Information Technology (IT) is a rapidly developing field, and the experience owned by IT professionals make a considerable display. With so much knowledge out there and technologies growing every day, getting certified is the best way to distinguish yourself from competing job applicants and prove your contemporary skills to hiring administrators and organizations.
CompTIA’s vendor-neutral certification program is one of the most appreciated in the IT industry, having issued more than 2 million certifications throughout 20 years. CompTIA certifications are industry-leading certifications to begin and advance your IT career. Whether you’re looking for a certification to get your first IT job or you’re willing to promote your IT career with advanced certification, such as in IT security, CompTIA certifications can help.
CompTIA Basic Certification
CompTIA IT Fundamentals: CompTIA IT Fundamentals is the only certification in the Foundational category. It’s ideal for amateurs with a basic knowledge of PC functionality and adaptability as well as the ease with technology topics, such as hardware basics, software installation, security hazards and prevention, and basic networking.
CompTIA Professional Certifications
The CompTIA Professional series certifications point at IT experts seeking a particular IT career, such as computer support, security, networking, project management or storage. The three most popular CompTIA certifications — namely, A+, Network+ and Security+ — come in this category, as well as the Linux+, Cloud+, CSA+, Server+ and Project+ certifications.
CompTIA Professional certifications
CompTIA A+: The CompTIA A+ certification has been defined as an “entry-level certification for IT technicians,” for a good reason. This certification is designed for people attempting a career as a help desk, support, service center or networking professional, and it covers PC and laptop hardware, software installation and contour of computer and mobile operating systems. A+ also tests an applicant’s perception of basic networking, troubleshooting and security skills, which work as a starting point for CompTIA networking or security certifications or those proposed by other organizations. According to CompTIA, more than one million IT experts carry the A+ certification. The A+ certification is required for Dell, Canon, Intel and HP service technicians and is approved by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD).
CompTIA Network+: Many IT experts start with the A+ certification. Though, if you have the experience and don’t feel you need the A+, you can move straight to the CompTIA Network+ certification, which is regulated toward professionals with at least nine months of networking work experience. An applicant must be familiar with networking technologies, media, topologies, security, installation and configuration. The Network+ certification is advised or required by Cisco, Dell, HP, and Intel, and is also an acquired entry-point certification for the Apple Consultants Network. The Network+ credential meets the ISO 17024 standard, and just like the A+, it is recognized by the U.S. DoD.
CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CSA+): As cybercrimes increase, the demand for highly skilled information security analysts will proceed to rise. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports expected growth of 18 percent for information security analysts during 2014 and 2024, the accelerated rate of growth for all professions. One of the latest additions to the CompTIA certification is the Cybersecurity Analyst (CSA+) certification. The CSA+ certification is specifically designed to meet the ever-growing demand for experienced, qualified information security analysts.
CSA+ certified holders are well skilled in the application of system threat detection tools, as well as the advantage of data and behavioral analytics to defend applications and systems from risks, threats, and other exposure. CompTIA CSA+ certification owners are not only efficient to control network behavior but explain results and design solutions to adequately protect against advanced persistent threats (APTs), intrusions, malware and the like.
CompTIA describes CSA+ as a bridge certification between the Security+ credential (requiring two years’ experience) and the master-level Advanced Security Practitioner Certification (CASP) credential, which requires ten years of experience.
CompTIA Security+: CompTIA Security+ certification comprises network security concepts, threats and vulnerabilities, identity management, access control, cryptography and many more. Although CompTIA certifications do not lack any prerequisites, the organization recommends that cert applicants obtain the Network+ certification and have a minimum of two years of IT management experience with a security focus.
CompTIA Linux+: The CompTIA Linux+ Powered by LPI certification points at Linux network administrators with a minimum 12 months of Linux administration practice, including installation, GNU and Unix commands, package management, scripting, shells, security and more.
CompTIA Cloud+: As the cloud computing business proceeds to develop by leaps and bounds, the CompTIA Cloud+ certification has been managing speed. This certification points IT professionals with 2 to 3 years of experience in storage, data center administration or networking. The single exam analyses candidates’ knowledge of cloud models, resource management, and general hypervisor technology for server virtualization and business continuity techniques.
CompTIA Server+: CompTIA Server+ certification proposes at server administrators with 18 to 24 months of experience with server hardware, and software technologies. The Server+ certification is suggested by HP, Lenovo, and Lenovo for their server technicians, and is approved by Microsoft and the U.S. DoD.
CompTIA Project+: The CompTIA Project+ certification concentrates entirely on project management and is absolute for project managers who are accustomed to projecting lifecycles from planning to completion, who can complete a project on time and beneath budget. Project managers engaged in this certification should have at least one year of project management experience managing small- to medium-sized projects.
CompTIA Master Certification
CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP): The highly prominent CASP certification is the only master-level certification presently available from CompTIA. This certification is created for experienced IT security professionals who plan, design and execute security solutions in an enterprise environment.
Booz Allen Hamilton, Network Solutions and Verizon Telematics, among other companies, demand CASP certification for particular positions. The U.S. Army and U.S. Navy also affirm CASP as an industry-based certification needed by employees and contractors who conduct IT work in DOD data centers.
CompTIA Specialty Certifications
CompTIA specialty certifications include topics specific to a particular vertical or corner markets, like digital imaging and social media. This level also includes the long-standing CTT+, CompTIA’s IT trainer certification.
CompTIA Cloud Essentials: The CompTIA Cloud Essentials certification is regulated toward individuals who concede the business aspects of cloud computing and how to shift from in-house to cloud storage. Also, they should be familiar with the influences, risks, and consequences of executing a cloud-based solution.
CompTIA CTT+: The CompTIA Certified Technical Trainer (CTT+) certification is ideal for anyone interested in technical training. It comprises instructor skills, such as preparation, presentation, communication, facilitation, and evaluation, in a vendor-neutral manner. Adobe, Dell, IBM, Microsoft, Cisco, and Ricoh all recommend CTT+ to their trainers and accept it instead of their in-house trainer certifications.
Benefits of CompTIA Certification:
1) Credibility: Having a CompTIA certification proves that you have the necessary basic skills as an IT Service technician. Government agencies like U.S. Dept. of Defense and private organizations like Dell, IBM, Lenovo, CompuCom, and Intel prefer having IT technicians with a CompTIA A+ certification. Even your current company will give more value to you than your colleague who does not have CompTIA certification. Employees with CompTIA Security+ Certifications are 85% more confident in their skills to perform their jobs.
2) Better Career Opportunities: Recruiting companies promote applicants with more certifications. And if it is for the role of IT technician, you can be more than sure CompTIA certification will highlight on top of the favored list of certifications for the job-seeker. Once you kick-start your IT career having the right CompTIA certification, you will realize that the opportunities for career advancement are limitless.
3) Easy to get hired: The analysis shows that certifications will continue to play an even more significant role as organizations look to find the appropriate individuals to unoccupied job openings. Although there is an implicit buyer’s market for hiring, about 8 out of 10 Human Resource managers in the US report that it is hard to find the appropriate individuals having the proper skills to fill up their openings, this is a view that is also experienced by many IT managers. For specific IT jobs, the pool of talent available is not very deep.
Today more than any other time, there is a very minute perimeter of error for making an appalling hire. The present environment demands to achieve more with less, which is why organizations can’t bear the time as well as the expense of taking on board new employees that will not hit the ground running. Therefore, companies put a lot of importance on certification as it is one of the sure ways to demonstrate the technical abilities of an employee.
4) Higher Salary: Like most other certifications, CompTIA certification comes with a lot of benefits including better salaries. Modern research proves that on average, an employee with CompTIA certification will earn between 5–15% more compared to their equivalent with equal qualifications but without certification. CompTIA certified staff exhibits 40% more domain knowledge in IT Support and 58% more domain expertise in IT Security.
Conclusion
The CompTIA Certification will help you in gaining a raise, leading to a better project in the same organization or providing your CV with brownie points that will help you acquire a more satisfying and exciting job.
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