Top-Paying IT certification for 2021

 

These certifications pave the way for a higher salary

In recent years, IT decision-makers have told us conclusively there are two technical areas that demand the most investment—cloud computing and cybersecurity.

So it shouldn’t be a major surprise that the top four IT certifications by salary are in either cloud or security. IT professionals with these skills are in high demand and command the largest paychecks in the industry.

Our list of the top-paying certifications in the United States is based on survey responses from the Global Knowledge 2020 IT Skills and Salary Survey (report to be released in the spring). This year saw more turnover than most, as seven new certifications cracked the top 15.

Also new this year, we provide a snapshot of the average certification-holder for each credential. Find out how many current certifications they own, which other certification they’re likely to have, their age and most likely job role. We offer this new information to provide a more representative picture of each certification. The salaries in this article aren’t simply a result of achieving a specified certification—they are a culmination of many factors, including relevant skills, job role, tenure and hard work.

 

Top-paying certifications:

1. Google Certified Professional Cloud Architect — $175,761
2. AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate — $149,446
3. CISM – Certified Information Security Manager — $148,622
4. CRISC – Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control — $146,480
5. PMP® – Project Management Professional — $143,493
6. CISSP – Certified Information Systems Security Professional — $141,452
7. CISA – Certified Information Systems Auditor — $132,278
8. AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner — $131,465
9. VCP6-DCV: VMware Certified Professional 6 – Data Center Virtualization — $130,226
10. ITIL® Foundation — $129,402
11. Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals — $126,653
12. Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate — $125,993
13. CCA-N: Citrix Certified Associate – Networking — $125,264
14. CCNP Routing and Switching — $119,178
15. CCP-V: Citrix Certified Professional – Virtualization — $117,069

What Is MCSE?

 

MCSE stands for Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer. What is this term, really? While the term sounds like a degree that you would get in Microsoft, it is not really an engineering degree, per say. In fact, that is one of the biggest complaints about this learning process. Nevertheless, MCSE is a training course of sorts that is designed to teach individuals who want to learn how to handle various aspects of Microsoft skills. The goal is to have a group of people who are knowledgeable in the areas that Microsoft is specific. Lets explain.

Microsoft developed this type of training to allow individuals to get a specific training course, or several in various types of skills that pertain to Microsoft. The thing about this training is that it is specific to Microsoft. While you may learn to install a program in another course which would teach a broad range of information about all ways in which to do so, in the MSCE, you will learn strictly how it is done through Microsoft.

So, How Does MSCE Work?

In most cases, the training can be done in several ways. Students can take classes through certified teachers in school or they can study on their own. Some individuals feel that they have enough experience in the various uses of Microsoft to be able to take the test without taking a training class. The test is given at specific areas at specific times. In order to be considered, you must pay a fee of about $125 for each of the tests and certifications that you plan to take. The tests range in knowledge levels and in most cases, it is wise to take the training courses for MSCE prior to taking the test as it can be quite challenging.

You will find more information about MSCE throughout the web.

What is IMEI?

 

IMEI, otherwise known as International Mobile Equipment Identification, is a series of numbers that identifies key elements of the phone that it can be registered to a single user and reported stolen if necessary. This IMEI is also used for identification in phone tracing methods and terrorist activities identification. This number is printed or etched onto the phone behind the battery so that it may be found when necessary.

The information that the IMEI is able to store on the phone is amazing. Not only is each number different, but each number can explain the origin of the phone, the model, and the serial number. This can come in handy if the phone is stolen or if the phone needs to be used as evidence for any legal action. The original purpose of this IMEI number was so that if the phone were to get stolen, the phone owner could call the network provider and have the phone blocked so that it could not be used with any provider. This purpose has been expanded to cover phone identification for legal processes.

In addition to the IMEI being located behind or under the battery, one can locate the number on the phone. For those new phones, one simply has to dial the phone and wait for it to answer. For phones that have been refurbished, one should check to see if the number the phone gives verses the engraved number are the same and should contact your provider if not. If the IMEI numbers between the phone and the engraving do not match, one should call their provider and ensure that it is not going to cause problems later for them.

Because the IMEI is the identification number of the phone and is often used to deter phone theft, it is illegal in many places to own the equipment or to perform the act of physically changing the IMEI on a phone. The act of or the ability to change the IMEI on a phone would make it possible to use a stolen phone that has been banned by the phone service providers. This then encourages theft and makes it difficult to track the phone. In some cases, this can be punishable in a court of law.

To guard against the purposeful changing of the numbers and the incorrect entry of an IMEI number, the phone companies have created a check number that can be derived from the numbers in the IMEI. This number helps by making it impossible for an individual to change then numbers without upsetting the charge mouth.

What is RAM?

 

Anyone who works as their own tech geek on their computer system may be highly concerned about what is ram? It is a very important piece of a computer system. It is Random Access Memory which is the location where the application programs, the operating system, and data presently in use are stored. This way the computer’s processor has the ability to reach them momentarily when needed. RAM is head and shoulders above the other various types of storage inside a computer system. It’s even faster than floppy disk, hard disk, or CD-ROM. The information stored in RAM is only accessible for the length of time that a computer is begin run. Information previously stored in RAM disappears when a computer is shut down. When the computer is turned back on, information from hard disk is retrieved to bring RAM back to the forefront again. RAM is much like main memory that is accessible by programs.

How Does it Work?
RAM operates much like a human being’s short-term memory. Much like the human brain RAM is able to draw upon the computer’s long term memory for information. This is often necessary when short term memory becomes full. Most computers come equipped with at least 256 million RAM bytes plus the hard disk which has the capability of holding 40 billion bytes. Data is placed on a magnetized area that resembles a record. Computer printers also hold bytes of RAM as well. Each byte of RAM has the ability to be ascertained separately without the other bytes being accessed.

Types of RAM
RAM comes in dual forms. DRAM which is Dynamic Random Access Memory and SRAM which is Static Random Access Memory. DRAM is the most typical of the two types. DRAM requires refreshing at a rate reaching in the thousands each second. DRAM’s times for accessing information are 60 nanoseconds. SRAM is more costly, but does operate at a much quicker pace than DRAM. The interlocking of a capacitor and a transistor produces a memory cell. This is one bit of data. Also, SRAM allows access at times as quick as 10 nanoseconds.

Windows Keyboard Shortcuts

 

General Use Windows Keyboard Shortcuts

Take note that the WINDOWS key is the Windows Logo key on the keyboard.

ALT+TAB
Display list of open programs and switch to next program.
(Press TAB again to advance to the following program).

ALT+SHIFT+TAB
Display list of open programs and switch to previous program.
(Press TAB again to select the pervious program).

WINDOWS or CTRL+ESC
Displays the Windows Start Menu.

WINDOWS+E
Open My Computer.

WINDOWS+D
Toggle between Show Desktop and Show Open Windows.

WINDOWS+M
Minimize All Windows.

F2
Rename selected folder, file or shortcut.

CTRL+N
Create a New document for the active application.

CTRL+O
Display the Open dialog box of the active application.

CTRL+S
Save the current document of the active application.

CTRL+P
Print the current document of the active application.

CTRL+A
Select All content of the current document.

CTRL+X
Cut the selected text or object.

CTRL+C
Copy the selected text or object.

CTRL+V
Paste contents of clipboard into active document.

CTRL+Z
Undo the last operation.

CTRL+Y
Redo the last Undo operation.

CTRL+B
Make selected text bold or remove bold formatting.

CTRL+U
Underline the selected text or remove underline.

CTRL+I
Make selected text italic or remove italic formatting.

CTRL+F
Displays the Find dialog box.

CTRL+H
Displays the Replace dialog box.

Why Should I Use Antivirus Software?

 

The answer is really simple. To protect your own computer from damage, and to prevent your computer from being used to pass on infections to other machines without your knowledge.

Many people are reluctant to shell out the cash for decent antivirus software. I’ll agree that at roughly $50 for a decent antivirus program, it isn’t exactly small change. But, let’s look at the costs more closely for a moment:

Computer –> $600-$4,000
Monitor –> $250-$1000
Software –> $500-$5000
Internet Connection –> $25+/month
Personal/Business Data –> Priceless

So, on the low end of the scale we are looking at a computer investment similar in price to an older used car, on the higher end, similar to a newer used car.

Maybe I’m wrong, but I’m guessing that you wouldn’t buy a used car that had all the locks removed and didn’t need a key to start it, and comes with a free “STEAL ME” sign on it too.

Having a computer that does not have up-to-date antivirus protection is absolutely the same. You are simply asking for trouble.

And trouble WILL find you.

How can I be so sure? Simply because that is what viruses, worms, malware etc. are made to do. Their ONLY job is to find unprotected computers and attack and hijack them without your knowledge. These things are VERY good at what they are built to do, and they NEVER stop. If your computer isn’t protected, and you share disks or go online, it will get infected.

The top antivirus software programs cost as little as 2 months internet connection. They all include constant and unlimited automatic updates that keep your system safe and clean.

If you can afford $1500+ on a computer, $300+/year on internet connections, you can definitely afford another $50 once to make it safe (and prevent it from being used to spread viruses and Trojan horses behind your back).

Anything less would be uncivilized!

P.S. Some people have started to make claims that if you don’t use antivirus software you should be held legally responsible if your machine be used as part of an attack (even if you did not know about it).

Why Is Computer Software Soft?

 

Have you ever wonder (Im sure you have at least about other similar words) where a word like software comes from. I mean were floppy disks soft and malleable at one time. Or were the protective sleeves for the old hard diskettes made of some velvety material that made them software. Well I love this sort of thing and would like to explore with you in the following several paragraphs the origin of this word and why it is so commonplace in our computer software age.

In order to understand the derivation of the term software, as in computer software, you must first understand that there is hardware as well. The meaning of hardware probably has a lot of levels of meaning and most were probably serendipitous over a lunch or other social gathering.

Hardware refers to the guts of the computer machine, the actual physical reality of a disk drive and a hard disk and a monitor and the like. These are actual physical entities that make them hard. You can hold them, carry them, etc. Software on the other hand is more theoretical than physical. Sure the code is hard composed of 1s and 0s for bits and bytes but it is not hard in the sense that you can actually touch the ones and zeros with your hand, chew on them, and anything else that you might be able to do with hardware.

Software is the program that does things in more of a virtual or abstract level. It will save information as something that is unseen but totally retrievable and capable of with the help of hardware, produce an image that can be seen with the eyes.

There are two points to be made here. First the sensation of site does not make something hard or soft. Never has. It is touch that determines this description and this is a useful way to determine the hardness or softness of computer software and hardware.

A good example of this test is the phrase hard copy or soft copy of a document. The hard copy is on the document in actual paper page form and the softcopy is all of the ones and zeros that make up in a theoretical sense (more representative than actual) the writing on the page. Thinking about it this way may help you to sort out what is computer software and what is computer hardware.