As more and more businesses come to rely on cloud infrastructure and discover the benefits of cloud computing, there is an increasing need for professionals who can manage, optimize, and maintain cloud infrastructure services.  

As an IT professional, there is a constant need to expand your skills and knowledge to gain a competitive edge. One of the best ways to achieve this is by gaining hands-on experience and earning relevant certifications that can help you advance your IT career. 

Considering there are a plethora of certifications, it is important to focus on the ones that could potentially set you up for success in your career.  

In this article, I will compare two of CompTIA’s infrastructure-related certifications; the CompTIA Cloud+ and Server+. Keep reading to find out more about these certifications. 

What Is CompTIA and Why Should You Get Certified? 

The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) is a tech association and non-profit organization that issues professional certifications for the IT industry. CompTIA has issued more than 2 million certifications globally since it was founded in 1993, and it boasts some of the most recognized vendor-neutral certification programs in the IT industry. 

What is CompTIA Cloud+? 

CompTIA Cloud+ is an intermediate-level cloud computing certification that focuses on cloud computing technology management and protection in a vendor-neutral environment.  

This global certification covers the cloud sector’s current technologies and provides the basic knowledge needed to monitor, protect, and analyze cloud resources.  

CompTIA Cloud+ validates your expertise in disaster recovery, application of virtualization, testing and troubleshooting, cloud migration, and host and network security.  

Besides its operational aspects, this certification also covers the business aspects that run on the cloud. CompTIA Cloud+ is recognized by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and it is compliant with ISO 17024 standards. CompTIA’s Cloud+ certification is also approved by the U.S Department of Defence. CompTIA Cloud+ is valid for 3 years, after which you would need to renew the certification. 

Currently, if you want to acquire the CompTIA Cloud+ certification you have to write a single exam which is the CV0-003. The new CompTIA Cloud+ (CV0-003) exam emphasizes cloud security and high availability. The exam aims to test your expertise in deploying cloud solutions and integrating cloud-based technology solutions into systems operations, and your understanding of cloud markets and technologies. The CV0-003 exam, which is the latest version, costs about $338 US dollars. 

CompTIA Cloud+ (CV0-003) covers the following technical areas: 

• Deployment (23%) 
• Cloud Architecture and Design (13%)  
• Troubleshooting (22%) 
• Operations and Support (22%), and 
• Security (20%) 

CompTIA Cloud+ Prerequisites 

CompTIA Cloud+ is geared towards experienced IT professionals who are familiar with private or public cloud Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) platforms.  

If you want to take the Cloud+ exam you should ideally have at least 2 years of work experience in networking or systems administration. Also, CompTIA encourages aspiring Cloud+ candidates to acquire the Network+ and/or Server+ certification or equivalent knowledge before taking the CV0-003 exam. In addition to hypervisor and server virtualization, CompTIA Cloud+ requires knowledge of IT service management and cloud service models. 

Who Should Get CompTIA Cloud+? 

CompTIA Cloud+ is suited for IT professionals implementing and maintaining cloud technologies or cloud computing environments. However, if you are about to start your career in cloud computing, you can also take a shot at CompTIA Cloud+.  

The certification is also recommended if you currently hold any of the following roles and would like to advance your career: 

• Cloud Engineer 
• Cloud Consultant 
• Sr. Systems Administrator, and 
• Systems Engineer 

What is CompTIA Server+? 

Server+ is another CompTIA infrastructure certification. Although not as popular as other CompTIA certifications, Server+ is still a valuable addition to your portfolio if you plan to work in systems administration. 

CompTIA Server+ proves that you have the skills required to install, support, and troubleshoot servers in a data center and a hybrid environment.  

Server+ is vendor-neutral, which means you can apply your skills in any cloud environment irrespective of the platform. The exam centers on multi-vendor products and implementations. The Server+ (SK0-005) exam costs about $338 and the certification is good for life. 

CompTIA Server+ (SK0-005) covers the following technical areas: 

• Server Administration (30%) 
• Troubleshooting (28%) 
• Security and Disaster Recovery (24%)  
• Server Hardware Installation and Management (18%)  

CompTIA Server+ Prerequisites 

If you are interested in taking the Server+ exam, CompTIA recommends first getting the A+ certification (or equivalent knowledge) and at least 2 years of hands-on experience in a server environment. Although not a prerequisite, the CompTIA A+ certification can provide a solid foundation for many of the concepts that will be fleshed out in the Server+ exam.  

Who Should Get CompTIA Server+? 

CompTIA Server+ is recommended if you’re at the early stage of your career and aim to work in systems administration. Additionally, if you are an IT professional with one of the following, or related, job titles, who are interested in adding a new certification to your credentials, you will benefit from taking the Server+ exam.  

• Server Administrator 
• Data Center Technician, and 
• Systems Administrator 

CompTIA Cloud+ or CompTIA Server+…Which is Best for You? 

As with most infrastructure certification exams, prerequisites are an important factor. CompTIA Cloud+ and Server+ have different prerequisites. This means your choice is limited to the certification in which you tick all the boxes. However, in a situation where you meet both exams’ requirements, consider the following before making your decision. 

How Much Can You Earn with the Cloud+ and Server+ Certifications? 

Currently, the cloud computing industry is among the leading fields in IT that offer high salaries. This sector is also expected to grow immensely in the future.  

IT professionals with the Server+ certification earn an average salary of $82,000 US dollars per annum according to Global Knowledge. Cloud+ holders on the other hand can earn up to $99,071 per annum according to Global Knowledge. So, having Cloud+ and/or Server+ certifications can get you paid! 

If you already work with cloud technologies, Cloud+ is a nice addition to your credentials. Many experts consider it to be a nice-to-have but not important if you already have cloud experience. However, if you are seeking cloud related jobs or planning to make a transition, Cloud+ will be the foundational piece you need to make your way into the cloud computing industry.  

Server+, on the other hand, is more or less generic and can be useful in both infrastructure and cybersecurity careers. If you are looking to land an infrastructure job in IT, you might want to consider the Server+. 

How Long Does It Take to Study for Cloud+ and Server+? 

When it comes to earning IT certifications if, there are no shortcuts. You will need to invest your time if you plan to get certified as quickly as possible. The amount of time required to earn these certifications depends on your learning methods and level of experience.

Typically, it will take about 3 months or more to prepare for the Cloud+ exam if you are a beginner with no prior experience in cloud or system administration. Experienced IT professionals may need considerably less time as they are already familiar with some concepts of cloud technologies.

Since the CompTIA Server+ exam does not comprise performance-based questions, you will find it easier to prepare for the exam. If you have no prior experience or related certifications you will need at least 6-8 weeks of study to prepare for the Server+ exam adequately. Experienced IT professionals with prior knowledge of networking, hardware, and server support may need as little as 2 to 3 weeks to prepare for the Server + exam. The same applies if you have already passed the CompTIA A+ exam.

In Conclusion 

As more companies come to discover the immense benefits of migrating their data to the cloud, certifications such as CompTIA Server+ and Cloud+ will become more and more valuable.  

These two certifications are highly regarded by many employers and recognized by leading institutions. Unlike vendor-specific certifications, both Cloud+ and Server+ are vendor-neutral, making your skills more valuable to a host of different companies. 

Bear in mind that you will have to renew your Cloud+ every 3 years to keep your skills up to date. It is particularly important as cloud technology is ever-evolving.

Both Cloud+ and Server+ can set you on a great career path in IT especially when you combine them strategically with other CompTIA certifications. No matter what certification you choose, I strongly recommend that you also acquire vendor-specific certifications as you advance in your career. This should help you attain the required balance when stacking the certifications you need to boost your career prospects.