In an increasingly technological world, cloud-related jobs were already on the rise. Thanks to the COVID 19 pandemic, cloud computing is now one of the most rapidly increasing technologies of this era. No wonder tech giants are slowly increasing their presence in the cloud computing space with services like AWS, IBM Cloud, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP).
The biggest of all is Microsoft Azure which is proving to be a leader in this arena. It accounts for almost 29% of the application workload. Given the rise in demand for cloud computing, it is imperative to equip yourself with the knowledge to increase your skill-set in an increasingly competitive job market. Becoming a Microsoft certified professional is hard work. It provides jobs in various related avenues like cloud security as well.
Thus, choosing the right Azure course for you is essential, given that there are several Microsoft online courses available. As of 2021, Microsoft offers 11 Azure certifications that are role-based, three fundamentals certifications, and a trio of “speciality” certifications that include SAP, IoT, and Azure VDI. (Azure Virtual Desktop).
How to Choose the Correct Azure Certification?
Consider the following factors before choosing a course for you:
Are you a Beginner? If cloud computing is a new word to you and your only knowledge of the cloud is the one in the sky, don’t worry. You can always start from scratch. An entry-level certification is your best bet. It will provide you with the basic understanding to further charter your course. The AZ-900 Azure Fundamentals certification is the starting point. This course is beneficial for somebody alien to the field.
Basic Knowledge?
You’re a bit better off than a complete newbie. You probably have tried your hand at GCP or Azure and want to take it to the next level. Slow down. Stick to the Azure Fundamentals Course. This Microsoft certification can take you in two different directions. It’s a cakewalk for you, owing to your previous experience, or you struggle a bit with it. Either way, you only end up strengthening your foundation, which will hold you in good stead before you decide to move on to something more advanced.
Experienced Enough?
Is there a job title you’ve been seeking for ages? Go for Azure Certification. Since this Microsoft certification training is primarily role-based, this will be the perfect fit for you. Ensure that the job postings of the certificate course you are interested in aligning with the roles and challenges you’re looking for; if it matches your interest, then go for it.
Certificate Levels
Microsoft certifications have four levels based on proficiency: Fundamentals, Associate, Expert, and Specialty.
Fundamental Certifications:
Targeted towards beginners, these offer the ideal base and starting point—for example, Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Fundamentals AI-900.
This Microsoft Azure certification for people belonging to both technical and non-technical backgrounds serves as proof that you get the basics of Microsoft artificial intelligence (AI) as well as machine learning in Azure.
Skills covered:
Machine learning principles, computer vision workloads, and natural language processing workloads.
Associate Certifications:
If you have a working knowledge of Azure, this may be the ideal starting point for you. For example, Microsoft Certified: Azure Developer Associate AZ-204.
This certification will testify that you have the basic knowledge of developing apps and services for Azure. These include skills needed to build, design, test, and maintain cloud solutions.
Expert Certifications:
If you’re an Azure whiz at this point, you are ready for this Microsoft certification course. For example, Microsoft Certified: DevOps Engineer Expert AZ-400.
The DevOps engineer ensures that the many moving pieces around DevOps in modern organizations perform thoroughly.
Speciality Certifications:
If you’re a specialist and have no trouble navigating Azure, you’re ready for this. At present, there are three of these; the Azure for SAP Workloads Specialty and Azure IoT Developer Specialty certifications.
For example, Microsoft Certified in Azure IoT Developer Specialty. The first cloud IoT developer certification from the three largest cloud providers, the Azure IoT Developer Specialty cert, says you can implement the Azure services that form an IoT solution.
Prerequisites:
There are no prerequisites as such. Knowing Azure to understand the ins and outs of IoT solutions and being fluent in one Azure-supported language is advisable.
Skills covered:
- Provision and management of devices.
- Setting up.
- Deploying.
- Configuring an IoT Edge device.
This certification is for developers proficient in Azure, looking to get into IoT or IoT devs who want to get into Azure.
Conclusion
Since these credentials are difficult and taxing, you must assess your knowledge thoroughly and choose the best Azure certification for yourself. Get started now and make your profile stand out.
