The Nutanix Certified Expert (NCX) certification tests candidates on their ability to create and deliver Cloud-Smart solutions that leverage the Nutanix stack for Private Cloud and the best offerings from our Public Cloud partners for hybrid services.
Every NCX is an expert in their field and has the proven ability to design enterprise-scale solutions that support business-critical applications with service level agreements specified by business stakeholders.
We caught up with Dave Weber to talk about his experience earning this expert-level certification and to get his advice for other professionals looking to earn their NCX.
Can you tell us about your IT background?
My career got started back in the late 1990s in IT help desk support. From there I worked my way up to desktop administrator, then up to server administrator. During my time as a server administrator in 2018 Nutanix was brought into my company. I then became a Nutanix administrator and started moving everything over from VMWare ESXi to Nutanix AHV. Shortly after that, I made the jump over to Nutanix as a systems engineer.
How do you see NCX helping your career?
When I'm working with Nutanix customers, having gone through the NCX process, it gives me the foresight to start planning a whole solution to meet their needs. Instead of thinking of piecemeal solutions, it’s helped me to focus on designing the whole solution from where they are today to where they would like to get to and I can show them how we can get there.
This kind of thinking helps strengthen my relationship with the customer because they can see that I’m in it for the long haul. They know I’m going to think of potential challenges we might encounter along the way, how we can overcome them, and how they can align themselves strategically to not only benefit from a better ROI by using Nutanix, but also to help serve their own customers better and more reliably.
Why did you decide to get your NCX certification?
There are two main reasons I decided to get the NCX certification. I wanted to be the first in our healthcare team to secure the certification and, at the same time, I knew it would have a positive impact on my career and my customer relationships. Having this certification has enabled me to build a trusted advisor status with my customers. They know I’m there to make sure they’re successful and able to do everything to the best of their abilities.
Can you walk us through the process of getting your NCX certification?
It’s key to have a thorough understanding of Nutanix, so starting by getting your NCP-MCI or even your NCM-MCI certification is going to help. Then it’s all about taking the Enterprise Cloud Solution Design Boot Camp (ECSD). The boot camp is pretty intensive but it’s fun and you get to make an NCX presentation. I would even recommend taking it a couple times because you’re going to pick up something different each time.
After the boot camp I needed to decide which customer I wanted to base my presentation on. I gathered all of the notes from when we initially talked with them and went back to them to fill in any missing information that I’d need to build out the full solution proposal.
The full process from when I finished the ECSD boot camp to the final NCX presentation was about 3 months, plus another 60 hours building the slide deck and making sure my solution proposal was right.
What resources did you use to prepare for the certification?
When I was preparing for the NCX presentation, I leveraged other NCX holders who had already gone through the process. I would reach out to ask them questions and get tips on how they prepared their presentation.
I also used the wealth of information on Nutanix University. The Nutanix University Youtube Channel was a great resource that helped guide me through some topics and helped with my talk track for the presentation.
What advice would you give someone who’s pursuing the NCX certification?
If I can do it, you can do it! I don’t take exams well, but I still do it so I can get out of my comfort zone. It’s important to get out of your comfort zone in order to better yourself and grow your skills. If you're thinking about doing it then go for it!
Are you interested in pursuing the NCX certification? Visit our website to learn more and get started.
This article was written by Karlie Beil, Customer Marketing Specialist.
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