Active Directory warrants a melding of technical and business skills.
Business Sense
Active Directory warrants a melding of technical and business skills.
- By Linda Briggs
- December 01, 2000
What’s the single biggest career opportunity I think
Windows 2000 offers MCSEs? In two words, it’s Active Directory.
I’ve been thinking about Microsoft’s much-touted directory
services offering after recently perusing a new book on
AD by one of MCP Magazine’s columnists and contributing
editors, Harry Brelsford (Active Directory Planning
and Design, from IDG Books). What’s different from
other books I’ve seen on Win2K is the emphasis on the
link between technical and business skills that Win2K
calls for—between MCSEs and MBAs, so to speak.
Perhaps adoption of Win2K, especially on the server side,
isn’t proceeding at the pace that Microsoft might have
hoped when it (precipitously, I still maintain) announced
plans this year to kill off the NT 4.0 MCSE title at the
end of 2001. But, remember—this is a product that’s been
available for just eight months, and it’s a huge and complex
operating system. As you know, server upgrade decisions
aren’t made lightly nor done quickly. The wave is coming;
it just isn’t here yet. For example, readers of MCP
Magazine told us in a mid-year survey that 58 percent
of you will be involved in an NT 4.0-to-Win2K operating
systems migration in the next 12 months.
While the pace may be slow so far, the potential is huge.
I’ve said before that I think there are lots of career
opportunities in the sheer complexity of the product.
But what’s intriguing about Win2K—and here’s where Harry’s
book comes in—is the melding of technical and business
talents that it warrants, particularly with Active Directory.
Many MCSEs out there have focused on technology to the
exclusion of how business works. Here’s a chance for you
to distinguish yourself by doing whatever you can to learn
about the business side of your companies and clients.
That’s because the very nature of what AD promises—a company-wide
directory of all resources—will force MCSEs and MBAs to
sit down at the table together.
In a Win2K migration, your initiation into the world
of business might begin with the initial systems analysis.
It continues through the design of AD, return-on-investment
analyses, discussions of business goals, and on into project
scheduling and implementation. If you have an understanding
of both the technical and business sides, you’ll be a
rarity—and you can really shine.
Believe me, that offshore Win2K wave is forming on the
horizon. While you’re waiting for it to reach you, use
the time to prepare by building up both your technical
and business skills. Use classes, books like Harry’s,
magazines, seminars and conferences, hands-on practice
in labs, and getting your certification renewal behind
you—all the resources you can find time and money for
to get ready.
Your reward will come when you’re among the first to
skillfully surf Win2K.
About the Author
Linda Briggs is the founding editor of MCP Magazine and the former senior editorial director of 101communications. In between world travels, she's a freelance technology writer based in San Diego, Calif.