| Last year I released an article on the hottest certs for | | | | Career changers, not to be left out, should focus on |
| 2009. The amount of readers is indicative that we are | | | | developing a strong understanding of networking |
| still faced with confusion. I am adamant in telling the | | | | technology. I recommend a class that teaches the |
| student/ IT professional to look at relevance. One | | | | theory of data communications. The CompTIA |
| should ask: | | | | Network + is a great class. Cisco's CCNA is a highly |
| 1. Is it relevant to my present job? | | | | marketable cert for the beginner and will place the |
| 2. Which company is offering the certification? Of | | | | serious learner in some great environments. |
| course one can never go wrong with Microsoft, Cisco, | | | | Specializations is another way in. Mobility is the rage, so |
| HP, Planet 3. | | | | Blackberry and any Messaging Certification is well |
| 3. What is the demand now and in the future? | | | | worth the time. A strong understanding of Active |
| The Gartner Group recently released their top ten | | | | Directory, Exchange, Group Policy can be rewarding. |
| technologies for 2010. At the helm is Cloud Computing | | | | Today's Health Industry is fully computerized. Security |
| followed by Advanced Analytics. Also included in the | | | | and Compliance certs are also in demand. All in all, I |
| top ten are Client Computing, IT for Green, Social | | | | can go on and on with certs and their value. Basically it |
| Computing, Flash Memory, Security and Virtualization. I | | | | comes down to relevance and to a great extent, what |
| tend to agree with the number one selection keeping in | | | | you enjoy. There is a certification that is suited to |
| mind that Clouding is tied to virtual technology. My | | | | every professional. With some ground work, you'll find |
| number one recommendation for hottest certification | | | | it. Press on! |
| would therefore be VCP offered by VMWare. | | | | Project Management is woefully in need. Two certs |
| Though costly, it is going to be the most sought after | | | | come to mind, PMI's Project Management Professional |
| qualification in 2010. VMWare will also be offering an | | | | and the CAPM. This exam requires an extensive |
| advanced certification, the VMWare Certified Design | | | | amount of skill and experience, but the financial reward, |
| Expert. | | | | $101,000, as per ZDNet is enticing. I have identified a |
| Green IT is a dark horse in this IT race. Again this cert | | | | great demand for Microsoft Dynamics. Though I am |
| is tied to virtualization. Companies are paying attention | | | | not informed about this qualification, there is demand |
| to sustainability and cost savings. Symantec's vice | | | | for CRM professionals. At this point I will mention one |
| president of global solutions recently stated, "perhaps in | | | | technology that I believe will definitely catch on with |
| the past Green IT was a wish list item, it's now | | | | time, and that is WiMAX. Verizon and AT&T are |
| essential for almost all companies we surveyed". One | | | | both working on this technology and I believe we will |
| major driving factor for the interest in Green is | | | | soon see certs being offered. |
| electricity conservation. Some companies are paying | | | | My list of top ten certs would look like this:- |
| as much as $21 to $27 million per year for electricity | | | | (Experienced) |
| use. There are certifications being offered by | | | | 1.VMWare VCP |
| organizations like Green Building Certification Institute | | | | 2. Cisco's Cloud Computing |
| (LEED); Cisco; IBM. Unfamiliar terminology like Green | | | | 3. MCSE -Security |
| Datacenters is now being tossed around. My second | | | | 4. Cisco's CCIE Security |
| choice for hot certs would therefore be GREEN. | | | | 5. SQL |
| Social Computing, and the booming of Web 2.0 has | | | | 6. MCITP |
| propelled network security even further. Facebook, | | | | 7. RHCE |
| Digg, MySpace, wikis, blogs, all need to addressed in | | | | 8. Green IT |
| todays work environment. Certifications that will | | | | 9. CWSP |
| continue to be in demand are Security +( a brilliant start | | | | 10.anything Citrix |
| for a security career), CISSP, MCSE Security, | | | | My recommendation for the career changer would |
| CheckPoint's CCSE, Cisco's CCSP and CWSP | | | | be:- ( Beginner) |
| offered by Planet 3. My recommendation to potential | | | | 1. Network + |
| students is to package an IT security cert with your | | | | 2. MCDST |
| qualifications. | | | | 3. Security+ |
| Though we are witnessing a change in requests for | | | | 4.CompTIA A+ |
| certified professionals one should not forget the oldies. | | | | 5. MCTS Exam 70-620 Configuring Vista |
| Microsoft has made a major play with the release of | | | | 6. Installing & Configuring Windows 7 |
| their 64bit Windows 2008 server. This certification will | | | | 7. CWNA |
| not go away. The Microsoft Certified Desktop Support | | | | 8. CWSP |
| Technician is great for the beginner and may be | | | | 9. Microsoft Excel |
| packaged with CompTIA's Network +. MCSE | | | | 10.MCITP 70-646 Windows Server Administration |
| Messaging is also in great demand. A quick browse | | | | 6. CCNA |
| through or will reinforce the sentiment that Red Hat | | | | My recommendation to the independents ( self |
| Linux is a moneymaker (RHCE 302). Software-as | | | | employed consulting) |
| a-Service (SaaS) is another innovative technology that | | | | 1. Microsoft Small Business Server |
| is sweeping through the IT world. I hope that one have | | | | 2. SharePoint |
| identified the effect of virtualization. I read an article | | | | 3. ITIL v2 |
| recently where the authored stated "want to travel the | | | | 4. LMS |
| word? Get a virtualization cert! I concur! | | | | 5. Windows Server 2003/2008. |