What skills MCSE Desktop Infrastructure exam validates?

Certification: Microsoft MCSE - Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert

Microsoft certified system engineer (MCSE): Desktop Infrastructure Certification is a globally renowned standard for IT professionals. The Desktop Infrastructure Certification proves that the professional can install and maintain the desktop and other devices that are used to access from different locations. The professional holds this certification can also maintain the security of the desktop. The Desktop Infrastructure certification also confirms the skills in virtualization, remote desktop management and virtualization of applications.

If a professional earns Desktop Infrastructure Certification becomes eligible for the job position such as desktop associate in desktop and device support profiles, application manager, etc. The certification is designed to examine the skills of the IT professionals who are willing to get the knowledge required in the field of designing, managing and installing of Windows server (2012). It includes the application management, virtualization of application, the implementation of business continuity and maintenance of remote desktop. Before taking this certification exam, the professionals must have previous experience of at least three years (as recommended by the Microsoft) in the Windows server 2012 and cloud environment and should have the MCSA certification.

There are several skills in many areas are validated by the Desktop Infrastructure Certification. For getting this certification candidates need to pass two exams. Both the exams examine the knowledge and skill set of different IT fields. This certification program is a package which has two exams that validate the skills of designing and implementation of Windows server and desktop. If a professional holds this certification, then it is considered that he can configure the Windows server and implement the desktop services like the maintenance of desktop images, desktop virtualization. If candidate passes both the exams he proves his knowledge of designing, installation and maintenance of the desktop services in the Windows server environment.

The skills validated by Exam 415:

1. Designing and determining the desktop installation: This area covers the designing environment which includes several aspects such as changes needed in the infrastructure, client boot technique for installation, network load, topology, physical and virtual distribution points. The installation and configuration of Microsoft toolkit, configuration of network services to support installation is covered in this area. So, the skills required to perform all these tasks are validated under this area. There are few other skills which are validated like configuration of WDS server and configuration of System center 2012. The designing and implementation of user state movement includes the determining of the user data and settings, remote storage, planning for application, the storage size and security of migrated data.
2. Image Management Strategy: The image management includes types of images, images format, images based on operating system and hardware. The preparation of the operating system for the purpose of capturing images by using Windows service. The manual capturing of images to an existing file or a new file is also included in this area. The skills required to perform all these tasks are measured under this area. The knowledge of updating the images using virtual machines is also evaluated.
3. Implementation of desktop security and desktop settings:  The configuration of virtualization such as roaming profiles, management of profile disks, folder management, etc. The configuration of desktop security which includes the encryption of file system, planning of device restriction and media restrictions. All these skills are measured in this area.
4. Planning and implementing desktop services and infrastructure: In this area skills required for applying the Windows updates and virtual desktop updates. The monitoring of the remote desktop server and health of server is also covered. In this part the configuring of virtual desktop collection, remote desktop collection and their creation is also included.

The skills validated by Exam 416:

1. Designing of application distribution strategy: The design includes offline access, installation and remote locations and planning of application updates. Configuration of Microsoft planning toolkit, application compatible toolkit and online services is covered. The configuration of offline services, applying offline patches. All such skills are evaluated in this section.
2. Implementation of virtualization Infrastructure:  The configuration of remote desktop session, installing the web access, the remote desktop performance analysis. The knowledge to prepare the remote desktop session, configuring of remote applications and configuring file extensions is evaluated in this aspect. The management of remote application is also covered.
3. Installation and maintenance of application strategy: This part covers the installation of application to the desktop. Configuring of system center and its update installation. The configuration of application updates is involved and the candidates should have the knowledge to perform these tasks. The implementation of strategy such as app locker policy, end to end protection and settings. The candidates should also know how to manage the user account control and configuring the Windows firewall. They should have the awareness of configuring software restriction strategy. Monitoring part is also included such as monitoring the remote desktop sessions, application licensing, monitoring real time sessions, etc.
4. Designing the strategy of desktop business continuity and implementation: The designing and implementing of remote web access which could be available vastly. The designing of gateway for remote desktop, backup and recovery of remote server, configuration of virtual machine. Apart from these skills, the candidates should gain the awareness of business continuity for desktop collection, designing of data store and management server, implementation of data sharing and managing other back up if required.

These are the skills which are evaluated by Exam 415 and Exam 416, the skills required to perform all these operations are examined in the Desktop Infrastructure Certification program. This is the reason if the professional holds this credential considered as the right candidate for the jobs in the relevant area of IT services required for Windows server 2012 environment.