HOPKINTON, Mass., Feb. 22, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

News Summary:

• Four new certifications help organizations maximize technology investments, modernize IT, build in-house transformation expertise
• Highest-level certification, Dell EMC Certified Master – Enterprise Architect, validates ability to design and implement secure IT-as-a-Service solutions for the digital economy
• Additional certifications focused on converged/hyper-converged infrastructure, multi-cloud administration and infrastructure security

Full story

Dell EMC unveiled new certifications that establish and validate the expertise IT professionals need to build their careers and help organizations compete in the digital economy. Part of the Dell EMC Proven Professional program, these certifications confirm the knowledge and experience needed to accelerate an IT department's time to transformation.

Modernizing infrastructure to enable a digital transformation requires a new way of operating and securing IT, and in some cases may require entirely new roles. Recent research conducted for Dell Technologies by Vanson Bourne, specialists in technology research, shows that inadequate skills and expertise is one of the top three barriers slowing digital progress.

The research shows that both formal and informal learning, as well as practical experience are the top ways people want to prepare themselves for the digital future. Dell EMC's new transformational certifications allow individuals to build their skills and validate their experience while providing a rigorous framework that gives CIOs confidence.

"Organizations as well as individuals realize that investing in workforce readiness and new skills is key to future success and competitive differentiation," said Charles Atkins, vice president, Dell EMC Education Services. "Dell EMC recognizes successful digital transformation requires more than technology, so we are helping our customers develop the critical talent – in-house and within technology partners – needed for the future."

Part of the industry-recognized Dell EMC Proven Professional program, which has issued more than 150,000 certifications globally, the enhancements include:

• Dell EMC Certified Master - Enterprise Architect is the highest-level, experience-based certification. It uses a board review process to validate that candidates have both the technical acumen and the holistic understanding of business drivers to deliver secure ITaaS solutions that further digital transformation. The Dell EMC Education Services website has the full details, eligibility criteria and application to be considered for a board review.
• Dell EMC Certified Expert Systems Administrator - Multi-Cloud recognizes expertise in administration of multi-cloud solutions. This certification validates an administrator's experience managing workloads across multi-cloud environments and their expertise in Dell EMC infrastructure, VMware vRealize Suite, and integrating with popular public cloud providers such as Dell EMC and VMware Cloud Provider Partners, Virtustream, Microsoft Azure and Amazon Web Services.
• Dell EMC Certified Specialist Systems Administrator - Infrastructure Security validates that IT professionals have the knowledge and skills to take a security-first approach to administering Dell EMC infrastructure across the data center and cloud. Administrators will learn best practices in configuring and managing Dell EMC enterprise solutions in alignment with their organization's overall security strategy.
• Dell EMC Certified Associate - Converged Systems and Hybrid Cloud Platforms establishes foundational knowledge in integrated infrastructure and cloud strategies. Business or technical professionals learn through real-life case studies and interactive experience in which they play the role of a CIO transforming an organization from a traditional data center to a modernized IT environment.

Opportunity for IT professionals to earn co-skilled badges that recognize their broader solutions-oriented skills and experience

IT professionals who are already certified or plan to be certified in VMware as well as Dell EMC's new certifications can earn co-skilled badges for the following combinations:

• VMware Certified Associate – Digital Business Transformation (VCP-DBT) and Dell EMC Certified Associate Converged Systems and Hybrid Cloud Platforms can be combined as a Dell EMC and VMware Co-skilled Associate Badge
• VMware Certified Professional 7 – Cloud Management and Automation (VCP7-CMA) and Dell EMC Certified Expert Administrator Multi-Cloud can be combined as a Dell EMC and VMware Co-skilled Expert Badge
• VMware Certified Design Expert (VCDX) and Dell EMC Certified Master Enterprise Architect can be combined as a Dell EMC and VMware Co-skilled Master Badge

Quotes

"CIOs face two essential talent imperatives with digital transformation - ensuring their IT teams have the right people and that they can acquire the right skills," said Cushing Anderson, vice president, IDC. "The Dell EMC transformational certifications can be part of a reliable development roadmap to help organizations bridge skills gaps during every phase of a transformation journey. As part of the Dell EMC Proven Professional certification program, these certifications help identify and validate IT professionals who combine in-depth technical knowledge with an understanding of the business drivers that fuel digital transformations."

"Earning the Dell EMC VMware Co-skilled Master Digital Badge is a great way for IT professionals to demonstrate to employers and peers that they have the high level of training, skills and expertise that spans products and solutions across Dell EMC and VMware. The Dell EMC VMware co-skilled Associate and Expert badges validate their ability to confidently and competently configure and manage converged/hyper-converged infrastructure and multi-cloud environments in mission-critical deployments," said Robin Gunn, vice president, Worldwide Readiness and Customer Education, VMware.

"DXC Technology participates in the Dell EMC Proven Professional program as a valuable source of IT training for deep, relevant technical expertise to support clients on their digital transformation journeys," said Stephen Hilton, executive vice president, Global Delivery, DXC Technology. "In fact, we are proud that DXC has one of the highest numbers of Dell EMC certifications in IT services among partners and achieved more than 600 Dell EMC certifications in 2017."

Availability

Education offerings and certification exams for converged systems and hybrid cloud platforms are available now. Multi-Cloud Expert certification will be available in conjunction with Dell Technologies World April 29 to May 3, in Las Vegas. The Infrastructure Security Specialist certification will be available in June 2018.

Starting now, IT professionals interested in earning the Dell EMC Certified Master – Enterprise Architect credential can apply to be considered to appear before the Review Board; the first review session will occur at Dell Technologies World.

Visit the Dell EMC Education Services website to learn more.

Additional resources

• Watch Dell EMC CMO, Jeremy Burton, discuss Digital Transformation is more than just technology
• Watch Mike Apigian from Dell EMC Education Services discuss training for the future on theCUBE
• Read Chris Fraser's, Dell EMC senior vice president, Dell EMC Education Services, blog about how to make digital transformation real
• Read IDC vice president Cushing Anderson's white paper about the skills imperatives for today's CIOs
• Connect with Dell EMC via Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn and DECN.

About Dell EMC

Dell EMC, a part of Dell Technologies, enables organizations to modernize, automate and transform their data center using industry-leading converged infrastructure, servers, storage and data protection technologies. This provides a trusted foundation for businesses to transform IT, through the creation of a hybrid cloud, and transform their business through the creation of cloud-native applications and big data solutions. Dell EMC services customers across 180 countries – including 98 percent of the Fortune 500 – with the industry's most comprehensive and innovative portfolio from edge to core to cloud.

Copyright © 2018 Dell Inc. or its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved. Dell, EMC and other trademarks are trademarks of Dell Inc. or its subsidiaries. Other trademarks may be trademarks of their respective owners.

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SOURCE Dell EMC