The Schwartz 
Cloud Reportby Jeffrey Schwartz, Executive Editor
			
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	Amazon Launches Cert Program for Partners
    
		Amazon recently launched the Amazon Web Services Certification  Program  to give partners and customers access to training and validation for implementing systems and apps in Amazon's cloud.
		While AWS offers a robust portfolio of cloud  offerings and, rightfully, claims it operates some of the largest cloud  implementations, until now it has lacked a meaningful way of ensuring its partners  were certified to implement its services.
		Amazon tapped  testing partner Kryterion to implement the new training programs. The first available exam will be for the "AWS Certified Solutions  Architect - Associate Level." That certification will be for architects  and those who design and develop apps that run on AWS, the company said.
		In the pipeline are certifications for systems operations  (SysOps), administrators and developers, which the company will roll out later  this year. The exams will be available at 750 locations throughout 100 countries,  Amazon said. 
		The certifications will allow partners to assert  their expertise in the company's cloud offering as a way of differentiating it among  a growing partner ecosystem that now boasts 664 (up from 650 earlier in the  week) solution providers in the AWS Partner Network (APN)  and 735 consultancies. 
		"Once you complete the certification requirements, you  will receive an AWS Certified logo badge that you can use on your  business cards and other professional collateral," said AWS evangelist  Jeff Barr in  a blog post. "This will help you to gain recognition and visibility  for your AWS expertise."
 
	Posted by Jeffrey Schwartz on May 02, 2013