CMP Media's CRN Releases 2003 Certification Study ResultsSecurity, Databases, and Networking Are the Most Important Certifications; Certifications Play a Key Role When Businesses Hire Solution ProvidersPRNewswire CMP Media's CRN, vital information for VARs and technology integrators, today announced the results of the 2003 CRN Certification Study. The CRN Certification Study, now in its third year, is designed to guide Solution Providers in their certification investment decisions and provide to voice the channel's concerns about certification issues. "Certifications continue to play a key role in the Solution Provider business model," said John Roberts, director of editorial research, CRN. "New technologies are constantly appearing on the scene, and VARs are placing their bets as to which of these offer the best chance for higher revenue and profits. As a result, the certifications that are most important to VARs have changed significantly compared to last year." Software categories dominate the list of most important certifications, particularly in the areas of security and databases. Networking related certifications are also prominent. Vendors such as Symantec, Check Point, and Microsoft have seen their certifications increasing in importance to VARs over the past year. Solution Providers are also seeing a significant rate of return on their investment in certified technicians, with certifications from Microsoft and Check Point offering some of the highest return on investment for Solution Providers. VARs have clear preferences when it comes the way vendors deliver certification training. For initial certification training, traditional classroom methods are cited by the highest percentage of both large and small Solution Providers. When updating certifications, in contrast, self-paced programs are preferred. CRN also interviewed 300 business IT executives for their views on certification. Three-quarters of those surveyed said they specifically require, as part of the request for proposal, certified technicians to work on IT projects. Nearly a third put this requirement in every proposal, while another 44 percent said they do it some of the time depending on the type of project. Experience also figures in prominently. Fifty-eight percent of the executives surveyed said experience was definitely more important than certification when it comes to the technicians working on their IT projects. Another 38 percent said experience was equally as important as certification. "While experience is at least as important as certification for most businesses, the latter still plays an important role, assuring business executives that the personnel they hire to work on their IT projects have a core set of competencies in the areas in which they are working," added Roberts. To read the complete CRN Certification Study, go to www.crn.com/research. About CRN CRN provides Solution Providers and Technology Integrators with the crucial information and analysis they need to run their businesses successfully. As an advocate for and voice of the Channel Solution Providers turn to CRN first for immediate information. With more than 20 years of experience, CRN is the most trusted source for 117,500 channel professionals. CRN can be found on the Web at www.crn.com. About CMP Media LLC CMP Media LLC (www.cmp.com) is a leading integrated media company providing essential information and marketing services to the entire technology spectrum -- the builders, sellers and users of technology worldwide. Capitalizing on its editorial strength, CMP is uniquely positioned to offer marketers comprehensive, integrated media solutions tailored to meet their individual needs. Its diverse products and services include newspapers, magazines, Internet products, research, direct marketing services, education and training, trade shows and conferences, custom publishing, testing and consulting. Nanci Oehrlein of CRN, +1-516-562-5858, or noehrlei@cmp.com SOURCE: CMP Media LLC CONTACT: Nanci Oehrlein of CRN, +1-516-562-5858, or noehrlei@cmp.com |