The NetApp certification framework includes various certifications at different levels and on multiple tracks. The certification levels have Associated, Professional, Specialist, and Expert, and these can be pursued along three tracks, the Data Track, Hybrid Cloud Track, and Converged Infrastructure Track. If you want to scale your infrastructure, you need to get off local storage and employ some SAN or NAS equipment in your rack. It is become a necessity in the data center, especially with technologies like VMware taking off. There utilized to be a couple of hundred gigabytes in our data center, the data that we collect now demands hundreds of terabytes. For an excellent entry-level certification on storage, the NetApp Certified Data Administrator - ONTAP (NCDA) NS0-163 certification is at the top of the list.
There are other storage-centric certifications out there, but the NCDA is an excellent place to start. There are no prerequisites to obtain the NCDA, and you are not required to recertify every three years like other certs. Passing the NCDA exam indicates that you have a firm knowledge of NetApp's storage systems.
A great way to start the NetApp Certified Data Administrator - ONTAP (NCDA ONTAP) preparation is to begin by properly appreciating the role that syllabus and study guide play in the NetApp NS0-163 certification exam. This study guide is an instrument to get you on the same page with NetApp and understand the nature of the NetApp NCDA exam.