• 318,  Apps,  Articles and Books,  Bushel,  Business,  certifications,  Mac OS X,  Mac OS X Server,  Mac Security,  Mass Deployment,  Microsoft Exchange Server,  Minneapolis

    My 3,000th Post On Krypted

    November 16, 2015

    This is my 3,000th post on Krypted.com. The past 3,000 posts have primarily been about OS X Server, Mac automation, Mac deployment, scripting, iOS deployments, troubleshooting, Xsan, Windows Servers, Exchange Server, Powershell, security, and other technical things that I have done in my career. I started the site in response to a request from my first publisher. But it took on a mind of its own. And I’m happy with the way it’s turned out. My life has changed a lot over these past 11 years. I got married and then I got divorced. I now have a wonderful daughter. I became a partner and the Chief Technology Officer of 318 and helped to shape it into…

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  • certifications,  Mac OS X,  Mac OS X Server

    Goodbye Certified Apple Server Training!

    November 10, 2015

    I remember way back, long ago, before the iPad, and before the iPhone, Apple had official certification training for OS X Server. I think I got my first certification around 10.3. Over time, additional courses appeared. There was an Xsan course, there was an OS X Server course, and there were plans for more. At the height of the Apple certification program, you could get the following for a full on systems administration plethora of acronyms, including ACDT, ACTC, ACSA, and ACMA: Mac OS X Support Essentials v10.6: Prometric #9L0-403, removed on May 31, 2012 Mac OS X Server Essentials v10.6: Prometric #9L0-510, removed on May 31, 2012 Mac OS X…

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  • certifications,  iPhone,  Mac OS X,  Microsoft Exchange Server

    New Microsoft Office for Mac and iOS Accreditation via MacTech

    March 20, 2015

    I recently got the announcement of the new official Microsoft Office Accreditation through MacTech. I was lucky enough to sit in on the previous version of this, so thought I’d push out the information on it. It’s attached to the MacTech Pro Events that MacTech has been running: As you know, Microsoft released a public preview of Office 2016 for Mac. MacTech and Microsoft have created a new accreditation for Apple techs called “Microsoft Office for Mac and iOS Accredited Support Professional, 2015.” Prior to the public Office 2016 announcement, we did a preview of this new course under NDA in Seattle earlier this month. We’re now announcing the new accreditation…

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  • certifications

    Writing Good Test Questions

    May 10, 2013

    Over the years I’ve written a lot of test questions for a lot of purposes. Some are for my company to test our employees, some for other companies to test candidates and still others for 3rd parties to do certification exams. If you’ve taken enough exams, I’m sure you’ve seen a question or two of mine. And over the years I’ve developed my own process for writing questions that works pretty well for me. I’ve also taken a lot of certification exams. And along the way I’ve definitely developed a feeling for what I think are good and what I think are bad questions. I feel for anyone that actually…

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  • certifications,  Mac OS X,  Mac OS X Server,  Mac Security

    New 3rd Party Apple Certification Exams Now Available

    May 1, 2013

    After hearing about these new certifications for a good 3 or 4 years, I’m stoked that Tech2000 has now made the new Advanced OS X Certification exams available. Currently, there are three exams: OS X Directory Services Specialist Certification Exam OS X Deployment Specialist Certification Exam OS X Mobile Device and Profile Specialist Certification Exam These exams are a more modern rendition of what Apple Training would be providing if they still did any courses beyond the OS X Server ACTC. Basically, you can think of it as though the previous Security or Xsan exams were swapped out with Mobile Devices, which makes sense given the changing climate of things.…

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  • certifications,  iPhone,  Mac OS X,  Mac OS X Server,  Mac Security,  Mass Deployment

    10.8 ACTC Exams Now Available

    January 9, 2013

    The Apple Certified Technical Coordinator (ACTC) Exams are now available. Since the brutal murder of the ACSA, the ACTC is now Apple’s highest level of certification. The server is much easier, but somehow many of the questions are a little harder than they were. Overall, I felt the exam was a great gauge of technical know-how, even if there were a couple somewhat esoteric questions. Anyway, click below to open the Apple IT Certification page:  If you have a 10.7 ACTC then the 10.8 combo updater can be taken. If you qualify for said exam, you should have gotten an email with a special code to use on the IBT…

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  • certifications,  Mac OS X,  Mac OS X Server,  Mac Security,  Mass Deployment

    Apple Pro Training Series for ACTC

    January 8, 2013

    Arek Dreyer and Ben Greisler have been at it again. The latest editions of the Apple Training Series books are now out, providing a guide to getting certified with OS X Server. I haven’t gotten mine yet, but I suspect that the book, as with the previous books, will be excellent. To quote the book description: The only Apple-certified book on OS X Server on Mountain Lion, this comprehensive reference takes support technicians and ardent Mac users deep inside the server for the latest operating system, covering everything from networking technologies to service administration, customizing users and groups, and more. Aligned to the learning objectives of the Apple Certified Technical Coordinator…

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  • certifications,  iPhone,  Mac OS X,  Mac OS X Server,  Mac Security,  Mass Deployment,  public speaking

    Penn State MacAdmins Back for 2013

    November 12, 2012

    Last year, I had a great time at the Penn State MacAdmins conference. There were tons of smart people to mingle with and everyone had plenty to discuss when it came to managing the Mac. There were a lot of people from education but also plenty from companies. The talks were well run and the conference location, the Penn Stater, was awesome. I love how it’s like a big winding maze. Having gone to school in a town like State College (Athens, GA), I’ve always had a warm spot for cute college towns. And State College is clearly a special place. I’d recommend a trip there to anyone that loves…

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  • certifications,  Mac OS X

    Apple Certified Associate For OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion

    August 1, 2012

    Apple has posted the first of the Mountain Lion certifications. Information about the Apple Certified Associate – Mac Integration 10.8 is available at http://training.apple.com/certification/macosx. This certification requires only one exam, 9L0-408, which can be taken online. There’s no word yet on the ACSP or ACTC for 10.8, although I am certain work on them is in progress. The current table of certifications is as follows: The test is relatively simple. I took it this morning and it focused completely on the client in a heterogenous environment. There were questions about AD binding, sharing files between Windows and OS X Mountain Lion clients, securing the OS (Gatekeeper, FileVault 2), Time Machine, Messages…

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  • certifications,  iPhone

    iOS Development Test Now Available

    July 30, 2012

    I’ve been involved with Brainbench for some time. There is now a new iOS development test available at http://www.brainbench.com/xml/bb/common/testcenter/taketest.xml?testId=2973. Also, we’re currently working on a Mountain Lion test and could use some reviewers if anyone is interested.  Let me know if you’d like to be involved with that.

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