If you are an I.T professional who wants to learn a whole new range of technical skills, then this article will be of great use to you. It will help you learn about different Microsoft programs being offered to professionals and students.
What Are Microsoft Programs?
Microsoft is offering a range of Certificate programs for people working in the I.T industry. These programs are specifically designed for individuals who are:
- In charge of monitoring, managing, and implementing their organizations’ cloud environments and solutions.
- Involved in building apps that help to transform, automate, or simplify business processes or tasks.
- Involved in building and designing data models that drive business value.
- Responsible for testing, building, and designing systems and software, such as enterprise cloud solutions and commercial apps.
- Responsible for implementing and designing digital security controls.
What Can You Do After Completing a Microsoft Program?
After completing a Microsoft program, individuals can work as Data Analysts, Administrators, Data Engineers, Data Scientists, Developers, DevOps Engineers, Functional Consultants, Security Engineers, Solutions Architects, and App Makers.
The career outlook and wage statistics for some of these roles are mentioned below. These figures have been taken from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Network and Computer Systems Administrators
These professionals oversee the day-to-day operations of computer networks. As part of their jobs, they are usually involved in maintaining computer and network security, optimizing and evaluating a system or network performance, making required repairs and upgrades to networks, and installing network software or hardware.
| Annual Median Salary, 2019 | Job Outlook, 2018-2028 | Annual Mean Salary, 2019 | State with the Highest Employment Level, 2019 | State with the Highest Salary, 2019 |
| $83,510 | 5% | $88,410 | Texas | 35,890 |
| Maryland | $110,890 |
Information Security Analysts
These professionals implement and plan security measures to protect the systems and computer networks of an organization. Information Security Analysts are responsible for researching the current I.T security trends, developing security standards for their organizations, recommending security enhancements to the I.T team and the management, and monitoring the company’s networks for security breaches. They are employed in financial or business firms, consulting companies, or computer companies.
| Annual Median Salary, 2019 | Job Outlook, 2018-2028 | Annual Mean Salary, 2019 | State with the Highest Employment Level, 2019 | State with the Highest Salary, 2019 |
| $99,730 | 32% | $104,210 | Virginia | 15,010 |
| New York | $121,750 |
Computer and Information Research Scientists
These professionals help engineers and scientists solve challenging computing problems. They are involved in improving and developing system software and inventing new computing tools and languages.
| Annual Median Salary, 2019 | Job Outlook, 2018-2028 | Annual Mean Salary, 2019 | State with the Highest Employment Level, 2019 | State with the Highest Salary, 2019 |
| $122,840 | 16% | $127,460 | California | 7,370 |
| Virginia | $143,390 |
What to Expect from a Microsoft Program?
Microsoft offers a range of certifications, some of which are mentioned below. To earn these certifications, individuals have to pass a series of exams.
- Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals: This certification helps candidates to learn about cloud security, core Azure services, and cloud concepts. Individuals who want to obtain this certificate are expected to have basic knowledge of cloud services. Moreover, candidates are expected to be familiar with the concepts of application development, application support, and networking.
- Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate: Candidates who want to obtain this certificate are expected to have a minimum of six months of experience of administering Azure.
Microsoft Certified: DevOps Engineer Expert: Those individuals should obtain this certification who are familiar with both Azure development and administration. - Microsoft Certified: Azure Security Engineer Associate: This certification is ideal for candidates who have knowledge of threat protection and security controls. Applicants for this certification should have a solid understanding of cloud N-tier architecture and networking.
How to Choose a Microsoft Program?
Before deciding which Microsoft certification to obtain, you should consider a range of factors. First of all, you should look at the requirements of the certificate. Many certificates require candidates to have basic knowledge of some topics, such as Networking and Application Development. Second, you should check the cost of the certification. Third, you should see whether the certification is related to your job role.
Microsoft Program Admission Requirements
Every Microsoft certification has its own set of requirements. For example, the Azure Administrator Associate certification program requires candidates to have a good understanding of Azure services. Thus, it is a good idea to visit Microsoft’s website and browse all the available programs to learn more about the certification requirements.