Data storage certifications can teach you the skills you need for a career in data storage or new skills to make yourself more desirable on the job market. With the field set to produce more than 18,200 jobs by 2028, a data storage certification can demonstrate proficiency and establish a recognizable baseline for your knowledge.
Here are the 10 top data storage certifications you should consider to advance your career in 2024:
The following table shows how the certifications detailed here compare at a glance.
| Certification | Cost | Exam Duration | Skills Acquired | Job Titles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VMware Certified Professional | $250 | 135 mins | vSphere infrastructure management |
|
| NetApp Certified Data Administrator (NCDA) | $150 | 90 mins | NetApp data storage solutions |
|
| IBM Certified Solution Advisor – Spectrum Storage V7 | $200 | 90 mins | IBM storage solutions |
|
| Pure Storage Certified Data Storage Associate | $129 | Pure Storage technologies |
|
|
| Microsoft Azure Data Engineering Associate (DP-203) | $165 | 100 mins | Azure data services |
|
| AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional | $300 | 180 mins | AWS applications design |
|
| HPE ASE – Storage Solutions | $145 – $260 | 2 hours | HPE storage solutions design |
|
| Cisco CCIE Data Center | $2,000 | 8 hours (lab) | Data center technologies |
|
| Microsoft Certified: Azure Architect Expert | $165 | Azure solutions design |
|
|
| Hitachi Certified Specialist – VSP Installation | $225 | 90 mins | Hitachi VSP G1500/F1500 systems |
|
If you’re just starting out in data storage, these certifications can teach you the fundamentals of data storage and demonstrate your qualifications to potential employers.
Best for Data Center Consultants
This certification is ideal for individuals with six to 12 months of experience working with vSphere who want to improve and validate their knowledge of VMware vSphere solutions. The VMware certificate is suitable for system engineers and data storage consultants who work primarily with VMware technology.
Visit VMware
Best for Managing Big Data Storage
The NetApp Certified Data Administrator (NCDA) is best suited for early career professionals looking to validate their practical experience in implementing and managing NetApp data storage solutions, especially performing in-depth support, administrative functions, and performance management for NetApp data storage controllers running the ONTAP operating system in NFS and Windows multiprotocol environments.
Visit NetApp
Best for Storage Solutions Consultants
The ideal candidate is someone with three to six months of storage design, looking to qualify for managing IBM storage solutions, including Spectrum Control, Spectrum Virtualize, Spectrum Protect, Spectrum Archive, Spectrum Scale, Cloud Object Storage, Spectrum Protect Plus, Spectrum Discover, Cloud Paks, Copy Data Management, and Storage Insights.
Visit IBMIBM offers online courses and training material:
Best for Data Storage Beginners
The Pure Storage Certified Data Storage Associate certification is suitable for individuals seeking validation of their foundational knowledge and skills in enterprise data storage and management using Pure Storage technologies. Pure Storage offers associate and professional certifications for its FlashArray architecture and its FlashBlade architecture.
Visit Pure StorageIf you’re already working as a data storage professional, these certifications will help you expand your skills and advance your career. They can also demonstrate your value to employers.
Best for Data Engineering
This intermediate certification is a good fit for data engineers with prior experience in data storage management, implementation, and monitoring who often use Azure data services. Azure data engineers help stakeholders understand data and build and maintain secure and compliant data processing pipelines and ensure that the operationalization of data pipelines and data stores are high-performing, efficient, organized, and reliable.
Visit Microsoft Azure
Best for Data Architecture Professionals
The AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional certification is best suited for experienced solutions architects who design and deploy dynamically scalable, highly available, fault-tolerant, and reliable applications on AWS. Certified professionals showcase advanced knowledge and skills and provide solutions to complex problems, optimizing security, cost, and performance, and automating manual processes.
Visit Amazon Web Services
Best for Data Storage Hardware Management
Hewlett Packard Enterprise’s Storage Solutions – HPE ASE certificate is best suited for IT professionals looking to validate their expertise in storage technologies, with a focus on designing HPE Enterprise Storage Solutions architectures. It validates your ability to identify, recommend, and explain HPE Enterprise Storage Solutions architectures and technologies.
Visit HP EnterpriseFor data storage professionals who want to specialize in a particular area or tool, these certifications can qualify you for deep expert-level assignments.
Best for Advanced Data Center Managers
The Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) Data Center certification is ideal for network professionals with extensive experience in data center technologies, aiming to demonstrate expert-level knowledge and skills. CCIE Data Center certification proves your skills with complex data center solutions through the entire network lifecycle, from designing and deploying to operating and optimizing.
Visit Cisco
Best for Microsoft Storage Solutions
The Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert certification is designed for IT professionals with expertise in designing and implementing solutions that run on Microsoft Azure. Solutions architects translate business requirements into Azure solutions.
Visit Microsoft Azure
Best for Expert-Level Storage Technicians
The Hitachi Certified Specialist – VSP G1500 and VSP F1500 Storage Installation certification is ideal for IT professionals involved in the installation and configuration of Hitachi Vantara VSP G1500 and VSP F1500 storage systems. It validates knowledge and skills installing, configuring, and supporting Hitachi products at customer sites and provides knowledge of systems hardware and associated program products and a thorough understanding of installation and configuration procedures, as well as associated administrative activities.
Visit HitachiNot all businesses require traditional degrees from educational institutions for employees, but most require some accreditation to demonstrate knowledge and expertise. A data storage certification provides the qualifications needed for a particular role—and, depending on where you are in your career, can also help boost your hiring and salary potential.
Many organizations recognize certifications as an indicator of commitment and proficiency in the field, making them a significant factor in hiring and promotion decisions. Certifications are considered a recent validation of up-to-date competence and experience rather than general knowledge in the field. Many expire after one to five years, making it important for professionals to continue their professional development to keep pace.
When considering data storage certifications, it’s important to weigh a number of factors to ensure they’re a good fit for your particular needs and interests and will provide an appropriate return on investment.
Start by choosing a certificate that verifies your level, whether you’re a beginner, a professional, or an expert. Assess your current level of expertise and experience. Are you just starting out, or are you looking to deepen your knowledge in a specific area?
Limit your options to technologies and platforms most relevant to your ideal role—certifications offered by storage providers often focus on how to best work using their proprietary solutions. However, some certificates are more general and the knowledge you acquire can be applied regardless of the brand of hardware and software.
Think of the resources you currently have and the ones made available by the certification provider. Consider the cost of the exam, as well as any subscription or flat fees that you may need to pay to access preparation material.
Look for certifications that offer a good balance of cost and potential career advancements and salary boosts. Some employers cover part or all the costs of training programs and certifications for their employees, so make sure you check with your current company.
Think about the time commitment required to prepare for and obtain the certification. Ensure that you have the necessary time to dedicate to studying and that the certification has a schedule and format that fits your lifestyle. How long is a certificate valid? It usually varies between one and five years, with some certifications being easier and cheaper to renew than get for the first time.
Obtaining a certificate offered by particular technologies companies may increase your chances of being hired by them—this list includes certifications from several, including IBM, Google, and Microsoft. But enterprises in a wide range of industries also have the need for skilled employees to help them manage their growing data estates, as well as healthcare organizations, government agencies, and consulting firms.
Startups and companies focused on big data and cloud services offer exciting opportunities for certified individuals. These companies often look for professionals who can bring new insights and efficiencies to data storage and management.
It takes from a few weeks to over a year to complete a certification program depending on your current level of experience and the certificate itself.
Yes, most training material is self-paced and available online. You can make studying fit into your schedule.
Entry-level certifications are one of the best ways to gain and validate the skills needed to access a data-focused role in another field.
With the rapid pace of technological advancement, certifications are both a necessary requirement for professionals who need to keep their skills up-to-date as well as an opportunity for skills enhancement, career advancement, and professional development. That’s especially true in the data storage and management industry, where resource optimization and security are of the utmost importance.
Certifications also have a lower barrier to entry than traditional degrees, making them ideal for people changing career paths into data science or acquiring new skills while on a budget. The data storage certifications on this list all provide the knowledge you need to succeed in the field, whether you’re just starting out or are a seasoned professional looking to improve your position.
If you’re interested in careers in data management or data science but aren’t sure data storage is right for you, read our list of top certifications for data analysts, data scientists, big data professionals, data mining, data visualization, and the Internet of Things.
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