THE TEN BEST IT CERTIFICATIONS: 2012

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DO
YOU BELIVE THIS?  The certification
landscape changes as swiftly as the technologies you support. Here we’ll take a
look at the certs that are currently relevant and valuable to IT pros.

When
it comes to IT skills and expertise, there are all kinds of “best
certification” lists. Pundits are quick to add the safe bets: Cisco’s CCIE
(Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert), Red Hat’s RHCE (Red Hat Certified
Engineer), and other popular choices.

This
isn’t that list.

Based
on years of experience meeting with clients and organizations too numerous to
count, I’ve built this list with the idea of cataloging the IT industry’s 10 most
practical, in-demand certifications. That’s why I think these are the best;
these are the skills clients repeatedly demonstrate they need most. In this
list, I will justify each selection and the order in which these accreditations
are ranked.

1: MCITP: ENTERPRISE ADMINISTRATOR ON WINDOWS SERVER 2008

I
have never hid my love for Apple technologies. The hardware’s awesome, the
software’s intuitive and their systems make it easy to get things done fast
while remaining secure. But ‘it’s a Windows world’, I always tell my colleagues.
Make no mistake. Almost every Mac I deploy is connected to a back-end Windows
server. Windows server experts, however, can prove hard to find.

IT
pros who have an MCITP
(Microsoft Certified IT
Professional): Enterprise Administrator on Windows Server 2008 accreditation
demonstrate significant, measurable proficiency with Active Directory,
configuring network and application infrastructures, enterprise environments,
and (if they’ve chosen well) the Windows 7 client OS.

That’s
an incredibly strong skill set that everyone from small businesses to
enterprise organizations require. Add this line to your resume, and you may be
all set to find another job should your current employer downsize.

2: MCTS

Not
everyone has time to sit as many exams as an MCITP requires. The MCTS
(Microsoft Certified Technology
Specialist) certification is among the smartest accreditations an engineer can
currently chase. As I mentioned above, it’s a Windows world. Adding an MCTS
certification in Exchange, SharePoint, Virtualization, Windows Client, or
Windows Server will strengthen a resume.

There
is no downside to any of these MCTS accreditations. Each of the above tracks
provides candidates with an opportunity to demonstrate proficiency with
specific technologies that organizations worldwide struggle to effectively
design, implement, and maintain every day.

3:
VCP

Virtualization is all the rage. It
makes sense. Hardware manufacturers keep cranking out faster and faster servers
that can store more and more data. Tons of servers sit in data centers using
just fractions of their capacities. Virtualization, which enables running
multiple virtual server instances on the same physical chassis, will continue
growing in importance as organizations strive to maximize technology
infrastructure investments.

VMware
is a leading producer of virtualization software. Tech pros earning VCP (VMware Certified Professional) certification give employers
(both current and future) confidence they can implement and maintain
VMware-powered virtual environments. And if you talk to the techs responsible
for maintaining data centers, you’ll frequently hear that VMware remains a
favorite over Microsoft’s Hyper-V alternative, although most sober IT pros will
have to admit Hyper-V is improving and closing the gap.

4:
CCNA

The next politically correct certification
to list is the CCIE (Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert). However, that’s a
massive exam that few professionals realistically will ever have an opportunity
to obtain. And while Cisco equipment frequently composes the network backbone,
fueling numerous medium and large organizations, most organizations don’t need
a CCIE and don’t have the resources to pay one.

That’s
why I believe the more fundamental CCNA (Cisco
Certified Network Associate) certification is a smart bet. A CCNA can help
technology pros better familiarize themselves with the network OS’s
fundamentals, while simultaneously strengthening their resume. Particularly
motivated candidates can proceed to earn a CCNA Security
certification, as the network security focus is a critical component of
enterprise systems.

5:
CSSA

In early 2012, Dell announced its pending acquisition of SonicWALL. There’s a
reason Dell is buying the hardware manufacturer: SonicWALL has made great
strides within the SMB unified threat management market.

Someone
needs to be able to configure and troubleshoot those devices. The CSSA
(Certified SonicWALL Security
Administrator) certification not only proves proficiency in installing and
administering the company’s devices, certified professionals receive direct
access to tier two support staff and beta testing programs.

Organizations
are always going to require network devices to fulfill firewall, routing, and
threat management services. SonicWALL has carved out quite a bit of market
share — so much so that it will now have the marketing might of Dell helping
fuel additional growth. Knowing how to configure the devices will help IT pros,
particularly those who support numerous small businesses.

6:
PMP

Too many chiefs isn’t an IT problem
I hear or read much about. Instead, it seems there’s a lack of IT pros capable
of sizing up a project’s needs, determining required resources and
dependencies, developing a realistic schedule, and managing a technical
initiative.

The
Project Management
Institute is a nonprofit group that
administers the PMP (Project Management Professional)
certification. The exam isn’t designed to earn a profit or motivate IT pros to
learn its product and become unofficial sales cheerleaders. The PMP certifies
candidates’ ability to plan, budget, and complete projects efficiently, on
time, and without cost overruns. Those are skills almost every medium and large
business needs within its IT department and such ability isn’t going to be
replaced by an app or third-party developer in our lifetimes.

7:
CISSP

If you want to specialize in
security, the (ISC)² (International Information Systems Security Certification
Consortium, Inc.), which administers the CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional)
accreditation, is your organization. Its vendor-neutral certification has a
reputation as one of the best vendor-neutral security certs.

Organizations’
data, networks, and systems are increasingly coming under attack due to the
value of personal, corporate, customer, and sensitive proprietary information.
So individuals who demonstrate measurable success and understanding in
architecting, designing, managing, and administering secure environments,
developing secure policies, and maintaining secure procedures will stand out
from the pack. In addition, the knowledge gained while earning the
certification helps practitioners remain current with the latest legal
regulations, best practices, and developments impacting security.

8:
ACSP

There’s more to the energy
surrounding Apple than pleasant tablet devices, intuitive smartphones, and a
stunning stock price. The company continues chewing up market share and
shipping computers at rates 10 to 12 times greater than PC manufacturers.

The
ACSP (Apple
Certified Support Professional) designation helps IT pros demonstrate expertise
supporting Mac OS X clients. Engineers, particularly Windows support pros and
administrators increasingly encountering Macs, will be well served completing
Apple’s certification rack for technical support personnel. Benefits include
not only another bullet for the resume but an understanding of Apple’s official
processes for installing, setting up, troubleshooting, and maintaining Mac
client machines.

9:
Network+ / A+

Yes, CompTIA’s Network+ and A+ designations are, technically, two
separate certifications. But they’re both critical certs that test absolute
fundamentals that every IT pro needs to completely understand.

In
fact, there’s an argument to be made that all IT pros should have both of these
accreditations on their resumes. CompTIA is a well-respected, vendor-neutral
(though vendor-supported) organization that continually develops and
administers relevant certifications. The network, hardware, and software skills
tested on the Network+ and A+ exams are basics that every self-respecting tech
professional should master, whether they’re performing budgeting tasks,
deploying client machines, managing site-wide migrations, overseeing security,
or administering networks and servers.

10: CompTIA Healthcare IT Technician

With
an aging population, U.S.-based IT pros (in particular) should consider earning
CompTIA’s Healthcare IT Technician credential. Obviously, if you work in manufacturing, the
credential may be a stretch. But manufacturers frequently lay off staff. And
many others produce material for health-related purposes.

See
where I’m headed?

The
interest surrounding health-related technology is almost unparalleled. Look
around the city where you live. During the recession, where have you seen
growth? Are there lots of new bookstores opening? How about new single-family
home developments? Seeing lots of new manufacturing centers?

Doubtful.
Like many, you’re probably seeing new medical services offices, immediate care
centers, hospitals, outpatient facilities, dental practices, and similar
health-related businesses.

They
all need IT support. Support technicians, administrators, engineers, managers,
and especially consultants who want to position themselves well for the future
will do well to demonstrate their proficiency with health care technology’s
regulatory requirements, organizational behaviors, technical processes, medical
business operations, and security requirements. IT pros could do worse with
their time, that’s for sure.

  

Other certs?

What
certifications would you add to this list? Share your suggestions with our
fellow readers.