Best IT Certifications to Earn in 2022

The digital transformation has led to a global shortage of qualified Information Technology (IT) professionals as businesses continue to rely on more complex information systems. Now is the time to take advantage of the high demand for credentialed IT talent.

Accreditation in IT is one of the most effective ways to stand out in the job market, elevate your career advancement prospects, and open doors to a range of lucrative career opportunities. Keep reading to learn more.

Why Get Certified?

Regardless of your level of experience, it is nearly impossible for you to find yourself unemployed or without employment prospects in the IT industry. Aside from having better job security than average, IT professionals are also likely to earn more than the national average salary, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

From Beginners to Experts

If you are new to the IT arena or have plenty of industry experience, there is a certification for you, regardless of your interests. Whether it is Amazon Web Services, Microsoft, CompTIA, ITIL, Cisco, Cybersecurity, or more, you are covered.

Listed below are some great certifications you can pursue based on your skill level:

Great for Beginners:

• Microsoft Fundamentals
• CompTIA A+ Certification
• ITIL® 4 Foundation
• AWS Essentials

Intermediate Level:

• Microsoft Azure Administrator
• Microsoft Azure Developer
• Data Engineering
• Modern Desktop Associate
• App Maker
• Network+
• Project+
• AWS Developer
• AWS Architect
• CCNA
• SCOR

Expert Level:

• Azure Solutions Architect
• DevOps Engineer
• Cisco Data Center
• Cisco Collaboration
• Big Data
• Security Engineering

Degrees Are Not Required

Certifications are becoming increasingly valuable to employers and individuals alike. Many studies prove the value of certifications in the real world labor market. On average, those with certifications and licenses earn 17% more than those with associate degrees and 25% more than high school graduates. By earning certifications, one can bypass the traditional college or university degree programs, as well as close the experience gap.

Career Paths without Limits

There are endless possibilities for career advancement or career changes no matter what your career interests are, be it data science, risk management, operating systems, web services, or even engineering, your options are limitless. Regardless of your work experience or your lack of experience, becoming certified shows your technical proficiency and professional development.

Some of the best IT Certifications to Earn in 2022 include:

• Professional Cloud Architect
• Certified Solutions Architect
• Project Management Professional
• Certified Information Security Manager
• Security Professionals
• Data Engineer
• Data Scientist

Certifications Offer More Than Just Job Security and Salary Increase

IT certifications can be beneficial to you in ways that go beyond job security and salary increases. You can acquire valuable skills and experience by obtaining certifications that will benefit your career. A certificate can also increase your marketability, improve your reputation, boost your credibility, and increase confidence and respect from your peers.

No matter your age, gender, background, or job role, certifications are a great way to enhance a resume’s credibility and impress recruiters and managers.

Get in touch with us to learn how certifications can benefit you.

View full catalog here.

TechSherpas 365 recently attended the “Women in the Workforce: A journey in STEM” conference held in Washington D.C. The conference explored the barriers women face and how to overcome them – while also providing tools and resources to encourage young women to pursue STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) careers.

Read on to find out why it is so imperative for us to encourage young women to pursue STEM and their vital role in advancing innovation.

Bridging the Gender Gap

With the passage of time, attitudes and practices of empowering women in the workplace have changed in a more positive direction. While there is much to celebrate, there is still much to be done. Despite the fact that in 2020, (pre-pandemic) the US Bureau of Labor reported that women make up 50.04% of the workforce, they hold only 27% of STEM-related positions.

In order to close the gender gap in STEM fields, we need solutions that work on multiple levels. In childhood, girls are often discouraged from science and mathematics and encouraged to adopt care-oriented careers. The discrimination against women in STEM continues through education and into the workplace.

The following are key factors perpetuating the gender gap in STEM:

• Stereotypes – Inequity and exclusion create chain reactions in this field. Girls may be interested in STEM during their early education, but they may think of the field as being reserved for boys or men. As a result, they may choose goals that are more socially acceptable to them.
• Lack of Diversity – Since fewer women are studying and working in STEM fields, these fields tend to perpetuate inflexible, exclusionary, male-dominated cultures that do not support or attract women and other minorities.
• Limited Mentorship – There are fewer female role models who inspire girls/women to pursue these areas. Limited representation also discourages them from pursuing careers in these fields.

Women and young girls must be encouraged to pursue – and remain in – STEM roles by eliminating the most common obstacles to them. In championing women in technology, we add diverse perspectives to industry conversations – perspectives that can provide new ideas and opportunities for innovation.

Diversity makes STEM better

Research proves that more gender diversity leads to greater access of viewpoints, questions, and areas studied by researchers, leading to greater exploration of new research areas and technical innovation. Without women and other underrepresented groups in STEM, the world will miss out on the value of alternate perspectives.

As mentioned in our previous blog “Why the Future of Technology Depends on Women and Diversity,” It’s no secret, women think differently than men. Reports indicate that on average, companies that promote diversity and equality, outperform their underrepresented peers by 34% and companies that had women in multiple leadership roles saw over a 60% increase in their return on investment.”

It has also been reported that companies that offer inclusive environments achieve their financial goals by 120%. Not only does diversity breed innovation, it also seems to go hand in hand with increased profits.

How to Increase Diversity:

• Bias Training – Employees and management should be trained in how to recognize implicit biases and reduce their impact in the workforce.
• Diverse Decision-Making Committees – In all committees, women and people of color should be included, whether selecting speakers for a conferences, review candidates for technical positions, or evaluate applications. Researchers have found that the presence of even one woman on speakers selection committees positively correlates with an increased proportion of female participants.
• Mentoring Programs – It is crucial that women have mentors to provide career advice, guidance, and support. By creating a mentorship program, women in STEM can feel less isolated and connected.
• Promoting Work-Life Balance – Since women continue to bear more caregiving duties than men, institutions should implement family-friendly policies, such as on-site child care and medical leave benefits, and flexible working environments.

Diversifying Management

Almost 7% of all U.S. occupations are in STEM fields, and STEM employees play a crucial role in America’s innovative capacity and global competitiveness. To understand today’s threats and develop feasible solutions, we need every tool at our disposal. Since STEM fields are at the forefront of creating and finding innovative solutions, we need the best thinkers at every level, and women must be included.

Women tend to possess the “soft” skills that many STEM-based companies or groups lack (but always need), such as emotional intelligence, collaboration skills, and empathy – when these attributes are coupled with technical skills, you have someone you’d want on your team — or better yet, in management.

Approximately 16% of managers in the information technology industry are women. The gender gap persists among C-level executives, with only 3% of CEOs and 17% of CIOs being female. As mentioned earlier, reports show that companies who promote diversity and equality, outperform their peers by 34%, and companies that had women in multiple leadership roles saw over 60% increase on ROI.

In fostering broader diversity, having a greater women’s presence in leadership can drive recruitment efforts and fuel long-term cultural shifts necessary for sustainability. The gender STEM gap may have started in the classroom, but it culminates in the boardroom. Women remain a significant minority in most innovation-related fields, resulting in skill shortages and stalled progress.

Encouraging Education and Training

There has historically been a systematic exclusion of women from higher education. The opening of education to women has seen great progress in recent decades, but there remains a great deal to be done. Across colleges, STEM fields see a greater imbalance of males to females than other degree programs.

Research indicates that 49% of women who enter college wanting to major in STEM change their major, compared with only 32% of men. In science and engineering, women make up only 27% of the overall workforce, despite making up half of the total workforce with college degrees.

Alternative Education

Like anything that changes with the times, traditional aspects of “education” have also adapted. The ability to obtain a certification is now more accessible than obtaining a degree from a traditional school.

Technology certifications are an example of alternative education young women can easily pursue. A certification can serve as a substitute for a traditional four-year degree. IT certification candidates can easily become certified in Microsoft, Cisco, CompTIA, Cybersecurity, VMware, ITIL, and so on.

Certifications are achievable and reduce the number of hurdles established in the traditional setting for girls who are interested in becoming developers, data scientists, database administrators, risk managers, and many other professions.  As with four-year institutions, scholarships are available for young women who choose the certification route for their STEM careers.

Looking to the Future

There’s work to be done. The companies, teachers, and individuals that create cultures that promote, empower, and advance women lead the way in breaking down barriers.

It is important to inspire and attract new generations of female workers to traditionally male industries. We need new ideas and innovations to fill the skills gap as well as support new ideas and innovations in the workplace. In the long run, organizations can benefit from embracing diversity in all its facets and enjoy success for generations to come.

Get in touch with TechSherpas 365 to discuss your training needs if you are interested in pursuing a STEM career or know of someone else who is.

Getting into IT after the Army with ArmyIgnitED

If you are a current Enlisted Soldier, or in the Reserve or Army National Guard you have the opportunity to accelerate your professional development before returning back to civilian life. Read below to see what IT training is available through your ArmyIgnitED education benefits.

What is ArmyIgnitED?

As mentioned in our previous blog, ArmyIgnitED- Utilize Army Credentialing Assistance for Education Benefits, ArmyIgnitED is the new credentialing system that was once Army Cool and GoArmyED. This Army education benefit program allows military members the opportunity to pay for industry-recognized credentials that will enhance their skills and qualifications both during and after military service.

Who Qualifies

• Regular Army
• Active Guard/Selected Reserve (AGR)
• U.S. Army Reserve (USAR)
• Army National Guard (ARNG)

Why Pursue IT Certifications

The transition from military to civilian life can be difficult, but the skills gained while serving are often transferable into the private sector. In addition, if you become certified in IT before being discharged, you could also qualify for many government jobs after the military.

Now more than ever the demand for qualified candidates to fill job roles in IT has become an overwhelming task for employers. Every day the demand grows larger, yet the talent pool continues to dry up. The Bureau of Labor Statistics has reported that employment in computer and information technology will grow 11% (higher than average) with a majority of demand focused on cloud computing, data collection & storage and information security.

Some of the most popular certifications for jobs after the Army include:

Cybersecurity and Risk Management

Certified Cybersecurity Analyst (median wage $98,350)

Certified Information Security Manager (median wage $120,000)

EC-Council Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) (median wage $83,591)

Cloud Computing

Architecting on AWS (median wage $129,868)

Developing on AWS (median wage $130,272)

Microsoft Azure Architect Technologies (median wage $98,350)

Certified Solutions Architect (median wage $153,000)

Microsoft Azure Administrator (median wage $84,000)

Data Collection and Storage

Designing and Implementing a Data Science Solution on Azure (median wage $95,000)

Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Engineer Associate (median wage $135,000)

Administering Relational Databases on Microsoft Azure (median wage $89,675)

No degree? No problem…

No need for student loans, or tons of years of experience. The educational assistance available for you to utilize while in active service allows you to get trained in the latest technologies and validate your skills with the necessary certification exam(s).

If not having a degree has made you hesitant to pursue a career in technology, then you should know that a majority of positions are attainable with only the required certification(s), and a degree is not required. The IT sector has many available jobs with no degree requirement and still provide you with amazing job growth potential and the ability to be successful.

How to use ArmyIgnitED for IT training?

All approved credentials listed for ArmyIgnitED are analyzed carefully and proven to be relevant to a military occupation and meets official credential standards. Many of the approved IT credentials include some of the most in-demand and top paying IT certifications.

In order to begin utilizing Army funding for IT training a member will need to:

• Explore options on Army Cool
• Align credentials to MOS/ASI or other pursuits
• Select desired credential
• Apply for Army Credentialing Assistance CA
• Execute CA Request
• Earn Credential

TechSherpas 365 offers all-inclusive certification courses for Microsoft, Cybersecurity, CompTIA, Cisco, Amazon Web Services, Project Management and ITIL for eligible ArmyIgnitED credentials. View all of the current eligible training programs here.

Utilize Army Credentialing Assistance for Education Benefits

If you are an active service member in the Army now is the time to take advantage of an Army Education benefit that has replaced GoArmyED.

What is ArmyIgnitED?

ArmyIgnitED is the new credentialing system for what was Army Cool. ArmyIgnitED is one of the many military benefits available for active duty and army reserve candidates to utilize under the Army Credentialing Assistance Program.

Who Qualifies for ArmyIgnitED

• Regular Army
• Active Guard/Reserve (AGR)
• U.S. Army Reserve (USAR)
• Army National Guard (ARNG)

This program offers military members the chance to pay for credentials that will enhance their skills and qualifications both during and after military service. ArmyIgnitED can provide up to $4,000 (per year) for courses and exams that lead to industry-recognized civilian credentials. Members may utilize this program to build on skills, either in their current MOS, or in an occupation they would like to pursue once they leave the military.

What Makes ArmyIgnitED So Appealing?

Whether home, or abroad, ArmyIgnitED provides unlimited access to educational opportunities, while providing flexibility to fit any type of learning style or schedule. Students are able to select between conventional or more modern methods of learning; such as:

Online

Opportunities offered through education institutions and vendors that don’t adhere to a conventional timeline or schedule

Education Center

Regional courses provided in a classroom structure at a designated Education Center

On-Site

Courses running at a vendor’s training site alongside other students

The goal of ArmyIgnitED is to allow members to gain new skills outside of their current MOS, to increase potential employment opportunities once discharged. Another perk of the ArmyIgnitED program is the ease of transition from military to civilian life.

How to use ArmyIgnitED for IT training?

All approved credentials listed for ArmyIgnitED are analyzed carefully and proven to be relevant to a military occupation and meets official credential standards. Many of the approved IT credentials include some of the most in-demand and top paying IT certifications.

TechSherpas 365 offers all-inclusive certification courses for Microsoft, Cybersecurity, CompTIA, Cisco, Amazon Web Services, Project Management and ITIL for eligible ArmyIgnitED credentials. View all of the current eligible training programs here.

In order to begin utilizing Army funding for IT training a member will need to:

• Explore options on Cool
• Align credentials to MOS/ASI or other pursuits
• Select desired credential
• Apply for Army Credentialing Assistance CA
• Execute CA Request
• Earn Credential

How to Apply for Credentialing Assistance:

All Credentialing Assistance (CA) requests will be processed through armyignited.com. They will no longer be submitted or accepted through GoArmyEd. Please note, eligible Soldiers must submit CA requests at least 30 business days prior to the start date of the training or exam. All CA Requests must have a start date on or after 7 Oct 20.

Visit armyignited.com and click “get started.”

• For questions about the Credentialing Program, contact your local Army Education Office or Center.
• For questions on a) Status of your case or b) Policy Questions email usarmy.knox.hrc.mbx.tagd-aces-credentialing-program@mail.mil
• For technical issues call the ArmyIgnitED helpdesk at 1-877-272-1330.

Why The Future of Technology Depends on Women and Diversity

As technology continues to supersede innovation and advancement, the tech sector itself, massively lags when it comes to the representation and advancement of women. Even though information technology is one of the fastest-growing industries in the U.S., it is notorious for remaining a male-dominated industry, with women only representing 24% of all full time computing roles.

As we pass the year marker of “operating” under pandemic conditions, women are now faced with future progress towards equality being jeopardized by a crisis that disproportionality affects them. Despite national conversations about gender equality and diversity in technology, women continue to fight the uphill battle for equal representation amongst their male peers.

In honor of Women’s History Month we will try to bridge the employment gap for women in technology and discuss some steps to take to be successful.

How Covid-19 Affected Women in Tech

With millions globally feeling the impact of job loss, economic instability, social isolation and adjusting to virtual school and work environments, women were exceedingly affected by Covid-19. Even though the tech sector itself was minimally affected by Covid-19, women had to carry the extra burdens caused by the abrupt and sharp shift in everyday life, creating a tug of war between industry development and social barriers.

Since the start of the pandemic, research shows that 48% of women in tech, found juggling work and family life extremely overwhelming and directly attributed Covid-19 with delays in their career(s). Women also reported higher burnout rates versus their male counterparts due to the influx of family adjustments and the need to work overtime. 63% of mothers working in tech confirm that they have done most of the home schooling or educational assistance for their children, in addition to being burdened with the extra home duties. Due to the sudden surge of extra family responsibilities 40% of women in IT held back from pursuing career changes due to family and home pressures. It is also reported, that during the pandemic, women (8%) in tech were statistically more likely to lose their jobs versus their male counterparts (5%). This is directly attributed to women having less seniority or senior-level roles than men.

The number of women projected to remain (or join) the tech workforce is shrinking and will be within crucial levels in the next decade. Even though it is well known that the underrepresentation of women is a problem, Covid-19 has exacerbated existing inequalities. With future economic growth and stability hinging largely on the tech sector it is vitally important to incorporate women into the fold to avoid a potential economic crisis.

How “The Representation Gap” Affects Everyone

It’s no secret, women think differently than men. Both men and women bring unique ideas to the table, however, the more interaction with a diverse group- the more opportunity for better problem solving techniques to be applied, and innovation to be born. Reports indicate that on average, companies that promote diversity and equality, outperform their underrepresented peers by 34% and companies that had women in multiple leadership roles saw over a 60% increase in their return on investment.

The advocacy for women in senior-level management roles is a starting point to closing the representation gap. The diversification and addition of women in leadership provides an opportunity for more mentorship to encourage women to pursue STEM education and STEM careers (this encouragement is even more vital for young girls being introduced to tech). In order to embolden more women into IT, tech companies and their senior leadership must identify instances where bias could likely influence the future career path(s), decision-making, and prevent common equality blockers.

Studies show that diversity alone is not enough, inclusion is also necessary for success. So often companies lump diversity and inclusion together as one, however, diversity won’t work without inclusion. It is paramount that women start being included in the decision making processes and conversations. Representation does matter and having women in leadership roles, demonstrates that there is availability for women to advance and be mentored within that company.

How to Be Successful

Regardless of how many years of experience you may have, IT certifications, and solid IT training are the biggest assets in your job search or advancement, regardless of gender. Having an IT certification validates your knowledge and skills without having the need for a college degree and minimizes any degree gap between you and your peers. Whether you are seeking a high demand cloud computing certification or interested in getting certified in risk, the opportunities are endless.

Entry-level to senior-level TechSherpas 365 offers certifications that include everything you need to pass your certification exam(s) and be successful in IT.

How 2020 Changed Cloud Predictions

Reports in 2019 forecasted the global public cloud service revenue to increase over 17% in 2020 bringing the total revenue predicted to be a hefty $266.4 billion. Furthermore, experts showed on average a 15% increase in companies utilizing cloud services year to year from 2017-2019. Prior to the worldwide disruption in 2020 caused by Covid-19, only 60% of companies ran their workloads on a hosted cloud service.

Enter – 2020… Covid-19 had a significant impact on businesses worldwide. Cost-cutting efforts, social distancing guidelines, daily interactive surroundings switched overnight to remote environments, were just a few of the challenges brought to companies and individuals alike. No one could have predicted the importance the cloud would have in transitioning the world into its new digital environment.

The most recent 2020 reports show 94% of enterprise workloads on a cloud-based solution, with the global public cloud service revenue exceeding $330 billion, it is estimated that by 2026 this number will go over $1,025 billion. These days it is almost impossible to find an organization that does not utilize a cloud service or solution.

Cloud-Powered Future

With the sharp uptick in migration from on-premises infrastructures to a cloud environment businesses needed to make the decision of which service(s) best suited their needs. The public cloud service models are typically classified as:

• IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service) – Allows businesses to utilize rented IT infrastructure(s) from a cloud provider on a pay as you go basis.
• PaaS (Platform as a Service) – Allows user(s) access to components needed to develop and operate web/mobile applications over the Internet, without the need to setup and manage an infrastructure of servers, networks, and databases.
• SaaS (Software as a Service) – This method is a software licensing and delivery model in which the software is licensed on a subscription bases and hosted centrally. This method is sometimes referred to as “on-demand software.”

Some businesses choose a Hybrid Cloud technology solution that combined both the benefits of private cloud computing with one or more public cloud solution(s), while giving businesses greater control over their private data.

As businesses make their shift to their preferred solution(s), SaaS was the largest market segment for end-user cloud IT spending, with PaaS expected to surpass it due to the higher rate of remote workforces introduced during the pandemic. Cloud computing has proven that it will be central to the post pandemic “new norm.” Throughout 2021, we can expect to see the drastic accelerated increase for demand in cloud related roles as more businesses adopt the various cloud models.

Most In-Demand Cloud Certifications for 2021

As businesses continue to allocate larger portions of their IT budgets to cloud related roles/tasks the debate becomes which cloud certification is best? Typically, when people mention “The Cloud,” Amazon Web Services (AWS), CompTIA Cloud+, or Microsoft’s Azure standout above the rest. If you are interested in an IT career within the cloud the following certifications are leading the way as the most in-demand cloud certifications for 2021:

1. AWS Developer – An AWS Developer handles the setup, management, and evolving the cloud infrastructure of web applications. Developers are anticipated to understand and apply best practices regarding scalability and security. A typical salary for an AWS Developer starts around $130k/year with a projected growth rate of 17%.
2. AWS Architect – An AWS Architect designs, implements, and optimizes the AWS Cloud by understanding AWS services and how those services fit into a cloud solution. An Architect will work with the development team to ensure all technical decisions made in the development phase are in line with the business’s goals. A typical salary for an AWS Architect starts around $155k/year with a projected growth rate of 22%.
3. Azure Solutions Architect – An Azure Solutions Architect designs and implements solutions that run on Microsoft Azure. This includes aspects like compute, network, storage and security. A typical salary for An Azure Solutions Architect starts around $152k/year with a projected growth rate of 20%.
4. DP-300: Administering Relational Databases on Microsoft Azure – An Azure Database Administrator implements and manages cloud and on-premises relational databases built on top of Microsoft SQL Server and Azure data services. A typical salary for an Azure Database Administrator starts around $101k/year with a projected growth rate of 18%.
5. CompTIA Cloud+ – An IT professional with the CompTIA Cloud+ certification typically aspires to convert themselves into a cloud specialist role. Some roles that this certification covers include; cloud developer, network engineer, network administrator, project manager, and systems engineer. An average salary for CompTIA Cloud+ certified professions is around $73k/year.

As companies continue to adopt cloud strategies and dump their data and services into the cloud environment, the extra requirements for software development, hardware expansion, increased security measures and the need to interact with other platforms has proven to be daunting. It is anticipated that more than $1.3 trillion in IT spending will be

 affected due to the shift to the cloud, by 2022 and overall cloud spending representing 35% of total IT budgets.

The top roadblock for organizations at this point is finding qualified IT professionals to fill the roles needed to successfully improve their cloud experience. Whereas you don’t need a degree in computer science or bachelor’s degree to be successful in the cloud it is highly recommended, and a majority of the time required, to be certified. Certifications are great indicators of skills and knowledge gained along your career path that help boost your IT career potential.

Get Trained, Get Certified, Get aHead

With so many companies and opportunities, it can be overwhelming to figure out exactly where to begin your training. With the increased use of public cloud services and organizations rapidly accelerating their digital transformation the “clouds” the limit when it comes to possible career roles. The easiest way to breakdown your certification pathway is to decide if you want a vendor-neutral or vendor-specific training format.

Whereas, both Microsoft and AWS are vendor-specific, CompTIA is vendor-neutral. What that means is that Microsoft and AWS certifications cover specific technologies related to their products, software, and platforms allowing for more focused expertise and CompTIA certifications deal with best practices and concepts that can be adapted to various vendors.

Each certification has the same exam objective; validate your skills, get noticed, highlight your achievements, and amplify your influence in your IT role. Based on your learning style and needs there are many training delivery options available to you, in order to become certified.

• In-Classroom Learning (ICL)
• Virtual Live Training (VLT)
• On-Demand Learning (ODL)
• Onsite, Private Delivery

Contact us today to find the right certification for you.  866.704.9244 |  info@techsherpas.com

If you are a Database Administrator seeking to enrich your career with a Microsoft Role-Based certification, then DP-300 Administering Relational Databases on Microsoft Azure is for you.

What Happened to MCSA: SQL 2016 Database Administration?

In 2018, Microsoft released their plans to implement new role-based certifications to replace many of their popular MCSE, MCSD and MCSA certifications. As of January 31st, 2020, MCSA: SQL 2016 Database Administration officially retired. If you were interested in a career with Azure SQL Databases, then no fear, there is a replacement! With the role-based certification shift, Microsoft introduced DP-300: Administering Relational Databases on Microsoft Azure. This new role-based SQL certification allows you to focus on closing the gap between the knowledge needed to pass the DP-300 certification exam, but also allows you more understanding of the skills needed to properly perform in the Database Administrator role.

What are Database Administrators and What is DP-300 Administering Relational Databases on Microsoft Azure?

Azure Database Administrators ensure that Azure SQL databases run efficiently while utilizing specialized software to store and organize data. Database Administrators also make sure the data is available to users while securing any unauthorized access. As reported, the median salary for a Database Administrator is around the mid-$90k’s with a projected growth of 10% -which is higher than average for all occupations.

DP-300 Administering Relational Databases on Microsoft Azure  is a Microsoft SQL certification that proves you have an understanding and the necessary skills to administer a SQL Server database infrastructure for cloud, on-premises and hybrid relational databases on the Microsoft PaaS relational database. This SQL certification is meant for data professionals that manage data and Azure SQL databases who want to learn about administering the data platform technologies that are available on Microsoft Azure. Some of the most prominent skills gained with the DP-300 course include, the ability to plan, deploy and configure Azure SQL offerings, the skill to monitor the Azure database performance and finetune the database and queries for optimal results and performance, and allowing IT professionals to understand how to plan and configure a High Availability Solution. This SQL certification is not only beneficial for Azure Database Administrators, but this is also a valuable course for Data Architects and Applications SQL Developers who need to grasp the understanding of what technologies are available on the data platform with Azure and how to implement those technologies through applications.

How do I become a Database Administrator and How do I Pass the DP-300: Administering Relational Databases on Microsoft Azure Exam?

In order to become an Azure Database Administrator, you must pass your DP-300 exam. As competition in the IT industry increases the robustness and difficulty level for the required exams to become certified also intensifies. It’s been reported that a majority of qualified candidates have failed their DP-300 exam. The reason behind their failure is not lack of effort, but lack of appropriate study and training material. There is no official prerequisite for this exam, however it is highly recommended that you invest in AZ-900: Microsoft Certified Azure Fundamentals and DP-900: Microsoft Azure Data Fundamentals. Both AZ-900 and DP-900 will provide solid foundational knowledge and grant more of a blanketed understanding, allowing you to move forward through the more advanced requirements. The purpose of the DP-300 exam is to measure your ability to accomplish the following technical tasks:

• Plan and implement data platform resources (15-20%)
• Implement a secure environment (15-20%)
• Monitor and optimize operational resources (15-20%)
• Optimize query performance (5-10%)
• Perform automation of tasks (10-15%)
• Plan and implement a High Availability and Disaster Recovery (HADR) environment (15-20%)
• Perform administration by using T-SQL (10-15%)

Although, independent study is an option to tackle the DP-300 exam, due to the massive amount of subject matter covered and the degree of knowledge needed to properly display understanding, independent studying can easily become very overwhelming. It is suggested to enroll into an official IT training facility. With official IT training you are afforded the opportunity to take your training a step further with a “certification package” upgrade. The Certification Package includes all the necessary tools to garner success; some of these upgrades include: study guides, labs, Test Pass Guarantee and other training material needed to pass the DP-300 exam. There has never been a better time to invest in your IT future. Click here to learn more.