What CompTIA Certifications Should I Take in 2021?

Introduction

You have heard about the prospects in the IT industry; you have read that IT skills are some of the most in-demand skills, you certainly wish to have those skills, but then see that the IT world is just as confusing as it is prospective.

Courses all over: cybersecurity, network management, cloud computing, all of these may sound confusing to the beginner, and that is why we have CompTIA certifications.

CompTIA certifications are the most globally recognized vendor-neutral IT certifications that certify your IT skills and prepare you for jobs.

Not only do these certifications prepare you for jobs, but they also give you direction and clear the confusion in the IT world for you.

But the available CompTIA certifications themselves are much, and though they aim at clearing your confusion, choosing the suitable certification to go for and prepare for could be a confusing task in itself. And that is why I have aimed to simplify the work for you by listing the best CompTIA certification programs to prepare for and what each entails.

CompTIA A+ Certification

CompTIA A+ certification is seen as the beginning course for any career in IT; that is if you have absolutely no knowledge of how the IT industry works you should start with the A+ certification.

And even if you are interested in some of the more advanced roles like cyber security, then A+ lays a very good foundation to understanding the other courses, and having A+ knowledge is a recommended prerequisite for other CompTIA certifications.

This certification course is basically an illustration that a person has computer technician competency; it is not a very good place to stop, but it lays a very good foundation for other steps in the IT world.

The CompTIA certification encompasses several operating systems like Microsoft, Apple, Novell, and IBM among others and it also covers many technologies.

A+ preparation courses give you skills in, among other areas, software, hardware, and network troubleshooting as well as security and networking.

CompTIA Network+ Certification

Network+ delves further into the networking skills that are only slightly touched in the A+ program, so if during the A+ program, you had much interest in the networking aspect, then Netwrork+ is certainly for you.

CompTIA Network+ certification is one of the highly sought-after certifications too, though it also counts as an entry-level IT certification, so you would not want to stop at it.

Network+ is seen by many as the next step after A+ (even though there is nothing that officially points to that) especially if you plan on becoming an IT support person.

Network+ certifies your competence in managing, maintenance, installation, troubleshooting, and configuration of basic network infrastructures, which means, of course, Network+ courses would teach these things.

The certificate also certifies you to:
1. Design and implement functional networks.
2. Configure, manage, and maintain essential network devices.
3. Use devices such as switches and routers to segment network traffic and create resilient networks.
4. Identify the benefits and drawbacks of existing network configurations.
5. Implement network security, standards, and protocols.
6. Troubleshoot network problems.
7. Support the creation of virtualized networks.

CompTIA recommends that one has an A+ certification and at least 9 months of industry experience working in network support or other related roles.

CompTIA Server+ Certification

If you want to prove to any company that you are a certified IT person who can handle all of their issues, then Combining A+, Network+, and Server+ certification is the best way to prove an almost perfect level of computer expertise to employers. All these certifications will give you a very solid foundation in IT.

Server+ is specifically recommended if you had an interest in the computing aspect of A+ and are thinking about a career in server support.

The certification is perfect for system administrators because preparation for the certification equips you with technical skills and knowledge to build, maintain and troubleshoot as well as support server software and hardware technologies.

CompTIA Server+ certification is generally regarded as a mid-level course covering advanced computing concepts and not an entry-level course. It is highly recommended that you have taken the A+ certification exams and that you have around 18 months of experience working around the server environment.

CompTIA Security+ Certification

This is the most in-demand of all the certifications listed so far. Cyber security experts are highly scarce and wanted in every major company. Network security is one of the fastest-growing industries in the world right now.

If you have ever thought about becoming the hero who saves systems from foreign attacks, then Security+ is the best bet for you.

Threats to computer security increase by the day, so if you can get a Security+ certification, that would make you a highly sought-after IT personnel.

Security+ builds on skills gained from the Network+ courses, and it certifies that you can:
1. Assess the security posture of an enterprise environment and recommend and implement appropriate security solutions.
2. Monitor and secure hybrid environments, including cloud, mobile, and IoT.
3. Operate with an awareness of applicable laws and policies, including principles of governance, risk, and compliance.
4. Identify, analyze, and respond to security events and incidents

It is recommended that you take the A+ and Network+ exams before going for the Security+ exams; combining networking and network security certifications would make you a valuable and irresistible asset to any organization.

In conclusion, I hope this could serve as a roadmap for you to see which certification to prepare for first, and which one next.