February 7, 2007 - (HOSTSEARCH.COM) - Microsoft (http://www.microsoft.com) now offers a hosting-specific certification exam, the company announced today. The Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) exam enables IT and hosting professionals to gain Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist status in Windows Server 2003 Hosting, Configuration and Management.
Called “70-501 TS: Windows Server 2003 Hosted Environments, Configuration and Management”, the exam provides a measure of “technical proficiency and expertise using Windows Server 2003 for providing hosted services”.
“Microsoft recognizes that as the technology used to deliver advanced hosted services becomes more complex, the requirement for industry-specific skills has grown. This certification program will help hosting providers address that need,” explained Microsoft’s Director of Worldwide Hosting, Mr. John Zanni. “With the right skills, hosting providers are able to deliver a positive experience for their customers, while the certification allows them to stand out in an increasingly competitive marketplace.”
“The lack of trustworthy standards and certifications has hurt the hosting industry in its attempt to move into the enterprise mainstream,” added Tier 1 Research Vice President and Research Director Dan Golding. “There is no doubt that complex hosted environments are significantly different from standard architectures and require their own set of specialized skills and in-depth technical knowledge. Microsoft’s willingness to offer this exam as part of a comprehensive hosting strategy is exciting and will help the hosting industry move forward.”
Microsoft offers a number of resources that will allow candidates to prepare for the computer-based exam. These include books, practice tests and content on Microsoft websites.
