TrainACE - IT and Cybersecurity Training Blog

As cloud technology revolutionizes the IT industry, professionals with Microsoft certifications, such as MCSA (Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate) and MCSE (Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert), are finding themselves at a crossroads. The advent of Microsoft Azure has introduced a new suite of certifications that align with the evolving demands of the cloud-centric world. Understanding the process of transitioning to Azure and updating your skills is crucial if you are holding legacy certifications. This article provides a strategy to upgrade from MCSA and MCSE to Azure certifications, focusing on key steps, recertification options, and the benefits of this transition.

As the tech landscape continuously evolves, so does the need for IT professionals to stay updated with the latest skills and certifications. Microsoft has phased out some legacy certifications, including MCSE, MCSD, and MCSA, transitioning to more specialized, role-based certifications. This change highlights the importance of adapting to modern demands, particularly cloud computing.

As one of TrainACE’s top instructors, Azure administration is just one of John Eberle’s specializations. With years of industry experience, he has tracked the evolution of Microsoft's administrative tools with the eye of an expert practitioner -  from early Windows versions to the latest cloud technologies. In his latest blog he discusses Azure Administration certification prerequisites and offers advice on preparing for the exam.

As more and more organizations move all, or parts, of their operations into the cloud, Microsoft has built the Azure platform to stake its claim as a leading player in the technology. But as its popularity grows, who will need Azure Administrator certification, and why is it so important around the Washington, DC region?

Windows remains the world’s most popular desktop operating system and the OS of choice for organizations worldwide. And with the recent end of free support for widely-used predecessor Windows 7, Windows 10 has taken over top spot — today, more than 60 percent of all Windows PCs are powered by Windows 10.

Microsoft remains an industry giant, dominating both the operating system (OS) and the business server solutions market worldwide. The result? IT professionals are well-served earning Microsoft certifications such as MCSA to both enhance day-to-day skills and increase their career earning potential.

Did you know that TrainACE and our Advanced Security branch offers IT training and Cyber Security training in Northern Virginia? TrainACE has a computer training facility located out of Loudoun County in Ashburn, Virginia. The Ashburn location offers our full catalog of courses and delivers the same high-quality training with unbeatable prices that we have been providing to our students at the Greenbelt, Maryland location since 2001.

As the OS of choice for many businesses, Microsoft Windows houses the sensitive data of banks, hospitals and corporations. In fact, as one of the most prevalently used operating systems out there, malware authors have an affinity for attacking anything Windows—it’s their go-to playground.  In order to properly defend Windows security, you’ll need to configure a lot more than just a firewall. You’ll need a myriad of tools, techniques and tricks to outsmart the bad guys and protect your Windows system. But no worries: our Microsoft Windows Security Essentials course will teach you just that.

When Windows 8 debuted, it brought along a completely new interface, updated platform, and transformed user experience.

Microsoft is expanding its available software to fast track its cloud benefits. In fact, the company’s plan is to offer the most cloud applications of any software company. Individuals who desire to become a Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate will find a curriculum based heavily around the cloud, as the company moves to become the authority in the cloud computing industry. As a result, individuals and businesses will gain access to Microsoft’s new software programs, which include:

IT professionals preparing for the new MCSA certification will find a stronger emphasis on Active Directory. Microsoft Active Directory, or AD, is a database management system that can be replicated across logical network partitions called domains. The AD stores configuration information such as user login credentials and contains objects representing users, groups and computers. Administrators can group these objects into units according to business requirements and centrally manage them through group policy objects. They can also use AD to push software and desktop configuration updates to user systems. While AD has long been a central component of Windows Server, significant updates have expanded its role in the MCSA exams.