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Announcing the Availability of Exam 70-699: Windows Server 2003, MCSA Security Specialization Skills Update

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Announcing the Availability of Exam 70-699: Windows Server 2003, MCSA Security Specialization Skills Update

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Microsoft announces the availability of exam 70-699: Windows Server 2003, MCSA Security Specialization Skills Update. This exam allows the certification holder to demonstrate their continuing ability to perform the security-related functions and tasks on Windows Server 2003 and one of Microsoft’s clients (operating systems). The prep guide for this exam is available at: http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/exam.aspx?ID=70-699&locale=en-us

Who Should Take This Exam?

Some organizations will not recognize credentials unless they meet the ISO 17024 Personnel Certification Bodies requirements. For example, according to the Department of Defense Directive 8570.1, by 2010, the DoD will only recognize information security credentials that have been accredited by ANSI or equivalent authorization bodies. Because demonstrating continued competence (recertification) is one of the ISO 17024 requirements, we have developed this exam to fulfill this requirement.

If you hold the MCSA Security Specialization credential and work for the DoD or an organization with similar requirements, you should take this exam if you’d like your organization to recognize your MCSA Security Specialization credential. Additionally, candidates who are interested in demonstrating continued competence on the security-related functions and tasks on Windows Server 2003 and one of Microsoft’s clients are encouraged to take this exam. Recertification is not required for candidates who do not work for such an organization or who have no interest in demonstrating continued competence in this content area.

Please note that this process only applies to the MCSA Security Specialization credential.

How to Demonstrate Continued Competence

Renewal requires certification holders to register for and pass 70-699: Windows Server 2003, MCSA Security Specialization Skills Update. After passing the exam, the candidate will earn the MCSA Security Specialization plus recertification credential. Note that candidates must hold the MCSA Security Specialization prior to recertification; candidates who take and pass 70-699 will not be awarded the MCSA Security Specialization plus recertification credential until they have met all the requirements for the MCSA Security Specialization credential.

Candidates will be required to demonstrate continued competence every three years. If candidates do not, their MCSA Security Specialization plus recertification credential will expire and revert to the MCSA Security Specialization credential without the recertification designator. Candidates who hold the MCSA Security Specialization credential can earn the MCSA Security Specialization plus recertification at any time by passing 70-699.

Demonstrate that you are up to date on the latest security-related functions and tasks on Windows Server 2003 and Windows Vista or Windows 7 with MCSA Security Specialization plus recertification. Learn more about MCSA recertification.

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  • Any good news for MCSE: Security? =0)
  • Can you use this test as a replacement for any others? Does this necessarily increase the number of tests needed to obtain the recertification credential?
  • No, this exam is not a replacement for any other exam and is only intended to meet the ISO 17024 recertification requirement so that we can obtain ANSI accreditation for this credential. You only have to pass 70-699 to earn the recertification version of the credential. If you don't take this exam, you will not lose the MCSA Security Specialization credential because it doesn't expire. However, if you want a credential that meets the ISO 17024 requirements, you must take 70-699 every 3 years to earn the MCSA Security Specialization plus recertification credential.
  • We only have plans to do this for MCSA Security Specialization because this is the only older credential that we plan to put through the ANSI accreditation process. Of course, that may change. We'll keep you posted!
  • WOW! I didn't see this one coming - did I have my head in the sand or something?
    I like the fact that the post ends with the fact that it will test candidates security skills on Vista and Win7. Would love to do this but time constraints and an odd nagging feeling at the back of my mind about having to do it every three years puts me off. Would be interesting to see what preparation materials emerge for this certification over the next few months.
  • Are there any plans to differentiate ANSI accredited certifications from other certifications, like putting ANSI text and logo on transcript, cards, printed or digital certificates? ISC2 certifications have ANSI logo on their certifications.
  • I am on the bus (www.thebustour.com), returning Nov. 16. I will be very slow to respond to email. If you need immediate assistance, contact Greg Stephens (gregstep@microsoft.com) or Stefani Okamoto (stefanio@microsoft.com).

    Cheers,
    Liberty Munson
  • Yes, I'm working on getting the ANSI logo added to the certificates for the certifications that have this accreditation. Nothing is ever simple, though, so this will take some time to accomplish. I'm not sure about transcripts, but I'm looking into that as well.
  • I think it's great that this new option is available to people who want/need it, without adversely affecting people who don't currently want/need it.

    On a slightly-related topic, this seeming to be the most relevant recent post in which to comment on this...

    It was certainly nice to see the "By The Numbers" certification totals page http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/certifi... updated last week for the first time since June. But there were a few mistakes that snuck into the latest numbers... I'm hoping these can be corrected ASAP, so people who've been waiting for accurate new totals on these particular certs don't have to keep waiting till the next full update.

    MCSA 2003: Security = 25,822 and MCSA 2000: Security = 5,292 .... These seem reasonable compared to June.

    But MCSE 2003: Security = 25,822 and MCSE 2000: Security = 5,292 .... These mistakenly repeated the same numbers as the MCSA versions have. Compared to June, this places the MCSE 2003: Security number about 3,500 too high for the likely growth, and the MCSE 2000: Security number about 3,500 too low (it was 8,722 in June!).

    Another likely-mistaken number is on MCTS: Enterprise Project Management with Microsoft Office Project Server 2007. The October 30 update put its number at 651. It hasn't been that low since more than a year ago, and it was 1,181 in June! This 651 is around half of what it should be now, based on prior numbers.

    And the MCM and MCA numbers had some odd fluctuations. (Is it perhaps intentional with these, something going on with these programs that you are decertifying some of these people for some reason? There's been a few slight decreases in the MCM/MCA numbers before, but not this large. With so few people to count for these, hopefully it's not a matter of inaccurate counts?) More people than these difference numbers were likely removed, since there would've been at least a few new people incoming too.
    There are 11 fewer MCA: Solutions people than in June, there are 35 fewer MCM: Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 people than in June, and there are 28 fewer MCM: Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 people than in June.
    If these MCM/MCA drops are accurate/intentional, it would be nice if we could hear some amount of explanation for it.

    Finally, I'll also point out that although any update is better than the four months of no updates, likely many people had been hoping this "By The Numbers" update would include the new certifications that have come out this year that aren't on the numbers list yet -- most notably Windows 7 Configuration!! There were no new additions to the list in this update, so it'd sure be nice to see at least one addition (Windows 7), and preferably more, in the next update. (And it'd sure be nice if that update could come before the end of 2009!)
  • Well I just passed 70-699. Looking forward to see what this looks like on my transcript or maybe even a new or updated certificate if I am lucky.
  • Well I just passed 70-699. Looking forward to see what this looks like on my transcript or maybe even a new or updated certificate if I am lucky.
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