Role-Based Training
Training needs have changed. Mere product training is no longer sufficient. Organizations must be able to leverage new products to reach their business goals, and for that, business leaders need to look at role-based training.
When an organization wants to exploit a new opportunity, it may alter its approach and leverage technology to gain insights, automate, streamline, reinvent, or automate. These innovations happen over time and require optimal application of IT solutions.
People, not technology, are the make-or-break factor in this fast-paced transformation. Since new solutions are continually built and deployed, the skills IT professionals need are also constantly evolving. As technology evolves, CIOs need to have the right people with the right skills in place to help drive the company’s digital transformation.
According to the 2017 Workplace Learning Report, skills lose their usefulness after five years. The skills IT professionals need are continuously evolving because technology constantly evolves, and new systems are acquired and need to be configured. In the process, IT professionals assume new roles.
To take full advantage of the capabilities of new systems, continual role-based training is therefore required.
Identify the skills gap
While it’s widely acknowledged that most companies experience a skills gap, especially in terms of cloud computing skills and cybersecurity, it’s important to identify exactly what the skills gap is for every employee. There are many courses and certifications, and it’s a waste of time and money to send an employee on a course that teaches skills he or she already has.
Here is a Microsoft role-based skills assessment tool developed by the Leading Learning Partners Association (LLPA). The assessment takes about 20 minutes to complete and consists of multiple-choice questions. Choose the role that you want to work in, do the related assessment, and the end result will tell you whether you have the knowledge to go ahead and get certified or whether you need to do some training before you can apply for certification.
Microsoft’s role-based training and certification
The Microsoft Certification program has evolved over the years, shifting away from product-based certifications to focus on role-based certifications. Role-based Microsoft certifications provide proof that the holder has the skills to fulfill a specific tech role.
The certifications on offer are specially developed for professionals working as AI engineers, business analysts, data analysts, data scientists, developers, or functional consultants.
Professionals who want to further their career in technology can enroll for role-based Business Applications training with an instructor either virtually or in-person with an LLPA member in their country.
Microsoft Certifications provide industry-recognized skills training aimed at helping people land the most in-demand and well-paid tech jobs in the world.
All Microsoft certifications are offered in 3 levels: Fundamentals, Associate and Expert. If you’re new to the cloud and new to Azure, the Azure or AI Fundamentals course would be perfect for you. It teaches basic cloud and AI concepts, gives an overview of many Azure services, and provides hands-on exercises so you can start creating your own AI solutions.
Microsoft Job Roles: AI Engineer
Azure AI Engineers build, manage, and deploy AI solutions that leverage Azure Cognitive Services, Azure Cognitive Search, and Microsoft Bot Framework. AI Engineers leverage Azure to develop and deploy cognitive services, machine learning, and knowledge mining solutions.
With the AI-100 certification, professionals will be able to design and implement an Azure AI Solution.
Microsoft Job Roles: Developer
Within the developer role, there are a number of certifications to choose from. Azure developers have the fundamental knowledge to develop apps and services on Azure, including the ability to design, build, test, and maintain the applications on Azure.
The Azure Developer Associate certification AZ-204- is the one to go for if you already have the expertise to develop and maintain cloud applications and services on Microsoft Azure. For anyone new to the cloud, though, or new to Azure, the Azure Fundamentals course will be appropriate.
Other certifications for developers are MB-300 and MB-500, MS-600, PL-400, and AZ-220.
Data Analyst
Data Analysts make data easy to understand through designing and building data models that drive meaningful business value. Data Analysts help businesses to maximize the value of their data assets using Microsoft Power BI.
Microsoft courses aimed at data analysts are DA-100 Data Analyst Associate and DP-900 Microsoft and Azure Data Fundamentals. You can also sign up for the Analyze data with the Microsoft Power BI course. You will find up to six guided learning paths and 16 short modules.
DevOps Engineer
DevOps Engineers combine people, processes, and technologies to deliver valuable products and services that meet end-user needs and business objectives.
Certification as a DevOps Engineer Expert requires certification as Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate or Microsoft Certified: Azure Developer Associate.
A DevOps expert can help others to create processes that oversee code releases and improve the management of development cycles to continuously deliver business value.
Do the AZ-400 DevOps Engineer Expert course.
Functional Consultant
Functional Consultants leverage Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Microsoft Power Platform to anticipate and plan, helping others implement or configure the latest technology solutions to meet their needs.
Discover the skills and gain the expertise needed to become a successful Functional Consultant with these courses. They focus on Microsoft Dynamics Fundamentals, Microsoft Dynamics for Marketing, Sales, Customer Service, Field Service, Finance, Finance & Operations, and Supply Chain Management.
Security Engineer
These positions are in high demand as there are few people qualified to take responsibility for data protection. Security Engineers implement security controls and threat protection, manage identity and access, and protect data, applications, and networks.
Applicable certifications are MS-500 Security Administrator, AZ-500 Azure Security Engineer Associate, SC-400 Information Protector Administrator Associate, SC-300 Identity and Access Administrator Associate, and SC-400 Information Protector Administrator Associate.
Data Scientist
Data Scientists apply machine learning techniques to train and deploy models that solve business problems.
The Azure Data Scientist runs machine learning workloads on Azure, using Azure Machine Learning Service.
Get the skills and knowledge you need to become a successful Data Scientist with this Microsoft course: DP-100 Azure Data Scientist Associate.
Solutions Architect
Solutions Architects design and implement solutions that run on Microsoft Azure, including aspects like compute, network, storage, and security.
Qualify as a Solutions Architect with one of these certifications:
- AZ-303 and AZ-304 Azure Solutions Architect Expert
- MB-700 Dynamics 365: Finance and Operations App Solution Architect Expert
- MB-600 Dynamics 365 + Power Platform Solution Architect Expert
- AZ-120 Azure for SAP Workloads Specialty
- PL-600 Power Platform Solution Expert
Data Engineer
Data Engineers design and implement the management, monitoring, security, and privacy of data using the full stack of data services. Azure Data Engineers integrate, transform, and consolidate data from various structured and unstructured data sources so data scientists and business analysts can interpret it and the organization can optimize its performance.
The LLPA offers the Data Engineering on Microsoft Azure course, comprising six guided learning paths and eight short modules.
Conclusion
Whether you’re just getting started or are a seasoned professional, the content on Skills Academy, a learning platform powered by the LLPA could help support you through your organizations learning journey where you can access the latest content from Microsoft Learn and other technology providers. You can track your team’s progress and increase your train-to-cert ratio by combining premium services offered by our leading members in your country. The Microsoft role-based training courses offered by LLPA members help IT, professionals, to keep up with today’s business requirements. They don’t just offer regular brick-and-mortar training, in fact, our members offer a unique range of transformative learning-culture-focused solutions that have lasting impressions.