Getting certified is a surefire way to advance your career in the IT industry. Whether you work for an enterprise, a small business, government, healthcare or any other place that employs IT professionals, your best bet for career advancement is to validate your skills and knowledge through a carefully chosen combination of certifications.

But certifications can get expensive. Factor in study materials, training and classes, exam fees, and the time that you devote to the whole experience; it all adds up. If you consider certifications as an investment in your career and your future, then wouldn't you want to work to obtain those that will benefit you the most?

Find the Right IT Certification & Career Success

Below you'll find certification guides that identify the best five credentials in a variety of different areas of IT, including security, storage, project management, cloud computing, computer forensics and more.