Key takeaways
- Certifications Build MSP Credibility: Cybersecurity certifications help MSPs strengthen client trust, demonstrate expertise, and improve service credibility.
- Cloud Certifications Improve Infrastructure Management: Microsoft, AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud certifications support cloud migration, deployment, security, and infrastructure planning.
- Networking Certifications Strengthen Security Skills: Certifications like CCNA, Network+, and Security+ cover routing, zero trust, endpoint security, and identity management.
- Identity and SIEM Training Expands Services: Okta and Splunk certifications focus on MFA, threat intelligence, SIEM operations, and security monitoring capabilities.
Certifications aren’t just for show. They can also help build trust with clients, differentiate your expertise from competitors, and strengthen credibility when selling cybersecurity solutions or leading technical onboarding sessions.
There are other reasons why having certifications is important, such as detecting and preventing a breach by recognizing early warning signs. A study showed that 58% of IT decision-makers cite the leading cause of security breaches as being attributed to IT/security staff with a lack of cybersecurity skills and training. This is where certifications and continued education play a critical role in preventing potential attacks.
We’ve compiled a list of 10 cyber certifications that every MSP should consider taking to up their skills and knowledge. From essential cloud certifications, such as AWS and Microsoft Azure, to more advanced enterprise security and networking, it’s all here. Plenty of free training guides, courses, and on-site training to prepare you along the way to ace those exams with confidence.
No Slack account needed.
Cisco Certified Network Associate
What you’ll learn: The CCNA is one of the most coveted certifications in the IT industry. It covers all of the network security fundamentals, including IP connectivity, automation, routing and switching, network access, and securing and managing network infrastructures. The CCNA certification provides MSPs with hands-on knowledge of configuring routers and switches, implementing VLANs, applying access control lists (ACLs), and programming.
Cost: $300 for the exam
Level: Intermediate
Take the Cisco Certified Network Associate exam
Microsoft 365 Certified: Fundamentals
What you’ll learn: For MSPs, mastering Microsoft 365 means being able to guide clients through complex cloud migration processes, manage multi-tenant environments, and enforce security policies across the organization. The Microsoft 365 Certified: Fundamentals certification will provide you with the core building blocks to help your clients maximize ROI from their cloud investments.
Cost: $99 for the exam
Level: Beginner
Take the Microsoft 365 Certified: Fundamentals exam
AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner
What you’ll learn: According to Amazon, as of January 2025, there are over 1.42 million active AWS certifications held by 1.05 million unique certified individuals.
As an AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner, you’ll gain a better understanding of when and how to apply different EC2 instance types, how to identify various deployment models, how to secure AWS root user accounts, how to compare costs with on-premises environments, and how to distinguish between licensing approaches such as Bring Your Own License (BYOL) versus bundled license options.
Cost: $100 for the exam
Level: Intermediate
Take the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner exam
Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals
What you’ll learn: The Azure Fundamentals Certification is a good refresher if you haven’t worked with Azure recently or if you’re exploring Azure as a beginner admin. Azure Fundamentals will teach you the basic cloud concepts, such as the shared responsibility model and the consumption-based model, and how to estimate workload costs using the pricing calculator to provide clients with accurate cost projections and optimize budget planning.
Cost: $99 for the exam
Level: Beginner
Take the Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals exam
CompTIA Network+
What you’ll learn: The CompTIA Network+ Certification is a staple for most IT professionals. The certification will sharpen your skills in areas such as expanded coverage of modern network environments, zero trust architecture, configuration management, traffic types, cabling, resolving routing issues, and deploying both wired and wireless devices.
Cost: $369 for the exam
Level: Intermediate
Take the CompTIA Network+ exam
CompTIA Security+
What you’ll learn: The CompTIA Security+ Certification is slightly more advanced than the Network+ in that it involves core cybersecurity disciplines such as implementing secure network architecture, deploying endpoint and application security, configuring identity and access management controls, implementing public key infrastructure (PKI), designing secure systems, and analyzing indicators of compromise (IOCs) to identify different types of malware and distinguish among attack methods.
Cost: $404 per exam
Level: Advanced
Take the CompTIA Security+ exam
ITIL 4 Foundation
What you’ll learn: ITIL 4 Foundation will give you a deep dive into service management concepts, guiding ITIL principles, defining SLAs, four dimensions of service management, improving customer collaboration, understanding the Service Value Chain, and benchmarking KPIs to measure the efficacy of IT services.
Cost: $669 for the exam
Level: Beginner
Take the ITIL 4 Foundation exam
Splunk Enterprise Certified Administrator
What you’ll learn: The Splunk Enterprise Admin Certification is ideal for MSPs that manage SIEM tools and security operations centers (SOCs), which can be packaged as higher margin solutions that go beyond basic IT support. The exam covers an overview of security intelligence tools, forensics dashboards, deployment topologies, understanding ES data models, creating correlation searches, configuring lookup lists, and understanding the threat intelligence framework.
Cost: $130 for the exam
Level: Intermediate
Take the Splunk Enterprise Certified Administrator exam
Okta Certified Professional
What you’ll learn: If identity is the new perimeter, Okta is the gatekeeper. The certification requires expertise in Okta role and permission administration, attribute mapping, log analysis, implementing security policies, MFA setup, automating user provisioning, and application integration. Identity management is at the core of an MSP’s day-to-day operations.
Cost: $250 for the exam
Level: Intermediate
Take the Okta Certified Professional Hands-On Configuration Exam for OIE
Google Professional Cloud Architect
What you’ll learn: The Professional Cloud Architect exam will test your knowledge of managing and provisioning a solution infrastructure, analyzing business processes, API management best practices, security controls, software license mapping, network planning, resource hierarchy, and interacting with Google Cloud programmatically (Google SDK). Designing and planning a cloud solution architecture is a big part of the exam.
Cost: $200 for the exam and $100 for renewals
Level: Intermediate
Take the Google Professional Cloud Architect exam
There are also plenty of vendor-led courses, training academies, and certifications, which are valuable for upselling or bundling services. Most are even free. Many vendors offer great reseller programs and partner incentives, while providing MSPs with added value to clients and increasing recurring revenue opportunities.
Don’t forget to update and enhance your LinkedIn profile with your new certifications.
All you need to do is navigate to your Profile > Click on Add section > Add licenses & certifications
Impress your clients and demonstrate the results they expect.
The Unified Cybersecurity Platform for MSPs
These 10 essential certifications will help advance your MSP career. Now, it’s time to put theory into practice by ensuring your clients are fully secured and their investments are optimized.
Guardz provides MSPs with a unified cybersecurity platform. Detect threats faster by connecting the dots across security controls in a unified platform. From cloud misconfigurations to suspicious account activity, Guardz offers complete visibility over all cloud, email, identity, and data threats with a user-centric approach and an AI-powered, human-led MDR.
Demonstrate real value, while showcasing your expertise as a trusted cybersecurity partner and advisor with Guardz.
Schedule a demo to learn more.
