|
Certification |
Total |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
CCNA Data Center (Cisco) |
1,564 | 2,126 | 1,649 | 19 | 3,876 |
|
CCNP Data Center (Cisco) |
1,025 | 1,339 | 1,508 | 14 | 3,145 |
|
JNCIP-DC (Juniper Networks) |
125 | 37 | 14 | 4 | 130 |
|
VCE-CIAE (Dell)* |
81 | 19 | 30 | 14 | 132 |
|
VCP6-DCV (VMware) |
32 | 37 | 57 | 38 | 111 |
*Search results for the generic phrase “VCE data center engineer”
Regardless of which job board you use, you’ll find many employers looking for qualified people to join their data center teams. SimplyHired lists 114,000-plus data center jobs in the U.S., with more than 172,000 on Indeed, 50,000 on LinkedIn Jobs and 20,000 on LinkUp. With the right credential(s) in hand, one of these jobs is sure to be yours.
Data center job roles start at the network technician level and advance through senior architect. Most of the certifications covered would fit well with an associate- or professional-level network engineer position. According to SimplyHired, the average salary for network engineer jobs is about $79,000, and $111,000 for senior network engineers. Glassdoor reports a U.S. national average salary of about $73,000 for network engineers, and their average for senior network engineers climbs to $94,000.
Cisco certifications continue to be some of the most recognizable and respected credentials in the industry. The CCNA Data Center certification is a great introductory certification for networking professionals who want to specialize in data center operations and support and have 1-3 years of experience.
Candidates for the CCNA Data Center certification need to understand basic data center networking concepts. These include addressing schemes, troubleshooting and configuring switches with VLANs and routers using Nexus OS, network and server virtualization, storage, and common network services such as load balancing, device management and network access controls.
The CCNA Data Center is valid for three years, after which credential holders must recertify. Recertification requires passing a current version of one of the following exams:
Candidates can also sit through the Cisco Certified Architect (CCAr) interview and the CCAr board review to achieve recertification for CCNA Data Center.
|
Certification name |
Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Data Center |
|---|---|
|
Prerequisites and required courses |
None required. Recommended training: Cisco offers classroom courses, which run for five days and cost about $4,500. |
|
Number of exams |
Two exams:
Both exams are 90 minutes and 55-65 questions. |
|
Cost per exam |
$300 per exam; $600 total (price may vary by region). Exams administered by Pearson VUE. |
|
URL |
http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/training-events/training-certifications/certifications/associate/ccna-data-center.html |
|
Self-study materials |
The certification page provides links to self-study materials, including the syllabus, study groups, videos, study guides, Learning Network resources and learning partner content. |
Networking professionals looking to validate their data center skills and achieve a competitive edge in the workplace can’t go wrong with the Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) Data Center credential.
Geared toward technology architects, along with design and implementation engineers and solutions experts, the CCNP Data Center identifies individuals who can implement Cisco Unified Computing System (UCS) rack-mount servers; install, configure and manage Cisco Nexus switches; and implement and deploy automation of Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure (ACI). The CCNP Data Center is designed for candidates with 3-5 years of experience working with Cisco technologies.
When pursuing the CCNP Data Center, Cisco lets you choose either a design or troubleshooting track. Related data center certifications include the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA Data Center), for those with 1-3 years of experience, and the Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) Data Center, aimed at professionals with seven or more years of experience.
The CCNP Data Center is valid for three years, after which credential holders must recertify. The recertification process requires candidates to pass a single exam to maintain the credential, or to sit for the Cisco Certified Architect (CCAr) interview and the CCAr board review. Credential holders should check the Cisco website for the current list of qualifying exams before attempting to recertify.
|
Certification name |
Cisco Certified Network Professional Data Center (CCNP Data Center) |
|---|---|
|
Prerequisites and required courses |
Valid Cisco Certified Network Associate Data Center (CCNA Data Center) certification or any Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) certification. Training recommended but not required; classes are usually four or five days and start at $3,950. |
|
Number of exams |
Four exams:
All exams are 90 minutes, 60-70 questions. |
|
Cost per exam |
$300 per exam; $1,200 total (price may vary by region). Exams administered by Pearson VUE. |
|
URL |
http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/training-events/training-certifications/certifications/professional/ccnp-data-center.html |
|
Self-study materials |
The certification page provides links to self-study materials, including the syllabus, study groups, webinars, Cisco Learning Network resources and learning partner content. |
Juniper Networks, based in California and incorporated in 1997, develops and sells network infrastructure equipment and software aimed at corporations, network service providers, government agencies and educational institutions. The company has a large certification and training program designed to support its solutions, which includes Data Center, Junos Security, Enterprise Routing and Switching, and Service Provider Routing and Switching tracks.
The Data Center track recognizes networking professionals who deploy, manage and troubleshoot Juniper Networks Junos software and data center equipment. The single exam (JN0-680) covers data center deployment and management, including implementation and maintenance of multi-chassis link aggregation group (LAG), virtual chassis and Internet Protocol (IP) fabric, virtual extensible LANs (VXLANs), and data center interconnections.
The JNCIP-DC certification is good for three years. To renew the certification, candidates must pass the current JNCIP-DC exam.
VCE, short for Virtual Computing Environment, was part of EMC Corporation, which Dell acquired in 2016. The VCE line of converged infrastructure appliances are still being manufactured and widely sold, and the company has a handful of VCE certifications geared toward designing, maintaining and supporting those solutions.
VCE certifications are now part of the larger Dell EMC Proven Professional certification program but have retained some independence. The program currently offers the VCE Certified Converged Infrastructure Associate (VCE-CIA), VCE Converged Infrastructure Administration Engineer (VCE-CIAE) and VCE Converged Infrastructure Master Administration Engineer (VCE-CIMAE) credentials. We focus on the VCE Administration Engineer in this article because it’s available to the public as well as Dell employees and partners, and it ranks well in job board searches.
The VCE-CIAE is a professional-level credential that recognizes professionals who manage and support Vblock Systems. The single exam includes Topics such as system concepts, administration, security, resource management, maintenance and troubleshooting.
Candidates must recertify every two years to maintain a VCE certification. To renew, credential holders must pass the current VCE-CIA exam (this is the prerequisite for the VCE-CIAE certification), as well as pass the current VCE-CIAE exam or earn a higher-level credential.
|
Certification name |
VCE Converged Infrastructure Administration Engineer (VCE-CIAE) |
|---|---|
|
Prerequisites and required courses |
Prerequisite: VCE Certified Converged Infrastructure Associate (VCE-CIA) certification
Recommended: VCE Vblock Systems Administration Management training; available as instructor-led classroom and online (five-day course, $5,000; prices may vary by course provider and location) |
|
Number of exams |
One: exam 220-010 (60 multiple-choice questions, 90 minutes) |
|
Cost per exam |
$200. Exams administered by Pearson VUE. |
|
URL |
https://education.emc.com/content/emc/en-us/home/certification-overview/vce-certification-framework/vce-administration-engineer.html |
The VCP6-DCV is one of those credentials that sits firmly on the line between traditional data center networking and cloud management. As such, it appeals to a wide networking audience. In fact, the VMware website states that more than 100,000 professionals have earned VMware VCP6-DCV certification, making it one of the company’s most popular certifications.
VMware offers an extensive certification program with a rigorous Data Center virtualization track, which includes the VCP6-DCV. Candidates must thoroughly understand Domain Name System (DNS), routing and database connectivity techniques, and how to deploy, configure, manage and scale VMware vSphere environments and storage. VMware recommends that candidates have a minimum of six months of experience with VMware vSphere 6 before attempting the VCP6-DCV certification.
New candidates must take a VMware training course and pass two exams. Training courses start at $4,125; pricing is based on the specific course, delivery format and learning partner.
VMware requires credential holders to recertify every two years. Recertification is achieved by taking whatever exam is most current for the certification, earning a new VCP certification in a different solution track or advancing to the next-level VMware certification.
Note: VMware certifications are geared toward the VMware vSphere product, the latest incarnation of which is Version 6.5. As of April 2019, VMware is still rolling out various Version 6.5 exams. Currently, Version 6.5 exams are offered for the Professional and Advanced Professional (Design only) levels. We anticipate that Version 6.5 exams and credentials at the Associate, Advanced Professional Deploy and Expert levels will follow soon.
|
Certification name |
VMWare Certified Professional 6 – Data Center Virtualization (VCP6-DCV) |
|---|---|
|
Prerequisites and required courses |
Candidates who are new to VMware Data Center Virtualization technology: Six months’ vSphere 6 experience plus one of the following training courses:
Note: The cost of VMware training varies; expect to pay from $4,125 for classroom training to more than $6,000 for Bootcamps and Fast Track courses. |
|
Number of exams |
Two exams for new candidates, those with vSphere 5 training only, those with an expired VCP in a different solution track or those with an expired VCP5-DCV certification:
One exam for candidates with valid VCP5-DCV certification: VMware Certified Professional 6 – Data Center Virtualization Delta exam, 2V0-621D, 105 minutes, 65 questions One exam for candidates with valid VCP certification, any solution track: VMware Certified Professional 6 – Data Center Exams administered by Pearson VUE. |
|
Cost per exam |
|
|
URL |
VCP6-DCV: https://mylearn.vmware.com/mgrReg/plan.cfm?plan=64178&ui=www_cert VCP6.5-DCV: https://mylearn.vmware.com/mgrReg/plan.cfm?plan=100942&ui=www_cert |
|
Self-study materials |
Links to an exam guide, training and a practice exam (if available) appear on each exam page (see the How to Prepare tab). VMware Learning Zone offers exam prep subscriptions. Numerous VCP6-DCV study materials are available through Amazon. MeasureUp offers a VCP6-DCV practice test ($129) and a practice lab ($149). |
While not featured in the top five this year, the BICSI Data Center Design Consultant (DCDC) is a terrific certification, designed for IT professionals with at least two years of experience in designing, planning and implementing data centers. This vendor-neutral certification is ideal for data center engineers, architects, designers and consultants. Another good vendor-neutral certification is Schneider Electric’s Data Center Certified Associate (DCCA), an entry-level credential for individuals who design, build and manage data centers as part of a data center-centric IT team.
CNet’s Certified Data Centre Management Professional (CDCMP) and Certified Data Centre Technician Professional (CDCTP) are also worthy of honorable mention. Based in the U.K., these certifications don’t appear in a lot of U.S. job board postings but still deliver solid results from a general Google search.
IT professionals who are serious about advancing their data center careers would do well to check out complementary certifications from our featured vendors. For example, Cisco also offers a number of certifications in data center design and support, including application services, networking infrastructure, storage networking and unified computing. VMware also offers additional data center virtualization certifications worth exploring, including the VMware Certified Advanced Professional 6.5 – Data Center Virtualization Design (VCAP6.5-DCV Design) and the VMware Certified Design Expert (VCDX6-DCV). Also, the Dell EMC Proven Professional certification program offers a bevy of data center-focused certifications, including the Dell EMC Implementation Engineer (EMCIE) and the Dell EMC Certified Cloud Architect (EMCCA).
Because of the proliferation of data center virtualization and cloud computing, you can expect the data center networking job market to continue to remain strong soon. Achieving a certification can be a real feather in your cap, opening the door to new and better work opportunities.
Dell EMC is waging an all-out assault on the storage market, investing $2 billion in the effort, hiring 1,200 new storage sales certified and offering new, robust, storage compensation incentives for its partners. A trio of executives leading the charge - Scott Millard, Joyce Mullen and Marius Haas - talked to CRN about how Dell EMC is putting the pieces in place to help its partners win big in storage.
'Refuse To Lose': Dell EMC Primes Its Partners For A Storage Revolution
Driving the company's storage sales offensive are new robust storage compensation incentives for solution providers and an influx of Dell EMC sales reps working side by side with those partners.
Dell EMC President Marius Haas On The Company's 'Refuse To Lose Approach' To The Storage Market
Dell EMC's Marius Haas on the Dell EMC's storage push and how channel partners are vital to Dell EMC's success.
Storage Boost: Dell Hires 1,200 Sales certified To Drive Partner-Led Selling
By hiring 1,200 new storage sales specialists, Dell boosts its storage team by upward of 25 percent with an eye on skyrocketing storage revenue through its partners in 2018.
10 Hot Dell EMC Storage Products
CRN looks at 10 key products in the Dell EMC storage lineup, one that offers the broad capabilities to match the company's position as the world’s largest storage vendor.
Tech Tour: Behind The Scenes At Dell EMC's Storage Manufacturing Facility
CRN recently toured Dell EMC's storage manufacturing facility in Massachusetts which assembles, tests and ships converged and hyper-converged products throughout North America.
CRN Interview: Dell EMC Channel Chief Joyce Mullen On Driving More Storage Sales Through Partners And Her Channel Vision For 2018
Joyce Mullen, an 18-year Dell veteran who is now president of global channels, OEM and IoT Solutions, spoke with CRN about enabling partners to drive more storage sales, the potential integration of VMware into the Dell EMC Partner Program, and her channel vision for 2018.
Dell EMC Doubles Down On Storage Services, Unifying Portfolio
Dell EMC executives are making sure partners have the competencies they need to sell the Dell EMC portfolio as well as their own services.
Fistfuls Of Growth: Dell EMC's Expanded Product Portfolio Paves New Paths For Partners
Michael Dell has emphasized that customers want cutting-edge hybrid cloud tech and they want to buy it from fewer vendors. Here's how three solution providers backed up Dell's assertion with skyrocketing sales across Dell EMC's broad portfolio in 2017.
Without diverse input at the building stage, the outlook of any artificial intelligence can be very one dimensional – but DELL is helping such software systems see the bigger picture ...
TECHNOLOGICAL advances mean the world is changing so rapidly it’s a struggle to keep up.
One of the key issues is the ever-growing skills gap because, while it is commonly thought by the older generation that many young people all want to enter the technology sector, the reality is that not enough are studying STEM subjects to meet future needs.
For Dell Technologies the answer is a diverse and inclusive workforce that includes minority groups, females as well as men, and everyone from graduates to those re-entering the workforce at a later stage in life.
Diversity and inclusion is seen by Dell Technologies not just as a politically correct slogan but a business imperative - which is why the company has launched a range of programmes to attract and retain diverse talent.
Dell Technologies’ diversity and inclusion strategy is as important as its technology strategy because it is regarded as bringing business and social value to the company.
“We are in 180 countries and have 140,000 employees and what we want is to create a place where people can come to work and be themselves,” said Tricia Smyth, EMEA Diversity and Inclusion Lead for Dell Technologies.
“We want them to feel a sense of belonging so they do their best work rather than sit worrying about how they are perceived.
LEADING THE WAY: Tricia Smyth, EMEA Diversity and Inclusion Lead for Dell Technologies
That is a key part of our code of conduct. On the flip side we want customers to see we value these groups.”
Artificial intelligence (AI) is one area where homogeneity does not make good business sense.
“At the end of the day AI is programmed by a person and if you have a homogenous group programming it means there is just one dimension,” pointed out Smyth. “If we can apply diversity to that we are more likely to reflect what customers are looking for.
“As one of the largest technology companies in the world the onus is on us to use that position of privilege to make a difference.
“We are in a unique position to work on global challenges and we have built our agenda around sustainability, inclusion and transforming lives with technology.”
The seriousness of the skills gap can be seen in the fact that by 2024 in Europe and North America alone there are expected to be 600,000 unfilled computing jobs based on current graduation rates.
This is where programmes like STEMAspire comes in as it is aimed at encouraging females to study science, technology, engineering or mathematics and reverse the tendency for female students to drop out before they finish their studies.
This is Dell Technologies’ biggest programme in Scotland and has been so successful that the same model is being adopted by the company’s Pride employee resource group to encourage more of the LGBT community to enter the field. “We have just finished piloting this in Ireland and the feedback has been superb both from the mentors and mentees,” said Smyth.
“For mentors it is good to see they can cultivate talent and from the LGBT standpoint we are providing role models within Dell Technologies. Often LGBT students fail to make the transition from college or university into the industry as they are unsure of how they will be received.”
Dell Technologies also goes into secondary schools with its Digital Futures Programme to deliver pupils an idea of what it is really like to work in the sector and the range of jobs available.
“This is working well too,” said Smyth. “At the start of one of my recent sessions I asked for a show of hands of those considering a career in the technology industry. Three out of 165 pupils put their hands up but at the end of the hour every single hand went up. We show how technology affects everything we do so that they can see all the different aspects of being a computer programmer.”
Another Dell Technologies programme centres on those who have taken a few years out of the workplace and would like to go back to work but are in need of new skills as well as a confidence boost.
Flexible working is also seen as key to encouraging people with family responsibilities to work for Dell Technologies and by 2020 it is expected that nearly 50 per cent of the workforce will have flexible work arrangements.
“We want to attract talent and make sure we create an environment where people can be themselves,” said Smyth.
“Dell Technologies is committed to that and is regularly voted one of the most ethical and most admired companies.
She added: “The core to all of this is addressing issues of bias. We all have biases and these affect how we make decisions so we need to be aware of them.”
In order to help employees recognise their biases the company has launched its Many Advocating Real Change (MARC) programme.
“We are not trying to change people but we need to eliminate bias from how we hire and recruit to make sure we build a diverse workforce,” said Smyth. “People tend to hire someone they like or someone like them so it is building awareness that someone unlike you does not always mean worse - it just means different.”
For more information go to https://corporate.delltechnologies.com/en-us/social-impact/cultivating-inclusion.htm
------------------------------------
Gender was on the agenda in Edinburgh
Dell Technologies are working collaboratively with Equate Scotland to help support and prepare the next generation of female STEM professionals entering today’s transforming work environment.
Scotland’s gender equality expert within STEM Equate Scotland, recently hosted their annual Student Network Conference and Awards Ceremony at the Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Innovation. Equate Scotland, established in 2006, is an organisation that actively promotes and encourages the advancement of women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
CAPITAL VENTURE: The Student Network Conference and Awards Ceremony
The event brought together female students from colleges and universities across Scotland, celebrating their passion for their chosen field. Students connected with inspiring female professionals from companies such as Dell Technologies, Data Lab, Ernst Young and Balfour Beatty, to help build on their network and enhance their career development.
The conference came about as part of Equate Scotland’s strategy to make tangible and sustainable change in Scotland, enabling the development of women studying and working within STEM industries by supporting their recruitment, retention and career progression.
Scotland’s STEM employment sector struggles with skills shortages which many expect will be exacerbated by Britain’s exit from the European Union. Studies suggest there are too few students coming through, particularly females, which jeopardises Scotland’s chance to be at the forefront of innovation.
Only 25% of women have a profession within the STEM sector and 70% of university students studying STEM will not progress onto a role within the industry. Dell Technologies attended the event and hosted an interactive workshop for students and employers. The workshop focused on effective communication and social media, providing students with tips and guidance on how to enhance and maintain a professional social media presence across platforms such as LinkedIn and Twitter.
Sarah O’Donnell, Executive Communications at Dell Technologies says: “The event was very much a celebration of super inspiring young women, bringing them together to connect with peers and other female professionals to help enhance their career development.
“Dell Technologies were delighted to support the event and I was particularly privileged to impart some of my knowledge on social media and communication skills in a super interactive workshop.”
Equate Scotland initially connected with Dell Technologies in 2017, providing support in the launch of their STEMAspire mentoring programme. The programme came about as part of
Dell Technologies wider social impact strategy to drive growth and innovation through advancing diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
© 2023 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information | Ad Choices
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.
S&P Index data is the property of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. and its licensors. All rights reserved. Terms & Conditions. Powered and implemented by Interactive Data Managed Solutions.
CRN is live at Dell EMC World 2017 in Las Vegas. Get all of our coverage of the event, as well content from the Dell EMC World 2017 special issue of CRN, here.
|
Dell EMC Bringing Mission-Critical Cloud Power Virtustream Into Channel Program Pat Gelsinger: VMware Opens Up Tech Partners To Expand Cloud Capabilities Virtustream Extends Mission-Critical Cloud Tech To Complex Health Care Applications Michael Dell To Partners: 'Enormous Cross-Selling Opportunities For You' Dell EMC's David Goulden: Modern, Automated Infrastructure Provides The First Step For Cloud Migration Dell EMC Rolls Out 'Flexible Consumption' Rebate For Partners Dell EMC Takes Aim At Cisco With New Open Networking Push |
Dell North America Sales Chief: 'Winning In Both Consumer And Commercial PCs' Is Key Dell EMC World: Michael Dell's 7 Keys To The Future Of Dell Technologies And The IT Industry Dell EMC World: Enterprise Sales Chief Scannell Says Partners Are Booting Competitors, Winning Big Deals Amid Huge Market Opportunity Michael Dell To Partners: 'Enormous Cross-Selling Opportunities For You' Partner Marketing Push: Dell EMC Arms Partners With New MDF Resources Dell EMC Gives Partners The Nod On Commercial PCs With Extension Of Partner-Led Strategy Dell EMC Launches All-Flash Storage Barrage 15 Hot Products Unleashed At Dell EMC World 2017 |
Dell EMC World: Transformation Titans Map Out Dell EMC's Path To Growth
With the right pieces now in place, Dell EMC's complete-portfolio call to action is being heard loud and clear across the partner ecosystem.
Marius Haas On Why There's 'Zero Debate' About The Value Of Dell EMC's End-To-End Portfolio
Marius Haas believes that when it comes to determining which vendor partner is going to provide you with long-term value creation opportunities, there's no debate that it's Dell EMC.
John Byrne On Partners Pivoting Away From Cisco, HPE, Lenovo, And Selling The Entire Dell EMC Portfolio
John Byrne says that Dell EMC partners are rapidly moving away from competing vendors and aggressively pushing new business opportunities across the entire combined portfolio.
Dell EMC's Cheryl Cook On The Combined Partner Marketing Perspective
Dell EMC's global channel marketing chief Cheryl Cook talks to CRN about the importance of communication when combining the marketing efforts of two massive partner programs.
Chad Sakac On Dell EMC's Push To Turn Hyper-Converged Infrastructure Into A Utility
Dell EMC is putting the 'pedal to the medal' when it comes to hyper-converged infrastructure and is tasking Chad Sakac and his team with making customer transformation as simple as possible for partners.
Jeremy Burton On How Partners Can Take Advantage Of A Combined Dell, EMC
Ahead of Dell EMC World 2017, Jeremy Burton dug into the blockbuster acquisition and how it primes partners to take advantage of the new combined company.
Dell EMC's David Goulden On What It Means To Be The Biggest Player In Storage
Ahead of Dell EMC World 2017, David Goulden talks to CRN about the new combined storage powerhouse and why you won't heard anyone referred to as 'ex-Dell' or 'ex-EMC.'
Point system
10 points
8 points
6 points
5 points
3 points
2 points
*Candidate has not formally declared a campaign for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.
With support from Dell EMC, and in association with Intel and Microsoft, Dippy's Naturenauts offers a mobile-friendly interactive experience for children aged seven to eleven.
A fun activity that supports Dippy on Tour, Dippy and Fern the fox lead kids through a series of exploratory games that encourage them to venture outdoors and interact with the nature in their area while learning about science.
Through their generous support of Dippy on Tour and Dippy's Naturenauts, Dell EMC helped the Museum to help the next generation of scientists engage with the natural world through a leading a digital experience, guiding and engage them in scientific thinking.
Advertise With Us
We have various options to advertise with us including Events, Advertorials, Banners, Mailers, etc.
Download ETCIO App
Save your favourite articles with seamless reading experience
Get updates on your preferred social platform
Follow us for the latest news, insider access to events and more.
Advertise With Us
We have various options to advertise with us including Events, Advertorials, Banners, Mailers, etc.
Download ETTelecom App
Save your favourite articles with seamless reading experience
Get updates on your preferred social platform
Follow us for the latest news, insider access to events and more.
