Data analytics is huge now with so much unlimited career potential it is something you absolutely should be taking a look at if you are interested at all in the topic. We will explain more on what data analytics is but you should also know there are a couple key certifications you can get to further your career in this area as well.
Data analytics is the process of transforming raw data into meaningful information. The process involves different tasks, such as inspecting, interpreting, filtering, modeling, and mapping data. Data can be classified into two generic categories i-e normal and big data. Big data can be differentiated from normal data on the basis of variety, velocity, and volume of data. Big data is more complex (variety), generated at a great pace (velocity) and bulk quantity (volume). Normal data analytics practices may not work for big data. More refined techniques and skills are required to perform big data analysis. Data analysis is also carried out in cybersecurity. The main objective of data analytics in cybersecurity is to secure data from various cyber-attacks. It is a crucial job as it requires analyzing a variety of data generated at variable speed and volume. People who perform data analysis are called data analysts or data scientists. Data analyst is one of the core jobs in cybersecurity. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has defined a cyber data analyst role under the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE) framework. According to the framework, the data analyst must be capable of performing necessary data collection and processing steps in order to provide data privacy and security. IT companies are always in hunt of professionals who can interpret complex data and help organizations in achieving their business and security goals. Organizations prefer experienced and skillful data analysts for such critically important tasks. The following data analytics certifications can endorse the knowledge and skills of professionals pursuing jobs in the data analytics field.
Certified Analytics Professional (CAP)
CAP is a vendor-neutral analytics certification sponsored by INFORMS (Institute for Operations Research and Management Sciences). The credential certifies professionals’ data acquisition and analytical skills set.
How to Become Certified Analytics Professional?
CAP credentials can be earned by passing the computer-based CAP exam. Candidates having bachelor’s degree and 5 years of work experience in the analytics field or master’s degree with 3 years of work experience are eligible for the exam. The degree requirement can be waived off in case of a vast data analysis experience. The interested candidates must submit an application in order to confirm their eligibility. The soft skills (less technical but essential analytics skills) of the applicants are verified by sending emails to the previous employers of the candidates. All applications are processed within seven business days. The candidates with no proof of soft skills can still take the exam. However, the certification is only awarded after the fulfillment of prerequisites.
CAP Exam Format
Test Format: Computer-based Test
Questions: Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
Total Questions: 100
Passing Score: Modified-Angoff Based
Candidates who fail the exam can retake the exam two more times in the same year by submitting the reexamination fee. Those who successfully earn the certification must recertify after a period of 3 years.
CAP Domains
CAP examination is comprised of questions from the following 7 domains based on Job Task Analysis (JTA), designed and verified by subject matter experts.
1) Business Problem Framing
2) Analytics Problem Framing
3) Data (Acquisition)
4) Methodologies
5) Modeling
6) Deployment
7) Lifecycle Management
CAP Reference Page: https://www.certifiedanalytics.org/index.php
MapR Certified Data Analyst (MCDA)
MapR Certified Data Analyst credential validates large scale data analytics expertise of individuals. The MCDA holders are considered capable of analyzing and manipulating large datasets using different tools like Apache Drill, Apache Hive, and Apache Pig.
How to Become a MapR Certified Data Analyst?
MapR awards the MCDA certification to the candidates who successfully pass the certification exam. There is no mandatory pre-requisite to take the MCDA exam. The interested candidates must register themselves with MapR by purchasing exam vouchers. The exam vouchers expire within six months. Special accommodation is provided to the examinees from the United States. People from other countries are facilities in their respective regions according to the local laws.
MCDA Exam Format
Exam Type: Proctored Exam
Total Exam Questions: 50-60
Exam Duration: 2 Hours
MCDA Exam Topics
The following topics are covered in the MCDA exam.
1) Extracting, Transforming, and Loading Data with Apache Pig
2) Manipulating Data with Apache Pig
3) Creating tables and loading data in Apache Hive
4) Querying Data with Apache Hive
5) Performing SQL Queries Using Drill
6) Self-Describing Data
7) Optimizing Drill queries
MapR offers the following courses to get prepared for the MCDA exam.
1) Introduction to SQL Analytics with Apache Drill
2) Apache Drill Performance and Debugging
3) Apache Hive Essentials
4) Apache Pig Essentials
MCDA reference page: https://learn.mapr.com/mcda-mapr-certified-data-analyst
Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE): Data Management and Analytics
MCSE: Data Management and Analytics credential certify individuals’ knowledge and skills required to manage structured data (SQL administration), building and managing enterprise-level data solutions, and incorporating Business Intelligence (BI) technology into on-premise and cloud-based data. The credential can validate the skills required for jobs like a database designers, database analysts, and business intelligence analysts.
How to Become Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert?
MCSE credential can be earned by fulfilling the MCSA (Microsoft Certified Solution Expert) prerequisite and passing the MCSE exam. Individuals interested in MCSE certification must first obtain MCSA certification in SQL Server 2016 and pass one of the following MCSE exams.
1) Implementing Data Models and Reports with Microsoft SQL Server
2) Developing SQL Databases
3) Developing SQL Data Models
4) Developing Microsoft SQL Server Databases
5) Implementing a Data Warehouse using SQL
6) Designing Business Intelligence Solutions with Microsoft SQL Server
7) Implementing Microsoft Azure Cosmos DB Solutions
8) Designing Database Solutions for Microsoft SQL Server
Microsoft offers specialized MCSE courses, instructor-led classes, and online training to help candidates prepare for the MCSE exam.
MCSE: Data Management and Analytics reference page: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/learning/mcse-data-management-analytics.aspx
EMC Data Science Associate (EMCDSA)
Dell EMC Education Services offer EMCDSA certification to professionals who can demonstrate their skills in deploying data analytics lifecycle, analyzing big data through various analytic techniques, build statistical models, identify insights, and having a clear understanding of advanced analytics.
How to Become EMC Data Science Associate?
Individuals interested in EMCDSA certification must have a strong quantitative background, SQL knowledge, and scripting languages (like Java, Perl, Python, R) expertise before applying for the EMCDSA exam. Candidates meeting the prerequisites are required to take the ‘Data Science and Big Data Analytics Exam v2’ exam to earn EMCDSA certification.
Exam Format
Exam Questions: 60
Exam Duration: 90 Minutes
Passing Score: 60
Exam Topics
The EMCDSA exam is based on the following topics.
1) Big Data, Analytics, and Data Scientist Role
2) Theory, Application, and Interpretation of Results (Advanced Analytics)
3) Data Analytics Lifecycle
4) Initial Data Analysis
5) Technology and Tools (Advanced Analytics)
6) Analytics Project Operationalization and Data Visualization Techniques
Dell EMC offers the following courses for EMCDSA preparation.
EMCDSA reference page: https://education.dellemc.com/content/emc/en-us/home/certification-overview/find-exam/data-science-associate.html#Tabs1 -emcdsa/
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