IBM Certified Deployment Professional - Tivoli Service Automation Manager V7.2.1

Vendor: IBM

Certification overview

IBM offers many certification programs for its Tivoli software and in 2011, it launched IBM Certified Deployment Professional - Tivoli Service Automation Manager V7.2.1 program that was created for measuring skills as well as performance of professionals using Tivoli Service Automation Manager V7.2.1 at work.

This is one of those IBM Certifications that require a candidate to appear for two different examinations before the certificate could be achieved.

Who can do this certification:

Professionals who have experience of managing IT infrastructure as well are involved in planning on Tivoli Automation Manager and can manage different tasks efficiently without taking any support from other experts can apply to this certification to bring out their expertise in the global market. There is no specific role requirement to become eligible or capable for this exam. Anyone using the software assuming different roles like trainer, developer, reseller, architect, etc. can take this exam to get certified.

Benefits

When a person is certified, on can perform better as the exam enhances the skills of the person. This benefits the firm in terms of better sales, more credibility, and thus are preferred by consumers as well as get more returns. This is why companies prefer to hire as well as retain IBM Certified employees. Thus, certified professionals can grow more and their employability is enhanced. The accreditation also allows professionals to interact with skilled professionals from all over the world. This networking can increase their exposure as well as experience thereby increasing their growth potential.

One more benefit that is prevalent for professionals getting certified is that any release of new product or an examination would be communicated fast to them so that they can keep themselves updated with new skill sets. Moreover, certified professionals are also offered bonuses by IBM and related communications on these products and certification examinations.

Associated Exams

The certification requires a professional to clear two different exams:

• Exam number 017 for Foundations of Tivoli Process Automation Engine
• Exam number 031 for IBM Tivoli Service Automation Manager V7.2.1 Implementation

Pre-requisites

To pass this examination, some working knowledge (or skill level 2) on following subjects is essential:

• Tivoli Process Automation Engine
• IBM Tivoli Provisioning Manager 
• IBM Tivoli Service Request Manager
• IBM Tivoli Monitoring
• Cygwin
• XML
• AIX, Linux, Windows administration
• Networking technologies
• Relational databases
• LDAP
• Configuration management
• Installation methods

Examination Overview

The exams requires the test taker to have knowledge of following concepts:

• Architecture of Tivoli Service Automation Manager V7.2.1 
• Components of Tivoli Service Automation Manager V7.2.1 
• Modelling of data centres for mapping IT infrastructure
• Configuration and integration of Tivoli Service Automation Manager V7.2.1 
• Workflow provisions
• Administration of Tivoli Service Automation Manager V7.2.1 
• Performance tuning
• Problem detection

The exam no. 17 is a foundational examination for people working on implementations of Tivoli Automation manager and acts as a requisite for this certification as well as for some other exams like IBM Tivoli Maximo Asset Management.

Validity of the Certification

The exam was withdrawn on 30th September 2013 such that the exam number 017 is replaced by the new test with number C2010-571. However, the replacement of the exam number 031 is still not available and is expected to be disclosed soon.

Steps involved in the certification

The certification on Tivoli Service Automation Manager V7.2.1 as an IBM Certified Deployment professional can be done in following steps:

• There are two tests 017 and 031 that are to be registered separately online with the IBM website
• Upon receiving the confirmation Email, candidate must keep all identity documents ready to be able to take the test at the desired date in the test centre.
• At the test centre, the applicant can appear for the two test one by one and obtain the scores
• After clearing both the exams only the process of certificate preparation would start for which the vendor would be submitting the score details to IBM
• The candidate would receive the first certification within five days of completing second examination via email.
• The candidate can optionally register on the IBM Certification website and submit the certificate information to download the score report as well as to network with fellow professionals
• Candidate can optionally apply for a premium certification after receiving the first certification. A premium certificate would state the person as an IBM Certified professional and would be received in a physical form.

Expert Review

This certification must be taken by people working on Tivoli Service Automation Manager V7.2.1 for as long as 5 years and have sufficient expertise to be able to carry out all critical tasks on the solution. This will add credibility to their profile and would provide recognition in the industry globally.

Shanta Jayawardhane, Salix Pharmaceuticals Ltd.

Colombo, Sri Lanka