Certifications

Software engineering and network engineering are no longer separate career worlds. Modern infrastructure is controlled through APIs, configuration repositories, automation pipelines, cloud platforms, and software-defined systems, so engineers who can combine networking knowledge with programming and operational discipline have a much wider range of options than those who work only through device-by-device commands. This page previously described a time-specific bootcamp opportunity and implied a collaboration between ExamSnap and Cisco. That framing is no longer appropriate as a current career guide. A more useful approach is to focus on the durable…

Microsoft’s Modern Desktop Administrator Associate certification belongs to an earlier phase of the Microsoft 365 certification program. The old path centered on MD-100 and MD-101 and validated Windows 10 deployment, device management, security, and related Microsoft 365 administration. Those exams and that certification path are retired. The current endpoint-administration credential is Microsoft 365 Certified: Endpoint Administrator Associate, built around Microsoft MD-102. The change is more than a new exam code. Modern endpoint work now spans Microsoft Intune, Microsoft Entra ID, Windows Autopilot, Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, compliance, application management, Windows…

Microsoft Ignite 2023, held in November 2023, marked a shift toward integrated AI infrastructure and workplace assistants. Microsoft introduced custom chips, expanded Azure hardware options, showed Copilot applications and described tools for developers, analysts and security teams. Many announcements were in preview or subject to staged availability. Three years later, those announcements remain useful as product history but cannot establish today’s prices, regional availability, supported APIs or licensing. The Microsoft certification roadmap shows how Azure, AI, security, data and workplace roles now differ, but any exam decision should use its…

IAPP certifications cover several different kinds of privacy work, and choosing among them is easier when you start with the job you need to perform. CIPP is centered on privacy law and regulatory frameworks. CIPM is centered on operating a privacy program. CIPT is centered on building privacy into technology and products. AIGP, now an important part of the IAPP portfolio, is centered on responsible AI governance. These credentials can complement one another, but they are not interchangeable. A privacy lawyer, privacy operations manager, product engineer, security architect, and AI…

ITIL (Version 5) is the current entry point for new ITIL learners, but the qualification scheme is broader than Foundation alone. PeopleCert now organizes the journey around Foundation, practice depth, product and service management, strategy, transformation, AI governance, and the longer-term ITIL Master destination. The ITIL certification catalog is the broad ExamSnap destination. The current ITIL Version 5 certification path adds role-based context, while the ITIL 4 transition guide explains what still carries forward. The simplest way to navigate the scheme is to connect every module or designation to a…

2026 certification update: PMI updated the PMP examination in July 2026, emphasizing business outcomes, AI, sustainability and stakeholder engagement. CAPM, PMI-ACP and other credentials have independent eligibility and testing requirements; historical salary or exam claims below are not guaranteed current facts. Agile methodologies have fundamentally reshaped how organizations plan, execute, and deliver projects across industries ranging from software development and financial services to healthcare, manufacturing, and government. The shift away from rigid waterfall approaches toward iterative, collaborative, and value-driven frameworks has created enormous demand for professionals who can lead agile…

An article about PMP exam changes in 2015 now needs historical context more than another recap of an old update. The Project Management Professional exam has changed repeatedly since then, and the current exam launched in July 2026 with a new content outline, new domain weights, additional question formats, and stronger emphasis on value delivery, artificial intelligence, sustainability, governance, and contemporary ways of working. The useful question in 2026 is not “what changed in 2015?” It is “which parts of older PMP advice still help, and which parts should be…

The EC-Council Certified Chief Information Security Officer (C|CISO) certification has long been regarded as one of the most prestigious and sought-after credentials in the cybersecurity industry. This certification is a mark of leadership, designed for those who aspire to lead their organization’s information security strategy and drive decisions at the highest level. However, one significant hurdle has been the requirement for candidates to demonstrate five years of experience across at least three out of the five C|CISO domains. This challenge has made it difficult for many aspiring professionals to even…

The Certified Ethical Hacker certification is one of the most widely recognized credentials in the cybersecurity profession, and the candidates who pass it consistently share one common trait: they studied from the right resources. While video courses, boot camps, and practice labs all play valuable roles in preparation, books remain the most reliable and comprehensive medium for building the deep conceptual understanding that the CEH exam demands. A well-written study book allows candidates to move at their own pace, revisit complex topics without rewinding a video, and build the kind…

An AWS Learning Needs Analysis helps an organization decide what cloud skills its people actually need before investing in courses. It is an adaptive, role-based self-assessment survey, not a proctored certification exam and not proof that an employee can perform a production change without supervision. Used well, it helps connect training to business outcomes. Cloud migration, application modernization, data engineering and security initiatives each create different skill requirements. A team with deep on-premises infrastructure experience may need AWS identity and automation practice; business stakeholders may only need to understand shared…

A Microsoft exam can retire even when the technology it covered remains useful. For a learner, retirement changes what can be booked and what credential can still be earned; it does not erase every skill learned from an earlier syllabus or automatically invalidate the historical achievement shown on a transcript. To make a sound decision in 2026, separate four distinct events: an exam stops accepting candidates, a certification itself retires, a training course is removed or replaced, and an individual credential reaches its ordinary expiration date. Microsoft publishes these statuses…

Sandy Lerner’s career is unusual even by Silicon Valley standards. She co-founded Cisco Systems with Leonard Bosack, helped commercialize technology that changed how computer networks connected, later built the cosmetics company Urban Decay, and then devoted substantial energy and capital to animal welfare, sustainable agriculture, and literary philanthropy. The “Cisco co-founder becomes a turkey farmer” version of the story is true in outline but too narrow. Lerner’s Ayrshire Farm in Virginia became an organic and humane livestock operation involving cattle, pigs, chickens, turkeys, heritage breeds, food retail, and education. The…

Information technology auditing has evolved dramatically over the past several decades, transforming from a niche specialty into a critical function that nearly every modern organization depends upon to manage risk and ensure regulatory compliance. The ISACA CISA certification (Certified Information Systems Auditor) has remained one of the most respected credentials for professionals working in this space since ISACA first introduced it. As technology continues advancing at an accelerating pace, the certification itself has adapted alongside these changes, ensuring that certified professionals remain equipped to audit increasingly complex and interconnected information…

The move from CLF-C01 to CLF-C02 happened in September 2023, but the transition still matters because older Cloud Practitioner courses, videos, question banks, and study notes remain easy to find. Candidates preparing in 2026 should treat CLF-C02 as the only relevant blueprint. CLF-C01 ended on September 18, 2023, and CLF-C02 began the following day. The credential itself remains an entry-level validation of broad AWS understanding. The AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner path is intended for people who need a high-level view of AWS Cloud, services, terminology, security, economics, and support rather…

The rapidly evolving Information Technology (IT) landscape continuously presents new challenges and opportunities. As technology advances, professionals in the field must stay ahead of the curve by acquiring the most relevant skills and certifications. In 2016, several IT certifications stood out for their value in advancing careers in cybersecurity, cloud computing, networking, and project management. Earning the right certifications not only deepens your expertise but also significantly boosts your career prospects. Whether you are starting your journey in IT or seeking to further specialize in a particular area, these certifications…