Citrix Stresses Virtualization With New Certification Requirements

Citrix Systems (Nasdaq: CTXS) is revamping its certification processes for engineers and architects to focus more on virtualization and provide an easier path to upgrade preexisting certifications. The updated certifications are Citrix Certified Enterprise Engineer for Virtualization (CCEE) and Citrix Certified Integration Architect for Virtualization (CCIA); in many respects, they are a continuation of the company's Administrator-level certifications.

Citrix developed these new certifications with the changing job market in mind, Julieann Scalisi, managing director of worldwide education at Citrix, told the E-Commerce Times. The company evaluated the range of skills that would be necessary for such positions and incorporated its findings into the testing methodology.

At the same time, it wanted to accommodate the existing base of advanced certificants, giving them an easier -- and perhaps cheaper -- path to updating their certifications, she said. The certifications range from US$150 to $300 per exam, so depending on the credentials sought, any savings can add up.

CCEE for Virtualization

The CCEE for Virtualization certification targets seasoned IT professionals with design and integration expertise who want to validate their operational planning skills.

Engineers who have not acquired any Citrix certifications -- such as the legacy Citrix Certified Enterprise Administrator (CCEA) certification -- must pass a total of five exams: three Citrix Certified Administrator entry-level exams focused on application, desktop and server virtualization; one advanced application virtualization exam; and one final exam covering integration of end-to-end virtualization solutions.

The final CCEE for Virtualization exam will be available at the end of September 2009.

CCIA for Virtualization

The CCIA for Virtualization track tests skills used to design strategic approaches to virtualization. In order to obtain a CCIA for Virtualization certification, candidates must first obtain the CCEE for Virtualization certification, and then pass one final exam. The final CCIA exam will follow the release of the final CCEE exam in Q4 2009.

For the first time, Citrix Education also rolled out update paths for certified CCEA and CCIA professionals. Holders of the CCEA do not have to pass the required Administrator-level exams; rather, they only need to pass the final CCEE for Virtualization exam.

Existing CCIA certificants will need to pass both the final CCEE and CCIA for Virtualization exams. Citrix is assuming that with this change in requirements, these professionals will have proven they have the necessary administrator-level skills, Scalisi said.

However, the update options will be available for a limited time for those holding current advanced certifications. When Citrix makes the new CCEE and CCIA exams available in Q4 2009, it will also announce the date of expiration for multiple legacy CCEA and CCIA certifications.

Good Housekeeping Seal

As virtualization permeates more of the economy, such vendor-provided certifications are becoming more important, Charles King, principal of Pund-IT, told the E-Commerce Times.

"In the line of who knows the most of a given technology, the vendor usually sits on top of food chain," he remarked.

Even if a company or person has a particular skill set, having the certification provides an enormous benefit, according to King. It gives the partner a hook to hang its Citrix hat on with their own clients.

"It says, 'We have gone through the proper training,'" noted King. "It's not a hugely complex process, but it does help to instill a sense of confidence in the product and service."

For virtualization in particular, this is key.

"It is becoming more deeply embedded in data centers," King observed. "Still, though, in many places, especially in [the] SMB business range, the utilization of virtualization technologies is broader than I think some of the actual service and maintenance skills are. So, a certification program like Citrix's should help reach a broader audience."

For industry watchers, the rollout of this program also provides an interesting clue about Citrix's own approach to the virtualization market, added King.

"There seems to be a certain amount of confusion in the market over what Citrix is doing with the XenSource assets it purchased," he said. "People assumed there were some obvious leverage points between Citrix's traditional desktop offerings and the virtualization offerings. People assumed they would leverage XenSource assets to offer their desktop solutions in virtualized environments."

Despite the increased activity in the virtualization market over the last year, Citrix has been relatively quiet -- or at least quieter than people expected it to be, King continued. Their new certifications may be a sign that Citrix is ready to leverage XenSource in the commercial market.