As the digital world continues to expand, so too does the IT industry. The industry holds countless career opportunities for fresh graduates and those looking to transition into it. Furthermore, IT careers tend to be exceptionally attractive, both in job scope and salary. Whether you are searching for a fulfilling career where meaningful tasks are the norm, or a lucrative and stable one, you can count on the IT industry to provide.
That being said, you need to be ready to seek the appropriate training and certifications to succeed. Indeed, qualifications are imperative to your employability and career progression, especially in the IT industry. To help you decide on the right courses to take, we have compiled a list of some of the best IT and cybersecurity training certifications for those just getting started on their career in IT.
CompTIA A+
The CompTIA A+ course is specially catered to entry-level IT professionals, and aims to equip them with skills need to support core technologies in the IT industry. Their content covers most of the aspects of IT that one may encounter in the workplace, including the use of hardware, support for operating systems, and troubleshooting for hardware, network, and software issues. The knowledge also spans across several operating systems and devices, from Windows to Linux and laptops to mobile devices.
The certification is trusted by employers worldwide and is a marker of competence in technical support and endpoint management roles. Indeed, it is widely considered as the industry standard for those just starting their IT careers. Candidates are required to pass two exams to attain the certification – Core 1 (220-1001) and Core 2 (220-1002).
Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
The Certified Ethical Hacker course leads to the CEH certification by the EC Council. This course is more specialised than the CompTIA A+ course, focusing specifically on ethical hacking methodology. Its hands-on training programme is designed to help participants gain the practical knowledge necessary to inspect network infrastructure and conduct effective penetration testing. Also, the course material covers the latest trends in cybersecurity, including the emerging threats surrounding the Internet of Things and cloud computing. By the end of the course, you will be able to identify vulnerabilities in your organisation’s network infrastructure, contributing to the defence of valuable digital assets.
The CEH certification is compliant to the standards of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), making it a respected and trusted certification among employers worldwide. CEH-certified professionals have earned gainful employment in over 145 countries, across several industries. Many Fortune 500 companies, like Microsoft and IBM, also trust the CEH certification as proof of cybersecurity skills. To attain the certification, you need to sit for a knowledge-based 4-hour exam with 125 multiple-choice questions. After completing the CEH course, you can move on to pursue more advanced certifications, like the CEH Practical certification.
Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
The CISSP certification is ideal for those looking to go into the field of cybersecurity. The course helps participants gain a strong understanding of security concerns, infrastructure, communications, and basic cryptography. The theoretical knowledge is complemented with hands-on cybersecurity training, which provides relevant and practical experience. Participants will graduate from the course with the expertise to effectively design, implement, and manage a comprehensive security programme.
To attend the course, participants must have completed 5 years of paid, full-time work in 2 or more domains of the (ISC)2 CISSP Common Body of Knowledge (CBK). Alternatively, through the Associate of (ISC)² programme, you can gain the certification first, then earn the required experience within the following six years. The exam itself is a 6-hour theory-based examination with 250 questions. Despite the rigour of the course, the CISSP certification is well worth it, as it is considered to be the gold-standard for security professionals.
Conclusion
Those seeking to get a head start in their IT career need to be prepared to get themselves the right qualifications. Having these certifications not only helps you on the job but also makes you much more employable to organisations across the globe. For a reputable training institution in Singapore you can trust, you can engage with BridgingMinds. We provide a host of IT and cybersecurity training courses, including online courses like our CISSP online training. Those looking to go into software development can also have a look at our Agile online training courses.
In any case, if you are interested to learn more about the IT and cybersecurity industry, we have an upcoming programme that can help. Glean more insights about the cybersecurity industry from expert representatives from EC Council and CompTIA themselves at our Cybersecurity Conversion Programme.
