What server cert to go for first

---

I have my A+, I'm about to get my Modern Desktop Associate cert, and I want to go for a server cert but I'm not sure where to start. I've worked with Server 2008 and 2012 a bit. I know my way around AD, DHCP and domain basics but I've never been solely responsible for one. Where should I start:

Windows Server Administration Fundamentals (98-365)
Administering Windows Server 2012 (70-411)
Identity with Windows Server 2016 (70-742)

Or something else? Any advice would be most appreciated.

Thanks

Charles,

I hope all is well. A few things to consider as part of an answer to your question.

There are a "core group" of skills that an I.T. professional needs to have REGARDLESS of what they do, where they do it, and what they may want to do over time as their career progresses. These include:

Networking
Basic Security
Virtualization
Basic Cloud

For each of these core group skills, there are many ways to gain knowledge, and to demonstrate competency for an employer. Certification is certainly one of them, and I would suggest to you that you may want to consider pursuing some certifications in these areas as well, PRIOR to going after a Microsoft Server certification.

The reason that I am suggesting this approach, is that the knowledge/experience that you will gain by doing so will benefit you twofold:

1. Additional certifications
2. Knowledge that will help you be successful when you approach the Microsoft certifications

For example, take the list from above, and lets say that you pursued a certification in each area as I suggest below:

Networking - EITHER Network+ or Cisco CCNA
Basic Security - Security+
Virtualization - Microsoft Azure Fundamentals (Exam AZ-900) https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/learning/azure-fundamentals.aspx
Cloud - Cloud+ or Cloud Security Alliance's CCSK (https://cloudsecurityalliance.org/education/ccsk/)

What you would wind up with would be 4 additional certifications, (assuming that you do not already have any of them, and that you took all 4) AND a fantastic foundation of knowledge that is for the most part vendor neutral, but can be applied to ALL vendor stacks and certifications as you progress further.

From that point, you should then consider focusing on Windows Sever 2016 or Server 2019. At this point, Microsoft has not brought out any Server 2019 certifications and exams, so Server 2016 would be where I would spend time.

A logical path would be to pursue the MCSA: Windows Server 2016 certification, which requires three exams as noted on the following page:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/learning/mcsa-windows-server-2016-certification.aspx#cp-section3-head

Hope that helps to give you some things to think about.

Good Luck !!

Cheers,

Adam

Thank you very much Adam. Network + is defiantly something something I was shooting for eventually. I'm just trying to work out the order of what I want to go for. Much appreciated.