Top 12 certifications for Enterprise Architects |

Over the years, technology has built up and transformed the way we carry out our activities, from the comfort of our homes to more complex issues like manufacturing. It has created remarkable tools and resources, making it possible for us to have useful information at the tip of our fingers.

Multifunctional devices like computers and smartphones are increasing faster, becoming more portable and higher-powered than before. Technological advancement has made our lives easier, smarter, and more fun.

It didn’t leave the field of enterprise architecture behind in this advancement. Enterprise architecture is a theoretical design that explains the structure and operation of organizations. The aim is to regulate how an organization will accomplish its present and impending goals.

Each organization has its concept of enterprise architecture. It faced enterprise architects with the responsibility of endorsing business structure analysis.

Businesses in the world, ranging from cloud systems to IT strategy can feel the influence of enterprise architecture from anywhere. Many training courses can help you navigate your way in the industry enterprise.

Most of the courses are like a semester’s worth of college programs. If you are looking for ways to speed ahead in the enterprise of industry, it is advisable to take some of these courses as they would help lay the groundwork for the project and give you the right certifications to excel.

What is the best Enterprise Architecture Certification?
How do I become a Certified Enterprise Architect?
What is Zachman Certification?
Top 12 Certifications for Enterprise Architects
Frequently Asked Questions
Conclusion
References
Recommendations

What is the best Enterprise Architecture Certification?

If you plan a career as an enterprise architect (EA), certifications are very relevant to speed up your skills. Your responsibility includes designing the IT goals for a business that keeps business goals in line with IT goals. There is no special enterprise architecture certification but there are some top certifications in the industry that will help solidify your skills.

Whether you wish to develop your skills in cloud, applications, software or other expanses of enterprise architecture, all that is necessary is for you to define your needs and go for the required certifications that can meet such needs. However, there is a more general programme that focuses on training the enterprise architecture to a high standard: TOGAF.

The Open Group Architecture Framework (TOGAF) seeks to moderate errors, sustain timelines and synchronize IT and business goals. There are also more distinct programmes including CISSP, ITIL and RedHat OpenShift Administration certifications.

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How do I become a Certified Enterprise Architect?

Enterprise architecture is essential in today’s world of business. There is no all-encompassing requirement to become a leader in the industry but to succeed in the field; you will need to meet up with the following steps:

#1 Gain a Degree

Most enterprise architects have degrees in computer science, IT management or business. Though it doesn’t require a master’s degree, there are graduate-level programs that will aid professionals in this field.

#2 Get a Certification

There are diverse certifications that can help to clear the path to becoming an enterprise architect. You should focus more on the ones impacting the industry, company size and specialized interest.

#3 Know all the areas of the Business

Getting acclimatised with all areas of the business will help you collaborate with people in related companies and you will become more informed to analyse situations, solve problems and design new systems that will attend to the need of the organisation.

#4. Get smart with the Major Technology Trends.

You should learn how to connect the dots across all disciplines, including phishing, web design, systems administration, etc.

#5. Be a Leader

Build and establish your leadership skills by detecting knowledge gaps, developing related training, and contributing towards the industry’s growth. Practical experience will help you climb the ladder to the top faster.

What is Zachman Certification?

Zachman certification enables working professionals to cultivate speculative and practical skills that are relevant in the 21st-century workplace.

Many organisations are on the lookout for employees that can show and deliver results in the comprehensive body of knowledge, with Zachman Framework certification as a compulsory requirement.

The certification is built on reality-based learning by integrating theory with work and life experience. Designed to be as practicable as possible, Zachman’s Certification courses offer present Enterprise Architects the chance to widen their scope and understanding of trends in the industry.

Top 12 Certifications for Enterprise Architects

Enterprise architect certifications can help you get ahead in your IT career. The following are the top 12 certifications in the industry:

#1 TOGAF 9 Certification:

The Open Group Architecture Framework (TOGAF) is the most popular among the top certifications for Enterprise Architects. It is presently the most sought-after among global enterprises.

It widely reflected its scope on the framework of standards and covers everything from design and planning stages to implementation, maintenance and governance.

There are other certifications offered by the Open Group among which are TOGAF, Open CA, ArchiMate, IT4IT and the foundational Certified Technical Specialist (Open CTS).

#2. The Open Group Certified Architect (Open CA):

Three levels exist in Open CA and they include Certified (Level 1), Master (Level 2) and Distinguished (Level 3).

Gaining an Open CA does not require you to take a course or pass an exam. All you need to do is to “demonstrate skills and experience against a set of conformance requirements through written application and peer reviews,” as stated by The Open Groups.

The online assessment tool can enable you to assess your potential qualification for the first two levels of certification.

#3. Zachman Certified – Enterprise Architect:

Set up in 1990, Zachman International is designed to promote education and research for Enterprise Architecture and the Zachman Framework. It is better referred to as ontology because instead of focusing on the process, it focuses on the properties, types, and interrelationships of individuals contained by a specific sphere. It sets a standard for enterprise architecture ontology.

Currently, it offers four Enterprise Architect Certifications from level 1-4. The certifications are valid for three years and must be renewed by continuing education credits.

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#4. AWS Certified Solution Architect:

Amazon Web Solution (AWS) is a subsidiary of Amazon and the global leader for cloud computing. It offers various products and services including the prominent Amazon Simple Storage Service (S3) and Amazon Elastic Compute (EC2).

There are also certifications at the foundation, associate and professional levels across five role-based groups: architects, developers, operations, cloud and specialty certifications.

You will not need to take a course to pass the exam, but hands-on experience with all computers, networking, storage, and database AWS will be useful.

Amazon recommends you to have at least six months of hands-on experience before giving the exam a shot. Practical experience and training materials will also be helpful to pass the exam.

#5. CTA: Certified Technical Architect:

The CTA certification shows the knowledge, skills and ability to design and build solutions on the Salesforce policy. You are expected to pass the Technical Architect Review Board exam to earn this certification.

It will expose you to theoretical conditions, given customer requests and asked to come up with an architecture solution. You are given two hours to prepare and four hours to present your solution to judges.

#6. ITIL Master Certificate – IT Service Management:

ITIL for IT Service Management credentials is one of the best credential sets from Axelos. Axelos is famed for its provision of standards that enable best practices and quality in organizations.

Short form of Information Technology Infrastructure Library is ITIL, and it provides accreditation Axelos certifies to Examination Institutes (EIs) and organizations that strive to use it.

This certificate exam is a set of detailed and prominent best training with a focus on the area of IT service management. Over 2 million practitioners have been certified in the ITIL globally. This is because ITIL is the most famous and widely adopted set of best practices and management tools for IT service management and support.

Axelos offers five ITIL certifications, including ITIL Foundation, ITIL Practitioner, ITIL Intermediate, ITIL Expert and ITIL Master.

To qualify for the Master, you need to possess at least five years of experience in IT service management in a leadership, or managerial position.

#7. Professional Cloud Solution Certification:

This certification is offered by the Cloud Credential Council (CCC) and designed for technology, application, senior developers, strategy consultants, system and enterprise architects.

It covers ITaaS, cloud computing and service management, customer requirements, implementing cloud technology and evaluating cloud solutions architecture.

#8. CISSP Information Systems Security Architecture Professional (CISSP-ISSAP):

This certification is structured to accommodate experts with a Certified Information System Security Professionals (CISSIP) certification but wishes to add a specialty in architecture. CISSIP certification and two years of practical experience in one or more domains in the CISSIP-ISSAP common body knowledge (CBK).

The examination covers identity and access management architecture, security operations architecture, infrastructure, security, governance, compliance, risk management, security architecture modeling and application security.

#9. EC Council Certified Network Defence Architect (CNDA):

The CNDA certification offered by EC Council is specifically structured for government and military agencies, emphasizing security and compliance. Before being qualified to take the course, you must get a Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) certification and be employed or contracted by a government or military agency.

The certification is like the CEH and designed for employees who have earned the trust of their employers to take up an effort to infiltrate networks and/or computer systems via the same methods as a hacker.

#10. Dell EMC Proven Professional Cloud Architect training and certification:

Recently, Dell EMC moved all certifications under one master certification, the Dell EMC Proven Professional. However, there is a long list of individual courses that are peculiar to your career as an Enterprise Architect you can choose from.

The EMC Proven Professional Cloud Architect Specialist (DECE-CA) certification course requires gathering the right requirements and designing cloud services in an ITaaS domain. It will allow you to practice your skills via cooperative services design project. You must pass one of the five associate-level examinations to receive your certification.

#11. Google Professional Cloud Architect:

This certification aims at showing your ability to work with Google Cloud technologies. It requires you to understand the method for designing and planning cloud solution architects for security and compliance, manage cloud infrastructure, analyse and optimise business processes and oversee the implementation of cloud architecture to be qualified for this certification.

The only condition for the exam is that it must be taken in person at an official testing centre location

#12. Red Hat Certified Architecture:

The Red Hat, Certified Architect certification, involves the Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE), Red Hat Certified Enterprise Microservice Developer (RHCEMO) and Red Hat Certified JBoss Developer (RHCD).

There are a couple of certifications on the systems administrator or developer path you must pass to reach each level of the above certification.

Focusing on specialty skills and technologies is ideal for this situation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What qualifications do I need to become an Enterprise Architect?

Most enterprise architects have degrees in computer science or IT management after which they proceed to a graduate-level programme tailored for Enterprise Architecture.

What skills do I need to possess as an Enterprise Architect?

Enterprise architects will be much more effective if they possess soft skills as leadership ability, communication skills, good interpersonal skills, ability to work alone and under pressure and strong design skills.

What does an Enterprise Architect need to know?

Enterprise architects cover all technical aspects and to a certain extent, the business aspects. They must clearly understand the company’s business, keep track of technology and business concerns, and attempt to balance technology and business.

Why should I get certified as an Enterprise Architect?

Certificates help you prove to a prospective employer that you possess the experience and technical skills required for the job. Certifications holders also earn better than uncertified folks.

How do I choose the right IT Architect Certification?

The right certification is mostly dictated by your employer or industry, independent of your choice. The job role can also influence your choice based on what is obtainable in your work environment.

Conclusion

Enterprise architecture certifications are very relevant in moving ahead of your career. Enterprise architects are among the highest-paid employees and consultants in the IT industry, though becoming one is difficult. You must identify the best certification that suits your personality and pursue your career accordingly.

Top 12 Certifications for Enterprise Architects | 2024

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