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.
Recently we caught up with Nick Hartman 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 a little bit about your IT background?
I’ve worked in IT for 20 years in a multitude of roles and industries. I got the chance to work in many different IT areas, which I can’t stress enough, as a professional you want to spend time in different areas like network, security, infrastructure, and cloud. These experiences provided a very big help in propelling my career. I love to solve problems, and I feel like I am just wired for it.
Along the way, I’ve gained great international experience, experience helping teams collaborate as a mediator, and I started an independent consulting company.
Most recently, I’ve moved onto sales, first doing OEM at Rubrik and then at Nutanix. My goal was to talk to more people. I wanted to learn what challenges people were facing at their organizations. It was a great experience to work within different industries, workplaces, and environments. Without a doubt, my experiences at Nutanix were very helpful. I have since moved onto Stratascale, where I am now able to work with Fortune 1000 customers and engage with executive leadership and focus on improving implementations across environments.
What other certifications do you hold?
I hold an undergraduate college degree in Computer Science from Miami University. It was programming, AI, algorithms, and other subjects that made me think in different ways. Once again, I got my MBA from Xavier University. I like to learn about the relationship between IT and business. I developed an understanding as to how the two industries interact and work together successfully, which I found to be important since there seems to be gaps across a multitude of industries in that regard. I have looked to bridge said gap throughout my career.
I am also certified as a Solutions architect associate in AWS and have my VMware VCP.
Can you walk us through the process of getting your NCX-MCI certification?
I joined Nutanix a month before the pandemic started. My goal in joining the company was to be an expert resource - not just for my team and territory, but for other system engineers in the organization as well. I wanted to learn, and I wanted to learn fast. Nutanix has great educational libraries and tools, which helped accelerate the process. I got NCP within the first month, got my NCM within 6 months, and then came the daunting NCX. I felt like the NCX was a great stepping stone between the NCM and the NPX, which I plan to go for in the future. I recommend the [Enterprise Cloud Solutions Design] boot camp to everyone, even to those who do not plan to take the certification. The boot camp gives great ideas for engaging customers. You are given a problem, tasked with creating a solution, and then need to defend said solution in a presentation.
What tools/resources did you use to prepare for the certification, and what is your opinion of the NCX process?
I used Nutanix University, the Nutanix Bible, and a multitude of Nutanix whitepapers that are available for the solutions. I also was able to call back to my experiences in the field with design and customers, which was key in improving designs and identifying solutions that would be effective. The boot camp is essential, as I mentioned previously. Overall it’s a well thought-out process that is clearly outlined for those seeking the certification.
Why did you decide to get your NCX-MCI, and how do you see NCX helping your career?
I am a firm believer in lifelong learning - my motto is that there is always something new to learn. I had two main reasons for getting the certification. The first reason was that I set a goal, and wanted to achieve that goal. I also knew I wanted to get to the expert level to help others.
Also, I wanted to help other people achieve their learning goals. An NCX certification goes beyond being classified as an expert at Nutanix. I believe that the NCX demonstrates expertise in Nutanix and beyond. This certification requires you to design an environment leveraging Nutanix as well as other IT platforms. You need to be able to solve business problems with technical solutions. You are required to create coherent designs that are then presented to C-suite level executives. This showcases that ability. Not to mention, this process will be instrumental in helping me achieve the Nutanix Platform Expert (NPX) certification.
» Click here to find out more about the NCX-MCI certification.
This article was written by Neil Grasso, Customer Marketing Specialist.
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