Business Intelligence with SQL Server 2005: Transform Data into Decisions

Just came across a set of PerformancePoint webcasts on http://thesource.ofallevil.com/events/series/sqlserverbi.mspx. Check out:

TechNet Webcast: Performance Management 101 with PerformancePoint Server 2007 (Level 200)
Thursday, January 18, 2007
1:00 P.M.–2:00 P.M. Pacific Time
Join us and learn how Office PerformancePoint Server 2007 enables businesses to deliver performance management capabilities broadly by providing an application that is easy to use and less costly to deploy than traditional solutions.

TechNet Webcast: Microsoft Business Intelligence: Introduction to PerformancePoint Server 2007 (Level 200)
Friday, January 19, 2007
8:00 A.M.–9:00 A.M. Pacific Time
Discover how Office PerformancePoint Server 2007 provides you with critical visibility into the factors that affect your business, allowing you to make decisions and take actions that drive better business outcomes.

MCITP: Business Intelligence Developer

Microsoft has just released an update to the Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP) with the creation of Business Intelligence Developer credential. It looks like you only need to sit two exams to become a Business Intelligence Developer.

This qualification is a step up from the Microsoft Certified Technology Specialists in Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Business Intelligence (MCTS: SQL Server 2005 BI).

The training material is available but the exams are not available until early 2007. It might be a good time to start looking into getting this certification.

Check out:
MCITP: Business Intelligence Developer
MCTS: SQL Server 2005 Business Intelligence

SQL Server 2005 Skill Assessments

Microsoft has released a series of free skill tests that are well worth trying. There are tests covering most Microsoft products. There are two categories that I have given a go.

• Introduction to SQL Server 2005 (DBA, Developer, BI): SQL 2005
• Introduction to SQL Server 2000 Reporting Services: RS 2000

Kimball Group Webcasts

I have just come across a series of must see webcasts by the Kimball Group consultants that wrote The Microsoft Data Warehouse Toolkit. I have not viewed them all yet. I am currently viewing the MSDN Architecture Webcast: Using SQL Server 2005 Integration Services to Populate a Kimball Method Data Warehouse (Level 200). Which I highly recomend.

Check out the other Kimball Group Webcasts at:http://www.microsoft.com/sql/solutions/bi/kimballwebcasts.mspx