Cloud platforms offer infrastructure as a service to various businesses around the world.

Thanks to cloud computing, many companies have been able to increase efficiency, lower operational costs, and scale innovation.

To ensure their cloud environment is well managed and maintained, organizations seek certified professionals who have vast knowledge in cloud computing.

AWS vs Microsoft Azure vs Google Cloud

AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud are known as public cloud platforms.

These companies offer cloud computing services to businesses and other organizations.

While AWS (Amazon Web Services) has about 33% of the cloud market share, Microsoft Azure has 16% and Google Cloud has 8%.

These are the three biggest cloud platforms. Now that we know the three big fish in the cloud computing space, the next question is which one to learn.

If you are new to cloud computing, or at a crossroad where you have to decide which cloud certification to choose, it is important you know all about the three biggest cloud service providers in the global IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service), SaaS (Software as a Service), and PaaS (Platform as a Service) market.

Also, since you will be investing a lot of time, money, and effort into learning these platforms, it will be helpful to know the benefits of each of these cloud service providers and how their certifications can help your career in cloud computing.

In this article I will analyze and compare AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud Platform and examine the advantages of taking the certifications they offer.

AWS Certifications

AWS started its journey in 2006, and it was the first company to offer infrastructure services through the internet.

This cloud platform offers roughly 175 services which include Analytics, IoT, Developer tools, Enterprise applications, Security, Storage, and Networking.

However, AWS has a complex pricing model and it is one of the most expensive cloud platforms in the market.

AWS owns a Virtual Private Cloud and some of its leading customers are Netflix, Spotify, and Capital One.

An AWS certification proves you have the required skills to design, manage, and deploy Amazon Web Services applications and solutions.

AWS currently offers twelve certifications.

The AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner certification is best suited for beginners.

However, there are higher certifications as you move forward in your career. AWS certifications are grouped as follows:

Practitioner Level

• AWS- Certified Cloud Practitioner

Associate Level

• AWS- Certified Developer
• AWS-Certified SysOps Administrator, and
• AWS-Certified Solutions Architect

Professional Level

• AWS-Certified DevOps Engineer, and
• AWS- Certified Solutions Architect

Specialty Level

• AWS-Certified Data Analytics
• AWS-Certified Advanced Networking
• AWS-Certified Security
• AWS-Certified Alexa Skill Builder
• AWS-Certified Machine Learning, and
• AWS-Certified Database

The Benefits of AWS

• Suitable for large enterprises with huge needs
• Strong global presence
• Multi-feature cloud technologies, and
• One-stop-shop cloud service provider

Microsoft Azure Certifications

As the second-largest cloud service provider, hybrid cloud is Azure’s niche.

Azure also integrates other Microsoft services such as Teams and Office 365 which makes it more appealing to companies that are already dependent on these platforms.

Azure is the fastest growing cloud service provider and it caters to over 57% of Fortune 500 Companies.

Microsoft Azure owns a virtual network cloud, and some of its famous clientele include GE Healthcare, Samsung, and eBay.

There are 12 certifications offered by Azure, and they are categorized into 3 role-based structures.

If you want to get a good head start into the Azure platform, you might want to start with the Microsoft Azure Fundamentals AZ-900 exam.

Here is the Azure certification structure:

Fundamental Level

• Microsoft Certified –Exam AZ-900 Azure Fundamentals
• Microsoft Certified – Azure AI – Exam AI-900 (beta), and
• Microsoft Certified – Exam DP-900 (beta) -Azure Data Fundamentals

Associate Level

• Microsoft Certified – Exam AZ-103 Azure Administrator
• Microsoft Certified – Exam AZ-203 Azure Developer
• Microsoft Certified – Exam AZ-500 Azure Security Engineer
• Microsoft Certified – Exam AI-100 Azure AI Engineer
• Microsoft Certified – Exam DP-100 Azure Data Scientist , and
• Microsoft Certified – Exam DP-300 (beta) Azure Database Administrator

Expert Level

• Microsoft Certified – Exams AZ-300 and AZ-301 Solutions Architect , and
• Microsoft Certified – Exam AZ-400 Azure DevOps Engineer

The Benefits of Microsoft Azure

• Easy to integrate with other Microsoft products.
• Better support for Hybrid or cross-cloud capability, and
• Strong support for Linux and Windows environments

Google Cloud Platform Certifications

Google Cloud is a relatively new cloud platform.

Its success in the industry can be linked to its cheap pricing model.

Actually, it’s the cheapest amongst the Big-Three because it focuses on small and medium enterprises.

However, Google Cloud Platform has a limited range of products and a smaller global market presence compared to AWS and Azure.

GCP’s unique edge comes from its expertise in open source technologies and containers.

Popular companies that use Google Cloud Platform are Sony Music, Snapchat, and Coca Cola.

There are 8 certifications under Google Cloud Platform and they can be grouped into 2 levels. GCP Associate and Professional.  They are as follows:

Associate Level

• Associate – Cloud Engineer

Professional Level

• Professional – Cloud Architect
• Professional – Cloud Developer
• Professional – Data Engineer
• Professional – Cloud DevOps Engineer
• Professional – Cloud Security Engineer
• Professional – Cloud Network Engineer , and
• Professional – Machine Learning Engineer

 The Benefits of Google Cloud Platform

• Competitive pricing model
• Offers various Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence toolsets
• Easy to integrate and manage with other Google’s products, and
• Provides powerful data analytics tools

AWS vs Azure vs Google Cloud: Which Certification Is Best For You?

AWS has a strong global market presence compared to other cloud platforms.

A lot of employers look for AWS experts, so this certification is more likely to get your foot in the door if you are looking for an entry-level role in a cloud-related job in top companies.

Also, because of its simple user interface, AWS is recommended for beginners in cloud computing. It is easy to study for AWS certifications, as there are lots of tutorials and study material on the internet.

Learning Azure can be a great addition to your skillset if you already have knowledge of some Windows products such as SQL Server, Active Directory, .NET, and Windows Server.

Also, if you have already have an MCSA: Windows 10, MCSA: Windows Server 2016, or MCSA: Office 365 certification, adding an Azure cloud certification would better your chances of getting a cloud-related job in companies that use Microsoft products.

A Google Cloud certification can be beneficial to you if you are a developer who mostly uses Google services such as Google Maps API and Firebase.

This is because Google Cloud Platform allows you to easily manage and monitor Google-supported API’s.

Your passion and future goals both have a huge role to play in this decision.

If your goal is to appeal to a broader range of employers or you desire a certification that is most in-demand in the IaaS, SaaS, and PaaS market, then AWS is the way to go.

Meanwhile Azure and Google Cloud could be a better option if you want to focus your skillset on Machine Learning and Big Data.

Bear in mind that although AWS and Azure certifications have high demand in the IaaS market, there is high competition for job openings seeking those certifications.

However, while demand for Google cloud platform experts is low, there is less competition in this area of the job market.

Keep in mind that…

Cloud computing is one of the major trends in technology.

Many organizations are now migrating their systems to the Cloud to improve flexibility, save costs, and ensure business continuity.

The demand for IT professionals who can provide cloud-based solutions has skyrocketed over the years.

According to Payscale, cloud computing roles such as Cloud Solutions Architect and DevOps Engineer earn an average salary of $133,000 US dollars.

Not only will cloud certifications increase your earning potential and make you more eligible to many employers, job security is also a huge advantage here.

Cloud technology is the current buzz and it is not phasing out anytime soon.

Most organizations are now abandoning conventional data centers and moving to cloud technology.

So, there will always be a need for cloud computing professionals.

When it comes to the best cloud certification to choose from, there are no absolute answers.

Each cloud service provider I have talked about, has managed to thrive and maintain its position amongst the top three in the market.

That said, if you aim to work with a particular company, you may want to find out which cloud platform they use. This can help you decide which certification to take first, then you can work your way up.

The Google Data Analytics certification is an entry-level certification offered by Google to equip you with skills to cleanse, maintain, process, visualize, and analyze data using a variety of tools and platforms.

What is Google Data Analytics Certificate?

The certification is delivered by Coursera, and offers roughly 180 hours of instruction and several practical assessments, quizzes, assignments and tests on key data analytics concepts including data structures, data types, data analysis, data visualization and using data analysis languages like R to make sense of large chunks of data.

Companies need Data Analytics experts to help them make sense of huge amounts of data.

A report by Deloitte says that the world creates 2.5 quintillion bytes of data each year.

Data Analysts mine vast databases and help companies make long-term strategies to boost profits and avoid risk.

That’s why companies are willing to pay large salaries to data experts.

According to a report by LinkedIn, Data Science remains one of the fastest-growing jobs in the world.

According to Google, there are over 337,400 entry-level Data Analytics jobs, with an average salary of $67,900 US dollars.

The Google Data Analytics certification was designed by Google to allow individuals with no IT or Database Experience to start a career in Data Analytics to tap into the growing opportunities worldwide.

Robert Half’s Technology Salary Report lists Data Analytics among the critical technology roles needed in the world.  According to the report, the average salary of a Data Analyst with little or no prior experience is roughly $82,000.

Google Data Analytics certification costs around $39 per month. According to Coursera, the certification can be completed in less than 6 months of part time study. Therefore, the total cost of the program is roughly $300.

Google also offers need-based financial assistance for the certification.

Google recommends this certification to anyone who has an interest in data and an understanding of high-school-level math.

Skills Measured by the Google Data Analytics Certification

The certification teaches you to handle data through a variety of ways and tools.

The certification consists of 8 modules, and the course offers both theoretical and practical application

Apart from understanding the basics of data cleaning, processing, visualization and analysis, this certification offers a practical understanding of tools like SQL, R programming with RStudio, Kaggle, Tableau, Qwiklabs, and Google Spreadsheets.

Let’s take a look at the course content.

Foundations: Data, Data, Everywhere

• Data lifecycle and analysis
• Understanding the role of spreadsheets and query languages
• Data cleaning, visualization, and processing
• SQL, R Programming, Tableau, and
• How to choose the right tool for data analysis tasks

Ask Questions to Make Data-Driven Decisions

• Understanding data-driven decision-making
• The importance of asking the right questions in data querying and processing (SMART questions)
• Understanding structured thinking
• Mathematical thinking
• Spreadsheets
• Introduction to Qwiklabs (optional), and
• Formulas and functions in spreadsheets

Prepare Data for Exploration

• Understanding data types
• Understanding which data is important
• Structured data
• Understanding Boolean logic
• Data transformations
• Introduction to Kaggle
• Ethics of data and biases
• Introduction to BigQuery
• Data anonymization
• SQL with large datasets, and
• Metadata

Process Data from Dirty to Clean

• Data integrity
• Sample sizes
• Data reliability
• Margins of error
• Pre-cleaning of data
• Basics of data cleaning
• What is dirty data
• Using spreadsheet features to clean data
• Workflow automation
• Cleaning string variables using SQL
• Data cleaning with advanced functions
• Using SQL as a Data Analyst, and
• SQL dialects and their use

Analyze Data to Answer Questions

• Sorting datasets
• Using filters
• The SORT function
• Sorting using SQL and Excel
• SQL sorting queries
• Data validation
• Manipulating strings in SQL
• Using VLOOKUP
• Understanding JOINS
• All about Pivot Tables, and
• Composite functions

Share Data Through the Art of Visualization

• Data visualization
• Design thinking
• Introduction to Tableau
• Data journalism
• Making charts in spreadsheets, and
• Making Tableau dashboards

Data Analysis with R Programming

• Introduction to R
• Intro to RStudio
• Cloud access to RStudio
• Programming fundamentals
• Introduction to Tidyverse, and
• Vectors, lists, dates, times and data structures in R

Google Data Analytics Capstone: Complete a Case Study

• Introducing the capstone project
• Working on some real-work examples
• Working on your case study

For a more complete curriculum, download the latest Google Data Analytics Certificate exam objectives.

Now, let’s look at the…

Pre-requisites for the Google Data Analytics Certification

There are no pre-requisites for the certification. Google just recommends having a basic math understanding.

This entry-level certification is designed for those who want to start a career in Data Analysis, Data Science, and Business Intelligence.

How to Prepare for the Google Data Analytics Certificate

There are several ways to study for this certification.  In this section we’ll take a look at the various options available.

Self-Study Resources

Google has partnered with Coursera for this certification.

When you register, you will be able to see the complete course material, along with training videos, tests, assignments and quizzes.

But if you want to get a stronger grasp of the Data Analytics concepts covered in the course, there are several self-study resources available.

Books

There are no officially-recommended books for this certification. However, the core concepts of  Data Analytics are not new. They are deeply rooted into the basics of data structures, algorithms, data processing, and data visualization.

You can consult any good book that covers the basics of data.

SQL is a major chunk of this certification. To increase your SQL understanding check out ‘Learning SQL by Alan Beaulieu’, ‘SQL Cookbook by Anthony Molinaro’, and ‘SQL Practice Problems by Sylvia Moestl Vasilik’.

Some other useful books to learn the concepts covered in the Google Data Analytics certification are ‘Data Mining: Concepts and Techniques by Micheline Kamber’, ‘R for Data Science by Garrett Grolemund and Hadley Wickham’ and, ‘Data Visualization For Dummies by Stephanie Diamond’.

Video Training

Learning Data Analytics concepts can be improved with the use of videos.  That’s why Google is using the Coursera platform that teaches this certification in a video-based format.

Apart from the Coursera videos, you can go deeper into the topic of Data Analytics by taking Plural Sight’s Data Analytics Learning Path.

One of the best video training options for this certification is offered by Google on YouTube for free. These videos summarize all the basic concepts covered in this certification.

Instructor-Led Training

Google is offering free virtual workshops and training sessions for Data Analytics candidates who want to learn directly from experts.

You can register for these workshops here and attend the sessions from your home.

Practice Tests

The Coursera modules of the Google Data Analytics certification include several practice tests and activities.

Each of the 8 modules has at least 5 practice exercises at the end. For example, at the end of the first module, you get a chance to use spreadsheets, make charts, and practice SQL queries.

However, you can find tons of free practice tests online. For example, to refine your SQL skills, you can practice data querying with actual data sets on websites like W3resource, Oracle LiveSQL, SQLZOO and SQL Fiddle.

Practice Labs

Google Data Analytics is a practical certification. Every theoretical concept has a practical application.

The sole intent of this certification is to provide you with the skills to get Data Analytics jobs.

Therefore, it’s important you get a lot of practice with the practical areas of the certification in order to refine your skills.

You can find literally hundreds of practice labs for SQL, R, Spreadsheets, and Data Visualizations on websites like Simplilearn, Whiz Labs and R Exercises.

Also, don’t forget to check out Google Data Studio for data visualization practice.

Now, let’s look at…

What Jobs you can get with the Google Data Analytics Certification

The skills you learn with this certification have practical application in the industry.

Every organization that generates or processes data needs Data Analysts.

This certification is an ideal way to enter the industry.

With the Google Data Analytics certification, you become eligible for the following roles:

• Junior Data Analyst
• Associate Data Analyst
• Junior Data Scientist
• Data Technician
• Business Intelligence Analyst, and
• Business Analyst

Now, let’s talk about how much money you can make with the…

Google Data Analytics Certification

According to Google’s own estimates, the salary for entry-level roles with the Google Data Analytics certificate is around $67,900 US dollars.

According PayScale, the average salary for the Data Analyst role is roughly $67,300.

Based on GlassDoor’s estimates, the average salary for the Junior Data Analyst role is roughly $50,000.

Let’s see what other people think about this certification.  Here are a few…

Observations from Successful Google Data Analytics Certification Holders in the Industry

Google Data Analytics is a relatively new certification, launched in March 2021. However, the certification received a very positive response from all over the world given its attractive price and meaningful curriculum.

Here are some comments about the certification from people who have actually checked it out.

“Hi there, I have already taken the live courses on the trial period and I can tell you it is worth it. I have taken many courses out there and I can say this one gave me a bigger view of what it is to be like a data analyst. To not spend so much on it, you can go for the trial and then wait till other courses are available. By the way, you can’t expect to learn a lot about SQL or Spreadsheet. They are just basic things but as I said the beautiful thing about it is it gives you a framework for a data analyst job. Then you can go and work on more advanced topics on SQL or Spreadsheet with a bigger view of things.”[ Reddit User EzzaddeenMofarreh

“I thought the videos were helpful in getting a basic understand of data analytics and what to look forward to. However, I was hoping to learn more from most activities. The journals and self-reflection sometimes don’t give much value, although I suppose they get you thinking like an analyst a bit. When giving an introduction to spreadsheets and databases, it would be significantly more helpful if the activities were more hands on. I thought that would be the case when they introduced Qwiklabs, but no. Also, I noticed a time or two, I wasn’t sure how I was supposed to input an answer, i.e. I’m sure I knew the answer, but just didn’t get credit for it because of how Coursera wanted me to write it.” [ Review on first module of the certification on Coursera by Rachel V]

“Oh man I have never been this excited and anticipated for something in my life before this. And the introduction course was right on bulls eye. It included all the key ingredients necessary to make a great course. Lectures were point on, insights by Googlers were great, the weekly challenges especially the course challenge was really well designed. Only complaint is to incorporate more interactive activities in the course. This is Google. I expect a bit more. probably!! [Review on first module of the certification on Coursera by Danial A]

The Truth About The Google Data Analytics Certificate

The certificate gives you a taste for technologies that have high demand.

You can start your career in the industry and see exponential progress with these skills.

A report from Dice said that the demand for Data Analysts soared 50% in 2020 across sectors like Banking, Finance, Entertainment, and Healthcare.

However, the certification alone doesn’t guarantee a job.

You will have to dig deeper into the concepts and become proficient at using the Data Analysis tools to stand out.

Always get your hands dirty with practical projects and develop a live portfolio accessible online to attract employers and recruiters.

Is the Google Data Analytics Certification for You?

With booming demand and a talent shortage in the Data Analysis domain, the Google Data Analytics certification remains one of the best and cost-effective ways to enter the market.

In today’s competitive business environment, many organizations rely on big data to evaluate business performance, formulate strategies, and plan for the future.

As a result, there is a rising need to hire skilled individuals who can get key insights from massive datasets and effectively use these insights to create effective solutions.

In this article, we are going to discuss the differences and similarities between a Data Analyst and a Business Analyst, as well as the objectives of each role, to help you decide which career path would be best for you.

Business Analytics and Data Analytics: An Overview

The need to harness big data and put into good use the massive amount of information being examined has revealed the importance of Data Analytics and Business Analytics to many organizations.

Both Data Analysts and Business Analysts help the company’s decision-making process by fetching and manipulating data.

Data Analysts scour through raw data to generate reports and model insights, while Business Analysts derive conclusions from these insights.

One can say Data Analysts do the background work, while Business Analysts apply the results using a practical approach.

If you love analyzing or working with data, you may be finding it difficult to choose a career path between Data Analytics and Business Analytics.

With a background in Data Science, you may be able to fit into either role. However, both the Business Analyst and Data Analyst positions require unique skills to function and have different goals.

Data Analysts spend most of their time mining and preparing data for analysis that they have little or no time left to make strategic recommendations based on the intelligence gathered. Thus, this responsibility falls squarely on the shoulders of Business Analysts, who are expected to communicate findings and provide ideas on how to improve existing business processes.

Both Data Analysts and Business Analysts must understand the intricacies of the business as both roles are key in driving productivity in the organization.

What Does a Data Analyst Do?

As opposed to business-focused Business Analysts, the role of a Data Analyst is largely technical.

Depending on the organization, a Data Analyst may be referred to as a Data Scientist, Data Engineer, Data Architect, or Machine Learning Scientist.

These individuals mainly work at the back end of the data pipeline and spend most of their time computing numbers and processing information.

By sifting through massive amounts of data, Data Analysts can reveal trends and provide other departments with the crucial information they need to function.

Some daily tasks performed by Data Analysts include the following:

• Mining and scrubbing data
• Carrying out data entry
• Creating dashboards for different departments, and
• Producing internal reports

What Skills Should a Data Analyst Have?

Data Analysts use a variety of intricate skills to assist business operations. These individuals are required to apply strategic analysis and critical thinking in their daily tasks.

Also, to reveal insights and patterns, Data Analysts need to be proficient in complex calculation applications and computer programs to obtain facts and figures. Hence, it is crucial to have mathematical skills and detailed knowledge of programming.

Other core skills a Data Analyst must possess are:

• Proficiency in Excel and Microsoft Office tools
• Database Design
• R and Python
• Data Mining Techniques
• Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, and
• SQL or CQL Proficiency

Data Analyst Objectives

A Data Analyst is responsible for collating and analyzing organizational data and maintaining a strong database.

Having direct access to large amounts of raw information, a Data Analyst is in a better position to discover valuable insights to help measure performance, solve problems, and develop a plan to grow the business.

Therefore, the main objectives of a Data Analyst boil down to gathering data and presenting raw information in a format that is comprehensible by stakeholders and other members of the team.

What Does a Business Analyst Do?

In simple terms, Business Analysts measure performance, identify business problems, and suggest solutions using data as a resource.

Depending on the industry or organization, Business Analysts are often referred to as Enterprise Analysts, Agile Analysts, Business Architects, Strategy Officers, or Process Officers.

These individuals are typically problem solvers who use data-driven insights to identify loopholes in existing procedures while creating new strategies and discerning potential opportunities.

With conclusions drawn using big data tools, Business Analysts can make recommendations that would enable stakeholders to effect and implement practical changes within the organization.

The Business Analyst role is quite versatile, so their tasks may vary depending on the organization they work for.

However, one can narrow down their day-to-day activities  to the following:

• Communicating information to stakeholders
• Project development and management
• Analyzing and improving business procedures, and
• Formulating and defining business strategies

What Skills Should a Business Analyst Have?

Since they are the link between Data Analysts and stakeholders, Business Analysts must be adept at communicating complex data patterns and insights as clearly and simply as possible.

Strong interpersonal skills are also key attributes of Business Analysts, as they will be collaborating with various people across different teams.

Additionally, Business Analysts are meant to be problem solvers with strong attention to detail, who can detect gaps in business structures and offer useful solutions.

Other skills a Business Analyst must have include:

• Tableau Experience
• Problem Solving and Analytical Skills
• Communication Skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint
• SAP Software Proficiency, and
• SQL Proficiency

Business Analyst Goals

Business Analysts perform various tasks, however, their core objective can be streamlined to making strategic decisions that can facilitate business growth.

By analyzing facts-based insights provided by Data Analysts, Business Analysts can make recommendations that can address business pain points and improve productivity.

While Business Analysts cannot make decisions independently, their job is to provide stakeholders with intelligence on the current state and possible future of the organization.

Data Analyst vs Business Analyst: Similarities

The Business Analyst and Data Analyst roles are similar in that they both have to boost business efficiency with the use of data.

As such, it is not uncommon to find a Business Analyst playing the role of a Data Analyst and vice-versa in many organizations.

Moreover, both roles share similar skill-sets as they both require an understanding of data management, statistical methods and analysis software, and data visualization to carry out their everyday tasks.

Data Analyst vs Business Analyst: What Sets Them Apart?

The use of data is at the center of both Data Analytics and Business Analytics.

Nonetheless, the Data Analyst and Business Analyst roles have varying responsibilities and objectives.

While a Data Analyst is focused on mining and analyzing data to reveal trends and patterns, a Business Analyst is more concerned about leveraging data to attain organizational goals.

Essentially, each role differs in the sense that Data Analysts are numbers-oriented, while Business Analysts are strategy-oriented.

In terms of education, a background in business administration, economics, finance or other related fields is usually preferred for the role of a Business Analyst.

On the other hand, Data Analysts are required to have a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) or programming background.

How Much Do Business Analysts and Data Analysts Earn?

According to Glassdoor, the salary of a Business Analyst falls between $53,000 and $106,000 US dollars per year, depending on the industry and geographic location.

Data Analysts earn slightly more with a salary range of $83,000 to $145,000 annually.

To switch careers from Business Analyst to Data Analyst, a certification in Data Science or advanced degree is often required.

Data Analysts making a transition into a Business Analyst role may also need a certification or business degree.

Wrapping Up…

Data Analytics and Business Analytics are in-demand across various business sectors.

From sales to eCommerce to tech startups, Data Analysts and Business Analysts play vital roles in keeping the business alive.

While each role requires some unique backgrounds and skill sets, both disciplines work collaboratively to enhance business procedures to improve services or products.

Overall, your strengths and preferences are essential elements when choosing a career path between Business Analytics and Data Analytics.

If you excel in computing huge amounts of data and numbers and prefer to work independently, then the Data Analyst role might be a good fit for you.

However, if you are a more “hands-on” person with an affinity for solving problems and communicating with different people on a daily basis, then pursuing a career as a Business Analyst might be worthwhile.

In the information age, data is power.

Besides using big data to make better decisions and solve business problems, organizations also use it to generate business intelligence, make informed decisions, and measure performance.

While data can be easily accessed, it needs to be processed, organized, and presented in a relevant and meaningful context. This is an area where Data Scientists and Data Analysts add value.

The rising need for organizations to gather and use data to fuel decisions has made data science roles one of the fastest-growing careers.

That means that the number of roles in the data space is exploding. However, the responsibilities of these job titles are often confused.

In this article, we’ll discuss in detail some key responsibilities that differentiate a Data Analyst from a Data Scientist.

We will also explore the job descriptions, required skills, and goals of each of these data-related careers. Lastly, we are going to examine what both roles have in common and the salary range of each of these roles.

Data Analytics and Data Science – An Overview

If you are planning to start a career in a data-focused field, you may have considered working as a Data Analyst or a Data Scientist.

Although each organization has a unique way of defining these roles, I think it is important that you know the difference.

The mechanics of Data Science and Data Analytics are significantly different. Yet, both Data Science and Analytics roles use similar programming languages and tools in their daily tasks.

Data Analytics involves sorting through massive amounts of data using statistical tools to analyze data, and ultimately provide findings to stakeholders.

A Data Analyst uses data visualization tools to present insights and eliminate guesswork from the company’s decision-making process.

Data Science is mainly centered on developing algorithms and predictive models for extrapolating data and creating data processes.

A Data Scientist uses advanced programming to create new methods by which data can be captured and analyzed.

Now let’s dig into the details of both of these roles.

Data Analysts: How Do They Add Value?

Data Analysts are generally in charge of collecting, cleaning, and organizing data which is used in drafting reports.

These reports reveal patterns and trends which guide stakeholders in making business decisions.

Data Analysts also design databases and explain data sets with advanced statistical tools.

In short, Data Analysts use various tools to analyze concise sets of data to answer important questions.

For example, a Data Analyst working in an e-commerce firm should be able to provide answers to why sales have plummeted in the last month.

Here are some of the tasks a Data Analyst will carry out on a day to day basis:

• Collect, clean, and organize raw data
• Use SQL to query and gather information across databases
• Process data and derive insights from massive datasets
• Use data visualization tools to create dashboards, and
• Liaise and collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams within the organization

What Skills Should a Data Analyst Have?

Generally, a Data Analyst should have an educational background in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math), with a master’s degree in analytics.

However, many employers do not rule out candidates without an advanced degree for this role.

In addition to the qualifications previously mentioned, here are some skills Data Analysts must have to drive efficient analytics in an organization:

• Data Mining and Data Warehousing
• Database Management
• Knowledge of analytics tools such as R, Python, and SQL
• Knowledge of Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence
• Statistical Analysis, and
• Data Modeling

Data Analyst Goals Within an Organization

The core objective of data analytics is to provide answers to important business questions.

With the skills of a Data Analyst, companies can make their operations data-driven.

A data-driven organization can track its performance and maximize its areas of strength.

For instance, a Data Analyst can produce reports that reveal the reasons behind the success of a product recently launched by a company.

Data Scientists: How Do They Add Value

Besides performing the duties of Data Analysts, Data Scientists perform more in-depth tasks such as optimizing machine learning models.

Data Scientists focus on the “big picture” by designing experiments and training machine learning (ML) models to produce more accurate predictions in the future.

By leveraging their Data Analytics and Software Engineering skills, Data Scientists can carry out data projects from start to finish.

Here are some tasks Data Scientists perform within an organization:

• Use SQL to gather and query databases and gather complex data sets
• Develop data collection, data modelling, and metrics creation programs
• Evaluate the efficiency of data-mining techniques and the precision of data sources, and
• Communicate trends, patterns and metrics to stakeholders in a relatable manner

What Skills Should a Data Scientist Have?

In addition to an advanced degree in Data Science, employers seek candidates who are already experts in analytics with vast knowledge of the latest tools and technologies in Data Science.

Here are specific qualifications that employers look for when hiring Data Scientists.

• Analytical and strong problem-solving skills
• Knowledge of Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence
• Strong Written and Oral Communication skills
• Knowledge of programming languages like Python, SQL, SAS, Javascript, and Software Development
• Experience using data computing tools such as Hadoop, Gurobi, and more
• Data visualization and presentation skills, and
• Statistical Modeling and Predictive Analysis

Data Scientist Goals Within an Organization

Data Scientists add value to an organization by examining data from various sources and creating means for deriving insights that can optimize business processes.

With the right tools, a Data Scientist can manipulate data to provide useful intelligence that can point the organization in the right direction.

How These Job Roles Vary

Both Data Analysts and Data Scientists are required to have analytical and statistical skills to gather, analyze, and translate large data sets.

However, having programming skills is a must for Data Scientists, as they often need to write new algorithms and data models to apply to data sets.

Also, Data Scientists work on undefined data from various sources while Data Analysts focus on defined data from only one source.

Although both Data Scientists and Data Analysts work with data, the objective of each role is very different.

Data Analysts are concerned with getting valuable information from raw data, while Data Scientists are constantly working on improving the process of and getting accurate insights from data.

Data Analyst and Data Scientist: Common Responsibilities and Skills

A career in Data Analytics or Data Science requires an educational background in any STEM field or statistics.

However, you need an advanced degree in Data Science to give the best chance to earn a job as a Data Scientist.

In most cases, Data Scientists have worked as Data Analysts at some point in their careers.

In terms of skills, the requirements for both roles are also very much similar.

Both Data Analysts and Data Scientists have the responsibility of mining and analyzing data. They are also both skilled in data warehousing, SQL, math, statistics, and data visualization.

How Much Do Data Analysts and Data Scientists Earn?

Data Scientist and Data Analyst roles are two of the best paying roles in tech.

Glassdoor estimates the average salary of a Data Scientist to be $79,232 US dollars per year.

A Data Analyst typically earns lower than this with an average salary of $57,328 per annum.

This is not surprising as the Data Analyst position is more of an entry-level role that does not mandate years of experience.

Wrapping Up…

A lot of organizations are leveraging data for their overall success.

This has made data-focused roles some of the most rewarding jobs in the market.

Before you choose a role in the Data Analytics or Data Science field, you need to define your career path.

Your interests, educational background, skills and long-term goals, can help determine which role suits you best.

What I have explained so far shows that you can choose to start your career in Data Analytics and aim for the role of a Data Scientist.

However, to advance, you have to acquire the skills that are required for a Data Scientist role.

Cybersecurity professionals remain among the most sought-after candidates in the IT industry.

With the increasing need to prevent security breaches, building a team of security experts has become a necessity for organizations.

Considering a Career in Cybersecurity?

According to a prediction by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there will be an 18% surge in cybersecurity jobs between 2014 and 2024.

However, there is still a huge gap in the talent pool required to fill vacant positions.

With global talent shortages giving IT security experts more to leverage, now might be the right time to start building a career in cybersecurity.

If you are thinking of starting a career in the cybersecurity field, you have probably asked yourself certain questions like “which cybersecurity certifications should I get first?” or “which are the easiest and cheapest cybersecurity certifications to get?”

The fact is that there are lots of certifications in the cybersecurity field.

However, as a beginner, it is important to know which ones will help you get your foot in the door and what certifications align with your career goals.

The following certifications will help you stand out in job applications and attract high-paying employers.

1 – CompTIA – Security+

Security+ is CompTIA’s entry-level cybersecurity certification.

This certification is a good start to get your foot in the door in a cyber-security role.

As a beginner in the cybersecurity field, opting for Security+ would provide you with a solid foundation in your career.

This certification is best for beginners because there are no prerequisites. However, if you are new to IT, you should consider taking the CompTIA Network+ as well, to get the foundational knowledge in networking which is an important part of cybersecurity.

CompTIA Security+ consists of the following objectives:

• Compliance and Operational Security
• Network Security
• Cryptography
• Threats and Vulnerabilities
• Access Control and Identity Management, and
• App, Data, and Host Security

CompTIA Security+ is often listed among the prerequisites for entry-level roles in the cybersecurity field.

According to Payscale, a CompTIA Security+ certification could earn an IT professional a salary anywhere between $63,000 to $65,000 annually.

The CompTIA Security+ certification qualifies you for the following roles:

• System Administrator
• Network Administrator
• Security Engineer, and
• Application Support Analyst

This certification costs about $350. However, you can get up to a 40% discount if you are a student currently in a degree program.

This is quite affordable when you consider the tons of opportunities you become qualified for once you gain this introductory certification. You should also know CompTIA updates the Security+ syllabus every three years. This is to ensure the course content is up to date with the latest industry trends.

2 – (ISC)² -Systems Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP)

SSCP is offered by (ISC)² and it is one of the leading certifications from this body.

SSCP is a good starting point for you if you wish to advance your career as an IT security professional.

This certification is targeted towards IT security professionals with at least one year of experience and students currently undertaking a bachelor’s or master’s program in cybersecurity.

Being SSCP certified proves you are well-equipped to manage an IT infrastructure and you have the technical skills needed to secure an organization’s critical assets.

SSCP covers the following objectives:

• Access Controls
• Incident Response and Recovery
• Communication and Network Security
• Security Administration and Operations
• Systems and Application Security
• Cryptography, and
• Risk Identification, Monitoring, and Analysis

According to Payscale.com, the average salary for this certification is $75,000.

Here are some roles you can land with an SSCP certification:

• Network Administrator
• System Administrator
• Information Security Engineer, and
• Network Security Administrator

The SSCP certification costs about $250.

To become a SSCP certified professional, (ISC)² requires that you have a minimum of one year work experience in at least one of the ISCP SSCP Common Body Knowledge seven domains.

However, if you’re short on the required experience, you can still become an Associate (ISC)²  by passing the exam. To gain the full SSCP certification after taking the exam, you will need to gain two years’ work experience.

3 – EC-COUNCIL – Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)

The CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker) certification administered by EC-Council is one of the qualifications you should get if you want to upgrade your career in cybersecurity.

With over 300 attack technologies and 2000 plus hacking tools, CEH exposes you to the concepts of penetration testing and ethical hacking.

By understanding risks and vulnerabilities in applications, networks, and other systems, you can safeguard your organization against malicious hackers and threats.

Some of the topics you will learn during your CEH training includes:

• Footprint and Reconnaissance
• Scanning Networks
• Web and IoT Hacking
• Network Security
• IDS Evasion, and
• Cryptography

Although there are people who believe this certification is not worth the hassle, CEH still ranks high among the most in-demand qualifications by employers.

This certification will definitely boost your resume and make you a good candidate for a large number of cybersecurity roles.

The CEH certification is also approved by the U.S. Department of Defense. This certification costs about $850 if you chose to skip the training route.

With a CEH certification, you are qualified for roles like:

• Network Security
• Junior Penetration Tester
• Information Security Analyst, and
• Cyber Security Analyst or Engineer

4 – CISCO – Certified CyberOps Associate 

The CCNA CyberOps certification is a great path to beginner and associate-level cybersecurity roles within the SOC in an organization.

This program provides you with the skills required to detect, monitor, and respond to threats and other cybersecurity problems that your organization could face.

CCNA CyberOps is the perfect certification for entry-level roles since it provides in-depth knowledge about most cybersecurity principles and technologies.

Some of the topics you will learn during your CCNA CyberOps training include:

• Security Concepts
• Host-based Security Analysis
• Attack Methods
• Network Intrusion Analysis
• Incident Handling, and
• Cryptography

One of the core benefits of CCNA CyberOps is that it provides you with in-depth information about cyber espionage, cybercrime, insider threats and various other cybersecurity threats that organizations encounter in the real world.

Aside from the skills you acquire from this certification, CCNA CyberOps validates your expertise to potential employers around the world.

Here are some roles you can get with a CCNA CyberOps qualification:

• Cybersecurity Engineer
• Security Engineer
• Information Security Analyst, and
• Network Security Engineer

The CCNA CyberOps certification is DOD (U.S Department of Defense) approved.

This certification costs about $800 and there are no prerequisites. However, CISCO CCNA recommends that candidates have basic knowledge of computer operating systems such as Linux and Windows.

If you are seeking a role within an organization’s Security Operations Center, this is the best certification for you.

5 – GIAC Information Security Fundamentals (GISF)

GISF is one of the best certifications you can use to kick-start your career in cybersecurity.

This certification is issued by Global Information Assurance Certification, which is one of the most reputable certification providers.

GISF is aimed at those who want to develop a career in the cyber defense domain.

This certification validates your understanding of computer functions, networking, and security foundation.

GISF also proves your knowledge of the key concepts in information security such as identifying threats and risks to information and knowing the best way to safeguard critical information.

GISF course content includes the following:

• Access Controls
• Incident Response
• Security Policies
• Cryptography, and
• Systems Security

The median salary you can earn with a GISF certification is about $85,000.

Here are some of the jobs you can fill by getting GISF certified:

• Security Analyst
• Infotech Specialist, and
• Cyber Security Analyst

I must mention that this certification is quite expensive as it costs about $2000.

While practical work experience can provide you with the necessary skills needed for this certification, there are no actual prerequisites for taking the GISF exam.

To prepare for the GISF certification, you can opt-in for relevant courses from training providers or explore the self-study route.

Benefits of Earning Certifications in the Cyber Security Domain

In the cybersecurity space, there is high demand for verified skills and certified individuals.

Aside from the work experience required, employers need to be sure that you have the skills to identify and manage threats and challenges.

Cybersecurity certifications provide proof that you are equipped with the required skills, thus improving your employability within the industry.

Also, if you are considering switching careers or aiming for a higher paying role in the cybersecurity field, acquiring certifications in addition to getting the required experience is your best bet.

These certifications will not only make your resume get noticed, but they will also help you get higher-paying jobs.

Gaining certifications is a good investment of your money and time if you want to upscale your market value in the Cybersecurity industry.

About the ‘Launch Your IT Career’ Scholarship Program

The SkillsBuild Training ‘Launch Your IT Career’ Scholarship Program is a scholarship for women and underrepresented individuals who are interested in starting an IT career.

Created in March 2021, the scholarship’s aim is to improve diversity in the workplace.

The scholarship will achieve this objective by offering free IT certification courses to women and underrepresented individuals who can demonstrate a keen desire to work in IT.

According to CompTIA…

There’s plenty of statistics to back up the ongoing gender gap in tech—as well as the lack of representation of minority groups: 

• According to builtin.com, 3% of computing jobs are held by African American women, 6% held by Asian women and 2% held by Hispanic women. Half of women say they experience gender discrimination at work which creates barriers to promotions and can serve as a career off-ramp. 
• A recent Kaspersky report revealed major inequities for women in the field. Only 10% of women working in a tech role work in a female-majority team, compared to 48% working in a male-majority team.
• A recent report from Exabeam found that, on average, male respondents made $91K whereas female respondents reported $62K. 

The ‘Launch Your IT Career’ Scholarship Program’s goal is to help narrow this gap.

What courses do I have access to with the ‘Launch Your IT Career’ Scholarship Program?

Each scholarship winner will be able to choose from one of the following Expert Instructor-led courses:

• CompTIA A+
• CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate)
• CWNA (Certified Wireless Network Administrator)
• Microsoft 365 Modern Desktop Administrator

Who can apply for the ‘Launch Your IT Career’ Scholarship Program?

If you are a woman, or a member of an underrepresented group in the IT industry, you are qualified to apply for the ‘Launch Your IT Career’ Scholarship Program.

You can be from any country.

How to apply for the ‘Launch Your IT Career’ Scholarship Program?

To apply for a ‘Launch Your IT Career’ scholarship, write a 300 word essay with the following information:

• Why you are interested in an IT career
• What difference an IT career can make in your life
• In what ways will an IT career enable you to give back to others
• Include your full name
• Include your City, and Country
• Include your phone number and contact email address

Submit your essay here.

What is the closing date for the ‘Launch Your IT Career’ Scholarship Program?

There is currently no closing date for the ‘Launch Your IT Career’ Scholarship Program.

We have a limited number of scholarships on offer, so the scholarship will close to new applicants once that number has been exhausted.

How will I know if I have won a ‘Launch Your IT Career’ Scholarship?

We will notify you via email 2 times.  If that is unsuccessful we will try calling once.

If we are not able to contact you successfully via these methods we will assign the scholarship to the next available scholarship winner.

If you don’t hear from us within 90 days of your scholarship application you have not been successful.

1- Desktop PC Heating Up

One of the most common desktop PC troubleshooting problems is a computer heating up beyond acceptable levels. This problem could have several causes and solutions.

Some of the most useful ways to fix this problem are:

• Tuning up heat sinks by applying new thermal paste.
• Opening the PC case and making sure that fans are running and plugged in properly.
• Ensuring proper heat exhaustion and avoiding putting the PC in an enclosed box or on a mattress, and
• Cleaning the PC casing to prevent dust accumulation and exhaustion issues.

2 – USB Port Not Working

To narrow down the list of possible causes of a USB port not working, you can plug-in your USB device into the USB port of a different computer, or plug it into a different USB port on the same computer.

If it’s established that the problem is with a specific USB port, try the following solutions:

• Clean your USB port. You can use a toothpick or cotton bud for that.
• Open Device Manager, right click your computer name and scan for hardware changes.
• Open Device Manager, click the small arrow next to the little USB cable. Right-click on the first USB controller in the list and select Uninstall device. Repeat for each USB controller you find.

3 – Desktop PC is Too Slow

Apart from the obvious solutions like getting more RAM, increasing hard disk space and installing an SSD, below are some of the solutions that work to fix a slow computer problem.

• Open task manager and see which apps are the biggest users of your CPU resources. Stop those apps if you can, or uninstall them if they are not useful.
• Uninstall unnecessary programs that you don’t use or rarely use.
• Go to My Computer and click on the “Windows” folder. Open the “Temp” folder and delete all files in the folder.
• Open My Computer and right click on your hard drive. Go to Properties and click on the Tools tab. Click on Defragment Now or the Optimize option.

 4 – Blue Screen of Death

One of the most common desktop PC troubleshooting problems is the blue screen of death, or BSOD.

The problem could be fixed by trying various solutions. Some of them are mentioned below.  You will have to try to get the computer into Safe Mode before attempting some of the solutions below.

• You should update the device driver software for all devices by going to Device Manager. Open Device Manager and click on Update Driver Software for each driver.
• If you are facing the blue screen of death error after installing an update, go to Settings -> Update & Security -> Windows Update  and click on Uninstall updates.
• Using system restore points in Windows is also a useful way to get rid of the blue screen of death problem.
• If nothing works, a clean installation of Windows will get rid of the BSOD issue, as long as it’s not hardware related. However, please note that you will lose data while performing a clean install of Windows. Therefore, make sure to back up your data

5 – Computer Won’t Turn On

Computers not turning on is a very common problem. This can be solved by trying the following solutions:

• Unplug any external hard drive or USB before turning on your computer. External storage devices are known to be a common cause of this problem.
• Sometimes, your computer won’t turn on because it’s not getting enough power. If you are using a power strip, extension socket or UPS, unplug your computer and plug it to a direct power source like a wall socket.
• Check the power cord to verify that it’s connected properly with the computer. Unplug and plug it in again and try turning on the computer.
• Check your motherboard. Faulty capacitors, fresh soldering or cracks in chips are some of the common causes of this problem.

6 – Desktop PC Keeps Restarting

A computer that keeps restarting is a problem faced by many PC users. Here’s how to solve it:

• Go to Control Panel -> System -> System Properties and click on the Advanced tab. Under the Startup and Recovery option click on Settings button. Uncheck the “Automatically Restart” option.
• Another common cause of this problem is dust and heat. Make sure your CPU, motherboard, RAM, hard drive and other components are clean and your fans are working. Try opening the case of your desktop PC to let the heat exhaust.
• Make sure your power supply is working correctly. When your computer is not getting enough power, it goes into a loop and keeps restarting.

7 – Desktop PC Keeps Freezing  

• Update your device drivers by going to Device Manager. Updating drivers almost always resolves this issue.
• Fixing or replacing the Power Supply Unit (PSU) has resolved this problem for a lot of users. When your computer cannot get enough consistent power, it starts to freeze. Try checking your power supply or replacing it with a new one to resolve this problem.
• Use third-party tools like CCleaner or Digeus System Optimizer to troubleshoot your PC. Often times these tools remove the memory blockages, errors and resolve problems that are causing system freezes.
• If nothing else works re-install your operating system. This will likely solve the system freeze issues.

8 – Keyboard Not Working

There are several ways to fix a keyboard that’s not working.

• In Windows, open Device Manager, go to the Keyboards option and right click on your keyboard. Now click on Update driver.
• Make sure the “filter keys” option is turned off. Open the Run box and type “control” and click the OK button. When you see the control panel, make sure your view mode is set to Category. Click on the Ease of Access heading. Now click on “Change how your keyboard works.” Make sure that the “Turn on Filter Keys” checkbox is off.
• Make sure that your keyboard is plugged in properly. If you are using a USB keyboard, try plugging it in a different USB port.

9 – Error 0x80300024 while installing Windows on a SSD

A lot of people face this error when trying to install Windows on a SSD. Usually this happens when you connect a new SSD to a motherboard which already has an HDD.

Here’s how to fix this problem:

Make sure to disconnect the HDD and leave the SSD attached. After installing Windows on the SSD, you can attach the HDD.

10 – Programs “Not Responding” in Windows

Many users face the “not responding” error for different programs in Windows 10 and Windows 7. Here’s how to fix this problem.

• Open Settings -> Updates and make sure no due updates are left uninstalled.
• Defragmenting disks is known to fix this problem. Go to the properties of your disk drives to start defragmentation.
• When system resources are exhausted, the system stops responding. A quick way to fix this problem is to increase virtual memory. To do that, right click on Computer and go to Properties -> Advanced system settings. Open Performance and click Settings. Click the Advanced tab and under Virtual memory, click Change. Clear the ‘Automatically manage paging file size for all drives’ check box. The paging file should be on the C: drive. Click Custom size and type a new size (in MBs) and click OK.

11 – Microsoft Edge Is Not Working

• Go to the Settings of Microsoft Edge and locate the ‘Clear browsing data’ section. Now, clear browsing data, cache, and browsing history.
• Another troubleshooting step to try is to go to the Settings of Microsoft Edge and locate the ‘Reset settings’ section. Reset Edge to its original settings.

12 – Start Menu and Task Bar Not Working in Windows 10

Go to your desktop screen and make a new shortcut. The system will ask you for a location. Type “msconfig” in the location box and click next. Give the shortcut any name you want.

Double click the shortcut and click the boot tab at the top.

After opening the boot tab, open safeboot and then click network underneath, click Apply and OK. Now restart the computer. After restarting, open msconfig again and turn off safe boot and then click Apply and restart your computer again.

This should fix the problem.

13 – App Store Not Opening in Windows 10

If you are having trouble opening the App Store in Windows 10, try the solution mentioned below:

Go to this location: C:\Users\user_name\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.WindowsStore_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalCache

Delete all the files and folders at this location.

Now try opening the App Store. It should work.

14 – YouTube Videos Not Playing

A lot of users face this problem. You can try the following solutions to fix this issue.

• Go into Internet Explorer and open Internet Options. Open the Advanced Tab and make sure to check the box titled “Use Software Rendering Instead of GPU Rendering.”
• Right click on your speaker and select different playback devices. Sometimes selecting a different playback device and then selecting your default playback device fixes the problem.

15 – Printer Not Working After Windows 10 Upgrade

Open Device Manager and update drivers for your printer. This almost always works. You can also install device drivers for your printer from the website of your printer’s company.

16 – Mouse Not Working 

• Plug in a different mouse in your system to make sure that your mouse isn’t
• Make sure your mouse (USB or PS/2) is plugged in correctly. Try using a different port as well.
• A specific Windows update is a known culprit behind the mouse not working problem in desktop PCs. You should uninstall this update to fix your mouse. To do that, go to Settings -> Update and Security ->View installed update history -> Uninstall updates and find “Security Update for Microsoft Windows (KB4074588)” and uninstall it.

17 – Search Box Not Working in Windows 10

Open Run, type “powershell” and hit enter. Now paste the following command:

Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml”}

18 – PC Unable to Wake from Sleep

Updating your graphics card drivers will most probably solve this problem. To update your graphics card driver, go to the Device Manager, click on Display Adapters and right click on your graphics card name and click the update driver option.

19 – The Print Spooler Service Stops Unexpectedly in Windows

Open Control Panel and go to Programs and Features. Click “Turn Windows Features On or Off”.  Under Print and Document Services, check LDP and LPR.  This will fix the spooler problem.

20 – Unable to Login to a Microsoft Account in Windows 10

Adding a new user often solves this problem. To do that press Windows key + R. Now type lusrmgr.msc and hit Enter.

Open users and right click the blank area and select new user option. Enter the name of the user and choose a password. Uncheck the must change password option. Now double click the account and use the member of tab to make yourself a member of the local admins group. This will fix the problem

21 – Cannot See NAS Drives in Windows

Open Command Prompt.

Type “sc.exe config lanmanworkstation depend= bowser/mrxsmb10/nsi” and hit Enter.

Type sc.exe config mrxsmb20 start= disabled and hit Enter.

Restart your computer.

22 – Unable to Shut-down or Restart the Computer Properly

Sometimes shutdown and restart options fail to work and you have to use the power button. If you are unable to shut down or restart your PC properly in Windows, try the following solutions:

• Open command prompt and type: shutdown /s /t 0 and hit Enter. This will shut down your computer.
• Try to run a registry repair program. That will fix the power issues and take care of the shutdown/restart problem.

23 – Cannot Open Word Documents

The best solution for this problem is to do a fresh install of Microsoft Word. If your MS Office program is not activated, try to activate it as soon as possible.

You can also try the repair option.

Open Control Panel -> Programs and Features. Select Microsoft Word and hit Change. Choose the Quick Repair option and then choose Repair.

24 – Mic Not Working in Desktop PC 

• Open Control Panel and go to the Sound section. Head over to the Recording tab and check if your mic is set as default. Double click on it and go to Properties -> Levels and make sure it’s not muted.

You can also try this step.

• Open the Recording tab in Sound settings. Right click on your mic and select Properties.

Right-click on your Microphone or Headset listed here and select Properties. Click on the Listen tab. Check the box next to Listen to this device and click the drop down arrow below this option to select your device. Click Apply and OK.

25 – No Sound in Windows 10 

• Make sure you have installed updated drivers for sound in your desktop PC.
• Make sure your speakers or audio device is plugged in.
• Go to Sound Settings and open Playback tab. Select your audio device and make sure it is set to default.
• Windows 10 also offers the “audio troubleshooter”. In Windows 10  search bar search for Find and fix problems with playing sound to fix audio problems.

26 – Monitor Not Working

• Make sure your display drivers and graphics card drivers are installed and updated. Open your graphics card manufacturer website and ensure that you have the right driver installed. Otherwise manually download the correct driver and install it.

• Another common solution is to recheck your cables. Make sure your DVI and HDMI cables are working and you are using the right cables. To confirm the cause of the problem, try connecting a spare monitor to your computer.

27 – Internet Not Working

• Type Regedit in the Search Box to open the Registry Editor. In the registry editor app, go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\NlaSvc\Parameters\Internet. Right click on “EnableActiveProbing” and select Modify. Change the “Value data” from 0 to 1. Click OK to close the window and save your edits. Close the Registry Editor. Restart your computer.
• Go to Device Manager and Open Network Adapters. Right-click on your network adapter, click Uninstall device. Now uncheck Delete the driver software for this device option. Click Uninstall button and restart your PC. The system will automatically reinstall the adapter while restarting and the Internet should start working.

28 – Left Mouse Button Not Working While Dragging and making Selections

This problem involves the left click button of a mouse not working. If you try to keep pressing it for selecting several items to drag, the selection will undo without you releasing the button.

In almost all cases, this problem is related to hardware. Try to change the mouse or replace the left click button.

29 – Windows Explorer Crashing 

• Open command prompt and type the following: Dism.exe /online /cleanup-image /scanhealth and hit Enter. Now type: exe /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth and hit Enter. Now type sfc /scannow and press Enter.
• Creating a new user also fixes this problem. To do that, open Settings and go to Accounts and then to Family and Other users. Now, select add someone else on this PC option. Enter a name and hit enter. Now click Finish. Sign out from the current account and log in from the new account.

30 – Seeing Black Screen with Cursor After Running CHKDSK

Turn on your computer and press F8 to go to the startup screen. Go to “Repair your computer” and press enter. Open command prompt and type: ICALS c:\ /grant everyone:F /c /t and hit enter (this will take some time). You can replace c:\ with other drives for giving access to the file for example ICALS d:\ /grant everyone:F /c /t. Restart your computer.

Networking Question #1

What is a Firewall?

A Firewall prevents connection between two or more sources. It basically blocks any incoming or outgoing traffic.

Firewalls come in two forms: software or hardware firewalls.

Networking Question #2

Can you explain the difference between HTTP and HTTPS protocols?

HTTP stands for HyperText Transfer Protocol and is used by the majority of websites as a means of transmitting website data, and it allows for the use of hyperlinks.

This Protocol uses TCP port 80. HTTPS is a secure version of the HTTP protocol that allows for identity verification and low level encryption using TCP port 443.

Networking Question #3

What is a VPN?

A VPN is a Virtual Private Network.  It allows users to create a secure connection over public networks such as the Internet.

VPN’s are commonly used by mobile workers in order to access their company’s network from remote locations.

Networking Question #4

What are two types of IP addresses and what are they used for?

All IPv4 IP addresses can be divided into two major groups: public and private IP addresses.

A public IP address is an IP address that is used to access the Internet. Public IP addresses are routed on the Internet.

Private internal IP addresses are not routed on the Internet and traffic cannot be sent to them from the Internet, they are only supposed to work within local networks.

Networking Question #5

What is DNS?

DNS stands for Domain Name System.  It is basically the phonebook of the Internet. DNS translates domain names, for example www.google.com or www.youtube.com, to IP addresses so browsers can load those Internet resources through the Internet protocol.

Networking Question #6

What is a default route?

A default route is a configuration of the Internet Protocol (IP) that establishes a forwarding rule for packets when no specific address of a next-hop host is available from the routing table or other routing mechanism.

Networking Question #7

What is DHCP and what is it used for?

DHCP stands for Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol and it automatically assigns IP addresses to network devices.

It completely removes the process of manual allocation of IP addresses and reduces the errors caused due to this.

Networking Question #8

What is DoS?

DoS, or Denial-of-Service attack, is an attempt to prevent users from being able to access the Internet or any other network services.

Such attacks may come in different forms and are commonly performed by hackers. One common method of doing this is to overload a web server so that it can no longer process legitimate traffic.  Any website on this web server then becomes inaccessible.

Networking Question #9

What is Network Topology?

Network topology is a physical layout of the computer network and it defines how the computers, devices, cables, etc. are connected to each other.

Networking Question #10

What is a Router?

A router is a device that manages the flow of data to multiple connected devices. It is a network device that connects two or more network segments. It is used to transfer information from the source to the destination.

In simple words, the cable coming from your ISP goes into a modem, which converts input signals into digital data useable by a computer.

A router connects your modem with other devices to allow communication between those devices and the Internet.

Routers send information in the form of data packets.  When a router receives a packet, it checks its routing table to determine if the destination address is for a system on one of its attached networks or if the message must be forwarded to another router.

When packets are forwarded from one router to another router, the receiving router reads the network address in the packets and identifies the destination network and repeats the process mentioned above.

Networking Question #11

What is the OSI reference model, and how many layers does it have?

The Open System Interconnection model is a conceptual reference model that defines how applications communicate with each other within a network.

It also helps you to understand the relationship between networks and defines the process of communication in a network. It has 7 layers.

Networking Question #12

Let’s say a company is expanding its business to other countries. It wants all of its branches to remain connected to its corporate headquarters 24/7. Which network technology do you think they should use?

They should use a WAN.

Networking Question #13

What is a Proxy Server and how do they protect the computer network?

All devices on a network have an IP address.  Knowing the exact IP address of a network device can leave that device exposed to an attack.

Proxy servers prevent unauthorized external users from accessing those internal IP addresses. It makes the computer network virtually invisible to external users.

Networking Question #14

What is meant by 127.0.0.1 and localhost?

Simply put, localhost is the default name used to establish a connection with your own computer using the loopback address network. Think of loopback as “looping back” to your own machine.

The loopback address network has a default IP address of 127.0.0.1. Localhost is used to test applications on a local computer. When you move to a production or remote server you will change the references from localhost to the domain name you are using.

The IP address 127.0.0.1, is reserved for loopback or localhost connections. These networks are usually reserved for the biggest customers or some of the original members of the Internet.

To identify a connection issue, the initial troubleshooting step is to ping the server and check if it is responding.

127.0.0.1 and localhost are the same things in most of the computer network.

Networking Question #15

What is a MAC Address?

A MAC address is a unique device address given to every network connected hardware.

Unlike IP addresses, MAC addresses are permanent. Every network connected device has one and only one MAC address.

MAC stands for Media Access Control. It is a unique 48-bit serial number burned into the network circuitry of every Ethernet and Wi-Fi device.

Networking Question #16

What is Data Encapsulation?

In a computer network, to enable data transmission from one computer to another, the network devices send messages in the form of packets. These packets are then added with the IP header by the relevant OSI reference model layer.

The Data Link Layer encapsulates each packet in a frame that contains the hardware address of the source and destination computer.

If a destination computer is on a remote network then the frames are routed through a gateway or router to the destination computer.

Networking Question #17

What is Ipconfig and Ifconfig?

Ipconfig stands for Internet Protocol Configuration and is a command used on Microsoft Windows to view and configure the network interface.

The command Ipconfig is useful for displaying all TCP/IP network information currently available on a network.  It also helps to modify the DHCP protocol and DNS settings.

Ifconfig also known as Interface Configuration, is a command that is used on Linux, Mac, and UNIX operating systems. It is used to view and configure the TCP/IP network interface parameters from the Command Line.

Networking Question #18

What is SNMP?

SNMP stands for Simple Network Management Protocol. It is a protocol used for collecting, organizing, and exchanging information between network devices.

SNMP is widely used in network management for configuring network devices like switches, hubs, routers, printers, and servers.

Networking Question #19

Explain three types of networks based on their sizes?

The size of a network is defined by the geographic area it covers, and the number of computers or network devices within it.

Three types of networks based on their sizes are:

Local Area Network (LAN): A network with a minimum of two computers to a maximum of thousands of computers within an office or a building is known as a LAN. Generally, it works for a single site where people can share resources like printers, data storage, and more.

Metropolitan Area Network (MAN): It is larger than a LAN and used to connect various LANs across small regions, a city, campus of colleges or universities, and the like, which in turn forms a larger network.

Wide Area Network (WAN): Multiple LANs and MANs connected together form a WAN. It covers a wider area like a whole country or the world.

Networking Question #20

Define Round Trip Time?

The time taken for a signal to reach the destination and travel back to the sender with the acknowledgment is termed as Round Trip Time (RTT). It is also called Round Trip Delay (RTD).

Networking Question #21

What is encryption and decryption?

Encryption is the process of converting transmitted data into a form that cannot be read by any device other than the intended recipient.

Decryption is the process of converting back the encrypted data to its original form.

An algorithm called a cipher is used in the encryption and decryption process.

Networking Question #22

Mention two important actions performed by a Cisco switch?

It uses the source MAC addresses of frames to build and maintain a MAC address table. It also utilizes the MAC address table to forward frames via the destination MAC address.

Networking Question #23

What is a Link?

A link refers to the connectivity between two devices. It includes the type of cables and protocols used for one device to be able to communicate with the other.

Networking Question #24

Briefly describe NAT?

NAT stands for Network Address Translation. This is a protocol that provides a way for multiple computers on a common network to share a single connection to the Internet.

Networking Question #25

What is RIP?

RIP, short for Routing Information Protocol is used by routers to send data from one network to another. It efficiently manages routing data by broadcasting its routing table to all other routers within the network. It determines the network distance in units of hops.

Networking Question #26

You have one 48-port switch with 3 VLANs. How many collision domains and how many broadcast domains?

3 broadcast domains and 48 collision domains.

Networking Question #27

Draw a diagram of a network you’ve worked on, and please explain it to me.

This is one of the most common questions asked in network administrator interviews.

This question will test your problem-solving skills, confidence, and work experience. Check out Lucid Chart’s networking diagramming tips, and draw simple and complex networks for practice.

Networking Question #28

What’s the most important thing about the OSI Model?

The most important factor about the OSI model is that we can divide up the protocols into layers. Another key factor is that the layers of the OSI model provide encapsulation and abstraction.

Networking Question #29

Can you name the layers of the OSI Model?

Physical, Data Link, Network, Transport, Session, Presentation, and Application

Networking Question #30

Why can’t MAC addresses be used instead of IPv4 or IPv6 for networking?

Unlike IP addresses, MAC addresses do not specify unique destinations for communication.

An IP scheme can be used for a group of computers to logically distinguish them as a group via routing tables.

These groups can be divided into multiple levels so that we don’t have to keep track of every single subnet.

For instance, 17.x.x.x is within the Apple network. Using an IP scheme helps Apple to keep track of where each of its thousands of subnets is located and how to get to them. That’s not possible with MAC addresses.

Networking Question #31

Explain the difference between a VLAN and a subnet? Do you need a VLAN to setup a subnet?

VLANs work at the Data Link layer. They refer to the 802.1Q standard. Using VLANs you can give ports a unique MAC address table, separating them from each other.

VLAN’s can transport one or more subnets. A VLAN is used for switch partitioning. For example, let’s assume that you have an 8-port switch. You can use VLANs and assign 4 ports to one VLAN (VLAN 1) and 4 ports to another VLAN (VLAN 2).

VLAN 1 is totally separated from VLAN 2 traffic and vice versa. On a logical basis you get two switches using this technique. Usually, if a switch hasn’t seen a MAC address it will “flood” the traffic to all other ports. VLANs prevent this.

A Subnet is a range of IP addresses determined by part of an address, often called network address and a subnet mask (netmask). In simple words, a subnet is a small network composed by a group of IP addresses. Subnets communicate with each other using routers.

Networking Question #32

Mention some common HTTP status codes

1xx – Informational responses – communicates transfer protocol-level information

2xx – Success – indicates that the client’s request was accepted successfully

3xx – Redirection – indicates that the client must take some additional action in order to complete their request

4xx – Client side error – this category of error status codes points the finger at clients

5xx – Server side error – the server takes responsibility for these error status codes

Networking Question #33

What is the smallest IPv4 subnet mask that can be applied to a network containing up to 30 devices?

If you have a standard /24 VLAN for users, a /30 for point-to-point links, and a network of up to 30 devices, the smallest IPV4 subnet mask would be a /27 – or a subnet mask of 255.255.255.224.

Networking Question #34

What is a packet filter and how does it work?

A packet filter is used as a firewall technique to control network access by monitoring outgoing and incoming packets.

Packets are checked based on their source and destination IP addresses, protocols, and ports.

Packet filtering is used for modest security requirements. It is used for providing isolation of one subnet from another.

Networking Question #35

What are the advantages of using a reverse proxy server?

A reverse proxy server will hide the topology and characteristics of your servers.

It also helps with load balancing because reverse proxy servers enforce algorithms like round robin, weighted round robin, and weighted least connections.

Some other advantages include SSL offloading and termination.

Networking Question #36

Can you explain the difference between a router and a gateway?

Gateways are used to regulate traffic between two dissimilar networks, while routers regulate traffic between similar networks.

Let’s say you have a Windows 2000 network which uses TCP/IP as its primary protocol. You can connect your network with the internet using a router because the internet also uses TCP/IP as its primary protocol.

On the other hand, you’d use a gateway to connect a PC network with a 3270 mainframe environment or to connect a Windows NT network with a NetWare network.

Networking Question #37

What is a default gateway?

A default gateway serves as an access point for outbound connections to other networks. It allows one computer to communicate with another computer on a different network.

Networking Question #38

Can you tell me how DNS records work?

DNS records tell the DNS server which IP address each domain is associated with.  It also tells how to handle requests sent to each domain. DNS records are basically mapping files.

DNS records use specific syntax for its configurations and functions. Some important DNS records are:

SOA – Start Of Authority records

A – Address Mapping records

AAAA – IP Version 6 Address records

CNAME – Canonical Name records

MX – Mail Exchanger records

NS – Name Server records

PTR – Reverse-lookup Pointer records

Networking Question #39

What is the number of network IDs in a Class C network?

The number of Network ID bits in a Class C network is 24. The number of possible network IDs is 2 raised to 21 or 2,097,152. The number of host IDs per network ID is 2 raised to 8 minus 2, or 254.

Networking Question #40

A user in your company wants to connect two computers for file sharing. Is it possible to do this without using a hub or router?

Yes. You can use a crossover cable in this situation. The data transmit pin of one cable is connected to the data receive pin of the other cable, and vice versa.

Networking Question #41

Which connection provides a secure CLI session with encryption to a Cisco switch?

An SSH Connection.

Networking Question #42

Let’s say a user opens three browsers on his PC to access www.cisco.com to search for CCNA information. The Cisco web server sends a datagram as a reply to the request from one of the web browsers. Can you tell which information is used by the TCP/IP protocol stack on the user machine to identify which of the three web browsers should receive the reply?

Yes, you can use the destination port number.

Networking Question #43

Where are Cisco IOS debug output messages sent by default?

They are sent to the Console Line.

Networking Question #44

Let’s say a network administrator issues a ‘copy running-config startup-config’ command after making configuration changes on a Cisco switch. What would be the impact of these commands?

The new configuration will be loaded if the switch is restarted.

Networking Question #45

Do you contribute to any open source projects?

Contributing to open source projects will help you expand your network and pass a lot of interviews.

Always say yes (if it’s true) when asked this question, because the employer would feel that you are enthusiastic about network administration and also willing to share your knowledge.

Contributing to open source projects could be very impactful for your career. Here are two examples from Reddit users to prove that.  These examples aren’t directly related to network administration but they are meant to prove a point.

“Even contributing to unknown OSS projects has gotten me through the door at several companies. Two companies specifically during my last job search even waived their take-home assignments and brought me in straight to the interview phase.

 Project “prestige” isn’t as important as solving real-life problems. Nobody at these companies had heard of the libraries I published, but they certainly listened when I started explaining why I published them in the first place.

 My projects were GraphQL libraries. It is such an immature ecosystem that there’s plenty of pain points still yet to be solved. I talked to several companies who attempted to solve the very same problems with GraphQL that I encountered… but with much bigger teams involved and more wasted salary hours.

 It impacted my career in that I now get invited to speak at local events about GraphQL…. even though, technically, my projects were all side projects and I’ve never actually used it in production.

 I also have a much easier time getting past the first-round, and sometimes second-round interview phases………. assuming, of course, that I can pivot the conversation to talking about my libraries.

 My advice to people who are looking to build up their portfolios: Ignore the standard “junior” apps.

 Don’t bother with Tic Tac Toe, REST APIs, or chat apps.

 Do a hacker news search on a popular buzzword, look for the biggest complaints about it, and then attempt to make a solution for just one of these problems.

 It doesn’t even have to fully work; the experience alone can help sell you for teams that suffered the same pain point.

 That’s how you make OSS projects work for you if all you’re looking for is a career boost.”

 Comment by Existential Own

 “I think it helped me get my most recent job.

 I had contributed to a well known library (don’t want to say which) that the team was about to implement in one of their projects. Nobody on the team had used it.

I actually didn’t need to do any technical challenge in my interview because they said my PRs for the library were complex enough.

 Skipping the technical was actually a red flag for me but I took the job anyway and I’m glad I did, it’s a great company with really good coding practices and talented engineers.”

 Comment by Pyjava

 Networking Question #46

Tell me about the biggest mistake you’ve made.

The interviewer wants to see if you are willing to embrace the fact that we’re all fallible. Be very open and say that you have made mistakes but they have helped you learn a lot and progress in life.

Try to mention a technical mistake in your career instead of a behavioral mistake.

For example, you can say that my biggest mistake was to un-plug a server that was running DHCP. Because of this mistake hundreds of people were not able to access the network for almost 50 minutes.

Networking Question #47

What technical news sources do you check daily?

The interviewer wants to gauge your passion for networking.

Just mention your favorite sources.  A good example could the Cisco Networking blog.

Networking Question #48

Tell me about an instance where your team, client, or boss disagreed with you. How did you resolve this situation?

This is a very common question asked to check your attitude towards disagreement. Every company wants a person who is open to disagreements and debate.

This question could be approached in a variety of ways. You can talk about a specific instance from your career or life or make up a situation (if you have no experience at all) to prove that you are a good listener, open communicator, and know how to analyze a situation.

Networking Question #49

A network administrator is measuring the transfer of bits across the company backbone for a very important application. The administrator notices that the network throughput is lower than the bandwidth expected. Can you tell which factors could influence the differences in throughput?

Some factors responsible could be the amount of traffic that is currently crossing the network, the type of traffic that is crossing the network, and the latency that is created by the number of network devices that the data is crossing.

Networking Question #50

How many hosts are addressable on a network that has a mask of 255.255.255.248?

6

Networking Question #1

What is a Firewall?

A Firewall prevents connection between two or more sources. It basically blocks any incoming or outgoing traffic.

Firewalls come in two forms: software or hardware firewalls.

Networking Question #2

Can you explain the difference between HTTP and HTTPS protocols?

HTTP stands for HyperText Transfer Protocol and is used by the majority of websites as a means of transmitting website data, and it allows for the use of hyperlinks.

This Protocol mostly uses TCP port 80. HTTPS is a secure version of the HTTP protocol that allows for identity verification and low level encryption using TCP port 443.

Networking Question #3

What is a VPN?

A VPN is a Virtual Private Network.  It allows users to create a secure connection over public networks such as the Internet.

VPN’s are commonly used by mobile workers in order to access their company’s network from remote locations.

Networking Question #4

What are two types of IP addresses and what are they used for?

All IPv4 IP addresses can be divided into two major groups: public and private IP addresses.

A public IP address is an IP address that is used to access the Internet. Public IP addresses are routed on the Internet.

Private internal IP addresses are not routed on the Internet and traffic cannot be sent to them from the Internet, they are only supposed to work within the local networks.

Networking Question #5

What is DNS?

DNS stands for Domain Name System.  It is basically the phonebook of the Internet. DNS translates domain names, for example www.google.com or www.youtube.com, to IP addresses so browsers can load those Internet resources through the Internet protocol.

Networking Question #6

What is a default route?

A default route is a configuration of the Internet Protocol (IP) that establishes a forwarding rule for packets when no specific address of a next-hop host is available from the routing table or other routing mechanism.

Networking Question #7

What is DHCP and what is it used for?

DHCP stands for Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol and it automatically assigns IP addresses to network devices.

It completely removes the process of manual allocation of IP addresses and reduces the errors caused due to this.

Networking Question #8

What is DoS?

DoS, or Denial-of-Service attack, is an attempt to prevent users from being able to access the Internet or any other network services.

Such attacks may come in different forms and are commonly performed by hackers. One common method of doing this is to overload a web server so that it can no longer process legitimate traffic.  Any website on this web server then becomes inaccessible.

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Microsoft Question #1

What is Active Directory and what is it used for?

Active directory is a directory service that identifies all resources on a network and makes that information available to users and services.

The main purpose of Active Directory is to control and authenticate network resources.

Microsoft Question #2

What are GPOs?

GPO stands for Group Policy Objects.  They are settings that control the working environment of user

and computer accounts.

GPO’s assist with defining the security options, software installation, registry-based policies and maintenance options, script options and folder redirection options.

Microsoft Question #3

What is Hyper-V?

Hyper-V is Microsoft’s virtualization tool for creating multiple virtual machines on a single physical server, thus reducing the cost of hardware and improving efficiency.

Hyper-V is technically known as a hypervisor.

Microsoft Question #4

What is Office 365?

Microsoft’s Office 365 is a subscription-based service that provides access to modern Office tools and other services like Teams, Groups, and more.

Office 365 comes with other tools like email clients, calendar applications, and meeting scheduler.

Microsoft Question #5

What is Office 365 governance?

Governance in Office 365 refers to the practical use of processes and policies towards meeting specific organizational goals.

It covers many areas  including compliance, security, planning,  IT, and technology.

Microsoft Question #6

What is Microsoft Azure?

Microsoft Azure, commonly referred to as Azure, is a cloud computing service created by Microsoft for building, testing, deploying, and managing applications and services through Microsoft-managed data centers.

Microsoft Question #7

What are the different types of services offered in the Azure cloud?

There are three different types of services offered in the Azure cloud: Infrastructure as a Service, Platform as a Service, and Software as a Service.

Microsoft Question #8

Which three billing models are the most common in Azure?

A traditional Enterprise Agreement if you are a big enterprise, Cloud Service Provider if you want to go through Microsoft Partner Services, and Pay-as-you-Go for small and medium sized companies and the general public.

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Linux Question #1

What is BASH?

Bash is a Unix shell and command language.  It has been used as the default login shell for most Linux

distributions. Bash typically runs in a text window where the user types commands that causes actions.

Linux Question #2

What is a root account?

The root account is like a system administrator account and allows you full control of the system.

With the root account you can create and maintain user accounts, and assign different permissions for each account. It is the default account every time you install Linux.

Linux Question #3

What three types of permissions are available on a Linux system?

The three types of permissions available of a Linux system are:

– Read: users may read files or list the directory

– Write: users may write to the file or add new files to the directory

– Execute: users may run the file, or lookup a specific file within a directory

Linux Question #4

What is grep command in Linux?

grep is a search command that makes use of pattern-based searching. It makes use of options and parameters that are specified along with the command line and applies this pattern in searching the required file output.

Linux Question #5

What is SSH?

SSH, or Secure Shell, is a protocol used to securely log onto remote systems. It is the most common way to access remote Linux and Unix-like servers. SSH uses TCP port 22 by default.

Linux Question #6

What is a cron job?

A Cron job is a time-based job scheduler for Unix-based computer operating systems. Users that set up and maintain software environments use cron to schedule jobs to run periodically at fixed times, dates, or intervals.

Linux Question #7

How do you create a new user in Linux based systems?

To add or create a new user, you have to use the command ‘useradd’ or ‘adduser’ with ‘username’. The ‘username’ is a user login name, that is used by the user to login to the system. Only one user can be added and that username must be unique.

Linux Question #8

What are the commands for creating and removing directories in Linux systems?

For creating the directory, Type “mkdir” and specify the directory name at the command prompt to make the directory.

Removing the directory can be done with the command “rmdir” and specifying the directory.

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Security Question #1

What is Cryptography?

Cryptography refers to secure information and communication techniques derived from mathematical concepts, and a set of rule-based calculations called algorithms, to transform messages in ways that are hard to decipher. These deterministic algorithms are used for cryptographic key generation, digital signing, verification to protect data privacy, web browsing on the internet, and confidential communications such as credit card transactions and email.

Security Question #2

What are IDS and IPS and what is their main difference?

IDS stands for Intrusion Detection System. It detects intrusions and the administrator has to take care of preventing the intrusion.

IPS stands for Intrusion Prevention System.  The system detects the intrusion and also takes actions to prevent the intrusion.

Security Question #3

In information security, what does the CIA acronym stand for, and what is it used for?

CIA stands for Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability. CIA is a model that is designed to guide policies for Information Security. It is one of the most popular models used by organizations.

Security Question #4

What is a Brute Force attack?

A Brute Force attack is a way of finding out the right credentials by repetitively trying all the permutations and combinations of possible credentials.

In most cases, brute force attacks are automated where the tool or software automatically tries to login with a list of credentials.

Security Question #5

What is a MITM attack?

MITM stands for Man-in-the-Middle. This is a type of attack where the hacker places himself in between the communication of two parties and steals the information.

Security Question #6

What is a Botnet?

A Botnet is a number of devices connected to the Internet where each device has one or more bots running on it.

The bots on the devices are malicious scripts used to hack a victim. Botnets can be used to steal data, send spam, and execute a DDOS attack.

Security Question #7

What is MFA and how can it be used?

MFA stands for Multi-Factor Authentication and it’s an electronic authentication method in which a computer user is granted access to a website or application only after successfully presenting two or more pieces of evidence to an authentication mechanism: knowledge, possession, and inherence.

Security Question #8

What is SQL injection?

SQL Injection is a code injection attack where an attacker manipulates the data being sent to the server to execute malicious SQL statements.  It’s objective is to control a web application’s database server, thereby accessing, modifying and deleting unauthorized data. This attack is mainly used to take over database servers.

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AWS Cloud Question #1

What is auto-scaling?

Auto-scaling is a function that allows you to provision and launch new instances whenever there is demand.

It allows you to automatically increase or decrease resource capacity in relation to demand.

AWS Cloud Question #2

Is there any other alternative tool to log into the AWS cloud environment other than AWS console?

Yes, there are different ways to interact with your AWS account other than logging into the AWS console.

You can use AWS CLI which can run on Windows and Linux, and also use AWS SDK.

AWS Cloud Question #3

What is the difference between stopping and terminating an EC2 instance?

When you stop an EC2 instance, it performs a normal shutdown on the instance and moves to a stopped state.

However, when you terminate the instance, it is transferred to a stopped state, and the EBS volumes attached to it are deleted and can never be recovered.

AWS Cloud Question #4

What are the different types of EC2 instance pricing models?

There are three types of EC2 instance pricing models

• on-demand instances
• spot instances, and
• reserved instances.

AWS Cloud Question #5

What is RTO and RPO in AWS?

RTO or Recovery Time Objective is the maximum time your business or organization is willing to wait for a recovery to complete in the wake of an outage. On the other hand, RPO or Recovery Point Objective is the maximum amount of data loss your company is willing to accept as measured in time.

AWS Cloud Question #6

What are the different types of load balancers in AWS?

There are three types of load balancers in AWS: Application Load Balancers, Network Load Balancers, and Classic Load Balancers.

AWS Cloud Question #7

What is an AWS root user account?

When you first create an Amazon Web Services (AWS) account, you begin with a single sign-in identity that has complete access to all AWS services and resources in the account. This identity is called the AWS account root user.

You can sign in as the root user using the email address and password that you used to create the account.

AWS Cloud Question #8

What is AWS IAM and what is it used for?

AWS IAM stands for AWS Identity and Access Management. It enables you to manage access to AWS services and resources securely.

Using IAM, you can create and manage AWS users and groups, and use permissions to allow and deny their access to AWS resources.

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Soft Skills Question #1

What can you tell me about yourself?

You should talk a little bit about your current role including the scope and perhaps one big accomplishment, then give some background as to how you got there and any experience you have that’s relevant.

Finally, segway into why you want, and would be perfect for, the job for which you are interviewing.

Soft Skills Question #2

Why do you want to work for this Company?

Do your research and point to something that makes the company unique that really appeals to you. Talk about how you’ve watched the company grow and change since you first heard of it.

Focus on the organization’s opportunities for future growth and how you can contribute to it.

Soft Skills Question #3

Why should we hire you?

To answer this question effectively you need to craft a response that covers three things: that you can not only do the work, but also deliver great results.  You need to show that you’ll really fit in with the team and culture; and that you’d be a better hire than any of the other candidates.

Soft Skills Question #4

What are your greatest strengths?

When you’re answering this question, think quality, not quantity. In other words, don’t rattle off a list of

adjectives. Instead, pick one or a few specific qualities that are relevant to this position and illustrate

them with examples.

Soft Skills Question #5

What do you consider to be your weaknesses?

Strike a balance by thinking of something that you struggle with but that you’re working to improve.

For example, maybe you’ve never been strong at public speaking, but you’ve recently volunteered to run meetings to help you get more comfortable when addressing a crowd.

Soft Skills Question #6

Can you tell me about a time when you had to work with someone you weren’t compatible with?

This is a situation where you’ll want to keep things positive. Make sure that you don’t spend too much time focused on the conflict itself.  Focus more on what you did to make the situation better. After all, that’s the piece that your interviewer really wants to know.

Soft Skills Question #7

Can you tell me about a time when you overcame a significant challenge?

You haven’t made it this far in your career without encountering a single roadblock. So, thinking of a specific example shouldn’t be too hard. If you want to score some bonus points with your response to this question, don’t just think of a time when you overcame a challenge—think of a time when your ingenious solution actually resulted in something impressive for the company.

Soft Skills Question #8

Can you tell me about a time when things didn’t go according to plan? How did you cope?

This is a great opportunity where you want to draw attention to not only how you coped with unexpected changes, but also how you used those shifting circumstances to bounce back even better than before.

Soft Skills Question #9

Tell me about a time when you were asked to do something you had never done before. How did you react? What did you learn?

Adaptability is one of the most important soft skills hiring managers screen for, as it gives them insight into how candidates have approached doing something new. Explain briefly your positive attitude towards learning new things, as well as the approach you used to research topics that you are unfamiliar with.

Soft Skills Question #10

What are the three things that are most important to you in a job?

Asking this question on culture fit tells hiring managers what the candidate believes is most important in a job. The interviewer is looking for answers that align with company values. Do your research on the company and position that you are applying for, and align your answers accordingly.

According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs in the computer and information technology sector are expected to grow 11% from 2019 through 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations.

The median salary in the sector is $88,240, significantly higher than the median annual wage for all occupations of $39,810.

Certifications are a practical way to start a career in IT.

Certifications help you validate your skills in certain areas. Companies prefer candidates with certifications, given they have the required experience, and aptitude.

In this article we discuss the 10 best certifications you can consider for a salary of over $100,000 USD.

#1 – PMP

Project Management is one of the most in-demand skills globally.

Project Management Professional, or PMP, is the hottest Project Management certification offered by the Project Management Institute.

As of the 31st July 2020, there are over 1 million active PMP certified individuals worldwide.

The PMP certification covers the Project Management Lifecycle, including, Project Initiation, Planning, Execution, Monitoring & Control, and Closing. This knowledge is extremely useful for IT projects.

The average salary for the PMP certification is $112,000 US dollars, according to PMI’s Project Management Salary Survey.

#2 – AWS Solutions Architect

The AWS Solutions Architect certification validates your skills in the design, development, and deployment of efficient, scalable, cost-effective and fault-tolerant systems using Amazon’s Cloud platform.

An AWS Solutions Architect helps companies design and develop complex AWS solutions to solve problems.

Amazon offers this certification at both the Associate and Professional levels.

A basic understanding of Cloud Computing, IT, Data Storage, and Programming Concepts is recommended before attempting this certification.

The average salary for the AWS Solutions Architect certification is $113,585, according to PayScale.

#3 – Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)

Certified Information Systems Security Professional, or CISSP, is an advanced certification that validates your skills in security, risk management, network security, identity and access management, software deployment security, and security operations.

You will need to have at least 5 years of experience in a relevant domain to be eligible for CISSP.

Companies hire CISSP holders for various roles including Threat Analyst, Cybersecurity Expert, SOC Analyst, and Information Security Expert.

The demand for CISSP holders is rising as companies scramble to secure their online assets and data.

According to PayScale, the average salary for CISSP is $114,000.

#4 – AWS Certified DevOps Engineer

DevOps is a relatively new approach in software delivery and deployment.

DevOps makes it easier for companies to create, deliver, and deploy complex software projects on a variety of platforms and infrastructures.

As companies adapt AWS, they need AWS DevOps experts.

AWS Certified DevOps Engineer certification validates skills related to continuous delivery, deployment, monitoring, security, and governance related to AWS.

Amazon recommends the Professional version of this certification to those who have at least two years of experience in provisioning, operating, and managing AWS environments.

This certification exam tests your knowledge in areas such as, SDLC Automation, Configuration Management and Infrastructure, Monitoring, Logging, Standards Automation, Incident Response, High Availability & Fault Tolerance, and Disaster Recovery.

According to PayScale, the average salary for the AWS Certified DevOps Engineer certification is $121,000.

#5 – Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC)

CRISC stands for Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control. The certification is offered by ISACA and validates expert-level skills in Risk Management.

CRISC has a huge demand in software companies related to cybersecurity, government projects, infrastructure, robotics, healthcare, and AI.

CRISC not only trains you on risk management, it also teaches you how to resolve problems, mitigate risks, monitor, and control complex Information Systems.

It is designed for Executives, Business Analysts, Project Managers, Agile Coaches, and Solutions Architects.

Companies hire CRISC holders for roles like IT Auditor, Risk Analyst, Cyber Risk Analyst, Information Security Expert, and Project Manager.

According to PayScale, the average salary for the CRISC certification is over $123,000.

#6 – Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)

Certified Information Security Manager certification is offered by the Information Systems Audit and Control Association, or ISACA, an international professional association focused on IT governance.

CISM is an advanced certification designed for those who want to take their Information Security career to the next level.

The certification involves four key areas:

• Information Security Management
• Information Risk Management & Compliance
• Incident Management, and
• Information Security Program Development & Compliance

To be eligible for CISM, you must have at least five years of experience in Information Security Management.

Companies hire individuals with CISM for a variety of roles, including Information Security Officer, Information Security Director, Security Architect, and Security Consultant.

The average salary for the CISM certification is $126,747, according to PayScale.

#7 – Salesforce Certified Technical Architect

Salesforce is a thriving CRM platform. There are estimates that there would be 3.3 million new Salesforce jobs by 2022.

Salesforce has designed its Technical Architect certification to teach and validate skills related to designing complex systems that are fault-tolerant, available, scalable, and cost effective.

This certification involves technical concepts like system architecture, data, security of Salesforce systems, integration with third-party tools via APIs, and different approaches to crafting solutions.

The average salary for this certification is $132,000, according to GlassDoor.

#8 – Google Certified Cloud Architect

Google Cloud Platform’s popularity is rising because of its pricing and the level of flexibility it offers, as compared to its competitors like AWS and Azure.

In the third quarter, Google Cloud revenue jumped 45% to reach $3.44 billion.

As the platform grows, companies need Google Cloud Architects to design and develop robust Cloud solutions.

Google Professional Cloud Architect certification will validate your skills in the design, management, and deployment of robust Cloud solutions.

The certification will also teach you how to design for security and compliance, optimize business promises using the power of Cloud, and ensure operations reliability.

Google recommends having over 3 years of industry experience for this certification.

The average salary for Google Cloud Architect certification is $135,000, according to ZipRecruiter.

#9 – Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE)

Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert, or CCIE, is an advanced certification offered by Cisco.

The certification has several areas of specialization, like CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure, CCIE Enterprise Wireless, CCIE Data Center, CCIE Security, CCIE Service Provider, and CCIE Collaboration.

Each CCIE certification has two exams: a core exam to test and validate conceptual knowledge, and a hands-on lab/practical exam to test your application of the technical concepts.

Cisco is continuously doing revamps to its certification, keeping the material and skills involved relevant to the rapidly changing IT industry.

According to the Robert Half Technology Salary Guide, CCIE is one of the most valuable IT certifications.

The average CCIE salary according to ZipRecruiter is $149,846.

#10 – Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Certification

Microsoft Azure is rapidly expanding its footprint in the IT industry worldwide.

The Azure Cloud platform now owns close to 20% of the entire commercial Cloud market.

As more and more companies deploy Azure, the demand for Azure experts is skyrocketing.

Microsoft Certified Azure Solutions Architect Expert certification will show you how to, understand, design, and oversee large Cloud solutions that are available, secure, efficient and scalable on demand.

Key concepts involved in the certification include implementing and monitoring Azure infrastructure, security solutions, designing identity and security systems for Azure, and deploying data storage solutions.

According to GlassDoor, the average salary for the Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert certification is about $163,000.