I just realized that I haven't blogged for a while, and that I missed to write about some topics which I'd consider as interesting.
I won't put everything in one post - and I won't write everything tonight - don't worry.
First thing: I had one exam voucher to expire by the end of 2004, so I decided the last day before Christmas to sit in a exam I wanted to take for some time but haven't had the opportunity/time. So I went into 70-298 Designing Security for a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network", and it was very interesting. It covered a broad range of security topics and technology. The exam is in the same style the other Designing Exams are - you have to read a lot of text (Current Infrastructure, planned infrastructure, interviews with CIO, CSO, admins, users, partner companies, ...) then answer a couple questions how you would implement the solutions to meet the requirements. After you've finished one scenario you can carry on with the next one, but not browse back to the finished one.
Downside: I'm not a fan of those "reading contests" - but however, the exam is OK. Another thing is that it covers solutions you can implement with Microsoft products - OK - it is a Microsoft exam, but most customers I know rely on appliances or third party products when it comes to RAS.
But overall the exam tests you against a good set of scenarios and products - and I think that every admin should know those security technologies.