ITIL Exam Statistics

The blog is kind of dry right now because I am studying for OSA and have other projects going on.
But in the mean time here is a link and some interesting ITIL Exam Statistics.

http://www.itil-officialsite.com/News/ExamStats.asp

If you goto the link you can pull up other data from previous years. I have not done any analysis, no time. I need to complete my ITIL Expert by May 2011, to meet other milestones in my Masters Thesis and I have other projects going on so this is rapidly becoming a very busy coming 2 months.

I will post more after I compete Expert for now I will just say if I pass each test.

To reiterate my new study strategy is: to do through the official OGC syllabus for each exam, read the Art of Service Course material for the exam and finally watch the online course power points. I take the practice tests more the experience but I do know that the real questions are much more difficult.

As always good luck to all of you out there going for any ITIL level certification.

Some security tools worth looking at...

Here are a few cool security tools you may want to check out.

For all android users Google is offering 2 factor authentication for FREE!.
Just go to: http://www.net-security.org/secworld.php?id=9886

Now I have implemented this and it is very cool and works flawlessly. Now some applications will need you to generate a unique one time token to continue to work. For example the Gmail account on your Android phone. Not difficult at all to do.

To enable this just log into your Gmail account and go to: Settings.
Then under security you will see "Using 2-Step Verification".
You will also need to install a free application on your phone which will generate a code umber needed to log in.

After everything is set-up you will require the code and your password to log in.

Now what if you lose you phone. Not a problem part of the set-up processes will have you printout a sheet with emergency codes. Enough to get you in and disable the 2-step verification until you find or replace your phone.

The next item I have come across is called REDPHONE (BETA) by Whisper Systems.
RedPhone lets one set-up a secure connection via the cloud to a server for encrypted phone conversations.
Whisper is working on a encryption system similar to Blackberry for Android phones. Applications like this can make Android phones much more appealing for business users or security professionals.

Whisper also makes a application called TextSecure for you text messages from Android phones.

Both of these applications show the flexibility of the Android platform. I have not yet had time to do extensive testing on either application so I can not comment on the effectiveness or if each application works well.

Back to studying for SOA now. (half way there).

RCV - Passed

Just got my results;
I passed with a 77.5% which means I got (5) Five point Answers, (2) 3 Point Answers and (1) 0 Point Answer.

Just very happy to have made it past this exam.
These tests are very difficult; My masters GPA is 3.9 and I am a very good studier but for some reason these exams are really giving me a hard time.

For the remaining tests I am utilizing the following strategy:

1) Use the OGC syllabusss for the exam (read the material noted and analyze all charts, graphs etc.)
2) Read the course material.
3) Complete the Art of Service Course for the exam (online)
4) Take the exam.

Again once I complete I will work on a more detailed analysis of my experience and hope to be able to provide guide to others seeking their ITIL Expert. 

Chart of ITIL Points

I am still waiting to see how I did on my RCV exam (Round 3) but in the meantime I created this chart to illustrate the possible point combinations required to pass each exam. The bottom is not complete because they would all just continue in failures. 

Hope this illustration exemplifies the challenge of attaining the ITIL Expert.