Microsoft: Certified Gold Not Good Enough, Become a Certified Master
September 4, 2008
Brian McCann’s post about a super grade of Microsoft Certified Professional took my breath away. His article appeared on September 2, 2008, post here. The title is “Microsoft Certified Master”. That’s right master. You can become one by passing tests and paying–are you ready?–$18,500. If you flunk your tests, you can keep trying by paying an additional fee: $250 for the written test and $1,500 for the hands on part. For now, you can become a master in Exchange, SQL Server, and Active Directory. SharePoint is coming along soon. If you go for the SQL and SharePoint combination, you can become a master ^2 for a mere $37,000. Mr. McCann’s post includes links to Web logs with more information.
In my opinion, Microsoft is making certain that it has some indentured slaves working on its behalf. Oops, I really meant masters. How silly of me to assume that anyone who becomes a master would think non-Microsoft thoughts. Oracle DBAs are quite open minded, and the certification costs less.
Google is probably licking its chops with this program. Google’s enterprise team has pitched simplicity since the Google Search Appliance appeared years ago. The argument then and now is that enterprise software is too complex. The notion of “let Google do it” has resonated with more than 20,000 GSA licenses, a deal for 1.5 Gmail boxes in New South Wales, and a near lock on geospatial services in the US government (a technically challenged operation in some agencies). When enterprise software requires a master, Google can ask, “Why do you need to pump resources into a potential black hole of cost?”
Software is complex, but now Google does not have to do much more than describe this new certification level and ask a couple of cost, risk, and time questions. Agree? Disagree? Educate me.
Stephen Arnold, September 4, 2008
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