Best IT Certifications for 2011

IT certifications are a way to certify and validate an individual's IT skills. There are many IT certifications available from a number of institutions. But which are the best and most rewarding ones to pursue in 2011? Read on to learn more.

An IT certification is no ordinary exam. It is not a simple case of studying from textbooks and study material. IT Certifications require a good combination of practical and technical know-how. While majority are multiple choice questions, some certifications require a practical exam or on-job experience. In the ever changing IT market of today, a certification is an important piece of paper, for both experienced and fresh candidates. In this article, the best IT certifications for 2011 are listed, with a short description of each.

Why is an IT Certification Needed?

Certifications provide that much-needed edge, that differentiates one professional from the other. It gives experienced workers a chance to update themselves in their respective areas of expertise. Instead of going in for another degree, they can add to their education with a certification. Certifications prove how dedicated a professional is to the field they work in.

For fresh graduates, it gives them a hiring advantage over their competitors. It is a given IT industry fact, that an inexperienced but certified professional, is a better choice than an uncertified one. A certificate can be used as a proof of competency. And for the inexperienced, certification knowledge is more valuable for a job, than what they might have learned during their education. For example, during a four-year degree course in engineering, one learns a little bit of different languages, like Java or SQL. But at the hiring time, if certified in SQL, that individual is more valuable, since he is already well versed in the specific technology.

Best In Demand IT Certifications for 2011

Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS): This certification tests your skills and expertise in a specific technology. For example, the MCTS ASP.NET certification focuses on the .NET 3.5 ASP.NET suite. There are currently 20 specializations, with 5 broad subject categories which are Office, .NET framework, SQL Server, Windows and business intelligence. This is the first level of certification exams for Microsoft.

Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCTIP): This certification is extremely useful for experienced professionals, as it validates the skill set to perform a particular job role. It tests the ability of the candidate, to use Microsoft technologies in performing an IT job role, like database administrator or server administrator. To give this exam, one or more compulsory MCTS certifications must be obtained first.

A+: This is a vendor neutral certification, that covers multiple operating systems and technologies. This certification ensures basic knowledge of software and hardware components. It is intended for professionals, with at least 500 hours of hands-on experience, as the questions are based on practice, not theory. The A+ certification is especially used as a bench mark for computer support technicians, as the key exam areas are installation, networking, maintenance and troubleshooting of computer systems.

Apple Certified Technical Coordinator (ACTC): For those interested in working with the Mac OS X, this is one rare and necessary certification. It targets entry-level system administrators, who provide support for and maintain Mac OS X client server environment.

Red Hat Certified System Administrator (RHCSA): Red Hat certifications are the best and most sought-after Linux certifications. They carry out actual practical exams, instead of the normal multiple choice questions. The RHCSA is the entry level-exam to pursue a Red Hat certification. It deals with basic system administration and there is no experience prerequisite. It is the mandatory base for higher Red Hat certifications like RHCE.

Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP): A certification from the non profit International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium (ISC2). It deals with information and network security, highly important subjects in any industry and organization. This particular certification is accredited by ANSI, and is highly regarded as an information systems standard. It requires a minimum of 5 years, full-time, security work experience.

Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH): An ethical hacker or penetration tester is employed by a company, to attempt to penetrate or hack into the network or computer systems, so that weaknesses and failings in their security system can be exposed. As illegal hacking is rapidly becoming a serious threat in any organization, ethical hacking is gaining popularity as a popular testing method for network security. This vendor neutral certification is provided by the International Council for E-Commerce Consultants.

Global Information Assurance Certification (GIAC): One of the leading institutions handling information security certifications, in a number of security disciplines. GIAC measures an individual's specific knowledge areas in the field of information security, for nearly 20 job specific responsibilities, like firewall analyst, intrusion analyst or security expert to name a few. It is a highly valued certification institute in the field of information security.

Cisco Certifications: The networking field is the fastest and best IT field in terms of growth and opportunities. And Cisco is the brand leader in networking certifications. For any level of networking expertise, be it entry or experienced, Cisco has a certificate and in a variety of networking subjects like security, installation and design. Here are some of the best IT certifications for networking from Cisco:

• Cisco Certified Entry Networking Technician (CCENT)
• CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate) in Security, Voice, Wireless, Routing and Switching
• Cisco Certified Security Professional (CCSP)
• Cisco Certified Wireless Professional (CCNP Wireless)
• Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP)

Project Management Professional (PMP): This certifies the management know-how and skills of an IT professional, in handling projects and tasks at a managerial level, within a budget and time limit. Its prerequisite is educational qualifications and experience. A PMP is a renowned and internationally accepted certification in the management field.

Those were some of the best IT certifications available. IT certifications have been a source of debate for industry experts. In recruiters minds, the key factor for deciding to hire an individual is experience. And unfortunately, a certification cannot replace experience. Also, you can get pigeonholed into that technology, and your company might hesitate to promote you. Find out if a certification will result in a pay raise or make you considerable for a promotion. And see how flexible your timings and schedule is, so that you can actually study for the exam. In the long run, your talent and skills are the key point to your success in the IT field.

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