Storage network certification launched

DOWNERS GROVE, USA: A new exam and certification for information technology (IT) professionals working in data storage arena was introduced by CompTIA and the Storage Networking Industry Association (SNIA).

"Organizations of all shapes and sizes are scrambling to come up with new strategies to manage the massive volumes of data they're generating," said Terry Erdle, executive vice president, skills development, CompTIA.

Also Read: We're trying to create storage professionals: SNIA

CompTIA Storage+ Powered by SNIA combines SNIA with the global certification development and management capabilities of CompTIA. The result is a credential recognized globally as the standard for validating IT professionals who manage data storage.

"The rise in mobile computing, the shift to cloud-enabled services, a need for heightened security and a host of other factors add to the complexity of this environment, which can challenge even the most seasoned IT storage pro," Erdle continued. "Together with SNIA we've developed a certification that will help individual IT workers keep pace with the changing storage landscape; and empower employers to validate the skills of their IT professionals."

CompTIA and the SNIA intend to have the new certification accredited by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

The certification focuses on the following areas of data storage and storage networking:

-- Configuration of storage systems and networks, including archive, backup and restoration technologies

-- Business continuity, data availability and storage administration

-- Storage system integration and correlated application workloads

-- Basic troubleshooting, service levels and connectivity

CompTIA and the SNIA recommend that IT professionals have at least 12 months of hands-on storage networking experience before sitting for the exam. Complete exam objectives, sample questions, information on training materials, how to purchase exam vouchers and other information about CompTIA Storage+ Powered by SNIA are available on the CompTIA Certification Web Site.