Look for Cloud Certifications in 2014
The impact of the cloud on business is unquestionable. Unfortunately, when it comes to hiring individuals with the correct skill-sets or showcasing cloud proficiency to future employers, questions can arise in abundance. For the New Year, we offer nine cloud certifications that will have you on cloud nine in 2014.
AWS Cloud Certification: This certification proves prowess in cloud-based applications that use Amazon Web Services (AWS) technology and comes in three grades: associate, professional, and master. This certification is ideal for solutions architects, SysOps administrators, and any developers looking to use AWS technology. To put into perspective how popular AWS is, Amazon Web Services is currently the world's largest provider of cloud hosting and is expected to help Amazon generate more than $100 billion in revenue for 2014.
CloudU Certification: Designed as a vendor-neutral curriculum by RackSpace, CloudU is tailored for IT professionals and business leaders aiming to build their foundation of fundamental cloud computing knowledge. A CloudU Certification helps reinforce the concept of an evenhanded approach to cloud computing that balances business implementation with regulatory understanding.
CloudSchool Certified Technology Professional: Offering certifications for both Certified Cloud Architect and Certified Cloud Professional, CloudSchool is a vendor-neutral program that covers fundamentals of cloud computing while offering training in specialized programs for governance, security, and storage of cloud-based systems. The prestige that CloudSchool once offered has diminished slightly, but many IT professionals still acknowledge CloudSchool is a great place to learn early fundamentals for cloud computing certifications.
CompTIA Cloud Essentials: Designed by the Cloud Credential Council and ITpreneurs to offer an entry-level credential, CompTIA takes a broad view to the cloud’s business value, as well as characteristics and types of cloud computing. This certification is a great launching point for those looking for vendor-neutral cloud certifications.
IBM Cloud Computing Certification: IBM is considered to offer some of the top cloud training and the company’s two reigning cloud certifications, Cloud Computing Architecture V3 and Cloud Computing Infrastructure V1, offer “solution advisor” and “solution architect” certifications respectively. Both certifications focus on IBM cloud computing but differ. The architecture certification proves proficiency in underlying concepts of cloud computing; the infrastructure certification aims to prove the ability to architect, design, manage, and plan an entire cloud framework.
Licensed ZapThink Architect: Focused on architectural concepts with an emphasis on security and governance, the LZA certification is more of a senior-level certification for those industry indivuals aiming to oversee implementation and design of cloud computing infrastructures.
MSCE: Private Cloud: This certification is fairly Microsoft-centric, but the skills learned still apply to cloud basics, framework, and general knowledge outside of Microsoft use. Multiple examinations will prove that an individual is certified to administer, configure, and install Windows Server 2012, as well as configure, deploy, monitor, and operate System Center 2012. Frustrating and unique to MSCE is that the certification's lifespan is only three years.
Red Hat OpenStack Administration: Red Hat offers several cloud-centric certifications. But what makes this certification rise above the rest is the certification's accompaniment of a hands-on, lab-based course that reinforces the implementation of a cloud computing environment using the OpenStack platform.
VMware Certified Professional—Cloud: Covering cloud security and hybrid cloud deployments, this certification offers validation of an employee's ability to configure and administer a cloud environment using vCloud Director. To gain certification, one must take a qualifying course or previously have been a VMware Certified Professional and then pass a series of examinations.
Does your company look for any of these certifications? Do you have or plan to get any of these certifications? Tell us in the comments.
