70-299 Implementing and Administering Security in a Windows Server 2003 Network - PASS!

This is the exam that time forgot. While the other Server 2003 exams appear to have been updated over the years, I'm guessing this one hasn't been touched since it was released.

It was also quite astonishingly easy, especially when compared to 70-291 and 70-293. If you've passed either of those exams you should be able to easily pass this one.

I'm off to TechEd Europe next week, so this is a good place to pause and re-evaluate the Certification plan. In the past 3 weeks I've taken (and passed)...

• 70-290 Managing and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment
• 70-291 Implementing, Managing, and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure
• 70-293 Planning and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure
• 70-294 Planning, Implementing, and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Active Directory Infrastructure
• 70-299 Implementing and Administering Security in a Windows Server 2003 Network

...and this has resulted in the following certifications...

• MCSA Windows Server 2003
• MCSA Security on Windows Server 2003
• MCSE Windows Server 2003

Passing these exams has provided the following options...

1. Take 70-298 to get MCSE Security on Windows Server 2003
2. Take 70-648 to get
   • MCTS: Windows Server 2008 Active Directory, Configuring
   • MCTS: Windows Server 2008 Network Infrastructure, Configuring
3. Take 70-649 to get
   • MCTS: Windows Server 2008 Active Directory, Configuring
   • MCTS: Windows Server 2008 Network Infrastructure, Configuring
   • MCTS: Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure, Configuration

Which one to choose?

MCSA: Security on Windows Server 2003 without passing any further exams

Another surprise certification this morning.

In 2004 I passed CompTIA's Security+ and linked it to my Microsoft transcript. This, combined with some other exams, completed MCSE: Security on Windows 2000. Later on in 2004 I passed the (isc)² CISSP, but I have never linked it to my transcript. Until yesterday

To link an external certification to your Microsoft transcript you need to use the Live Chat button available from within the MCP member site support page. I asked for them to apply my CISSP to my transcript, supplied my (isc)² member number and the transcript was updated a few minutes later.

Disappointingly, the transcript only showed the CISSP qualification and no further certifications were applied.

24 hours later, and a new certification was applied. Unfortunately there seems to be an issue with the transcript tool today, but the Certification Builder tool clearly shows I've been awarded the MCSA: Security on Windows Server 2003.

This also makes me only 1 exam away from MCSE:Security on Windows Server 2003 according to the Certification Builder.

Expanding the Security Group section you can see that the CISSP and Security+ are in separate sections, thus negating the need to sit an exam like 70-299 or 70-351.

So, if you have an MCSE or MCSA on Windows Server 2003 and some security certs, you might be able to get MCSA: Security just by spending a few minutes on Live Chat linking them to your transcript.

Annoyingly I'm already booked to sit 70-299 Implementing and Administering Security in a Windows Server 2003 Network this afternoon. It's too late to cancel!

MCSE Server 2003 (without a design exam?)

Checking my transcript today I saw a wonderful thing...





Yes, that's an MCSE in Server 2003. This is confusing. I thought the requirements for MCSE 2003 were ...

1. 4 core exams (290,291,293,294)
2. A client exam
3. A design exam (one of 297, 298 or 285)
4. An elective exam or qualifying credential

I haven't taken any of the listed design exams. And yet I'm now an MCSE in Server 2003. How did this happen?

The answer is buried deep on a page from the Indian Microsoft Learning page, where they mention the design exams in relation to upgrading your MCSA 2003 to MCSE 2003...

This requirement is waived if you have already passed a design exam on Microsoft Windows 2000 Server.

This is obviously excellent, but now confuses my plan. I have booked 70-299 to try and get MCSA:Security 2003. If I pass that exam, will that be enough to get MCSE:Security? If not, do I want to go through the pain of 70-298 just to get Security added to the 10-year old cert?

70-294 Planning, Implementing, and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Active Directory Infrastructure - PASS!

This is starting to get tiring! All 4 core exams are now done - just need 70-298 to become MCSE Server 2003. This leads to a dilemma - what exam to do next?

70-298 and 70-299 look like they cover very similar content, but from different angles. It appears that 70-298 uses a case study style format while 70-299 is a more traditional exam. Based on this I'm going to book 70-299 first and use the studying for that as a platform to do 70-298 shortly after. Some people have posted that they took both on the same day, but I think 3 exams in a week is enough for me!

70-293 Planning and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure - PASS!

You would think having years of experience with the product would be helpful when sitting an exam. In general that is true, but it means that some questions you end up looking too deeply. Some questions appear to be too straightforward. Some questions are on areas you would barely use over the lifetime of the product.

This raises a question - does this make the Microsoft certification process a bit of a lottery?

I don't think so. In many ways these types of questions accurately reflect the day to day experience of someone who is (or aims to be) an MCSE. Some questions you get asked every day are really easy to answer. Some questions are so obscure you have to make an educated guess. The exam reflects real life.

Having said all that, I have yet to see anyone use RIP or OSPF on Windows Server. I'll be happy if I never have to answer another question on these protocols again!

MCSA Windows Server 2003

Well, it worked! My transcript now shows MCSA Windows Server 2003.

From what I can see, the exams that count towards this on my transcript (taken from the Microsoft India Learning site) are...

• 291 Implementing, Managing, and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure June 05, 2013
• 290 Managing and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment May 31, 2013
• 210 Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft® Windows® 2000 Professional January 17, 2002

...and a fourth component which, on my transcript, could be any of the following...

• TS: Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2007, Configuring
• MCSE on Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
• MCSE on Microsoft Windows NT 4.0
• CompTIA Security+

What next?

The original plan was to move straight on to Windows Server 2008. Due to the amount of Server 2003 studying I've already done, I'm aiming for MCSE Server 2003 first. That'll allow an attempt at the 70-649 Upgrading Your MCSE on Windows Server 2003 to Windows Server 2008, Technology Specialist exam.

Next up... 70-293 Planning and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure.

70-291 Implementing, Managing, and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure - PASS!

Well, that was horrible. I was pretty sure I'd failed and was dreading pressing the end exam button. But a pass is a pass!

This should be enough to gain the MCSA Windows Server 2003 and enable me to take the 70-648 Server 2008 upgrade exam. I'll not know for sure until the exam hits my transcript.