New CompTIA Server+ (SK0-004)
Latest update from the leading provider of vendor-neutral skills certifications for IT professionals around the world
Downers Grove, Ill. – A greater emphasis on security, storage, virtualization and related skills highlight the changes in the latest edition of the CompTIA Server+ certification exam released by CompTIA, the IT industry association and the leading provider of vendor-neutral skills certifications for IT professionals around the world.
CompTIA Server+ is an internationally recognized credential that validates foundation level skills and knowledge in server technologies. It is an ideal professional credential for those who work in today’s data centers.
The newest version of the exam (SK0-004) covers a broad range of skills related to how server and data storage administration works in today’s real-world IT environment. Virtualization, big data, cloud storage, security, scalability, hardware, software, storage, best practices, disaster recovery and troubleshooting are among the areas covered in the exam.
Server and data center management skills are among the top five areas where businesses are looking to minimize skills gaps among their IT staffs, according to CompTIA research. Four in 10 businesses surveyed cited the need to close gaps in server and data skills.
A separate CompTIA survey of IT professionals found that approximately three in 10 plan to pursue training and certification in server skills.
IT job roles that can benefit from becoming CompTIA Server+ certified include:
- Server support technicians who install and maintain servers, network infrastructure and client solutions in a data center.
- Server administrators who support the operation of servers on a network, including analyzing, diagnosing, troubleshooting and resolving server hardware and software problems.
- IT and server technicians responsible for standard “rack-and-stack” server work, including installing new servers and maintaining server and storage devices.
- Storage administrators who design, implement, administer, maintain and monitor performance of SAN and NAS storage environments.
- Storage server and systems administrators tasked with the management and operation of storage environments.
CompTIA Server+ certification is targeted at IT professionals with 18-24 months of on-the-job experience. Though not required, it is recommended that candidates for CompTIA Server+ certification hold a CompTIA A+ certification.
Those of you who already have a Server+ may be pleased to read that because the exam has no continuing education requirement, there’s no need to renew your credential. Unlike A+, Network+ and Security+, all of which now expire every three years, Server+ remains a lifetime certification – that is, once it’s been earned it never needs to be renewed. Given the relentless forward march of technology, that’s probably as much of a curse as it is a blessing. Certainly, for the Server+ to carry much weight in a job interview or competitive promotion situation, you’re going to want it to be as current as possible.
