Worthwhile IT Certifications

The technology sector is needing ever more specialized profiles: a college diploma or a Bachelors degree is no longer sufficient to prove your computer skills to an employer. Certifications become an excellent means to prove the value of your skills and advance in your career. Overview of some of them, particularly sought-after.

Certifications by product: the example of cloud computing

“The majority of enterprise IT solutions today offer corresponding certifications, validating that the professional knows how to set them up, configure them and use them well,” explains Mariam Ketabi, manager of engineering services at FX Innovation. For organizations that are turning to cloud computing, the related certifications are particularly in demand. “As part of my business,” continues Ms. Ketabi, “I see the rise of many cloud computing certifications such as AWS (Amazon Web Services), Microsoft Azure or Google Cloud, for example, both in development and in configuration and architecture. As it is a new field, there are not many people certified yet.”

Certifications by field: security in the foreground

Computer security is a crucial issue in an all-digital economy. Companies are hiring experts who are “able to understand the issues, follow best practices, have technical knowledge and sometimes get companies to obtain security certifications,” says Ms. Ketabi. Hence the popularity of a certifications such as the CISPP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional). For technical profiles, the CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker) demonstrates advanced skills to counter computer attacks.

Methodological certifications: to be combined with technical knowledge!

“Apart from highly specialized certifications, there are those related to processes, best practices or toolboxes, such as the ITIL (Information Technology Infrastructure Library),” the manager continues. “It’s an asset, even for a highly technical profile, to have a certification on IT standards.” The widely used Agile method, meanwhile, requires Scrum Master or Scrum Developer certifications for computer scientists who have adopted it as a delivery framework for technological projects. Finally, the PMP (Project Management Professional) remains a must for managers or project coordinators who wish to gain professional stature.

“Combining certifications is worthwhile, for sure, but it’s important not to overlook their costs,” concludes Ms. Ketabi. “They represent an investment if you want to finance them yourself. As well, you have to think about maintaining them, for those that are frequently updated.”

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