Press Release Summary: This month, Microsoft will officially launch its eagerly awaited Server 2008 platform. But what is it - and what does this mean for IT, HR and businesses as a whole?
Press Release Body: Server 2008 will be introduced as a replacement for Server 2003 and is essentially a more stripped-back version of its predecessor. Designed to increase business functionality, Server 2008 will work best with the Microsoft Vista operating system.
So what has changed? Following user demand for increased functionality, Server 2008 will offer improved security and fewer pre-installed applications. Ultimately, this creates a more stable platform that allows companies to use only the relevant elements, rather than being burdened by running useless applications.
IT leads the way
The switch to Server 2008 is likely to be a gradual one that will take place over the next two or three years. But in order to take advantage of the new platform fully, the IT department must lead the way and pre-empt the changes by ensuring their MCSE and MCSA skills and qualifications are fully up-to-date.
Firstly, IT professionals will need to upgrade their existing Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) qualification to the MCTS (Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist) certification. This upgrade involves an exam and is the most basic-level qualification to demonstrate expertise in core areas of Microsoft technology.
Existing MCSE training courses will still be available for IT professionals wishing to work with Server 2003. However, the MCIPT (Microsoft Certified IT Professional) qualification will eventually replace the MCSE altogether. The MCITP will reflect the move towards Server 2008 and will disregard Server 2003 completely, and with it, the MCSE.
The MCITP (replacing the MCSE) will be more closely linked to specific job roles and will cover operational processes, operational procedures and the analysis of business problems. The next (and highest) step is the MCA (Microsoft Certified Architect) qualification, which covers technical breadth and depth, communication, strategy, organisational politics, progress and leadership.
Keeping IT up to speed
The biggest change for the IT department in terms of training, however, will be the introduction of a certification lifecycle policy. Like other software providers including Cisco, Microsoft will now require its users to update their qualifications (i.e. the MCP, MCSP, MCSA, or MCSE) every three years. However, this rule will only affect the new generation of trainees and not those who are already qualified.
The lifecycle policy will be advantageous for both IT professionals and business. IT staff will be able to prove they have relevant, up-to-date skills for the future, both in their current position and as their career progresses. Simultaneously, employers can be confident that their IT staff are up-to-speed with technological developments.
The MCTS qualification will open up a world of new opportunities for IT workers as companies move towards Server 2008. While the new qualifications will not change the way Microsoft integrates with other systems, they will provide a certain amount of regulation within the IT industry - and currently, an MCSE-qualified IT professional earns an average of £39,000 a year.
What does this mean for HR and business?
The new platform and its associated training requirements will also impact on the HR department. The HR team will need to understand how to maximise the potential of existing staff and employing fully qualified Server 2008 professionals in the future. This will then have a knock-on effect on training budgets.
The HR department will need to ensure that all applicants for IT jobs possess the up-to-date qualifications necessitated by Server 2008. Certifications like the MCTS, MCIPT and MCA (replacing the MCP, MCSA, and MCSE) will provide essential indicators that both current staff and future applicants can cope with the requirements of the new platform.
But as ever, companies will need to assess what kind of qualifications their staff need according to the size, sector and projected growth of the business. And as new qualifications become more and more specialised, bosses will need to provide relevant training for their staff.
Ultimately, IT is constantly evolving. In order to compete in tough markets, businesses cannot afford to stand still for long - particularly when it comes to training. Replacing MCP, MCSA and MCSE skills needs to be top priority for companies this year, regardless of their size. For developments like Server 2008, it's wise to act sooner rather than later.
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