| For individuals looking to receive tech certification, there | | | | must be recertified every two years. |
| are many available options. There are | | | | 4. CCSP: Cisco Certified Security Professional (CCSP) |
| vendor-sponsored certifications that hold a lot of | | | | is a certification that will enable you to secure Cisco |
| weight, from companies such as Microsoft or Cisco. | | | | networks. To receive this certification, you must take |
| There are also equally powerful certifications that are | | | | and pass 5 written tests. Recertification is required |
| not-affiliated with any particular sponsor. | | | | every 3 years. It is important to note that even before |
| One will quickly find that tech certification is not cheap. | | | | you are able to take the CCSP, you must have |
| In fact, in some cases, it is extremely expensive. This | | | | already received your CCNA or CCIP. |
| means that going after and receiving the certifications, | | | | 5. CISSP: Security jobs continue to be hot in the IT field. |
| with the greatest Return on Investment (ROI) is vitally | | | | One certification that will help you land a good IT |
| important. In this article, we list the tech certifications | | | | security gig is the Certified Information Systems |
| that will pay off biggest in the job market. | | | | Security Professional (CISSP). The process to receive |
| 1. MCSE: The Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer | | | | the certification is very rigorous and the test itself is |
| (MCSE) certification is still a premiere certification. The | | | | pretty expensive, but the payoff is great. |
| test is quite a bit harder then it once was. It is primarily | | | | 6. SSCP: If you aren't yet able to qualify to sit for the |
| performance based and the questions are much more | | | | CISSP, try the Systems Security Certified Practitioner |
| difficult. You must past seven tests to receive your | | | | (SSCP) certification. You will only need one year of |
| MCSE. | | | | security experience. |
| 2: MCA: Microsoft Certified Architect (MCA) is the top | | | | 7. GSE: The GIAC certificate is another well known |
| certification that Microsoft gives. To successfully attain | | | | security certificate. However, you will need to have |
| your MCA you need to have three years or more of | | | | already received your GSEC, GCIA and GCIH |
| an advanced level of IT architecture experience. You | | | | certifications before you can sit for it. |
| will have to pass a review board given by a review | | | | 8. RHCE/RHCA: Linux is becoming more and more |
| board.. This is a very prestigious certification. In fact, | | | | popular. Some companies are interested in switching to |
| there are less than 100 Microsoft Certified Architects | | | | a Linux based system and they need tech |
| (MCA's) in the world. | | | | professionals to run them. For $749 you can take the |
| 3. CCIE: The Cisco Internetwork Expert (CCEI) is a | | | | Red Hat Certified Engineer exam (RHCE) and |
| very expensive certification that is very hard to obtain. | | | | become certified. |
| It is sponsored by Cisco. The test has two parts. You | | | | 9. ITIL: If you have aspirations in becoming an IT |
| will need to successfully pass the written portion of the | | | | manager, you may want to consider obtaining your |
| exam, before you are allowed to take the labs. The | | | | Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) |
| written portion of the test costs $300. The lab | | | | certification. |
| examination will cost you $1250 for each track to | | | | 10. Other considerations: If none of the above |
| choose to be tested on. You can choose from | | | | certifications float your boat, you may want to |
| Routing and Switching, Security, Storage Networking, | | | | consider certifications in Database administration, |
| Voice and Service Provider. Keep in mind as well, that | | | | wireless networking, Health Insurance Portability and |
| lab exams are only given in certain cities so you will | | | | Accountability Act (HIPPA) or Voice Over Protocol. All |
| have to pay for any travel expenses. As a CCEI, you | | | | of these will be hot tech areas in the future. |