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Today, we can’t imagine the world without Microsoft software. Products created by Microsoft
are literally everywhere, so the company decided to ensure quality services for the customers
and created a certification program for specialists working in the IT field. This program covers 4
knowledge levels and dozens of technical domains so individuals with different skills can get
certified and move up the career ladder. Here are 4 Microsoft certification paths:
MTA – for beginners;
MCSA – for associate specialists;
MCSE – for experts;
MCDS – for developers.
The highest step of Microsoft credential is MCSE certification as it gives you the expert rank. But
to get it, you first need to pass prerequisite MCSA certification, and attaining any Microsoft
certification is never going to be a walk in the park. Still, considering how greatly Microsoft
certifications improve an individual’s career prospects, you will equally agree that pursuing
them is worth the effort. This article highlights all you need to know about MCSA: Windows
Server 2012 certification and three related exams, especially Microsoft 70-410 Windows Server
2012 exam. Read on, and you will learn some useful tips to pass your exams and succeed in
obtaining a certification.
Overview
MCSA: Windows Server 2012 certification is intended for professionals who work with Windows
Server 2012 and want to qualify for positions such as a computer systems administrator or
computer network specialist. To get certified, the interested candidate should pass three
mandatory exams:
70-410: Installing and Configuring Windows Server 2012
70-411: Administering Windows Server 2012
70-412: Configuring Advanced Windows Server 2012
Attaining this certification validates your knowledge of implementing a core Windows Server
2012 infrastructure in an existing environment. This certification is ideal for IT professionals
looking to advance their skills at installing and configuring Windows Server 2012. Upon
completion of MCSA: Windows Server 2012, you can move straight to MCSE: Core
Infrastructure certification.
Below we will discuss one of the certification exams included in MCSA: Windows Server 2012
path – 70-410 exam.
Microsoft 70-410 exam
Microsoft 70-410 exam: Configuring Windows Server 2012 is ideal for IT professionals looking
to propel their career to a whole new level and enjoy the benefits it brings.70-410 exam
authenticates your ability to accomplish a variety of tasks related to the implementation and
configuration of Windows Server 2012 core services. It tests up to six topics that include
installing and configuring servers (15-20%),configuring server roles and features (15-
20%),configuring Hyper-V(15-20%),deploying and configuring network services (15-
20%),installing and administering Active Directory(15-20%), and creating and managing Group
Policy(15-20%).
Exam Description
Even though Microsoft does not reveal the exact number of questions beforehand, you should
expect anything between 40-60 questions. The questions may come in various formats such as
active screen, drag-and-drop, build list, multiple-choice, repeated answer choices, review
screen, case studies, hot area and short answer.
When it comes to grading, this exam only presents two possibilities. You can either earn a
“Pass” or a “Fail” status. Pass in this case is any score above 700 while fail represents any score
below it. The time allocated for this exam is 2 hours.
Exam Registration
Microsoft partners with Pearson VUE, the number one exam provider to ensure you achieve
your certification goals in the best way possible. Feel free to enroll for your exam soon after
completing your training. Note that you will have to pay an exam fee of $165 that is the average
cost for most of the Microsoft exams in the US.
Exam Preparation
When you see the list of Microsoft 70-410 exam topics, you understand that nothing can beat
good preparation. There’s a wide range of useful materials available online to help you prepare
for your test. Speaking of the training materials, Microsoft offers several methods for your
exam preparation ranging from video courses to instructor-led training, self-paced training, and
practice test questions just to mention a few.
Instructor-Led Training
Instructor-led training is a course that lasts five days. It is called 20410D: Installing and
configuring Windows server2012. This is a vital course that highlights some of the most crucial
elements of 70-410 exam. All the elements of the course are created by seasoned Microsoft
professionals.
Books
The book Exam Ref 70-410:Installing and Configuring Windows Server 2012 (MCSA)written by
Craig Zacker is packed with the information to help you prepare for 70-410 exam in the best
way possible. This book helps you demonstrate your knowledge of implementing and
configuring Windows Server 2012 core services with the help of challenging what-if scenarios.
Practice Test
You can also take some practice tests to gauge your knowledge of the exam topics before
taking the actual exam. These tests will also help you to learn how to manage your tome during
the actual exam and get rid of the weak spots in your preparation.
PrepAway website is one of the many sites that provide valid training materials for 70-410
exam. Nothing compares to the valid 70-410 practice tests from PrepAway. The fact that these
tests are regularly reviewed makes them a dependable preparation tool. To open the practice
tests, you will need special software.
VCE and ETE Software
Have you heard of the VCE or ETE software before? Well, this is an exam preparation software
that stimulates the real exam environment. Prior exposure to the exam atmosphere may be all
you need to boost your confidence and register positive results in the actual exam. Download
the software from a reliable platform, and you are good to go.
Bottom Line
In summary, earning the prestigious Microsoft certifications is easier if you truly know what you
want. Obviously, the ultimate aim is to attain the highly rewarding MSCE certification but to
reach that level, you need to start from the bottom. Hopefully, this article has highlighted the
crucial elements of Microsoft 70-410 exam to help you attain your certification easily and take
your career to the top where you truly belong.