To remain competitive in today’s IT landscape, managed service providers (MSPs) must earn relevant certifications that demonstrate their expertise and establish their credibility across critical areas such as cybersecurity, cloud services, and artificial intelligence (AI). With the multitude of role-based and vendor-specific certifications available, selecting the right ones can be daunting. Read on to simplify your decision-making process.
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How to choose an IT certification
Having a team with specialized IT certifications can boost your organization’s value. According to Skillsoft, organizations benefit from a $30,000 annual increase in value and enhanced productivity when employees earn certifications. With so many IT certifications to choose from, selecting the most impactful ones is crucial for strengthening your MSP’s expertise and driving your growth. Consider the following key factors to help you through the decision process:
- Industry relevance: Choose certifications that are industry-recognized and aligned with your product specialties and market demands, as well as high-demand areas such as cybersecurity, ITIL, cloud technologies, and compliance specializations.
- Strategic alignment: Ensure your firm’s certification strategy aligns with your business goals and market positioning. Pursue certifications in sought-after, high-value areas to enhance your firm’s expertise and reputation.
- Investment considerations: Evaluate the cost and time required for each program. Some may involve high costs while others, like Udemy’s IT certification courses, are affordable and time-efficient to maximize the return on your investment.
- Strategic alignment: Ensure your firm’s certification strategy aligns with your business goals and market positioning. Pursue certifications in sought-after, high-value areas to enhance your firm’s expertise and reputation.
- Investment considerations: Evaluate the financial and time investments required for each certification program. Balance these considerations with your firm’s budget and project timelines to maximize the return on your investment.
- Organizational readiness: Assess whether your firm has the necessary infrastructure and experience to support new certifications. Opt for certifications that match your team’s current competencies and business needs.
- Ongoing development: Many certifications require periodic renewal and continuing education. Plan for ongoing learning and recertification to keep your firm’s competencies current and competitive.
By selecting the right IT certifications for your MSP and your team members, you can boost your firm’s market potential and brand identity.
Benefits of IT certifications to MSPs
The certifications you choose to pursue are crucial for establishing your credibility and demonstrating your expertise across various technology domains. The benefits of having a well-rounded certification portfolio include:
- Enhanced market reputation: A robust certification portfolio solidifies your firm’s industry-leading reputation. Certified competencies in areas like cybersecurity, AI, and cloud services signal to clients that your firm has the expertise to handle complex challenges.
- Increased client trust and attractiveness: Certifications are a mark of credibility that can attract clients seeking reliable and skilled providers. By showcasing your firm’s certified expertise, you enhance client confidence in your ability to deliver high-quality solutions.
- Improved operational efficiency: Well-chosen certifications ensure that your team offers the latest skills and knowledge, leading to more efficient project execution and problem resolution, translating into faster delivery times and higher client satisfaction.
- Enhanced employee morale and retention: Investing in certifications not only benefits your firm but also motivates your team by providing them with opportunities for professional growth. This can lead to higher job satisfaction and reduced turnover.
- Access to cutting-edge technologies and methodologies: Certifications often provide insights into the latest industry trends and demonstrate that your firm stays ahead of technological advancements and implements the most current solutions.
- Increased competitive advantage: A diverse certification portfolio differentiates your firm from competitors who may lack similar credentials. This unique positioning can be a decisive factor in winning new business and maintaining long-term client relationships.
A well-rounded certification strategy is more than just an investment in credentials—it’s a strategic move that strengthens your firm’s overall performance and client relationships. By integrating the attainment of key certifications into your business goals, you ensure that your MSP remains at the forefront of industry developments and is well-prepared to tackle emerging challenges.
Best MSP certifications for IT skills
When it comes to equipping your MSP with the right skills, the following key certifications play a pivotal role. They validate your team’s expertise and help you deliver top-tier IT services, enhancing your firm’s IT capabilities and positioning you as a leader in the industry.
Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
The CISSP certification is highly regarded in the cybersecurity industry and is essential for MSPs focusing on security. It specifies your expertise in a broad range of security topics, including risk management, asset security, and security architecture. Earning the CISSP demonstrates your deep understanding of security principles and practices, making it a highly valuable credential for MSPs that handle sensitive client data or complex security environments.
The CISSP stands out as a globally recognized and respected certification based on its comprehensive coverage of security domains. The certification’s rigorous standards and broad scope ensure that certified professionals are well-equipped to address a wide array of security challenges, making it a cornerstone certification for security-focused MSPs. Visit the CISSP website for additional info and pricing.
Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP)
The CCSP certification is tailored for cloud security professionals, making it crucial for MSPs that provide cloud-based solutions. It covers essential areas such as cloud architecture, governance, and risk management, ensuring that your firm can handle the specific security requirements of cloud environments.
The certification validates your team’s ability to manage cloud security risks and compliance, which is vital for MSPs offering cloud solutions. It helps position your firm as a leader in cloud security, providing clients with confidence in your ability to secure their cloud-based assets. Visit the CCSP website for additional info and pricing.
AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional (AWS CSA-P)
The AWS CSA-P certification is a key credential for MSPs that use Amazon Web Services (AWS). This certification validates expertise in designing and deploying scalable, highly available, and fault-tolerant systems on AWS. It’s essential for MSPs offering cloud services based on the AWS platform and covers topics such as advanced networking, security, and complex deployments.
As AWS is one of the leading cloud platforms today, the AWS CSA-P certification demonstrates your firm’s capability to leverage AWS for diverse business needs. It ensures that your team can design robust and secure solutions using AWS, enhancing your firm’s reputation as a skilled provider of AWS-based services. Visit the AWS CSA-P page on AWS’s website for more info and pricing.
Microsoft Certified Azure Solutions Architect Expert
The Microsoft Certified Azure Solutions Architect Expert certification is crucial for MSPs utilizing Microsoft Azure’s cloud services. It validates expertise in designing and implementing Azure solutions. The certification covers areas such as cloud infrastructure, security, and solution deployment.
Microsoft Azure is one of today’s leading cloud platforms, and the Azure Solutions Architect Expert certification demonstrates your firm’s proficiency in leveraging Azure for various business needs. The certification ensures that your team can design scalable and secure solutions using Azure, positioning your firm as a skilled provider of Azure-based services. Visit the Microsoft Certified Azure Solutions Architect Expert page of the company’s website for more info and pricing.
Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
The CEH certification focuses on the ethical hacking techniques that are crucial for identifying and addressing security vulnerabilities. It’s particularly valuable for MSPs that offer security assessments or penetration testing services and covers a range of tools and techniques such as Nmap, Metasploit, Wireshark, and others, ideal for ensuring that security measures are robust.
The CEH certification is highly regarded for its practical approach to ethical hacking. It equips MSPs with the skills to conduct thorough security assessments and identify vulnerabilities, which is essential for providing robust security services. This certification helps differentiate your firm by demonstrating a high level of expertise in ethical hacking and security assessments. Visit the CEH page of the EC Council’s website for more info and pricing.
Honorable Mention IT Certifications
While the top certifications listed above are highly valuable, several other certifications also offer significant benefits, depending on your firm’s specific needs. These certifications can complement your primary credentials and provide specialized skills that enhance your firm’s service offerings. They are particularly useful for targeting niche markets or specific technologies. Below are some honorable vendor-specific and vendor-neutral mentions.
Vendor-Specific Certifications
Vendor-specific certifications provide a deep dive into the technologies and platforms offered by leading companies. These certifications equip your team with the specialized knowledge required to implement, manage, and troubleshoot specific vendor products effectively. They are particularly valuable to MSPs looking to differentiate their offerings and provide expert-level services in niche areas. Two notable vendor-specific certifications are:
Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)
Cisco is a top provider of networking hardware, and the CCNA certification validates your ability to work with Cisco’s technologies. It provides a thorough understanding of Cisco networking solutions, including routing, switching, wireless networking, and security, which are critical for managing Cisco network environments. The certification covers core networking concepts and Cisco-specific protocols, making it a valuable credential for MSPs that deploy or support Cisco network equipment. The knowledge gained from this certification is also a foundational step that can lead to more advanced Cisco certifications, allowing continuous growth and specialization within Cisco’s ecosystem. Visit the CCNA page of Cisco’s website for more info and pricing.
Red Hat Certified System Administrator (RHCSA)
Red Hat Enterprise Linux is a popular choice for enterprise environments, known for its stability and support. The RHCSA certification focuses on system administration tasks for Red Hat Enterprise Linux systems. It covers essential skills such as system configuration, user management, network services, and security, making it crucial for MSPs that manage or deploy Linux-based solutions.
The RHCSA certification validates your team’s ability to administer and secure Linux systems, ensuring that your firm can efficiently manage Linux-based infrastructures. This certification is particularly valuable for MSPs catering to clients who rely heavily on open-source technologies. It demonstrates proficiency in handling real-world tasks and troubleshooting issues, which is essential for maintaining high levels of uptime and performance in client environments. Visit the RHCSA page of Red Hat’s website for more info and pricing.
Vendor-specific certifications like CCNA and RHCSA are ideal for MSPs that seek to specialize in particular technologies and platforms, not only validating the team’s technical skills but also enhancing the firm’s reputation as a knowledgeable and reliable service provider.
Vendor-neutral certifications
Vendor-neutral certifications provide a comprehensive understanding of key IT concepts and practices without being tied to a specific technology or vendor and are ideal for MSPs that want to build a broad, vendor-agnostic knowledge base that can be applied across various platforms and technologies. Following are four notable vendor-neutral certifications:
CompTIA Security+ and CompTIA Network+
CompTIA Security+ is a foundational certification for cybersecurity professionals. It covers key security concepts and practices, such as network security, threat management, cryptography, identity management, and compliance. This certification is beneficial for MSPs who need a broad understanding of security fundamentals applicable across various technologies and platforms.
CompTIA Network+ is a foundational certification that provides a broad understanding of networking concepts. It’s ideal for MSPs who need to ensure their team has a solid grasp of network architecture, operations, and security covering essential networking skills necessary for managing and troubleshooting network environments. Visit the CompTIA Security+ page and the CompTIA Network+ page of CompTIA’s website for more info and pricing.
ITIL Foundation
The ITIL Foundation certification offers a broad understanding of IT Service Management (ITSM) best practices. It introduces the core principles of ITIL (Information Technology Infrastructure Library), including service lifecycle stages, processes, and roles. This certification is useful for MSPs that aim to implement effective ITSM processes and improve service delivery.
ITIL is a widely adopted framework for IT service management, and the Foundation certification provides a solid introduction to its principles. It helps MSPs streamline service delivery and improve operational efficiency by applying ITIL best practices. The ITIL Foundation certification equips your team with the knowledge to align IT services with business needs, enhancing customer satisfaction and operational performance. Visit the ITIL certification page of Axelos’ website.
Udemy IT Certifications
Udemy offers a comprehensive range of IT certifications tailored for MSPs, covering areas such as cybersecurity, cloud computing, network management, and IT service management. Their certifications include popular vendor-specific and vendor-neutral certifications, which are crucial for enhancing the technical proficiency and service delivery capabilities of MSPs.
Udemy’s offerings are designed to be cost-effective and flexible, providing on-demand access to high-quality training materials and practice exams. This allows MSPs to efficiently upskill their teams, stay current with industry standards, and maintain a competitive edge in the rapidly evolving IT landscape. Visit the IT Certifications page of their website for more details and pricing.
Vendor-neutral certifications like CompTIA Security+, ITIL Foundation, and PMP are invaluable assets for MSPs seeking to build a versatile and comprehensive skill set. These certifications provide foundational knowledge that is applicable across various technologies and industries, making them essential for delivering high-quality, consistent services.
How we evaluated these certifications
In evaluating the top certifications and honorable mentions for MSPs, we used a focused set of criteria to ensure each certification offers significant value and relevance. Our evaluation considered the following key factors:
- Relevance to MSP services: Certifications were chosen based on their applicability to essential MSP services such as networking, system administration, and security, ensuring they address core competencies required by MSPs.
- Industry recognition and demand: We prioritized certifications that are widely recognized and respected in the IT industry, reflecting current market trends and the growing need for specific skills.
- Skill coverage and depth: Certifications were evaluated for their comprehensiveness in covering key skills and best practices, ensuring they provide valuable, in-depth knowledge applicable across various technologies.
- Career advancement and business impact: We considered certifications that offer pathways to advanced credentials, enhance operational efficiency, and contribute to business growth and client trust.
- Cost and accessibility: The overall cost and accessibility of certifications were assessed to ensure a high return on investment and practical feasibility for MSPs.
The certifications we’ve highlighted offer a well-rounded mix of specialized skills, foundational knowledge, and industry-recognized credentials that enhance service offerings and foster business growth. While vendor-specific certifications are highly valuable, we’ve also focused on vendor-neutral certifications to equip your team with versatile skills applicable across various platforms that enable you to adapt to a wide range of client needs and industry trends.
Bottom line: Maximize your firm’s value with strategic certifications
Choosing the right certifications is crucial for MSPs aiming to stand out in the IT industry. Vendor-specific credentials like Microsoft’s MCASAE, Cisco’s CCNA, and Red Hat’s RHCSA provide specialized vendor-specific knowledge, while vendor-neutral options such as CISP, CEH, CompTIA Security+, ITIL Foundation, and PMP offer broad, essential skills. Investing in these certifications boosts your firm’s expertise and builds client trust.
Roadmap to MSP certification
To effectively leverage today’s top certifications, start by identifying key areas aligned with your firm’s service offerings and client needs and develop a plan that includes both foundational and advanced credentials. Prioritize certifications that offer the best return on investment and align them with your strategic goals. You should also regularly update your certification strategy to adapt to industry changes and emerging technologies.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Whether you’re looking to enhance your team’s expertise, expand your service offerings, or strengthen client relationships, certifications can play a pivotal role. Below are some commonly asked general questions about certifications that help MSPs demonstrate their expertise to clients:
Why are certifications important for managed service providers (MSPs)?
Certifications are vital for MSPs as they validate expertise, enhance service quality, and build client trust. They demonstrate a firm’s capability to handle complex IT challenges and stay current with industry standards, which helps in attracting and retaining clients.
What are some of the top vendor-specific certifications for MSPs?
Top vendor-specific certifications for MSPs include Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA), which focuses on Cisco networking solutions, and Red Hat Certified System Administrator (RHCSA), which covers system administration for Red Hat Enterprise Linux. These certifications ensure specialized knowledge of key technologies used by many businesses.
What are some key vendor-neutral certifications that MSPs should consider?
Key vendor-neutral certifications for MSPs include CompTIA Security+, which provides foundational knowledge in cybersecurity, ITIL Foundation, which offers best practices for IT Service Management (ITSM), and Project Management Professional (PMP), which covers essential project management skills. These certifications offer broad, applicable skills that are valuable across various technology platforms.
How can MSPs create an effective certification strategy?
To create an effective certification strategy, MSPs should assess their service offerings and client needs to identify relevant certifications. Develop a plan that includes both foundational and advanced certifications, prioritize those with high return on investment, and regularly update the strategy to align with industry trends and technological advancements. This approach ensures continuous improvement and competitive advantage.
MSPs also need to be aware of the various compliance requirements for themselves and their customers, including becoming CMMC compliant.