Today there are more than 20 cloud computing courses available in the markets that are mostly vendor-neutral. There are enough reasons that made cloud computing a buzzword in the IT discipline. To be precise cloud computing is 40 fold less costly than in house IT system, with security benefits that gets compromised in the on-premises system.
The trend is accumulating skeptical government agencies and departments; it’s reported that 48% of the whole US agencies have transformed to cloud with the cloud-first policy in action. And let’s just don’t make waves undoubtedly it is a blessing in disguise that is a dime a dozen.
To be ahead of the Pack and corner the market, many vendors have laid their game plan with a motto to go the extra mile. In this article, we shall discuss the best offerings from the dominating vendors.
One can seek assurance from the timeless advice that Benjamin Franklin gave on investment in education. He said that “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” Now that we know how important continuing education is, it is advisable to put thorough research, study, and make analysis before making the investment. One must not only know the price but, more importantly, know the value of the thing in which investment is made. So step out of your comfort zone, know-thyself, seek what your heart is seeking and know what you own and why you own it.
This article gives the reader an intensive analysis of 5 such certification courses in the field of Cloud computing that are not only worthy but also the pioneer in the industry. These certifications have made an indelible mark in the industry through their tough scrutiny in exam content. The contents are updated regularly, and there are inclusions of trends, newer practices, and technologies in their domains.
The AWS Solution Architect certification
AWS is the pioneer of cloud computing that validates applicant’s expertise on core AWS concepts on storage, computing, database, integration tools, encryption, networking, IAM, Cost estimation, design for organizational complexity, and security controls et cetera.
It gives practical knowledge in event-driven Scaling with automating & decoupling in the new environment & troubleshooting in large-scale design patterns. The AWS is the most recognized certification in the world due to its presence in 190 countries with more than one million-plus active customers. It fetches a gravy train for a certified professional who can make $150000 on an average per annum!
It expects a certified professional to have a learner-centric approach throughout his career to have room for upgrades. This certification is the most sought certification in LinkedIn in Cloud Computing job roles that challenges professionals typically fostering in a high-stress job environment that demands non-technical communication with a compulsion to have a travel orientation. The certification is divided into three levels of expertise, and they are:
- Foundational: with foundational certification, a certified professional can work as a cloud practitioner and is liable to eke out at least one year of experience to be eligible for the Associate certification.
- Associate: with one year of experience in handling position as an architect or in operation as a SysOps administrator or as an associate developer, the candidate becomes eligible to attain the Professional certification.
- Professional: it requires two years of comprehensive and role intensive experience in any particular domain stated to have, and they are architecture, operations, and developer. To be eligible for DevOps Engineer as a certified professional is needed to work closely in the operation and developer role.
The AWS also has specialty certifications in cloud domains like Advanced networking, BIG DATA, Alexa skill builder, Security, and Machine Learning. These are some popular certifications that have outgrown their demand in the cloud domain.
An AWS certified Solution Architect- associate, can fetch an average salary of $120000, while the professional level will fetch $150000.
Microsoft Certified Azure Administrator Associate
The certification validates the expertise of IT professionals in subscriptions management, Securing identities, building virtual networks & administrating the infrastructure with network traffic management.
Additionally, it focuses on professional engagement in the creation and scaling of virtual machines, container and web page implementation with advocating creative storage solutions, and finally, sharing and monitoring data & solutions. It inculcates practical knowledge in the utilization of Azure monitor, Azure Alerts with Log Analytics and Network Watcher.
It is 180 minutes long examination with a possible bracket of 40-60 question items. An applicant has to score a minimum of 700 out of 1000 to pass the examination.
Well the certification can be broken down into two halves, and they are sequential:
- Microsoft certified; Azure Administrator Associate
Microsoft Azure Administrator
Both the certification exams are designed to test in-depth knowledge of an applicant in the accomplishment of tasks in managing Azure identities and its storage governance, configuring the virtual network with monitoring and backing up and recovery and managing the Azure compute resources in an effective and subtle way.
CCNA
It stands for CISCO Certified Network Associate that launches your career by mastering the essential, including domains like security, automation, and programmability; it covers a broad range of technical skills pertaining to the job role.
It is the most desired certification by any employer when they are looking for networking job profiles like network associate engineer, network analyst, network administrator, and system administrator, cloud engineer and cloud architect, information security analyst, data center manager, data center technician, and Cybersecurity engineer.
The CCNA validates skills such as dealing with routers, switches, and servers, designing the network managing all the devices that pass the traffic. In cloud computing, it validates skillset monitoring the cloud efficiency, security, prevalence of hybrid cloud setups.
The CCNA offers two sets of certifications exams, and they are:
- Inclusive CCNA combo exam
OR
- Two individual exams that include ICND1 V3, CCENT, and ICND2 V3
The certification exam consists of MCQ question items that range from 125-200. The examination duration is set between 60-90 minutes depending upon which type of exam an applicant is opting for. While the passing score remains the same in both the exams with 75% and it demands no prerequisites certification to be eligible for the certification.
A CCNA certification can fetch an average salary of $120000.
CompTIA cloud+
CompTIA stands for the Computing Technology Industry Association that is a non-profit trade association recognized in more than 120 countries in the world for imparting education and certification of IT professionals. It has been in the industry of IT certification since 1982 and has gradually included all sorts of IT professional certifications ranging from basic to masters and advanced level in domains like Cybersecurity, cloud, network, professional certification like project management and computer hardware, and repair, administration and IT support.
Till now, there are more than 18 certifications with various levels of expertise in CompTIA’s portfolio. It is accredited by DOD and is sought by many government institutions as a prerequisite of specialist jobs.
It exhibits and validates a certified professional’s expertise in the optimization of cloud infrastructure services. It is a vendor-neutral performance-based certification that challenges the in-depth knowledge of the applicant in areas like Configuration & deployment in successful mitigation to the cloud and management & maintenance of desired system performance data. Besides, it also checks the capability of the applicant in implementing security controls with troubleshooting capabilities.
The exam is divided into two parts, and they are:
• CompTIA CVO-002
• CompTIA CV1-003, otherwise known as beta.
It recommends an applicant to have at least three years of system administration work experience. The CVBO-002 exam is 90 minutes long and has 90 questions items, and the passing score is 700 points out of 1000. At the same time, the beta exam is 165 minutes long, with 110 question items. This certification can fetch an entry-level certified professional a paycheck of $74000 to $120000 to mid and senior-level certified professionals. It holds the 7th position in the15 top paying IT certifications.
Google Certified Professional Cloud Architect certification
The Google Platform cloud computing suite runs on the same internal infrastructure of Google. It provides IaaS, PaaS & serverless computing. Its compute engine runs on OS like Windows & Linux Virtual Machines. It gives a tough competition to the Amazon Web Services. The exam is 120 minutes long, with 50 MCQ question items. A certified professional can aptly expect career growth & promotion with new opportunities. It has six modules designed to test the applicant’s depth of knowledge.
Conclusion
All the above certification exams mentioned are the most sought certifications by employers currently though there are other cloud computing certifications in the market like Oracle, Simplilearn, CCSP, and many offered by universities and associations. The above-mentioned certifications should be chosen carefully, suiting the applicant’s needs.
These certifications are powerful enough to chalk out a great career ahead, but knowing which one suits the best as per education background, work experience, domain expertise, willingness, and career goals. These certifications are not cheap and require an applicant to go through thoroughly the eligibility criteria before applying. One can always find a way with sheer determination and inquisitiveness. Statistical surveys report that this is the right time to invest in cloud computing certifications as the domain is growing and has a very scanty talent pool.