Overview

This field is very certification heavy and these certifications are a common cycle of this career. This will cover the basic ones to get started in the industry. Do note that these certification exams cost hundreds of dollars to take so it’s important to prepare extensively for these exams. With these there are a ton of practice exams and resources available online for each of these. The ones marked with a ’*’ are considered essential.

IT Foundations

CompTIA A+ *

A+ is the starting certification for general IT. This is considered to be the entry level IT certification as it covers all the basics and prepares you for all help desk/support type positions.

CompTIA Network+ *

Aimed for the Network admin type positions this certification is more specific towards networking concepts including network infrastructure, network operations, network security, troubleshooting, and network tools and technologies. It is designed to validate the essential knowledge and skills needed to design, configure, manage, and troubleshoot wired and wireless networks.

CCNA (Alternative to Network+)

Although this is an alternative to Network+, it mainly focuses on Cisco architecture. So consider this if you plan to work on Cisco systems.

Cisco Certified Technician (CCT)

Similar to A+, this is a general IT fundamental certification that focuses on Cisco architecture.

Microsoft: Azure Fundamentals

This certification offers an introduction to cloud services and how they are provided with Microsoft Azure.

Google IT Professional Certificate

Coursera based certification that as a result will be cheaper than a normal certification and provides a similar knowledge base as A+ but places emphasis on Google’s tools and practices. This is recognized by some employers but not to the extent as CompTIA A+.

Cybersecurity

CompTIA Security+ *

An essential Cybersecurity certification that covers a wide range of foundational topics including network security, threat management, cryptography, and risk management.

CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+)

This is a more intermediate certification that follows after Sec+ and validates skills required for roles such as security analyst, threat intelligence analyst, and SOC analyst. It emphasizes the use of data analysis and behavioral analytics to protect applications and systems.

SANS Certification

The SANS Institute is a premier platform for cybersecurity certifications, offering a diverse range of highly regarded credentials through its Global Information Assurance Certification (GIAC) program. These certifications cover critical areas such as incident response, digital forensics, penetration testing, network defense, and security management. SANS certifications are recognized for their rigorous standards and practical focus, ensuring that professionals are well-equipped to tackle real-world cybersecurity challenges. The courses are developed and taught by leading experts in the field, providing up-to-date and relevant knowledge. By obtaining SANS certifications, IT and cybersecurity professionals can significantly enhance their expertise, career prospects, and ability to protect their organizations from advanced cyber threats. These certifications are considered just as if not more valuable than CompTIA certifications to have. You can find out more about their courses, certifications and predefined paths below:

Cybersecuirty Coureses