Although inflation led to a downturn in the tech sector, technology professionals remain some of the most sought-after and well-compensated employees in the workforce. Tech is everywhere — from cloud-based software to secure access to data storage – because businesses depend on it.
Acquiring industry certifications can improve your job prospects because targeted certifications can validate the skills you’ve built and show employers you’re ready for the next level. The ubiquity of technology and its increasingly central role in organizations of all sizes and industries gives you many options. Whether you want to lead teams, expand into cloud computing, or sharpen your data analysis abilities, there are certifications designed to showcase your valued skill set. Here are some common types of IT certifications you can seek out to bolster your career:
Security Certifications
Security remains one of the top concerns for technology companies, and will continue to be as internet-based technology becomes more a part of organizations of all types. For IT professionals, having a certification in cybersecurity is extremely useful, as it allows you to provide expertise on a critical issue that every organization faces. Here are some common ones:
Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
This program certifies you as a well-informed security professional who can respond to many different types of security incidents, as well as develop procedures, guidelines and processes for improved organizational security. It shows a broad base of skills and expertise, allowing you to comfortably step into different roles as your career develops. Ideal for professionals ready to step into leadership, this certification validates your ability to design and manage security programs at an organizational level.
Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)
A more focused program than CISM, CISA drills down into the specific concerns around the storage, collection and utilization of sensitive data. It is geared toward organizations and roles which are engaged with the storage or use of valuable data, such as credit card information, personal information, and so on. It also allows you to assess the risks of data storage methods and structures and help design storage architecture. This certification is valuable if your career involves handling sensitive data or overseeing compliance with data security standards.
Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
Penetration testing and other “white hat” hacking techniques are a critical part of the security professional’s toolkit, which is what makes the CEH course valuable. Learning about security from the perspective of a hacker not only helps you come up with counters to common hacks, but it also gives you ways to test your organization’s preparedness and make informed security decisions. This credential demonstrates your ability to think like a hacker to strengthen defenses.
Infrastructure Certifications
An estimated 255 zettabytes of data will be stored on the cloud in 2025. This astronomical amount of data is only going to get larger, which will require IT professionals who know how to provision efficient and accessible cloud infrastructure. Being familiar with the ins and outs of cloud storage, platforms as a service (PaaS) tools, and other virtualized tools will help you move your career forward.
CompTIA Cloud+
This program is an overview on the basics and advanced skills of cloud computing, offered in a vendor-neutral format. You can learn the basics of deployment, operations, troubleshooting and security, as well as infrastructure mapping and the theoretical basis of cloud operations. The vendor-neutral aspect of this certification allows you to develop skills for any platform, no matter which cloud hosting service they use.
Amazon Web Services (AWS) Certified Solutions Architect
As the leader of the cloud hosting space, AWS is the most common platform you will encounter as an IT professional. As such, being a certified AWS architect will help maximize opportunities to take on cloud computing roles. This certification equips you to design enterprise-level solutions and helps validate your ability to scale infrastructure securely and efficiently.
Data Analytics Certifications
The staggering amount of data collected in the last decades is only valuable if there are people to analyze and utilize it. Data has become a cornerstone of business decisions. Knowing how to query databases, automate data aggregation tools, and generate useful datasets for analysis are all highly marketable IT skills.
CompTIA Data+
Primarily geared toward those new to the data analytics space, this certification covers a wide range of topics, including data storage environments, data mining and analysis, and creating visualizations of data. This certification program also teaches you how to use data in a comprehensible and persuasive manner, so it’s a solid choice if you’re pivoting into analytics and data presentation.
Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE)
This advanced certification is recommended for those with multiple years of experience working with a variety of different data storage and analysis procedures. This tests the breadth of your knowledge, your ability to analyze different types of data, and your ability to work with advanced programming concepts and ideas. It’s a great certification for those looking to earn a leadership role as a systems architect or administrator.
Begin Your IT Journey at Columbia Southern University
Professional certifications can showcase your abilities and pairing them with an academic degree can accelerate your career even further. While Columbia Southern University doesn’t provide certifications, we do offer academic certificates for students to obtain. Certificates in *Information Technology and *Cybersecurity provide foundational skills to help you on your path to obtaining industry-standard certifications from organizations.
No matter where you are in your career, our online IT *certificates and degree programs can offer you invaluable knowledge with the current suite of professional technologies as well as the tools of the future.
Multiple factors, including prior experience, geography and degree field, affect career outcomes. CSU does not guarantee a job, promotion, salary increase, eligibility for a position, or other career growth.
*These programs are not eligible for Federal Student Aid, military tuition assistance, VA funding or Learning Partner discounts.
CSU offers certificates, which are educational programs of study in a specific discipline intended to expand skills and knowledge. A certification requires passing exams and meeting other requirements determined by a third-party organization that sets industry standards. CSU does not offer certifications.
