Exam 70-460:

Transition Your MCITP: Business Intelligence Developer 2008 to MCSE: Business Intelligence

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 is an upgrade exam allowing the candidate to upgrade their MCITP: Business Intelligence Developer 2008 certification to  MCSE: Business Intelligence.
Credit Toward CertificationExam 70-460: Transition Your MCITP: Business Intelligence Developer 2008 to MCSE: Business Intelligence: counts as credit toward the following certification(s):
  • MCSE: Business Intelligence
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.
Build an Analysis Services Database
  • Design dimensions and measures.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: given a requirement, identify the dimension/measure group relationship that should be selected; design patterns for representing business facts and dimensions (many-to-many relationships); design dimensions to support multiple related measure groups (many related fact tables); handle degenerate dimensions in a cube; identify the attributes for dimensions; identify the measures; aggregation behavior for the measures; hierarchies
  • Create measures.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: logically group measures; select appropriate aggregation functions; format measures
  • Implement a cube.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: use SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT) to build the cube; use SSDT to do non-additive or semi-additive measures in a cube; measures, perspectives; translations; dimension usage; cube specific dimension properties; measure groups; implement reference dimensions; implement many to many relationships; implement fact relationships; implement role-playing relationships; define granularity; create and manage linked measure groups and linked dimensions; actions
  • Create Multidimensional Expressions (MDX) queries.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: MDX authoring; identify the structures of MDX and the common functions (including tuples, sets, topcount, and SCOPE); identify which MDX statement would return the required result; implement a custom MDX or logical solution for a pre-prepared case task; graphical query designer or the generic query designer
  • Implement storage design in a multidimensional model.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: aggregations; partitions; storage modes; proactive caching; manage write-back partitions
Manage, Maintain, and Troubleshoot an SSAS Database
  • Process data models.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: processing tables or partitions for tabular models; processing databases, cubes, and dimensions for multidimensional models; full processing vs. incremental processing, remote processing; lazy aggregations; automate with Analysis Management Objects (AMO) or XML for Analysis (XMLA)
  • Troubleshoot data analysis issues.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: use SQL Profiler; troubleshoot duplicate key dimension processing errors; error logs and event viewer logs of SSAS; mismatch of data: incorrect relationships or aggregations; dynamic security issues; validate logic and calculations
Build a Tabular Data Model
  • Configure permissions and roles in Business Intelligence Semantic Model (BISM).
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: server roles; SSAS database roles; implement dynamic security (custom security approaches); role-based access; test security permissions; cell level permissions
  • Implement a tabular data model.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: define tables; import data; calculated columns; relationships; hierarchies and perspectives; manage visibility of columns and tables; optimize BISM for Power View; mark a date table; sort a column by another column
Build a Report with SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS)
  • Design a report.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: select report components (crosstab report, Tablix, design chart, data visualization components); report templates (Report Definition Language); identify the data source and parameters; design a grouping structure; drill-down reports, drill-through reports; determine whether any expressions are required to display data that is not coming directly from the data source
  • Implement a report layout.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: formatting; apply conditional formatting; page configuration; headers and footers; matrix; table; chart; image; list; indicators, maps, grouping; use Report Builder to implement a report layout; create a range of reports using different data regions; custom fields (implement different parts of the report); collections (global collections); use expressions; data visualization components; identify report parts; group variables and report variables
  • Implement interactivity in a report.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: drilldown; drillthrough; interactive sorting; parameters (databound, multi-value); create dynamic reports in SSRS using parameters; show/hide property; actions (including jump to report); filters; parameter list; fixed headers; document map; embedded HTML
  • Manage a report environment.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: manage subscriptions and subscription settings; manage data sources; integrate SharePoint Server 2010; email delivery settings; manage the number of snapshots; manage schedules and running jobs; manage report server logs; manage report server databases; manage the encryption keys; set up the execution log reporting; review the reports; site level settings; design report life cycle; automate management of reporting services; create a report organization structure; install and configure reporting services
Plan Business Intelligence (BI) Infrastructure
  • Plan for performance.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: optimize batch procedures: extract, transform, load (ETL) in SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS)/SQL and processing phase in Analysis Services; configure Proactive Caching within SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS) for different scenarios; understand performance consequences of Unified Dimension Model (UDM) and data warehouse (DWH) design; analyze and optimize performances of Multidimensional Expression (MDX) and Data Analysis Expression (DAX) queries; optimize queries for huge data sets; understand the difference between partitioning for load performance vs. query performance in SSAS; appropriately index a fact table; optimize Analysis Services cubes in UDM; create aggregations using Usage-Based Optimizations
  • Plan for scalability.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: Multidimensional OLAP (MOLAP); Relational OLAP (ROLAP); Hybrid OLAP (HOLAP)
Design BI Infrastructure
  • Design a security strategy.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: configure security and impersonation between database, analysis services, and front end; implement Dynamic Dimension Security within a cube; configure security for an extranet environment; configure Kerberos security; plan and build secure solutions end to end; design security roles for calculated measures; understand the tradeoffs between regular SSAS security and dynamic security; plan and implement security requirements of a BI solution
  • Design a backup strategy.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: design a high availability (HA) and disaster recovery strategy
Design a Reporting Solution
  • Design a Reporting Services dataset.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: data query parameters; creating appropriate SQL queries for an application (MDX queries); managing data rights and security; extracting data from Analysis Services; balancing query-based processing vs. filter-based processing; managing data sets through the use of stored procedures
  • Design a data acquisition strategy.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: identify the data sources that need to be used to pull in the data; determine the changes (incremental data) in the data source (time window); identify the relationship and dependencies between the data sources; determine who can access which data; which data can be retained for how long (regulatory compliance, data archiving, aging); design a data movement strategy; profile source data
  • Design BI reporting solution architecture.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: linked reports, drill-down reports, drill-through reports, migration strategies, access report services API, sub-reports, code-behind strategies; identify when to use Reporting Services, Report Builder, or Crescent; design and implement context transfer when interlinking all types of reports (Reporting Services, Report Builder, Crescent, Excel, PowerPivot); implement BI tools for reporting in SharePoint (Excel Services vs. Performance Point vs. Reporting Services); select a subscription strategy
Design BI Data Models
  • Design a schema.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: multidimensional modeling starting from a star schema; relational modeling for a data mart; choose or create a topology
  • Design cube architecture.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: produce efficient aggregated cubes; partition cubes and build aggregation strategies for the separate partitions; design a data model; choose a partitioning strategy for the data warehouse and cube; design the data file layout for a data warehouse for maximum performance; given a requirement, identify the aggregation method that should be selected for a measure in a MOLAP cube; design cube aggregations to maintain a balance between storage and performance; performance tune a MOLAP cube using aggregations; design a data source view; cube drill-through and write-back actions
  • Design fact tables.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: design a data warehouse that supports many-to-many dimensions with factless fact tables
  • Design and create MDX calculations.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: MDX authoring; identify the structures of MDX and the common functions (including tuples, sets, topcount, and SCOPE); identify which MDX statement would return the required result; implement a custom MDX or logical solution for a pre-prepared case task
Design an ETL Solution
  • Plan to deploy SSIS solutions.
    • This objective may include but is not limited to: deploy the package to another server with different security requirements; secure Integration Services packages that are deployed at the file system; understand how SSIS packages/projects interact with environments; choose between performing aggregation operations in the SSIS pipeline or the relational engine
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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