Each IT profession has its own professional requirements, and companies are increasingly asking for certifications to prove that they have mastered specific skills. PMP, ITIL, Scrum, CISSP, COBIT, ISO, CEH... which certification should you choose, depending on your profession, your level of experience and the skills you need to develop?
What qualifications should you have on your CV if you're a project manager, developer, DevOps, cybersecurity or quality manager?
These accreditations, which have become essential for all professionals in new technologies, attest to their 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 in several levels to support professionals as they develop their skills: Foundation or Green Belt being the basic level to acquire before moving on to the next level.
These levels are used to differentiate the skill sets required, ranging from fundamental knowledge to advanced leadership and implementation skills. Moving from one level to another generally involves a greater mastery of concepts and more extensive practical experience.
One final point to bear in mind before taking the plunge: as these certifications are international, a decent level of English (B2 and above) is required to pass the exams.
Project management
Project management certifications are an asset in all sectors. They validate skills and knowledge of best practice in project planning, execution and supervision. They fall into three categories: general project management, IT project management and Agile project management. The best known are :
- PMP (Project Management Professional) - the generalist
Created and awarded by the Project Management Institute (PMI), an international organisation that promotes a set of best practices in project management. This certification is the most widely recognised worldwide in the field of general project management.
To obtain it, you need to complete 35 hours of compulsory training before taking the exam. In addition, you will need to demonstrate significant experience in project management. PMP certification is often required in calls for tender and is highly valued by employers. It also requires an ongoing commitment to professional training to maintain its validity.
Target audience Project managers, programme managers, project team members and other professionals involved in project management
Prerequisites : good knowledge of project management methods and techniques (at least 3 years' experience in project management and at least 4,500 hours' experience for those with a bachelor's degree or higher).
- PSM (Professional Scrum Master) - Agile project management
Particularly popular with IT professionals, this certification applies the Agile method within the Scrum framework, the most widely used Agile framework. Issued by Scrum.org, it is aimed at Scrum Masters, the project managers who implement the principles and practices of Scrum. PSM certification is internationally recognised. It has an equivalent for product owners called PSPO (Professional Scrum Product Owner).
Target audience Future Scrum Masters, project managers, team leaders, anyone involved in projects using the Scrum framework.
Prerequisites There are no formal requirements for taking the exam. Training to prepare for the exam is an advantage.
Cloud computing and DevOps
The growing adoption of cloud technologies goes hand in hand with an increasing demand for certified professionals. Cloud certifications are seen as a reliable way of assessing 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 thehe main features of the market. Obtaining one of the official certifications issued by one of these Cloud Service Providers (CSPs) enables you to prove your skills in areas such as architecture, administration or development.
Each CSP offers certifications giving access to specific services. But cloud professionals are advised to be familiar with all the players in the market, because businesses rarely choose just one provider. They can combine several providers to meet their needs.
Finally, cloud certification is not just 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 cloud computing skills.
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
Computer security
The main IT security qualifications are those that are recognised by professionals in the sector and are the most sought-after by employers. They cover a wide range of areas, from network security to data security and risk management.
Here are five of the main IT security certifications:
- CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional) This certification is considered to be the most prestigious certification in IT security. It is recognised by professionals worldwide 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 wishing to specialise in information security management. It covers areas such as security strategy, security management and information security. governance security, security development and security incident management.
- CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker) This certification is aimed at professionals who wish to specialise in offensive security. It covers areas such as social engineering, network penetration and penetration testing.
- CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate) This certification is aimed at professionals wishing to specialise in network security. It covers areas such as network technologies, network security and application security.
- CISA (Certified Information Systems Auditor) This certification attests to a professional's skills in auditing, controlling and securing information systems. It is intended for professionals working in the field of IT auditing or who wish to enter the field.
IT service management
IT Service Management (ITSM) is a discipline that aims to ensure that IT services meet the needs of users. It covers a wide range of activities, including service planning, design, delivery, support and continuous improvement.
The best-known reference frameworks are ITIL, COBIT and ISO 20000.
- ITIL ITIL: ITIL is a globally recognised 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 own dedicated certifications. The best known are the Lean Six Sigma which can be broken down into 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 the quality and efficiency of processes. On the one hand, the speed, productivity and waste elimination aspects of the Lean method and, on the other, 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 to identify and eliminate inefficiencies in software development processes, incident management, technical support and other IT-related areas.
Target audience Project managers, technicians, production managers, quality teams, process managers, etc.
Prerequisites There are no formal requirements for taking the exam. Training to prepare for the exam is an advantage.
Many other IT certifications...
The certifications we have presented are among the best known. But there is a very wide range of IT certifications on offer. ORSYS lists the following nearly 400 ! Compare the different qualifications to see which one best suits your professional goals and level of experience.
Next, find out about the requirements for the certification you are aiming for. Most require prior training or experience. ORSYS offers a whole range of tailored training courses. Our expert trainers will help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to earn that all-important certification.
Our best 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, IS security, preparation for certification
- Azure Administrator (Microsoft MS AZ-104)
- DevOps Foundation, DevOps Institute certification
- Amazon Web Services (AWS) - Cloud fundamentals
