Course Structure
This program has been created with a blend of vendor specific, vendor neutral, and trainer developed materials. Vendor training is recognised internationally as an industry benchmark for product specific training. Upskilled uses an online Learning Management System to manage the delivery and assessment of learning resources. The program is conducted over a 12 month period through a blended learning approach of teacher-led workshops or webinars, distance education, and online materials.
| Vendor Courses |
Vendor Neutral Courses |
Upskilled Courses/Workshops |
- Microsoft Academy Windows Server
- Microsoft Academy Windows Server Management
- Microsoft Academy Windows Server Virtualisation
- Microsoft Academy Security Design
- Microsoft Academy Network Design
- Microsoft Academy Exchange Server
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- Privacy, Ethics and Copyright
- Business Need
- Disaster Recovery
- Network Attached Storage
- SOHO Routers/Wireless
- IT Governance
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Pathways into the qualification
Preferred pathways for candidates considering this qualification include:
- Demonstrated vocational experience in a range of work environments in senior network support roles, including administrator, operations analyst, technician, operations, or support coordinator/technician.
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
Participants often come with experience in one or more ICT competencies, vocationally acquired from a range of sources (both formal and otherwise). Upskilled acknowledges the validity of such experience and encourages candidates to apply for Recognition of Prior Learning where applicable. Upskilled's RPL Calculator is a guide to initial RPL standing, although participants are sometimes entitled to further RPL as enrolment progresses.
Assessment
Assessment is summative and formative with set assignments, project work, and questionnaires.
Inclusions
Upskilled Information Technology courses include detailed learning materials, assessments, online trainer support, and certification upon successful completion.
Clusters
The program is broken into 4 logical clusters of training within the broad category of ICT systems: 1/ Core Infrastructure; 2/ Continuity & Security; 3/ Continuous Improvement; and 4/ Service Delivery & Governance.
Cluster 1 - Core Infrastructure
Infrastructure implementation is the starting point for organisations seeking to enable business through utilising IT systems. The workplace skills provided in this cluster cover a broad range of key systems and services. The cluster has both server and workstation platforms at its heart to ensure a holistic knowledge base for Systems Administrators. The depth of knowledge transfer is based on Microsoft Server 2008, Windows 7, and CISCO switching and routing. This cluster delivers outcomes that are broad in systems implementation and are relevant to many platforms: Microsoft, Novell, Linux, UNIX, CISCO, and Juniper.
Broad concepts covered
- BIND/DNS
- DHCP
- NetBIOS name resolution
- LDAP compliant directory services
- Swap/Page file placement and optimisation
- Volume/Partition evaluation
- Services/Daemons
- Server security compliance including patch management
- Basic backup and restore principles
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- Storage technologies
- Basic VPN and Network Access Protection
- RADIUS/IAS policies
- User management
- ACLs for file security
- System Policies
- File and Print Services
- Network protocols (IPSec, OSPF, TCP/IP, PPTP, )
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Cluster 2 - Continuity & Security
Systems Administrators require the skills and knowledge to ensure that business systems are ready, available, and fit for purpose. The workplace skills provided in this cluster cover a broad range of concepts for business continuity. Identifying key systems and services is paramount to ensure that business can continue to function effectively. Breadth of systems is achieved through careful selection of an enterprise level server and desktop operating system. This cluster delivers outcomes that are broad and transferable across many different systems: files and print servers, application servers, and network component servers running on various platforms.
Broad concepts covered
- System baseline
- Monitoring techniques
- Defragmentation
- Intrusion Detection
- Corporate virus management
- Defence in depth
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- Secure remote access
- VPN Quarantine
- NAT
- IP Masquerade
- Screened subnets
- Security protocols (S/MIME, IPSec, L2TP, SSL, PKI)
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Cluster 3 - Continuous Improvement
Systems Administrators play a key role in business improvement and must have the skills to offer solutions and alternatives to business managers in the interests of addressing challenges, and increasing productivity and revenue. This cluster delivers outcomes that are broad based in their project methodology and business needs analysis, and that are transferrable across multiple industries, systems, and platforms. Depth of systems design is achieved through hands on activities in designing different solutions based on real world scenarios.
Broad concepts covered
- Project lifecycle
- Identification and definition of Stakeholders
- Feasibility analysis
- Project Charters
- Project team roles
- Project Scope
- Risk impact and mitigation
- Cost and time estimate
- Communications matrix
- Quality management
- Qualitative and quantitative analysis
- Change management
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- Closeout process
- Analysis of business need
- Budget management - top-down - bottom-up
- Relationship management
- Project Implementation
- Scope creep
- Delivery and signoff
- Project Debrief
- Systems Design
- Systems consolidation - Green IT concepts
- Virtualisation of critical systems
- Systems optimisatio
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Cluster 4 - Service Delivery & Governance
The capacity to communicate effectively with customers at all levels ensures positive business support outcomes. The workplace skills provided in this cluster cover a broad range of concepts for systems support and maintenance. At the core of this cluster is ITIL, the "de facto standard" of service management. Also included are 'soft skills' units that prepare participants for client interaction that focus on communication skills through activities and simulations. Many of the skills learned are applicable across many job roles and industry sectors.
This cluster provides the framework and skill sets that are platform- and systems-independent, and vital to ensure that System Administrators have the procedures, systems, and policies in place to support correct and unbiased decision making in times of stress. These will also extend to preventative maintenance and proactive problem management to reduce system incidents.
Broad concepts covered
- Service metrics
- Change Management
- Problem solving - deductive/inductive
- Incident and problem management
- Information gathering
- Quality Assurance
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- Consistency of support
- Maintenance
- SLA/OLA/UC management
- Service Strategy, Design, Transition, Operation and continual improvement
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