How's it going guys,
Love the forum board, I've learned quite a lot about certification paths for careers. Never really new there were so many paths to choose from, more than I've ever seen on a job board. And damn never knew there were so many certifications either.
Right now I'm sitting on 12 years of experience as Desktop/Deskside support tech/analyst (whatever other 30 different titles they give this role). Sort of wish I didn't just settle for this layman position (wage cap barely hits $50k) beyond 5 years. I've had a solid 4 almost 5 years experience with LDAP/AD (not full blown access though, just limited. Most access I had was creating (copy/paste) new user profiles and editing them before/during the imaging of a workstation and also adding the workstation.
Not that it's anything important, just relative experience to some extent.
But I'm looking to now focus my way into System Administration, later into Security (Info security, not focusing on anything from outside attacking in but rather securing the intranet and any applications / devices that will work within the infrastructure, then later after years of experience, go into further depth / cyber security).
So here is my situation/concerns/questions:
Right now I'm studying for my MCSA: Windows Server 2012
Once I've earned my certification, I thought I could simply just go straight into MCSE: Server Infrastructure. And boom.. start trying to find a new company that will allow me to have the Sys Admin role to earn plenty of experience on before hopping into Security.
But then doing my research with System Administration and what many businesses require is that the role also sets up images using an image/deployment/managing tool. For imaging and deployments of workstations, they either use McAfee, Symantec, (insert other 3rd party), or they stick to using Microsoft, specifically "System Center Configuration Manager".
Doing my research for a few days now (looking at job boards), it's been mixed results, some companies like to deploy/manage workstations with MS software and others like using 3rd party. Keep in mind, with Configuration Manager, from my bit of researching of the tool, it can also handle Unix/Linux as well as Apple OSX (definitely in 2012).
I can justify getting my MCTS SCCM 2012, if pretty much every business understands that because I'm capable of using Configuration Manager, in theory and really in practice, I should too be able to use any other third party tool to do exactly the same thing. The only real
thing that will change is GUI and maybe different terminologies / order of steps within the tool. But it's all relevant.
I figured for my personal knowledge and for the pleasing of the business, to have a greater understanding/grasp of the role, I will more than likely just go after my MCTS SCCM. But the dilemma I'm currently facing is, that I'm being told that in the hierarchy of certifications, knowledge, and total grasping of being a Systems Admin, I will require to earn my Network+ as well as my Security+ prior to earning my MCTS SCCM 2012. Apparently having to gain knowledge in both Network+ as well as Security+, I should be able to fully grasp Configuration Manager and also pass the exam easily.
I can definitely justify my Security+ (afterall it'll be my stepping stone prior to my role in security later on), but Network+ so soon? I don't really care to get into Networking, if I did.. I would fix my focus on Cisco, but not interested, at least not for now, not for System Admin role (I'm pretty sure Network+ is not a requirement, have rarely seen it as a requirement for said role).
This is all prior to earning my MCSE.
So the hierarchy proposed is:
MCSA: Server
Network+
Security+
MCTS SCCM
MCSE: Server Infrastructure
And finally one other certification that is being recommended to me is getting a VMWare/Hyper-V certification.
With VMWare, it has multiple paths and I'm not sure which one to choose
if it is recommended by the community. There's two that have caught my attention, and more than likely one of them is the one I'd need, while the other is not. The two are:
- Data Center Virtualization - (VCA6-DCV)
Correct me if I'm wrong, but this is more for Network engineers than for System Admins
- Desktop & Mobility - (VCA6-DTM)
This seems more for the System Admins
If you guys do recommend going after Hyper-V/VMWare, where in the hierarchy of my certifications would I place it? I would assume right after Security+?
I'm strictly trying to cover all grounds of System Admin so that I have a much better chance of getting a position in pretty much any part of the U.S., for opportunity sake, and most importantly for knowledge sake.
It appears though, with VMWare, VC(Associate), may just not be good enough, and will require to go after VC(Professional) to get recognized. While with Hyper-V, seems like it's only one certification, no further upgrades after it. And, correct me if I'm wrong it doesn't expire. While VMWare requires re-examination.
Sorry for the lengthy post, just want to make sure I successfully change roles in the near future and not miss anything valuable for my next role (Systems Admin).
Thanks in advance to all those who have taken the time to read and assist me on my certification goals.
If you find useless or more valuable certifications, as a Systems Admin, especially one that could be shared amongst System Admins and Security of any field, please by all means share!
The company I work for seems to be a little loose when it comes to spending on education and certifications just so long as it's IT related.
Thanks again!
