The Global Knowledge 2020 IT Skills and Salary Report is out, covering the biggest trends and findings from the year previous, including the most popular IT certifications worldwide. According to the report this past year was big for IT certifications: 87% of IT professionals have at least one certification, with 40% already working on pursuing their next certification. After training to receive a certification, professionals see instant results: over half of the certified professionals said their quality of work has improved, and one-third of certified professionals find their work to be more engaging since they have become certified.
Why are IT Certifications Important?
IT Certifications not only benefit the individual who has received them, but also contribute to the department effectiveness as a whole. Holding a certification shows that an individual is willing to invest time into growing themselves in their career. It also shows customers that they can trust they are receiving assistance from a qualified professional.
Individuals with IT Certifications also see improvement in their quality of work after receiving a certification:
- 52% of those certified have seen an improvement in their quality of work
- 36% are more engaged in their work
- 31% are better performing at their job
From an organizational level, having a certified staff increases effectiveness across the board:
- 52% of organizations says having a certified staff closes organizational skills gaps
- 44% says it boosts productivity
- 43% see an improvement in meeting client requirements
- 36% see an improvement in time it takes to troubleshoot issues
IT Certification Training
When it comes to training, 78% of IT professionals train to build new skills, and 50% of professionals train to prepare for a new career certification or specialist exam. By understanding the area of IT you want to pursue, you can create a more well-rounded training program and career path for your future. The focal points of IT certification pathways include:
- Information Security
- Network and Cloud Technologies
- Hardware, Services, and Infrastructure
- IT Management and Strategy
- Storage and Data
- Web and Mobile
- Software Development
Infrastructure Training
Infrastructure training starts you off with the fundamentals you need to start your career in IT. You learn the ins and outs of hardware and software at the most basic level, and then continue to build on your skills for countless roles in IT.
Each certification you earn along the infrastructure pathway can help you develop a clear goal with where you want to grow your career in the IT field. For example, individuals who complete their Linux+ certification can qualify for employment as a database administrator, data scientist, or web administrator. The skills you develop with each certification can help you take that next step in your career.
View CompTIA A+ (220-1001 Objectives) and A+ (220-1002) Objectives on our Class Schedule
View CompTIA Network+ on our Class Schedule
View CompTIA Server+ on our Class Schedule
View CompTIA Linux+ on our Class Schedule
Cybersecurity Training
Demand for cybersecurity professionals continues to grow as businesses continue to operate in a remote work environment. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the industry will experience job growth of 31% between 2019 and 2029, much faster than most other industries will experience, including other areas of IT. By obtaining a security certification, you can prepare for jobs roles including threat intelligence analyst, security engineer, vulnerability analyst, and other in-demand roles.
View CompTIA Security+ on our Class Schedule
View EC Council Certified Chief Information Security Officer on our Class Schedule
View EC Council Certified Ethical Hacking and Countermeasures on our Class Schedule
Additional Certifications
IT certifications can cross over between those in technical and non-technical roles. For example, an ITIL® certification can benefit any IT support staff or IT developers, along with business managers and business process owners. Cross-training your staff can strengthen your department, along with help you save on overstaffing expenses.
Not all certifications for your IT career have to be for technical training. In fact, one of the top 3 certifications among women in IT roles in 2020 was PMP®: Project Management Professional. By understanding the direction you would like to see your career head, you can build a training program centered around your career goals.
View ITIL® 4 Foundation on our Class Schedule
View PMP®: Project Management Professional on our Class Schedule
Most popular IT Certifications
The top ten most widely held IT certifications worldwide are:
- ITIL® Foundation
- Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Routing and Switching
- CISA – Certified Information Systems Auditor
- Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) Routing and Switching
- CompTIA A+
- CISM – Certified Information Security Manager
- CompTIA Security+
- CompTIA Network+
- CCA-V: Citrix Certified Associate – Virtualization
- AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate
When it comes to receiving an IT certification, one-third of the list is cybersecurity related, and this trend is only expected to continue.
View Security Classes on our Class Schedule.
Which IT Certification is right for you?
There is no one certification path that fits all. To create a training plan that is most beneficial to you, think about your career goals and what future position you would like to hold. Not sure where to start? Talk to us today and one of our Customer Success Specialists can help you create your plan of action for success. We will focus on helping you succeed, no matter the direction you want your career to head.