Storage firm combines with SNIA

Hitachi Data Systems has introduced its global customer and partner education initiative at the Storage Networking Industry Association (SNIA) 2006 Winter Symposium.

The Hitachi Data Systems Certified Storage Professional Program is designed to validate the skills and expertise of Hitachi Data Systems partners, customers and personnel in the architecture, implementation, support and administration of the company's storage solutions.

With this move, Hitachi Data Systems becomes the first member of the SNIA to incorporate the association's vendor-neutral certification program into its operations.

With this agreement, the SNIA will also recognise Hitachi Data Systems Certified Storage Professional Program credentials in its own certification program, enabling participants to take advantage of credentials used in two different, but complementary, major storage certification programs. This recognition will expand the availability of the association's vendor-neutral storage educational offerings and further streamline the certification process for storage professionals.

Participants in the Hitachi Data Systems program benefit by certifying their skills and domain knowledge.

Hitachi Data Systems certification program was developed in part from the SNIA's Job Task Analysis Survey, the results of which help determine the direction and method of the SNIA's certification and educational programs. Hitachi Data Systems' global, role-based program builds upon and certifies the skills and knowledge of participants as storage industry professionals.

The Hitachi Data Systems Certified Storage Professional 2006 Program offers a wide variety of delivery platforms to best accommodate its customers and partners, including:

• Global proctored testing
• Hands-on performance-based testing
• Internet non-proctored testing
• Internet proctored testing
• Continuing education for recertification