Upgrade MCSA Windows Server 2012 to MCSE: Cloud Platform and Infrastructure

berry2012

I got this information online. If you want to acquire MCSE certification.

• MCSE: Cloud Platform and Infrastructure (MCSA certification in Windows Server 2016, Cloud Platform, Linux on Azure, or Windows Server 2012) + (Exam 70-532 or Exam 70-533 or 70-534 or 70-413 or 70-414 or 70-246 or 70-247))

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/learning/mcse-cloud-platform-infrastructure.aspx

Has anyone upgraded directly from MCSA windows server 2012 to MCSE before?
Which of the MCSE certification was be awarded to you? I am planning on writing one of any of Exam 70-532 or Exam 70-533 or 70-534 or 70-413 or 70-414 or 70-246 or 70-247

Thanks

poolmanjim

A few people on here have gotten the "new" MCSE. They changed it late last year where you only have to pass one qualifying MCSE exam to receive an MCSE now.

As far as which one to take, the Azure exams are solid, are are the 413 and 414. Avoid the 70-246 and 70-247, they are being expired soon. Another one to consider is the 70-744 Securing Server 2016. Its a new exam and it does cover 2016 but I'm seeing some high praise about it. I'd be gunning for it if I weren't already about to sit the 413.

berry2012

poolmanjim



Nice one.
I will be going for the Azure track then 70-532.

My goal for Q2 is MCSE: Cloud Platform and Infrastructure
Maybe in Q3 i will go for 70-413 exam to have MCSE windows server 2012

Can you tell me how you get resource materials and also samples questions?

poolmanjim

I don't much about Azure, its not something I spend much time in. I know MS has a few free books running around about Azure but I haven't spent much time in them. I suggest looking into the MOAC books as I have had good luck for them with my MCSA work. I cannot say too much about the MCSE exams as I'm still untested on those subjects.

sacredboy

Guys, what would you advice for IT specialist with sysadmin experience without developing skills.

MCSA Cloud Platform or MCSA Linux on Azure?

poolmanjim

I don't know your experience so its challenging to make any real recommendations.


Just looking the MCSA: Cloud Platform and Infrastructure (which, by the way I did not realized was a thing until now) includes components about both the Azure Architecture and some portions regarding developing sprinkled throughout. Just looking at the requirements you may be able to avoid knowing too much about development.


The MCSA: Linux on Azure exam overlaps with the MCSA: Cloud Platform and Infrastructure with the 70-533. The second requirement is a Non-Microsoft exam that I don't know much about about. You may want to ask over on the Linux forums what everyone thinks of the LFCS exam and how relevent to the industry it is.


I can tell you that the demand for Azure is growing especially in the SMB. I would still recommend making sure you are comfortable with Microsoft Server and have at least a familiarity with the topics in the MCSA:2012 or 2016 as for most companies you'll still have to do stuff there.


Good luck.

sacredboy

Hi poolmanjim,

I'm a complete novice in cloud technologies that's why I need some advice in regards to the first steps of this area.

Could you please explain in a bit more detail what is SMB and why do you think MS Azure is highly demanded in SMB.

Thank you.

poolmanjim

SMB = Small Medium Business, in this case.

Small companies have limited budgets, particularly when it comes to capital expenses which often can be in excess of several thousand dollars. Most small companies and even some medium sized companies cannot afford the captial costs involved with buying a data center, the resources involved with maintaining and supporting a data center, or even the cost of the network/server hardware that goes into that data center. It all adds up quickly.

Cloud solutions (Azure, AWS, etc.) offer a "operational" cost alternative to building a datacenter. Companies can have exactly what they need, when they need it for a smaller fee (on average) than outright buying the resources themselves. There is the trade off of having someone else manage the hardware but for most small companies that isn't a hard trade. Even enterprises are using some aspects of cloud computing for specific divisions of their organization.

I haven't taken any of the Azure exams nor have I spent time studying Azure in detail. I cannot speak for what skills or experience is needed to pass. I know Microsoft does have several free resources out there that can help. I am watching an MVA (Microsoft Virtual Academy) video series right now on Azure that has been somewhat illuminating as to how to manage Azure. I also know they have some free books out there (to be fair, I haven't read them).

My best advice to you would be for you to start studying up on Azure and then decide what make sense for what excites you. With Microsoft there is pretty much a path for anyone who is interested in the technology.

sacredboy

Hi poolmanjim,

I highly appreciate your answer. I just browsed certification section on Microsoft website and discovered that certification on Microsoft Azure is placed in Developer category.

Does it mean that Azure technology is more suitable for developers rather than for sysadmins/engineers?

UncleB

sacredboy wrote: »

I just browsed certification section on Microsoft website and discovered that certification on Microsoft Azure is placed in Developer category.

Does it mean that Azure technology is more suitable for developers rather than for sysadmins/engineers?

No - there are 3 flavours of the Azure exams that can be used for the MCSA - under Certification Exams and prep resources expand the Step 2 Exams:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/learning/mcsa-cloud-platform-certification.aspx

The 70-533 exam is aimed at Operations staff (ie creating sites & services and maintaining them), and 70-534 is aimed at architecting environments.

Cloud technologies are now in the place where you need to understand how developers work and be able to deal with more developer related tasks (especially configuration assistance) as this is simply the way things are now. The vast majority of companies are no longer working with staff in silos where they only deal with one specific niche, so you need to broaden your skill set and be more useful on a wide range of fronts. This is a real change from the way IT has worked in the last 30 years.

This is not to say you have to be able to write a website in Java or anything, just know a bit about how Java works and what you need to provide in terms of an environment to let it work securely.

The training books released by Microsoft are now useless and you cannot pass the exams by using them in my opinion. There are more comprehensive and free resources listed here:
http://www.techexams.net/forums/other-microsoft-electives/125968-struggling-70-532-3-4-study-materials-new-post.html

Get stuck in, read and learn (and research what you don't understand yet) and get playing with the free version of the Azure environments you can setup - you will be ready in no time.