Information Technology (IT) is the fastest growing industry in the market. It saw an almost $400 billion increase in five years, going from $2.08 trillion in 2014 to over $2.64 trillion in 2019. For those looking to start a new career path or looking to change their careers at whatever age, the tech industry is a perfect place to do so.
A certificate in IT will also help with one’s job retention and promotion, as well as building meaningful connections. It’s important to note that professional connections account for 85% of job placements, regardless of industry. And there’s no better time to start networking than when you’re taking a certification course. Together with MyComputerCareer, you can take full advantage of what IT certifications have to offer, so contact us today for more information!
If you decide that this is the best course of action for you, becoming certified in the field should be your top priority. Also, you can make it in the industry without a degree; certified Information Technology professionals have several benefits over their non-certified peers.
For starters, earning one or more certificates will provide you with validation and credibility in the eyes of employers. In fact, a certified professional will see an average increase in their professional credibility by 95.4% and a validation of their specialized knowledge by 97.9%. In addition, passing a certification exam provides proof of their accountability by 87.4% and will see a general confidence boost of 88.2%. It’s also important to note that certified professionals earn around 13.7% more than their peers.
We put together a top-five list of in-demand IT certifications for your professional development or continuing education in the field.
Microsoft Certifications
Becoming a Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) will definitely open up plenty of career opportunities. There are several such certificates to consider, all of them being in high demand. Keep in mind that Microsoft holds over 82% of the entire OS market and is utilized by most companies worldwide. Having a Microsoft certification will indicate that you’ve mastered the skills needed with specific Microsoft software and programming functions, making you an asset for most employers.
Entry-level professionals should consider the basic Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA) certification. The MTA will show that you have a fundamental understanding of working with the Operating System, Networking, and Security. This certificate is also a perfect launching pad for more advanced Microsoft certificates such as:
- Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE) in Server Infrastructure,
- Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE) in Application Lifecycle Management
- Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE) in Private Cloud Platform and Infrastructure.
Linux Certifications
As an open-source operating system, Linux is highly customizable and can be modified to anyone’s preferences. It’s, therefore, a sought-after OS by governmental agencies and larger organizations. And even though it doesn’t come close to Windows’ share of the OS market, Linux powers all of the world’s supercomputers. It’s also the main OS for 23 of the top 25 sites and 96.3% of the top 1 million servers in the world. Similarly, Linux powers over 90% of all cloud infrastructure.
As such, having a Linux certificate is in-demand, almost as much as Microsoft certifications. Being a certified Network Engineer, Server Administrator, Systems Administrator, among others, are all possible with a Linux certificate. In demand IT certifications for Linux include:
- Linux Essentials Professional Development Certificate
- LPIC-1: Linux Administrator
- LPIC-2: Linux Engineer
- LPIC-3 300: Linux Enterprise Professional – Mixed Environment
- LPIC-3 303: Linux Enterprise Professional – Security
- LPIC-3 304: Linux Enterprise Professional – Virtualization & High Availability
CompTIA Certifications
Computing Technology Industry Association’s (CompTIA) certification program is one of the most recognized in the IT industry. It also provides some of the top-paying IT certifications in the field. Some of the most noteworthy CompTIA certifications include:
- CompTIA A+: This is a starting point certificate that shows you have a solid foundation in PC, laptop, and mobile technology.
- CompTIA Server +: It indicates a thorough knowledge of storage, software, and information systems controls.
- CompTIA Network +: This certificate focuses on entry-level networking, including networking help desk technicians, server infrastructure installers, and junior network technicians. As a certified network professional, your qualifications will be sought after by everyone.
- CompTIA Security +: It’s an intermediate-level certification that focuses on information systems security, information security management, systems security, network security, data, application, host, physical, and operational security. Among all security certifications, this one is considered by many to be the minimum level to be considered a certified information systems security professional. It’s also great for those looking to get certified in risk and information systems management
- CySA+: As far as more advanced security certifications go, this one qualifies security professionals to guard against different types of cybercrime by using behavioral analytics. This is a must if you wish to become a certified information security manager.
Cisco Certifications
As another leader in the industry, Cisco provides a couple of high paying IT certifications for both entry-level and professional networking engineers.
- The Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certification can be broken down into several specializations such as Security, Routing and Switching, Cyber Security Analysis, Data Center Technologies, and more.
- The Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) certificate is CCNA’s big brother, providing more in-depth specializations. Of these, CCNP Routing and Switching is in particularly high demand.
EC-Council Certifications
Provided by the EC-Council, the Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) certification is aimed at security auditors, website administrators, security consultants, and others responsible for data and/or network security. An ethical hacker is a security professional that follows the same mindset as an actual hacker. This implies using the same knowledge and tools to test a company’s systems and uncover any potential vulnerabilities.
The current CEH examination (V10 exam code 312-50) is comprised of 125 multiple-choice questions within a 4-hour limit. These questions relate to various ethical hacking tools and techniques, as well as best practices on how to use them. Due to the fast-changing nature of IT security, those holding the CEH/CNDA designation will need to retake it ever three years.
The Certified Ethical Hacker (Practical) is a six-hour-long examination that puts all theoretical knowledge into practice. It takes place in a lab-like environment where the candidate demonstrates his or her skills in ethical hacking, such as vulnerability analysis, threat vector identification, network scanning, app hacking, and more. The aim is to solve a security audit challenge.
Takeaway
While the top-five list presented here is not exhaustive, it does cover some of the most in-demand IT certifications currently on the market. MyComputerCareer will help you get the necessary certification training, as well as provide flexible scheduling, lifetime career services, and job placement opportunities. For more information, contact us today!