Microsoft - MCP Windows Server 2003

Benefits

For IT managers, certification is particularly important because it allows them to more easily identify the skills that an individual possesses. When a company has employees that possess certain skills, it can garner a competitive advantage when seeking to attract customers. Certification can also contribute to increased productivity, because studies have shown that certified individuals are generally quicker to implement and design new technologies. And of course by knowing that their employees are certified, IT managers can feel more confident about their ability to implement and support a network infrastructure.

Looking at security in particular, recent surveys from CompTIA and others show that human error, rather than technical malfunction, is the most significant cause of IT security breaches in both the public and private sectors. When asked, an overwhelming majority of companies agree that employee training and certification programs improve network security and help protect against cyber threats. In fact, most companies identify a lack of IT security knowledge and training, or failure to follow security procedures, as the root causes of many of their security issues.

Also, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, in its National Strategy to Secure Cyberspace, has said that the two major barriers to improving cyber-security are a lack of familiarity, knowledge and understanding of security issues, and an inability to find sufficient numbers of adequately trained or appropriately certified personnel to create and manage secure systems. So there are real benefits in organizations ensuring that their IT professionals have the right skills to reduce the effects of human error on information security.

Demonstrate Value to Enterprise Security. The CompTIA Security+ Certification provides a way for individuals to highlight their focus on security in the enterprise and demonstrate their ability to create a secure computing environment.

Individuals

• Overwhelmingly, individuals with Microsoft certifications have an advanced level of knowledge, expertise and skill, and command more professional credibility
• The MCTS/MCP is seen as a particularly elite indication of an engineer's prowess and skill level, and these professionals are highly sought by employers
• Individual students may receive college credits to utilize tuition reimbursement programs for their IT training or to complete college coursework

Companies

• Reduce the costs of maintaining your workstations and personal computers, and increase the reliability of your network with Active Directory and with the information technology (IT) professionals to back it up
• Make a roll out of Windows 2003 Server smooth and successful
• Customers see great value in certification - they want the people on their engagement to have the best skills, and certification provides that proof point
• Significantly improved Microsoft security throughout the software but particularly in the Web Server component of Windows Server, IIS; Scalable management tools that improve on the legacy of Windows 2000 Server: enhanced Active Directory features, and new tools such as the Group Policy Management Console
• Significant increases in server performance. In internal tests, Windows Server 2003 shows dramatic performance gains over previous versions of Windows server operating systems. For example, file and Web server performance is two times faster than Windows NT Server 4.0
• While your organization's performance gains may vary because of unique network and computer settings, Microsoft is confident that the improved performance of Windows Server 2003 will help you deliver faster service for your network solutions

Human Resources

• Employer-funded training and certification programs are a key to retaining skilled IT staff. Career development and advancement opportunities are shown to significantly reduce rates of employee turnover
• Certification Training Programs provide benchmarks for hiring and promotion decisions by accurately assessing technical skills
• For-certification training programs maximize educational investments through immediate validation of skills

Microsoft certification affords special membership benefits

• Technical information, product information and exclusive discounts on products and services through a secured section of the Microsoft website
• Microsoft logos and certificate for your personal promotion to clients or potential employers
• Invitations to Microsoft conferences and other educational opportunities
• Access to the secure Microsoft Certified Professional Magazine Online website