Can job security honestly exist anymore? Here in the UK, with businesses changing their mind whenever it suits, there doesn't seem much chance. We can however reveal security at market-level, by digging for areas in high demand, together with a lack of qualified workers.

The IT skills-gap around the UK is standing at roughly twenty six percent, according to a recent e-Skills analysis. Therefore, for each 4 job positions that exist across computing, businesses are only able to locate enough qualified individuals for 3 of the 4. Accomplishing full commercial IT exams is accordingly a quick route to succeed in a long-lasting and enjoyable career. It would be hard to imagine if a better time or market conditions is ever likely to exist for obtaining certification in this swiftly growing and developing market.

We're often asked why qualifications from colleges and universities are being replaced by more commercial certifications? With an ever-increasing technical demand on resources, the IT sector has had to move to the specialised training that can only be obtained from the actual vendors - for example companies like CISCO, Adobe, Microsoft and CompTIA. This frequently provides reductions in both cost and time. Vendor training works by honing in on the particular skills that are needed (together with an appropriate level of associated knowledge,) rather than covering masses of the background 'padding' that degrees in computing often do - to fill a three or four year course.

Imagine if you were an employer - and you required somebody who had very specific skills. What is easier: Wade your way through loads of academic qualifications from graduate applicants, struggling to grasp what they've learned and what workplace skills they've mastered, or choose a specific set of accreditations that perfectly fit your needs, and then choose your interviewees based around that. You can then focus on how someone will fit into the team at interview - instead of having to work out if they can do the job.

There are also 2 specialities within the 'MCSE' path - security and messaging. These necessitate either 2 extra MCP examinations, or one single extra examination if one of the principal 7 has been appropriately chosen. It's sensible to think about this from the beginning if you're interested in either of these areas, since some forward planning will mean you only have a maximum of 8 MCPs to do. The Server-2008 'Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist' (MCTS) update exam has also been released by Microsoft - the 'MCSA' is exam 70-648 and the MCSE is exam 70/649. We would suggest that you seriously consider including one of the above into your training program. Not only should this future proof you to a degree, it will also make you qualified to apply for extra positions.

In order to attain your complete 'MCSA' you must pass 4 individual 'MCP' exams (MCP stands for Microsoft Certified Professional). Three of them are 'core' examinations which have to be taken, and one is what's known as an elective. The 'Comptia' Security+ is now recognised as an 'elective' exam, and has become increasingly common with many students for obvious reasons. To successfully accomplish your full 'MCSE' you have seven MCP examinations to pass. These especially stress network-design, Security and systems planning.