Exam 70-459:

Transition Your MCITP: Database Administrator 2008 or MCITP: Database Developer 2008 to MCSE: Data Platform

Published:June 11, 2012
Language(s):English, French, German, Japanese, Spanish, Chinese (Simplified)
Audience(s):IT Professionals
Technology:Microsoft SQL Server 2012
Type:Proctored Exam

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Audience Profile
This exam is intended for candidates who have already earned the MCITP: Database Administrator 2008, or MCITP: Database Developer 2008, certification and who wish to transition their skills to MCSE: Data Platform on SQL Server 2012.
Credit Toward CertificationExam 70-459: Transition Your MCITP: Database Administrator 2008 or MCITP: Database Developer 2008 to MCSE: Data Platform: counts as credit toward the following certification(s):
  • MCSE: Data Platform
Note This preparation guide is subject to change at any time without prior notice and at the sole discretion of Microsoft. Microsoft exams might include adaptive testing technology and simulation items. Microsoft does not identify the format in which exams are presented. Please use this preparation guide to prepare for the exam, regardless of its format.
Skills Being MeasuredThis exam measures your ability to accomplish the technical tasks listed below.The percentages indicate the relative weight of each major topic area on the exam.The higher the percentage, the more questions you are likely to see on that content area on the exam.

The information after “This objective may include but is not limited to” is intended to further define or scope the objective by describing the types of skills and topics that may be tested for the objective. However, it is not an exhaustive list of skills and topics that could be included on the exam for a given skill area. You may be tested on other skills and topics related to the objective that are not explicitly listed here.
Implement Database Objects
  • Create and alter tables.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: develop an optimal strategy for using temporary objects (table variables and temporary tables); manage a table without using triggers; data version control and management; create tables without using the built-in tools; understand the difference between @Table and #table
  • Design, implement, and troubleshoot security.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: grant, deny, revoke; connection issues; execute as; certificates; loginless user; database roles and permissions; contained users; change permission chains
  • Create and modify constraints (complex statements).
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: create constraints on tables; define constraints; performance implications
Implement Programming Objects
  • Design and implement stored procedures.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: create stored procedures and other programmatic objects; techniques for developing stored procedures; different types of stored procedure results; create stored procedures for data access layer; analyze and rewrite procedures and processes; program stored procedures with T-SQL and CLR#; use table-valued parameters; encryption
  • Design T-SQL table-valued and scalar functions.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: ensure code non-regression by keeping consistent signature for procedure, views, and function (interfaces); turn scripts that use cursors and loops into a SET-based operation
  • Create and alter views.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: set up and configure partitioned tables and partitioned views; design for using views and stored procedures, and remove the direct usage of tables
Design Database Objects
  • Design tables.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: data design patterns; develop normalized and de-normalized SQL tables; understand the difference between physical tables, temp tables, temp table variables, and common table expressions; design transactions; design views; understand advantages and disadvantages of using a GUID as a clustered index; understand performance implications of # vs. @ temp tables and how to decide which to use, when, and why; use of set-based vs. row-based logic; encryption (other than TDE); table partitioning; filestream and filetable
  • Create and alter indexes.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: create indexes and data structures; create filtered indexes; create an indexing strategy; design and optimize indexes; design indexes and statistics; assess which indexes on a table are likely to be used given different search arguments (SARG); column store indexes; semantic indexes
  • Design data integrity.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: design table data integrity policy (checks, private key/foreign key, uniqueness, XML schema); select a primary key; data usage patterns
Optimize and Troubleshoot Queries
  • Optimize and tune queries.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: tune a badly performing query; identify long running queries; review and optimize code; analyze execution plans to optimize queries; tune queries using execution plans and database tuning advisor (DTA); design advanced queries using pivots and utilizing common table expressions (CTE), design the database layout and optimize queries (for speed and/or data size); understand different data types; basic knowledge of query hints; tune query workloads; demonstrate use of recursive CTE; full text search; control execution plans
  • Troubleshoot and resolve performance problems.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: interpret performance monitor data; impact of recovery modal on database size, and recovery; how to clean up if .MDF and .LDF files get to large; identify and fix transactional replication problems; detect and resolve server hung failure; identify and troubleshoot data access problems
  • Collect performance and system information.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: use Data Management Views to determine performance issues; from system metadata; gather trace information by using the SQL Server Profiler; develop monitoring strategy for production database; run a profiler trace and analyze the results; use profiler to troubleshoot applications; collect output from the Database Engine Tuning Advisor; extended events
Design Database Structure
  • Design for business requirements.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: business to data translations; identify which SQL Server components to use to support business requirements; design a normalization area; de-normalize by using SQL Server features (such as materialization via indexed views)
  • Design physical database and object placement.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: filestream and filetable; logical vs. physical design; file groups
  • Design SQL Server instances.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: create a specification for hardware for new instances; design an instance; design SQL to use only certain CPUs (including affinity masks); design clustered instances including Microsoft Distributed Transaction Control (MSDTC); memory allocation
Design Databases and Database Objects
  • Design a database model.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: design a logical schema; design a normalized database; design data access and data layer architecture; understand the relational model; design a normalized data model; design a database schema; create and maintain a schema upgrade and downgrade script that include the most optimal schema deployment and data migration; Entity-Attribute-Value (EAV) modeling, generalization/specialization, star-schema; optimize the design for normalization to the right level for the application; design security architecture; understand impact of collation, ANSI NULLS, and QUOTED IDENTIFIER
  • Design tables.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: data design patterns; develop normalized and de-normalized SQL tables; understand the difference between physical tables, temp tables, temp table variables, and common table expressions; design transactions; design views; understand the performance implications of # vs. @ temp tables and how to decide which to use, when, and why; use of set-based rather than row-based logic; filestream and filetable; semantic engine; sequences; row/page compression; data type selection
  • Design T-SQL stored procedures.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: write a stored procedure to meet a given set of requirements; design using views and stored procedures to remove the direct usage of tables
Design Database Security
  • Design an application strategy to support security.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: design security; implement schemas and schema security; design maintenance, including SQL logins vs. integrated authentication, permissions, and mirroring issues; use appropriate mechanisms to enforce security roles and signed stored procedures; encryption; contained logins
  • Design instance-level security configurations.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: implement separation of duties using different login roles; design and implement a data safety strategy that meets the requirements of the installation; choose authentication type, logon triggers, and regulatory requirements; transparent data encryption; DDL triggers
Design a Troubleshooting and Optimization Solution
  • Troubleshoot and resolve concurrency issues.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: examine deadlocking issues using the SQL server logs; design the reporting database infrastructure; monitor issues via DMV; diagnose blocking, live locking, and deadlocking; diagnose waits; performance detection with built-in DMVs; know how concurrency affects performance
  • Design a monitoring solution at the instance level.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: design auditing strategies including XE, Profiler, Perfmon, and DMV usage; set up file and table growth monitoring; collect performance indicators and counters; content management systems; policies
Preparation Tools and ResourcesTo help you prepare for this exam, Microsoft Learning recommends that you have hands-on experience with the product and that you use the following training resources. These training resources do not necessarily cover all of the topics listed in the "Skills Measured" tab.
Learning Plans and Classroom Training There is no classroom training currently available.
Microsoft E-Learning There is no Microsoft E-Learning training currently available.
Microsoft Press Books There are no Microsoft Press books currently available.
Practice Tests There are no practice tests currently available.
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