GTconsult - Blog #Microsoft Exams

Late Nights, Busy Weekends, & a Lot of Learning

Thu, 15 May 2025 09:21:33 +0000

Midnight’s Certification Journey

There’s a quiet kind of determination that often hides behind the scenes of IT support. It’s the kind that isn’t loud or boastful, but you see it in how someone shows up for the team, how they handle a difficult ticket, and how they quietly push themselves to grow. Midnight, one of our SharePoint Support Engineers, recently passed the Microsoft Certified: Security, Compliance, and Identity Fundamentals exam—and her story is a reminder that professional growth doesn’t always start with a formal plan. Sometimes, it starts with a nudge from leadership, a few too many tabs open, and a personal goal to prove something to yourself.

We sat down with Midnight to unpack her journey in full: the late nights, the surprises, the setbacks—and the sweet, surreal moment when she saw that she’d passed.

When you speak to Midnight about her latest achievement, her quiet confidence and curiosity shine through. As a SharePoint Support Engineer, she's always been interested in the mechanics behind her work—but now, with a new security certification under her belt, she’s got the theory to back it all up.

What exam did she pass?

The SC-900: Microsoft Security, Compliance, and Identity Fundamentals exam is designed to assess your foundational knowledge of security, compliance, and identity (SCI) concepts and related Microsoft solutions.

The SC-900 exam is intended for individuals who are looking to familiarize themselves with the fundamentals of SCI across cloud-based and related Microsoft services.This includes business stakeholders, new or existing IT professionals, and students.A basic understanding of Microsoft Azure and Microsoft 365 is recommended.

Key areas covered in the exam:

Concepts of security, compliance, and identity.
Capabilities of Microsoft Entra.
Capabilities of Microsoft security solutions.
Capabilities of Microsoft compliance solutions.

Why this exam?

The choice wasn’t random.

“It was part of the team's upskilling plan, identified by Brad for the support team.”

The certification was identified as a strategic step for the team, and Midnight leaned into it—recognizing that it wasn’t just about ticking a box, but about staying relevant and useful in a constantly evolving space.

Additionally, the certification wasn’t just a trophy; it was a tool. For Midnight, passing was just part of the mission. The real aim was to deepen her understanding of how security and compliance are embedded into hybrid infrastructure—something she works with every day.

Preparing for the exam

We asked how she prepared, and the answer was as real as it gets:

“A lot of sleepless nights, going through material on the laptop screen.”

No sugar-coating here. Midnight juggled her job and studies like many do—burning the midnight oil, quite literally. But the biggest challenge wasn’t the content itself.

“Sticking to the schedule and resisting the urge to play games.”

There’s something delightfully honest about that. When work and study take up all your hours, the call of an Xbox or a mobile game is loud. But she powered through.

Staying motivated

Every study journey has that moment where you ask, “Why am I doing this again?” For Midnight, the motivation came in an unexpected form:

“The upcoming long weekend and the prospect of rest.”

Sometimes, it's not a deep philosophical answer—it’s knowing that if you just keep going a little longer, there’s rest on the other side. That’s more relatable than most of us would like to admit.

Finding out she passed

When asked how it felt when she saw that “pass” on her screen.

“It felt unreal and surprising.”

“I gained the certification and more experience about the infrastructure being deployed for security and compliance.”

It’s more than just a certificate. For Midnight, it’s validation of her knowledge and a clearer understanding of the behind-the-scenes structure that supports secure business operations. It also deepens her ability to troubleshoot and support clients confidently.

How do you plan to apply what you’ve learned in your current role?

“Like I say, it's now—we're already working with these things. So now I just have a better understanding of why we implement these things.

Whereas, like I say, sometimes it was a case of your—management wants us to implement these things.

There's a very good reason why, but obviously I don't know quite the reason why beforehand.

And now I can actually know that this is—we need to implement this and do this because it can help us with this and this.”

“So yeah, I would say it helps identify why we have certain technologies in place—and rules as well—for the company environment.”

Her answer shows how impactful training can be when it’s tied to real-world application. She’s not just doing the work—she now understands the why behind it.

What’s your next goal after this awesome win? What are you looking to achieve next?

“The next goal I would say being the best auntie to my brother's child because it's only—they're only like 6 weeks away.

But yeah… my next goal would be, I would like to, and I'll ask whether this would be possible, but I would like to get more experience in being able to assist the devs with support tickets that need to be escalated to the devs—not only to help them with their workload and all of that, but because I find it extremely interesting. So I would say that would be my next goal. But that is now not a certification goal. The certification goal—I’ll find out which one is next.”

Midnight’s passion for deepening her knowledge is contagious. Whether it’s supporting her family or her dev team, she’s all-in.

Advice for anybody who wants to pursue this exam

“Yes, I would actually say it's worthwhile to do it because in this day and age, security is everything.
Even like—for a very stupid example, but a very real one that I feel like everyone can resonate with—is you have a security gate or a security alarm in your house, or something, something to secure your physical environment.”

“So with this, it just—it gives you a better understanding of how to secure—basically how to understand the security system within your, obviously, your business environment.”

“So yeah, that's why I would say this is definitely a good one to do. And yeah, I'm actually very glad I did it.”

Midnight keeps it real—and relevant. Whether you’re in IT or just securing your home Wi-Fi, she makes the importance of this exam easy to relate to.

Final Thoughts

Midnight’s achievement is more than a line on her résumé—it’s a stepping stone to what’s next. From becoming the best auntie to diving deeper into technical support, she’s embracing the opportunity to grow, ask questions, and lift others while she learns.

“I'm actually very glad I did it.”

And so are we.

Congratulations, Midnight!

Celebrating Craig Tarr's Achievement: Passing the Azure AI Engineer Certification

Wed, 03 Jul 2024 10:03:23 +0000

A write up on our CEO, Craig Tarr's, recent exam pass

In a recent conversation with Craig Tarr, CEO of GTconsult South Africa, we discussed his notable achievement of passing the Azure AI Engineer certification exam. Despite an already impressive list of credentials, Craig continues to pursue new heights, demonstrating his commitment to lifelong learning and setting an inspiring example for his team.

Craig Tarr has long been a driving force in the tech industry, consistently pushing the boundaries of innovation and excellence. His latest accomplishment, securing the Azure AI Engineer certification, is a testament to his dedication and expertise in the field.

Understanding the Azure AI Engineer Certification

The Microsoft Azure AI Engineer certification is designed for professionals who build, manage, and deploy AI solutions leveraging Azure AI. It covers all phases of AI solution development, including requirements definition and design, development, deployment, integration, maintenance, performance tuning, and monitoring.

Certified Azure AI Engineers work with solution architects to translate their vision into reality. They collaborate with data scientists, data engineers, Internet of Things (IoT) specialists, infrastructure administrators, and other software developers to build complete and secure end-to-end AI solutions. These engineers integrate AI capabilities into other applications and solutions, enhancing their functionality and effectiveness.

To achieve this certification, candidates must have experience developing solutions using languages such as Python and C#. They should also be adept at using Representational State Transfer (REST) APIs and SDKs to build secure image processing, video processing, natural language processing, knowledge mining, and generative AI solutions on Azure. Additionally, certified engineers must understand the components of the Azure AI portfolio, available data storage options, and apply responsible AI principles.

Why Pursue the Azure AI Engineer Certification?

When asked about his motivation for pursuing this certification, Craig highlighted the need to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving industry. "We're building applications for clients that want cutting-edge, future-proof solutions," Craig explained. "Having the certification around AI, not just the theoretical knowledge but the practical application, is crucial."

Craig previously completed the Azure AI Fundamentals course, which provided a solid theoretical foundation. However, he found the practical focus of the Azure AI Engineer certification more aligned with his goals. "The engineer certification is about utilizing the tools, which is more important for our needs. It gave me a broader understanding of how to build specific tools and what feature sets are available."

Enhancing Service to Clients

Craig emphasized the dual benefits of the certification from both a building and consulting perspective. "It's better to understand what the tools can actually do and what their limitations are," he said. "As a company that is enabling productivity, these AI tools are paramount for future productivity. Understanding how they work helps us consult our clients more effectively, providing real-world experience in utilizing these tools."

Challenges and Preparation

Despite his extensive experience, Craig found the certification challenging. "The developer certification requires knowing the ins and outs of all the APIs and solutions. It also delves into areas outside my strong suit, like application and network security, which are crucial for providing comprehensive solutions."

Even with the challenges he faced, Craig's passion for technology made the process enjoyable. "This is what I do for fun. Learning about new technology invigorates me. Despite time constraints, I always set aside time for learning new things."

A Continuous Journey of Learning

"These latest exams require yearly updates to stay relevant, so I'll focus on keeping them up to date."

Leading by Example

Craig's relentless pursuit of knowledge and skill development sets a powerful example for his team and the broader tech community. His ability to balance a high-level executive role with ongoing education underscores the importance of continuous improvement. "You need to always be on top of your game," Craig noted. "The tech world changes so fast that if you don't keep up, you'll never catch up."

This mindset of perpetual learning and adaptability not only enhances Craig's capabilities but also elevates the entire organization. By staying current with the latest advancements, Craig ensures that GTconsult remains at the forefront of technological innovation, offering clients cutting-edge solutions that drive their success.

Looking Ahead

When asked about future plans, Craig hinted at the possibility of pursuing a doctorate someday. For now, his focus remains on maintaining and expanding his current certifications to ensure they align with the ever-changing landscape of technology.

Craig Tarr's achievement in passing the Azure AI Engineer certification is a significant milestone in his career. It reflects his commitment to staying at the forefront of technology and his dedication to providing the best solutions and services to clients. Congratulations, Craig, on this remarkable accomplishment!

Read about other team members

Check out our other blogs below:

Jacqui is determined to stay ahead

Creating a knowledge base in SharePoint

Barend's not done yet!

Sujata Excels in MS 900 Exam!

Annelize is determined to excel!

Thu, 05 Oct 2023 09:16:42 +0000

With only two months in at GT (her probation period is not even over yet) Annelize has proven herself to be determined, a team player and a valuable member of the team. She has shown that she stands by GT’s values and believes in its mission.

Annelize, a SharePoint guru, joined GTconsult in the first week of August and by the end of September, she had already written and passed her first Microsoft exam as part of the GT team. Talk about hitting the ground running. We sat down with Annelize to learn a bit more about her and her awesome achievement.

Growing up, Annelize was always fascinated by computers, and anything related to them. What initially began as following her brother's academic path culminated in a fulfilling career choice driven by her passion.

While Annelize is a recent addition to GT, she brings with her a decade of experience in the IT field, spanning support desk, networks, and now, support at GTconsult.

“When I heard about this opportunity with cloud technologies, I felt like it was the right move for me because, everything's moving to the cloud. I believe cloud technologies are the way forward.”

And in that same vein, when the opportunity was given to her by GT to write an exam, she didn’t hesitate.

The exam in question is AZ 500: Microsoft Azure Security Technologies. Familiar with it?

AZ 500 is a Microsoft exam that measures a developer’s ability to accomplish the following technical tasks:

manage identity and access
secure networking
secure compute, storage, and databases

manage security operations

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/credentials/certifications/exams/az-500/

As a member of the support team, Annelize understands the importance of continuous self-improvement and seizing opportunities for professional growth. She strongly believes that by embracing learning opportunities, you not only equip yourself with valuable knowledge but also pave a clearer path forward.

“I love to learn new things to better myself with the latest technologies.”

These are not just empty words; Annelize backs up what she says with her actions. She is confident in her abilities and ensures that she does well. This is why when it came to preparing for the exam, she noted that there was a lot of sacrifice that came with it including, lack of sleep!

“I was studying nonstop. Only getting a few hours of sleep in between. I just wanted to make sure. I’m a perfectionist and I was kind of disappointed with my result. I’ve always prided myself in scoring in the 90s for my IT exams.”

Speaking to Annelize, it’s clear to see how much she values knowledge. She emphasized the fact that there is so much to learn out there and there is always an area she can improve on. She solidified this by mentioning that she wants to be a ‘jack of all trades’.

I want to be a Jack of all trades. Getting as much knowledge as I can. The more you know, the better.”

This certification is definitely a steppingstone towards her making that a reality. She believes she will be better able to serve clients as she has gained confidence along with the new knowledge.

Going forward, Annelize has her sights set on the next Microsoft exam she would like to write. She is also keen to improve her knowledge on cloud technologies and see how she can progress her career with that knowledge. Additionally, she is eager to improve her relationship with coworkers and hopes to showcase her leadership skills in the future.

Annelize, we take pride in your remarkable accomplishments in the brief period you've been with us. You have undeniably solidified your position as an invaluable member of the team.

Onwards and upwards!