management and virtualization competency guide sept 2011

7/31/2019 Management and Virtualization Competency Guide Sept 2011

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EVOLUTION OF THESYSTEMS MANAGEMENT ANDVIRTUALIZATION COMPETENCIES

September, 2011


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INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................................

WHY ARE WE MERGING THE TWO COMPETENCIES? .....................................................................

HOW DOES THE NEW COMPETENCY HELP PARTNERS? ............................................................... 4

MICROSOFT INVESTMENT IN MANAGEMENT AND VIRTUALIZATION .................................... 4

MANAGEMENT AND VIRTUALIZATION COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS ................................ 5

IMPACT OF SYSTEM CENTER 2012 LAUNCH ......................................................................................

UPDATE TO SERVER PLATFORM COMPETENCY ...............................................................................

APPENDIX ..................................................................................................................................................

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ) ............................................................................................

SPECIAL PROMOTIONS ..........................................................................................................................

EVOLUTION OF THESYSTEMS MANAGEMENT ANDVIRTUALIZATION COMPETENCIESSeptember, 2011


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Introduction In May 2012, the Systems Management and Virtualization competencies are merging to form a

new competency called Management and Virtualization . This change reflects the continuedconvergence of management and virtualization in the marketplace, and prepares partners todeliver Private Cloud solutions. Whether you sell, design or deploy management or virtualizationsolutions, the Microsoft Management and Virtualization competency can help to expand yourrole as a trusted advisor, create new business models, and generate new revenue streams foryour practice.

Attaining the Management and Virtualization competency gives you the opportunity todifferentiate your business by delivering a new breed of Private Cloud, Management andVirtualization solutions. To support this, the competency provides access to relevant updates,

resources, tools, and training for Microsoft management and virtualization technologies. Inaddition, the gold competency qualifies you to earn substantial channel benefits throughprograms like the Management and Virtualization Solution Incentive Program (SIP) and thePrivate Cloud, Management and Virtualization Deployment Planning Services (PVDPS).

Why are we merging the two competencies?Microsofts value proposition is unique in the marketpl ace, primarily because of the deepintegration of our hypervisor and management technologies (Windows Server 2008 R2 with

Hyper- V and System Center respectively). Microsofts proven datacenter virtualization andmanagement solutions provide customers with a familiar, supported, and cost-effectivetechnology platform to help them improve datacenter operations, deliver reliable services, andlower costs. Furthermore, our integrated management and virtualization solution is a first step inthe customers journ ey to the Private Cloud.

This unique value proposition is clearly resonating in the marketplace, with customers of all sizes now using Microsoft Management and Virtualization solutions in their datacenters. Propelled bythis momentum, System Center is now one of the fastest growing products at Microsoft.Consequently, the merger of the complementary Systems Management and Virtualizationcompetencies into a single competency is to help align our partner competency structure withour solutions positioning and sales motion.
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/server-cloud/datacenter/virtualization-case-studies.aspxhttp://www.microsoft.com/en-us/server-cloud/datacenter/virtualization-case-studies.aspxhttp://www.microsoft.com/en-us/server-cloud/datacenter/virtualization-case-studies.aspxhttp://www.microsoft.com/en-us/server-cloud/datacenter/virtualization-case-studies.aspx


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How does the new competency help partners?By attaining the new Management and Virtualization competenc y, you will align with Microsoftsintegrated value proposition, marketing investments, and sales motion. This will allow you totake advantage of the marketplace momentum that System Center and Hyper-V have been

experiencing, and to lead the market evolution towards the Private Cloud.

A large number of current Virtualization partners are also enrolled in the Systems Managementcompetency (and vice-versa). Merging the two competencies will simplify the way Infrastructurepartners manage their partnership through the Microsoft Partner Network.

Finally, the merger will reduce the cost of competency attainment, reducing the requirementsfor gold competency to four certified specialists (versus eight for attaining both goldcompetencies separately), one accredited sales individual (versus two currently), and fivecustomer references (versus ten currently).

Microsoft Investment in Management and VirtualizationThe merger of the two competencies will not result in you losing any of your existing SIP or DPSbenefits. On the contrary, it will help you optimize your ability to take advantage of thesubstantial Microsoft investments in integrated management and virtualization, such as:

The recently announced Private Cloud, Management and Virtualization DeploymentPlanning Services (PVDPS). Help your customers plan effective deployments of SystemCenter, Windows Server and Hyper-V and get paid by Microsoft (through customersoftware assurance benefits) to provide these engagements.

Management and Virtualization Solution Incentive Program (SIP). This program rewardspartners (up to 30% on a customer deal) for driving sales of Microsoft solutions chosenfor their growth and market potential.

The above programs demonstrate Microsofts commitment to help you build successfulmanagement and virtualization practices.
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Management and Virtualization Competency RequirementsThe merged competency is scheduled to launch toward the end of May 2012. After the merge,all active Systems Management and/or Virtualization competency partners willautomatically get transferred to the new competency.

After May 2012, partners who want to obtain the merged competency will need to meet thefollowing requirements (please note that the new requirements also apply to any existingVirtualization or Systems Management partner renewing after May 2012):

Silver Competency Gold Competency

Certification Requirements One person has passed one of these exams: Exam 70-400: TS: SC Operations Manager 2007,

Configuring Exam 70-401: TS: SC Configuration Manager 2007,

Configuring Exam 70-658: TS: SC Data Protection Manager 2007,

Configuring.

AND

One person has passed one of these exams: Exam 70-659: TS: Windows Server 2008 R2, Server

Virtualization Exam 70-669: TS: Windows Server 2008 R2, Desktop

Virtualization.

Certification RequirementsFour unique persons have each passed the following exams:

Exam 70-693: Pro: Windows Server 2008 R2,Virtualization Administrator

AND Exam 70-400: TS: SC Operations Manager 2007,

Configuring OR Exam 70-401: TS: SC ConfigurationManager 2007, Configuring

AND Exam 70-659: TS: Windows Server 2008 R2, Server

Virtualization OR Exam 70-669: TS: Windows Server2008 R2, Desktop Virtualization.

Business Assessments Licensing: One person has passed the Microsoft

licensing overview assessment. Sales: One person has passed the Microsoft Sales

Specialist Management and Virtualizationassessment.


licensing overview assessment. Sales: Two persons have passed the Microsoft Sales

Specialist Management and Virtualization assessment.

Customer Evidence Requirements Submit three customer references that showcase

design and implementation of a solution using SystemCenter and Virtualization

Customer Evidence Requirements Submit five customer references that showcase design

and implementation of a solution using System Centerand Virtualization

Each reference must feature a project that yourorganization has completed within the past 12 monthsand will be verified with your customer


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Impact of System Center 2012 launchNew certifications for System Center 2012 will be available in the first half of calendar year 2012(no specific dates have yet been announced). A new sales assessment based on System Center2012 will also be released for the Management and Virtualization competency during the same

period.

We encourage partners interested in attaining our Infrastructure competencies to attain thecurrent Virtualization competency (see FAQ for more details). The certifications in the currentVirtualization competency will remain valid for at least one year after the release of the newSystem Center 2012 certifications.

Update to Server Platform competencyServer virtualization is now an essential pillar of server management and Hyper-V is a keycomponent of the Windows Server platform. Therefore, the Server Platform competency will beupdated in May 2012. For example, we are adding one exam related to server virtualizationconfiguration and management.


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Detailed Server Platform competency requirements are below:

Silver Competency Gold Competency

Certification Requirements One person has passed one of these exams: Exam 70-640: TS: WS 2008 Active Directory,

Configuring Exam 70-646: PRO: WS 2008, Server Administrator Exam 70-647: PRO: WS 2008, Enterprise

Administrator Exam 70-690: TS: HPC Server 2008, Configuring

and Managing Exam 70-691: TS: HPC Server 2008, Developing.

AND

One person has passed: Exam 70-659: TS: Windows Server 2008 R2, Server

Virtualization

Certification RequirementsFour unique persons each hold one of the followingcertifications: MCITP: Enterprise AdministratorOR MCITP: Server Administrator

AND Exam 70-659: TS: Windows Server 2008 R2, Server

Virtualization.


licensing overview assessment. Sales: One person has passed the Microsoft Sales

Specialist Server Platform assessment.


licensing overview assessment. Sales: Two people have passed the Microsoft Sales

Specialist Server Platform assessment.

Customer Evidence Requirements Submit three customer references that showcasedesign and implementation of a solution usingone of the following technologies: Windows Server 2008 R2 or Windows HPC

Server including Microsoft Server Virtualization

Customer Evidence Requirements Submit five customer references that showcasedesign and implementation of a solution usingWindows Server 2008 R2 or Windows HPC Serverincluding Microsoft Server Virtualization

Each reference must feature a project that yourorganization has completed within past 12 monthsand verified by your customer


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Appendix

Competency Migration pathsTo help you understand how you can attain the new Management and Virtualizationcompetency, below are migration paths that will vary based upon which competency you haveattained today.

Path to migrate from the Silver System Management competency

C u r r e n

t R e q u

i r e m e n

t s

Technical Requirements: One person must also pass one of these exams: Exam 70 -659 TS: Server Virtualization Exam 70 -669 TS: Desktop Virtualization

Sales Requirement: New Sales Specialist Assessment will be available in May 2012

References: Three verifiable references demonstrating Virtualization and SystemManagement design and implementation.

A d d i t i o n a l

R e q u

i r e m e n

t s

Technical Requirements: Two people have passed two of the following exams: Exam 70 -400 TS: SCOM 2007 Configuring

Exam 70 -401 TS: SCCM 2007 Configuring Exam 70 -403 TS: SCVMM 2008 Configuring (Retired September 2011) Exam 70 -658 TS: SCDPM 2007 Configuring

Sales Requirement: One person has passed the Microsoft Sales Specialist assessment

Licensing: One person has passed the Microsoft licensing overview assessment

References: Three verifiable references proving the implementation of either SCOM,SCVMM, SCDPM, SCCM or System Center Essentials.

Migration to

Mgmt + VirtCompetency


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Path to migrate from the Gold System Management competency

Technical Requirements:Four people who have passed one of the following certifications:

MCITP: Enterprise Administrator or MCITP: Server Administrator In addition, each person must have two of the following exams:

Exam 70 -400 TS: SCOM 2007 Configuring Exam 70 -401 TS: SCCM 2007 Configuring Exam 70 -403 TS: SCVMM 2008 Configuring (retired in Sept. 2011) Exam 70 -658 TS: SCDPM 2007 Configuring

Sales Requirement: Two people have passed the Microsoft Sales Specialist assessment Revenue Commitment: Beginning October 2012


References: Five verifiable references proving the implementation of either SCOM, SCVMM,SCDPM, SCCM or System Center Essentials.

CSAT: Survey to customers.

C u r r e n

t R

e q u

i r e m e n

t s

Technical Requirements: Four people must pass: Exam 70 -693 PRO: Virtualization Administrator

AND Exam 70 -659 TS: Server Virtualization OR Exam 70 -669 TS: Desktop Virtualization

AND Exam 70 -400 TS: SCOM 2007 Configuring OR Exam 70 -401 TS: SCCM 2007

Configuring


References: Five verifiable references demonstrating Virtualization and System Managementdesign and implementation.

A d d i t i o n a l

R e q u

i r e m e n

t s

Migration toMgmt + Virt

Competency


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Path to migrate from the Silver Virtualization competency

Technical Requirements: 4 options:1. Two persons have each passed 70 -400 TS and 70 652 TS 2. Two persons have passed: 70 -659 TS 3. Two persons have passed 70 -401 TS and 70 -656 TS 4. Two persons have passed: 70 -669 TS

Sales Requirement: One person has passed the Microsoft Sales Specialist assessment


References: Three verifiable references proving the design & implementation of MicrosoftVirtualization Solutions (server or desktop)

Technical Requirements:

If option 1, then add 70 -659 TS: Server Virtualization OR 70 -669 TS: DesktopVirtualization If option 2, then add 70 -400 TS: SCOM 2007 Configuring OR 70 -401 TS: SCCM 2007

Configuring OR 70 -658 TS: SCDPM 2007 Configuring If option 3, then add 70 -659 TS: Server Virtualization OR 70 -669 TS: Desktop

Virtualization If option 4, then add 70 -400 TS: SCOM 2007 Configuring OR 70 -401 TS: SCCM 2007

Configuring OR 70 -658 TS: SCDPM 2007 Configuring


References: Three verifiable references demonstrating Virtualization and System

Management design and implementation.

C u r r e n

t R e q u

i r e m e n

t s

A

d d i t i o n a l

R e q u

i r e m e n t s

Migration toMgmt + VirtCompetency


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Path to migrate from the Gold Virtualization competency

C u r r e n

t R e q u

i r e m e n

t s

A d

d i t i o n a l

R e q u

i r e m e n

t s

Technical Requirements: 3 options:1. Server Virtualization: Four unique persons have achieved the MCITP Windows Server

2008 R2, Virtualization Administration certification 2. Server Administration: Four unique persons have achieved either the MCITP Enterprise

Administrator or MCITP Server Administrator certification + 70 -659 TS and 70 -652 TS 3. Desktop Virtualization: Four unique persons have each passed the MCITP Enterprise

Desktop Administration 7 certification + 70 -669 TS or 70 -401 TS and 70 -656 TS

Sales Requirement: Two persons have passed the Microsoft Sales Specialist assessment


Revenue Commitment: Beginning October 2012

References: Five verifiable references proving the design & implementation of MicrosoftVirtualization Solutions (server or desktop)

CSAT: Survey to customers.

Technical Requirements: If option 1, then add 70 -400 TS: SCOM 2007 Configuring OR 70 -401 TS: SCCM 2007

Configuring If option 2, then add 70 -400 TS: SCOM 2007 Configuring OR 70 -401 TS: SCCM 2007

Configuring AND 70 -693 PRO: Virtualization Administrator If option 3, then add 70 -400 TS: SCOM 2007 Configuring TS OR 70 -401 TS: SCCM 2007

Configuring OR 70 -659 TS: Server Virtualization OR 70 -669 TS: Desktop Virtualization AND 70 -693 PRO: Virtualization Administrator


References: Five verifiable references demonstrating Virtualization and Systems Managementdesign and implementation.

Migration toMgmt + VirtCompetency


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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: When does the competency merger take place?

A: The merger of the Systems Management and Virtualization competencies into onecompetency (known as Management and Virtualization ) will take place by the end of May2012.

Q: What will happen to active Virtualization and Systems Management partnerswhen the merger takes place?A: At the end of May 2012, all active Virtualization and Systems Management partners will beautomatically moved into the merged Management and Virtualization competency. After themerge, partners will have until their next renewal date to attain the requirements for the mergedcompetency (please see requirements section in document above for more details).

Q: Which competency membership will active Virtualization and SystemsManagement partners transition into once the merge occurs?A: Partners that have either a Virtualization or Systems Management competency (i.e. those whodo not have both) will move into the merged competency and retain their current status (goldor silver) that they have at the time of the merger.

Partners who have both competencies at the time of the merger will move into the newcompetency using the following rules:

Partners who have a gold competency in either Systems Management and/orVirtualization will transition into the Gold Management and Virtualization competency

Partners who have a silver competency in either Systems Management and/orVirtualization will transition into the Silver Management and Virtualization competency

Q: What is the recommendation for partners who do not have either of the twocurrent competencies but are interested in attaining one of the two before May2012?A: If you do not have a Systems Management or a Virtualization competency today, but areinterested in one or both, it is our recommendation that you pursue the existingVirtualization competency (i.e. NOT Systems Management). As the requirements for themerged Management and Virtualization competency align more closely with the current


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Virtualization competency requirements, this will reduce the number of additional exams yourcompany has to take when renewing after the merger.

Specifically, if you are interested in attaining a Silver Virtualization competency, we recommenddoing so by pursing the current credential Option 2 or Option 4 . Alternately, if you areinterested in attaining a Gold Virtualization competency, we recommend doing so by pursuingthe current credential Option 1 .

Please note that the guidance to pursue the Virtualization competency as opposed to theSystems Management competency is based on helping you reduce the number of requiredincremental exams that the merged competency will require, and only applies to partners whodo not have either competency today.

Q: Why is Microsoft waiting until May to merge the two competencies?A: The competency merger will add new requirements for partners who currently have theSystems Management or Virtualization competencies. As such, we want to provide partnerswith sufficient time to understand, plan for, and meet the new qualification requirements. Weare announcing this change now to ensure our partners will be ready for this new competencythat will enable them to provide innovative Private-Cloud offerings to their customers.

Q: If I have a Virtualization or Systems Management competency now, do I haveto meet any new requirements before May 2012 to attain the new Management

and Virtualization competency?A: As long as you meet requirements for the current Systems Management or Virtualizationcompetency by May 2012, you do not need to meet any new requirements in order to beautomatically moved into the merged competency. However, after May 2012, you will have tomeet the requirements for the new competency prior to your subsequent renewal date.Therefore, we strongly recommend that you familiarize yourself with the requirements for thenew competency, assessing gaps in your organization, and planning for a smooth transition.

Q: What is the guidance for existing Systems Management or Virtualizationpartners with renewal dates before May 2012, (i.e. before the competenciesmerge)?A: Existing Systems Management or Virtualization competency partners that renew before May2012 are required to renew into either the Systems Management or Virtualization (or both). Thatsaid, we strongly recommend that you familiarize yourself with the merged/new competency
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requirements, assess gaps in your organization, and plan for a smooth transition into themerged competency.

Q: What is the guidance for existing Systems Management or Virtualizationpartners with renewal dates after May 2012, (i.e. after the competencies merge)?A: Existing Systems Management or Virtualization competency partners renewing after May2012 will be required to comply with the requirements of the new Management andVirtualization competency. These partners should immediately review the requirements for themerged competency, and plan on addressing gaps well in advance of the launch of the mergedcompetency.

Q: Prior to May 2012, does a partners choice of competency (Virtualization or

Systems Management) have an impact on the ability to leverage the SolutionsIncentive Program (SIP)? Will there be a difference after the merge?A: Attaining a Gold System Management or Gold Virtualization competency, as well as the newGold Management and Virtualization competency (available next May) will make partnerseligible for the Microsoft Solution Incentive Program (SIP) for the same range of products: CoreIO Suites, Virtualization, System Center or Identity and Security Solutions.

Q: Prior to May 2012, does a partners choice of competency (Virtualization or

Systems Management) have an impact on the ability to propose the Private Cloud,Management & Virtualization Deployment Planning Services (PVDPS) to mycustomers? Will there be a difference after the merge?A: Attaining a Gold Systems Management or Gold Virtualization competency, as well as the newGold Management and Virtualization competency (available May 2012) will make partnerseligible for the Private Cloud, Management & Virtualization Deployment Planning Services(PVDPS).

Q: Which competency does Microsoft recommend to partners that are interestedin building a Private Cloud Practice?The new Management and Virtualization competency is the recommended path for partnersinterested in building a Private Cloud Practice. Before this competency is released in May 2012,we recommend that partners attain the existing Virtualization or Systems Managementcompetencies. To train your sales force on having Private Cloud conversations with customers,


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we recommend taking the Microsoft Partner Network Private Cloud Sales-SpecialistAccreditation: Microsoft Partner Network - Sales Specialist Accreditation .

For partners interested in developing a comprehensive datacenter infrastructure practicebeyond management and virtualization, we recommend partners also attain the Server Platformcompetency.

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management and virtualization competency guide sept 2011

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