Each IT profession has its own professional requirements and certifications are increasingly requested by companies to attest to mastery of specific skills. PMP, ITIL, Scrum, CISSP, COBIT, ISO, CEH… which certification to choose according to your profession, your level of experience and the skills to develop?
What certifications should you have on your CV when you are a project manager, developer, DevOps, cybersecurity or quality manager?
Having become essential for any new technology professional, these accreditations attest to skills and knowledge in a particular field, and can be a major asset for your career.
Certifications in various fields such as project management, Agility or quality are often structured into several levels to support professionals in their development of skills: Foundation or Green Belt being the basic level to acquire before moving to the next level .
These levels serve to differentiate required skill sets, ranging from foundational knowledge to advanced leadership and implementation skills. Moving from one level to the next generally involves increased mastery of concepts and more extensive practical experience.
Last point to take into account before starting: these certifications being international, a correct level of English (B2 and above) is required to take the exams.
Project management
Project management certifications are assets across all industries. They validate skills and knowledge of good practices in project planning, execution and supervision. They can be classified into three categories: general project management, IT project management and Agile project management. The best known are:
- PMP (Project Management Professional) – the general practitioner
Created and delivered by the Project Management Institute (PMI), an international organization that promotes a set of best practices in project management. This certification is the most recognized worldwide in the field of general project management.
To obtain it, you must complete the mandatory 35 hours of training before taking the exam. In addition, you will need to have significant experience in project management. PMP certification is often required in tenders and is highly valued by employers. It also requires a continued commitment to professional training to maintain its validity.
Target audience : project managers, program managers, project team members and other professionals involved in project management
Prerequisites : good knowledge of project management methods and techniques (at least 3 years of experience in project management and at least 4,500 hours of experience for holders of a baccalaureate +4 or higher).
- PSM (Professional Scrum Master) – Agile project management
Particularly popular with IT professionals, this certification implements the Agile method within the Scrum framework, the most used Agile framework. Issued by Scrum.org, it is aimed at Scrum Masters, these project managers who implement the principles and practices of Scrum. PSM certification is internationally recognized. It has an equivalent intended for product owners called PSPO (Professional Scrum Product Owner).
Target audience : future Scrum Masters, project managers, team leaders, all people involved in projects using the Scrum framework.
Prerequisites : no formal requirements to take the exam. Training to prepare for the exam is an asset.
Cloud computing and DevOps
The growing adoption of cloud technologies goes hand in hand with the growing demand for certified professionals. Cloud certifications are considered a reliable way to assess an individual's technical skills and knowledge in deploying, managing, and securing cloud services and applications.
Three players, Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Google Cloud Platform (GCP) share theessential of the market. Obtaining one of the official certifications issued by one of these cloud service providers (CSPs) allows you to prove your skills in areas such as architecture, administration or development.
Each CSP offers certifications giving access to specific services. But it is recommended that cloud professionals know all the players in the market well, because companies rarely choose a single supplier. They can combine several to meet their needs.
Finally, a cloud certification is not only beneficial for cloud engineers and architects. Professionals in the fields of business intelligence, data science, and even big data can increase their value by acquiring skills in cloud computing.
Here are some of the most recognized CSP cloud certifications:
Amazon Web Services
- AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner
- AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate
- AWS Certified Developer – Associate
Microsoft Azure
- Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert
- Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate
Google Cloud Platform
IT security
The main IT security certifications are those that are recognized by professionals in the sector and are most in demand by employers. They cover a wide range of areas, from network security to data security to risk management.
Here are five of the top IT security certifications:
- CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional) : This certification is considered the most prestigious certification in IT security. It is recognized by professionals around the world and is in high demand by employers. The CISSP covers a wide range of areas, including network security, application security, data security and risk management.
- CISM (Certified Information Security Manager) : This certification is aimed at professionals who wish to specialize in information security management. It covers areas such as security strategy, security governance, security development and security incident management.
- CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker) This certification is aimed at professionals wishing to specialise in offensive security. It covers areas such as social engineering, network penetration and penetration testing (pentests).
- CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate) : This certification is aimed at professionals who wish to specialize in network security. It covers areas such as network technologies, network security and application security.
- CISA (Certified Information Systems Auditor) : This certification certifies the skills of a professional in auditing, control and security of information systems. It is intended for professionals who work in the field of IT auditing or who wish to get started in it.
IT service management
IT service management (ITSM) is a discipline that aims to ensure that IT services meet user needs. It covers a wide range of activities, including planning, design, delivery, support and continuous improvement of services.
The best-known reference frameworks are ITIL, COBIT and ISO 20000.
- ITIL : ITIL is a globally recognized IT service management framework. There are four levels of ITIL certification: Foundation, Managing Professional, Strategic Leader and Master.
- COBIT : COBIT is another IT service management framework that is popular with businesses. There are five COBIT competency areas: governance, risk management, resource management, process management and performance management.
- ISO 27001 : ISO 27001 is an international standard for IT service management. It covers the same areas as ITIL and COBIT.
Quality and continuous improvement
Quality and continuous improvement also have their dedicated certifications. The best known are the certifications Lean Six Sigma which are available in different skill levels, in ascending order: Green Belt, Yellow Belt, Black Belt and Master Black Belt.
Lean Six Sigma certification combines the principles of Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma to improve process quality and efficiency. On the one hand the speed, productivity and elimination of losses aspects of the Lean method and on the other hand the efficiency and error correction aspects of the Six Sigma method.
Although traditionally associated with manufacturing and operations, this methodology can be useful for IT professionals. It helps them identify and eliminate inefficiencies in software development processes, incident management, technical support and other IT-related areas.
Target audience : project manager, technicians, production managers, quality teams, process managers, etc.
Prerequisites : no formal requirements to take the exam. Training to prepare for the exam is an asset.
Many other IT certifications…
The certifications that we have presented to you are among the best known. But the range of IT certifications is very wide. Moreover, ORSYS lists almost 400 ! Compare different certifications to determine which one best suits your professional goals and experience level.
Next, find out the requirements of the certification you are aiming for. Most require prior training or experience. ORSYS offers a whole range of adapted training. Our expert trainers will help you develop the skills and knowledge necessary to help you get the precious ticket.
Our best training courses preparing for certifications
- Tester – ISTQB® Foundation Certification
- PMP®, preparation for certification
- Lean Six Sigma®, Green Belt, certification
- Scrum Master, certification
- Product Owner, certification
- TOGAF® Training Program, Combined
- CISSP, IT security, preparation for certification
- Azure Administrator (Microsoft MS AZ-104)
- DevOps Foundation, DevOps Institute certification
- Amazon Web Services (AWS) – Cloud fundamentals
