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Good day,

Mustered up the courage to come on SpiceWorks and ask the IT professionals some advice in terms of my future.

Post school, I studied teaching - and came out with a qualification in that. Then I started working in IT and my world just got a whole lot better. I had been using a computer for graphics design and simple network implementation, but once I got into a professional environment where it was my job to look after computers, I discovered a whole new world of happiness.

Enough nostalgia.

I have been working in IT for just over two years now and I want to certify myself. I got the preliminary A+ and N+ certifications, just to secure my job in the beginning. I worked as a field tech, and a year later moved to Sys Admin. Learnt the hard way, the ins and outs, and became a senior systems administrator at the same company that I started as the Sys Admin at. Would have certified myself earlier, but I was low on money.

I am currently working with PBX and programming a the moment (PHP, SQL, and a few more).

I want to certify myself, but want to do so in a proper manner, so that I don’t certify myself for something that isn’t relevant. I was looking at finishing my MCSA, MCSE, but I don’t know where to go after that. I was looking at the CISA. CISSP, CRISC certifications - they seem to be good certifications to have under one’s belt. I quite enjoy the role of sys admin, and would like to build on it - and perhaps move to a path that works along that. I don’t really want to work with PBX for the rest of my life, and will ultimately want to move to something that affords me more of a challenge, and something that pays a little better.

So yeah. I have limited funds, and want to study the correct ‘path’ so that I don’t end up with a whole bunch of certifications that don’t help me at all.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks so much.

@Cisco

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Sounds like you need to stay on the path of MCSA, MCSE. Lock that down first since you have a background with those. It will make you more marketable with the certs and experience if you decide to move to another company.

Something such as itil or pmp looks good for as far as being in management. I would also look into having the company pay for your certs if possible.

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Keep in mind that with CISA and CRISC you need to have 5 years experience in IT Auditing (CISA) or Risk (CRISC) prior to certification, and you have to maintain an average of 40 CPEs annually to maintain those certs. These certs have nothing to do with sysadmin.

One cert that may be worth looking into is the ISACA CSX. Its not expensive (like $150.00) and its security based so you will use that knowledge whatever you end up doing.

http://www.isaca.org/cyber/Pages/default.aspx

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The MCSE route when working with PBXs is a tad strange, surely a network cert would be better and a more natural progression?

As for the CISA, Cybrary ( https://www.cybrary.it ) have a course for that, Cybrary is a free to use (just register for free!) video tutorial series. FREE Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) Online Training Course | Cybrary

Good luck with your studies!

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Thank you.

I will have a definitely look at finishing them.

Thanks for the advice

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