What is CompTIA?
Founded in 1982, CompTIA is a not-for-profit organization that has been providing rigorous, industry-leading information technology certification for nearly four decades. Its mission is to develop a skilled workforce and a reliable work ethic for the IT industry.
CompTIA certification programs are globally recognized and cater to professionals, beginners, and everyone in between. It also offers specific IT niches of education such as hardware support, networking and system security.
Is CompTIA A+ Certification Worth It?
An attractive feature of CompTIA certification programs is that they are widely recognized worldwide. Employers focus on how much you gain in terms of domain knowledge. Testing is not a fluke, so it shows dedication to learning and growth.
They can even build a career for you, as some of these certifications are entry-level. There have been countless cases where individuals have gone from being unemployed to working in high-paying jobs thanks to their certification efforts. It prepares you well for a career in IT, no doubt
compelling reasons to choose CompTIA certification are:
- Regularly updated according to the latest developments
- Rigorous subject coverage
- Flexibility in examination schedule and learning
- Completely web-based
6 Best CompTIA Certifications
As of October 2020, CompTIA offers several certifications divided into five groups: Core, Cybersecurity, Infrastructure, Data Analytics, and Additional Professional.
Here are our picks for the six best CompTIA certification programs that are popular right now:
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CompTIA A+
CompTIA A+ is an entry-level IT certification that has been the starting point for many shooting for a lucrative career in IT. The certification is globally recognized for recruiting candidates focused on end-point management and technical support. Although an entry-level IT certification, CompTIA’s A+ certification requires candidates to successfully pass an exam that consists of practical and performance-based questions and theory/experience multiple-choice questions.
The certification is pretty rigorous, requiring CompTIA A+ candidates to pass two exams successfully – Core 1 (220-1001) and Core 2 (220-1002) – that cover a wide range of IT and management topics, including:
- Basic IT infrastructure and networking support
- Best practices for change management, documentation and scripting
- Client-based and cloud-based software administration
- Basic security skills for IT support
- Implementing primary data backup and recovery procedures
- Multi-device configuration and setup
- Operating system configuration for different devices
- Troubleshoot and resolve essential IT service and support issues
A CompTIA A+ certified candidate proven problem solver with all the essential skills to deal with standard IT-related issues such as infrastructure support, security and cloud management.
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CompTIA Network+
The following entry, CompTIA Network+, is a beginner-friendly IT certification for candidates interested in taking on IT support roles. Network+ certified professionals are ready to install, configure, maintain, operate and troubleshoot basic network infrastructure. Their skills include:
- They analyze and identify the advantages and disadvantages of existing network configuration(s).
- Configure and manage various network devices
- Creating virtualized networks
- Development and implementation of fully functional computer networks
- Solve network problems
- Segmentation of network traffic using routers, switches, etc. to create resilient networks
The CompTIA Network+ certification builds on the CompTIA A+ certification. The accreditation covers next-to-basic computer networking skills. Additionally, CompTIA recommends candidates have at least nine months of academic training or experience in network administration or network support.
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CompTIA Security+
The CompTIA Security+ certification is designed for candidates who want to start an IT career with a focus on network security. It validates a candidate for the basic skills required to perform essential IT security functions.
Being a beginner-friendly certification doesn’t mean that Security+ is strictly meant for beginners. It can also serve as a complementary certification for professionals working with networking-based profiles. Vital networking and network security skills can significantly increase candidates’ preference in the IT job market.
Although primarily focused on network security, CompTIA Security+ also certifies that the candidate is proficient in performing tasks based on access control, network infrastructure, and organizational security.
The Security+ certification focuses on the latest trends and techniques in:
- Intrusion detection
- risk mitigation
- Risk management
- Threat Management
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CompTIA PenTest+
Designed for cybersecurity professionals focusing on penetration testing and vulnerability management, the CompTIA PenTest+ certification assesses a candidate’s abilities in penetration testing and vulnerability management. It also focuses on:
- Customizing the assessment framework
- Best Communication Practices
- Increasing network resilience against security attacks and threats
- Finding and reporting security vulnerabilities
- Vulnerability assessment
In addition to the technical skills needed to tackle challenging pentest and vulnerability management situations, pentesting certification ensures that the candidate has sufficient managerial skills to facilitate information sharing between teams and professionals. The CompTIA PenTest+ exam contains a combination of both hands-on, performance-based, practical questions and multiple-choice questions.
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CompTIA CASP+
CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner, or CompTIA CASP+, is a certification that provides cybersecurity skills training. It is one of the most popular CompTIA certifications among IT security professionals that assesses a candidate for advanced-level skills in:
- Enterprise security
- Risk management and forecasting
- Risk analysis
Enterprise security is the ability to protect organizations of all sizes against cyber security threats. CompTIA CASP+ certified professionals are often required to develop cybersecurity solutions and implementation plans. CompTIA CASP+ certification is ISO 17024 certified and approved by the US DoD to meet 8140/8570.01-M requirements. The CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner certification is for professionals who want to get their feet wet in the field without being fully involved in a strictly management-related paradigm.
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CompTIA Server+
The CompTIA Server+ certification is a rare server certification that covers a wide range of popular server platforms. Having this certification guarantees that the holder is equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to develop, maintain, support and troubleshoot various server software and hardware technologies. Candidates must have at least 18 months of experience working in IT before taking the CompTIA Server+ certification exam.
CompTIA Server+ certified professionals typically aim to work in cloud environments and data centres, although they can work in any environment. The CompTIA Server+ certification exam assesses a candidate’s:
- safety
- storage
- problem-solving
- Server virtualisation
Conclusion
The best CompTIA certification can help you start or advance your career in IT. Among the different offerings, A+, Network+, Security+, Server+, PenTest+ and CASP+ are the most popular. Typically, individuals choose to pursue 2 or 3 CompTIA certifications to be an invaluable addition to any IT team.
Getting a CompTIA certification is worth it if you want to advance your career and stay up-to-date on the latest IT developments. Take a course from 591cert.com, prepare as described above and clear those exams!
Check our recent CompTIA Certification pass from 591 Lab.