Channel Insider Assembles Intriguing MSP Certification Collection

MSP is an acronym for "managed service provider." This term covers a broad spectrum of companies that offer bundled and managed IT-related services, usually on a negotiated monthly fee-based pricing model.

‍

TechTarget says an MSP is a "third-party company that remotely manages a customer's information technology (IT) infrastructure and end-user systems." They go on to observe that "SMBs ... nonprofits, and government agencies hire MSPs to perform a defined set of day-to-day management services ... [that] may include network and infrastructure management, security and monitoring."

‍

MSPs also come in a variety of flavors. Some specialize in specific services (e.g. storage, messaging, training, help desk, and so forth), while others focus on specific vertical markets (healthcare, financial services, manufacturing, and more).

‍

Who is Channel Insider, and Why You Should Care

‍

According to its mission statement, the publication from which our grab-bag of certifications comes focuses on "news and technology recommendations to keep channel partners, value-added resellers, IT solution providers, MSPs, and SaaS providers informed on the changing IT landscape."

‍

Thus, it aims to inform the kinds of organizations for which the certs are recommended about what makes sense for them to train up employees on, to arm them with the kinds of skills and knowledge they'll need to enable them to achieve better business outcomes.

‍

From where I sit, this makes the recommendations from CI interesting and at least potentially — if not actually — relevant. (For brevity's sake I will use the initialism CI to mean Channel Insider.)

‍

Rationales for MSP Certification Selection

‍

The March 1 CI story "Top MSP Certifications to Boost your IT Expertise" first lists their choices, then some also-rans. Only then does it go into the criteria that were used to select that slate. After that it explains the benefits of such certications to MSPs and their impacts to the bottom line.

‍

I'm going to look at and explore their approach and philosophy first, after which I'll recite their primary and alternate choices, then conclude with some final commentary. Buckle up: here we go.

‍

In discussing "How to Choose an IT certification" CI state that "choosing an IT certification first means identifying the track corresponding to the existing service lines." Legendary University of Texas football coach Darrell Royal enunciated this principle more pithily as, "Dance with who brung ya."

‍

In other words, MSPs want to identify what they offer to their customers, and make sure they provide training — and certification — to match. As CI puts things "Once identified, adding these credentials solidifies working knowledge of what the firm already does best."

‍

In looking beyond what's already in use, CI encourages MSPs to ask questions like "What other services could we offer clients" or "Where are client needs moving and are we currently prepared to address those needs?" To a large extent, many companies that engage with MSPs depend on MSPs to guide their IT growth and adaptation to new and emerging technologies.

‍

To me, this speaks well of the kind of proactive and curiosity-driven forward thinking that MSPs should demonstrate to be there for their customers tomorrow and the day after, as well as right here, right now. CI specifically mentions security as a means for MSPs "to extend their service stack." Same thing goes for automation, machine learning, IT asset management, and so forth, in my opinion.

‍

I am in complete agreement with another pair of great statements from CI — namely: "IT certifications offer a clear path to learning new technologies and adding valuable service lines not currently offered to existing clients. By getting certified, MSP leaders and staff validate their expertise and offer prospective clients a competitive advantage in industry knowledge."

‍

Of course, these same things are true for those customer companies, too, though some may be too small or resource-constrained to train up limited IT staff as their service providers can and probably will do. The bottom line here is that obtaining certifications at MSPs helps them build and maintain their customers' trust, especially when it comes to handling their data, services, applications, and more.

‍

Two Cert Lists: Leaders and Honorable Mentions

‍

The list of leading IT certs for MPS reads as follows (listed in order of occurrence, with links to the body of the CI story to discuss each one):

‍

AWS (Cloud Solutions Architect)
AXELOS (Information Technology Infrastructure Library)
Cisco (Cisco Certified Network Professional)
CompTIA (Cloud+ and Security+)
Google Cloud (Cloud Architect)
(ISC)² (Certified Information Systems Security Professional)
ISACA (Certified Information Security Manager)
Microsoft (Azure Administrator Associate)
PMI (Project Management Professional)
VMware (Data Center Virtualization)

‍

Thanks to the links included, you can read more about each of these in the original discussion quite easily. And FWIW, I can understand and appreciate the value of the items mentioned (many of which are truly evergreen IT certs).

‍

The honorable mentions are divided in to vendor-specific and -neutral items. Again, I'll cite the content for each such list verbatim from the original source.

‍

Vendor-Specific Programs (and Credentials)

‍

Nutanix: Nutanix offers certifications for developing enterprise cloud solutions for hybrid and multi-cloud environments.

Salesforce: Salesforce certification programs provide training courses and exams designed to help MSPs learn how to customize, configure, and implement Salesforce services.

Apple: Apple offers certifications in various areas including networking, hardware, software development, IT support, iOS apps development, macOS support, and more.

Citrix: The Citrix certification program is divided into three levels based on job role — administrator, engineer, and architect.

EMC: Dell EMC provides multiple certification tracks that cover various aspects of their platform such as installation, configuration, security management, and more.

HPE: HPE offers multiple certification paths in areas such as storage systems administration, network infrastructure administration, server maintenance, upgrade, troubleshooting, and more.

IBM: IBM certifications are available for all major IBM products, including AIX systems administration, Cloud Computing, Databases, Data Science, Linux Systems Administration, Mobile Application Development, Storage Solutions, Web Development, and more.

Oracle: Oracle provides several certifications related to its database products such as SQL Database Administrator Certification (OCA), Oracle Database 11g Administrator Certified Professional (OCP), and several more.

Red Hat: Red Hat offers various Linux-related certifications focusing on system architecture and design, installation and configuration, security and compliance, virtualization and cloud computing, and more.

SAP: SAP offers multiple certification tracks focusing on different areas of their product line such as business intelligence and analytics, application management and development, enterprise mobility solutions, and others.

‍

Vendor-Neutral Programs (and Credentials)

‍

ICCP: The ICCP offers vendor-neutral IT certifications to demonstrate a high level of mastery in various fields of technology and computing. Certificates are recognized around the world as a mark of proven excellence and dedication to the industry.

EC-Council: EC-Council provides globally-recognized cybersecurity certifications and training to individuals looking to boost their careers in the field of information security.

Scrum Alliance: The Scrum Alliance is a vendor-neutral IT Certification that provides credentials for professionals looking to demonstrate their knowledge and expertise in the field of Agile. Examples of certifications offered by the Scrum Alliance include Certified ScrumMaster, Certified Product Owner, and Certified Scrum Professional.

GIAC: Global Information Assurance Certification offers more than 40 information security-related certifications. Examples of GIAC certifications include the GSEC (Security Essentials) and GPEN (Penetration Tester).

Help Desk Institute: HDI offers training, consulting and best practice content for service and support professionals. HDI certifications include the Support Center Analyst (HDI-SCA), Certified Professional in Technical Support (CPTS), and Certified Support Center Manager (CSCM).

MSPAlliance: MSPAlliance provides accreditation and standards for Managed IT Services Providers. Examples of certifications include the MSP/Cloud Verify Program, the MSP/CSA Security Compliance Program, and the MSPAlliance Accreditation Program.

‍

What Any and All IT Pros Can Take Away from These Lists

‍

This information is at least potentially invaluable to IT pros of all kinds. If MSPs find this kind of thing worthwhile and noteworthy, anybody in the field can benefit from such insight. The only things I would wish to know further would be the source of the selections that CI made and promulgated in their story.

‍

Ideally, the recommendations would be based on a survey of some number of MSPs (preferably 100 or more) to provide some statistical basis for their selections. I don't see any such data in the story, but that would be a clincher for me.

‍

As it stands, it's at least an interesting indication of what MSPs are doing, thinking and planning. And because they are in the vanguard for the IT profession, I'll grant that their recommendations are indeed interesting and a good collection to consider when planning your next certification adventures.