To succeed in the tech industry, you need to be willing to learn and adapt – and with many big tech companies now offering free online courses, it’s never been easier to develop the skills you need to thrive. This is an excellent opportunity to learn from industry experts and enhance your skills without breaking the bank.

In this article, we’ll explore the best free courses offered by the leading tech companies, covering topics from artificial intelligence and machine learning to data science and cybersecurity.

Google – Google Developers Courses

Google offers a wide range of free courses on its Developers platform, covering topics such as:

Android Development

Learn to build Android apps with courses like “Android Basics” and “Android Fundamentals”.

Machine Learning

Dive into machine learning with courses like “Machine Learning Crash Course” and “TensorFlow tutorials”.

Cloud Computing

Explore Google Cloud Platform with courses like “Google Cloud Platform Fundamentals” and “Cloud Engineering”.

Microsoft – Microsoft Learn

Microsoft’s Learn platform provides free courses and tutorials on various topics, including:

Azure

Learn about Microsoft’s cloud computing platform with courses like Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals: Computer Vision

Artificial Intelligence

Explore AI and machine learning with courses like AI-102 Course Introduction

Data Science

Develop data science skills with courses like Explore and analyze data with Python

Amazon – Amazon Web Services (AWS) Training and Certification

Amazon Web Services (AWS) offers free courses through its platform AWS Skill Builder .

Meta – Meta for Developers

Meta’s Developer platform offers free courses and tutorials on various topics, including:

Mobile App Development

Learn to build mobile apps with courses like “React Native” .

Web Development

Explore web development with courses like Programming with JavaScript.

Additional Resources:

• Coursera offers a wide range of courses from top tech companies, including Google, Microsoft, and IBM.
• edX provides free courses and certifications from leading institutions, including Harvard, MIT, and Microsoft.
• Udemy offers a variety of courses on tech topics, including AI, machine learning, and data science.

These free courses offer a valuable opportunity to learn from industry experts and stay up-to-date with the latest technologies.

So why wait? Start learning today and take your skills to the next level!

Photo: Freepik

The organizer of CodeIT is Musala Soft and every year a team of former competitors and computer science Olympians in the company is responsible for preparing the tasks in the competition.

Meet the CodeIT team for 2024 – Deniz, Peter and Stefan. Talents who prove that the passion and love we feel for our favorite hobby since we were children or teenagers can turn into the beginning of something beautiful. The beginning of a career in technology crowned with success. Because there are no impossible things for the one who believes. And does everything with love and dedication. Even in the challenging world of programming. And it’s not a cliché. But a reality that Deniz, Peter and Stefan prove.

Meet them

Deniz Poturliev is a 12th grade student of “Geo Milev” Mathematics School in Pleven. He is a laureate of the National Olympiad in Informatics in 2023. Deniz has won medals and awards from national and international competitions in informatics such as: silver medal from Romanian Master of Informatics 2023 and two bronze medals from the International Zhautikovo Olympiad in Informatics (IZhO) – 2023. and 2024. In his free time, he practices swimming and tennis.

Petar Mihov is an 11th grade student at Sofia Highschool of Mathematics “Paisii Hilendarski”. Since 2018 he has competed in Informatics competitions at National and International level. He is part of the Technical Team of the 24th season of CodeIT. In his spare time, he likes to play sports, read, and play games.

Stefan Zhelyazkov is an Associate Software Architect at Musala Soft. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in Computer Science in 2013. In the United States he worked at companies of various sizes and industries, such as Goldman Sachs, Honest Buildings and WeWork. In 2019 he returned to Bulgaria and in the following year he started working at Musala Soft. He leads the technical team behind CodeIT since 2021. Stefan is proficient at various programming languages and tools, and his concentration is web programming.

Deniz, Peter and Stefan and their journey through the world of programming

How and when did you realize that the world of programming is your passion?

Deniz: I started attending the School of Informatics in Pleven in the 4th grade. Over time, with the acquisition of knowledge, meeting new friends who share the same interests, and achieving success in competitions, computer science became my passion.

Peter: In 2nd or 3rd grade, my father installed Scratch on the computer so that I could engage in something productive. Since I loved playing games, creating them in Scratch also became very interesting to me. That’s when I first got hooked on creating something with code.

Stefan: At some point in the 10th grade, I got passionate about creating websites. I had bought a book on PHP language, and I found it very interesting that with this language, I could make a website interactive. That’s when I started working on various projects – a class website, forums, and websites for astronomy competitions. I also decided to create the first electronic magazine for my high school in Stara Zagora – Secondary School for Foreign Languages “Romain Rolland”. After that, at university, I studied computer science, where my knowledge significantly advanced, and to this day, I continue to engage in it.

When did you realize you wanted programming to be part of your professional future?

Deniz: Since every free moment in my daily life is dedicated to informatics, I unconsciously realized that this would be my future professional development.

Peter: In the 5th grade, I studied computer science at school for the first time. When I saw that I was good at it, I already knew that I would be involved in it in the future. Of course, the idea existed for me even before that, but after getting a closer look, my choice was confirmed.

Stefan: Programming is a complex engineering profession that requires a lot of thinking. Perhaps around my second year in university, I began to understand the subject matter in much more depth and to move away from the mechanical “writing of code.” I started to see the artistic element in programming – to write less code, make the program faster, and use some interesting logical tricks. This was very interesting to me, and I wanted to continue doing it.

From what age have you been participating in competitions related to technology and programming?

Deniz: I have been participating in all national competitions and Olympiads in Informatics since the 5th grade, and from the 10th grade onwards – in some international ones as well.

Peter: The first competition I took part in was the first round of the National Olympiad in Informatics when I was in the 5th grade. Since then, I have been participating in every competition in the Ministry of Education’s program for 7 years, as well as in some other national and international competitions.

Stefan: I was in the 6th grade when I first participated in an international competition – it was for a website, in Turkey. We won 3rd place there. After that, in high school, I participated in competitions for websites on astronomical themes, where we worked on several projects related to the planet Mars, distant objects in the Kuiper Belt, etc.

What has been the happiest moment so far in your journey into the world of Programming?

Deniz: The happiest moments in the world of programming for me have come from computer science competitions. One such memory is from October 2023, during the Romanian Master of Informatics international competition in Bucharest, where I managed to solve a maximum score problem in the last hour of the competition day, earning me a silver medal.

Peter: An extremely happy moment for me was the Summer Informatics Tournament in 2022 when I won first place. However, some of my happiest memories are also connected with trips I took with my friends in computer science from all over Bulgaria, which were made possible precisely because of the competitions we participated in together.

Stefan: All moments where I (we) produce something that works are happy for me. I especially enjoy it when a project is done in a minimal, elegant way, with clear logic. On a personal level, I’ve created several such projects – from websites for favorite TV shows to an Android application for watching television. I am also proud of our successes in CodeIT, where we have several significant and small achievements that make the platform better.

And what has been the most challenging moment? How did you overcome it, and what did it teach you?

Deniz: At the end of the 2021/2022 academic year, I realized that I wasn’t preparing effectively for informatics competitions. In the summer of 2022, I set a goal to solve more problems and improve, which helped me rediscover the beauty of computer science and the satisfaction of intense training.

Peter: The most challenging moment for me was during the National Autumn Tournament in 2022 when I exited the competition with only 5 out of a possible 300 points. The competition also served as the second day of the International Autumn Tournament (IATI), so not only did I have a very bad position nationally, but I also gained a similar one internationally. I learned my lesson, and with a little more effort, by the end of the academic year, I managed to join the extended national team and became 5th in one of the competitions, even though I was a tenth-grader in the 11-12 grade group.

Stefan: The most challenging moment for me was when I realized that software work, built over the years, can be very easily erased and deleted. This happened after working in a very promising company that eventually went bankrupt. The project, which was great, came to an end. This is one of the significant downsides of this profession – that erasing software can become very easy compared to other things in the material world. I pondered on this situation for some time and ultimately realized that it’s not an abnormal phenomenon but a part of life. Such situations should not discourage us because software can help people, and we, as programmers, should always strive for that.

How does it feel to be part of the CodeIT team this season and part of the 24-year history of the competition?

Deniz: I feel grown up, already working and making my dream of professionally engaging in computer science come true.

Peter: CodeIT is a competition that changes both its design and the style of its tasks for the participants every year. The fact that this year I am contributing significantly to the second part makes me very happy, because it means that I am leaving a mark in the world of competitive informatics.

Stefan: It is a great honor. This is a long-standing tradition that continues to this day. My desire is to make CodeIT a better tournament with each season. We are actively working on various improvements and already have achievements to be proud of. I am also glad that the participants in CodeIT develop important skills in this competition – dealing with unprecedented problems, finding a way out of tense situations, working under time and resource constraints. These are universal skills that will make them more prepared for life.

Is organizing a large-scale competition like CodeIT difficult? What is the most important element in such an organization?

Deniz: The team is everything. The key to our success is good task distribution, as well as being organized.

Peter: There are certainly some challenges. For each round we carefully choose the dates, considering the calendar of other informatics competitions. On the other hand, creating tasks requires good coordination within the team. The relationships between our team members, as well as our quick reactions, contribute to our success even in difficult moments.

Stefan: It’s both difficult and easy. The hard part is that there are many components that have to work in sync – tasks, technical infrastructure, sponsors and patrons, rewards, PR, marketing. The fact that everyone involved loves CodeIT makes things a little easier. The most important thing is the rapport within the team, both among us and among the participants.

What would you say to all CodeIT competitors, including those lacking the courage or still hesitant to participate?

Denise: Challenge yourselves and join this extraordinary competition.

Peter: To those who are already competing, I want to express my gratitude for dedicating their time to our competition. And to those who are wondering, I would say that when I first found out about CodeIT, the format of the competition sparked my interest. It is very different from other competitions, so I encourage everyone to give it a try, even just out of curiosity.

Stefan: Perhaps the most challenging part for participants is overcoming the fear of not performing well enough or embarrassing themselves. In the team we have seen participants joining only for two of the last rounds and accumulating enough points to qualify for the final, or even win it! I don’t think having a win-or-lose mindset is a good idea. CodeIT will mainly help you develop yourself and your own skills – dealing with unfamiliar tasks, coming up with interesting solutions, and finding a way out of difficult situations. You might even win a prize from the raffle! Participate in CodeIT and see the competition as an opportunity to have fun! Good luck!

According to Bureau of Labor Statistics projections, job growth in the information technology sector is expected to be 15% by 2031. These statistics highlight the growing attractiveness of this field as more people choose to pursue a career in technology.

An enticing aspect of technology jobs is their geographic expanse. Career opportunities exist in both large corporations and small businesses. This accessibility ensures that the appeal of technology jobs is not limited to certain regions, but extends worldwide. Today we’ll introduce you to the top tech jobs in the US according to Best Colleges.

The 10 Highest-Paid Jobs in Technology

1. DevOps Engineer
A DevOps engineer is often a bit of a generalist. They are responsible for working with code, infrastructure management, DevOps toolchains, and system administration.

Their day-to-day work will depend on the size and type of company, but DevOps engineers often review code, write unit tests, and help create bridges of communication between various teams. DevOps engineers usually have around five years of experience in operations or development roles before they move to DevOps.

Average salary: $149,410

2. Product Manager
Product managers oversee every step of the project and ensure it is consistently in line with customers’ needs. This role requires a mix of skills, including UX design, tech, and business.

Their roles often include research, analysis, creating designs, testing prototypes, and finding bugs. They will often create a roadmap for the product and follow up with stakeholders, customers, and market research to help guide and improve the product.

Average salary: $136,310

3. Computer and Information Research Scientist
Computer and Information Research Scientists work to improve both hardware and software systems. It is one of the more difficult jobs, but also one of the highest paid. These scientists often work with complex algorithms and programming languages and design computer architecture.

Overall, their goal is to develop innovative ways to use both existing and potential future technologies. They are particularly prevalent in medical and science fields.

Median salary: $131,490

4. Software Developer
Software developers are responsible for creating everything from your favorite game on your phone to system-level software used by hospitals and the military. They need to know how to code, most often in Java, SQL, and JavaScript, as well as have valuable soft skills, such as problem-solving abilities. There is a lot of variability in this role, given the range of types of software in existence. This is also a common entry point for people looking to build up their experience or portfolio.

Median salary: $120,730

5. Computer Network Architect
Computer network architects design and build data communication networks. This can range from small connections within different branches of the same company all of the way up to large-scale cloud infrastructures. They need a strong working knowledge of both hardware and software. A computer network architect is typically responsible for increasing efficiency, recommending and implementing upgrades, and staying up to date with developing technologies. With those goals in mind, they create and present plans to management, upgrade hardware, and work with information and network security.

Median salary: $120,520

6. Artificial Intelligence Architect
Artificial intelligence (AI) architects work closely with data scientists, engineers, and developers to design, build, and create new AIs. The role is often a mix of technical and creative, dreaming up some of the wildest technologies of the future while also being aware of current technological limitations.

There is also a significant ethical component to AI as we try to find the line between what we can and should create.

Average salary: $117,710

7. Information Security Analyst
Information and network security is expected to be one of the most critical areas in tech to develop evermore invasive technologies. The world is full of examples of hacks, everything from large-scale cybersecurity attacks like the Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack in 2021 to individual privacy issues, like when hackers figure out how to access in-home security cameras.
Keeping all types of products and software safe from security breaches will be one of the most significant projects in the upcoming years.

Median salary: $102,600

8. Mobile App Developer
Mobile app developers design, develop, and implement all different types of mobile applications. Often they will specialize in working with either Android, iOS, or Windows.

App developers are often creative, coming up with new games or tools, but also very technical and practical. App developers also need an in-depth knowledge of HTML, JavaScript, and CSS.

Average salary: $98,255

9. Data Scientist
Data is the new digital currency, and data scientists are the ones helping companies, NGOs, and governments turn all of that raw data into something that can tell a story.

Data scientists source, clean, manage, and analyze immense amounts of data looking for actionable insights. They also create algorithms and data models to forecast outcomes. This is a math and statistics-heavy role, with a significant number of data scientists holding at least a master’s degree, if not a Ph.D.

Median salary: $96,710

10. Full-Stack Web Developer
Being a full-stack web developer means a person can develop both server and client software, making them the multitool of the technology world.

Not only do full-stack developers need a strong knowledge of front-end languages, but they also need to be able to write API code and server code for the back end. Because of this, full-stack developers often need to be familiar with a decently long list of programming languages.

Аverage salary: $89,700

“Fortech is a leading firm with a proven track record and specialization in the technologies needed for digital evolution. This acquisition will further strengthen GlobalLogic’s presence in Europe and accelerate our access to the rich technical talent in Romania; it will arm Fortech with the resources and strong support of GlobalLogic and Hitachi. We are excited to welcome Fortech and their talented people to the GlobalLogic family.”

, said Nitesh Banga, President and CEO of GlobalLogic.

GlobalLogic’s investment in Fortech is part of a multi-year strategy aimed at establishing a broader European market while enabling it to better serve its customers around the world from a delivery perspective. This acquisition will further enable GlobalLogic to leverage Hitachi’s strengths in information technology (IT), operational technology (OT) and products, and accelerate its growth by supporting the expansion of the Lumada business.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Under the agreement, Fortech will continue to operate with its existing management and staff as a wholly owned subsidiary of GlobalLogic. The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals and is expected to close by the end of the calendar fourth quarter of 2022.

ScaleFocus did not disclose the value of its investment.

Last year, ScaleFocus opened a 900 sq m office in North Macedonia‘s capital Skopje.

At the end of 2019, North Macedonia’s prime minister Zoran Zaev said that ScaleFocus is ready to invest some 45 million euros ($52.3 million) and open more than 300 jobs in the country over the next five years.

Sofia-headquartered ScaleFocus, established in 2012, is a software development and digital services company with a global client base that includes Fortune 500 companies, innovative startups and industry leaders in information technology, e-commerce, insurance, healthcare, finance and energy and utilities.

In Bulgaria, ScaleFocus has offices in Sofia, Plovdiv and Varna. The company also has offices in London, Munich, Zurich, Athens and Tel Aviv.

Magdalena Gamisheva, a Director of Sales at CLICO Bulgaria, is a remarkable lady who loves the sea and fulfils the culinary desires of everyone around her. She thinks that success depends on many factors. Regarding the problem of gender inequality, Magdalena says that it is not so relevant in Bulgaria. She thinks that every manager running a company should evaluate the qualities of her/his candidates and employees, based on their competencies, and not on their gender. Magdalena adds that although we have grown as a society, we still define certain responsibilities as typical female or male hence we should work towards developing and stimulating professional characteristics in people, regardless of their gender. According to her, a woman’s vision and charm sometimes help. However, she definitely can’t say that someone would make a key decision just because a woman is standing in the front. She shares with us that it is difficult for her to separate personal from professional life because she is constantly considering everything. In addition, she says that this characteristic attributes to the fact that she enjoys her work and accepts it as a constant inspiration. Magdalena is a professional, but also a perfectionist – she wants everything to be impeccable in the best way possible. She adds that for her the working day has no time frame. Her advice is to find something that takes us away from the daily routine for a while and makes us live in the present. Magdalena shares that she is pleased to work with such a great team and can’t wait for the numerous exciting days that await them.

“Closing a deal is like a game of chess – you think a few steps ahead.”

Share something about yourself that we can’t find on LinkedIn.

I have a dog – a Czechoslovakian wolfhound, who has recently become part of our family and fills our lives with lots of laughter, games and smiles. I love the sea, I love to drive, and I don’t want to sound immodest, but I am a good driver;)… And last but not least once a week I fulfil the culinary desires of the team 🙂

Have you ever faced challenges in your career regarding the fact that you are a woman?

It sometimes happens during the initial contacts with foreign companies. There is a lack of trust, even a hint of underestimation, but once you respond with professionalism, experience and knowledge, you can very quickly change this attitude.

Do you know how many women work in your position?

Yes, and this motivates me, even more, to develop myself as a professional to improve my knowledge every day. According to Eurostat, 42% of the management positions in Bulgaria are held by women. Another study on “The best countries in Europe for women’s work”, assessing economic equality, women in leadership positions and attitudes towards motherhood, ranks Bulgaria first. I believe that success depends on many factors, so the second study is more comprehensive. There is still work to be done as a society, but we are in the right direction and we will achieve it step by step.

Read More Inspiring Stories for Women in Tech in WRTech here.

Do you think that the problem with gender inequality still exists in Bulgaria and globally?

In some regions of the world, it is especially relevant. Perhaps, in Bulgaria, not so much. In my opinion, every manager running a company should evaluate the qualities of his/her candidates and employees, based on their competencies, and not on the basis of gender. And although we have grown as a society, we still define some responsibilities as typical female or male. We should work towards developing and stimulating professional qualities in people who have a passion and desire for development, no matter if they are men or women.

Do women’s vision and charm help you be successful in a professional way?

You know what they say: “By clothes, they welcome, by mind they send.” Viewed in this light – yes, sometimes it helps, but I definitely can’t say that someone would make a key decision just because a woman is standing in front.

What policies does your company follow regarding encouraging diversity?

We are definitely looking for diversity in appointments because we want CLICO to be a place where different people build a team and work together without prejudices and dividing lines between them. We want to have freedom for personal and professional development.

How do you get along with men in your company? Do they treat you differently?

You have to ask them. 🙂 I don’t feel any different attitude.

How do you balance your work with your personal life? Are there any rules that you follow?

Perhaps combining personal and professional life would be easier if I could switch off from work during my spare time. It’s hard for me because I’m constantly thinking about everything. But I attribute this to the fact that my work brings me inspiration and I truly like it. Also, the perfectionist in me wants everything to be perfect.

Which sources would you recommend to us? (podcasts, webpages, influencers, YouTubers, etc.)

Darknet Diaries, the blogs of our vendors, and they are not plenty, given the rich portfolio of CLICO, Gartner (both the rankings for various solutions and analyzes for future focus solutions), SANS Institute, of course, and Bulgarian – Internet speaks, The voice of Capital, Money speaks. In the rest of my free time, I prefer to be accompanied by a good book.

“My work brings me inspiration and I truly like it”

What does the profession of Director of Sales in a company offering IT security solutions look like? How does your workday go? What inspired you to focus on the technology industry?

It is the combination of many qualities, some of which are responsibility, initiative, diplomacy, organizational and commercial skills, finding new customers and maintaining the satisfaction of the current ones, supporting the team. We need constant updating of knowledge and awareness of new trends – “lifelong learning” is our daily routine. This is one of the reasons to focus on the technology industry. It is undergoing rapid development and there is a constant need for new solutions that support the business, as well as those that protect it and contribute to its security and smooth operation. A successful cyberattack inflicts a lot of visible and invisible damage on the company and sometimes leads to direct losses for the business, which are recovered, if at all, for months or even years.

What qualities are required for someone to “close” a deal successfully? Do these qualities depend on gender?

Not by gender, but by experience. Closing a deal is like playing chess – you should think a few steps ahead. You anticipate all the factors that could tip the scales and make timely decisions. But the most important thing is to prepare your homework and be sure that what you offer to the client is the right thing for them. So they will have one less headache and be calmer with the investment he has made. Of course, sometimes you may not succeed, but analyzing everything that happened and went wrong will help in the future.

“We need constant updating of knowledge and awareness of new trends – “lifelong learning” is our daily routine“

How and where should boundaries between the working day and the life after that be created, when everything happens in one place? Can you give some good practices and tips as an example?

Personally, I can’t set a limit, but I don’t want it anyways. When work excites you and is close to your nature, you have no desire for putting any boundaries. The working day has no time frame, but you should think of different ways to achieve your goals. Tips and good practices… um… I would tell everyone – find something that takes you away from the daily routine for a while and makes you live here and now, to quench the storm of incoming thoughts and worries. For some, it’s sports, walking, spending time with loved ones, reading, music, or doing anything (dolce far niente). For me, yoga turned out to be a practice for unloading – time for myself, time without thoughts, time for the here and now.

What does it mean to be a director at CLICO Bulgaria? How does your workday go?

The CLICO team is growing, even during the last difficult year, we hired several new colleagues. The results of the company and the trust of our customers are a marker for the success of the whole team. My working day is constant – getting up before 6, going to bed late at night (and sometimes it haunts me in my dreams). You are constantly thinking in different directions – both over the common goals and the way to achieve them, and in-depth for a specific challenge you are facing. I am pleased to work with such a cohesive and purposeful team and I am sure that many more exciting days await us.

If You Want to Read More Inspiring Stories for Success and Professional Growth Join the DevStyleR #Tech Influencers Community and Get Access to our Special Editions here.

The Azure Expert MSP status is awarded to Microsoft partners who complete an intensive auditing process, demonstrate industry-leading technical capabilities, and offer end-to-end support across Azure environments. Tim McGrath, President and Chief Executive Officer of Connection said:

“Securing the Microsoft Azure Expert MSP designation reflects the significant investments Connection has made in our cloud capabilities. I am incredibly proud of our team of Solution Architects, Engineers, and Account Managers for achieving top-tier certifications and delivering the exceptional service and support that define our cloud practice. We will continue to expand Connection’s portfolio of cloud offerings to meet our customers’ growing demand for this essential technology—and I look forward to enhancing our relationship with Microsoft as we help customers transition to the cloud and optimize their environments with Azure.”

Jamal Khan, Chief Growth and Innovation Officer of Connection stated:

“As a trusted IT partner, Connection builds compelling custom cloud strategies for diverse customer workloads, helping organizations invest in cloud as an engine for greater agility, security, and scalability. The Microsoft Azure Expert MSP certification highlights our robust hyperscale cloud capabilities and the broad reach of our Microsoft Center of Excellence. Whether it’s running customer workloads within our hyperscale managed environments, developing cloud applications, curating traditional cloud technologies, or building hybrid solutions, Connection will continue to deliver the cutting-edge cloud solutions and services our customers require to move their businesses forward with confidence.”

Connection currently maintains the following Microsoft certifications and qualifications:

• Microsoft Cloud Services Partner (CSP Tier 1)
• Microsoft Authorized Surface Provider
• Microsoft Authorized Education Partner (AEP)
• Microsoft Delivery Service Partner (DSP)
• Microsoft Select, Open, Charity, and Academic Volume Licensing Programs with Service and Support for Microsoft Enterprise Agreements and Microsoft Products and Services Agreement (MPSA)

A coding aficionado with a university degree in Engineering, combined with the invaluable encounter with multi-disciplinary cognitive science. Imagine all these qualities put together in a professional who holds a leadership position at an innovative company. Here she is, Elitsa Taskova — Product Owner at Nexo, Bulgaria. She has over eight years of experience in creating and managing software products for major fintech companies. Elitsa has been part of the engineering team since its very beginning and leads key products such as the Nexo Exchange and Earn. Elitsa holds the belief that the most valuable characteristics she has acquired during her academic years are discipline, holistic thinking, confidence and flexibility — mandatory skills for the dynamics in the crypto industry. She strives to plan her workday before it even begins and sets realistic goals — the only way to gain more than a few productive hours. Her personal discipline is the key to a balanced lifestyle. She is convinced that when you are forging the path of limitless, deflationary finance, there should be only one team as the goal is of utmost importance. As driven as she is, Elitsa adds that in Bulgaria the IT environment is still dominated by men but this can be changed easily with more focused education programs and resources, shared professional experience, mentoring and personal example. According to her, the problem with gender inequality has not been relevant in progressive companies for a long time. In addition, mass digitization as well as the COVID-19 effects have significantly reduced inequality on a global scale. Elitsa takes pride that in the Nexo team everyone feels like one big family because being through thick and thin creates a strong community. Everyone in her team shares the belief that when you purposefully fight for one idea and you put your heart and soul into the endeavour, gender doesn’t matter. So, when the team’s heart is at the right place, everything’s possible. In her free time, Elitsa likes to read non-fiction literature, explore new ideas and keep an active lifestyle. She tends to often challenge herself, convinced that fortune favours the brave. For experienced professionals like her, the biggest motivation is to be on the top of the game, stay ahead while using the latest technologies to create impactful products.

“I attempt to develop “Humanistic” Qualities – They have no Gender”

Tell us something about yourself we can’t find on LinkedIn.

I’ve studied programming for a while, graduated in Engineering and got short and yet extremely valuable experience with multidisciplinary cognitive science. Perhaps it is that mix of interests and experience that led me to the shoes of Product Owner at Nexo at the time when the company was just starting. Joining Nexo was true serendipity and since then I aspire to constant progress at a tremendous speed. My team and I are responsible for the Nexo Exchange platform which allows immediate exchanges between 100 crypto and fiat pairs, a one-stop-shop for the NEXO Token and other crypto and fiat currencies, as well as other key products — Earn on Crypto & Fiat which allows customers to generate passive income from their assets in the most secure way. I am proud that I’ve been part of the development of what Nexo stands for today — one of the leading crypto companies in the world with signature products that redefined the crypto ecosystem. We created it here in just three years and busted the myth that a Bulgarian company cannot stand side by side with the global visionaries we read about every day. I hope you do realize the significance of our success – we have built and positioned an entirely new business niche with our own products here in Bulgaria. In my free time, I like to read specialized literature, to exchange ideas with my friends – face to face! and to be non-stop on the move.

Have you ever faced challenges in your career for being a woman?

Challenges are questions such as these about shoes and clothes and ‘women-only pros’ sections — they are the ones deepening the divide between co-workers, where in reality there is no such thing. I strongly believe that no matter how you describe yourself, if you truly believe in your ideas and expertise, combined with strong motivation, you can bring them to life and I’m surrounded by like-minded people. Nexo makes you feel you’re always on the right track, mistakes make you ‘antifragile’. This inspires us to strive for greatness beyond the familiar notion of ‘good and safe’. This is the only way we can achieve what we aim for — the Moon. Talking about challenges, honestly, I live and breathe for them, as we all know — fortune favours the brave. In my opinion, this is the only way to grow both personally and professionally. One big step ahead can elevate you all the way to the moon. This is exactly what we do on a daily basis — we tackle challenges and excel ourselves every single day.

Do you happen to know how many women hold a position similar to yours?

Many of the leadership positions are led by women, contrary to popular belief that finance and technologies are areas favoured by men. This also confirms my personal conviction that there’s no gender divide when we work for something bigger than ‘just a job’. Every day all my colleagues leave their mark in history — we push the industry forward and attract more and more like-minded people who have the same goal — a decentralized financial world where sharing economy and digital finance are a catalyst for change. The IT environment in Bulgaria is still dominated by men and, of course, there are a number of reasons for this. However, this can change in the right context and with the necessary resources — education, sharing professional experience, mentoring and, last but not least, personal example. Both individually and as a company, we are debunking this trend. The results are at hand — more and more women join us ambitious to unleash their full potential at Nexo.

Do you believe that the problem with gender inequality still exists in Bulgaria and globally?

It’s been a while since progressive companies haven’t faced this issue. Mass digitization which was accelerated by COVID-19 has reduced unnecessary gender inequality globally. Nexo’s trifold priority is expertise, experience and enthusiasm and the numbers speak volumes — we’ve increased our transactions five times in less than six months reaching $30 billion, while managing assets of over $15 billion. All this is achieved only with the right people — top professionals. Having this in mind, I wish all companies were like ours.

Read More Inspiring Stories for Women in Tech in WRTech here.

What policies does your company encourage regarding gender diversity?

We pride ourselves on the zero discrimination policy — that’s why our team is so diverse. Colleagues of all ages are buzzing around the office. Speaking about my female colleagues, it doesn’t matter whether or not we have children. When schools were shut down due to COVID-19, we set up on the premises a daycare corner for our colleagues’ kids which we jokingly call ‘#cryptodaycare’. It is fascinating (and noisy) to share the workspace with the next generation of crypto enthusiasts.

How do you get along with your male colleagues? Do they treat you in a different way?

Nexo has that authentic family vibe. Supporting one another is a way of work — we’ve been through thick and thin together and this forges an unbreakable bond. Gender really doesn’t matter when one has a clear purpose and puts blood, sweat and tears in the game. This may seem too ambitious but I’m sure it applies to the entire Nexo team.

How do you achieve a work/life balance? Do you follow any rules?

Personal discipline is the key to achieve work-life balance. In terms of my work life in Nexo, first, we take into account our internal schedule and our individual needs and then decide when, where and how to work. That is how we achieve great results and pure productivity. I’m not saying that I am disciplined enough not to spend 10 hours in a row on the computer but I do my best and I have all the prerequisites to achieve my own balance.

Which info sources would you recommend?

I get my regular updates from Twitter, Reddit and various newsletters such as The Block, Coindesk, Decrypt, Robinhood Snacks and Morning Brew. I highly recommend the podcasts The Pomp, What Bitcoin Did and Unchained. Following the pulse of the Bulgarian IT sector is vital, so of course Devstyler and for local crypto chats — Sofia Crypto Meet-up and other groups.

Which specific skills and knowledge from your education – bachelor in telecommunications and master in cognitive science, do you use at your current position as a Product Owner?

Academic institutions provide only what you are willing to take. Personally, in those years I built discipline, holistic thinking, the confidence to cope in a new environment, and adaptability — mandatory skills for the dynamics in the crypto industry. This happens only if you stay enthusiastic about your area of expertise and hungry for knowledge from other fields. Undoubtedly, 21st-century knowledge is a mix of applied academic theory, practical experience and, above all, critically selected information from the sea we all have access to — the internet. Unfortunately, Product Owner-related university curricula are still rare to find but I believe that the profession will become a separate discipline in the future.

What inspired you to pursue a career in fintech?

The biggest motivation for a professional is to ride the wave of innovations and strive to work with the latest technologies in order to create meaningful products — this is what crypto is all about. We prove every day that financial tools are not necessarily exclusive, ineffective, complex and clumsy. This makes the crypto sector even more attractive — we are all equal here and we can bear the fruits technology brings. We’ve already witnessed the advantages crypto brings in our everyday life, however, there is more to see — greater social importance where we put our financial freedom to work for the greater good.

Which is the most important professional quality you’ve developed as a result of your experience in the tech industry?

First and foremost I’m proud that there is a Bulgarian company that takes over the world and I have the opportunity to play an active role in this crusade. In this story, you don’t need to be in California, New York or London to get to the top of the game and to better the lives of millions of people. Getting to know the personal stories of numerous people from across the world builds a certain empathy. Regardless of the context, envиronment, education and career path, the instinct to strive for more stability, more freedom and social wellbeing is deeply rooted in us. This is what binds us all together at Nexo and makes our mission close to our hearts.

“Every day, both men and women leave their marks on history, push the industry forward and attract more and more like-minded people who have similar goals”

How and where should work/life boundaries be drawn given that everything happens at one place? Can you please give us some examples and tips?

Boundaries appear once you accept your own vulnerabilities. And this is a feeling I do not appreciate. We have to be patient with ourselves in order to find our own rhythm, bearing in mind that it might be completely different in two, three or five years. We live in a hectic world that provides us with limitless possibilities, and if we want to enjoy them we have to accept our own limitations. My personal barrier is when I feel like not being the best version of myself. Then I take a breather to rethink my habits. So far, what works best for me is to plan my workday before it begins and set realistic goals, so I can achieve several productive hours, keeping in mind that the plan might change in a heartbeat. I’ve started planning my leisure time with the same enthusiasm and got convinced how important it is to pass the same level of responsibility and attention to detail to our personal lives, too, in order to feel fulfilled and satisfied.

High heels or flat shoes?

Flats, of course. That’s the work of evolution. We even walk barefoot at the office as we value our comfort and freedom.

Which is THE thing you never go out without?

A book. I am currently skimming through ‘the crypto bible’ which was published in Bulgaria, thanks to my colleague George Manolov.

Which is the feminine quality that you don’t possess?

I’m not a slave to stereotypes — one of the reasons I’m in crypto. Even I strive to further enhance more humane qualities.

What cause would you support?

I’d support any cause which breaks the status quo with a constructive purpose in mind.

If You Want to Read More Inspiring Stories for Success and Professional Growth Join the DevStyleR #Tech Influencers Community and Get Access to our Special Editions here.

Yana Papardova is the HR manager of Schwarz IT Bulgaria. From first sight, you can tell she is a positive, ambitious, and colourful personality. As a great fan of the Japanese language and some of their most beloved creations – anime and manga, Yana often gets inspiration from K-pop videos, which often shows in the small details of her style. She firmly believes that one of the key attributes of the ‘HR people’ is the right combination of mindfulness, empathy, sensitivity, and the ability to look beyond the surface. Yana is very conscious about all issues that arise from gender inequality, and despite the fact that this topic is widely discussed and tackled in business, there is still way to go in order to reach the right balance. Yet, she has her two cents at Schwarz IT Bulgaria, as one of the company’s main missions, is to bring more women to the IT Realm. Otherwise, Yana loves giving (and getting) positive feedback, and seeing how successful projects come to life is all she needs. She takes her chance to step into the realm of Human resources a bit like a stroke of luck’ – but her successful track so far proves that this was not only pure luck, but a combination of hard work, creativity, passion, and lots of sleepless nights.

“Getting positive feedback and seeing successful projects come to life is all I need.”

Can you share something specific about you that we can’t find on LinkedIn?

I am a big fan of Japan and some of their most beloved creations – anime and manga. This interest refers to my general interest in the Asian action/ fantasy genre. I’ve been obsessed with it for the last 15 years and now it feels just as much a part of me as anything else. You can easily spot my footprint around our offices. I have printed a huge wallpaper from The Shire in our green room. There are big stickers around the office with Son Goku, Monkey D. Luffy and Spirited Away. I had a lightsaber next to my desk. It did wonders when I had to persuade people to agree to what I was proposing (laughter).

Have you encountered any challenges in your career in connection to being a woman?

Almost every woman has. However, I feel like I’ve been more blessed than others. The biggest challenges I’ve faced were usually connected with trying to keep the right tone. There are certain expectations – a woman can’t be too assertive or aggressive in her opinions. She might be labelled as hysterical or unstable. But if you are trying to prove your point you can’t afford to be too timid. I have had cases in the past when I hadn’t been able to balance it out, and this was seen as unprofessional. “You are too emotional”, someone would tell me. “Are you stressed?” Or, my favourite, “She must be on her period”. All of these comments have taught me that being too expressive is not a good wager for a woman. A sure weapon remains in polite and cool indifference. Though that might label you as frigid but it will give you results.

Do you know how many women work in your position?

Quite a lot. My profession falls under one of the social mindsets. A teacher, a nurse, a hygienist, a shop assistant, someone from Human resources – when you think of the role you imagine a woman. It’s one of the few places where you can see the gender prevails but if you look at the social status of the listed positions it’s not exactly something to be envious about.

Favourite clothes?

Watch a K-Pop video if you haven’t. That’s how you’ll get a pretty good idea of my wardrobe. I love it when people have character and are bold enough to show it. I express mine through my style, which is usually full of colours and accessories.

High heels or flat shoes?

If the occasion calls for it, I would even wear cowboy boots! I am now dying for an occasion to wear a new flower earpiece I got. It’s huge, shiny and looks like it came straight out of a Chinese royal wedding and I love it.

Which typical female quality does not apply to you?

I think there is any specific ‘work’ or ‘quality’ that pre-defines genders. I am what I am, with all my flaws and good qualities – an independent and strong personality with a vulnerable heart that often melts when good things happen.

What is THE thing that you must have in your bag when going out?

Another bag. A bigger one!

Favourite lipstick colour?

To be honest I accessorise so much that it’s best not to go overboard with the lipstick as well.

Do you think that the problem of gender inequality is still relevant in Bulgaria and globally?

It’s just as relevant now as it has always been all over the world. A dent has barely been made in the evening on the scales and it is in no way equal for every place in the world. It starts with uneven access to education. Around the world, women still have less access to education than men. When girls are not educated at the same level as boys, it has a huge effect on their future and the kinds of opportunities they’ll get. Then there is job segregation. In most societies, there’s an inherent belief that men are simply better equipped to handle certain jobs. Most of the time, those are the jobs that pay the best. There is also a huge lack of legal protection in many countries against domestic sexual violence or domestic economic violence. These places become unsafe and without protection, women frequently have to make decisions that compromise and limit their goals. Thankfully this is not the case in Bulgaria but there are societies where women still do not have the right to choose – no matter if it concerns their education or personal life, including when to become a parent. There are so many problems in the world, some of them more pressing than others. But we shouldn’t let ourselves forget that we still have many issues to tackle, deep issues, rooted in the cultures, which are going to require time and systematic efforts to deal with.

What policy does your company follow in terms of promoting diversity?

It is one of our missions to do our best in providing more and more women the opportunity to develop in the area of information technology. It all starts at school, so we are trying to promote it as a career path as early as possible. We have a target of having 50 – 50 in percentage when it comes to both genders. We are steadily climbing our ladder and we are now over 30%.  Women at Schwarz IT also take managerial and leadership roles. Of course, the ladies need to feel comfortable that they can also be dedicated parents and not miss out on their career development. This comes with flexibility and promoting work-life balance at Schwarz IT Bulgaria. It also comes with a bonus for having a baby.

Read More Inspiring Stories for Women in Tech in WRTech here.

Do your male colleagues treat you differently?

I did mention I have a sword by the desk, so you can imagine everyone treats me with respect – male or female. Joke aside, Schwarz IT Bulgaria is a great place to work if you want to feel valued for your professional qualities, if you want your achievements to be recognized, or be given equal opportunities.

Do you think that a woman’s appearance and charm affect her professional success? (example: does it make communication easier?)

It certainly does – especially in the beginning when appearance is the first thing we notice. People are very visual creatures and we are prone to open up more easily to the people we find attractive. That can be dangerous at times though – you don’t want to only be successful because of just your looks and charms. You want everything you have to offer to your profession and organization to be recognized – your efforts, your ideas, your code, your coaching methods, your personal touch. Right?

How do you combine personal and professional life? Do you have any rules that you follow?

In this pandemic year finding the balance for many has proven to be quite a challenge. I don’t think many of us had realized how reliant we were on changing location and the scenery in order to switch off or to distract ourselves. I am one of the few people you will meet, who tell you that they hate travelling. And yet, a few months in the first lockdown, I found myself desperate and ecstatic to find myself as far as a new neighbourhood. I’ve always had one refuge and that’s reading. The moment I get my hands on a good fanfiction from a favourite book or movie I “disappear” from the world. During the pandemic, it feels like I’ve done that a lot and I know that no matter the time a good book will always make me forget about everything else. My current obsession is a Chinese production, called “The Untamed”. Do check it out.

Which sources do you follow and can you recommend some of them to our audience? (example: podcasts, pages, influencers, vloggers, etc.).

I am completely in love with the podcast Star Talk, led by Neil deGrasse Tyson. As an astrophysicist, he has a certain knack for talking about the known universe in a very accessible way. And you don’t just learn about stars. You learn how deep the deep actually is, what is real back, what is really nothing and how far can you actually go with large numbers. Next, you might hear about aliens, dark matter or why the sky is blue. If you don’t remember a few physics classes from high school, you are in for a ride.

What is your personal philosophy as a successful HR professional?

Always go the extra mile and never assume things about people. This might sound like a cliché – yet, we still do it on a daily basis. Because, let’s face it – quite often, ‘HR people’ need to overcome some sort of drama – be it personal, professional, or both. People come with their own issues, emotional baggage, mood swings, burdens. We, as HRs, need to be mindful and go beyond the specific issue. We have to learn to read between the lines, to listen, be flexible, and develop an ability to empathize. When I say “going the extra mile”, I mean mostly the ‘small details’. Greet the people around you, give a compliment, do your research, be prepared for a meeting, check your facts, ask for feedback before making a decision. It’s all those little things that can be very easy to overlook while we are swarmed with a pile of tasks for the day. It’s easy to say “I’ll just wing it on the fly” or “I probably already know everything about this case”. It’s the perseverance in being thorough that gives the best results.

In your experience, which benefits/ perks drive the highest employee satisfaction and engagement?

There are so many new studies coming out, tracking the change of life we have had over the last year. In brief, the skills needed in many roles have an increasingly short shelf life, owing in part to more frequent and disruptive technological breakthroughs. Positions filled today will require up to 10 new skills within 18 months. So, a company looking towards the future needs to hire for potential, not so much as for experience. Second, we need to move beyond the ping-pong table and the free drinks as the usual incentives. It’s critical that companies understand how candidates view them, the researchers say, and if necessary, find ways to boost those perceptions. So here at Schwarz IT Bulgaria, we are trying to do exactly that. We are taking a lesson from our retail business which is exceptional at figuring out the consumer’s expectations and we craft positions accordingly. We are working towards expanding our academies in more and more technologies. Opening up amazing opportunities for good professionals to return back home to Bulgaria. Tipping the scales towards gender equality and more women getting interested in IT. Our company tries to understand and refer to things that matter most to people – and combine them with strategic foresight and teamwork – locally and globally.

What motivates and inspires you the most in your professional life?

Getting and giving positive feedback, and seeing successful projects come to life are all the motivation I need. When people leave with a smile and are light-hearted after our meeting – this makes me just as happy and engaged. Deep down in my core, I am a genuine people pleaser and that can be a good thing to have in my profession. It makes my work easy and satisfying. I was a regular student, just like many others, when I was choosing a profession. It was some kind of stroke of luck that I got the chance to step into the field of Human resources. Now I can’t imagine doing anything else.

If You Want to Read More Inspiring Stories for Success and Professional Growth Join the DevStyleR #Tech Influencers Community and Get Access to our Special Editions here.

Entry-level and experienced IT developers alike sometimes need to be reminded that employers view industry credentials as tangible proof of aptitude in industry standards and in specific areas of programming or development. That’s why they should always be looking to improve their coding chops.

There are two paths to take if you’re looking to advance your knowledge in IT-related fields: certifications and degrees. Both paths have benefits, but they are certainly not the same. While certifications are a cost-effective option, computer science degrees offer a more well-rounded education.

Whether you’re just starting out and building your resume or you’ve been in the industry for 20 years, there’s a certification that can help boost your salary and your career. Here are 10 of the most-coveted computer science certifications in 2021.

AWS Certified Solutions Architect: Professional

The AWS Certified Solutions Architect: Professional exam is intended for individuals who perform a solutions architect role with two or more years of hands-on experience managing and operating systems on AWS. The exam is moderately difficult; in their first shot at the exam, 76% of candidates passed. The practise exams are said to be more difficult than the real exam, based on two attempts; 63% and 65% passed them, respectively. The SA pro course is a good intro, but you do need to do your research on the different services to get sufficient understanding to pass the exam. Average annual salary (according to PayScale): $113 000

Abilities validated by this certification:

• Design and deploy dynamically scalable, highly available, fault-tolerant, and reliable applications on AWS
• Select appropriate AWS services to design and deploy an application based on given requirements
• Migrate complex, multi-tier applications on AWS
• Design and deploy enterprise-wide scalable operations on AWS
• Implement cost-control strategies

Recommended knowledge and experience:

• Two or more years of hands-on experience designing and deploying cloud architecture on AWS
• Ability to evaluate cloud application requirements and make architectural recommendations for implementation, deployment, and provisioning applications on AWS
• Familiarity with AWS CLI, AWS APIs, AWS CloudFormation templates, the AWS Billing Console, and the AWS Management Console
• Explain and apply the five pillars of the AWS Well-Architected Framework
• Design a hybrid architecture using key AWS technologies (e.g., VPN, AWS Direct Connect)
• Ability to provide best practice guidance on the architectural design across multiple applications and projects of the enterprise
• Familiarity with a scripting language
• Familiarity with Windows and Linux environments
• Map business objectives to application/architecture requirements
• Architect a continuous integration and deployment process

Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP)

The CCSP exam is generally not as tough as the CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional) exam. But at the same time, it doesn’t mean that you can take the exam easily. You need to prepare well because there are no shortcuts to pass the ISC2 CCSP exam other than practising it more and more.

To qualify for this cybersecurity certification, you must pass the exam and have at least five years of cumulative, paid work experience in information technology, of which three years must be in information security, and one year in one or more of the six domains of the (ISC)² CCSP Common Body of Knowledge (CBK).

The CCSP is ideal for IT and information security leaders responsible for applying best practices to cloud security architecture, design, operations and service orchestration, including those in the following positions:

• Enterprise Architect
• Security Administrator
• Systems Engineer
• Security Architect
• Security Consultant
• Security Engineer
• Security Manager
• Systems Architect

Average salary (global): $119 880; North America: $150 400 (ISC2.org)

Certified Data Privacy Solutions Engineer (CDPSE)

The Certified Data Privacy Solutions Engineer (CDPSE) certification is the first experience-based, technical certification of its kind, assessing a technology professional’s ability to implement privacy by design to enable organizations to enhance privacy technology platforms and products that provide benefits to consumers, build trust and advance data privacy. Because privacy requires complex collaboration across multiple functions in an organization, CDPSE is also designed to validate privacy technologists’ ability to work cross-functionally with the legal team, policy department, engineers, software developers, database administrators, and back-end and front-end experts while playing a key role throughout the planning, development and delivery of IT privacy solutions.

The certification offers a natural progression for IT professionals tasked with designing, implementing and managing the technology that stores, collects and transports PII and ensures that privacy is considered in the design.

Earning the CDPSE Certification: Professionals can apply for the CDPSE certification as part of a limited early-adoption opportunity. Those who have the necessary experience can become certified without taking the exam.

Salary range: $75,000 – $118,000.

Certified Data Professional (CDP)

The Certified Data Professional (CDP) and Certified Business Intelligence Professional (CBIP) credentials use broad and current industry scenario questions to evaluate professional competency and currency of knowledge in a comprehensive three-exam requirement. You know you are getting an expert after the ICCP evaluation.

The CDP is an update of the Certified Data Management Professional (CDMP), created and offered by the ICCP from 2004 until 2015 and then upgraded to the CDP. Data Professionals may specialize and certify in the following areas:

Business Analytics, (CDP-BA)

Data Analytics & Design, (CDP-DAD)

Data Governance, (CDP-DG; DGSP)

Data Integration and Interoperability), (CDP-DII)

Data Management, (CDP-DM)

Data & Information Quality, (CDP-DIQ)

Data Stewardship, (CDP-DS)

Data Warehousing (CDP-DW)

Enterprise Data Architecture (Zachman), (CDP-EDA)

Information Systems or IT Management, (CDP-Mgmt)

Public Sector Data Governance (CDP-PSDG; PSDGP)

Salary range: $95 000 – $125 000

Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)

The Certified Ethical Hacker certification will be a good certification to pursue if you are an aspiring or current ethical hacker or penetration tester. You are or will be working in a domain within IT or cybersecurity that is focused on the security of systems. As a cybersecurity engineer, you’ll gather, analyze, and preserve data on computer systems in order to protect against malicious hackers. You’ll help identify security vulnerabilities for multi-million dollar corporations and learn to be a hacker with a strong moral compass.

The CEH is an open book exam. Thus candidates are allowed to use all resources on their computers or look up information on the web. However, candidates cannot reference the CEH official training material.

Salary range: $79 500 – $161 500.

Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)

CISM certification is a globally recognized professional requirement in the IT Security domain. This certification is best suited for security consultants and managers, IT directors and managers, security auditors and architects, security system engineers, CISOs, information security managers, and risk officers.

The CISM credential focuses on security strategy and assessing the systems and policies in place. CISM (Certified Information Security Manager) is a key certification for information security professionals who manage, design, oversee, and assess enterprise information security. A CISM certification course, closely aligned with ISACA’s best practices, helps you learn all you need about IT security systems.

While ZipRecruiter sees salaries as high as $207 435 and as low as $77 665, the majority of CISM salaries currently range between $101 751 (25th percentile) to $158 771 (75th percentile), with top earners (90th percentile) making $183 840 annually in California.

Average salary (North America): $99 778

Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)

The Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) is a highly regarded certification for security analysts. It was created by the International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium (ISC). The certification was created to ensure professionals in computer security have standardized knowledge of the field. Earning a Certified Information Systems Security Professional certificate can help candidates succeed as computer security professionals.

CISSP has been recognized for its exclusivity and granted a qualification level equal to that of a Master’s Degree across Europe. The CISSP constitutes various topics under information security studies.

Training Camp claims its CISSP program represents the culmination of hundreds of hours of instructional design, thousands of hours of exam-focused instruction, and tens of thousands of efficiently and effectively skilled, certified students. Training Camp became (ISC)²’s first and only “Boot Camp” partner in 2003. Since then, TC  has won more awards and certified more CISSPs than any other company worldwide.

According to the InfoSec Institute, the average salary for a woman who successfully passed the CISSP exam falls between $66 000 and $156 000, while the average CISSP certifications-based salary for a man is between $72 000 and $164 000. The CISSP certification is very useful for those seeking a higher-level security job.

Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE)

The Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert is a technical certification offered by Cisco Systems. The Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) and Cisco Certified Design Expert (CCDE) certifications were established to assist the industry in distinguishing the top echelon of internetworking experts worldwide and to assess expert-level infrastructure network design skills worldwide. These certifications are generally accepted worldwide as the most prestigious networking certifications in the industry.

The Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE certification) is a series of technical certifications for senior networking professionals who design, build, implement, maintain and troubleshoot complex enterprise networking infrastructures. The certification program is divided into six separate series, or tracks, and includes the following: collaboration, data centre, routing and switching, security, service provider, and wireless.

First issued in 1993, the CCIE certification program is continuously updated by Cisco. Fewer than 3% of Cisco engineers achieve CCIE certification, accounting for fewer than 1% of all networking professionals worldwide.

Average salary: $149 800.

Microsoft Certified Azure Solutions Architect

Microsoft Azure Fundamentals AZ-900 Exam Prep Specialization consists of four courses that will act as a bedrock of fundamental knowledge to prepare you for the AZ-900 certification exam and for a career in the cloud. The content of this Coursera program is tightly aligned to the AZ-900 exam objective domains.

This program provides foundational level knowledge on Microsoft Azure concepts; core Microsoft Azure services; core solutions and management tools; general security and network security; governance, privacy, and compliance features; Microsoft Azure cost management, and service level agreements. Ideal for IT personnel just beginning to work with Microsoft Azure or anyone wanting to learn about it.

Average salary: $152 142 (North America)

Oracle Certified MySQL Database Administrator (CMDBA)

Oracle is the world’s largest database provider and is the primary supporting caretaker of MySQL, which is by far the world’s most popular open-source database. Whether a beginner or an experienced user, a MySQL database administrator, MySQL developer, or a MySQL security administrator, digital training helps candidates develop a deeper knowledge of relational databases so they can manage MySQL applications more efficiently. The MySQL open-source community also offers a set of certification courses. Salary range: $64 500 – $91 300.