Microsoft training often means a lot of different things. To certain people 'Microsoft' training suggests understanding software-packages, and to other people it means getting more advanced level IT certifications to work at a professional level in the IT sector. When you're contemplating any kind of training program it is a good idea to first look at what you want to get from it - put simply why did you start trying to find training to begin with? We constantly advise that if you plan to go after I.T. as a career, have a proper careers discussion with a professional advisor, to ensure you do not squander either your money or your time.

If you'd enjoy being a competent user to assist you as part of your job, or study for a specialist job in a supporting position, there are a number of training courses to get you there. To learn about 'Office' 2003 (XP) take a look at 'MOS' - 'Microsoft Office Specialist'. For Office 2007 (Vista) skills choose 'MCAS' - 'Microsoft Certified Application Specialist'. For a certification to support other users, research the Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician, or MCDST as its known.

On the other hand, you're possibly looking to get into a professional role in the IT market, and need advanced level Microsoft accreditation. In a move to up-grade their professional certification programs, 'Microsoft' have fairly recently restructured several of their examinations. 'Microsoft Certified IT Professional' ('MCITP') and Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist ('MCTS') have been introduced, although a number of Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) examinations remain current. 'MCTS' learning programs are typically worked on as building-blocks towards the MCITP.

Amongst Microsoft's great strengths over the last couple of decades has to have been their drive towards professional level certification, causing several other companies to follow suit & increase their standards. Because of this the whole IT industry and especially senior management view professional level MS certifications with huge respect.

A unique language has been designed for working on & interrogating databases, referred to as 'SQL', or 'Structured Query Language'. Anyone hoping to be employed with 'Databases' in a professional manner must learn how to understand 'SQL', in order to manage data successfully. There are two routes for Database experts - Database Administrators who manage & report on the data being kept, & 'Database Developers', who are the designers and builders of 'databases'. Quite often, a DB Developer will also obtain programming accreditations (in either VB or 'C#',) to hold the complete skillset needed to create Database software, as well as design the storage structures.

'Microsoft' indicates the operating system Windows to many people who use computers. It could also suggest 'Microsoft Office', which provides us with a selection of commonplace computer applications. Microsoft 'Word' is the most commonly used application for word processing around the globe. When it comes to spread-sheets we use Excel, & when we require database software programs we use Access. The final one of the key four programs in 'Office' is 'PowerPoint', which is commonly used for giving presentations. (Having said that there are several more within the 'Microsoft' stable, including 'Outlook', which is very widely as an email, 'messaging' and calendar solution.)

Business & global commerce are over-whelmingly led by 'Microsoft' Network & Server Operating Systems. The standard platform for around eight or nine out of every ten business networks is estimated to be 'Windows' Server. It began as 'NT' server but the software has been elevated through the years to 'Server 2000', Server 2003 and most recently 'Server 2008'. A large amount of corporations still use 'Server 2003' as their operating platform, & do not plan to switch. Generally, it's the previous platforms that will up-date (NT Server or 'Server 2000') - effectively passing up a generation. More information about Server 2003 & '2008' is available on our specific MCSE & 'MCSA' training web-pages, where you will likewise find out more about MS Network and Server Operating-Systems.

The principal 'Windows' software development environment is called Microsoft 'Visual Studio'. C#.Net and 'VB.Net' tend to be the most popular 'languages' to master. You can learn more about these by reading our dedicated Programming pages. The main certifications are the MCTS and MCPD (having superseded the older MCAD and 'MCSD'.)

If we take the core IT systems we're able to then examine the certification programs that Microsoft offers. They are specifically Networking (& Server Operating Systems), Databases (which encompasses Administration & Development) and Programming (and Software-Development in Windows). There are particular and different certification groups for each one of these routes; visit the relevant pages on this website for more specifics.

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