Welcome to the world of IT certifications, where the possibilities are endless and the opportunities are vast! With technology evolving at a breakneck pace, it's essential for IT professionals to stay up-to-date with the latest skills and knowledge. Whether you're just starting your IT career or looking to take it to the next level, getting certified can be a game-changer.
Yet, it might be difficult to know where to begin with the abundance of IT certifications available. We've compiled a list of 12 Top IT certifications that are excellent for beginners because of this.
12 Top IT certifications for beginners to launch your career
CompTIA A+
CompTIA Security+
CompTIA IT Fundamentals+
CompTIA Network+
Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals
Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Fundamentals
Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Fundamentals
Microsoft Certified: Power Platform Fundamentals
Microsoft 365 Certified: Fundamentals
Microsoft Certified: Security, Compliance, and Identity Fundamentals
ITIL 4 Foundation
AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner
CompTIA Certification
CompTIA is a non-profit organization that offers vendor-neutral IT certifications and professional development programs.
CompTIA certifications cover a variety of IT subjects, including cloud computing, networking, and computer hardware.
Globally recognized and acknowledged, CompTIA certifications can help IT professionals progress their careers by showcasing their knowledge and abilities.
1. CompTIA A+
The CompTIA A+ credential is an entry-level certification for anyone wishing to start a career in information technology. Here's a brief rundown of the certification and its advantages for newcomers:
The certification covers a wide range of topics, including hardware, software, networking, security, and troubleshooting.
CompTIA A+ certification is recognized globally and is a requirement for many entry-level IT jobs.
Obtaining the certification shows companies that a candidate possesses the knowledge and abilities required to manage and maintain IT infrastructure and devices.
The certification can also be a stepping stone to other CompTIA certifications, such as Network+ or Security+
The CompTIA A+ certification exam is split into two sections.
Core 1 (220-1101) covers topics such as mobile devices, networking, hardware, and virtualization.
Core 2 (220-1102) covers topics such as operating systems, security, software troubleshooting, and operational procedures.
2. CompTIA Security+
The CompTIA Security+ credential is a widely recognized entry-level cybersecurity certification that verifies the necessary knowledge and abilities for securing IT infrastructure and devices.
Here is a brief explanation of the certification and its benefits for beginners:
The certification is intended for professionals who want to work in cybersecurity or related sectors such as network administration, system administration, or security analysis.
Obtaining the certification shows companies that a candidate has a solid grasp of cybersecurity ideas and best practices, as well as the ability to secure IT infrastructure and devices.
The certification can also serve as a stepping stone to more sophisticated cybersecurity credentials like CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+) or CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP+)
The CompTIA Security+ certification exam (SY0-601) covers the following topics:
Threats, attacks, and vulnerabilities
Architecture and design
Identity and access management
Cryptography and Public Key Infrastructure (PKI)
3. CompTIA IT Fundamentals
The CompTIA IT Fundamentals certification is an ideal starting point for individuals seeking to explore a career in IT or to gain a comprehensive overview of the field.This pre-career certification is great for beginners because of a few reasons:
Offers a fundamental grasp of IT concepts and terminology.
Offers a thorough knowledge of hardware, software, networking, and security topics.
Can assist beginners in making the shift from another profession to a job in IT.
The following topics are covered in the CompTIA IT Fundamental certification exam (FC0-U61):
IT concepts and terminology
Infrastructure and applications
Software development
Database fundamentals
Security concepts and concerns
4. CompTIA Network+
If you're looking to get into a career in IT infrastructure, or to enhance your networking skills, consider earning the CompTIA Network+ certification.
This vendor-neutral networking certification will equip you with the essential skills and knowledge required to design, configure, manage, and troubleshoot both wired and wireless networks
The CompTIA Network+ certification covers a wide range of networking subjects, such as network architecture, network operations, network security, and network troubleshooting.
The certification is intended for professional who want to work in networking or similar sectors such as network administration or system administration.
The certification can also be a starting point for more advanced networking credentials such as Certified Cisco Network Associate (CCNA)
The CompTIA Network+ certification exam (N10-008) covers the following topics
Networking concepts
Infrastructure
Network operations
Network security
Network troubleshooting and tools
You can read our blog on CompTIA Certification Guide to know more about CompTIA certification.
Microsoft Certification
Microsoft offers a variety of certificates to IT professionals, verifying their proficiency and understanding of Microsoft technologies.
Microsoft provides a range of role-based certifications for Azure, Dynamics 365, Microsoft 365, Power Platform and Security
Microsoft certifications are renowned and well-recognized, which means you’ll have what you need to stand out as a great candidate.
Professionals who are Microsoft certified demonstrates not only their skills mastery but also willingness to embrace new technologies and your commitment to lifelong learning and growth.
5. Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals
Whether you're new to the cloud or an experience professional, mastering the fundamentals of Microsoft Azure can kickstart your cloud career and prepares you to explore the plethora of technical opportunities that Azure provides.
The Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals credential validates the basic knowledge and abilities needed to comprehend and use Microsoft's cloud services. Here's some information for beginners regarding this certification:
This certification is for IT personnel who are new to cloud computing or have minimal familiarity with cloud services and Microsoft Azure.
The certification gives beginners a thorough grasp of Microsoft Azure services such as computing, storage, and networking.
The certification can also be a stepping stone to other advanced Azure certifications, such as Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate or Microsoft Certified: Azure Developer Associate.
The following topics are covered in the Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamental certification exam (AZ-900) :
Cloud concepts and Azure services
Azure pricing and support
Core Azure services and solutions
Azure security and compliance
Azure resources management and monitoring
6. Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Fundamentals
The Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Fundamentals credential validates one's foundational knowledge of machine learning and AI concepts, along with related Azure services.
This Azure AI Fundamental certification is intended for anyone interested in learning about the types of solution artificial intelligence (AI) makes possible, and the services on Microsoft Azure that you can use to create them.
Obtaining the certification shows companies that a candidate has a basic knowledge of AI and ML principles and is capable of building intelligent apps and solutions utilizing Azure AI services.
The certification covers a wide range of AI and ML topics, including key concepts, data analysis, natural language processing, computer vision, and cognitive services.
The certification can also be a stepping stone to other advanced AI and ML certifications, such as Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Engineer Associate or Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Scientist Associate.
The following subjects are covered in the Azure AI Foundations certification exam (AI-900) :
AI workloads and considerations
Fundamental principles of machine learning on Azure
Computer vision workloads on Azure
Natural language processing workloads on Azure
Conversational AI workloads on Azure
7. Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Fundamentals
The Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Fundamentals certification verifies the fundamental knowledge and abilities needed to deal with data and databases on Microsoft's Azure cloud platform. Here's some information on the certification and its advantages for newcomers:
This certification is intended for those who are new to dealing with data and databases or have minimal familiarity with these technologies and want to learn how to utilize them on the Azure platform.
It covers a wide range of data and database subjects, such as basic data principles, relational and non-relational data, data processing, and data visualization.
The Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Fundamentals certification exam (DP-900) covers the following topics:
Core data concepts
Relational data on Azure
Non-relational data on Azure
Querying data on Azure
Data processing on Azure
Data visualization on Azure
You can learn more about Azure certification from our "Azure Certification Roadmap 2023" blog.
8. Microsoft Certified: Power Platform Fundamentals
The low-code/no-code development environment in Microsoft Power Platform has made this certification very popular. This Microsoft Certified: Power Platform Fundamentals credential verifies the fundamental knowledge and abilities needed to operate all the Power Platform apps. Here's some detail on the certification and its benefits for newcomers:
The certification is for individuals who are new to Power Platform and want to know how to use Power Platform and understand its capabilities to create custom business solutions
The certification includes designing canvas apps, dealing with data models, generating and distributing dashboards and reports, and automating workflows.
The certification can also be a stepping stone to other advanced Power Platform certifications, such as Microsoft Certified: Power Platform App Maker Associate or Microsoft Certified: Power Platform Solution Architect Expert.
The Microsoft Certified: Power Platform Fundamentals certification exam (PL-900) covers the following topics:
Introduction to the Power Platform
Creating canvas apps
Working with data models
Creating and sharing dashboards and reports
Automating workflows with Power Automate
Learn how Power Platform training and courses can affect your business through "Low-Code Or No-Code Platforms For Microsoft Power Platform"
9. Microsoft 365 Certified: Fundamentals
The Microsoft 365 Certified: Fundamentals certification validates the essential skills and understanding necessary when using Microsoft 365 cloud services. Here's some information on the certification and its advantages for newcomers:
This fundamental Microsoft 365 certification is designed for individuals who are new to Microsoft 365 and want to gain a foundational understanding of its capabilities and how to use it to drive productivity and collaboration in the workplace.
The certification covers a wide range of topics, including cloud concepts, security, compliance, and privacy in Microsoft 365, and how to manage Microsoft 365 services and subscriptions.
The certification can also be a stepping stone to other advanced certifications, such as Microsoft 365 Certified: Security Administrator Associate.
The Microsoft 365 Certified: Fundamentals certification exam (MS-900) covers the following topics:
Cloud concepts
Microsoft 365 services and concepts
Security, compliance, privacy, and trust in Microsoft 365
Microsoft 365 pricing and support
10. Microsoft Certified: Security, Compliance, and Identity Fundamentals
Microsoft offers the SC-900T00 certification, which focuses on teaching fundamental understanding of security, compliance, and identity principles. This Microsoft Certified: Security, Compliance and Identity Fundamentals certification is intended for novices who want to work in cybersecurity, risk management, or compliance.
Benefits of the SC-900T00 certification for beginners include:
Gaining a fundamental understanding of security, compliance, and identity concepts in the modern workplace.
Improving their chances of getting hired for entry-level cybersecurity, compliance, or risk management roles.
Demonstrating to potential employers their commitment to building a strong foundation of security knowledge.
The Microsoft Certified: Security, Compliance, and Identity Fundamentals certification exam (SC-900) covers the following topics:
Understanding security, compliance, and identity concepts
Identifying common security, compliance, and identity challenges
Describing Microsoft solutions for security, compliance, and identity
Examining the capabilities of Microsoft Azure in securing data and applications
Not looking for certification? Interested in on-job training with hands-on experience? Take a look at our custom-developed courses. Discover fascinating insights about our tailor-made courses:
Our Master Trainer has years of experience in developing Microsoft courseware.
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Our CDC courses are conducted in a workshop format, based entirely on instructor-led hands-on-driven classes.
Our trainers guide attendees through hands-on lab exercises to provide maximum learning experiences.
ITIL 4 Certification
ITIL4 is a framework for IT service management (ITSM) released in 2019.
It focuses on delivering value to customers through the effective and efficient use of technology.
The framework is organized around four dimensions of service management and includes the concept of the service value system (SVS).
ITIL4 is designed to help organizations improve their ITSM capabilities, increase efficiency, reduce costs, and deliver better outcomes for customers.
11. ITIL4 Foundation
The fundamental ideas and guidelines of IT service management utilizing the ITIL4 framework are covered in the ITIL4 Foundation certification. The following details the certification and its advantages for beginners:
The certification is designed for individuals who are new to ITSM or those who want to upgrade their knowledge and skills to the latest version of the ITIL 4 framework.
Topics such as service value system, service value chain, guiding principles, and key concepts in ITIL 4 are covered.
The certification can also be a stepping stone to other advanced ITIL 4 certifications, such as ITIL 4 Digital And IT Strategy or ITIL 4 High Velocity IT
The blog titled "5 Common Mistakes ITIL Newbies Make When Adopting ITIL" is an excellent resource for beginners seeking to steer clear of typical errors that arise while utilizing the ITIL framework.
The majority of our past ITIL training participants have successfully passed their certification exam. Let us help you unlock your potential and obtain your ITIL certification with confidence.
AWS (Amazon Web Services) Certification
AWS (Amazon Web Services) is a cloud computing platform that offers cloud-based apps and services.
According to AWS, they are planning to invest at least USD 6 Billion (25.5 billion Malaysian ringgit) in Malaysia by 2037.
Access to computing resources including virtual machines, storage, databases, and networking can be swiftly scaled up or down as necessary.
Amazon provides a range of deployment choices, including public, private, and hybrid clouds.
AWS has a high reputation for security, dependability, and scalability, which makes them a favorite cloud service provider for most companies.
12. AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner
Amazon Web Services provides the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner certification as an entry-level credential (AWS). It verifies an individual's understanding of fundamental Amazon cloud principles and services, such as AWS architecture, security, pricing, and invoicing. Here are a few aspects of this certification which makes it perfect for beginners:
It introduces individuals to the fundamental concepts of cloud computing and AWS services.
Gives beginners the confidence and skills to use AWS services
It is an excellent beginning place for anybody interested in a career in cloud computing.
The AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner exam (CLF-C01) covers the following topics:
Cloud Concepts
AWS Core Services
Security and Compliance
AWS Pricing and Support Services
Conclusion
In conclusion, these 12 certification programs are suitable courses to start with if you're trying to launch your IT career. Therefore, why stop there? With GemRain as your training provider, you can make the journey even more enjoyable and exciting. GemRain offers a fun and engaging learning experience that will help you acquire the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in the IT industry.
So, what are you waiting for? Sign up with GemRain today and let the adventure begin!
FAQs
Why should I get an IT certification?
IT certifications will increase your marketability and credibility on the job market, show that you are dedicated to your professional growth, and assist you in learning new things. Besides, having a certified IT professional in the company will result in work being done and the other team members learning from the certified professional.
How do I choose which IT certification to pursue?
How do I prepare for an IT certification exam?
How long does an IT certification last?
Can I get an IT certification without experience?