SAGE Certification Update

by Barbara L. Dijker
<sage-cert@usenix.org>

Vice President of the SAGE STG Executive Committee



Since the great debate at LISA last fall, the SAGE certification subcommittee has been continuing work on the project as originally intended. The goal, as defined in February 1998, is to assess the feasibility of a certification program of "core competency" that is "of merit" and affordable. Members of the SAGE Executive Committee and the certification subcommittee have focused on raising awareness and understanding in our community (BoFs, local group meetings), while we leave the real work to the professionals. The feedback in this phase has been very encouraging and supportive of a certification program. No insurmountable obstacles have been hit. SAGE should have enough information by LISA (Seattle in November) to take that next giant leap of deciding whether and how to begin program development. If SAGE moves forward, the program would be in place in 2000. For the latest information on the SAGE certification project, visit the Web site at <http://www.usenix.org/sage/cert/>.

Occupational Analysis

The Human Resources Research Organization (HumRRO, <http://www.humrro.org/>) was selected to conduct comprehensive research on system administration as an occupation and perform an occupational analysis. HumRRO has applied proven methodologies to this process. The results of this research are required to develop and validate certification skill requirements.

HumRRO developed a draft list of tasks system administrators perform and the knowledge bases, skills, and abilities (KSA) required to perform those tasks. Four focus groups were conducted to review and hone that list: two during SANS in May, one in the Bay Area, and one in Chicago. In addition, one-on-one interviews were conducted with five members of the SAGE certification advisory council to provide additional feedback and a good confidence level in the list.

The task and KSA list has been incorporated into a system administrator occupational analysis survey. The survey will ask respondents to rate the relative importance of each task and KSA and the level of the KSA required to perform their duties. In addition to the task and KSA list, the survey asks respondents for demographic information and other data related to the certification project. The draft survey was posted to the certification advisory council for comment and was reviewed in detail by the certification subcommittee. The advisory council participated in a pilot of the survey prior to public posting.

This system administrator occupational analysis survey should be available on the SAGE certification Web site in October (<http://www.usenix.org/sage/cert/>). The survey will take someone approximately 45 minutes to complete and submit. The availability of the survey is being publicized widely by SAGE in order to encourage as much response as possible. Please take the time to complete and submit the survey yourself, and also tell all your peers about the survey, especially those who may not be SAGE members or are new system administrators. The survey will be available for a posted period of time to collect responses.

When the survey posting period is concluded, HumRRO will analyze the results. The results will be incorporated into subsequent phases of the certification project. Preliminary results should be available at the LISA conference in Seattle in the results session of the technical program and the SAGE community meeting (BoF).

Sponsors

There is now a sponsorship program for the SAGE certification project. The purpose of sponsorship is to develop recognition for the project and acquire funding to support it. Details about sponsorship are available on the Web site. Financial contributions are not required for listing as a sponsor. Please encourage your employer and/or your training provider to be a sponsor.

Other Developments

The Department of Defense (DOD) has issued a mandate that all system administrators will require "level 1" certification. The certification is required by December 31, 1999, for those working on classified systems and December 31, 2000, for those working on nonclassified systems. While the full details of the requirements are not yet available to SAGE, current information suggests that they are limited to security issues. The SANS Institute is developing a certification program specifically to meet the DOD security requirements.

The Linux Professional Institute is in full swing in their certification program, to be ready in the third quarter of 1999.

Participate! Certification of system administration professionals is not only inevitable but already happening. SAGE is taking a lead in this effort, and you can participate! Help make this the premier certification program for system administrators by answering the Web-based survey that will be coming your way later this fall. If you want to make sure you don't miss this important opportunity and you don't already subscribe to <sage-members>, sign on now. For more information about the project, visit the SAGE Certification Web site at <http://www.usenix.org/sage/cert/>.