10 Top-Notch Information System Certifications to Streamline Your IT Career
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In today’s rapidly growing digital landscape, where technology is the backbone of nearly every industry, having a strong command of information systems is critical. Every business strives to achieve its maximum efficiency by optimizing operations, safeguarding sensitive data, and ensuring that the system runs smoothly. Every organization is looking for skilled Information System professionals with a comprehensive understanding to stay ahead of the competition. This rising demand has fueled the growth of information system certifications, which validate individuals’ expertise and serve as a doorway to new career opportunities. In this blog, you will get acquainted with top Information System certifications, their importance, cost, and market demand.
Importance of Getting an Information System Certification
Certifications are the building block of a career. Whether you’re an aspiring IT professional or a seasoned professional, the importance of getting Information Security certifications lies in the fact that these certifications significantly accelerate your career.
Stay up-to-date with the Latest Skills and Knowledge
One of the best advantages of getting a certification is you will remain current and congruent with the latest technology and skills. Getting an Information System certification will keep you stay relevant in a rapidly-evolving field and serves as a benchmark in boosting relevant knowledge with industry best practices and methodologies.
Increase your Chances of Getting a Job
In today’s fast-paced IT world, the majority of the professionals are unemployed and seeking lucrative job opportunities. Certifications increase your chances of getting a job. Certifications prove you have the essential skills and knowledge to effectively operate systems. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 87% of unemployed individuals don’t have any certification. Employers always seek candidates that have updated knowledge and industry-recognized skills. To land on better job opportunities, you must attain certification.
Top Information System Certifications to Shape and Accelerate Your Career
Numerous vendors provide Information System certifications and after getting these certifications, you will not only leg up for job hunting but they will also increase your professional credibility. Below are the top-notch certifications in the field of information security that you can obtain depending on your job role and interest.
Project Management Professional - PMP
PMP certifications validate that you have the essential skills and expertise to successfully manage projects. It also validates your knowledge and skills in three core areas:
- People: Recognizing your ability to effectively lead and motivate a project team throughout the duration of a project.
- Process: Determining which method of working is best for each project by using predictive, agile, and hybrid approaches.
- Business Environment: Emphasizing a project’s success and its impact on overall strategic organizational goals.
To obtain this certification, you have to meet the eligibility criteria and pass the certification exam.
Certified Information Technology Professional – CITP
The Certified Information Technology Professional (CITP) credential is designed for CPAs who have the unique ability to bridge the gap between business and technology while meeting the rigorous standards required for a CPA license, as well as having additional training and experience in IT assurance, risk, security, and privacy, analytics, and technology. The CITP Exam must be passed to obtain the credential. Candidates who have passed ISACA’s Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) certification exam are exempt from the exam requirement.
Vendor: AICPA
Certified Information Systems Auditor – CISA
The Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) certification is widely recognized as the pinnacle of achievement for those who audit, control, monitor, and assess an organization’s information technology and business systems. If you are a mid-career professional, CISA can demonstrate your expertise and demonstrate your ability to plan, execute, and report on audit engagements using a risk-based approach.
Vendor: ISACA
Certified Information System Security Professional – CISSP
Earning the CISSP validates your ability to design, implement, and manage a world-class cybersecurity program. The CISSP is ideal for experienced security practitioners, managers, and executives who want to demonstrate their knowledge of a broad range of security practices and principles.
Vendor: (ISC) 2
Cisco Certified Network Associate – CCNA
Cisco Certified Network Associate is the basic networking certification. The CCNA exam covers networking basics, IP services, security basics, automation, and programmability. Designed for agility and versatility, the CCNA validates your ability to manage and optimize today’s most advanced networks.
Vendor: Cisco Â
Certified Information Security Manager – CISM
The Certified Information Security Manager certifications are for experienced information security management professionals. This certification will validate your expertise in assessing risks, implementing effective governance, and proactively responding to threats and incidents. This certification is designed for those who manage, design, manage, and evaluate enterprise information security functions.
Vendor: ISACA
Microsoft Certified Azure Fundamentals
This certification validates your fundamental understanding of cloud services and how they are delivered through Azure. Candidates must be able to demonstrate a basic understanding of cloud concepts, as well as Azure services, workloads, security, privacy, pricing, and support.
Vendor: Microsoft
AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate
The AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate certification demonstrates knowledge and skills in AWS technology across a broad range of AWS services. This certification focuses on the design of cost-effective and high-performance solutions, demonstrating a thorough understanding of the AWS Well-Architected Framework.
Vendor: Amazon Web Services
ITIL 4 Foundation
ITIL 4 Foundation enables candidates to view IT Service Management as an end-to-end operating model for the development, delivery, and continuous improvement of technology-enabled products and services. ITIL 4 Foundation is appropriate for individuals who need a fundamental understanding of the ITIL framework and how it can be used to improve the quality of IT service management within an organization.
Vendor: PeopleCert
Oracle Database 12c Administrator Certified Associate
The Oracle Database 12c Administrator Certified Associate intermediate certification is an excellent entry-level management credential for database administrators and other information systems professionals. It assesses a person’s understanding of fundamental cloud computing, management, and maintenance tasks within Oracle’s enterprise data architecture.
Vendor: Oracle
Read more: Most Popular IT Certification in 2023
Which Information System Certification is Best for Your Career? 4 Things to Consider
While out of many Information System certifications, you must be confused about which certification to get. Before getting any certifications, you must consider the following points.Â
1- Certification Cost
Choose a certification that is cost-effective and according to your budget. When enrolling for a certification exam, one of the first things to consider is the cost. While some information systems certifications are inexpensive, others are significantly more expensive. So, always choose a certification that you can afford.
Cost Comparison of Information System Certifications
Certifications | Cost |
Project Management Professional | Members: $284 Non-members: $555 |
Certified Information Technology Professional | Members: $400 Non-members: $500 |
Certified Information Systems Auditor | Members: $575 Non-members: $760 |
Certified Information System Security Professional | $599 |
Cisco Certified Network Associate | $300 |
Certified Information Security Manager | Members: $575 Non-members: $760 |
Microsoft Certified Azure Fundamentals | $99 |
AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate | $150 |
ITIL 4 Foundation | $520 |
Oracle Database 12c Administrator Certified Associate | $245 |
Read more: IT Certification that pay well in 2023
2- Certification Level
The second thing to consider is to select certifications that match your current knowledge level. If you’re starting your career, entry-level certifications are the best fit. If you have some knowledge, intermediate certification might be the best choice. Moreover, if you have pretty good experience, go for expert-level certification.
Certifications | Level |
Project Management Professional | Professional |
Certified Information Technology Professional | Professional |
Certified Information Systems Auditor | Professional- Mid-career |
Certified Information System Security Professional | Professional |
Cisco Certified Network Associate | Intermediate |
Certified Information Security Manager | Intermediate |
Microsoft Certified Azure Fundamentals | Beginner |
AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate | Associate |
ITIL 4 Foundation | Beginner |
Oracle Database 12c Administrator Certified Associate | Intermediate |
3- Matches your Current Job Role and Career Trajectory
There are numerous certification options in information systems, ranging from fundamental to specific in the domain. It is always preferable to choose a certification that is specific to your chosen career path and matches your job role. Choose a certification that helps you enhance your knowledge in a particular domain.Â
4- Certification Requirements
The majority of the certifications demand prerequisites or previous work experience as a part of the requirement for earning the certification. It is important to check the prerequisites beforehand and to fulfill the required eligibility criteria for appearing in the certification exam.
Market Demand and Job Outlooks for Information System Certification
Top Job Roles
- Application Analyst
- Cyber Security Analyst
- Data Analyst
- Data Scientist
- Database Administrator
- Information Systems Manager
- IT Consultant
- IT Technical Support Officer
- Software Engineer
- System Analyst
Salaries Comparison of the Top Information System Engineer Certifications: Which One Pays the Highest Salaries
One of the most prominent things any individual look at while achieving certification is salary. So, without waiting more, let’s explore the salary prospects of the following certifications in the United States
Certifications | Average Salary |
Project Management Professional | $123,000 |
Certified Information Technology Professional | $90,000 |
Certified Information Systems Auditor | $109,226 |
Certified Information System Security Professional | $125,470 |
Cisco Certified Network Associate | $79,000 |
Certified Information Security Manager | $90,319 |
Microsoft Certified Azure Fundamentals | $101,730 |
AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate | $138,000 |
ITIL 4 Foundation | $98,212 |
Oracle Database 12c Administrator Certified Associate | $96,461 |
Overall, all the certifications are promising and lucrative. Attaining any of these certifications will prove beneficial to you. However, out of all these, AWS Solution Architect, PMP and CISSP offer the highest salaries.
Read more: IT Certifications that Pay Well in 2023
Salaries by Job Roles
Besides the certification, which job role you are hired for also influences your average salary. Below are average salary data based on job roles/titles.
Job Titles | Average Salary |
Application Analyst | $80,329 |
Data Analyst | $71,000 |
Data Scientist | $127,112 |
Data Administrator | 96,000 |
Information Systems Manager | $113,174 |
IT Consultant | $83,151 |
IT Technical Support Officer | $70,000 |
Cyber Security Analyst | $113,270 |
Software Engineer | $107,784 |
System Analyst | $89,446 |
Steps to Earn Information System Certifications
Now the main question is, how to earn a certification. You have to pass certain steps to achieve the certification you enrolled in.
Step 1: Meet the Certification Eligibility Criteria
Every certification has certain criteria or prerequisites which you have to meet in order to enroll in the certification exam. So, the first step is to make sure that you meet the required criteria and can further process the certification application.Â
Step 2: Prepare for the Certification ExamÂ
The next step is to prepare for the required exam. To achieve the certification, you have to pass the required exam and for this, you must have strong knowledge and understanding. To get a complete grasp of the exam curriculum and a strong comprehension, you must prepare with reliable resources. Edurely offers exam dumps for every information system certification to help you better understand and build thorough knowledge.
Step 3: Pass the Required Exam
The last step is to pass the required exam. To pass the certification exam, you must obtain the passing scores required to pass the exam.Â
Final Thoughts
The Information System is the backbone of the IT realm and considering a career in this domain is surely fruitful. As a professional working in the information system industry, certification plays a viable role in validating strong expertise and skills. Concluding, getting the above excellent Information System certifications can help you land on various prolific job opportunities and boost your career trajectory.
FAQ's
What computer certification is the most valuable?
Numerous certifications are highly valuable and in demand but some of the best and highest-paying certifications are:Â
- Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
- Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC)
- Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
- Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)
- Project Management Professional (PMP)
- AWS Certified Solution ArchitectÂ
How long do you need to prepare for information system certification?
Usually, how long someone will take to prepare for certification varies on the type of certification, level, and previous knowledge. The domain in which you’re attaining a certification also depends on the time you need to prepare thoroughly. Besides all of this, the prep material you used will more likely influence your time to get fully prepared for the certification. Generally speaking, if someone is taking an entry-level certification, he will hardly take 2 months for complete preparation. Professional-level certifications are more likely to take much more time. These certifications demand a deep understanding, so if you are taking this, make up your mind to devote almost 6-8 months of undivided attention and study efforts. Lastly, if you’re preparing with Edurely exam dumps, you prepare and pass the exam in less time and effortlessly.
Should I get CISM or CISA?
CISA and CISM both are the top and highest-paying certifications and earning any of them is worthwhile. Which certification you should take merely depends on your career path and interest. CISM validates your skills as a seasoned cybersecurity professional while CISA teaches you how to monitor, manage, and defend your information system.