By Shirley Kawa-Jump
The news is good for area businesses seeking Microsoft® certified information technology assistance. TechServices, Northeast Indiana's first and only Microsoft Certified Technical Education Center (CTEC) and Enhanced Network Solutions Group, Inc., the only Microsoft Certified Solution Provider Partner, in Northeast Indiana, have joined forces with Microsoft to offer businesses installation, support, training and certification on the entire Microsoft BackOffice™ family of products.
Tom Rockwell, Microsoft Certified Solution Provider, Partner Manager for the State of Indiana, says there are tremendous benefits inherent in the alliance between TechServices and ENS. "Microsoft requires that both ENS and TechServices have a complement of Microsoft Certified System Engineers (MCSE) and Microsoft Certified Solution Developers (MCSD) on staff. What this means for Northeast Indiana businesses is ready access to two companies that have demonstrated capability in Microsoft products, technical training, software and network services."
The demand for skilled information technology workers is increasing daily. According to a recent survey of 1,442 CIOs by Deloitte and Touche Consulting Group, seven out of ten companies worldwide are having difficulty finding the skilled IS staffers they need. "The demand for Microsoft certified technicians definitely exceeds the supply," adds Rockwell.
To help meet that need, TechServices is offering training in classes for Windows NT 4, Windows NT 5 (Windows 2000), TCP/IP, Exchange Server, SQL, Visual InterDev, Visual Basic Visual C++, as well as the rest of the Microsoft BackOffice™ suite of products. "We work with systems managers, help desk personnel, technicians, Web developers, database managers, software developers and people that build online commerce sites," says Sanderson. "Although we don't actually create jobs; we do create highly skilled technology workers. Many of our students are either working in the technology field now or planning on making a career change into the technology market. Microsoft Certified Professionals are the most sought after information technology workers in the world."
Before TechServices began offering technical training locally, students had to travel to Indianapolis to find a Microsoft Certified Technical Education Center (CTEC). The additional travel and time costs made it an expensive proposition for area businesses to train their people on Microsoft products. "There's only one Microsoft CTEC in the area and that's TechServices," says TechServices General Manager John Sanderson.
ENS, a full service technology firm, creates information systems for clients, providing all software installation and configuration. ENS has earned the elite position as a Microsoft Certified Solution Provider Partner (MCSP Partner) because of their quality work and high standards in customer service. "The only way to become a MCSP Partner is through a personal invitation by Microsoft," explains Rockwell. The MCSP Partner designation has never been given to a business in Northeast Indiana before.
ENS and TechServices' alliance provides one-stop shopping for businesses in the area. "The combination of our two companies allows us to provide a complete approach for our clients," says Tim Savage, President of ENS. "ENS can do the implementation and rollout of the hardware and software. TechServices can provide all the technical training for the administrators and users."
By having well trained, Microsoft certified administrators, "companies can significantly lower their total cost of ownership" explains Savage. "There is not the need to call in an outside company to provide the day to day management of the software. On-site staff can handle many common technical challenges."
Having the Microsoft
certified designation is an enormous plus for
information systems workers. To obtain that
certification, students must pass a Sylvan Prometric
exam after completing the coursework at TechServices.
"The Microsoft certification establishes a bar of
technical capabilities. It recognizes technical
excellence in an individual," says Rockwell.
Students at TechServices' new facility in Crown Pointe Office Park work on state-of-the-art machines at individual workstations, all equipped with the latest in Microsoft applications. "Our classes are led exclusively by Microsoft Certified Trainers. Students are going to be trained by an instructor who has actually passed the exam for the class they are teaching," says Sanderson.
Facilities that are not part of the Microsoft channel aren't required to have any particular standard of equipment, training or delivery. "An instructor could be someone who's being paid to read a book and then "teach" the people in the class. They don't necessarily have any demonstrated capability or certification in the products they are teaching," says Sanderson.
As a Microsoft CTEC, TechServices is required by Microsoft to submit student evaluations at the end of each course. Microsoft then evaluates facility on a quarterly basis to ensure it is adhering to Microsoft's high standards of excellence.
TechServices will create a custom course for businesses that need information in specific areas. "We can take pieces of Microsoft Official Curriculum courses and build a training program," says Sanderson. The firm will also take the training to the client, bringing in the Microsoft CTEC environment to a client's site.
Once the class is over, the training doesn't stop. If past students have questions, they can call TechServices or access the company's Web site (www.techservices.com) and go to the "Ask the Trainer" forum for answers and tips. In addition, students have the option to return to class, at no charge, if the student feels that they could use a refresher.
TechServices and ENS are also on the cutting edge for all Microsoft news and releases. "We are in the Microsoft channel and because of that, we are given information from Microsoft well before it comes out in the press. We receive the latest updates, fixes, information, industry information and tips as soon as Microsoft releases them," says Sanderson.
TechServices and ENS' goal, however, is for all students to leave with enough knowledge to solve their own technology challenges. "One of the things that is unique to the Microsoft philosophy, and therefore also to us, is that the goal is to educate students to a very, very high degree. We want them to be able to manage their own networks and systems and not have to call for technical support," says Savage.
Microsoft Certified Professionals have in-depth knowledge of at least one operating system and can take further courses and certification exams to increase their knowledge base. TechServices also offers training and exams for Microsoft Certified Systems Engineers and Microsoft Certified Solution Developers.
Sanderson says, in the end, it pays to go with the best. "Every company has probably hired some network company or training company based on the lowest priced bid and then regretted it. ENS and TechServices endeavor to implement the solution right the first time, so we don't have to come out again, and to train their people to work with the products so they can keep it updated and running themselves."
ENS has the ability to provide integration for the complete range of Microsoft products, and provides a business-to-business approach to information technology solutions. "We aren't interested in just pushing a packaged solution, but in providing the best long term solution while reducing the total cost of ownership by using quality products and proven technologies", said Savage.
In the spring, TechServices will begin offering A+ Certification and Sun Microsystems' Java training. Beginning is March, ENS and TechServices will be working together to sponsor the only Windows NT and software development users group in Northeast Indiana. People interested in more information can contact either company.
The ENS/TechServices partnership will be bringing the best in Microsoft products and training to businesses in Northeast Indiana. "We can do it all, from a complete integration and roll out to a simple upgrade of existing products," says Savage. "Companies that come to us, know they are dealing with the two leaders for Microsoft in the area. Decision makers can have a high degree of confidence that, as Microsoft Partners, the companies that deal with us are going to get a fair shake and the right information the first time out." BP
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