Most In Demand Certifications in 2010

An industry-recognized certification can provide you with a competitive edge whether you’re looking for a new position or trying to advance within your current firm. However, the biggest challenge when it comes to earning a professional designation is often determining which one to pursue.




Here are the four most in-demand certifications, according to Robert Half Technology’s staffing and recruiting professionals across the United States:



Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP): Offered by the International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium (ISC)², this vendor-neutral information security accreditation covers 10 domains, including access control, cryptography, operations security, and security architecture and design. To earn a CISSP, you must meet certain experience requirements and achieve a scaled score of 700 or greater on the CISSP exam. The credential also must be renewed every three years. According to CIOs polled for the latest “Robert Half Technology IT Hiring Index and Skills Report,” the second most challenging functional area to fill is security, increasing the appeal of job candidates with a CISSP designation.



Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE): This certification focuses on the design and implementation of these particular infrastructures. It’s recommended that you have one to two years of experience working with network systems before pursuing the accreditation. Earning the MCSE certification demonstrates a commitment to professional development because you must have a wide range of knowledge and pass seven exams to obtain it.



Although the MCSE designation is in particularly high demand, job candidates who have earned any Microsoft certification have an edge in the job market. Because of the ubiquity of Microsoft applications, accreditations that demonstrate your knowledge of these technologies will continue to be sought by employers.



Project Management Professional (PMP): If you want to validate your project management abilities, this credential, offered by the Project Management Institute (PMI), may be for you. You must have between three and five years of project management experience to take the exam, and the certification must be maintained by earning 60 Professional Development Units over a three-year period. The increasing complexity of IT projects, and the need to involve individuals from all over the organization in these engagements, has led to the demand for verifiable project management skills.



Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA): This vendor-specific accreditation authenticates the bearer’s ability to administer medium-size route and switched Cisco networks. To earn the certification, you can either pass the 640-802 CCNA exam or both the 640-822 Interconnecting Cisco Networking Devices Part 1 (ICND1) and 640-816 ICND2 exams. The CCNA designation is valid for three years, after which you must pass one of various possible exams to renew it.



Fifty-eight percent of CIOs polled for the “Hiring Index” ranked network administration as the technical skill set in greatest demand within their IT departments, further demonstrating the marketability of professionals with the CCNA credential.



Although earning one of the above certifications could be advantageous for your career, that doesn’t mean doing so is the necessarily the best move for you to make. Before pursuing any professional designation, you must ask yourself the following questions:



• Which certification is right for me? Take into account your experience, current position and future professional goals. For instance, if you have a project management background and want to further your career in that area, a PMP certification could be extremely valuable. However, if you have no networking experience, it’s unlikely that a CCNA accreditation will boost your marketability. It’s important to understand that a certification can’t take the place of experience. Rather, it is best used to support relevant experience you already possess.



• How much time and money are involved? Between books, study aids, training courses and exams, there will be costs involved. But there may be ways to reduce these expenses. If you’re currently employed, your company may offer financial assistance with your education. If you’re unemployed, you might consider registering with an IT staffing firm, some of which offer free training courses, test preparation and sample exams.



The time commitment can vary dramatically depending on the designation you are pursuing. The MCSE certification requires you to take seven exams, for instance, while the CCNA designation will perhaps only require one. Also keep in mind that some credentials require ongoing study to remain valid.



• How much of an impact will a certification have on my career? This question is hard to answer. According to the “Robert Half Technology 2010 Salary Guide ,” a credential can increase starting salary by up to 10 percent. But not all certifications are created equal. Those less in demand may not boost your compensation at all or increase your appeal to potential employers by any noticeable amount. You may want to consult members of your professional network, especially those who have earned a certification you hope to obtain, or an IT recruiter for additional insight.



Dave Willmer is executive director of Robert Half Technology, a provider of IT professionals for initiatives ranging from e-business development and multiplatform systems integration to network security and technical support. He can be reached at editor@certmag.com.

IT Certifications...worth the time & money? Survey says Yes!

An in-depth three-year IDC study provides real data that shows the relationship between training, certification and the functional performance of teams of IT professionals. The results of this study are in the November 2009 report by Cushing Anderson called "Impact of Training on Network Administration: Certification Leads to Operational Productivity."
IDC's 36-month study involved surveying more than 1,100 IT managers who are responsible for more than 3,000 teams. The survey asked for details about more than 80 IT performance metrics in 26 different functional domains, which include deployment, development, management, security, storage and support. Having analyzed all that data, IDC has come to the conclusion that certification in relevant areas matters, and here's why.

Increasingly, companies are relying on their IT departments to go beyond simply deploying and operating IT systems. IT departments are often included in business transformations and process improvements that will help the business grow and become more profitable. This means the department needs to have a staff of people with both business acumen and IT knowledge and skills. Anderson writes, "Organizations focused on driving growth, managing risks, and cutting overhead expenses rely on IT departments to manage convergence, complex infrastructures, and the proliferation of sophisticated edge devices (e.g., notebooks and PDAs). IT talent must combine technical capabilities with the ability to manage projects and complex situations that bring alignment with business goals."

This IT talent is often organized in teams -- groups of people who collaborate on projects to bring about the best results possible. IDC's research has shown that high-performance teams are comprised of individuals who possess current and relevant skills and knowledge. What's more, the team members' skills must be complementary and comprehensive enough for the project at hand. "Training and certification are effective measures of how well team members can work with specific technologies, hardware, and software," Anderson writes.
"Used properly, certifications play key roles at the convergence of business and IT trends. IDC research shows a direct relationship between higher levels of certification and improved performance -- when team skills improve, organizational performance increases proportionally," according to Anderson. "The percentage of relevant certifications a team holds is a reliable measure of an IT team's functional capability. Each new certification increases team performance."

In a 2008 IDC Training Impact Survey, nearly 61% of the respondents ranked "skill of the team" as the factor that contributes most to the success of technology functions. "The support of the technology vendor ... the effort of the team," and other factors ranked far below the value of the team's skills in determining a successful outcome of an IT project. In most cases, certification is a fairly good measure of skill.


The IDC study looked at the impact of certifications on network administration functions, focusing on five common activities:




* Network security performance -- Teams with more certifications had about 10% more devices in full compliance with security policies on average.



* Server and client application deployment -- Applications and network capabilities were deployed on time and on budget about 10% more frequently at organizations with greater concentrations of certified staff.


* Network availability-- Unscheduled downtime was about 20% lower at organizations with more certified IT staff.



* Budget spent on external support for network management -- Organizations with a higher percentage of certified staff spent about 20% less on support costs for general network management.


* Budget spent on external support for network security -- Organizations with higher concentrations of certified staff spent about 30 percent less on external support for network security activities.



The report draws the conclusion that certification helps achieve business goals. Anderson writes, "To achieve top-tier performance, organizations should strive for most of the team to be certified in relevant technologies and processes." I've always had that belief, but now we have the actual data to back it up.





Original article: http://bit.ly/6FZOPw

Why Certifications are important in 2009!

Many technology professionals believe IT certifications reached their peak during the height of the dot-com boom. But such a mindset may well prove shortsighted. The subsequent dot-com bomb led to an exodus of certified technicians from the industry. Then, as the dust settled, IT certifications were reworked. Accreditations were better mapped to real-world needs and expertise. Program flaws were eliminated. Training programs improved.

Now, in turbulent economic times, IT certifications will provide more relevance than ever before. With unprecedented bailouts, widespread cost and workforce reductions, and a slew of new platforms being released, IT accreditations will assume renewed importance in 2009. Here are 10 reasons why IT certifications will prove important in 2009.

Note: This information is also available as a PDF download.

#1: Job retention
Organizations are laying off employees at alarming levels. When wildly successful franchises such as the National Football League downsize 10 percent, you know the economy’s in trouble.
When faced with difficult personnel decisions, organizations generally try to retain the most skillful and knowledgeable employees. Certified IT pros have a credible advantage over their colleagues. While holding a current IT accreditation is no guarantee against being laid off, the more education, expertise, and skills you can demonstrate, the better.

#2: Salary maintenance
Many organizations — and city and state governments in particular — are asking employees to accept salary reductions. Whereas staff may have grumbled over a scant four or five percent salary increase a few years ago, today many are being asked to cut their compensation by those amounts.
Holding current IT certification does not guarantee you won’t face salary reductions. But possessing specific certifications — including A+, Security+, Microsoft credentials, and other accreditations –often qualifies employees for higher pay grades. Thus, when forced to accept a salary reduction, you’re more likely to be earning more than your non-certified colleagues.

#3: Hiring and promotion eligibility
Despite the economic downturn, some companies are still hiring. Others are actively promoting from within. Recent headlines prove medical facilities, health insurance companies, and manufacturers, among others, continue expansion efforts.
Significant competition exists for these open positions. With unemployment exceeding six percent, a number expected to grow in 2009, jockeying for good jobs will only increase. If your resume is bolstered by new and timely certifications, you’ll gain an advantage over others applying for the same role. For better or worse, in cases where two otherwise equal candidates are competing for the same lucrative job offer, one applicant’s certifications could prove the deciding factor. Certification may even be required to apply for the position.

#4: Career improvement
Many technology professionals feel they’ve done all they can do as a support technician or network administrator. They may be working in positions where they’ll receive no additional responsibilities, pay, or challenges unless they move up the corporate ladder.
IT certifications can certainly open the door to such promotions. By completing project management training and proving command of the fundamentals by earning a Project Management Institute (PMI) Project Management Professional or CompTIA Project+ certification, an administrator can demonstrate initiative and expertise in an effort to win a project management promotion. Likewise, a support tech might leverage a Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP) accreditation to gain a new position as a server administrator.

#5: New-generation certs increase relevance
Certifications are receiving a boost from considerable reworking. Many organizations, including CompTIA and Cisco, are revamping and redesigning exams and instructional initiatives. And Microsoft really stands out due to the variety and impact of changes made to its training and certification program.
Microsoft’s new generation of certifications — including the new MCITP, Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS), and Microsoft Certified Professional Developer (MCPD) accreditations — map directly to real-world needs. The MCTS, for example, measures a candidate’s skill, knowledge, and expertise deploying, maintaining, and administering specific Microsoft platforms.
Microsoft’s new MCITP credential, meanwhile, is aimed at helping organizations meet specific staffing needs. The certification is designed to demonstrate expertise within job roles, such as server administrator or desktop support technician, thereby better enabling hiring managers to spot qualified, well-targeted candidates.
To keep these new-generation certifications relevant, Microsoft is expiring new credentials when mainstream support for the corresponding technology platforms is retired. Those changes, combined with the introduction of classroom and lab training requirements for new higher-level certifications, are helping put the shine back on IT certifications in 2009.

#6: Organizations will become more discriminating
Consultants can benefit from IT certifications in 2009, too. As clients more closely guard expenses and become more discerning, organizations needing to outsource computer services and support will want to ensure the firms and technicians they hire are competent. IT certifications are a great method for consultants to demonstrate their skill, knowledge, and expertise to potential clients.

#7: New products will gain momentum
A slew of new products is sure to gain momentum in 2009. Microsoft’s 2008-branded server products lead the charge of new technologies that will gain market share throughout the year.
As organizations begin replacing older or failed equipment with these new products, and as myriad other factors require that the new platforms be deployed, these organization will seek qualified IT technicians, managers, and consultants to plan, deploy, and administer the upgrades. If you can demonstrate your skills and expertise with these platforms, you’ll be better positioned to provide those services. By becoming certified on new technologies that gain traction in 2009, you’ll not only strengthen your resume, but you’ll also position yourself well by aligning your expertise with these new products.

#8: Organizations must minimize downtime
Server, desktop, and network downtime, as well as mean times to repair, must improve. This is true for most every organization, but especially for those that have reduced staff, as fewer employees are available to pick up the slack when errors or failures occur.
When running lean, as many companies have been forced to do, remaining employees’ workloads are often increased. Thus, it’s imperative that organizations fully utilize remaining staff.
IT certification programs are one method of ensuring that staff members have the training and instruction required to fulfill specific responsibilities. Employees who are better trained and educated as the result of certification efforts will be less likely to commit errors that lead to failure. And when outages do occur, the corresponding education and training will prove helpful in speeding recovery.

#9: Organizations need to reduce costs
When sales or funding levels dive, reducing operating costs becomes critical. During periods of recession, organizations are obligated to maximize efficiency. As a result, productivity requirements become greater for each worker.
From a cold and calculating perspective, IT certification is one proven method for leveraging an organization’s salary expenses. By ensuring that technicians have specific skills via training and certification programs, whether those skills target desktop support or network design and optimization, organizations know that IT certification efforts help maximize ROI.
A Kotler Marketing Group study published by CompTIA revealed certifications enabled organizations to reduce expenses, identify knowledge gaps, and improve productivity. In addition, certifications proved helpful in improving uptime and reducing turnover.

#10: Confidence proves handy during turbulent times
If nothing else, during periods of stress and upheaval, it helps to have confidence. While you can’t insulate yourself from major economic trends, you can leverage certifications to know you’ve taken prudent steps to keep skills current and make yourself an attractive employee, both to your current employer and to prospective hiring managers, should a pink slip arrive.
Some 75 percent of IT professionals responding to the Kotler study said their CompTIA certifications make them more attractive to employers, while 84 percent believe they now have the skills necessary to fulfill a job’s requirements. Further, some 93% agreed or strongly agreed that customers felt they are in good hands when working with them, due in part to their certifications.

With numerous other factors seemingly out of your control, IT certifications present at least one element you can command. In an age of unprecedented business and economic turmoil, the resulting confidence boost can only help.

Larry Dignan is Editor in Chief of ZDNet and Editorial Director of ZDNet sister site TechRepublic. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations.
Email Larry Dignan

Computing Technology Industry Association Announces Update Plans for CompTIA Network+ Certification

Oakbrook Terrace, Ill. (Vocus/PRWEB ) September 15, 2008 -- The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA), the leading provider of vendor-neutral certifications for the world's technology workforce, announced today it is updating its CompTIA Network+ certification.

The 2009 edition of the CompTIA Network+ certification exam is scheduled for worldwide availability during the first quarter of 2009. The certification was last updated in 2005.
"Expansion and growth of wireless networks in the corporate environment has generated administrative and security challenges on the network," said Michael Robie, vice president, skills development, CompTIA. "The updated exam will be more reflective of current networking technologies."

A 2008 CompTIA survey of more than 3,500 IT managers around the world found that two-thirds (66 percent) said that general networking and network infrastructure skills are currently in high demand in their organizations.

"CompTIA Network+ certified professionals have the knowledge and skills necessary to manage and maintain basic network infrastructure," Robie said. "This certification is a logical next step for any IT professional looking to add to their arsenal of career-enhancing skills."
CompTIA Network+ certification validates knowledge and ability to select, connect, configure, and troubleshoot basic network infrastructure. Organizations across a wide range of industries, and from small businesses to large enterprises, use CompTIA Network+ as a skills benchmark for staff members responsible for network operations.

The update of CompTIA Network+ is in keeping with CompTIA's practice of continuous and ongoing review of its certification content to assure that it addresses the latest changes in technology and reflects the skills needed by tech workers and required by employers.
CompTIA Network+ certified professionals work in a variety of IT roles, including network administrators, network technicians, network installers, help desk technicians, and IT cable installers. Though not required, candidates for the certification are recommended to have nine to twelve months experience in networking and CompTIA A+ or an equivalent certification.
CompTIA is working with publishers and training providers to ensure there are training materials available for the launch of the update CompTIA Network+ exam.

The current version of the CompTIA Network+ exam remains available worldwide. Candidates now studying for, or considering CompTIA Network+, are strongly encouraged to continue their preparation and test for the certification based on its current objectives. The new objectives for CompTIA Network+ are available at http://certification.comptia.org/resources/objectives.aspx.
About CompTIAThe Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) is the voice of the world's information technology (IT) industry. Its members are the companies at the forefront of innovation; and the professionals responsible for maximizing the benefits organizations receive from their investments in technology. CompTIA is dedicated to advancing industry growth through its educational programs, market research, networking events, professional certifications, and public policy advocacy. For more information, please visit www.comptia.org.