folder, ____________________

a. The original shared folder is still shared, but the copy is not shared.

b. The original folder as well as the copy is shared.

c. The original folder is not shared anymore, but the copy is shared.

d. The original shared folder and the copy both are not shared anymore.

Q4. What should you do when you want to track disk space use on a per-user basis, but do not

want to deny users access to a volume?

a. Enable disk quotas,

b. Enable disk quotas and set the disk quota warning level,

c. Enable the disk quota warning level only,

d. Disable disk quotas

Q5. What are the advantages of network backup?

a. Network backup can be used to back up the entire network and requires fewer tape drives, or disks.

b. Network backup decreases network traffic,

c. Network backup can be used to backup the Registry on remote computers.

d. All of the above

MCSE exams are quite challenging, and are not easy to clear. Therefore, it is recommended to practice well, both for theoretical as well as practical questions.

With Windows Server 2008, Microsoft introduces a new set of certification options. In the prior versions of Windows server, the Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA) and Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) certifications have been pretty standard. The certification path has changes for Windows Server 2008 and following are the steps to upgrade.

Windows Server 2008 is a next-generation server operating system that helps IT maximize control over its infrastructure, while providing unprecedented availability and management that leads to a significantly more secure, reliable, and robust server environment.

People Certified with MCSA and MCSE on Windows Server 2003 should consider taking the appropriate upgrade test to make the immediate transition to Windows Server 2008. For the MCSA, the test is 70-648; for the MCSE, the test is 70-649.These tests will be used as a bridge form MCSE/MCSA 2003 to MCTS: Windows Server 2008 Certifications.

Exam 70-649 is for IT professionals who currently hold an MCSE on Windows Server 2003 certification and work in medium to large companies. The MCSE on Windows Server 2003 is a prerequisite for this exam. Exam 70-648 is for IT professionals who currently hold an MCSA on Windows Server 2003 certification and work in medium to large companies. The MCSA on Windows Server 2003 is a prerequisite for this exam.

Linux Professional Institute Certification (LPIC) program is planned to certify the expertise of IT professionals using the Linux operating system and its associated tools. LPIC program consists of three levels of certification: LPIC-1, LPIC-2 and LPIC-3. Linux Professional Institute Certifications are offered through the testing centers of both Pearson VUE and Prometric.

Junior Level Linux Professional (LPIC-1): LPIC-1 is an entry level certification in Linux Professional Certification hierarchy. This certification is designed for individuals who has been performing basic system administration tasks and who needs to install, configure, and manage a Linux-based system. To earn LPIC-1 certification, candidate must pass two exams; 101 and 102.

Advanced Level Linux Professional (LPIC-2): LPIC-2 is an advanced level professional certification, covers implementing and managing web, file and security features on the Linux server.  The objective of this certification to administer a small to medium-sized site containing Microsoft and Linux server and plan, implement, maintain and troubleshoot a small mixed network including LAN server, Internet Gateway and Internet Server. There are 2 exams; 201 and 202 that candidate must pass to earn LPIC-2 certification.  Pre-requisites: Candidate must have an active LPIC-1 Certification.

 Senior Level Linux Professional (LPIC-3): LPIC-3 is planned for enterprise-level Linux Professionals. LPIC-3 has been developed with the effort of many Linux professionals around the globe and contribution from some of the world’s leading technology companies. LPIC-3 is the supreme level of professional, distribution-neutral Linux certification in IT industry. LPIC-3 consists of one exam: 301 for LPIC-3 Core. There are various specialties on which LPIC-3 is available; Mixed Environment, Security, High Availability and Virtualization, Web and Intranet. Pre-Requisites: you must have an active LPIC-2 certification to receive LPIC-3 certification.