system administrator certifications

5 Best System Administrator Certifications To Choose In 2026

Sanjay Prajapat
December 8th, 2025
7622
10:00 Minutes

Do you want to become a certified system administrator and not sure about which one to choose? Well this is one of the most common confusions among today's professionals in different industries. Certified system administrators are the backbone of companies these days and choosing the best System Administrator Certification is one thing that decides your future in this field.

Don't worry we have got you covered with this comprehensive guide on the top 5 System Administrator Certifications in 2026. It will explain how these credentials can add value to your career, along with the requirements and steps to get one. The question is are you ready to dive. Let's begin!

A Brief Overview To System Administrator Certifications

System administrator certifications are the proof that the holder has relevant IT knowledge and skills. These credentials differentiate candidates from the non-certified individuals. This benefits them in different ways like increasing their earning potential, advancing their career and more. Getting these accreditations also improves the credibility of one's resume.

5 Best System Administrator Certifications in 2026

Let's dive into the best system administrator certifications one can pursue for a brighter future in this field. The top five ones are discussed here along with their associated skills, related certification, preparation tips and why it's a good pick.

1. Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate

Microsoft Azure is a leader among the cloud service platforms. There is a certification called Microsoft certified: Azure Administrator Associate for experts in this field. This credential is designed for IT experts working on cloud services across the latest storage, networking and computing tools. Obtaining this certification demonstrates one is skilled in the Azure environment.

Key Skills Covered

  • Azure Resource Management - It is important to manage the key components of cloud infrastructure. Here you will understand how to manage and provision key components like databases, accounts and virtual machine storage.
  • Governance and Identity Management - Experts of this tool should be able to handle Azure Active Directory. It includes security policies and access control for resources and users.
  • Setting up And Handling Virtual Networks - It is important that your cloud services communicate with each other securely and efficiently. It will be easier after acquiring this skill.
  • Monitoring and Optimizing Resources - Monitoring and optimizing resources is another important skill to have. This credential teaches how to monitor the availability and performance to improve services, and customize alerts to minimize downtime.

Why It's Important

Becoming proficient in Azure could be a great asset as companies continuously move to the cloud. This system administrator certification depicts that holders have the skills required for managing the Azure environment. It is now an integral part of many modern IT infrastructures.

Preparation

Preparing for this accreditation exam requires 6 months of experience in working with Azure. One can then start their learning with Microsoft's learning labs or paths. There are also different types of online instructor-led and self-paced training courses available. These courses give structured learning and guidance from the top industry experts.

Certification Exam

AZ-104: Microsoft Azure Administrator

Explore igmGuru's Microsoft Azure Admin Training to learn with industry experts.

2. Red Hat Certified System Administrator

Red Hat certified system administrator (RHCSA) is the fundamental certificate in Linux administration. These experts are in demand among many enterprises. This means it is the most valuable credential for experts working on Linux systems. This system administrator certification will open new opportunities with interesting salaries for them.

Key Skills Covered

  • Linux Command-line Proficiency - Mastering the command line skills is a must for these experts. They can automate tasks and troubleshoot system issues with this skill.
  • System Maintenance - A proficient expert must know how to maintain a system properly. Acquiring this skill teaches them how to configure, perform and deploy basic management on a Red Hat system. This includes installing software, managing storage and performing administrative services.
  • User & File Administration - User and group administration is another must skill of these experts. They can set permissions for files and network file system administration (NFS) with this skill.
  • System Security - These experts must have the skills for configuring system security firewalls, setting up SELinux policies and securing SSH connections. They can safeguard their systems with this skill.

Why It's Important

Red Hat Linux is the fundamental operating system for many enterprises. They rely on this OS when working on virtualization, cloud and database environments. This credential shows that the holder can handle Linux systems without any problem. They are the backbone for different IT companies.

Preparation

There are many study resources, training and courses that give an in-depth understanding on this operating system. These courses come in different patterns like self-paced, instructor-led, one-on-one etc. One can choose any of these according to their requirements. There are also additional materials available like exam guides and sample papers. You can also use them.

Certification Exam

EX200 Red Hat exam

Explore igmGuru's Red Hat Syatem Admin Training program to accelerate your career growth.

3. ServiceNow Certified System Administrator

The ServiceNow Certified System Administrator certification is for individuals who want to become experts in ServiceNow systems. Obtaining this credential will equip them with the knowledge required for working on and managing this tool. These experts are responsible for designing and developing apps, and providing support to users. This tool is used for different IT business management activities.

Key Skills Covered

  • Implementation and Configuration of Systems - An administrator should know how to implement and configure the systems. It is the most important skill to have.
  • Understanding of UI and Database Structures - The most fundamental skill for these experts is to understand its user interface and database structure. They can not perform efficiently without having this knowledge.
  • Functionalities of ServiceNow Applications - ServiceNow has different types of applications and functionalities. An efficient expert should be proficient in every one of them for better productivity.
  • Development and Scripting Proficiency - It is another skill required to become a certified ServiceNow system administrator. One will be proficient in development and script writing after obtaining this credential.

Why It's Important

The certified experts often get many advantages when finding a job. They are preferred over non-certified individuals and get interesting salary packages. Obtaining this credential is the best way to boost your career and earnings. It also equips candidates with different skills on this platform.

Preparation

One must have at least 6 months of experience in working on ServiceNow before going for this credential. This preparation requires structured learning with proper guidance. One can therefore use resources like courses, training and study materials. These are easily available online.

Certification

ServiceNow Certified System Administrator (CSA)

4. AWS SysOps Admin

The AWS SysOps Admin certification validates skills in handling operative and managerial issues on the AWS platform. It is especially designed for system administrators. These certified experts are responsible for deploying, handling and operating AWS environments. These experts can monitor and maintain AWS workloads, implement security controls, perform business continuity procedures, etc.

Key Skills Covered

  • Deployment and Management of AWS platform - These experts should know how to manage, maintain and develop different AWS services. It is one of the most important skills to have.
  • Monitoring AWS Infrastructure - Learn to implement and establish notification and monitoring solutions with CloudWatch. This skill is a must for maintaining the performance of cloud resources.
  • Networking - Using subnets, VPCs and security groups gives a secure and scalable network environment. Getting certified with this credential trains you to use these practices.
  • Cost Optimization - Cost management is also an important skill to have. Experts with this skill can effectively achieve the best use of resources with minimum expenses. Different services of AWS like AWS Cost Explorer are also important.

Why It's Important

AWS is one of the most used cloud platforms globally. This means AWS SysOps Administrator certification is a valuable credential in many fields and different companies. It trains them to manage cloud operations efficiently. This is an important credential as more and more companies are migrating their systems into cloud environments.

Preparation

It is recommended to have at least one year of experience in working with AWS. There are different paths to prepare for this credential exam including self-paced training, instructor-led courses and hands-on labs. Practice exams are an option to test your skills in this field.

Certification

SOA-C02 - AWS Certified SysOps Administrator

Explore our AWS SysOps training program and become an expert in AWS SysOps.

5. Google Professional Cloud Architect

The Google Professional Cloud Architect Certification proves that the holder has the requisite abilities to perform GCP operations. These operations are designing, building and handling secure and scalable cloud architecture. It is specially designed for individuals working on cloud environments. This is one of the most in demand professions among different companies.

Key Skills Covered

  • Cloud Architecture Design - Learn to design powerful cloud architectures that are capable of meeting business requirements. Experts with this skill are capable of maintaining a secure, scalable and efficient cloud environment.
  • Networking and Security - The curriculum of this credential contains the concepts of Google Cloud networking. It trains candidates on how to use Google Cloud Identity for managing access and identity control.
  • Operational Best Practices - Experts with this skill can give high availability, better resource management and disaster recovery strategies.
  • Cloud Migration - This skill is important for migrating workloads from an existing environment to Google Cloud.

Why It's Important

The popularity of Google Cloud is increasing continuously. Having a certification in this technology is a big deal amongst companies having cloud needs. This means they have enough knowledge to manage GCP infrastructure. They are highly in demand in different industries. This certification can position individuals as an expert in this field with good salaries.

Preparation

Preparing for this credential exam requires a structured learning path. One must first analyze the course content and make a study plan accordingly to clear this exam. They can also use resources like tutorials, training or courses for guided learning.

Certification

Google Professional Cloud Architect

Wrapping Up Top System Administrator Certifications

System administrator certifications are valuable in many areas. These credentials validate the holders' knowledge in a particular field. Obtaining these certificates can facilitate career growth and salaries for individuals. You just have to select the one that is suitable to your current and future career aspirations. The details of most in-demand system administrator certifications is already mentioned in this blog. So, choose wisely to boost your career and earning.

FAQs For Top System Administrator Certifications

Q1. What system administrator certifications should one have?

This depends on their career choice or working profession. There are many system administrator certifications available for different fields. Individuals have to choose the most suitable one.

Q2. Are system admins in high demand?

System admins are definitely in high demand as they are the backbone of a company. They are responsible for managing the entire system of the company.

Q3. What next after gaining system administrator certifications?

You should apply for an administrator job role after successfully acquiring the credential. Just mention it on your resume when applying for a job.

Q4. Does system administrator need coding?

Programming knowledge is not necessary for them. But there are some instances where having this knowledge could be beneficial.

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