There’s no question that skills and knowledge related to various networked forms of storage – such as storage area networks (SANs), network-attached storage (NAS), virtualized storage, and even storage as a service (STaaS) – are in high demand. Also, IT professionals interested in data center or network-backbone-related positions are likely to need strong storage chops.

Average salaries for storage engineers are consistent (and lucrative) across several job-related websites. For example, SimplyHired reports the average nationwide salary is a little over $107,600 in a range starting at $74,085 and climbing just over $156,000. Potential earnings reported by Glassdoor are higher: The national average salary is just over $165,800, with the low end of the range at about $110,000 and the high end close to $182,000.

In some ways, the state of storage certification perfectly mirrors in a single subject area (or perhaps a closely clustered collection of related subjects) what occurs across the full spectrum of information technology. Some vendor-neutral storage certifications are available, particularly those from the Storage Networking Industry Association (SNIA) and Arcitura. Also, there are numerous vendor-specific storage credentials available from providers of storage systems and solutions, including Cisco, Dell EMC, Hitachi Data Systems (HDS), HPE, NetApp and Sun/Oracle, among others.

Like other IT certifications, vendor-neutral credentials recognize broad competency in design, implementation and management, while vendor-specific programs tend to match up with technologies active IT professionals interact within the workplace (or that they’d like to interact with for prospective employers).

How is a storage-minded IT professional supposed to pick a winner here? Name recognition is one factor. Big name and big company certifications tend to attract higher numbers of certified individuals, lending more credibility to such certifications.

Popularity with employers is another consideration when selecting a certification. In our informal survey, we searched several online job sites on a given day for specific storage certifications. Note that the Cisco CCNP swamps the other certifications because its coverage goes well beyond storage. (The CCNP Data Center specialization involves storage to some degree, but it does not focus only on storage.)

Job Board Search Results (in alphabetical order, by certification)

Based on name recognition and job board surveys, our picks for 2019 lie with Cisco, HDS, NetApp and SNIA. One item noticeably absent from the leader board this year is the Brocade storage program. This gap in the lineup isn’t for lack of popularity. In fact, quite the opposite is true as the job board search yielded over 3,000 employers seeking candidates with Brocade experience and certs. Unfortunately for certification seekers, after Brocade was acquired by Broadcom, its exams, accreditations, certifications, and instructor-led training are no longer available. However, many free web-based courses remain that cover Fibre Channel Storage Area Networking products for professionals seeking to expand their Brocade knowledge and skills.

The following sections explore each of the preceding certifications and/or programs.

CCIE Data Center: Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert

Of all the storage-related Cisco certifications, the CCIE Data Center is the most senior and the best recognized. While it is a difficult and demanding credential to earn, it comes with a terrific payoff for its holders.

An expert-level credential, CCIE Data Center professionals are masters when it comes to planning, designing, implementing and managing IT data center infrastructures. exam syllabus focus on connectivity (Layers 2 and 3), fabric infrastructure, storage networking and computing, network services, evolving and emerging technologies, and network services and automation.

To earn this credential, candidates must pass both a written and a rigorous 8-hour, two-part practical lab exam. The written exam must be passed before candidates may attempt the lab exam. Lab exams must be attempted within 18 months of successfully passing the written exam. The lab exam is delivered in two parts: The first part consists of a one-hour Diagnostic Module, while Part 2 consists of a 7-hour Configuration and Troubleshooting module. It is reputed to be fiendishly challenging.

CCIE Data Center Facts and Figures

CCNP Data Center: Cisco Certified Network Professional Data Center

Cisco offers a variety of certifications that address storage networking topics, including the Cisco Certified Entry Networking Technician (CCENT) and the Data Center versions of the CCNA, CCNP, and CCIE (in order of difficulty). The CCNP Data Center credential hits the sweet spot in terms of warranting an IT professional’s knowledge and understanding of Cisco’s storage networking products and platforms in a data center context.

Cisco requires the Cisco Certified Network Associate Data Center (CCNA Data Center) credential or any Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) certification as a prerequisite for the CCNP Data Center.

Cisco CCNP Data Center Facts and Figures

Hitachi Qualified Professional – Storage Administration

Hitachi Vantara, formerly known as the Hitachi Data Systems corporation, is known for its hybrid storage systems, storage management, and networking solutions aimed at Fortune 100 and Fortune Global 100 enterprises. The company has a well-developed certification program to support its products and services.

Unlike most other IT certification sponsors, Hitachi’s program distinguishes between qualifications and certifications. Qualification credentials aim at the associate and professional levels where candidates have broad knowledge of syllabus and concepts. Hitachi certifications are either certified or experts, where candidates have deep knowledge of and ample hands-on experience with products and solutions.

Both types of credentials fall under various tracks: Administration (professional), Architect (specialist and expert), Implementation and Integration (specialist and expert), Installation and Support (specialist and professional), and Basics and Fundamentals (entry-level), as well as Sales and Presales.

The Hitachi Qualified Professional – Storage Administration credential, part of the Administration track, is an intermediate-level qualification aimed at storage networking professionals who can configure and troubleshoot Hitachi Command Suite products, as well as use Hitachi Device Manager to manage the storage environment. Candidates must pass one exam – Storage Administration HQT-6740 – to earn the credential.

Hitachi Qualified Professional – Storage Administration Facts and Figures

NCDA: NetApp Certified Data Administrator

NetApp has been in the storage business since 1992, and offers a broad line of products and systems for backup and recovery, traditional and virtualized storage and cloud-based data centers. Although NetApp has some stiff competition – Dell EMC, HPE and Hitachi, to name a few – the company understands the value of flexibility and integration with other third-party products. For example, NetApp worked with Cisco to develop FlexPod, which helps customers manage Cisco, Citrix, Cloudera, Microsoft, NetApp, Oracle, Red Hat, VMware, and other applications and environments, and NetApp’s hybrid cloud storage integrates with Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure, among others.

The NetApp Certification Program (NCP) features several certifications within three tracks: Data, Hybrid Cloud and Converged Infrastructure. All NetApp certifications focus on some aspect of storage hardware or the software that powers these products. The Data track includes the NetApp Certified Storage Associate (NCSA) – Hybrid Cloud, the NetApp Certified Storage Installation Engineer, ONTAP as well as our featured certification, the NetApp Certified Data Administrator (NCDA).

The NCDA recognizes working knowledge of NetApp storage architecture, core ONTAP components, high availability, data clustering, protocol administration, storage performance, security and data protection. Candidates must be able to configure controllers running the ONTAP operating system in NFS and Windows (CIFS) environments, and understand NetApp SnapMirror, SnapRestore and SnapVault technologies.

Candidates must pass one exam to earn the credential.

NetApp certifications are valid for 27 months, and credential holders must meet recertification requirements during this period to maintain their certifications.

NCDA Facts and Figures

SNIA SNCP: SNIA Storage Networking Certification Program

The Storage Networking Industry Association (SNIA) is a nonprofit organization incorporated in 1997 and comprises members from various storage vendors and service providers, as well as individuals. The association develops and promotes storage solution specifications and standards, and offers education and certification for storage and information management professionals.

SNIA recently rolled out several changes to its Storage Networking Certification Program (SNCP). Most notable among the changes is the retirement of the SNIA Certified Storage Engineer (SCSE) and SNIA Certified Storage Architect (SCSA). The exams for both credentials were withdrawn on January 31, 2019.

Both the SCSE and SCSA have been replaced by the SNIA Certified Information Architect (SCIA). SNIA will continue to recognize the SCSE and SCSA until November 31, 2021. The Storage Networking Certification Program (SNCP) offers several vendor-neutral certifications:

• SNIA Certified Storage Professional (SCSP)
• SNIA Certified Storage Networking Expert (SCSN-E)
• SNIA Qualified Storage Sales Professional (SQSSP)
• SNIA Certified Information Architect (SCIA)

Each certification requires candidates to pass the S10-110 Foundations exam or hold a current CompTIA Storage+ Powered by SNIA certification (exam no longer offered), which earns the Professional (SCSP) credential. The Networking Expert (SCSN-E) requires all of them.

SNIA certifications are good for three years from the date of certification. After that, a certification holder must take the most current exam to maintain the credential.

SNIA SCNP Facts and Figures

Beyond the Top 5: More storage certifications

Beyond the top five storage certifications mentioned in this article, there are lots of other certification programs that can further the careers and professional development of IT professionals who work in the networked storage arena.

Although no EMC storage certifications made our top five list for 2018 or 2019, EMC (acquired by Dell in 2016) has one of the longest-standing certification programs for storage. The program offers credentials for data scientists, cloud architects and administrators, storage administrators, cloud and implementation engineers, and a whole lot more.

In addition, look at the credentials available from Arcitura, HPE, Huawei, IBM, Nimble and Sun/Oracle:

In a world where competition for jobs, pay increases, and academic success continues to increase, certifications offer hope to candidates and educators.

Certification helps to build a skilled workforce that meets the needs of local employers and government tech initiatives. Certification strikes the right balance of academic excellence and real-world skills, giving students the confidence and motivation they need to succeed both in school and in a profitable career.

“According to Pearson VUE’s 2021 Value of Certification study, 69% of IT managers believe certification significantly increases an employee’s productivity,” said Ray Murray, of Vice President and General Manager, Certiport. “Certifications are a great way to help candidates get their foot in the door and be more productive in their future careers.”

Defining certification

A certification is any credential that an individual can earn or achieve that validates a level of knowledge or a skillset related to a specific subject or discipline. Certifications are credentials that stand in addition to, in support of, or independently from degrees and diplomas.

Value of certification

Certifications, as defined above, are often created or supported by industry-recognized businesses or organizations and are administered in controlled environments by authorized and independent agents. Validating technical skill and knowledge has benefits in both academic and workplace settings.

Key benefits of certification in academia

Candidates who earn certifications while in school reap benefits early, including:

• Validation of knowledge
• Enhanced academic performance
• Improved reputation
• Enhanced credibility
• Increased confidence
• Respect from peers

Studies validate the specific benefits listed above, demonstrating the value of certifications for candidates as well as academic institutions. According to the Florida CAPE Performance Report, certification provides tangible improvements in academic performance, including:

• Higher grade point average for certified high school students: 3.12 vs 2.78 (4.0 scale)
• Higher graduation rates for certified high school students: 97.5% vs 78.4%
• Increased post-secondary enrollment: 84% vs 82%
• Reduced dropout rates: 0.2% vs 1.0%

Copenhagen, Oct. 02, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Announcement no. 11-2022

Beierholm Corporate Finance P/S, which is approved as Certified Advisor by Nasdaq First North Growth Market Denmark, has been appointed as Certified Advisor for Hypefactors. This takes place in connection with the transaction whereby Oaklins Denmark A/S, which has been Hypefactors’ Certified Advisor, has been acquired by Beierholm, Statsautoriseret Revisionspartnerselskab.

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About Hypefactors A/S

Hypefactors is an integrated AI powered Earned Media tech platform to support better media intelligence, reputation and trust management. Hypefactors combine data, analytics, technology and tools to provide a unified and easy-to-use experience. With all the tools to automate and ease the work, and all the facts to document the results. In addition to media monitoring across the different media channels, the platform provides access to a number of facts, incl. automated documentation of the monetary value and quality assessment of each third-party media mention. The platform also contains other time-saving tools such as automatically generated media reports and a mobile app giving access to real-time media mentions. The company is listed at Nasdaq Growth Market in Copenhagen, Denmark.

For more information, please contact:
Casper Janns, CEO: Tlf.: +45 20167481, e-mail: cj@hypefactors.com

Pierre André Montjovet, Chairman of the Board: Tlf: +41 (0)78 922 33 0,
e-mail: p.montjovet@heritage.ch

Hypefactors A/S
Kronprinsessegade 8B
1306 Copenhagen K
Denmark
www.hypefactors.com

Certified Adviser
Beierholm Corporate Finance P/S
Østergade 26B
1100 København K
Kim Harpøth Jespersen, Partner, M +4552150243, email: k.jespersen@dk.oaklins.com

With the Realme 9 series already boasting more than eight members it might be time to turn our attention to the Realme 10 series which is rumored to launch early next year. A new listing on the CB Test database reveals the battery capacity for the Realme 10.

Realme RMX 3630 certification on CB Test database

The device bears the RMX 3630 model number and features a 4,880 mAh rated battery capacity which could realistically be a 5,000 mAh typical rating that would match the Realme 9 from last year. This is the only bit of info we have at the moment.

The same device was previously certified by the Indonesia Telecom agency as well as the EEC and NBTC bodies and rumors point to a 2023 launch. We’ll keep you updated on any new developments regarding the Realme 10 series.

Via

[MakingDevices] has created a simple stopwatch that makes for a nice introduction to surface mount electronic design and assembly. The project is open source hardware (OSHW) certified, with Gerbers, KiCAD files, and software all available.

Conceptually the stopwatch is straight forward, with a row of two four digit seven-segment displays being driven by a PIC18LF14k50 microcontroller through multiple NPN transistors. The PIC doesn’t quite have enough data lines to drive the two displays at once so an inverter is used to toggle between the two seven-segment blocks.

The circuit is continuously powered from a CR2032 coin cell battery. For normal usage with display, [MakingDevices] estimates 30+ hours of operation and 140+ hours without display, but still counting time. When idle, the “Extreme Low-Power (XLP)” capabilities of the PIC put the operating window estimates well beyond the self discharge of the coin cell battery. There’s an in circuit serial programming (ICSP) footprint that accepts a pogo pin TC2030-MCP-NL adapter for flashing the PIC.

Don’t let the simplicity fool you, this is a well documented project with detailed posts about the design, simulation and battery consumption. Various videos and glamour shots give a whole picture of the process, from design, assembly, testing to final validation.

It’d be wonderful to see the project extended or hacked on further, perhaps with a cute enclosure or case.

Indianapolis, IN (September 23, 2022) – Acurus is pleased to announce that its award-winning MUSE and ACT 4 immersive processors are Gold-Certified for Envy by MadVR Labs for use with their Envy video processors.

The Certified for Envy program ensures that audio/video products meet the highest quality standards for video excellence, as determined by madVR Labs. Dealers and consumers can now have confidence that Certified for Envy products meet these standards, and that the products did not introduce video artifacts or degrade video quality based on rigorous testing. It also ensures that certified products are fully compatible with the madVR Envy Pro and Envy Extreme video processors.

The requirements for the AVR/AVP category include reliable and stable HDMI handling, full compatibility with the madVR Envy video processors, and lossless pass-through of all usual source device pixel formats, bit depths, resolutions, and frame rates, including 1080p24 frame packed 3D. These Certified For Envy products passed over 1,100 rigorous tests to achieve certification. For full details on all tests performed and the program requirements, see our Acurus Certificate of Video Excellence.

“Acurus is extremely pleased to be named one of the first madVR Certified Partners”, states Rick Santiago, Acurus’ Co-founder and CEO. “This distinction demonstrates the quality and attention to detail our immersive home cinema products provide and assures the homeowner that they will enjoy an exceptional experience through the combination of state-of-the-art madVR Envy video processing and award-winning Acurus audio processing.”

“We are truly honored that Acurus has entrusted madVR Labs to certify their products for video excellence, and excited to have them as a launch partner in our Certified For Envy program”, says Richard Litofsky, Co-founder and CEO of madVR Labs, LLC. “Achieving “Gold” Certification requires passing over 1,100 rigorous video processing tests, and we applaud their dedication to delivering the utmost in video quality to their customers.”

For more information, please contact [email protected] or [email protected].

About Acurus: Headquartered in Indianapolis, IN, Acurus is a high-performance audio brand and leader in audio electronics design. Acurus manufactures all its components in the USA using custom fabricated parts and assemblies based on its proprietary electronics, mechanical, and software designs. The superior engineering of our products is characterized by modern aesthetics, rock-solid design and construction, and intuitive operation. Acurus products blend the latest technologies in audio, system set-up, and control to create perfectly balanced solutions.

About madVR Labs: madVR Labs manufactures video processing hardware and software products to meet the demands of the most discerning and critical video enthusiasts. Its award-winning madVR Envy Extreme video processor sets the new standard for real-time video processing performance to make life much easier on dealers while delighting their customers. The Envy delivers best in class HDR dynamic tone mapping, upscaling to 8K, instant aspect ratio and black bar management, next generation non-linear stretch, subtitle management, and more.

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In mid-April 2020, as Covid-19 shutdowns and lockdowns were being put in place across the U.S., my grandmother’s health started to decline. With so many unknowns, the assisted living facility where she lived, like most others, had a strict no-visitors policy. When it became clear that my grandmother was in her last hours of life, the facility figured out how to safely allow my aunt into the building for my grandmother’s last breaths.

When my aunt arrived, certified nursing assistants were there, providing comfort and care throughout my grandmother’s passing. At the time, doctors and nurses were being lauded as heroes. CNAs didn’t get that acclaim, though they should have.

Under the supervision of registered nurses, certified nursing assistants provide care in individuals’ homes, nursing homes, subacute/rehab centers, assisted living facilities, and a variety of other settings. Their work is both physically and emotionally taxing. They are responsible for helping their patients with activities of daily living like eating, bathing and grooming, lifting and moving them, making beds, and cleaning living spaces, as well as communicating their patients’ needs to their health care teams and families.

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Certified nurse assistants also provide their patients with companionship during difficult and lonely times.

Despite all that they do, CNAs they are not well paid. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median hourly rate for a certified nursing assistant is $14.83 but, in some states, they make less than $10 an hour. That’s less than many Starbucks or McDonald’s workers are paid.

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Most of this undervalued workforce is comprised of women and people of color. The U.S. Census Bureau says women consist of nearly 90% of the nursing assistant workforce. A report by PHI, a nonprofit organization working to Boost long-term care services and job quality for direct-care workers, estimates that people of color make up the majority of the nursing assistant workforce, even though they make up one-quarter of the total U.S. workforce. More than one-third of these workers are Black or African American.

Improving job quality for the direct-care workforce is also a matter of racial and gender equity.

Not only are certified nursing assistants underpaid, but they must also spend money before they can earn it. To be certified, they are required to participate in a state-approved training program that can cost anywhere from $400 to $3,000 for a federally mandated minimum of 75 hours (though some states require more) — with limited information about the success rates of these programs — and they must also pay for the cost of final state exams, ranging from $80 to $105.

I recently had the opportunity to work on a team exploring the challenges facing the certified nursing assistant workforce in Massachusetts and across the country as part of the Project on Workforce, a collaborative project between Harvard’s Kennedy School, Business School, and Graduate School of Education. Our team found that only nine states and the District of Columbia offered public information about the average pass rate for the written and clinical test in 2019. In other words, many individuals are assuming the costs of required certification programs with limited knowledge about whether the state-approved training program they enroll in will properly prepare them for the state CNA certification exams and ultimately lead to a return on their investment.

These barriers to entry are at odds with the shortage of health care staff, including certified nursing assistants, in long-term care facilities and for in-home care across the U.S. Many people assume that the shortage is a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. That’s not so: the pandemic only intensified an already-existing shortage of health care staff in long-term care.

Improving working conditions and wages for certified nursing assistants is not only the right thing to do, but smart public policy. Given that Medicaid is the top funding source for nursing homes and other long-term care facilities, increasing Medicaid funding with an appropriated portion for increasing wages of nursing assistants and other lower-paid health care workers can help support these integral health care staff members and address workforce retainment. In addition, states could design CNA tenure and promotion programs, like the recently implemented Illinois CNA Subsidy/Incentive Program, which provides certified nursing assistants with wage increases based on their years of experience, to help keep wages competitive and create career pathways.

Some Americans don’t know what certified nursing assistants do, or why they are needed. Others know it all too well. I often hear people say that, given the low pay, nursing assistants must truly care about helping others and that “it is a calling.” Whether it is a calling or not, these essential workers have bills to pay and families to support. As the minimum wage in many states across the country increases, wages for CNAs need to stay competitive. If an individual can make the same or more money in another industry, with a less strenuous and emotionally taxing position, there is little incentive to join the CNA work force, or stay in it.

I will forever be thankful to the certified nursing assistants who cared for my grandmother during her last few days of life. As an important element of the U.S. health care system, these essential health care workers need to be treated with the same dignity and respect with which they treat our loved ones. We can start by paying them a living wage.

Toni Gingerelli is a public policy advisor and consultant specializing in workforce development, health, and gender equity. She formerly served as chief of staff for New Jersey State Senator Vin Gopal.

Buying a used car can be a daunting experience, even if you're in the market for a W16-powered Bugatti. The company is giving customers valuable peace of mind by launching a certified pre-owned program for the Veyron and the Chiron that includes a one-year warranty plan.

The firm explains that the cars eligible for the certified pre-owned label "exhibit the incomparable quality expected of the Bugatti macaron." There's no word yet on how Bugatti and its technicians decide if a car is eligible to join the certified pre-owned program, though it likely involves a series of comprehensive inspections. We've reached out to the company and we'll update this story if we learn more. 

Bugatti's certified pre-owned cars come with a one-year warranty plan, but what it covers depends on the model selected. For the Chiron, it includes all parts and labor for mechanical, electrical, corrosion-, and paint-related repairs. For the Veyron, it covers parts and labor for mechanical and electrical repairs. It's valid worldwide, so you're covered if you buy a Chiron in Utah and ship it to Italy for a road trip.

Enthusiasts who buy a certified pre-owned Bugatti will also receive a free annual service that needs to be performed within one year of the purchase date. And, every authorized Bugatti dealer can sell certified pre-owned cars, so the program will include a wide selection of cars.

Bugatti isn't the only high-end company that offers a certified pre-owned program. Lamborghini, Ferrari, and Rolls-Royce operate similar programs. Many of these companies are sitting on a full order book, so investing in used-car sales makes sense from a business standpoint.