Getting Closerto MCSA: SQL 2012/2014 Certification: Prepaway Guide to Passing Microsoft 70-463 Exam

Most IT professionals worldwide are aware of the Microsoft IT certifications and their importance in building careers. The certifications validate skills in using different Microsoft platforms and services such as Office 365, Windows, Azure, SQL Server and more. Regardless of which platform one is interested in, the certifications are standardized to accommodate professionals at different stages of their careers.

MTA or MicrosoftTechnology Associate is an entry-levelMicrosoft certification that validates one’s foundational technology skills and cannot serve as a prerequisite for higher certifications. MCSA (Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate)is a middle-level certification designed for professionals who are in the early stages of their careers. MCSA is the most popular certification since it is a requirement for getting high-level certifications. MCSE (Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert) and MCSD (Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer) are advanced credentials designed for expert-level professionals who want to validate their skills in using and developing Microsoft products.

MCSA certification

As stated above, MCSA is the most popular level of certification path among IT professionals. It has various types of credentials one of them being MCSA: SQL Server 2012/2014 which is our interest here. For you to obtain MCSA: SQL Server 2012/2014 certification, you must first possess foundational IT skills. If you are in doubt whether you have a good grasp of these skills, you should consider taking MTA as a first step. After you are confident in your foundational skills, you can take and pass the three exams required for MCSA: SQL Server 2012/2014 certification. These three exams are 70-461, 70-462 and 70-463. In this article, we will focus on exam 70-463.

70-463 exam

Exam 70-463 is mainly intended for professionals who develop Business Intelligence solutions and perform ETL (Extract Transform Load) responsibilities and implementation of the data warehouse. This exam is available in the English, Chinese, French, German, Japanese and Portuguese languages.

Exam 70-463 contains different topics which are of various relative weights. Each topic measures your abilities in a specific technological domain. Here are the main topics of70-463 exam:

  1. Designing and Implementinga data warehouse

In this section, you will find questions related to designing and implementingfact tables and dimensions.

  1. Extraction and transformation of data

This unit concentrates on defining connection managers, designing and implementing data flows, managing the execution of the SSIS package and implementing script tasks in SSIS.

  1. Loading data

This topic area will carry a number of assessments on tasks such as designing and implementing control flow, implementing package logic by using SSIS parameters and variables, implementing data load options and more.

  1. Configuration and deployment of SSIS solutions

This section evaluates your abilities to troubleshoot data integration issues, maintain and install SSIS components,implement auditing, logging, and event handling, deploy SSIS solutions, and configure SSIS security settings.

  1. Building data quality solutions

Under this topic, you are expected to show your abilities related to the implementation of master data management solutions, installation, and maintenance of data quality services and creation of a data quality project in order to clean data.

As with any exam,you should expect different question formats which require answers in different formats. In exam 70-463, you will meet questions in the following formats:

  • Active screen

  • Case study
  • Drag-and-drop
  • Multiple-choice
  • Build list
  • Hot area
  • Short answer

In order to pass 70-463exam successfully, you have to adopt the best preparation methods. You may agree with me that ineffective preparation means failing in most cases. Let’s take a look at some effective options that will help you in your exam 70-463 preparation.

  1. Instructor-led training

There are two options for instructor-led training.You can either study online at your own pace with three-month access that you will be given, or you can opt for classroom training which lasts for five days. You will have a qualified instructor to help you with your preparations.

  1. 70-463 prep videos

Watching videos prepared by seasoned experts will give you an opportunity to get tips from the best specialists in the industry. That will be very helpful in your journey to certification.

  1. Official practice test

When you feel that you are ready to take the real exam, it is advisable to do an official practice test for exam 70-463. This will help you gauge your knowledge level and help direct your studies. You will also have a greatchance to familiarize yourself with the exam pattern.

  1. Resource books

In the Microsoft Press Store, you can find the Training Kit (Exam 70-463): Implementing a Data Warehouse with Microsoft SQL Server 2012 book. This edition explains the details of the topics you need to know in order to pass your exam. The book also offers a series of lessons and practical exercises.

  1. Exam dumps

Another very important preparation method that deserves special mention is the use of exam dumps. Dumps are files with practice tests that are designedand uploaded by previous exam takers. You might even meet some of these questions in the actual test. Dumps are very helpful when you do not have enough time. However, they can only be useful when obtained from a trustedresource. One such source is the Prepaway website. Prepaway provides the most recent dumps as well as video resources and other useful material for exam 70-463. The files with practice tests provided on Prepaway are in VCE format and hence you should have a VCE player to open them.

Conclusion

Passing exam 70-463 is definitely a step closer to MCSA: SQL Server 2012/2014 certification. If you use the tips shared in this guide, you will be well prepared for your exam. Use materials fromtrustworthy websites such as Prepaway and you will pass your certification exams easily. What’s more, with MCSA: SQL Server 2012/2014 certification, you are eligible to apply for MCSE: Data Management and Analytics credential!

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