Data storage certifications can teach you the skills you need for a career in data storage or new skills to make yourself more desirable on the job market. With the field set to produce more than 18,200 jobs by 2028, a data storage certification can demonstrate proficiency and establish a recognizable baseline for your knowledge.
Here are the 10 top data storage certifications you should consider to advance your career in 2024:
Table of Contents
Data Storage Certificate Program Comparison
The following table shows how the certifications detailed here compare at a glance.
| Certification | Cost | Exam Duration | Skills Acquired | Job Titles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VMware Certified Professional | $250 | 135 mins | vSphere infrastructure management |
|
| NetApp Certified Data Administrator (NCDA) | $150 | 90 mins | NetApp data storage solutions |
|
| IBM Certified Solution Advisor – Spectrum Storage V7 | $200 | 90 mins | IBM storage solutions |
|
| Pure Storage Certified Data Storage Associate | $129 | Pure Storage technologies |
|
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| Microsoft Azure Data Engineering Associate (DP-203) | $165 | 100 mins | Azure data services |
|
| AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional | $300 | 180 mins | AWS applications design |
|
| HPE ASE – Storage Solutions | $145 – $260 | 2 hours | HPE storage solutions design |
|
| Cisco CCIE Data Center | $2,000 | 8 hours (lab) | Data center technologies |
|
| Microsoft Certified: Azure Architect Expert | $165 | Azure solutions design |
|
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| Hitachi Certified Specialist – VSP Installation | $225 | 90 mins | Hitachi VSP G1500/F1500 systems |
|
Top Entry-Level Data Storage Certificates
If you’re just starting out in data storage, these certifications can teach you the fundamentals of data storage and demonstrate your qualifications to potential employers.
VMware Certified Professional, Data Center Virtualization
Best for Data Center Consultants
This certification is ideal for individuals with six to 12 months of experience working with vSphere who want to improve and validate their knowledge of VMware vSphere solutions. The VMware certificate is suitable for system engineers and data storage consultants who work primarily with VMware technology.
Cost
- $250
Requirements
- Recommended: Gain experience with vSphere 7.x or vSphere 8.x
- Required: Pass the qualifying exam
Exam Preparation
- Familiarize yourself and gain experience with the vSphere 7.x or vSphere 8.x.
Duration
- Self-paced training
- 135-minute exam
Skills Acquired
- Implement, manage, and troubleshoot vSphere infrastructure, using practices to provide a secure foundation for business agility that can accelerate the transformation to cloud computing.
Glassdoor Salary Range
- Entry-level system engineers, $51,000 to $80,000
- Virtualization administrators, $57,000 to $96,000
Entry-Level Job Titles
- Virtualization administrators
- System engineers
- Consultants
NetApp Certified Data Administrator, ONTAP
Best for Managing Big Data Storage
The NetApp Certified Data Administrator (NCDA) is best suited for early career professionals looking to validate their practical experience in implementing and managing NetApp data storage solutions, especially performing in-depth support, administrative functions, and performance management for NetApp data storage controllers running the ONTAP operating system in NFS and Windows multiprotocol environments.
Cost
- $150 exam fee
- Training costs vary
Exam Requirements
- None
Exam Preparation
- Recommended: Six to 12 months hands-on experience with data storage solutions, particularly NetApp
- Relevant NetApp University training
Duration
- e-Learning and self-paced study materials vary in length
- 90-minute exam
Skills Acquired
- Storage platforms
- Core ONTAP
- Logical storage and networking
- SAN solutions and connectivity
- Network attached storage (NAS) solutions
- Data protection; security, and performance
Glassdoor Salary Range
- Entry-level database administrator, $48,000 to $82,000
Entry-Level Job Titles
- Database administrator
- System engineer
- System administrator
IBM Certified Solution Advisor – Spectrum Storage V7
Best for Storage Solutions Consultants
The ideal candidate is someone with three to six months of storage design, looking to qualify for managing IBM storage solutions, including Spectrum Control, Spectrum Virtualize, Spectrum Protect, Spectrum Archive, Spectrum Scale, Cloud Object Storage, Spectrum Protect Plus, Spectrum Discover, Cloud Paks, Copy Data Management, and Storage Insights.
Cost
- $200 exam fee
- Training cost varies.
Exam Requirements
- Exam C1000-117: IBM Spectrum Storage Solution Advisor V7
- Experience with IT organization structures
- Knowledge of IT storage standards, offerings, and capabilities
- Knowledge of cloud, network, and storage fundamentals
- Experience with IBM Spectrum Storage and IBM Systems Storage solutions
Exam Preparation
IBM offers online courses and training material:
- Introduction to Storage (SS01G)
- Introduction to IBM Spectrum Protect
- Fundamentals of IBM Spectrum Protect.
Duration
- 90-minute exam
- Self-paced training
Skills Acquired
- IBM specific product knowledge
- High-level storage solutions integrated with existing systems
- How to communicate high-level design scenarios to the customer
Glassdoor Salary Range
- Entry-level technical solutions consultant, $63,000 to $103,000
Entry-Level Job Titles
- Solutions advisor/consultant
- Data architect
- Data analyst.
Pure Storage Certifications – Certified Data Storage Associate
Best for Data Storage Beginners
The Pure Storage Certified Data Storage Associate certification is suitable for individuals seeking validation of their foundational knowledge and skills in enterprise data storage and management using Pure Storage technologies. Pure Storage offers associate and professional certifications for its FlashArray architecture and its FlashBlade architecture.
Cost
- $129 exam
- Costs of class and training vary
Exam Requirements
- At least six months’ industry experience, particularly with Pure Storage solutions
Exam Preparation
- Exam Guides and sample questions available.
- Training is not mandatory—exam is designed to test on-the-job experience
Duration
- Self-paced training
Skills Acquired
- Block storage, cloud, cloud deployment, containers
- Data protection, disaster recovery, ECMP, encryption
- Ethernet, Fibre Channel, FSPF, iSCSI
- Pure Storage, ransomware mitigation, ransomware prevention
- Replication technology, servers, storage, and virtualization
Glassdoor Salary Range
- Storage solutions specialist with two years’ experience, $43,000 to $74,000
Entry-Level Job Titles
- Data storage administrator
- Storage solutions specialist
- Data storage analyst
Top Advanced Data Storage Certificates
If you’re already working as a data storage professional, these certifications will help you expand your skills and advance your career. They can also demonstrate your value to employers.
Microsoft Azure Data Engineering Associate (DP-203) Professional Certificate
Best for Data Engineering
This intermediate certification is a good fit for data engineers with prior experience in data storage management, implementation, and monitoring who often use Azure data services. Azure data engineers help stakeholders understand data and build and maintain secure and compliant data processing pipelines and ensure that the operationalization of data pipelines and data stores are high-performing, efficient, organized, and reliable.
Cost
- $165 exam cost
- Coursera classes start at $59 per month
Exam Requirements
- No specific requirements
- Recommended—one to three years’ experience in data integration, transformation, and consolidation
Exam Preparation
- Microsoft offers an online mock test, an exam sandbox, and video courses
- Knowledge of data processing languages such as SQL, Python, or Scala
- Understanding of parallel processing and data architecture patterns
Duration
- 100-minute exam
- Self-paced training material
Skills Acquired
- Design and implement data storage, data processing, and data security
- Monitor and optimize data storage and data processing
Glassdoor Salary Range
- Azure data engineer with one to three years of experience, $116,000 to $177,000
Mid-Level Job Titles
- Azure Data Engineer
- Data Engineering Consultant
- Business Intelligence Developer
AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional
Best for Data Architecture Professionals
The AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional certification is best suited for experienced solutions architects who design and deploy dynamically scalable, highly available, fault-tolerant, and reliable applications on AWS. Certified professionals showcase advanced knowledge and skills and provide solutions to complex problems, optimizing security, cost, and performance, and automating manual processes.
Cost
- $300 exam fee
- Training costs vary
Exam Requirements
- A minimum two years’ experience with AWS cloud architecture deployment
Exam Preparation
- No required courses
- AWS offers several free, paid, and subscription-based training materials that cater to this certification
Duration
- 180-minute exam
- Self-paced training
Skills Acquired
- Design for organizational complexity
- Design for new solutions
- Migration planning
- Cost control
- Continuous improvement
Glassdoor Salary Range
- Cloud solutions architect with one to three years of experience, $105,000 to $161,000
- Enterprise architect, $166,000 average
Mid-level Job Titles
- Cloud solutions architect
- Senior cloud consultant
- Enterprise solutions architect
HPE ASE – Storage Solutions
Best for Data Storage Hardware Management
Hewlett Packard Enterprise’s Storage Solutions – HPE ASE certificate is best suited for IT professionals looking to validate their expertise in storage technologies, with a focus on designing HPE Enterprise Storage Solutions architectures. It validates your ability to identify, recommend, and explain HPE Enterprise Storage Solutions architectures and technologies.
Cost
- Exam fees vary between $145 and $260
- Classes cost from $4,000 to $8,000
- Study guides cost $30 to $60
Exam Requirements
- Candidates must earn the HPE ATP – Hybrid Cloud certification to qualify
- Recommended: One to three years’ hands-on storage technology experience
Exam Preparation
- HPE offers multiple study guides to prepare candidates for the exam
Duration
- Five-day intensive training course or online study materials or two-hour exam
Skills Acquired
- Differentiate and apply enterprise storage architectures and technologies
- Identify enterprise storage and backup opportunities
- Plan, design, and size HPE Storage Solutions
- Design, identify, and recommend HPE Storage Enterprise and backup solutions
Glassdoor Salary Range
- Storage engineer with one to three years’ experience, $100,000 to $167,000
Mid-level Job Titles
- Storage solutions architect
- Storage systems engineer
- Storage consultant
Top Specialty Data Storage Certificates
For data storage professionals who want to specialize in a particular area or tool, these certifications can qualify you for deep expert-level assignments.
Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) Data Center
Best for Advanced Data Center Managers
The Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) Data Center certification is ideal for network professionals with extensive experience in data center technologies, aiming to demonstrate expert-level knowledge and skills. CCIE Data Center certification proves your skills with complex data center solutions through the entire network lifecycle, from designing and deploying to operating and optimizing.
Cost
- $400 qualifying exam fee
- $1,600 lab exam fee
- Four-hour practice sessions cost $50
Exam Requirements
- Five to seven years’ experience
Exam Preparation
- CCIE Practice Labs
- Free learning material and lists
Duration
- Self-paced training
- Eight-hour qualifying and lab exam
Skills Acquired
- Network
- Computer
- Storage network
- Automation
- Security
Glassdoor Salary Range
- Senior data center solutions consultant, $104,000 to $181,000
Senior-Level Job Titles
- Data center network architect
- Senior network engineer
- Data center solutions consultant
Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert
Best for Microsoft Storage Solutions
The Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert certification is designed for IT professionals with expertise in designing and implementing solutions that run on Microsoft Azure. Solutions architects translate business requirements into Azure solutions.
Cost
- Exam costs $165
Exam Requirements
- Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate certification
- Recommended: Advanced experience and knowledge in IT operations such as networking, data virtualization, data platforms, governance, and disaster recovery
- Knowledge of Azure administration, development, and DevOps
Exam Preparation
- Choose between free, self-paced courses or paid, instructor-led prep courses
Duration
- Self-paced training
Skills Acquired
- Designing data storage solutions
- Data identity, governance and monitoring
- Designing infrastructure and data storage solutions
Glassdoor Salary Range
- Azure architect, $155,000 to $229,000
Senior-Level Job Titles
- Azure solutions architect
- Cloud solutions architect
- Enterprise cloud architect
Hitachi Certified Specialist – VSP G1500 and VSP F1500 Storage Installation
Best for Expert-Level Storage Technicians
The Hitachi Certified Specialist – VSP G1500 and VSP F1500 Storage Installation certification is ideal for IT professionals involved in the installation and configuration of Hitachi Vantara VSP G1500 and VSP F1500 storage systems. It validates knowledge and skills installing, configuring, and supporting Hitachi products at customer sites and provides knowledge of systems hardware and associated program products and a thorough understanding of installation and configuration procedures, as well as associated administrative activities.
Cost
- Exam costs $225
Exam Requirements
- No specific requirements
- Recommended: Five years’ experience installing enterprise-grade storage systems, including hardware and software
- Recommended: Knowledge of the tools, techniques, and best practices related to storage maintenance and servicing
Exam Preparation
- Training material available in the Hitachi Vantara Learning Center
Duration
- Self-paced training
- 90-minute exam
Skills Acquired
- Enterprise-level storage installation
- Pre-installation checks
- Knowledge of problem determination and incident resolution
- The ability to configure and troubleshoot Hitachi storage solutions
Glassdoor Salary Range
- Senior Hitachi Vantara Storage Consultant, average $173,000
Senior-level Job Titles
- Storage solutions consultant
- Senior storage engineer
- Hitachi Vantara storage specialist
Is a Storage Certification Worth The Investment?
Not all businesses require traditional degrees from educational institutions for employees, but most require some accreditation to demonstrate knowledge and expertise. A data storage certification provides the qualifications needed for a particular role—and, depending on where you are in your career, can also help boost your hiring and salary potential.
Many organizations recognize certifications as an indicator of commitment and proficiency in the field, making them a significant factor in hiring and promotion decisions. Certifications are considered a recent validation of up-to-date competence and experience rather than general knowledge in the field. Many expire after one to five years, making it important for professionals to continue their professional development to keep pace.
How To Choose The Right Data Storage Certification
When considering data storage certifications, it’s important to weigh a number of factors to ensure they’re a good fit for your particular needs and interests and will provide an appropriate return on investment.
Level
Start by choosing a certificate that verifies your level, whether you’re a beginner, a professional, or an expert. Assess your current level of expertise and experience. Are you just starting out, or are you looking to deepen your knowledge in a specific area?
Platforms
Limit your options to technologies and platforms most relevant to your ideal role—certifications offered by storage providers often focus on how to best work using their proprietary solutions. However, some certificates are more general and the knowledge you acquire can be applied regardless of the brand of hardware and software.
Resources
Think of the resources you currently have and the ones made available by the certification provider. Consider the cost of the exam, as well as any subscription or flat fees that you may need to pay to access preparation material.
Look for certifications that offer a good balance of cost and potential career advancements and salary boosts. Some employers cover part or all the costs of training programs and certifications for their employees, so make sure you check with your current company.
Time
Think about the time commitment required to prepare for and obtain the certification. Ensure that you have the necessary time to dedicate to studying and that the certification has a schedule and format that fits your lifestyle. How long is a certificate valid? It usually varies between one and five years, with some certifications being easier and cheaper to renew than get for the first time.
Companies to Work For Post-Certification
Obtaining a certificate offered by particular technologies companies may increase your chances of being hired by them—this list includes certifications from several, including IBM, Google, and Microsoft. But enterprises in a wide range of industries also have the need for skilled employees to help them manage their growing data estates, as well as healthcare organizations, government agencies, and consulting firms.
Startups and companies focused on big data and cloud services offer exciting opportunities for certified individuals. These companies often look for professionals who can bring new insights and efficiencies to data storage and management.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How long does it take to complete a storage certification?
It takes from a few weeks to over a year to complete a certification program depending on your current level of experience and the certificate itself.
Can I pursue a storage certification while working full-time?
Yes, most training material is self-paced and available online. You can make studying fit into your schedule.
Will a storage certification help me switch careers?
Entry-level certifications are one of the best ways to gain and validate the skills needed to access a data-focused role in another field.
Bottom Line: 2024’s Essential Data Storage Certifications for IT Professionals
With the rapid pace of technological advancement, certifications are both a necessary requirement for professionals who need to keep their skills up-to-date as well as an opportunity for skills enhancement, career advancement, and professional development. That’s especially true in the data storage and management industry, where resource optimization and security are of the utmost importance.
Certifications also have a lower barrier to entry than traditional degrees, making them ideal for people changing career paths into data science or acquiring new skills while on a budget. The data storage certifications on this list all provide the knowledge you need to succeed in the field, whether you’re just starting out or are a seasoned professional looking to improve your position.
If you’re interested in careers in data management or data science but aren’t sure data storage is right for you, read our list of top certifications for data analysts, data scientists, big data professionals, data mining, data visualization, and the Internet of Things.