On November 2nd Hewlett Packard has released two new HPE Partner Restricted Sales Certifications: HPE Sales Certified – SMB Solutions and Services [2016] and HPE Sales Certified – Enterprise Solutions [2016]. In order to get certified candidates need to pass either Selling HPE SMB Solutions and Services HPE2-E64 Exam or Selling HPE Enterprise Solutions HPE2-E65 Exam.

Both credentials target Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) sales professionals within HPE channel partner network and HPE employees.  New certifications measure candidates’ ability to recognize customers’ potential and selling opportunities, skills in representing HPE solutions and services versus competitors, overall knowledge of HPE products.

HPE2-E64 Exam focuses on SMB solutions and services for data centers including servers, storage and networking. While HPE2-E65 spans HPE enterprise products which enable transformations in four core IT areas: hybrid infrastructure, protection, empowering, and workplace productivity. By earning one of the HPE Partner Restricted Sales Certifications you will distinguish yourself from the competitors being a solution-focused expert and increase your sales levels by applying the best selling opportunities.

Both Exams are web-based and administered by Pearson VUE testing organization, they can be taken online with 24-hours access. You can take your exam directly on their official website after registration, however you will have to do the test 24 hours after the purchase, otherwise it will get expired. You will also require your HPE Learner ID to register for the test, which can be obtained through online registration at HPE Learner Center.

Each exam consists of 50 questions and is 1 hour 15 minutes long. HPE2-E64 test includes single and multiple-choice questions; HPE2-E65 also has matching and drag-n-drop questions. Both exams are conducted in English and the required passing score is 70%.

Selling HPE SMB Solutions and Services HPE2-E64 Exam Objectives:

The credential comprises of 4 main parts, where 10% of all questions cover HPFS and Transitional Areas; 35% are devoted to Servers, and the candidates should demonstrate his knowledge of different HPE servers’ series, server technologies and their selling skills. 30% of questions are within Storage types, technologies and selling techniques; and 20% are Network questions.

Selling HPE Enterprise Solutions HPE2-E65 Exam Objectives:

This Exam includes seven main sections: Introduction (10%), Understanding Customer Needs for Transforming to a Hybrid Infrastructure (20%); Validating the Opportunity for Transforming to a Hybrid Infrastructure (20%); Qualifying the Opportunity for Transforming to a Hybrid Infrastructure (20%); Understanding, Validating, and Qualifying the Opportunity for Protecting your Digital Enterprise (10%); Understanding, Validating, and Qualifying the Opportunity for Empowering the Data-driven Organization (10%); Understanding, Validating, and Qualifying the Opportunity for Enabling Workplace Productivity (10%).

As for the preparation for the exams, HPE offers to take following certification training online courses:

Selling HPE SMB Solutions and Services Training Course

Selling HPE Enterprise Solutions Training Course

FREE course study materials are available in the Resource section for each of the training courses after registration.

This certification tests your skills and demonstrates that a successful credential holder can position the HP Vertica Big Data Platform appropriately in response to customer needs. It validates your understanding of business drivers and customer pain points, knowledge of analyst reports and case studies, as well as the ability to articulate the business value of HP Big Data solutions. This HP certification also teaches flexible sales approach and the ability to overcome objections.

This certification primarily targets sales representatives seeking opportunities in the Big Data market. To achieve this certification, candidates need to take and pass HP2-N63 exam.

Exam objectives are as follows:

Explain HP Vertica Big Data Platform value proposition and product messaging in the Big Data market

• Describe the different types of data stored by Big Data solutions.
• Describe Vertica Big Data Platform value proposition and key differentiators.

Demonstrate awareness of Vertica Big Data Platform competitors in the Big Data market

• Differentiate Vertica Big Data Platform from legacy data warehousing and analytics technologies.
• Differentiate Vertica Big Data Platform from other Big Data solutions.
• Describe Vertica Big Data Platform positioning with respect to Hadoop.

Understand Vertica Big Data Platform buyers and decision makers

• Explain how to position Vertica Big Data Platform with different decision makers in an opportunity.

HP Vertica Big Data Platform Use Cases

• Identify typical business applications that are appropriate candidates for Vertica Big Data Platform implementation.

Big Data Market Glossary

• Describe relevant terminology and concepts used in the Big Data market.

Still unclear on what the term Big Data actually means?

Big data is a broad term for data sets so large or complex that traditional data processing applications are inadequate. Challenges include analysis, capture, data curation, search, sharing, storage, transfer, visualization, and information privacy. The term often refers simply to the use of predictive analytics or other certain advanced methods to extract value from data, and seldom to a particular size of data set. Accuracy in big data may lead to more confident decision making. And better decisions can mean greater operational efficiency, cost reduction and reduced risk. Vertica Big Data Platform is HP’s big data solution, popular with businesses and enterprises worldwide.

Hey Guys! Happy (belated) Thanksgiving, and HAPPY CYBER MONDAY! The great news is, we are turning it into a Cyber Week! Until the end of this week, enjoy special 35% discount off all Premium VCE files! Here’s your promo code for ExamCollection website: MONDAY35 !!!

What’s more, our friends at Avanset are running a similar sale, and their 35% discount code is CYBERMONDAY – valid for all VCE software purchased through www.avanset.com!

Both codes are valid until Sunday, 7 December, so you still have time to save on your exam prep! But do not procrastinate for too long: remember that these cyber week offers won’t be around forever! Happy Cyber Week!

There’s no shame being one of these people if you do not work in IT industry. But as pretty much any job these days requires at least basic level of computer literacy, CompTIA has developed a formal credential to validate these basic skills.

Meet IT Fundamentals, the newest credential in CompTIA’s certification lineup. This credential replaces Strata IT Fundamental certification which will be phased out in summer 2015.

CompTIA IT Fundamentals certification targets non-IT professionals who cannot escape the need for basic IT skills. It goes without saying that since most industries, like marketing, sales, customer service, management and others tend to rely on software, CRM, and other computer-based tools, these professionals need computer-based skills. For professionals in marketing, communications, and other recession-hit industries where job competition is especially tough, having such credential might be the unique selling point on their resume, something to set them apart from other applicants. CompTIA specifically mentions the following professions:

• Sales associates
• Sales engineers
• Account managers
• Business development managers
• Product and marketing specialists
• Customer support personnel

IT Fundamentals is as basic as it gets for an IT certification. It is a step below the entry level CompTIA A+ credential which was developed for entry level IT professionals, mainly service desk staff. CompTIA IT Fundamentals covers the following aspects:

• Identifying and explaining computer components.
• Setting up a workstation, including conducting software installations.
• Establishing network connectivity.
• Identifying compatibility issues and identifying and preventing security risks.
• Managing the safety and preventative maintenance of computers.

CompTIA IT Fundamentals credential does not have any prerequisites, although candidates should allow sufficient time for learning all information and topics outlined in exam blueprint. The exam itself (already available worldwide), FC0-U51, lasts 1 hour and consists of 75 multiple choice questions.

So is this certification right for you? Or, if you are an experienced IT professional, who do you recommend this credential to?

According to Cisco, the new CCNP Routing and Switching targets to provide candidates with more current topics and forward-looking approaches. For example, it pays close attention to how IPv6 addresses workforce mobility and the proliferation of Internet-connected devices. The refreshed exams also include network scale support and accommodating the continued growth of IoT (Internet of Things, see below).

The refreshed CCNP R&S validates that you have the skills to plan, implement, verify and troubleshoot complex network solutions The new CCNP Routing and Switching exams are:

• Implementing Cisco IP Routing (300-101)
• Implementing Cisco IP Switched Networks (300-115)
• Troubleshooting and Maintaining Cisco IP Networks (300-135)

The current CCNP Routing and Switching exams can be taken until January 29, 2015. So, until that date, to achieve your CCNP R&S certification, you need to take and pass 3 exams:

• 642-902 ROUTE (Last day to test: January 29, 2015) OR 300-101 ROUTE
•  642-813 SWITCH (Last day to test: January 29, 2015) OR 300-115 SWITCH
•  642-832 TSHOOT (Last day to test: January 29, 2015) OR 300-135 TSHOOT

After January 29, only 300-101 ROUTE, 300-115 SWITCH and 300-135 TSHOOT will be available for CCNP Routing and Switching candidates. Before that date, Cisco allows candidates to mix and match old and new exams, so, for example, you can take the old version of the ROUTE, the new version of the SWITCH and any version of the THOOT – or any other combination of the old and new exams.

So What Is the Change About?

Overall, Cisco is stepping up the level of CCNP Routing and Switching credential, bringing it closer to the expert level, as well as other CCNP certifications. CCNP R&S updates have been long overdue, so now CCNP Routing and Switching has been brought up to the same level with other CCNP-level credentials, such as Data Center, Security and Voice.

The new CCNP Routing and Switching 2.0 curriculum emphasizes IPv6, including running dual-stack IPv4 and IPv6 networks. Cisco believes that since the IPv6 demand will keep growing, needs to be matched accordingly. There is also a strengthening emphasis on the Internet of things (IoT) that exists in the form of manufacturing sensors, household gadgets, and other devices that require network connection.

In the new version of CCNP Routing and Switching, Cisco requires candidates to be proficient in StackWise and Virtual Switching Service (VSS) technologies. Both are used to make multiple physical switches behave like a single switch, but there are a number of design considerations and implementation details that impact their behavior in production networks.

Another thing to keep in mind while looking at the new version of CCNP Routing and Switching certification is DMVPN (Dynamic multipoint virtual private network). This technology creates an overlay of secure tunnels across public or leased networks, and it has also been added to the CCNP Routing & Switching track.

Conclusion

This is a huge update for this challenging certification, but, as usual, Cisco accompanies the changes with comprehensive blueprints that list all topics and the weight they carry on each exam. You may find the blueprints here.

Last but not least, be sure to visit our partner for latest real estate offers, including sales and rentals of property in Asia.

The program emerged as a result of Google’s push for their Google Apps for Business offering. This package has become an increasingly popular solution chosen by businesses worldwide. The technologies like Gmail, Google Drive, Google Docs, and the video conference app Hangouts make up a serious competition for Microsoft’s solutions for businesses. And yes, Google Docs and Google Drive easily beat Office 365.

To support organizations that have adopted Google Apps for Business, the company has created its certification program. It primarily targets IT professionals who sell, deploy, administer and support Google Apps for Business packages, which are tailor-made solutions made up of Google technologies such as Gmail, Google Drive, Google Docs, Hangouts and others.) Let’s explore Google Apps Certification Program. It consists of 3 paths:

• Google Certified Sales Specialist
• Google Certified Deployment Specialist
• Google Certified Administrator

Let’s take a closer look at these credentials.

The Google Apps Certified Sales Specialist credential validates the expertise of sales professionals at Google partner companies who demonstrate the skills and knowledge required to sell Google Apps for Business. Candidates interested in this certification should have at least of six months experience selling Google Apps for Business, having closed two or more small, mid-market, or enterprise business deals, before attempting to pass this exam.

The Google Apps Certified Deployment Specialist credential certifies IT professionals possessing the fundamental skills and knowledge required to deploy, configure, and migrate to Google Apps for Business and Education.

As a prerequisite to this credential, candidates need to have at least 3-6 years of professional IT experience, and complete at least 3 Google Apps for Business deployments. The deployments should require some technical complexity and significant data integration and migration work. Candidates should have sufficient experience using Google Apps Directory Sync and server side migration tools, such as Google Apps Migration for Microsoft Exchange®. Details are provided in the Google Apps Certified Deployment Specialist study guide.

The Google Apps Certified Administrator credential targets administrators capable of managing a Google Apps domain. During the exam, candidates have to configure an exam domain and solve typical problems they will encounter as a Google Apps Administrator – this is fully done in the Google Apps Admin console.

Google recommends that a candidate have at least months experience managing a Google Apps domain with a minimum of 50 users before attempting to pass this exam.

Google Apps Exams: Technical Details:

Taking a Google Apps exam will be a very different experience compared to most traditional IT certification exams. Google administers its exams via web-based testing, using the Kryterion testing and web-cam proctoring system. This is an advanced combination of software and a particular web cam to provide a controlled home-based testing environment. A candidate must purchase the Kryterion web camera ($45) in addition to paying the exam fee ($100), but the camera can be used for multiple Apps exams. (you won’t need the camera for The Certified Administrator exam – keep reading for details). All Google Apps certification exams can be taken on both PC and Mac.

The Certified Sales Specialist exam consists of 45-to-55 multiple-choice, multiple-answer and matching questions. Candidates have two hours to complete the exam. The Certified Deployment Specialist exam is made up of 60-to-65 questions, and has a 2.5 hour time limit. With both exams, there is no penalty for incorrect answers, and results are provided immediately following completion of the exam.

For those whose first language isn’t English, the Certified Sales Specialist and Certified Deployment Specialist exams are also available in Japanese, Spanish (Latin American), and Portuguese.

The Certified Administrator exam, however, is a very different exam. The special Kryterion web cam is not required for this exam – you’ll just need to use a computer equipped with any functional web cam. After registering for the exam, a unique Google Apps domain is created for the candidate, who is notified via e-mail when the domain is ready for use.

After being notified, candidates have three days in which to initiate the Certified Administrator exam, and two hours to complete the exam once it has begun. Within a couple of minutes after submitting the exam domain for grading, a pass/fail grade is shown. The Certified Administrator exam is only available in English at this time.

At ExamCollection, we expect these Google Apps credentials to be extremely popular and spread quickly. Would you be interested in pursuing one? Visit Google Apps Certification program website to find out more.

That’s right! Microsoft’s Entire store on sale, letting you save 40% on books and eBooks. Just use discount code NEW40 at checkout.

As Microsoft celebrates the launch of the new Microsoft Press Store, every book and eBook is 40% off through May 11, 2014.

In case you don’t know, when you purchase an eBook you receive three formats—PDF, EPUB and MOBI—for use with your devices. Not bad, is it? Reminder: the freebie coupon expires on May 11, 2014. Shop now!

HP Sales Certified – DesignJet Large Format Printing [2014] credential validates the knowledge and competency needed to sell HP Designjet Large Format Printing solutions to customers. Passing the related exam and obtaining this credential means that the candidate has the knowledge of the complete Designjet T-Series and Z-Series portfolio. This certification covers product positioning, target markets, key values of each printer and product benefits.

Having acquired this certification, the sales professional should  be able to grow their business by recommending HP Designjet Large Format Printing solutions within their customers’ environment. While the certification does not have any prerequisites and is open for everyone, it primarily targets

Typical candidates for this certification are sales professionals seeking to increase their knowledge of HP Designjet Large Format Printing Solutions.

HP Sales Certified – Designjet Large Format Printing [2014] helps candidates achieve the following goals:

• Grow their confidence in recommending and selling HP Desginjet Large Format Printing solutions
• Understand each Designjet T-Series and Z-Series printer, their target markets and key values
• Increase revenue by  providing the best HP Designjet Large Format Printing solution for your customer

To obtain the credential, candidates need to pass HP2-B113 Exam (Selling HP Designjet Large Format Printing). This is an hour-long web based exam that contains 40 questions (multiple choice – single response and multiple response). The minimum passing score is 70%.

Here’s the objectives/sections breakdown for the HP2-B113 Exam:

• 32% T- Series Deep Dive
• 10% – Z2100 Deep Dive
• 10 % – Z3200ps Deep Dive
• 10% – Z5200 Deep Dive
• 25% – Product Highlights
• 5% – HP Software Solutions
• 8% – Target Customers

Would you consider gaining this certification? Why? Feel free to comment and tell us!

Looking for ways to sell cloud products and other emerging technology solutions more efficiently? CompTIA has the answer. Yesterday, 4 December, the company announced its latest additions to address opportunities in advanced communications, cloud-based telephony and mobile device management packed into ‘sales playbooks’ that specifically target opportunities in emerging markets.

What Are Sales Playbooks Exactly?

Earlier this year (July 2013), CompTIA has added Sales Playbooks to its arsenal of IT training materials. Sales playbooks are essentially training packages to help resellers hone their skills in prospecting activities and sales campaigns for emerging technology solutions. CompTIA has also created a range of training courses for the channel to help resellers push cloud services more effectively. They help identify, target, position and close new opportunities in the latest technology. The two playbooks launched in summer targeted cloud technologies: – on cloud-based storage and cloud-based backup.

CompTIA also carries out workshops on these playbooks. Topics they cover include understanding customer needs and challenges; the technology landscape; scoping and qualifying questions and articulating customer benefits for specific product sets.

The Recent Addition

As CompTIA issues its Winter 2014 Channel Training Catalog, it includes the three new playbooks:

• Cloud-Based Telephony – As in many areas of IT, cloud is making VoIP services both more accessible to the end-user and more viable as an offering for a broader number of solution providers.
• Mobile Device Management – As more organizations embrace strategies such as “Bring Your Own Device” and expand the ability of mobile workers to access data outside the office, organizations are challenged with managing an ever growing and diverse inventory of mobile devices.
• Advanced Communications – Whether it’s video conferencing, cloud delivered applications or unified communication and collaboration, advanced communications are at the cornerstone of the mobile connected workplace.

The playbooks combine workshop sessions with templates and training materials designed to help IT sales teams boost their skills in prospecting activities and sales campaigns for emerging technology solutions. Playbooks on cloud-based storage and cloud-based backup and recovery were introduced earlier this year.

“Our Sales Playbooks have quickly become among the most popular of our training offerings for the IT channel,” said Kelly Ricker, senior vice president, events and education, CompTIA.

Explore CompTIA website for details