Data Specialists are tasked with overseeing the development of new databases, monitoring database performance and interpreting raw data and turning it into usable feedback and applications. A Data Specialist knows what all the numbers and patterns mean and can communicate the findings in layman’s terms.

In addition to drawing meaning from raw data, these individuals are also charged with collecting and cleaning up the data ensuring that the information is accurate and without error. Some Database Administrators specialize in specific systems or applications.

Making sure confidential information is secure and available to those who need it is a top priority of Data Specialists.

Data-related jobs are projected to be among the fastest-growing occupations through the balance of this decade, with some positions, such as data scientists, expected to grow up to five times faster than other occupations.

But the need for core data skills extends beyond data-specific job roles. Employers listed over 1 million job postings over the past 12 months seeking candidates with skills in data analysis, data mining or data visualization.

CompTIA Data+ can help you develop and refine these skills and prove you have the hands-on experience employers are looking for.

Data analytics helps people make sense of raw data. Companies use data to improve their internal operations and to better understand their customers. Typically, this is done in three stages.

The three stages of data use include:

1. Collect and store: Customer transactions, social media streams, M2M sensors and business activity
2. Process and organize: Calculate, transform, process, protect and augment
3. Analyze and visualize: Dashboards, reports, predictive analytics and ad-hoc queries

Let’s take a look at how each stage works and how each one feeds into the larger umbrella we call data analytics.

Data Infrastructure

The individuals responsible for building a data infrastructure are the people designing, building and maintaining the technology needed to collect and store data. This is the first stage and requires the skills of storage engineers, business intelligence (BI) developers, data warehouse analysts, network administrators, server administrators and data architects.

Data Management and Processing

Once the data is collected and securely stored, companies need qualified IT pros to design and maintain how the flow of data is then processed and organized within the organization. Database administrators, systems analysts, developers, and data architects and engineers are some of the job titles that fit the bill.

Data Interpretation and Visualization

The final stage of data use is interpretating it for actionable insights and decision making. This advanced stage requires advanced analytics. For example, data scientists use sophisticated data modeling techniques to build new datasets. Roles like business analyst and data analyst also work in this stage.

One part of the data use process doesn’t exist without the other. When these stages come together, a comprehensive data analytics program benefits the entire organization, from marketing campaigns and sales goals to research, development and finance.

Simply put, organizations have been collecting data for quite some time. But poor data management or insufficient data analysis is impacting the bottom line. Most companies have data silos in every department, limiting the ability to build a holistic view of corporate data. Moreover, new data sources – like social media and smart devices – necessitate a more efficient structure and analytics process.

Data is a critical resource that needs to be handled properly. A solid understanding of the data function, techniques and tools provides the context for building a comprehensive big data analytics strategy.

CompTIA Data+ is an early-career data analytics certification for professionals tasked with developing and promoting data-driven business decision-making. That means that you can make yourself more employable by learning how to better analyze and interpret data, communicate insights and demonstrate competency. CompTIA Data+ validates certified professionals have the skills required to facilitate data-driven business decisions, including:

• Mining data
• Manipulating data
• Visualizing and reporting data
• Applying basic statistical methods
• Analyzing complex datasets while adhering to governance and quality standards throughout the entire data life cycle

You can expect performance-based and multiple-choice questions across five domains:

• Data Concepts and Environments (15%)
• Data Mining (25%)
• Data Analysis (23%)
• Visualization (23%)
• Data Governance, Quality and Controls (14%)

These domains relate back to job roles that are tasked with developing and promoting data-driven business decision-making.

For example, your organization collects all sorts of data, but is it easy to parse through that data, analyze the data and make sense of it? This is where data visualization comes into play. Telling the story of your data and getting stakeholders to understand is a valuable skill that employers want.

As the importance of data analytics grows, more job roles are required to set context and better communicate vital business intelligence. Collecting, analyzing and reporting on data can drive priorities and lead business decision-making. The following data and analytics primary job roles align with CompTIA Data+:

• Data analyst
• Clinical analyst
• Reporting analyst
• Marketing analyst
• Business data analyst
• Operations analyst
• Business intelligence analyst

CompTIA Data+ is an ideal certification for not only data-specific careers, but also other career paths that benefit from analytics processes and data analytics knowledge. Jobs like marketing specialists, financial analysts, human resource analysts or clinical health care analysts can optimize performance and make well-informed decisions when they use and evaluate data correctly.

CompTIA Data+ is the only data analyst certification that covers baseline data analytics skills, assesses hands-on abilities and is vendor neutral and tool agnostic.

Vendor-neutral certifications provide analyst skills needed to perform various job roles regardless of the specific programs and tools being used. Compare this to vendor-specific certifications, which equip you to work with just one platform (such as SAS, Tableau or Microsoft). There are also certifications that dive deeper, such as big data and business analytics that can be pursued after receiving CompTIA Data+.