The Best Cloud Computing Certifications of 2021
2021 is prime time to get your head in the cloud. You can do this by earning at least one of the best cloud computing certifications out there. But why cloud computing? For starters, it pays really well. We’ll dive into this more later in the article, but know that certified cloud computing professionals – including network architects, cloud architects and cloud network engineers – can make salaries well into six figures.
Need a reason besides money to get into cloud computing? Try job security.
The demand for cloud computing professionals has never been higher. We can thank the acceleration of digital transformation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic for that. According to Simplilearn, cloud skills are in high-demand as companies strive to derive the most value from cloud-based technology. Global job site, Indeed.com concurs, identifying cloud skills as a major trend in the tech skills market.
IT professionals can snag a cloud computing job by earning a cloud certification.
Employers are seeking IT pros with expert-level skills related to:
The top 10 highest-paying jobs in information security in 2021
Information security continues to grow. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the information security field is expected to grow by a whopping 31% between 2019 and 2029.
This article details the top 10 highest-paying jobs in information security for 2021, presented in ascending order, so you can get a high-level idea of what these roles pay on average.
Microsoft Finds a Third Print Spooler Bug
Microsoft finds another bug in Windows print spooler
Microsoft is again urging its customers to disable Windows print spooler, warning of a new escalation-of-privilege vulnerability in all Windows versions, even those with the recent PrintNightmare patch. This is the third print spooler vulnerability to emerge in five weeks.
Another zero day vulnerability in Windows Print Spooler can give a threat actor administrative privileges on a Windows machine through a remote server under the attacker’s control and the ‘Queue-Specific Files’ feature.
Last month, a security researcher accidentally revealed a zero-day Windows print spooler vulnerability known as PrintNightmare that Microsoft tracks as CVE-2021-34527.
Exploiting this vulnerability lets a threat actor increase privileges on a machine or execute code remotely.
Don’t Be Scared to Test at Home This Halloween!
Does the thought of taking your test at home send shivers up your spine? Are you scared that you will fail because you won’t be ready? Does the idea of having someone watch you make you feel like you’re in a bad 1980s video sung by Rockwell and Michael Jackson?
It’s OK to get a little nervous before plunging into the unfamiliar. This may be not only your first time taking a CompTIA exam, but also your first time testing from home! Luckily, you’re not alone in having those feelings as this is a new process for most of us.
Not a proctor, just the world’s creepiest shoulder surfer.
I Ain’t Afraid of No Ghosts
We’ll help you overcome your fears by helping you prepare. Fortunately, many others before you have already done it successfully. After all, CompTIA allowed testing from home on April 15. Other vendors like Certiport and Cisco, among others, have done the same.
By the way, if you want to check out those other certifications or get some more last-minute practice, then check out our materials here:
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Test at Your Favorite Haunt
With a strong Internet connection, a computer that meets the requirements, the right ID materials, and no prohibited materials or distractions in the room, then you can test safely from home. Also, make sure that you plugged your computer into a reliable power source and aren’t relying on the battery.
Good news! You don’t even have to test at home; you can test from work, or also a public library! You can’t take the test from a tablet or mobile phone at this time.
What happens when you keep putting off scheduling the test.
Bad Things Come in Threes … Unless You Prepare!
First, you should check if your computer would work under exam conditions. Take the official system test to see how well it would perform on the day of the test:
Assuming that you pass, then your next biggest concern will involve having a high bandwidth because you will use streaming video and audio for the entire two hour test. You should try a speed test.
Ideally a wired connection works best. If you have only a wireless connection, then ensure that others in your area turned off their connections temporarily. Better yet, have them leave during test time. Yes, Big Brother is watching you, so give him a gift card for a coffee, send him trick or treating somewhere, or give him a book to read.
Now that you know you have the proper equipment, you need to get familiar with the test format. Unfortunately, because you cannot use notes on paper or electronic devices to remember things, draw diagrams, summon spells, or perform calculations, you’ll use a sheet on the screen for your notes. We really, REALLY recommend that you practice using this feature before so that you don’t waste precious time learning how it works during the test itself:
https://home.pearsonvue.com/onvue/whiteboard
My proctor quit after I tested for some reason.
Now, if you do these three things, you’re pretty much ready to test at home by this point. But you should also know what to do for the test itself.
Don’t Ghost Your Test at Home!
Just as with any standard test center, you should arrive 30 minutes early. The check in process takes 15 minutes. If you’re scheduled at 1 PM, then get online and be ready by 12:30 PM.
Screams and tears won’t make you any less late. Arrive early to avoid upsets! No exceptions!
The proctor will explain the dos and don’ts. You will provide an ID copy, just like at a testing center, but good idea to bring two in case one doesn’t count.
The proctor will validate your ID with the Web camera and explain the rules. This means that you will need to make sure that your camera, microphone, and speakers work.
Just Because You’re Paranoid Doesn’t Mean They’re Not Watching You
The camera must be positioned so that the proctor can see you, the screen, and keyboard. Software will record your test screen even if you somehow block the Web camera with your hand, so you can’t “accidentally” block the screen. Trust us, we thought about it and they beat us to it already.
You cannot wear any phones, headphones, headsets, electronic devices, pagers (if you’re in a 1980s costume I guess), watches, wallets, purses, hats, head coverings, bags, coats, books, notepads, pocket protectors, or anything else not approved. Clothes are optional but we highly recommend them.
Wait, so we’re supposed to be afraid of her for not wearing a mask? Clown world indeed. Go, 2020!
I Can See Your House From Here…
The proctor will also make you pick up the Web camera and do a 360 view of the entire room. Therefore, you must remove all electronic devices, audio devices, notes, cards, books, scrawls on the wall/ceiling, floor, and any people who could possibly give hints, tips or cheats.
You can’t have notes, books, papers, pens, pencils, monitors or computers (or at least they must be turned off and unplugged), whiteboards, blackboards, Ouija boards, bloody messages scrawled on the wall, etc.
Are you moving it or did the mouse run out of battery and stop syncing again?
You won’t pass if you fail this preview of the room. The camera also will help the proctor to see if you’re checking your pockets, looking at the floor, or glancing around during the test looking at things that can help you during the test. Basically, you must look at the screen only.
Sure it’s disturbing, but at least they can’t accuse you of cheating on the test!
Don’t Rely on Phantom Power
You will also need to enable your microphone. That system test that you did earlier should check the microphone component. CompTIA doesn’t want someone to record the questions with hidden microphone, therefore you cannot talk to yourself during the test. Besides, it’s kind of weird. Psychic communication with spirits is technically not prohibited, but since they’d probably only know old versions of the test anyway any ghosts in the machine won’t help you very much.
We prefer the term living impaired, thank you.
CompTIA Will Soon Mean for Computer TestIng At Home (The H is Silent)
That’s pretty much it! You can now take the test and with our help you’ll know all the content so that you can pass the exams with ease. Once you’re done, the test will ask demographic and basic questions – just like they do at the test site examinations – and THEN it will give you your results. You will get a hard copy in the mail and you can get a digital copy on the spot.
We hope that you have a safe and Happy Halloween and that you succeed on your exams! Now go study, register, and test, then let us know how it goes!
Uh, you go first. I’ll be right behind you.
CompTIA online testing coming April 15th
CompTIA Online testing coming April 15th
CompTIA uses Pearson / VUE testing centers to administrate their Certification Exams. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic many of the VUE testing centers have closed around the world. In response to this, CompTIA is working with VUE to launch their online testing program.
CompTIA has been working on creating an online testing alternative for over a year and hoped to launch it by the end of 2020. Due to the Covid-19 issues they have accelerated the launch of their online testing program and CompTIA will be launching online testing April 15th.
CompTIA is partnering with VUE to use VUE’s new OnVUE platform to administer the online exams. You can learn more about OnVUE HERE.
Here are some details from CompTIA:
- Online Testing: StartingApril 15, 2020, CompTIA will be offering online testing, with remote proctoring, that will allow candidates to take their CompTIA exam at home, anytime, while maintaining a secure testing environment.
Note: Please be aware there is high demand for online testing with remote proctoring. Candidates will be able “schedule” their exam starting April 15th; however this does not mean that candidates will all be able test on that date.
- Online testing will NOT be available: Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, Syria, Japan, Slovenia, China and South Korea. Pearson OnVUE platform is not available in these select locations.
- Exams Available:All exams are available, with a few exceptions. Server+ won’t be available until May 1st, 2020. Not Available: CTT+ and any site licenses.
- Languages:Remote tests are available in all languages for which the exam is currently offered, however the proctors are English speaking only. The Pearson OnVUE platform is also English only.
- Rescheduling Exams: Candidates may reschedule an exam at a Pearson VUE testing center at any time. If candidates would instead like to take an online exam, please reschedule your exam on or after April 15, 2020.
We will update this blog as additional information becomes available next week.
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