Information Technology (IT) is the market’s fastest-growing industry. In just five years, it grew by about $400 billion, from $2.08 trillion in 2014 to over $2.64 trillion in 2019. The tech business is an excellent area for anyone wishing to begin a new career path or change industries at any age.
A certificate in IT can also aid in employment retention and progression, as well as the development of significant relationships. It’s worth noting that, regardless of industry, professional relationships account for 85 percent of job placements. And there’s no better moment than while you’re taking a certification course to start networking.
If you determine that this is the best course of action for you, the first thing you need do is get licenced in the field. Also, you don’t need a degree to succeed in the sector; credentialed Information Technology professionals have various advantages over their non-certified counterparts.
For starters, acquiring one or more credentials can provide you legitimacy and validation in the eyes of potential employers. In fact, a credentialed expert’s professional credibility will grow by 95.4 percent on average, and their specific knowledge will be validated by 97.9%. Furthermore, completing a certification exam demonstrates their accountability by 87.4 percent and boosts their overall confidence by 88.2 percent. It’s also worth noting that certified professionals make 13.7 percent more than their non-certified counterparts.
For your professional development or continuing education in the area, we’ve compiled a top-five list of in-demand IT certifications.
Certifications from Microsoft
Obtaining a Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) credential can provide you with a plethora of job opportunities. There are a number of such credentials to think over, all of which are in high demand. Keep in mind that Microsoft controls over 82 percent of the OS market and is used by the majority of businesses worldwide. A Microsoft certification shows that you’ve acquired the skills necessary to work with specific Microsoft software and programming functions, making you a valuable asset to most businesses.
The Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA) certification is appropriate for entry-level professionals. The MTA will demonstrate that you have a basic understanding of operating systems, networking, and security. This certificate also serves as an excellent springboard for more complex Microsoft credentials, such as:
Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE) in Server Infrastructure and Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE) in Application Lifecycle Management are two Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE) certifications.
In Private Cloud Platform and Infrastructure, Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE)
Certifications for Linux
Linux is a highly adaptable open-source operating system that can be tailored to each user’s needs. As a result, it’s a popular OS among government agencies and major corporations. Linux also powers all of the world’s supercomputers, despite its OS market share being nowhere like that of Windows. It’s also the primary operating system for 23 of the top 25 websites and 96.3 percent of the world’s top 1 million servers. Similarly, Linux is used to power 90% of cloud infrastructure.
As a result, having a Linux certification is almost as valuable as having a Microsoft certification. With a Linux certificate, you can become a qualified Network Engineer, Server Administrator, or Systems Administrator, among other things.
The following Linux IT certifications are in high demand:
- LPIC-1: Linux Administrator LPIC-2: Linux Engineer LPIC-3 300: Linux Enterprise Professional – Mixed Environment Linux Essentials Professional Development Certificate
- LPIC-3 303: Linux Enterprise Professional – Security LPIC-3 303: Linux Enterprise Professional – Security LPIC-3 303:
- LPIC-3 304: Linux Enterprise Professional – Virtualization & High Availability LPIC-3 304: Linux Enterprise Professional – Virtualization & High Availability
Certifications from CompTIA
The certification program of the Computing Technology Sector Association (CompTIA) is one of the most well-known in the IT industry. It also offers some of the highest-paying IT certifications available. The following are some of the most notable CompTIA certifications:
- CompTIA A+: This is a foundational qualification that demonstrates your knowledge of PC, laptop, and mobile technology.
- CompTIA Server +: This certification indicates that you have a deep understanding of storage, software, and information system controls.
- CompTIA Network +: This credential is for networking help desk technicians, server infrastructure installers, and junior network technicians who work in entry-level networks. Your credentials as a qualified network professional will be sought after by everyone.
- CompTIA Security + is an intermediate-level certification that focuses on data, application, host, physical, and operational security.
- Many people believe that this is the minimum degree of security certification to be regarded a certified information systems security expert. It’s also ideal for individuals pursuing risk and information systems management certification.
- CySA+: As far as more advanced security certifications go, this one prepares security professionals to use behavioral analytics to protect against various sorts of cybercrime. If you want to become a certified information security manager, you must complete this course.
Certifications from Cisco
Cisco, another industry leader, offers a number of high-paying IT certifications for both entry-level and experienced networking experts.
Security, Routing and Switching, Cyber Security Analysis, Data Center Technologies, and other specialties are all available with the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certification.
The Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) is the big brother of the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA), offering more in-depth specialties. CCNP Routing and Switching is the most in-demand of these.
Certifications from the European Commission
The Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) certification, offered by the EC-Council, is intended for security auditors, website administrators, security consultants, and those who are responsible for data and/or network security. A security expert who thinks like a hacker is referred to as an ethical hacker. This entails using the same knowledge and tools to a company’s systems in order to find any potential flaws.
The current CEH test (V10 exam code 312-50) has 125 multiple-choice questions and a time limit of four hours. These inquiries concern a variety of ethical hacking tools and techniques, as well as recommended practices for their application. The CEH/CNDA designation will need to be retaken every three years because to the fast-changing nature of IT security.
The Certified Ethical Hacker (Practical) certification is a six-hour test that applies all theoretical knowledge. It takes place in a lab-like setting, and the candidate must exhibit ethical hacking skills such as vulnerability analysis, threat vector identification, network scanning, app hacking, and more. The goal is to find a solution to a security audit problem.
Takeaway
While this top-five list isn’t exhaustive, it does include some of the most in-demand IT certifications currently available.