Have You Heard? Red Hat Changes Certification Program on October 1

Historical context for this 2014 article Originally published on September 26, 2014, this article records Red Hat's October certification-policy announcement. The discussion below retains the language and assumptions of its publication period. Words such as “new,” “now,” “coming soon,” “free,” and references to exam registration or a specific product release are historical statements, not active… Read More »

Red Hat Updates RHEL7-Related Exams: EX200 and EX300

Historical context for this 2014 article Originally published on June 24, 2014, this article records RHEL 7-era EX200 and EX300 changes. The discussion below retains the language and assumptions of its publication period. Words such as “new,” “now,” “coming soon,” “free,” and references to exam registration or a specific product release are historical statements, not… Read More »

Cisco CCIE and CCDE Exam Policy Changes

Cisco certifications have always commanded exceptional respect in the networking industry, and the CCIE and CCDE credentials sit at the very top of that hierarchy. The Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert and Cisco Certified Design Expert represent the most rigorous and prestigious achievements available to networking professionals, requiring years of practical experience, deep technical knowledge, and… Read More »

70-496, 70-497, 70-498 Exam Updates Coming

Microsoft’s decision to update the 70-496, 70-497, and 70-498 examinations came from a combination of factors that made refreshing the content both necessary and timely. The Visual Studio and Team Foundation Server ecosystem had evolved considerably since these exams were originally developed, with new features, updated workflows, and revised best practices emerging through successive product… Read More »

SQL Server 2014 Upgrade Exams… Upgraded!

Historical certification context — October 2026: This article discusses the SQL Server 2012/2014 certification and upgrade pathway as it existed at the time. Microsoft retired the MCSA SQL Server 2012/2014 credential and its associated exams on January 31, 2021. References below to available upgrade tests, registrations or immediate exam preparation are historical, not current opportunities.… Read More »

Microsoft MCSD Updates: 70-486 and 70-487

Editorial update — October 2026: The MCSD web-application and data-service exams 70-486 and 70-487 belong to Microsoft’s retired legacy developer certification program. The final MCSA/MCSD/MCSE examinations were withdrawn on January 31, 2021. This comparison therefore documents the skills those exams used to test; developers seeking a current Microsoft credential should select an active developer, Azure… Read More »

Microsoft 70-410 Exam: Windows Server 2012 R2 Updates

Editorial update — October 2026: Microsoft 70-410 (Installing and Configuring Windows Server 2012) was part of the retired MCSA: Windows Server 2012 pathway. Its R2 features remain useful for supporting an older Windows Server estate, but the exam is no longer a registration option. This article documents the historical objectives; for a new credential, verify… Read More »

New Cisco CCIE R&S Exam V5.0 Coming Soon

The networking world is buzzing with anticipation as Cisco prepares to roll out the updated CCIE Routing and Switching version 5.0 exam. For networking professionals who have built their careers around Cisco technologies, this update represents one of the most significant shifts in the certification program in recent years. The changes coming with version 5.0… Read More »

Windows Store Apps Exam Updates: 70-481, 70-482, 70-484 and 70-485

The Microsoft certification ecosystem has always been a living, breathing structure that shifts in response to how developers actually build software. When Windows 8 arrived and brought with it the concept of Windows Store apps, Microsoft needed a credentialing framework that reflected the new development paradigm. The exams that emerged from that effort — 70-481,… Read More »