Certifications don’t just look impressive hanging on your office wall, they could make the difference landing you your next job.
A survey of technology professionals showed that it pays to be both cleared and certified. Average salaries are between ten and twenty percent higher for certified, cleared professionals, and with the Department of Defense recognizing cyberspace as a new domain of warfare, and cybersecurity experts in increased demand, we can only expect those numbers to rise.
“Cybersecurity and cyberwarfare are relatively new fields and evolving rapidly,” said Evan Lesser, founder and managing director of ClearanceJobs. “Moreover, with many of the most skilled cybersecurity experts residing in industry rather than government, finding top talent is difficult at best.”
Adding to the value of being a certified professional is DoD directive 8570, requiring that government employees and contractors with privileged access to federal computer networks be certified.
Network defenders rule the list of top ten certifications held by technology professionals with security clearances. Comp TIA’s Security+ certification tops the list, being held by one in five security pros. A+ and Network + round out the top three.
Originally a product of the UK government, the Information Technology Infrastructure Library is number four on the list, showing the Department of Defense’s adoption of this framework.
Project Management Professional is number six, and with an increased drive for government efficiency and the professionals to shepherd programs quickly, we can expect it to remain in demand.
Microsoft certifications are numbers seven, nine and ten on the list, keeping Microsoft Certified Systems Engineers, Microsoft Certified Professionals, and Microsoft Certified Systems Administrators in demand. With Microsoft products continuing to be the backbone of many business operations these certifications remain valuable.
Cisco Certified Network Associates are number eight on the list, demonstrating their ability to install, configure and troubleshoot routed and switched networks.
Do you have one of these top ten certifications?
Do you have one that didn’t make the list but still gave you the cutting edge?
Even though most of the entry level certs mention above are seemingly useless, they are often rudimentary prerequisites into the more prominent certification programs, thus making Security+ inseparable with CISSP... to an extent.
Anubas (South africa) on January 31, 2012 at 2:10pm
here is my list in no particular order.
CEH/CNDA which is also 8570 compliant
CHFI
ECSA-LPT
VMWARE VCP 4
ITIL v4
MS Windows 7
CompTia/LPIC Linux
CCNT/CPT+
oh yeah and i'm a black male prior military, now contractor.
Esoteric (Afghanistan) on April 24, 2011 at 10:55pm
To: Steve (Columbia, MD.
Steve,
How does this hold to be true? I have a friend who is an Afro-American that hold these certs below and a Masters, and the government looked him over.
Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) Certified
Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) Certified -
Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA) Certified -
Microsoft Certified Technology Specialists: SQL 2005 (MCTS) Certified - Microsoft
Arthur Dewayne Hart (Jacksonville Florida) on April 24, 2011 at 6:57pm
After looking at the list, I think that the certification requirements are based on the job. Having a CISSP carries weight in all areas of the IAT and IAM. To get entrance into the field, Security plus should be first. After that CISSP. The domains in CISSP relate to Security plus so thats my take. I also think that most college should take Security plus before completing their degree.
Arthur Dewayne Hart (Jacksonville Florida) on April 24, 2011 at 6:52pm
Yea, try getting a government job with a BA, Sec+, A+, IBM CLP, and a Secret Clearance. Oh, and being a white male.
Steve (Columbia, MD.) on April 20, 2011 at 7:05am
"Most frequently held"...
Sec+ is # 1 due to 8570 (8570 is currently JUST starting to be enforced by Government on the contracting side, go figure), since it lies in both IAT and IAM. Companies would rather invest in Sec+ (cheap to get) training rather than the high priced GSEC and CISSP.
Othello A. Swanston (Alexandria Virginia) on April 14, 2011 at 11:24am
Les -- ITIL was put into the "desired" column for a some government contracts like ICE2 as a percentage of the employees on that contract. So companies started sending people to training and it's grown from there. The same can be said for SEC+, A+ and NET+. When I went through the levels in 8570 it looked like the requirement for security folks and all managers was a CISSP but I'm the only one to hold that cert in my area and I'm not in charge of anyone...
Lew (Kabul AFG) on April 13, 2011 at 8:34am
Being new to the IT industry I realized a lot of emphasis (too much if you ask me) is being placed on these certs. In the past employers were hiring based on what and how many certs one had obtained. When they should have been considering experience as well. Like any other industry there should be a balance. Get what you need to make yourself marketable by combining experience with certs.
Juan (VA) on April 13, 2011 at 6:08am
The title is most frequently held, not most desirable certifications. Therefore, it only makes sense that the basic certifications would be covered here. I first heard about ITIL while studying for my MBA, but hadn't heard it elsewhere until I recently interviewed for a job as a contractor. What is surprising to me is how high it is on the list. The documentation to learn and understand for this certification is expensive, so I don't know how this came to be one of the top 10 certifications to be held so suddenly.
LesWaller (Seoul, Korea) on April 13, 2011 at 5:55am
Even having these certifications only means you are compliant for 8570. I have seen way to many people that have CISSP, PMP, etc, but have no understanding about their jobs. DoD needs to revamp there hiring process.. Stop the good ole boy hiring...
CertChamp (Florida) on April 13, 2011 at 1:56am
In reference to ALL the comment, You are ALL correct. Depend on what job you are applying for will help. Some companies are specific on what they want and there is nothing wrong on having many certifications. Either way, it makes you look good on the job market.
john denton (ROK) on April 13, 2011 at 1:50am
Pay close attention to the chart and the title of it "Top 10 MOST Freq Held Certs"
That does not mean "MOST IN DEMAND," but what most IT personnel "HAVE" that are cleared
Johnny (Iraq) on April 13, 2011 at 12:39am
Interesting, considering that both the Sec+ and CISSP are DoD 8570 compliant. I would have thought the CISSP would be at the higher end since it's a harder test and regarded as a higher certification level in the 8570.
A+ and Net+ - I really don't see the good in this. They're both IAT level 1s, but in reality, they really don't provide much of a value. I'd consider an MCP over an A+ cert or a CCNA over a Net+ cert any days.
Peter Nguyen on April 12, 2011 at 9:28pm
If they were ranking them by salary, only CISSP, PMP, CCIE and CCNP would be rounding out the top 5.
TechFem50 (Washington DC) on April 12, 2011 at 9:09pm
It is interesting that the PMP ranked so highly considering the DoD and IC have not really acknowledged the certification.
PMP (Los Angeles) on April 12, 2011 at 8:52pm
The only valuable certification in this list that I would agree is CISSP and PMP, and maybe ITILv3. Other certifications are useless, unless you have Microsoft MCA, and Cisco CCNP and CCIE or above.
Henry Gorman (Washington DC) on April 12, 2011 at 7:42pm
