What is DevOps?
DevOps is considered to be the union of the developer and operations. DevOps has several stages and a set of tools to automate each of these stages. Let's take a look at how the DevOps lifecycle works.
A developer first sets out a plan to decide on the module and algorithm to use. Then later codes the program and stars in a repository like Git. The repository holds the original code and versions of the code, this is called version control. The code is then fetched and made executable in the build stage. Tools like Gradle and Maven sort this out. Before deployment, the product is tested for bugs if any using popular automating testing tools like Selenium.
Once the product is tested, the DevOps engineer deploys it. The deployed product is then continuously configured to the desired state. Ansible, Puppet, and Docker are some of the tools that automate these stages.
Every product is continuously monitored in its working requirements. Nagios tool automates this phase. The feedback is then fed back to the planning stage. The core of the DeOps lifecycle is the integration stage. Tools such as Jenkins are responsible for sending the code for build and testing. If the code passes the test it is sent for deployment. This is called continuous integration.
Why Does DevOps Certification Matter?
DevOps certification is an accredited credential that demonstrates specific competitive skills and subject matter required to be a successful DevOps professional. Obtained through various assessments, educational courses, or performance reviews, they prove that the candidate met rigorous standards.
DevOps position is consistently ranked among the highest paying salaries so earning a certification increases the chances of getting a good job. The certification also makes you ready to work in a team of cross-functional team members, including QA, developers, operation engineers, and business analysts.
10 Best DevOps Certification
Let us now see the list of best DevOps certification and DevOps Certification cost that boosts the career for the candidate.
1. Docker Certified Associate
The Docker Certified Associate (DCA), designed for Docker practitioners with some relevant experience working with Docker, is a DevOps tool to validate the skillset with real-world problems designed by experienced Docker practitioners.
Prerequisite: At least 6 months of experience Docker Practitioner
About the Exam
Cost: $195
Duration: 90 mins
Question Type: 55 MCQs
Test Syllabus
- Orchestration
- Security
- Networking
- Installation and configuration
- Image creation
- Management
- Registry
- Storage
- Volumes
Fairs
- Recognition of the Docker skills with official Docker credential
- Use of the Docker Certified Associate logo and Digital certificate.
- Online verification of Docker Certified status by the potential employers
- Exclusive access to the Docker Certified professional network on LinkedIn and invites to certified events
If you are planning to take this certification, here is a great course to boost your preparation: Docker Certified Associate 2024
2. Kubernetes Certification
Kubernetes, an open-source container management system, is a collaboration of the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) and the Linux Foundation that automates the process of deploying and managing multi-container applications at scale. Kubernetes, is one of the top DevOps tools that enable the DevOps team to keep pace with the requirements for software development, making it a power player in the world of DevOps certifications.
Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA) and Certified Kubernetes Application Developer (CKAD) are the two certification options one can choose.
1. CKA Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA)
The CKA program assesses the skills, knowledge, and proficiency that a Kubernetes Administrator should possess. The online exam consists of a performance-based set of problems that the candidate has to solve in a command line within 3 hours. The users demonstrate their competence in a hands-on, command-line environment in this program. The Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA) program aims to assure that CKAs have the knowledge, skills, and competency to perform the responsibilities of Kubernetes administrators.
About the Exam
Cost: $300
Duration: 3 hours
Question Type: Problem Solving
Test Syllabus
- Application Lifecycle Management 8%
- Installation, Configuration & Validation 12%
- Core Concepts 19%
- Networking 11%
- Scheduling 5%
- Security 12%
- Cluster Maintenance 11%
- Logging / Monitoring 5%
- Storage 7%
- Troubleshooting 10%
Certified Kubernetes Administrator with Practice Tests is a great course to prepare for CKA certification.
2. CKAD Certified Kubernetes Application Developer (CKAD)
This certification is for professionals who execute core practices of the Kubernetes ecosystem. Candidates are tested on how skilled they are in designing, building, exposing, and configuring native cloud applications for Kubernetes. Certification is the primary step in the process, allowing certified application developers to establish their credibility and value in the job market quickly, and also allowing companies to more quickly hire high-quality teams to support their growth.
Candidates must also be aware of application techniques for Cloud-native application concepts, OCI-Compliant Container Runtime, and infrastructure, programming languages such as Go, Python, or Java.
This exam certifies a candidate’s experience, skills, application expertise, and familiarity with the Kubernetes environment.
About the Exam
Cost: $300
Duration: 2 hours
Question Type: Problem Solving
Test Syllabus
- Core Concepts: 13%
- Configuration: 18%
- Multi-Container Pods:10%
- Observability-18%
- Pod Design-20%
- Services & Networking:13%
- State Persistence: 8%
Kubernetes Certified Application Developer with Tests is a highly recommended course to prepare for CKAD certification.
3. AWS Certified DevOps Engineer Professional Exam
There are several AWS Certifications for professionals performing various roles and responsibilities in the AWS cloud. AWS DevOps Engineer Professional certification exam tests the technical skills and expertise of the candidates to operate and manage distributed systems and applications on the AWS platform.
The exam requires a candidate to have a good understanding of the processes and methodologies for development and operations. He must have also gained some significant experience in administering operating systems and building automated infrastructures. Documentation, books, white papers, online course, practice tests, and discussion forums are mandatory to prepare for the AWS DevOps EngineerProfessional exam. The exam is available in English, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese.
About the Exam:
Cost: $300
Duration: 170 minutes
Question Type: 40-65 MCQs
Test Syllabus
- SDLC automation
- Configuration Management and Infrastructure as Code
- High availability, disaster recovery, and fault tolerance
- Incident and event response
- Monitoring and logging
- Policies and standards automation
Here are some mack tests for this certification: AWS Certified DevOps Engineer Professional Practice Exams
4. Azure DevOps Solution Certification Exam
Microsoft Azure, a cloud computing service similar to AWS and the Google Cloud Platform. It offers a wide variety of services, including web servers, email servers, databases, file storage servers, virtual machines, user directories, and more. Incorporating Azure and DevOps simplifies and speeds up the entire DevOps process, providing faster and more reliable deployments. Thus the certification lies in the list of best DevOps certifications as the Azure professionals, working as DevOps engineers, are aspired to get this certification.
Among the several Azure certifications, Azure DevOps Engineer Expert certification validates the skills and expertise of Azure DevOps professionals specifically. Ideally, these Azure professionals will already be working as DevOps engineers, designing and implementing DevOps best practices for the version control, build, release, compliance, testing, and infrastructure as code by using Azure technologies.
About the Exam
Prerequisite: Azure Administrator Associate and Azure Developer Associate
Cost: $165
Duration: 170 minutes
Question Type: 40-60 MCQs
Test Syllabus
- Designing a DevOps Strategy
- Implementing DevOps development processes
- Continuous integration
- Continuous delivery
- Application infrastructure
- Dependency management
- Continuous feedback
You can signup here.
5. Puppet Professional Certification
More than 35,000 organizations worldwide use Puppet, 206 – System Administration Using Puppet Exam; therefore, the demand for engineers, developers, administrators, managers, and architects with Puppet experience is significant. The Puppet Certified Professional tests talented candidates for macro-level knowledge of Puppet IT automation software.
After qualifying for the exam, the candidate would be allowed to operate system infrastructure using Puppet. The candidate can learn modules like data separation and external data sources. Puppet Language Style Guide can be your bible for preparing yourself with Puppet documentation and accepted practices.
Ideal candidates must:
- Know to use the Forge to find and Apply modules
- Be familiar with troubleshooting strategies for core Puppet platform components and Puppet code.
- Understand classification strategies by which they can set class variables and parameters.
- Understand module testing practices, module structure, and arrangement and design of profiles and roles.
About the Exam
Prerequisite: None
Cost: $200
Duration: 90 minutes
Question Type: 60 MCQs
Test Syllabus
- Resource abstraction,
- Idempotence,
- Puppet facts,
- Puppet agent lifecycle
- Practical operational knowledge of:
Puppet language,
-
- data service capabilities of Hiera,
- applications of Puppet DB data,
- tricks for defining dependencies in Puppet code.
You can signup here.
6. Architecting With Google Cloud Platform
One needs to be a step forward to be acquainted with cloud computing and its infrastructure. The specialization introduces learners to the comprehensive and flexible platform and support service that Google Cloud Platform provides, with a focus on Compute Engine. It helps to understand the global and resilient infrastructure and platform services provided by the Google Cloud Platform. This certification aims at Cloud Solutions Architects and DevOps Engineers, and anyone interested in integrating existing systems and infrastructure with GCP and creating new solutions can take this course. Through a plethora of hands-on labs, exercises, and lectures, this set of online tutorials provides the opportunity to explore and learn about various components of the cloud platform such as network, application services, and much more.
The course covers deploying practical solutions, including securely interconnecting networks, customer-supplied encryption keys, security and access management, quotas and billing, and resource monitoring as well. Cloud Solutions Architects, DevOps Engineers, or individuals using Compute Engine usually intend to go for this course.
The course covers all the infrastructure components and GCP fundamentals and tons of exercises to solidify knowledge and clarify doubts. Each topic is covered elaborately with a proper hands-on lab.
About the Course
Prerequisite: None
The Course is available on Coursera.
Cost: Free for 7 days. [Financial Aid Available]
Duration: Flexible
You can signup here.
7. Free DevOps Course (LinkedIn) 
Well-known DevOps practitioners James Wickett and Ernest Mueller contribute to this course. Focusing on the core value of culture, automation, measurement, and sharing (CAMS) provides an overview of the DevOps movement. The course covers various tools and methodologies an organization adopts to transition into DevOps, with both lean and agile project management principles, and how old-school principles like SDLC, ITSM, and ITIL fit with DevOps.
A discussion of three main tenets of DevOps infrastructure automation, continuous delivery, and reliability engineering concludes the course. It also has some additional resources and a brief look into the future as organizations transition from the cloud to a serverless architecture.
About the Course:
Prerequisite: None
The Course is available on LinkedIn
Cost: Rs 1,652
Duration: 3 hours
You can signup here.
8. Become a Cloud DevOps Engineer- Nano-degree Program
Beginning a career as a Cloud DevOps engineer requires the prerequisite in Linux command line experience and fundamental object-oriented programming. The course introduces operationalizing infrastructure at scale and delivers services and applications at high velocity. You start with the fundamentals of cloud computing, computer power, security, networking, messaging, and management services. Build CI/CD pipelines, and operationalize microservices at scale using Kubernetes, among other crucial topics.
About the Course:
Prerequisite: Intermediate JavaScript
The Course is available on Udacity
Cost: Rs 79996
Duration: 4 months
You can signup here.
9. Learn DevOps: Infrastructure Automation With Terraform
It is predicted that automation will play a crucial role in future technologies. This course is the right place to begin if you want to get the upper hand in this scenario. It teaches you to automate your infrastructure with Terraform. Begin with the fundamentals and eventually move towards the complex topics. Get the opportunity to have practical experience, which helps you to solidify your concepts.
Configuration and working with the required tools are instructed and explained clearly. The lectures are updated regularly based on the advancement of the relevant technologies. There are a lot of code examples that can be used to automate your infrastructure.
About the Course
Prerequisite: None
The Course is available on Udemy.
Cost: Rs 700
Duration: 7 hours
You can signup here.
10. Free DevOps Training Course by Microsoft
The program gives a flavor of reaction to the changing market conditions with the help of continuous integration and deployment. It teaches how to monitor applications, feedback loops, and ensure customer satisfaction. This program is divided into eight courses and takes you one step forward to become an expert in this field.
Created by Microsoft and available on edX, the certification is built with the focus that helps you to learn the skills for the DevOps culture at any workplace.
The lectures elaborately cover each concept at a perfect pace. The complete course is broken into appropriate sections, which makes it easy for the students to follow. Learn topics such as database integration, configuration management, architectural apps, and much more. There is a final project at the end of the certification, which will allow you to apply the knowledge acquired throughout the lessons.
About the Course:
Prerequisite: None
The Course is available on edX
Cost: Free
Duration: 16-30 hours
You can signup here.
Conclusion
Learning DevOps could be overwhelming, so we’ve provided you with the ultimate list of the best DevOps certifications. It is not challenging to choose the option that best suits your needs. Our experience shows that it makes the most sense to start with a corresponding DevOps certification based on the tool or platform where you have expertise.
Even more important, you will need real-time hands-on experience with the DevOps tool in order to achieve a certification. Practice and learn and get a certification to have a bright DevOps career.
Have a more DevOps Certifications Suggestion? Let us know! You could also suggest some DevOps Communities if any for our fellow readers. Thanks!
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