SQL with Manoj

After passing 70-461 exam last year I’m now preparing for 70-463 exam i.e. Implementing a Data Warehouse with Microsoft SQL Server 2012. This exam mainly focuses on implementing Data Warehouses with Dimension & Fact tables, working with SSIS packages and Data Quality solutions. Thus being a Database Developer (primarily) this exam will be bit tough for me as I’ve not worked with Dimensional modelling, SSIS and DQS.

For preparation I’m referring to Training Kit (Exam 70-463) Implementing a Data Warehouse with Microsoft SQL Server 2012 book.

This exam is primarily intended for ETL and Data Warehouse (DW) developers who create Business Intelligence (BI) solutions, and whose responsibilities include Data Cleansing, and Extract Transform Load and Data Warehouse implementation.
 

–> The Exam is divided into 5 modules:

1. Design and Implement a Data Warehouse | 11%
– Introducing Star and Snowflake Schemas
– Design and Implement Dimensions
– Design and Implement Fact tables
– Managing the Performance of a Data Warehouse
– PREP links: Introduction to dimensions (Analysis Services – multidimensional data) | Dimension relationships | Columnstore indexes

2. Extract and Transform data | 23%
– Define Connection managers
– Design Data Flow
– Implement Data Flow with Transformations
– Control Flow tasks and Containers, Precedence Constraints
– Manage SSIS package execution
– Implement Script tasks in SSIS
– PREP links: Integration Services (SSIS) connections | Data flow | Slowly changing dimension transformation

3. Load Data | 27%
– Design control flow
– Implement package logic by using SSIS variables and parameter
– Implement Control flow
– Implement Data Load options
– Implement Script components in SSIS
– Slowly Changing Dimensions
– Preparing a Package for Incremental Load
– Package Transactions, Checkpoints, Event Handlers
– PREP links: Integration Services transactions | Developing a custom task | Integration Services (SSIS) parameters

4. Configure and Seploy SSIS solutions | 24%
– Troubleshoot Data Integration issues
– Install and Maintain SSIS components
– Implement Auditing, Logging, and Event handling
– Deploy SSIS solutions
– Configure SSIS security settings
– Data Mining Task and Transformation
– Preparing Data for Data Mining
– Implementing SSIS Fuzzy Transformations
– PREP links: Troubleshooting tools for package development | Load-balancing packages on remote servers by using SQL Server Agent | Integration Services (SSIS) logging

5. Build Data Quality Solutions (DQS) | 15%
– Install and maintain Data Quality services
– Creating and Maintaining a Knowledge Base
– Create a Data Quality project to clean data, Profiling Data and Improving Data Quality
– Using DQS and the DQS Cleansing Transformation
– Implement Master Data Management (MDM) solutions
– Using Master Data Services Add-in for Excel
– PREP links: Install Data Quality Services | Install Master Data Services | Master Data Services features and tasks
 

-–> You can visit following Study materials to prepare for this Exam:

Microsoft Link for this Certification: http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en-us/exam-70-463.aspx

Book on AMAZON.com: Training Kit (Exam 70-463) Implementing a Data Warehouse with Microsoft SQL Server 2012
 

I will try to update this blog post or will put up a new post with my learning while preparing for this exam.

All The Best!!!