Download presentation
Presentation is loading. Please wait.
Published byHeini Gärtner Modified over 6 years ago
1
Microsoft SQL Server Overview: Product, Courses & Background
by George SQUILLACE
2
George SQUILLACE “SQL” is in the name!
Husband & Dad Twenty Two Years of New Horizons service (June 2015) Thirty years in I.T. Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT) since 1997 96 times in the exam booth! Microsoft SQL Server certifications MCSE: Business Intelligence MCSE: Data Platform MCSA Microsoft Virtual Academy presenter SQLSaturday presenter Certified in every version of SQL Server since SQL 2000 Certified in every version of Windows Server from NT 4.0 – Windows Server 2008 For fun: (no particular order) Movies Reading Bicycling (road / city / trail) Travel Music / Acoustic Guitar Computers Aircraft + "
3
Why should you care about selling SQL Server courses?
Product expertise is in high demand It’s a sophisticated product Many third party applications use SQL Server for a back-end data storage The product is becoming increasingly entrenched It’s market share is growing The following Microsoft products require some edition of SQL Server SharePoint System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) System Center Virtual Machine Manager (SCVM) System Center Operations Manager (SCOM) System Center Data Protection Manager (SCDPM) System Center Endpoint Protection Team Foundation Server Microsoft Dynamics CRM More confidently sell high margin courses that are not provided by many vendors Be able to respond to customer questions more rapidly Make better course recommendations Grow in your career skills
4
What is “SQL”, Anyway? SQL (Structured Query Language) is a data-oriented programming language SQL is an industry standard (ANSI, ISO) SQL permits a nearly universal method of querying (interacting with and changing) database data Most popular database servers support their own “dialect” or form of SQL (Microsoft’s “dialect” is “Transact-SQL” or “T-SQL”) Microsoft SQL Server is a software product which supports the SQL language.
5
A bit of Microsoft SQL Server Product History
SQL Server originated as a joint development between Sybase and Microsoft (for the OS/2 operating system) Microsoft later developed a version for the Windows NT operation system There have been many versions of Microsoft SQL Server spanning ~25 years Having gone through many versions and refinements SQL Server is a mature, robust, & stable product SQL Server 2016 (latest version) was released on June 1, (just days ago!) Reference: “Microsoft SQL Server” at Wikipedia Trivia: How many developers at Microsoft work on SQL Server? 2,000
6
SQL Server Features /Components In other words, “What does this product do?
There are many installable components available within the SQL Server product All these features are included with the price (depending on the Edition purchased) What SQL Server is best known for, the relational database service. Reference:
7
SQL Server Editions Standard Edition
Business Intelligence Edition (more B.I. features than Standard) Enterprise Edition (every product feature) Trial Edition Every feature of Enterprise Edition Will function for 180 days Developer Edition Only for development purposes Now free! SQL Server Express Edition Totally free Can be used in production Strict feature limitations Can only address 1GB of RAM Database size cannot exceed 10GB No SQL Agent Service (for automation purposes) Several packaging options There are also free editions of the Visual Studio development tools! Visual Studio Community Edition Team Foundation Server 2015 Express
8
Microsoft Official Curriculum (MOC) SQL Server 2012/2014 Course Portfolio
20461D – Querying Retrieving and modifying data 20462D – Database Administration Database Engine Installation, maintenance & administration, disaster recovery, security, automation 20463D – Data Warehousing DW design and population, SSIS (mostly), DQS, MDS 20464D – Database Development Views, Functions, Stored Procedures, Triggers, Error Handling, Transactions 20465D – Designing a Data Solution with Microsoft SQL Server Sort of like an Advanced Administration course High availability features Revision “D” changed to 3 days; Cloud content was removed 20466D – Data Models and Reports (a.k.a. “Managed BI”) SSRS, SSAS Multidimensional & Tabular Models, Data Mining Models 20467D - Implementing Self Service BI and Big Data Solutions Revision “D” completely changed the course 10977B - Updating Your SQL Server Skills to Microsoft SQL Server 2014 These Microsoft courses are five days in duration These courses uniformly apply to both SQL Server 2012 and 2014. In some cases they apply much further backward. Other query course alternatives are: Microsoft Course 2778 (SQL 2008 – based, three days) SQL Querying - Level 1 Fundamentals of Querying SQL Querying - Level 2 Advanced Querying
9
Microsoft Official Curriculum (MOC) SQL Server 2016 Course Portfolio
10985A – Introduction to SQL Databases (3 days) 10986A – Updating Your Skills to SQL Server 2016 (3 days, brand new) 10987A – Performance Tuning and Optimizing SQL Server Databases (4 days, brand new) 10989A – Analyzing Data with Power BI (2 days, brand new course) 10990 – Analyzing Data with SQL Server Reporting Services (3 days, brand new course) 20761A – Querying Data with Transact-SQL (3 days) 20762A – Developing SQL Databases (4 days) 20764A – Administering a SQL Database Infrastructure (5 days, no installation) 20765A – Provisioning SQL Databases (3 days, includes installation and storage management) 20767A – Implementing a SQL Data Warehouse (5 days) 20768A – Developing SQL Data Models (3 days, focus on SSAS) These courses uniformly apply to both SQL Server 2012 and 2014. In some cases they apply much further backward.
10
Other query course alternatives are:
Microsoft Course 2778 (SQL 2008 – based, three days) SQL Querying - Level 1 Fundamentals of Querying SQL Querying - Level 2 Advanced Querying
11
List of SQL Server – related Job Roles which are Candidates for SQL Server Training
Database Administrator (DBA) (including “Accidental DBAs”) Candidate course(s): , 20462, (sort of an Advanced Administration course) Database Developers Candidate course: Business Intelligence Developers (implementers of “Managed BI”) Report Writers / Developers OLAP (Online Analytical Processing) and Data Mining Developers and Users Candidate course: “Managed BI” possibly 20467 ETL/Data Warehouse Developers (ETL = Extract, Transform, & Load) Candidate course(s): Business Analysts Candidate course: “Self-Service BI” Note: these numbers are low Diagram courtesy of Pragmatic Works
12
Definition: What is Business Intelligence (BI)?
From Wikipedia: Business intelligence (BI) is a business management term which refers to applications and technologies which are used to gather, provide access to, and analyze data and information about company operations Business intelligence systems can help companies have a more comprehensive knowledge of the factors affecting their business, such as metrics on sales, production, internal operations, and they can help companies to make better business decisions So, BI is about using tools and data to make better decisions. Humor: just because I have good data and tools doesn’t mean I make good decisions Remember four key words as related to monitoring anything: Use Tools à Get Facts à Draw Conclusions à Implement Changes
13
News Flash! Hopefully Microsoft will create a course around this exciting acquisition, which may create some additional sales opportunities
14
SQL Server Course Pre-requisites
Basic Windows User Interface Knowledge Basic Windows Server Operating System Knowledge User and Group Accounts Services and Service Accounts File System and Shared Folder Permissions Relational Database Experience (Microsoft Access experience “counts”)
15
Common Sales Mistakes Student doesn’t meet pre-requisites
Querying student is not placed in the correct quering course Student is placed in a Microsoft quering course using Microsoft query writing tools even though the student uses a different database engine Salesperson promises instructor will work with customer’s own data Permissions Exercises and development time Liability If you violate the SQL Server sales principals I’ll make you an offer you can’t refuse. The Fangorn Forest
17
This diagram represents the former “mis-alignment” between courses and exams; now exams and courses match more closely…mostly.
18
Why Should a Student Certify?
Increases product knowledge Increases competency; can solve more and different kinds of problems Increases confidence May lead to other job opportunities within and outside of your current organization “You don’t know where you’ll be working next Monday, so pack a parachute!” –me The current certification track is extremely challenging
19
Resources (for you and your clients)
Microsoft SQL Server homepage Microsoft Learning homepage My website Homepage Search button, Test taking tips link Diagrams Several SQL and SQL BI diagrams Screenshot Gallery Look in the SQL screenshot category; a SQL BI category exists too SQL Server reference homepage Huuuuge amount of links SQL Server BI reference homepage Also a huuuuge amount of links My Library Books (click on this link) NHLS SQL blog posts I have several blog posts on free resources for SQL Server
20
What Are Your Action Items?
Learn & study? Download and install SQL Server? Call a client with a recommendation or new opportunity? Fair assumption: almost any business mid-range and above likely has one more more database servers Second assumption: everyone in charge of a SQL Server needs to know the product better than they do today Flee? Other? Reference: Suggested Action Items List
21
Don’t forget to wear an Aloha shirt on Aloha shirt Fridays!
Thank you for your time! instructor profile describe SQL Server job roles show Pragmatic Works BI pyramid courseware portfolio and student placement Resources strategies for passing certification exams NH Blog posts local SQL Server User Group ?? my website Aloha shirt Friday Don’t forget to wear an Aloha shirt on Aloha shirt Fridays!
Similar presentations
© 2025 SlidePlayer.com Inc.
All rights reserved.