Azure Database Administrator

Recently I found out that I passed the BETA exam for Azure Database Administrator Associate qualification. I wanted to share with you my thoughts on the exam and if you would like to take the test, how best to prepare. Candidate profile for this exam is as follows:

“Candidates for this exam are database administrators and data management specialists that manage on-premises and cloud relational databases built on top of Microsoft SQL Server and Microsoft Azure data services.”

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Training – Learning Data Science

You should never stop learning, especially within the IT industry. There are many fields to move into nowadays within the data space, you still have your classic / cloud DBA roles (crossing over to roles such as data engineer) and development roles too. Looking at the industry I see things like Big Data and Data Science becoming more popular. This led me to the Microsoft Professional Program where I spent my time completing the Big Data track – unfortunately it will be retired by Microsoft.

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Microsoft Professional Program vs Microsoft Certification

When learning new technologies many people will go towards training courses (in person or online) but many also go for certifications such as MCSA / MCSE, which I no longer pursue for many reasons.

Microsoft now have this idea of Professional Programs (https://academy.microsoft.com/en-us/professional-program/) with the aim of gaining technical job-ready skills and get real-world experience through online courses, hands-on labs, and expert instruction within a 3 month class period. They offer:

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Interviews and Oranges

What a great topic for this month’s T-SQL Tuesday hosted by Kendra Little https://littlekendra.com/2017/08/01/tsql-tuesday-93-interviewing-patterns-anti-patterns/

TSQLTues

The topic being: Interviewing Patterns and Anti-Patterns. I have had MANY (50 +) interviews over time with a lot of failures, so what have I learnt?

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SQLBits 2017

I have never been to SQLBits (https://sqlbits.com/) before (due to budgets) but I am really looking forward to attending which is just over a week away. The Data Platform has evolved so much and this is the chance to get some quality training under my belt especially in areas I know I need a “refresh” in.

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Microsoft Certifications

Every now and again I would navigate to Microsoft’s certification page and see what / if any changes have taken place regarding certification within the Data Platform space. (Check out the link – http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/learning/certification-overview.aspx)

Nothing has changed in terms of the “pyramid” grade structures, you know, going from MTA, MCSA to MCSE which I will get to later.

pyr

However there is one change I have noticed – MCSE: Data Management & Analytics (they still have the MCSE: Data Platform and BI)  where for this certificate you would need to know about Designing and Implementing Cloud Data Platform Solutions and Designing and Implementing Big Data Analytics Solutions.

It makes sense cloud, data, data analysis / mining is becoming more important as data grows, businesses can leverage these techniques to gain advantage so it’s good to see Microsoft adapt to this and change up their certifications.

HOWEVER, I am still slightly disappointed that there is still no tip of the pyramid certificate.

pya2

A bit of background, I used to hold all three MCITP and MCSE: Data Platform certificates (I failed them a few times but I got there in the end). Logically I would then look to the next step; I just feel that there should be a certificate that surpasses the level of questioning asked in the MCSE exams.

I have this one:

MCSE

When I went to the SQLskills training on the last day we were given questions to troubleshoot and fix. They were tough, made me think hard and we had to “apply” what we learned from the last 10 days or so. These are the sorts of questions I want to evaluate myself against.

I won’t be renewing my MCSE certificate, not because of a lack of motivation to learn, if anything it’s quite the opposite. I am hungrier than ever to pick up and improve my Azure (and SQL) skills and get my hands dirty then hopefully share the knowledge that I gain within my blog.

I will say if you are new to this technology I think it’s a great way to help you get started and learn to a set plan so I would encourage you start at the MSCA, just like I did 10 years ago (It was MCTS back then).