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Top 10 Certifications in Project Management

Whether it is the IT or non-IT industry, a successful project always depends on a highly competent project manager. An adept and proactive project manager helps the teams in becoming consistently productive and accountable for their tasks and responsibilities. Nowadays project management is a highly pursued job title. Any professional aspiring to be a project manager can greatly benefit from working in this role. This is not only because of the lucrative salary but also because a lot of skills can be acquired after being certified as a project manager, like knowing how to plan, schedule, budget, execute, deliver and then report on the business projects. Here are some of the top certifications in project management that companies are looking for, presently:1. PMP®: Project Management Professional Project Management Professional (PMP)® is one of the top-level project management certifications and is globally recognized as the gold standard in project management. By being PMP® certified, you can work in any industry with any methodology irrespective of the situation. This certification includes all the top necessities required to test your knowledge and skills in managing the project "triple constraints", that is time, cost, and scope.Accreditation body: Project Management Institute (PMI)® Eligibility criteria:Eligibility RequirementFour-year degree or global equivalentA secondary degree or global equivalentYears of Project Management Experience3 Years (36 months)5 Years (60 months)Hours Leading & Directing Projects4,500 Hours7,500 HoursHours of Project Management Education35 Hours35 Hours2. CAPM®: Certified Associate in Project Management Another certification governed and accredited by the Project Management Institute (PMI)®, the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)® lays the foundation stone for the Project Management Professional (PMP)® certification. CAPM® is perfect for professionals who want to move steadily into the project management field. Individuals who do not possess a college degree or have no/minimal experience in the field can also apply for this certification. Accreditation body: Project Management Institute (PMI)® Eligibility criteria:A minimum of 23 hours of project management education before the examination. The minimum educational criterion to go for the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)® certification is a high school diploma certificate or any global equivalent form of education.3. CSM®: Certified Scrum MasterEver since agile methodologies have become the standard in most industries, especially the IT sector, Certified Scrum Masters have been in high demand. Despite various Scrum master certifications being available in the market, the Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)® from the Scrum Alliance is a great way for aspiring project managers to start as Scrum practitioners. Scrum Alliance® offers this CSM® credential and is a non-profit organization that promotes the concept of adopting Scrum and agile practices. The organization globally has 450,000 plus certified practitioners. Accreditation body: Scrum Alliance® Eligibility criteria: There is no set of eligibility requirements to attend this Scrum Master Certification course and it can be taken by freshers or professionals who want to:Extend their careers in project management.Strengthen their grasp of Scrum.4. PMI-RMP®: Project Management Institute-Risk Management ProfessionalNowadays it is normal for any undergoing project to face risks at every stage, thus affecting its execution, success rate, and the final result. This requires planning the project by detecting potential risks, both threats, and opportunities, taking actions to reduce threats, and increasing opportunities.  The Project Management Institute-Risk Management Professional (PMI-RMP)® credential affirms that Risk Managers know the best way to identify project risks and lessen threats while making the best of available opportunities. Accreditation body: Project Management Institute (PMI)® Eligibility criteria: Either Secondary degree (high school diploma, an associate degree, or the global equivalent) 4,500 hours of project risk management experience within the last 5 consecutive years 40 hours of project risk management education Or Four-year degree (bachelor’s degree or the global equivalent) 3,000 hours of project risk management experience within the last 5 consecutive years 30 hours of project risk management education5. CompTIA Project+ certificationTraining in the CompTIA Project+ certification will enable professionals to learn and implement common project management principles and important soft skills such as team building, conflict resolution, communication, negotiation, setting, and managing expectations. CompTIA's Project+ serves as a primary-level project management credential.Accreditation body: CompTIAEligibility criteria:There are no strict prerequisites, however, according to CompTIA, a candidate should have at least one year of experience managing, directing, or participating in small- to medium-scale projects.6. PRINCE2® Foundation/PRINCE2 PractitionerAccredited by Axelos, PRINCE2® is a de facto standard that describes project management standards and assists in forming consistency among projects. It began in the UK and then applied it to its government entities. Famous across Europe and now countries in the middle and far east, many industries have adopted these standards and gained impressive results. As a result, PRINCE2® Practitioners are sought-after for their knowledge of applying this framework on projects. There are two key certifications: PRINCE2® Foundation and PRINCE2® Practitioner Certifications. The Foundation certification is an entry-level credential, testing basic project management terminology and methodology. On the other hand, the Practitioner certification tests advanced project managers who have already achieved the PRINCE2® Foundation.Accreditation body: Axelos Eligibility criteria: PRINCE2® Foundation Certification: There are no eligibility criteria for the PRINCE2® Foundation Certification Exam. However, it is recommended to possess basic project management knowledge.PRINCE2® Practitioner Certification: To get certified with PRINCE2® Practitioner Certification, applicants must have one of the below-mentioned certifications:PRINCE2® Foundation Project Management Professional (PMP)® Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)® IPMA Level A (Certified Projects Director) IPMA Level B (Certified Senior Project Manager) IPMA Level C (Certified Project Manager) IPMA Level D (Certified Project Management Associate)7. PgMP®: Program Management Professional (PgMP)® Certification Training This certification is created and administered by the PMI® and is the next step, after achieving the Project Management Professional (PMP)® Certification. PgMP® is for professionals who coordinate and manage multiple projects aligned with strategic objectives. This includes directing and managing complicated activities that may extend over functions, organizations, cultures, and geographies.With the PgMP® certification, professionals will strengthen their grasp in the six prime focus areas of program management such as Governance, Prioritization, Escalation, Resource Management, Benefits Realization, and Stakeholder Management. Thus, certified PgMP® professionals will be able to encourage teams to integrate and coordinate multiple projects in a better way. Accreditation body: Project Management Institute (PMI)® Eligibility criteria: Either:A four-year degree (Bachelor's or Global equivalent), with at least four years of Project Management experience and four years of Program Management experience.OrA secondary diploma (High school or Global equivalent), with at least four years of Project Management experience and seven years of Program Management experience. Candidates not meeting the above criteria can also consider the Project Management Professional (PMP®) certification. 8. APM™: Associate in Project ManagementThe Associate in Project Management (APM)™ certificate is an entry-level certification in Project Management and is a globally recognized credential. Governed by the Global Association for Quality Management (GAQM)®, the exam covers 50 Multiple Choice Questions out of which the candidate requires to get 70% (35 out of 50 correct) to pass the 60-minute exam. Accreditation body: Global Association for Quality Management (GAQM)® Eligibility criteria:No formal education or experience required. 9. MPM®: Master Project Manager The Master Project Manager certification is issued by the American Academy of Project Management (AAPM)® and is ideal for both project managers and professionals with business and technical responsibilities. Accreditation body: American Academy of Project Management (AAPM)®Eligibility criteria: Three years of project management experience and training. 10. PPM™: Professional in Project ManagementProfessional in Project Management (PPM)™ course is organized by the Global Association for Quality Management (GAQM)®. This is a mid-level certification that consists of project management components showing how to plan, execute, control, and complete projects as well as training to perform better.  Accreditation body: Global Association for Quality Management (GAQM)® Eligibility criteria:Completion of a mandatory E-Course Candidates should have a certain project management experience. ConclusionAlong with the abovementioned project management certifications, it is recommended that professionals apply principles in their current professions, be on the lookout for newer methodologies and upskill regularly.
Top 10 Certifications in Project Management
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Top 10 Certifications in Project Management

Whether it is the IT or non-IT industry, a successful project always depends on a highly competent project manager. An adept and proactive project manager helps the teams in becoming consistently productive and accountable for their tasks and responsibilities. Nowadays project management is a highly pursued job title. Any professional aspiring to be a project manager can greatly benefit from working in this role. This is not only because of the lucrative salary but also because a lot of skills can be acquired after being certified as a project manager, like knowing how to plan, schedule, budget, execute, deliver and then report on the business projects. Here are some of the top certifications in project management that companies are looking for, presently:1. PMP®: Project Management Professional Project Management Professional (PMP)® is one of the top-level project management certifications and is globally recognized as the gold standard in project management. By being PMP® certified, you can work in any industry with any methodology irrespective of the situation. This certification includes all the top necessities required to test your knowledge and skills in managing the project "triple constraints", that is time, cost, and scope.Accreditation body: Project Management Institute (PMI)® Eligibility criteria:Eligibility RequirementFour-year degree or global equivalentA secondary degree or global equivalentYears of Project Management Experience3 Years (36 months)5 Years (60 months)Hours Leading & Directing Projects4,500 Hours7,500 HoursHours of Project Management Education35 Hours35 Hours2. CAPM®: Certified Associate in Project Management Another certification governed and accredited by the Project Management Institute (PMI)®, the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)® lays the foundation stone for the Project Management Professional (PMP)® certification. CAPM® is perfect for professionals who want to move steadily into the project management field. Individuals who do not possess a college degree or have no/minimal experience in the field can also apply for this certification. Accreditation body: Project Management Institute (PMI)® Eligibility criteria:A minimum of 23 hours of project management education before the examination. The minimum educational criterion to go for the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)® certification is a high school diploma certificate or any global equivalent form of education.3. CSM®: Certified Scrum MasterEver since agile methodologies have become the standard in most industries, especially the IT sector, Certified Scrum Masters have been in high demand. Despite various Scrum master certifications being available in the market, the Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)® from the Scrum Alliance is a great way for aspiring project managers to start as Scrum practitioners. Scrum Alliance® offers this CSM® credential and is a non-profit organization that promotes the concept of adopting Scrum and agile practices. The organization globally has 450,000 plus certified practitioners. Accreditation body: Scrum Alliance® Eligibility criteria: There is no set of eligibility requirements to attend this Scrum Master Certification course and it can be taken by freshers or professionals who want to:Extend their careers in project management.Strengthen their grasp of Scrum.4. PMI-RMP®: Project Management Institute-Risk Management ProfessionalNowadays it is normal for any undergoing project to face risks at every stage, thus affecting its execution, success rate, and the final result. This requires planning the project by detecting potential risks, both threats, and opportunities, taking actions to reduce threats, and increasing opportunities.  The Project Management Institute-Risk Management Professional (PMI-RMP)® credential affirms that Risk Managers know the best way to identify project risks and lessen threats while making the best of available opportunities. Accreditation body: Project Management Institute (PMI)® Eligibility criteria: Either Secondary degree (high school diploma, an associate degree, or the global equivalent) 4,500 hours of project risk management experience within the last 5 consecutive years 40 hours of project risk management education Or Four-year degree (bachelor’s degree or the global equivalent) 3,000 hours of project risk management experience within the last 5 consecutive years 30 hours of project risk management education5. CompTIA Project+ certificationTraining in the CompTIA Project+ certification will enable professionals to learn and implement common project management principles and important soft skills such as team building, conflict resolution, communication, negotiation, setting, and managing expectations. CompTIA's Project+ serves as a primary-level project management credential.Accreditation body: CompTIAEligibility criteria:There are no strict prerequisites, however, according to CompTIA, a candidate should have at least one year of experience managing, directing, or participating in small- to medium-scale projects.6. PRINCE2® Foundation/PRINCE2 PractitionerAccredited by Axelos, PRINCE2® is a de facto standard that describes project management standards and assists in forming consistency among projects. It began in the UK and then applied it to its government entities. Famous across Europe and now countries in the middle and far east, many industries have adopted these standards and gained impressive results. As a result, PRINCE2® Practitioners are sought-after for their knowledge of applying this framework on projects. There are two key certifications: PRINCE2® Foundation and PRINCE2® Practitioner Certifications. The Foundation certification is an entry-level credential, testing basic project management terminology and methodology. On the other hand, the Practitioner certification tests advanced project managers who have already achieved the PRINCE2® Foundation.Accreditation body: Axelos Eligibility criteria: PRINCE2® Foundation Certification: There are no eligibility criteria for the PRINCE2® Foundation Certification Exam. However, it is recommended to possess basic project management knowledge.PRINCE2® Practitioner Certification: To get certified with PRINCE2® Practitioner Certification, applicants must have one of the below-mentioned certifications:PRINCE2® Foundation Project Management Professional (PMP)® Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)® IPMA Level A (Certified Projects Director) IPMA Level B (Certified Senior Project Manager) IPMA Level C (Certified Project Manager) IPMA Level D (Certified Project Management Associate)7. PgMP®: Program Management Professional (PgMP)® Certification Training This certification is created and administered by the PMI® and is the next step, after achieving the Project Management Professional (PMP)® Certification. PgMP® is for professionals who coordinate and manage multiple projects aligned with strategic objectives. This includes directing and managing complicated activities that may extend over functions, organizations, cultures, and geographies.With the PgMP® certification, professionals will strengthen their grasp in the six prime focus areas of program management such as Governance, Prioritization, Escalation, Resource Management, Benefits Realization, and Stakeholder Management. Thus, certified PgMP® professionals will be able to encourage teams to integrate and coordinate multiple projects in a better way. Accreditation body: Project Management Institute (PMI)® Eligibility criteria: Either:A four-year degree (Bachelor's or Global equivalent), with at least four years of Project Management experience and four years of Program Management experience.OrA secondary diploma (High school or Global equivalent), with at least four years of Project Management experience and seven years of Program Management experience. Candidates not meeting the above criteria can also consider the Project Management Professional (PMP®) certification. 8. APM™: Associate in Project ManagementThe Associate in Project Management (APM)™ certificate is an entry-level certification in Project Management and is a globally recognized credential. Governed by the Global Association for Quality Management (GAQM)®, the exam covers 50 Multiple Choice Questions out of which the candidate requires to get 70% (35 out of 50 correct) to pass the 60-minute exam. Accreditation body: Global Association for Quality Management (GAQM)® Eligibility criteria:No formal education or experience required. 9. MPM®: Master Project Manager The Master Project Manager certification is issued by the American Academy of Project Management (AAPM)® and is ideal for both project managers and professionals with business and technical responsibilities. Accreditation body: American Academy of Project Management (AAPM)®Eligibility criteria: Three years of project management experience and training. 10. PPM™: Professional in Project ManagementProfessional in Project Management (PPM)™ course is organized by the Global Association for Quality Management (GAQM)®. This is a mid-level certification that consists of project management components showing how to plan, execute, control, and complete projects as well as training to perform better.  Accreditation body: Global Association for Quality Management (GAQM)® Eligibility criteria:Completion of a mandatory E-Course Candidates should have a certain project management experience. ConclusionAlong with the abovementioned project management certifications, it is recommended that professionals apply principles in their current professions, be on the lookout for newer methodologies and upskill regularly.
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Top 10  Advantages  of  Leading  SAFe®

The software business has progressed enormously and has been assisting mankind with doing everything, be it in personal life or professional. Despite the progress, a lot of challenges come up for the production teams at many levels. Digital transformation has developed rapidly, and the Agile methodology has made things easier with its iterative process. However, the scaling of agile was important as complex systems began to lose their productivity.There were multiple scaling frameworks introduced like, LeSS, NEXUS, SAFe®, etc. Among these, SAFe® continues to be the best and there are some valid reasons why.Advantages of Leading Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe®)SAFe® stands for Scaled Agile Framework. It works with two primary ideas, agile’s iterative development approach, and the lean manufacturing mindset. By lean thinking, it means concentrating on using fewer resources, increasing productivity, delivery quality, and improving ROI.The four major driving factors to develop a product efficiently are time, quality, team morale, and productivity. Leading SAFe® ticks all the requirements at the same time and thus it is an essential project management methodology for many organizations.Here are the most essential advantages of employing the Scaled Agile Framework in businesses:A. Easy access to frameworkInformation about Leading SAFe® is widely available on the internet. Diagrams showing its framework, its configurations and many more vital details are all accessible within a click. One can easily understand its framework by learning it online, provided they have some basic knowledge about the agile methodology to facilitate people in understanding the SAFe framework.B. Incorporates Agile practicesThe SAFe framework effortlessly organizes the agile practices that make it easier for anybody to learn its concepts like the meaning of an agile team, a Product Owner, or a Scrum Master. It is easy to understand and good for beginners too.C. Organized and ExpandedPeople who know about agile before going for SAFe® know why the ideal teams and specialists choose scrum and XP as the leading agile practices. This is the reason SAFe® expanded the agile model to the portfolio and program level. Nothing new or fancy is added but existing elements containing user stories, features, and epic hierarchy are arranged accordingly. This is done to ensure that even teams new to the agile methodology can easily understand and implement SAFe® in their work. Moreover, SAFe® introduced Agile Release Train (ART) that was introduced and used at the program level, making SAFe® a very popular and adaptable framework.D. Easily adaptableVarious frameworks focus only on the development area but SAFe® takes a comprehensive approach while keeping it at the enterprise level. To demonstrate, according to the concept followed by SAFe®, estimates must be completed at the program or the portfolio level and this depends on the features and epics. It is only after this when stories and points are discussed and worked on. SAFe® justifies agile practice at the enterprise level so that the concepts can be correctly embraced.E. SpecificSAFe® offers pinpoint learning with knowledge and information about its framework that is sorted out and appropriate. This enables professionals and organizations to easily assimilate the agile practices for complicated systems. Moreover, being more specific with terms, practices, and concepts enables developers to use them precisely. SAFe®’s functions and ideas are perfect for professionals who are keen on developing software than wasting time debating on running processes.F. Easy to UnderstandLeading agile’s concept is simple and easy to learn. Several illustrations, definitions, concepts, reference links, and other details are clearly enlisted and explained. The manner of sharing information with infographics enables people to learn the SAFe concepts and ideas in no time at all.G. Free to useYes, SAFe® is free to use even though it is copyright protected. The official scaled agile framework company website provides ideas and concepts that are freely accessible, and the information can be read, used, and implemented by professionals in scaling their business.H. PracticalThe SAFe framework is not standardized and hence does not help in process development. On the contrary, it helps in providing the best means to improve the process. This allows experts to create processes rather than going through any process development training. I. Complex framework, yet user-friendlyThe SAFe model incorporates the role of both system and enterprise architect that can be located under architectural epics, features, and runway. The DevOps and the user experience (UX) teams work on and understand the development picture without any confusion. Along with that, the non-functional requirements are also introduced in the model. This helps the product managers and product owners to see the full representation of the progress made.Although SAFe® is simple, it is not basic. Because it is a comprehensive framework that comprises all the components required to develop and deliver software. This is the most appropriate solution for modern enterprise software development. J. Industry-relevantThe versions of SAFe® are constantly upgrading, the latest one being SAFe® 5.0. These upgrades work on the same lean agile basics but with more improvement tactics based on the experience with the model. This helps practitioners constantly learn and stay relevant to their current work environments.   The way forwardSo, these were the major advantages of using Leading SAFe®. Organizations use SAFe® in their work environment at a functional team level and then move ahead to cross-functional teams. Additionally, they are assisted by the right trainer to work systematically and fasten scaling the company’s progress. Working professionals can learn the skill of implementing the SAFe framework by taking up the SAFe® e-training course with accredited training providers. After being properly trained in SAFe®, it will be easier for professionals to have a lean-agile mindset and help their companies to scale their business.
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Top 10 Business Intelligence Tools

Global business companies, top leaders, and developing businesses, all believe in the power of informed decision-making. With the advent of technology and data science, this decision-making power in businesses is witnessing all new heights. Business Intelligence (BI) tools give businesses the evidence to make informed decisions. The latest business intelligence tools are designed in such a way that every aspect of the end-user is considered and the data, critically analyzed, to produce the best results.  What are Business Intelligence Tools?Business Intelligence tools are tools devised to comprehend the huge quantities of data that organizations accumulate using data science. The tools help companies retrieve, analyze, and transform raw data into resourceful business insights. This is further disintegrated into actionable reports that guide them in decision-making. Various tools are available for data visualization, data warehousing, creating dashboards, and reporting. Key aspects like purchasing patterns, market trends, and customer-psyche are derived using these tools. In this process, companies understand their customers better and can predict precise revenue growth and preventive actions against business pitfalls.  Traditionally, business intelligence was gathered from quarterly or yearly reports, but with enhanced technologies, the latest BI tools have introduced a continuous, iterative cycle. Business plans are made regularly and can be populated in mere minutes.  Let us look at the top trending business intelligence tools.  Top 10 Business Intelligence Tools1. SAS Business IntelligenceSAS business intelligence is a self-service tool popular for its advanced predictive analytics. It helps companies use APIs for customization and high-level data integration, along with the protection of business data with security issue identification, and advanced analytics and reporting.  2. Yellowfin BI This tool is mobile-friendly and gives access to ‘end-to-end’ analytics, empowered with visualization, machine learning, and collaboration. It also has handy features like intuitive filtering and dashboards.  3. Zoho Analytics Customization is the key differentiator in this tool. It is apt for creating in-depth, personalized reports. Its automatic data sync feature with periodic scheduling and AI-powered assistant help in hassle-free blending and merging of data.  4. Tableau Tableau is a free BI tool useful for data discovery and data visualization. It removes the intervention of IT and makes it easy for the user to analyze, visualize, and share data. A variety of data sources like Oracle, MS SQL, Google Analytics, Microsoft Excel, and SalesForce are supported. 5. Oracle BI It is an enterprise performance management system with an integrated query, reporting, and analysis of data. Its distinct features are data alerting, integration, and management in one go. 6. IBM Cognos This tool is ideal for larger companies as it supports the entire analytics cycle. It provides cloud support, mobile support, and online as well as offline reports. It presents a visualized report of the data interpreted using its AI, by automatically analysing hidden patterns of the raw data. 7. SAP Business Intelligence SAP business intelligence tool has been popular for years among businesses of all sizes. Its biggest advantage lies in its transformation of relational databases, which can be used for improved performance, administration, lower cost estimation, and real-time predictive analytics.  8. Microsoft BI and Power BI These tools are web-based and are available in SharePoint with interactive reports running on PowerPivot. Their 3 key differentiators include the dataset, dashboard, and report generator. It is popularly used for analysis, reporting, and master data services.  9. QlikView & QlikSense  These two tools are Qlik’s BI tools creating interactive dashboards, visualizations, and apps. An entire relay of the data is visible in one glance, with drag-and-drop options and natural search, allowing instant responses to interactions and changes.  10. Birst This tool offers decentralized company-wide access. It is a cloud-based tool and has a unified semantic layer to maintain definitions and key metrics. It has mobile native apps, predictive analytics tools, discovery tools, and open-client interfaces.  Data Analysis with BIWith new tools to access deeper and wider data, the demand for business intelligence analysts is growing rapidly. BI analysts are the bridge between the business and the customer and help in shaping business strategies to meet the ever-evolving customers’ needs. The salary of a BI analyst ranges from $48,701 to $93,243, with an annual average of $66,645. Individuals and data analysts across industries can apply for these roles, and help businesses deal with one of their biggest challenges – customer satisfaction and retention.
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Top 10 Skills to Become an Ethical Hacker

With industries moving to cloud-based platforms to operate and store critical information, cybersecurity is a growing concern of all industries. A recent data-breach in Adobe Systems has resulted in a loss of personal data for nearly 3 million of its customers. As a preventive measure, top IT companies like IBM are investing crores to protect their information. This is where Ethical Hacking comes into the picture. The process of locating weaknesses and vulnerabilities of existing information systems or computers and thereby helping companies enhance their security systems is known as ethical hacking. Often, ethical hacking takes the same route as hackers/malicious actors by replicating their methodologies and tools. It is also known as penetration testing, intrusion testing, or red teaming. Who is an Ethical Hacker?An ethical hacker or whitehat hacker is a security professional using hacking skills for defensive purposes to test the security status of organizations’ information systems. The ethical hacker primarily looks for the following information: What are the loopholes such as information, locations, or systems that an attacker can gain access to? What can an attacker see with this information? What can the attacker do with the available information? Is anyone already noticing or reacting to such attempts in the information systems? The digital transformation and emerging technologies like blockchain, Internet of Things (IoT) have multiplied the demand for ethical hackers. Payscale reports that the average salary of a Certified Ethical Hacker is $92,000 in the US and ₹483,875 in India.  So what does it take to become an ethical hacker? Top 10 Skills to Become an Ethical Hacker  1. Excellent computer skillsThis might seem like a basic skill, but it is very important to become an ethical hacker. One should be very prompt at handling basic skills related to operating a system and have a firm hold on the command line in Windows/operating software, edit the registry, and set their networking parameters. 2. Programming skillsTo gain access to the foundation of the software, one needs to have a proper understanding of different programming languages used to develop it. The most common languages are Python, SQL, C, C++, and Perl. 3. Database management systems (DBMS)DBMS is the crux of creating and managing all databases. Access to a database where all the information is stored can put the company in a huge threat, so ensuring that this software is hack-proof is important. An ethical hacker needs a good understanding of this, along with different database engines and data schemas to help the organization build a strong DBMS. 4. Linux As most web servers run on Linux operating system, gaining access to this server to check for loopholes is another must-have skill for ethical hackers. Insights into operating systems like Redhat, Ubuntu, Fedora, their commands, and GUI (graphical user interface) will give you great leverage. 5. CryptographyCryptography deals with converting a normal text/message to a non-readable form during the transmission to make it incomprehensible to hackers. An ethical hacker ensures that communication between different people within the organization does not leak. 6. Social engineeringHackers have a common tendency to use tricks such as social engineering, phishing, and trojans to access personal information. Social engineering is the psychological manipulation of users to perform actions or give away confidential/personal information that may threaten the business. Ethical hackers replicate these tricks to test the loopholes, which makes it a desirable skill in them. 7. Web applications Web applications are the software that users access on the internet through their web browsers. As this has been a breeding ground for cyber-attacks, learning these web applications has become crucial for ethical hackers to protect an organization’s data. By learning software like HTML, JavaScript, and PHP, an ethical hacker can provide a database that protects them. 8. Wireless technologiesLearning wireless technologies like WEP, WPA, WPA2, WPS, etc., will help ethical hackers protect systems from sending information via invisible waves. A protocol for connection, authentication, and restrictions on wireless technologies can be put in place by having a deep understanding of the same. 9. Networking Understanding networks like DHCP, NAT, Subnetting and more will equip ethical hackers to explore the different interconnected computers in a network and the potential security threats that this may create, as well as how to handle them.  10. Critical thinking & problem-solvingApart from the technical skills pointed above, an ethical hacker also needs to be a critical thinker and proactive problem solver. They must be eager to learn new ways and ensure all security breaches are thoroughly checked. This requires a lot of testing and a creative penchant to device new ways of problem-solving.  How to become an ethical hacker?Professionals aspiring to become an ethical hacker can learn the skills themselves or develop them with the help of industry experts. A Certified Ethical Hacker certification is a commonly recognized certification managed by the EC-Council to train individuals on ethical hacking and give them skills and expertise to safeguard their interests. Along with this, proactive reading, researching, and learning about the latest industry trends and technologies will come a long way. 
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10 Mandatory Skills to Become an AI & ML Engineer

The world has been evolving rapidly with technological advancements. Out of many of these, we have AI (Artificial Intelligence) and ML (Machine learning). The era of machines and robots are taking center stage and soon there will be a time when AI and ML will be an integral part of our lives. From automated cars to android systems in many phones, apps, and other electronic devices, AI and ML have a wide range of impact on how easy machines and AI can make our lives. The future of these technologies is quite promising; it is beyond our wildest imagination. So, there is already and will be a lot of demand for AI and ML professionals, known as AI and ML engineers. Before understanding the essential skills required to become an AI and ML engineer, we should understand what kind of job roles these two are. AI Engineer vs ML Engineer: Are they the same?Although they look the same, there are some subtle differences between AI and ML engineers. It boils down to the way they work and the software and languages they work on, to reach one common goal: Artificial Intelligence. Simply put, an AI engineer applies AI algorithms to solve real-life problems and building software. On similar terms, an ML engineer utilizes machine learning techniques in solving real-life problems and to build software. They enable computers to self-learn by giving them the thinking capability of humans. Like mentioned earlier, these two job roles get the same output using different methods. However, many top companies are hiring professionals skilled in working both on AI and ML. The capability of an astounding AI and ML engineer is reflected by both the technical and non-technical skills. Let us see what it takes to be one of these two professionals. Common skills for Artificial and Machine Learning Technical Skills 1. Programming Languages A good understanding of programming languages, preferably python, R, Java, Python, C++ is necessary. They are easy to learn, and their applications provide more scope than any other language. Python is the undisputed lingua franca of Machine Learning. 2. Linear Algebra, Calculus, Statistics It is recommended to have a good understanding of the concepts of Matrices, Vectors, and Matrix Multiplication. Moreover, knowledge in Derivatives and Integrals and their applications is essential to even understand simple concepts like gradient descent. Whereas statistical concepts like Mean, Standard Deviations, and Gaussian Distributions along with probability theory for algorithms like Naive Bayes, Gaussian Mixture Models, and Hidden Markov Models are necessary to thrive in the world of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. 3. Signal Processing TechniquesA Machine Learning engineer should be competent in understanding Signal Processing and able to solve several problems using Signal Processing techniques because feature extraction is one of the most critical aspects of Machine Learning. Then we have Time-frequency Analysis and Advanced Signal Processing Algorithms like Wavelets, Shearlets, Curvelets, and Bandlets. A profound theoretical and practical knowledge of these will help you to solve complex situations. 4. Applied Math and AlgorithmsA solid foundation and expertise in algorithm theory is surely a must. This skill set will enable understanding subjects like Gradient Descent, Convex Optimization, Lagrange, Quadratic Programming, Partial Differential equation, and Summations. As tough as it may seem, Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence are much more dependable on mathematics than how things are in, e.g. front-end development. 5. Neural Network ArchitecturesMachine Learning is used for complex tasks that are beyond human capability to code. Neural networks have been understood and proven to be by far the most precise way of countering many problems like Translation, Speech Recognition, and Image Classification, playing a pivotal role in the AI department. Non-Technical and Business skills 1. Communication Communication is the key in any line of work, AI/ML engineering is no exception. Explaining AI and ML concepts to even to a layman is only possible by communicating fluently and clearly. An AI and ML engineer does not work alone. Projects will involve working alongside a team of engineers and non-technical teams like the Marketing or Sales departments. So a good form of communication will help to translate the technical findings to the non-technical teams. Communication does not only mean speaking efficiently and clearly.2. Industry KnowledgeMachine learning projects that focus on major troubling issues are the ones that finish without any flaws. Irrespective of the industry an AI and ML engineer works for, profound knowledge of how the industry works and what benefits the business is the key ingredient to having a successful AI and ML career. Channeling all the technical skills productively is only possible when an AI and ML engineer possesses sound business expertise of the crucial aspects required to make a successful business model. Proper industry knowledge also facilitates in interpreting potential challenges and enabling the continual running of the business. 3. Rapid PrototypingIt is quite critical to keep working on the perfect idea with the minimum time consumed. Especially in Machine Learning, choosing the right model along with working on projects like A/B testing holds the key to a project’s success. Rapid Prototyping helps in forming an array of techniques to fasten building a scale model of a physical part. This is also true while assembling with three-dimensional computer-aided design, more so while working with 3D models Additional skills for Machine Learning 1. Language, Audio and Video ProcessingWith Natural Language Processing, AI and ML engineers get the chance to work with two of the foremost areas of work: Linguistics and Computer Science like text, audio, or video. An AI and ML engineer should be well versed with libraries like Gensim, NLTK, and techniques like word2vec, Sentimental Analysis, and Summarization 2. Physics, Reinforcement Learning, and Computer VisionPhysics: There will be real-world scenarios that require the application of machine learning techniques to systems, and that is when the knowledge of Physics comes into play. Reinforcement Learning: The year, 2017 witnessed Reinforcement Learning as the primary reason behind improving deep learning and artificial intelligence to a great extent. This will act as a helping hand to pave the way into the field of robotics, self-driving cars, or other lines of work in AI. Computer Vision: Computer Vision (CV) and Machine Learning are the two major computer science branches that can separately work and control very complex systems, systems that rely exclusively on CV and ML algorithms but can bring more output when the two work in tandem. 
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10 Mandatory Skills to Become a Data Scientist

The data science industry is growing at an alarming pace, generating a revenue of $3.03 billion in India alone. Even a 10% increase in data accessibility is said to result in over $65 million additional net income for the typical Fortune 1000 companies worldwide. The data scientist has been ranked the best job in the US for the 4th year in a row, with an average salary of $108,000; and the demand for more data scientists only seems to be growing. Who is a Data scientist?A data scientist is precisely someone who collects all the massive data that is available online, organizes the unstructured formats into bite-sized readable content, and analyses this to extract vital information about customer trends, thinking patterns, and behavior. This information is then used to create business goals or agendas that are aligned to the end-user/customer’s needs.  This outlines that a data scientist is someone with sound technical knowledge, interpersonal skills, strong business acumen, and most importantly, a passionate data enthusiast. Listed below are some mandatory skills that an aspiring data scientist must develop. 10 Mandatory Skills to Become a Data Scientist Technical Skills  1. Programming, Packages, and Software Since the first task of data scientists is to gather all the information or raw data and transform this into actionable insights, they need to have advanced knowledge in coding and statistical data processing. Some of the common programming languages used by data scientists are Python, R, SQL, NoSQL, Java, Scala, Hadoop, and many more.  2. Machine Learning and Deep LearningMachine Learning and Deep Learning are subsets of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Data science largely overlaps the growing field of AI, as data scientists use their potentials to clean, prepare, and extract data to run several AI applications. While machine learning enables supervised, unsupervised, and reinforced learning, deep learning helps in making datasets study and learn from existing information. A good example is the facial recognition feature in photos, doodling games like quick draw, and more. 3. Big Data Data Scientists are the best bridge between the vast pool of big data and emerging businesses. Big data analytics uses Hadoop or Spark to gather, distribute, and process various datasets. This is an important business trend that companies are using to predict customer tendencies and create a competitive edge.  4. NLP, Cloud Computing and othersNatural Language Processing (NLP), a branch of AI that uses the language used by human beings, processes it, and learns to respond accordingly. Several apps and voice-assisted devices like Alexa and Siri are already using this remarkable feature. As data scientists use large amounts of data stored on clouds, familiarity with cloud computing software like AWS, Azure, and Google cloud will be beneficial. Learning frameworks like DevOps can help data scientists streamline their work, along with several other such upcoming technologies. 5. Database management and visualizationWhile all the above skills deal with gathering and reading data, database management is related to data manipulation. In database management, the data clusters are edited, indexed, and manipulated to yield desirable outcomes or information. The next step to this transformed raw data is to present it in a visually comprehensible manner, which is nothing but data visualization. It includes graphical representation and other elements to make the data easily understandable even by a layman.  Non-technical Skills 6. Communication skills As explained above, once the raw data is processed, it needs to be presented understandably. This does not limit the job to just visually coherent information but also the ability to communicate the insights of these visual representations. The data scientist should be excellent at communicating the results to the marketing team, sales team, business leaders, and other stakeholders. 7. Team player This is related to the previous point. Along with effective communication skills, data scientists need to be good team players, accommodating feedback, and other inputs from business teams. They should also be able to efficiently communicate their requirements to the data engineers, data analysts, and other members of the team. Coordination with their team members can yield faster results and optimal outputs. 8. Business acumenSince the job of the data scientist ultimately boils down to improving/growing the business, they need to be able to think from a business perspective while outlining their data structures. They should have in-depth knowledge of the industry of their business, the existing business problems of their company, and forecasting potential business problems and their solutions. 9. Critical thinking Apart from finding insights, data scientists need to align these results with the business. They need to be able to frame appropriate questions and steps/solutions to solve business problems. This objective ability to analyse data and addressing the problem from multiple angles is crucial in a data scientist. 10. Intellectual curiosityAccording to Harvard Business Review, data scientists spend 80% of their time discovering and preparing data. For this, they must always be a step ahead and catch up with the latest trends. Constant upskilling and a curiosity to learn new ways to solve existing problems quicker can get data scientists a long way in their careers. Taking data-driven decisionsData science is indisputably one of the leading industries today. Whether you are from a technical field or a non-technical background, there are several ways to build up the skill to become a data scientist. From online courses to boot camps, one should always be a step ahead in this competitive field to build up their data work portfolios. Additionally, reading up on the latest technologies and regular experimentation with new trends is the way forward for aspirants. 
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10 Mandatory Skills to Become a Data Scientist
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10 Mandatory Skills to Become a Data Scientist

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