Certification - October 2008 - (Page 38)

service, customer relationship management, supply chain management, enterprise-resource planning and sales-force automation; describe how serviceoriented architecture (SOA), coupled with unified communications, can streamline processes and reduce human latency; and identify key performance indicator (KPI) metrics that can be mapped to a financial return on investment (ROI) model. • How to implement UC solutions: The professional must demonstrate the ability to scope a unified communications proof-of-concept pilot project with There is no “one size fits all” approach to increasing productivity and collaboration across different types of businesses. Understanding which steps to take along the way toward full-scale deployment increases the success rate and minimizes the costs of deployment. Getting Certified in Unified Communications Networks no longer are dedicated to one vendor or one product. Understanding core technologies and processes is a common bridge toward successfully deploying multi-vendor solutions. Today’s IT professional must showcase a broad range of skills, with strong knowledge of technologies, products and applications across multiple vendor solutions. A highly valued and marketable IT professional has comprehensive knowledge of foundational technologies and multiple vendor products and — most importantly — understands key concepts on how to bring those products together in the form of a business solution. To help would-be UC professionals study, Nortel launched Nortel Press, which publishes self-study guides on networking subjects that are shaping the future of business communications. One of the most recent releases is a self-study guide called Unified Communications Solutions: A Practical Business and Technology Approach. The vendor-neutral guide provides a clear description of the evolution of messaging, UC capabilities and how UC can improve business processes such as sales-force automation and supply chain management. The guide also explains how key performance indicators can be mapped to a financial ROI model and how to implement UC solutions using a proof-of-concept pilot, and addresses important deployment considerations such as securing VoIP and SIP protocols for UC applications. In addition to the self-study guide, an optional mentoring program is offered. This program covers the more complex topics in the guide through a four-week study syllabus and access to a series of weekly, fourhour online sessions with an instructor, including Q&A opportunities. Ultimately, an NCTS: Unified Communications Solutions credential demonstrates the knowledge and expertise to move forward in the hyperconnected world. 8 Scott Schauer is the director of the global certification program at Nortel. He also manages the Nortel Press and Nortel Technology Solutions Academy programs. He can be reached at editor@certmag.com. Unified communications (UC) solutions remove the barriers between voice, e-mail, conferencing, video and instant messaging, thereby allowing for instantaneous people-topeople communications. measurable KPIs and a financial ROI model; understand best practices for UC system integration configurations and implementations regarding heterogeneous voice communications infrastructures; and understand which applications, features and functions are supported on end-point devices, PDAs and cell phones. • How to secure VoIP, SIP and UC solutions: The IT professional must be able to identify Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and SIP risks, threats and vulnerabilities; understand how to implement VoIP best practices for security in an IP infrastructure; understand how to implement SIP best practices for security and specifically for end-point devices and PDAs that may be transporting customer private data and information; and describe how to implement a layered security solution to ensure the confidentiality, integrity and availability of VoIP and SIP-enabled applications such as UC, end-point and PDA devices. 8 CERTIFICATION MAGAZINE October 2008

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Certification - October 2008

Certification - October 2008 Editor's Letter Contents Data Stream Virtual Village Tech Careers Dear Techie Troubleshooting Academic Connection What We Like Look Ahead Elect IT: Technology and the Democratic Process Managing Relationships in the Nonprofit Realm Interface VoIP Technician: Answering the Call of the Network Inside Certification Ad Index Endtag

Certification - October 2008

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