Traditional industries like accounting, management and teaching have always held professional certification in high regard, allowing professionals to expand their skill set and further their career. Certification can open new prospects and employment opportunities.
Now, in our digitally-connected society, professional certifications play a vital role in demonstrating the digital skills and knowledge of your employees and your business as a whole. By keeping up with the latest technology and trends, your business can stay relevant and competitive.
So, which certifications should your business think about investing in?
ITIL
ITIL, which stands for Information Technology Infrastructure Library, focuses on how to align your IT services with your business requirements.
Rather than being a tool, it’s a set of best practices that a business can utilise to identify areas for improvement, reduce costs and increase productivity. For example, ITIL practices might be used to reduce helpdesk traffic on your website by introducing some self-help or FAQ sections.
International recognised, your employees can work their way through the Foundation, Practitioner, Intermediate, Expert and Master certifications that are available.
Cisco
This qualification allows your employees to become a Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA), in which they will have the knowledge to be able to test, install, operate and troubleshoot complex network infrastructures within an SME.
It is regarded as one of the top certificates to have in networking and there are several certifications available, working their way up to the Cisco Business Specialist Certification. Having employees who hold this qualification can help your business run smoothly and more efficiently, as well as showing potential clients that you’re a professional operation with qualified and skilled engineers.
A qualification like this can go alongside a TOGAF certification nicely, giving your business everything it needs to manage its networks, computers, and other complex systems.
CCIE Security
An addition to the Cisco certifications, this course recognises Cisco network security experts, with in-depth studying on Cisco products, such as:
- Cisco Identity Services Engine (SISE)
- Cisco Secure Access Control System (ACS)
- Cisco Intrusion Prevention System (IPS)
- Cisco Web Security Appliance (SWSA)
MCSE
The MCSE, or Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert, certification can help give your business a competitive edge. With 1.2 billion Microsoft Office users and 60 million Office 365 commercial customers around the world, having the MCSE certificate within your business could help you make better use of professional programs like Lync, SharePoint and Microsoft’s cloud-based solutions.
Help your business stay competitive by investing in the relevant certification to demonstrate the digital skills and top-level expertise within your business. By keeping up with the latest technology and training, your business could enjoy enhanced efficiency in your operations, as well as a reputation for providing leading, professional services to your clients.