Microsoft Business Intelligence Certification
Microsoft's Business Intelligence Certifications are geared to test real-world implementation of SQL Server's data management and analytic tools. Microsoft Business Intelligence Certification exams 70-445 & 70-445 will earn you the MCITP: Business Intelligence Developer certification. By preparing for and taking these exams, you will better understand what is beneath PerformancePoint Server 2007.
Because the BI field is still relatively new, there is good reason for gaining certification status. But this post doesn't discuss the purposes, pros, or cons for taking BI certification exams.
Practical tips for preparing for the exam
For starters, become familiar with the tools represented by four-letter acronyms in SQL Server 2005; SSIS, SSAS, SSRS, SSMS, and BIDS. Here is a simple explanation or these.
SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) - provides a completely new enterprise extraction, transformation, and loading (ETL) platform that comes with the features, tools, and functionality to build both classic and innovative kinds of ETL-based applications.
SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS) - SQL Server 2005 Analysis Services provides an integrated view of your business data for reporting, OLAP analysis, Key Performance Indicator (KPI) scorecards, and data mining.
SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) - provides customers with an enterprise-capable reporting platform with a comprehensive environment for authoring, managing, and delivering reports to the entire organization. Allows for reporting in an ad-hoc fashion.
SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) - integrated environment for accessing, configuring, managing, administering, and developing all components of SQL Server. SQL Server Management Studio combines the features of Enterprise Manager, Query Analyzer, and Analysis Manager, included in previous releases of SQL Server, into a single environment. In addition, SQL Server Management Studio works with all components of SQL Server such as Reporting Services, Integration Services, SQL Server Compact Edition, and Notification Services.
Business Intelligence Development Studio (BIDS) - allows for easy creation of data sources and report formatting. As an alternative, if you already use Visual Studio for other development projects, this tool can create Report Service projects as well.
"I would start with a book and some virtual labs, as you mentioned. But beyond that there is no better way to learn than experience. You don't have a DW there? Don't let that stop you... Build a small test one from your company's data, during your downtime. Building a warehouse will give you tremendous insights into your company's data and business. Who knows, maybe they'll even adopt it! If not, at least you will have gone through the motions and you'll have a much better grasp on BI than people who only read the books and did the labs."
Adam Machanic - SQL Server MVP.
More tips...
I just read a pretty good article with tips to prepare for it at SQLServerCentral.com. Click here. In it, Andrew Sears provides a list that breaks down the content to study that he suggests you paste into OneNote 2007. Doing this will help you organize and keep track of what has been reviewed.
I invite you to e-mail me tips and other blog posts that offer good advice for passing the exams.
