Apr 5th

Types of Requirements Elicitation Techniques

The following are common Requirements Elicitation techniques used in Business Analysis. This is the process of collecting information from stakeholders so that the requirements may be documented for application development.

Brainstorming is a group elicitation technique where a problem or topic is presented to the group, and participants are asked to produce as many ideas to solve/address the topic as possible. As ideas are presented, a scribe documents the ideas and ensures the participants can see what is being captured. One of the fundamental rules in brainstorming is that ideas are ‘not judged’ or discussed while they are added to the list, so that momentum is not hindered. Participants are encouraged to use new ways of looking at the situation. If facilitated properly, brainstorming can be fun, engaging, and productive. It is an easy technique to use to generate a lot of ideas in a brief period of time.

Document Analysis – There is often a wealth of written information available to you from which you can discern potential requirements or even just to understand your stakeholders better. Internally you may have existing (albeit out of date) system documentation and vision documents written by your project management office (PMO) to justify your project. Externally there may be web sites describing similar systems, the sites of your competitors, or even textbooks describing the domain in which you’re currently working.

A focus group is composed of pre-qualified individuals whose objective is to discuss and comment on a topic. This is an opportunity for individuals to share their own perspectives and discuss them in a group setting. This could lead participants to re-evaluate their own perspectives considering others’ experiences. A trained moderator manages the administrative pre-work, facilitates the session, and produces the report. Observers may record or monitor the focus group but do not participate.

Interviews – You meet with someone to discuss their requirements. Although interviews are sometimes impromptu events, it is more common to schedule a specific time and place to meet and to provide at least an informal agenda to the interviewee. It is also common to provide a copy of your interview notes to the interviewee, along with some follow up questions, for their review afterward. One danger of interviews is that you’ll be told how the person ideally wants to work, not how they actually work. You should temper interviews with actual observation.

Observation – You sit and watch end users do their daily work to see what really happens in practice, instead of the often-idealistic view which they tell you in interviews. You should take notes and then ask questions after an observation session to discover why the end users were doing what they were doing at the time.

Workshop – A facilitated and highly structured meeting that has specific roles of facilitator, participant, scribe, and observer. Requirements workshops have defined rules of behavior including when to speak, and typically use a U-shaped table. It is customary practice to distribute a well-defined agenda and an information package which everyone is expected to read beforehand. Official meeting minutes are written and distributed after a workshop including a list of action items assigned during the session that the facilitator is responsible for ensuring are performed.

This is just a sampling of some of the common requirements elicitation techniques. Which ones have you had the most success with? Would you like to learn more about Requirements Elicitation training? Give us a call at 614-481-4345 or email info@babsim.com.

Mar 29th

Microsoft Information Protection Administrator

Microsoft is launching a new portfolio of security training and certifications! Today we are going to introduce you to the fourth and final new offering.

SC-400: Microsoft Information Protection Administrator
Do you plan and implement controls that meet organizational compliance needs? Do you translate requirements and compliance controls into technical implementation and assist organizational control owners to become and stay compliant? Do you work with stakeholders to implement technology that supports policies and controls necessary to sufficiently address regulatory requirements for their organization? Do you define applicable requirements, test IT processes and operations against those policies and controls, and create policies and rules for content classification, data loss prevention, governance, and protection? If so, it sounds like you’re an Information Protection Administrator, and this training and certification is for you.

Learn more about the training HERE.

Learn more about the exam HERE.

Ready to learn more about Microsoft Security certification training (dates coming soon!)? Give us a call at 614-481-4345 or email info@babsim.com.

Aug 3rd

Getting to know Windows Server 2019

The cloud is a growing source of innovation, but on-premises datacenters aren’t going away. The challenge is to blend the strengths of each in a way that meets your organization’s needs, using a hybrid strategy. Hybrid cloud enables a future-proof, long-term approach that will play a central role in IT strategies for the foreseeable future.

Benefit from cloud computing on your terms

The latest version of Windows Server has been specifically designed to bridge on-premises and the cloud, to help you benefit from cloud computing on your terms. Organizations are using Windows Server to extend their datacenters to the public cloud. They synchronize file servers, securely connect to cloud services, and perform backups on Azure. And now you can use Windows Admin Center to simplify everyday server management tasks for Windows Server running anywhere—on physical servers, virtual machines, on-premises, and in Azure, Microsoft’s cloud offering.

What’s new and improved in Windows Server 2019

1. Hybrid Cloud
   Extend your on-premises Windows Server environments to Azure and easily integrate high value services.
2. Security
   Ability to guard against ransomware attacks and help stop malicious virtual machine tampering.
3. Application development
   New support for Kubernetes and new capabilities to deploy and scale out containers across a hybrid environment.
4. Hyperconverged infrastructure
   Improvements to Microsoft’s hyperconverged platform now power prebuilt solutions that simplify deployment.

Windows Server 2019 Administration Training

This five-day instructor-led course is designed primarily for IT professionals who have some experience with Windows Server. It is designed for professionals who will be responsible for managing identity, networking, storage and compute by using Windows Server 2019, and who need to understand the scenarios, requirements, and options that are available and applicable to Windows Server 2019. The course teaches IT professionals the fundamental administration skills required to deploy and support Windows Server 2019 in most organizations.

Click HERE to learn more about Windows Server 2019 Administration training.
Join us in our Virtual Classroom Live.

Jun 4th

What’s new with Microsoft Certifications for cloud-based roles?

Get the latest on the impact and value of certification, including new Microsoft role-based certifications in this complimentary virtual learning event on Thursday, June 11, 2020 at 2pm EDT.

About the Event:

Join Babbage Simmel and Microsoft for this virtual event where you will get the latest on the impact and value of certification, including new Microsoft role-based certifications.  Research demonstrates how certifications have enhanced individual career opportunities and improved the impact of corporate technology teams. Learn more about cloud-specific opportunities and challenges —and how Microsoft Certifications now better address both the challenges and ever-increasing opportunities.

Speaker:

Julie-Anne Arsenault,
Marketing Director, Microsoft Worldwide Learning

Bio:

Julie-Anne leads the marketing team in Worldwide Learning and is responsible for skilling customers and partners, and ensuring they are successful in their technical roles.  Julie-Anne and her team achieve this by partnering with teams across Microsoft to offer connected learning experiences surfaced in contextual and relevant ways as customers engage with Microsoft and partners.

In her 12 years at Microsoft, she has had the opportunity to drive audience marketing strategy and win the hearts and minds of technical audiences through audience campaigns, relationship marketing, events, and content syndication.  Prior to Microsoft, Julie-Anne also worked in business development for IBM and Johnson & Johnson.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to learn with us. E-mail info@babsim.com or call (614) 481-4345 to with your questions or to learn more.

Feb 11th

Launch Your Career with the New CCNA

Introducing the new CCNA
New exam goes live on February 24, 2020

Achieving CCNA certification is the first step in preparing for a career in IT technologies. To earn CCNA certification, you pass one exam that covers a broad range of fundamentals for IT careers, based on the latest networking technologies, software development skills, and job roles.

Overview
The new CCNA program was designed to prepare you for today’s associate-level job roles in IT technologies. CCNA now includes security and automation and programmability. The program has one certification that covers a broad range of fundamentals for IT careers, with one exam and one training course to help you prepare.

Newly retooled for the latest technologies and job roles, the CCNA training course and exam give you the foundation you need to take your career in any direction. CCNA certification covers a breadth of topics, including:

• Network fundamentals
• Network access
• IP connectivity
• IP services
• Security fundamentals
• Automation and programmability

Prerequisites
There are no formal prerequisites for CCNA certification, but you should have an understanding of the exam topics before taking the exam.

CCNA candidates often also have:

• One or more years of experience implementing and administering Cisco solutions
• Knowledge of basic IP addressing
• A good understanding of network fundamentals

Recommended Training
Implementing and Administering Cisco Solutions (CCNA)

Exam
200-301 CCNA

Questions?  Get in touch!

Dec 4th

Microsoft SATV Training Benefit – Update

Microsoft is updating Software Assurance benefits beginning in February 2020 to ensure Software Assurance stays relevant and useful to customers. With this change in direction, some Software Assurance benefits will be retired or changed to eliminate redundancies and better align Software Assurance benefits across Microsoft’s products and services portfolio. The changes made also simplify benefit redemptions and replace outdated implementation mechanisms. While each customer experience is unique, all customers can benefit from the ability to optimize their business performance through Software Assurance.

Microsoft is investing in new ways to help organizations deploy, train, and get support for the products and services they buy. Because those new ways overlap with some dated and underused Software Assurance benefits, and the redemption process for some benefits are cumbersome and outdated, Microsoft is retiring those overlapping and outdated benefits.

Why are the SATV training vouchers being retired?

Customer and market feedback indicated a need for a streamlined learning experience. Microsoft is making significant investments to increase the alignment and quality of training offerings and certifications outside of Software Assurance over time.

When do the SATV program changes begin?

Over the next three years, Microsoft will be retiring the Software Assurance Training Voucher program and it will be migrated to new training and certification programs designed to better support learners.  Important dates to be aware of:

• FEBRUARY 1, 2020 – Azure Cloud Services training courses will be retired from the SATV catalog.
• FEBRUARY 1, 2021 – This is the final day that new SATV training vouchers can be purchased for any training.
• JANUARY 1, 2022 – The is the final day any SATV training voucher can be redeemed.

How can Babbage Simmel help?

• Find Azure Training – We are here to assist during this transition period so we have filled up the Azure schedule between now and February 1, 2020.
• Reach out to us – e-mail info@babsim.com or call (614) 481-4345.

ADDITIONAL SATV FAQs

HOW LONG ARE MY TRAINING VOUCHERS VALID?
The ability to access your training vouchers expires with your Software Assurance coverage. If you create a training voucher before your Software Assurance coverage expires, the voucher remains valid for 180 days after the date it was created.

While Software Assurance Training Vouchers are being retired, you can still create and use training vouchers until January 01, 2022, with the exception of Azure training, which will be removed from the course catalog in February 01, 2020.

DOES MY ORGANIZATION HAVE SOFTWARE ASSURANCE?
If your organization purchased volume licensing of Microsoft software, you most likely participate in Software Assurance. Software Assurance offers a broad range of benefits in one program which helps you deploy, manage, and migrate software.

DO I QUALIFY FOR SOFTWARE ASSURANCE/FREE MICROSOFT TRAINING?
Software Assurance is selected at the time of software purchase. If your organization purchased volume licensing of Microsoft software, you most likely participate in Software Assurance. “SA Pack MVL” on your Microsoft Licensing invoice means your organization participates in the Software Assurance program. The Notices Contact listed on the agreement is your organization’s Agreement Administrator. Your organization can begin using qualifying benefits immediately and over the term of the license agreement.

HOW CAN I FIND SATVS AT MY ORGANIZATION?
You can ask the Benefits Administrator, Software Purchasing Manager or IT Manager at your organization for your training vouchers.

CAN TRAINING VOUCHERS BE USED FOR ANY OFFICIAL MICROSOFT LEARNING PRODUCT COURSES?
Training vouchers can be used for any of the following type of courses designated for IT professional and developer courses only.

• Digital MOC (DMOC)
• Community Courseware
• MOC On-Demand

WHAT IS NOT ELIGIBLE THROUGH SATV?
SA training vouchers cannot be used for:

• First Look Clinics
• Hands on Labs
• End User ILT training
• Fresh Editions

WHAT IF AN EMPLOYEE WANTS TO ATTEND A CLASS THAT IS NOT ON THE SOFTWARE ASSURANCE LIST OF ELIGIBLE COURSES?
Software Assurance training vouchers can only be used for eligible courses. Courses not covered under SATV scheme can be enrolled by making payments separately.

WHEN A VOUCHER IS CREATED FROM THE AVAILABLE TRAINING DAYS, HOW LONG DOES IT LAST?
Training vouchers expire 180 days after their creation date. If the designated employee does not use a voucher within 180 days, the voucher is automatically revoked and the training days are returned to the company pool of days for use by others. If the customer agreement has expired, vouchers and training days will be forfeited.

WHERE TO REDEEM THE TRAINING VOUCHERS?
You can redeem training vouchers only at participating a Learning Partner like NetCom.

WHAT IS THE VALUE OF EACH SOFTWARE ASSURANCE TRAINING VOUCHER?
One training voucher day equals one classroom training day. For example, if a course is five days, a five-day voucher is required.

DOES THE VOUCHER VALUE VARY BY COURSE TYPE?
The voucher value is the same for all eligible courses. There is no difference in voucher value between a developer course and an IT professional course. If the course length is the same, they both require the same number of voucher days.

Other questions not listed?
send us an e-mail info@babsim.com or give us a call (614) 481-4345

Jun 19th

FREE WEBINAR – Moving to the Cloud – Ensuring a Safe and Informed Journey

Free Cloud Webinar JUNE 20th @ 12:30pm!

Moving to the Cloud – Ensuring a Safe & Informed Journey

The benefits and risks of moving to the Cloud will be explored in this webinar.
Topics include:

• Participants in your Cloud Journey
• The Security Triad
• The Treacherous 12
• Architectural Concepts
• Service and Deployment Models
• Business Drivers
• Reality Check

Click to SIGN UP

May 22nd

Babbage Simmel is Moving!

We are very excited to announce that our Columbus campus is relocating on June 3^rd!
Our new address is:

1900 E. Dublin Granville Rd., Suite 108, Columbus, OH 43229

We will be located in the Ashland University Columbus Center building.  That means, in partnership with Ashland University, we will continue to be offering college credit for a number of our courses.  We cannot wait to show you our new classrooms and amenities!

If we can provide additional help, please call us at (614) 481-4345 or e-mail info@babsim.com.

See you there soon!

Apr 13th

More About Learning as a Service (LaaS)

What is Learning as a Service?

LaaS is an interactive, cloud-based education subscription that combines individual and collaborative learning.

Learners progress at their own pace and can access a variety of remote activities including a virtual lab or dedicated support from qualified experts.

Benefits for Individuals and Teams

• Flexible Learning Plan: Learn when it suits your schedule.
• Anytime & Anywhere: Location-independent access – 365 days a year.
• Sustainability through human interaction: Collaborate with Industry Experts.
• Cost-efficient: Saving time and money on travel and accommodation.
• Scalability: Perfect for teams & organizations

Our Learning as a Service Options will include:

• Premium E-Learning Title
• Virtual Labs
• Q&A Coaching
• 1:1 Virtual Live Coaching
• Coaching Office Hours
• Moderated Discussion Forums

Beginning in Q2 2018, Babbage Simmel will be offering “Learning As A Service” (LaaS) through the Open edX Platform on Azure.

More details coming soon!

Mar 12th

Learning as a Service (LaaS) – Coming Soon at Babbage Simmel

Learning has been an integral part of the Technology industry and ecosystem. Having the right skills in the workforce have influenced the growth of the IT services industry for the past few decades, fueling industry growth and the economy.

Microsoft Learning programs offering world-class curriculum and certification have been a key factor to the availability of trained and skilled manpower driving technology deployment and adoption.

Learning styles have undergone a significant transformation. This is primarily driven due to ubiquitous connectivity and availability of devices with rich content and media capabilities.

Over time, demands on traditional Learning Platforms such as LMSs have increased:

• Students have demanded more engaging video-based content on these platforms, consumable from their personal mobile devices.
• Organizations and Educators have requested learning analytics to help better visualize their students’ progress and engagement.
• Administrators have been pressured to educate more students with fewer resources by leveraging new learning platforms such as Massively Open Online Classes (MooCs).

As a Microsoft partner, Babbage Simmel is working directly with Microsoft to help transform our businesses through a blend of Platform, Technology, and Curriculum to offer our customers a complete end-to-end connected Hybrid Cloud Learning Platform solution.

Beginning in Q2 2018, Babbage Simmel will be offering “Learning As A Service” (LaaS) through the Open edX Platform on Azure which will provide the following:

• Self-Paced / Blended Learning Solutions
• Learning Services such as Labs, Mentoring, Learner Support etc.
• Solutions to our customers as a SaaS solution or
• Deploy it as a Cloud Solution for our customers as a System Integrator.

More details coming soon!