Hey All!!

Do you want to get certified, but it’s too expensive? I have great news for you! From now till  April 31st, you can get a 10% discount off Microsoft certification exams. To get the 10% discount, just follow the easy steps below:

1. Go to http://www.learnandcertify.com/

2. Use the voucher code: MY3909BC

3. Schedule an exam and you are ready to go!

Again, this offer ends on April 31st, so what are you waiting for? Get certified now! And the above voucher is only for Malaysia.

Today I went for the CEH v5 exam, EC-Council certification# 312-50, I'd been studying for it for a while. It had no less than 150 questions - and pretty tough ones too - but I managed to pass it (85% which is OK considering US law was part of the Qs).

I can really recommend you to go for this exam - it's somethin' else dude! The questions are short and exact (still multiple choice), but just the process of going there is VERY cool and interesting. Personally I downloaded a lot of spooky tools and guides, created an isolated network with virtual machines and tested, tested, tested. It was fun I can tell you - I can't seem to stop studying this stuff!

I also read 2 books on the journey:
- Michael Gregg: Certified Ethical Hacker Exam Prep (very good)
- Kimberly Graves: Official Certified Ethical Hacker Review Guide (very brief)

If you're a totally cool (and white) hacker dude already, you could probably go for the latter only (it will give you the overall idea of what this exam is all about, the CEH terminology etc). BUT the first one mentioned, by Michael Gregg, is a VERY good introduction (broad and deep) into the world of haxin' actually.

The whole idea with this exam is, that to be a professional penetration tester or security consultant, you need the skills and tools of the hackers. Put yourself in their place and start looking for your (or your customers) weakest link! A security system is only as strong as its weakest link - that also means, that security is a process (maintenance).

Security is, and always will be, a mixture of: Prevention + Detection + Response!

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The coach talks about how he loves his job of getting devices ready for Vista certification.

Performance-based items are exam questions in which the tester must perform a task in a simulated version of the technology, rather than answering a finite-result style question (like multiple choice or drag and drop). As you all know, PB means a brain-dump user with no experience on the technology can’t waltz in and cheat their way to a “pass,” you have to be able to get around the software hands-on to get something done.

PB is only in some exams at the moment (a few ‘new gen’ exams and a handful of Windows Server 2003 exams); there are more coming. I know the strategy team has an eye to getting PB items in to many (all?!?) key MCTS exams, that would be amazing. No exams are all PB, there will be other more traditional item types, too.

In case you have run into PB in the past, you should know that scoring for PB items in new generation exams (e.g. for MCTS exams rather than MCP exams) is different than how it has worked before. Here is a little info on what to expect.

Scoring new generation exams with a PB component

• Your score report will include two different sections: one for your performance-based (PB) items and one for your non-performance based (i.e. multiple choice) items
• The PB section will likely have fewer questions than the non-PB section, though all questions (PB and non-PB) have the same value per question. In other words, a multiple choice question is worth one “point”; a PB task is also worth one point.
• You must pass both sections to receive a pass on these exams.
• Scoring of PB items is based on the end state, rather than how you got there. In other words, we do not look at your path or number of clicks; if your end result is as intended, you have passed the question.

News Source: blogs.msdn.com

If you want to hear about certifications that Microsoft are developing to help you validate/show your skills on Systems Center, you can attend this Live Meeting we are having on October 24. Rob Linsky, the certification program manager will give you the scoop on what these certs are all about and how to earn them. Click on these links to register for:

October 24, 2007, at 7:30 A.M. Pacific Time
October 24, 2007, at 5:00 P.M. Pacific Time

Microsoft are developing two Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) certs and a professional-series (MCITP) certification for Systems Center, all of which will be available in 2008 (January/February for MCTS; later for the MCITP).

News Source: blogs.msdn.com

Get it while its hot. The Microsoft Office Groove 2007 certification exam is now available, in beta, for a limited time. Take the test now, for free, and you’ll get your certificate. Be the first kid on your block with the MS Groove cert tacked up on the fridge.

Some FAQ’s about the Microsoft Groove 2007 exam, #77-555 :

1. Our beta exams are administered at all of Prometric test locations.
   
   For the US, call call 800-755-3926
   For Asia, : http://www.prometric.com/Microsoft/APACIT.htm
   For Europe, Middle East, and Africa: http://www.prometric.com/Microsoft/EMEAIT.htm

2. What is the Exam code? The Microsoft Groove 2007 exam code is 77-555. The Beta promotion code is MOG07

3. How long is the beta exam available? The Microsoft Groove 2007 beta exam will be availble until on or around October 4th .

4. What happens if I pass the exam? If you pass, you will get a certificate stating that you passed the Microsoft Groove 2007 certification.

5. What if I don’t pass the exam? Study. You’ll do fine. But if you don’t pass, you shouldn’t take the exam again until after the beta period is over.

6. Are there any extra credit questions? If you do well on the exam, you may have the opportunity to participate in the Item Selection sessions.
   

Don’t delay — order now — operators are standing by!

News Source: blogs.technet.com