 |
MCSE Certification - Purpose Or Profit |
 |
|
In this article we're going to take a shot at the entire
MCSE certification process to determine if there is really
a purpose to the procedure other than for Microsoft to make
a profit.
When networking was in its infancy certifications were a
luxury to say the least. Only a very few were certified, with
Novell being the leader in the field. In the early days the
Novell system was very stable and didn't change much from
year to year. The reason this is brought up is because when
Microsoft worked its way into the networking arena, stability
was the last thing that the Microsoft systems had. From year
to year their systems would change so drastically that within
a very short period of time, an MCSE certification was close
to worthless.
Some would argue that the constant change, or as they would
like to call it, improvement, in systems was simply to provide
purchasers with the best possible solutions for their businesses.
While there may be some truth to that, one can't deny a very
simple fact. Microsoft is in the business of making money.
By constantly improving their systems, they not only require
businesses to purchase new equipment but in turn, they also
require the technical people who work on this equipment to
get re-educated. All of this translates into more money in
Microsoft's pockets.
But there is more to this than just making money, though
ultimately that is the bottom line. Beyond that there is control
and Microsoft has it. Because of the hype surrounding the
MCSE certification and Microsoft's products in general, the
companies who hire the technical people to work on their systems
have latched onto the MCSE certification as an easy, no brains,
way to accumulate as many resumés as possible. As a
result of this, an MCSE certification has become sort of a
guild license. This in many cases is simply a false measure
of competence, especially for someone with no experience,
that ends up denying a qualified person with no certificate
a job. While many MCSEs are competent there are many people
out there who don't have that piece of paper but who are more
than qualified to do the job. Ironically, many of the people
who contribute to Microsoft's own Windows 2000 magazine do
not own certifications.
Another thing you have to ask yourself about these certifications.
If they are indeed so important, is why are so many courses
and exams offered for huge discounts and in time frames where
you can't possibly learn everything there is to know to do
the job correctly? The answer can only be that Microsoft is
simply concerned with making a profit. Otherwise they would
not allow people to complete courses and exams in time periods
that in no way would leave them qualified for employment.
No doubt the arguments will go on and Microsoft will flatly
deny that this is the case. As to whether we will ever really
know if this is purpose or profit, it is impossible to say.
But the evidence does point to Microsoft simply trying to
line their already bulging pockets.
About the Author:
Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to MCSE Certification
|
|
|
|
Relevant Resources |
|
|
|
|
|
Need Cisco Hardware for your Cert? |
|
|
| Call 813.852.6400 now for more information to find the best router or switch to best help you with your certification exam. Having "real" hands-on experience is extremely beneficial not just for testing, but also ensures you are actually familiar with the device you are working on.
|
|
|
|
|
Cisco Routers |
|
|
|
|
|
Cisco Switches |
|
|
|
|
|
