Top 10 Certifications for IT Professionals
Looking to expand your skillset or progress in your IT career? Gaining an accredited certification is a great way to validate your experience and build capability in different specialisms.
With many organisations facing growing cyber threats, and undergoing complex cloud adoption and AI transformation programmes, the race is on for IT teams to adapt and develop new capabilities.
Given the challenges and opportunities facing the IT industry, our team of IT experts have chosen the best IT certifications that you can earn in 2026.
1. CompTIA Network+
Demand for cloud adoption and growing cyber security threats means that the requirement for network engineers is at an all-time high, with over 72,000 active job openings in the US alone[1].
This makes CompTIA Network+ one of the most sought-after certifications for network engineers. This certification covers the essential skills needed to establish, maintain, troubleshoot and secure networks in any environment.
The main benefit of Network+ is that prepares learners to support networks on any platform, unlike other vendor-specific certifications.
Who is CompTIA Network+ for?
CompTIA Network+ is ideal for junior network engineers, data centre support technicians and network systems engineers.
Prerequisites
It is recommended that learners have 9-12 months of experience in IT networking.
Career prospects
CompTIA Network+ can support IT professionals in transitioning into network engineer and IT support technician roles.
2. Cisco CCNA
Cisco CCNA is one of the most popular certifications for those starting a career in IT and networking. It covers a wide range of fundamental skills including network fundamentals, IP connectivity, security fundamentals and automation.
Earning the Cisco CCNA certification gives IT professionals the perfect foundation to take their career in any direction. It is often a prerequisite for more advanced certifications, including Cisco CCNP and it’s many specialised offshoots (Enterprise, Security, Data Centre, Collaboration, Service Provider and DevNet Professional)[2].
Who is it for?
Cisco CCNA is best suited to foundational roles, such as entry-level network engineers, administrators and support technicians.
Prerequisites
Although there are no formal prerequisites, learners should ideally have at least year of experience in Cisco solutions and a basic understanding of IP addressing and network fundamentals.
Career prospects
Earning a Cisco CCNA certification can open the door to many different career paths. CCNA can move into more technical roles in infrastructure, cloud engineering and security analysis.
3. Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals (AI-900) / Microsoft Azure Data Fundamentals (DP-900)
With 96% of organisations using some form of cloud service [3] and AI set to define the next generation of software solutions, enterprise organisations are increasingly seeking IT professionals with diverse skills across IT infrastructure, cloud and AI.
This Microsoft Azure certification is essential for IT professionals that wants to expand their skills and develop their capability in creating cloud and AI solutions.
Who is it for?
This certification is best suited to professional that currently use Microsoft Azure and want to learn about types of data and AI solutions that are possible within Azure. It is aimed at those in database and data engineering roles.
Prerequisites
There are no prerequisites required for this certification, but learners should have experience of using web browsers, and familiarity with basic data and AI concepts.
Career prospects
Learning cloud-based data and AI skills now is a great way to future-proof your skills for the future. It can also open new career opportunities, including roles in cloud support, data engineering and cloud architecture.
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Book Microsoft Azure Data Fundamentals
4. CompTIA A+
91% of those who have earned a CompTIA A+ certification have reported career progression after becoming certified [4]. This certification is an excellent for entry-level IT professionals. It provides a core understanding of the key challenges related to networking, operating systems, applications and cyber security.
It can also open the door to further and more specialised CompTIA certifications.
Who is it for?
This certification is most suitable for entry-level IT professionals, career changers, school leavers and graduates.
Prerequisites
There are no formal prerequisites, but learners should have a basic understanding of computer usage and operating systems.
Career prospects
A+ is best suited to help desk and IT support staff, but can lead to progression into more senior roles, such as support specialists and senior technicians.
5. Microsoft Dynamics Fundamentals (MB-910, MB-920) / Microsoft Power Platform Fundamentals (PL-200)
For many organisations, Microsoft Dynamics and Power Platform are at the core of how they run their customer, operations and data processes. These certifications can help IT professionals build the skills they need to stay relevant and master these platforms – supporting businesses with AI transformation and positioning themselves as trusted enablers of change and innovation.
Who is it for?
These certifications are best suited to IT professionals who work in businesses that utilise Microsoft Dynamics and Power Platform, or those interested in rolling out these platforms.
Prerequisites
Learners should have a familiarity with Microsoft 365 applications (e.g., Teams, Outlook, SharePoint).
Career prospects
These certifications can open the door to roles related to business applications, particularly Microsoft 365 and Azure, which can often overlap with IT and cloud responsibilities. The related roles in this space can vary, from specialist power platform managers to solutions designers and architects.
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Book Microsoft Power Platform Fundamentals
6. Cisco Professional (CCNP)
Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) is one of the most respected certifications for IT professionals who want to deepen their networking expertise and advance their careers.
The main benefit of CCNP is that it offers several certification variants, allowing you to choose the best path that best suits your career needs [6]. CCNP Enterprise is one of the most popular, while CCNP Data Centre is ever important as organisations require IT professionals who operate the data centres of today and tomorrow.
Who is it for?
A set of top certifications for mid-level network engineers, network administrators, network support technicians and help desk technicians.
Prerequisites
A Cisco CCNA certification can be beneficial, and it’s recommended that learners have around 3-5 years of experience implementing solutions in their relevant specialism.
Career prospects
CCNP is a globally recognised certification that can lead to opportunities for career progression. It is most suited to those who aspire senior networking roles, such as a network architect or senior network engineer.
7. Microsoft 365 Endpoint Administrator (MD-102)
Nearly 70% of the Fortune 500 now use Microsoft Copilot[5], and this fast adoption makes Microsoft 365 skilled professionals even more sought after. The Microsoft 365 Endpoint Administrator certification teaches learners how to implement and management endpoints at scale using a range of Microsoft apps, including Intune, Windows Autopilot, Microsoft Copilot, Microsoft Defender and Microsoft Entra.
This certification supports the critical role that administrators and IT teams play in protecting devices, enforcing policies and maintaining compliance.
Who is it for?
This certification is designed for IT professionals who manage and configure devices in Microsoft 365. It is most suitable for endpoint administrators, Microsoft 365 admins and IT managers.
Prerequisites
It is recommended that learners have experience with Microsoft Entra, and working knowledge of device management, client networking, cloud-based solutions and Microsoft 365 technologies, like Intune.
Career prospects
This is an increasingly valuable for IT professionals, especially with so many organisations operating on Microsoft 365. It provides a good foundation for those that want to move into security focused roles, such as a security analyst or security endpoint manager.
Book Microsoft Endpoint Administrator
8. AWS Certifications
With cloud skills becoming a vital asset for IT professionals, AWS has a number of suitable certifications for those that want to move into this space. Millions of organisations use AWS, which now has around 30% market share in the global cloud infrastructure market [7].
For those new to AWS, Certified Cloud Practitioner is a certification that provides a strong starting point. AWS Certified SyOps Administrator is a good option for IT teams who manage servers and networks, while there are also certifications for those looking to specialise in security, data and AI.
Who is it for?
The best AWS certification for you depends on your role and which area you want to specialise. Generally, becoming certified in AWS is a must-have if you work in an organisation which relies on AWS as its primary cloud platform.
Prerequisites
There are no prerequisites for most practitioner certifications, but a general understanding of AWS and cloud platforms would be beneficial.
Career prospects
Specialising in a cloud platform can lead to career opportunities in cloud engineering and cloud architecture. Cloud engineers often earn between £60k and £90k in the UK, while many cloud architects have a salary well over £100k, depending on location and sector.
9. Microsoft Security (SC-900)
This Microsoft certification is perfect way for IT professionals that want to specialise in security. It provides a foundational level of security knowledge, covering core concepts such as compliance, identity protection and cloud-based security within Microsoft platforms.
Who is it for?
This course is targeted at IT professionals that want to take the next step in their career and move into a more specialised, Microsoft-focused role.
Prerequisites
Learners should have a general understanding of networking and cloud concepts, as well as experience of working in IT.
Career prospects
This certification supports a transition into security-based IT roles, such as a security administrator or cyber security analyst.
Book Microsoft Security Certification
10. Google Cloud
Around 60% of funded Gen AI startups use Google Cloud [8], which has a number of certifications that are suitable for IT professionals. Associate Cloud Engineer is ideal for professionals that want to transition for IT to a more cloud-based role, while Professional DevOps Engineer and Professional Data Engineer offer the opportunity to develop specialisms in other areas.
Who is it for?
GCP certifications are best for IT professionals that want to transition into cloud focused roles.
Prerequisites
There are no formal prerequisites, but existing knowledge of the Google Cloud ecosystem would be beneficial.
Career prospects
Becoming GCP certified opens the door to becoming a GCP and cloud specialist. It can support you on the career path to becoming a cloud architect or data engineer.
Explore Google Cloud Certifications
How to choose the right certification
IT roles are becoming increasingly intertwined with AI programmes, cloud solutions and data teams, meaning there are ample opportunities for career growth and developing different specialisms.
The right certification depends on your current role and where you want to go next. If you’d like tailored guidance on choosing the best path, speak to our team of experts today.
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