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Ever since its founding in 2003, the importance of Splunk has been growing. However, it was the onset of big data that made Splunk more popular in the industry. Splunk is a software used for the search, analysis, and visualization of machine-generated data. With the increasing demand for experts and professionals, it has become the need of the hour.
With the usage of Splunk increasing everywhere, professionals with this skill are also in high demand. If you are a beginner deciding on a career path or a professional looking for a change, becoming a Splunk professional might just be the perfect choice for you. The following blog throws light on the detailing of this software. In this blog, you will find the answers to certain questions that will help you understand the subject well.
Splunk describes splunking as the “exploration of information caves and the mining of data.” It is similar to spelunking which refers to exploring caves as a hobby. The Splunk platform turns data into action by removing the barriers between them. It also helps IT teams in securing their organizations.
If you are wondering why Splunk is widely used, here are some reasons that may convince you.
● It monitors and indexes big data from various sources.
● It searches big data easily and helps in visualization and developing reports.
● It is beneficial in all aspects of a business, from data pipelines to cybersecurity and business management.
Splunk offers many tools, but these three tools are the most popular: Splunk Enterprise, Splunk Light, and Splunk Cloud.
● Splunk Enterprise helps you analyze data to find valuable insights. It is primarily used by large enterprises.
● Splunk Cloud is for analyzing, searching, and visualizing data in a cloud environment.
● Splunk Light is a free version with limited capabilities. You can still search and report your data through it but it has limited features compared to other versions.
Related: A Complete Guide for Splunk Certification
Splunk offers innumerable benefits to organizations. Here are some of them.
● It provides enhanced GUI and real-time visibility.
● It offers powerful search analysis along with brilliant visualization capabilities.
● It gives machine-generated data.
● The platform is easy to use.
● Splunk is straightforward to learn due to the availability of various learning resources.
● It allows you to search for specific results.
● You can summarize valuable information with Splunk.
● It is one of the best tools for root cause analysis.
● It helps you make data-backed decisions and monitor various metrics.
One of the best features of Splunk is that it offers so many learning resources that a person can easily enroll themselves and become a Splunk expert.
Splunk uses its own query language called Search Processing Language (SPL), which you have to learn. Becoming a Splunk expert is challenging because of all the hard work and effort required. However, since the resources are widely available, the path is made slightly easier. With resources in your hand, all you need is interest, dedication, and effort. You can become a Splunk expert by getting a Splunk certification.
Splunk offers many certifications on different levels. There are entry-level certifications that help you get familiar with the platform and different concepts. There are advanced-level certifications that help you become an expert in the Splunk platform. Splunk-certified professionals are capable of using the Splunk platform efficiently, searching and analyzing data, creating reports, and dashboards.
But who should get Splunk certified? Is it really worth it? You will find the answers to this question in the next section.
Anyone interested in working with Splunk can get a Splunk certification. If you are one of the following, you can also get Splunk certified.
● Software engineer
● Technical services manager
● Solutions architect
● Systems engineer
● Programming analyst
● Security engineer
● Database expert
● Search analyst
● Database administrator
If you are highly interested in data analytics and have some previous knowledge, you can also go for a Splunk certification.
Why should you get Splunk certified? It's a fair question to ask since you will be spending your time and money on getting the certification. The short answer is, yes. It is absolutely worth the money, time, and effort you will spend.
The longer answer is here. Here are a few reasons that may convince you why you should get Splunk certified.
● The huge demand for Splunk professionals is one of the major reasons why becoming Splunk certified is worth it. There is less competition in the industry due to less number of Splunk professionals available.
● It is a lucrative career path. As long as organizations use big data, Splunk will continue to stay relevant in the industry. With this, Splunk professionals will also receive multiple chances to grow.
● It will help you earn more. Splunk professionals earn a good salary. Having a certification can enable you to negotiate for a better salary as it is proof of your skills and expertise.
● Get your dream job. Between a candidate with no Splunk certification and a candidate with certification, the latter will stand out. Certifications add value to your resume and help you stay ahead of the game while applying for jobs.
● Many job roles require Splunk certifications. Many organizations specifically ask for Splunk-certified professionals while hiring for specific tech roles. Therefore, a person who has the necessary skills but not the certification will not be able to apply.
Convinced with the reasons? Then what are you waiting for? Let us check out the top Splunk certifications and certification-based learning paths.
Here is the Splunk certification path you should follow to become a Splunk expert.
Splunk Core Certified User is a foundational level certification that validates your ability to navigate Splunk software. It validates your skills in performing searches, using fields and lookups, and creating basic reports and dashboards. The certification is perfect for both Splunk Enterprise and Splunk Cloud platforms.
Splunk offers several e-learning courses for this certification, including intro to Splunk, using fields, scheduling reports and alerts, visualizations, working with time, statistical processing, leveraging lookups and sub searches, and intro to knowledge objects.
Level: Entry-level
Prerequisites: None
Duration: 60 minutes
Type of questions: 60 MCQs
Cost: $130 per attempt
Who should take the exam: Suitable for people with no prior knowledge of Splunk. Data analysts and new customers will benefit from this exam.
The Splunk Core Certified Power User validates your skills as a power user in understanding SPL commands, creating knowledge objects and data models, and using field aliases and macros. It also validates your skills to normalize data with the Common Information Model.
The course contains most of the topics discussed in the previous optional certification. It also includes result modification, correlation analysis, data models, and creating field extractions.
Level: Entry-level
Prerequisites: None
Duration: 60 minutes
Type of questions: 65 MCQs
Cost: $130 per attempt
Who should take the exam: Suitable for IT professionals, Splunk enthusiasts, and people looking to change their careers.
This certification helps you expand your skills in complex searching, reporting commands, and developing best practices for creating dashboards. It teaches you to implement advanced knowledge object use cases.
The coursework includes all the topics from Splunk Core Certified Power User certification along with an extra course on search optimization. The certification focuses on using Splunk Cloud.
Level: Intermediate level
Prerequisites: Splunk Core Certified Power User
Duration: 60 minutes
Type of questions: 70 MCQs
Cost: $130 per attempt
Who should take the exam: Suitable for job seekers and future consultants to get Splunk Core Certified Consultant.
The certification is ideal for Splunk Cloud. It helps learners develop skills to manage and configure Splunk cloud. This includes managing data inputs, data management, basic monitoring, and problem isolation. It validates your ability to manage the day-to-day administration of your organization's Splunk Cloud environment.
The coursework includes transitioning to Splunk Cloud and Splunk Cloud administration.
Level: Professional level
Prerequisites: Splunk Core Certified Power User
Duration: 75 minutes
Type of questions: 60 MCQs
Cost: $130 per attempt
Who should take the exam: Suitable for platform administrators, cloud migrators, and people looking to advance their careers.
The Splunk Enterprise Certified Admin validates your expertise in license management, indexers, and search heads, and maintains your organization’s Splunk Enterprise environment. It basically teaches you the daily management of Splunk Enterprise.
The coursework includes Splunk Enterprise data administration and Splunk Enterprise system administration.
Level: Professional level
Prerequisites: Splunk Core Certified Power User
Duration: 60 minutes
Type of questions: 56 MCQs
Cost: $130 per attempt
Who should take the exam: Suitable for platform administrators and enterprise security administrators
This certification helps learners get an in-depth understanding of Splunk deployment methodology. It validates their ability to manage and troubleshoot a standard deployment with search head clustering. Having the certification means you can understand planning, data collection, and sizing deployment best practices.
The coursework includes troubleshooting Splunk enterprise, Splunk enterprise cluster administration, architecting Splunk Enterprise deployments, and a Splunk enterprise deployment practical lab.
Level: Expert level
Prerequisites: Splunk Core Certified Power User and Splunk Enterprise Certified Admin certifications. You should also have knowledge of courses architecting Splunk enterprise deployments, troubleshooting Splunk enterprise, Splunk cluster administration, and Splunk enterprise deployment practical lab.
Duration: 90 minutes
Type of questions: 85 MCQs
Cost: $130 per attempt
Who should take the exam: Suitable for people with no prior knowledge of Splunk. Data analysts and new customers will benefit from this exam.
The Splunk Certified Developer validates your ability to build apps using the Splunk Web Framework. Having the certification means you can use drill-downs, advanced behaviors, visualizations, and plan and package apps.
The coursework includes developing Splunk's REST API, building Splunk apps, and advanced dashboards & visualizations. The certification is ideal for people who want to work with Splunk Enterprise.
Level: Professional
Prerequisites: You must have Splunk Core Certified Power User, Splunk Enterprise Certified Admin, or Splunk Cloud Certified Admin certifications.
Duration: 60 minutes
Type of questions: 50 MCQs
Cost: $130 per attempt
Who should take the exam: Suitable for Splunk platform administrators and app developers.
The Splunk Enterprise Security Certified Admin certification validates your skills in installing, configuring, and managing the Splunk Enterprise Security environment. Having the certification means you have the necessary skills to understand event processing deployment requirements, risk analysis settings, and threat and protocol intelligence.
The coursework for this certification includes administering Splunk Enterprise Security, Splunk Cloud administration, and Splunk Enterprise data administration. The certification is ideal for the Splunk Enterprise Security product
Level: Professional
Prerequisites: None
Duration: 60 minutes
Type of questions: 61 MCQs
Cost: $130 per attempt
Who should take the exam: Suitable for Splunk platform administrators, other platform administrators, and cybersecurity professionals.
Related: Interview Questions and Answers for Splunk certified Professional
This certification teaches learners the process of installing and configuring Splunk IT Service Intelligent and getting familiar with the architecture, deployment, and planning of ITSI. The certification helps you work with ITSI.
The coursework for this certification includes Splunk enterprise data administration, Splunk enterprise system administration, Splunk cloud administration, etc.
Level: Professional
Prerequisites: None
Duration: 60 minutes
Type of questions: 53 MCQs
Cost: $130 per attempt
Who should take the exam: Suitable for Splunk platform administrators, other platform administrators, and IT analysts.
The Splunk Core Certified Consultant certification gives you a thorough understanding of Splunk deployment methodology along with implementation for large Splunk platform installations. This certification validates your expertise in multi-tier Splunk architecture and you will be able to advise others on getting the maximum value out of Splunk.
The coursework includes topics, such as services core implementation and a core consultants lab. There are several prerequisites to enrolling in this certification.
Level: Expert
Prerequisites: You must have Splunk Core Certified Power User, Splunk Core Certified Advanced Power User, Splunk Enterprise Certified Admin, and Splunk Enterprise Certified Architect certifications.
Duration: 120 minutes
Type of questions: 86 MCQs
Cost: $130 per attempt
Who should take the exam: Suitable for Splunk experts, Splunk PS partners, and independent platform consultants.
This certification covers skills like installing, configuring, and using SOAR servers, and understanding complex SOAR solution development. You will also learn how to plan, create, and debug basic SOAR playbooks and integrate SOAR with the Splunk platform. This certification validates your ability to develop various types of SOAR playbooks, including the ones developed with REST API usage.
The available courses include developing SOAR playbooks, implementing advanced SOAR, investigating incidents with Splunk SOAR, and administering Splunk SOAR. The certification is ideal for the Splunk SOAR product.
Level: Professional
Prerequisites: None
Duration: 60 minutes
Type of questions: 45 MCQs
Cost: $130 per attempt
Who should take the exam: Suitable for cybersecurity professionals, SOC analysts, and Splunk enterprise security administrators
The certification is currently in beta testing. It validates your ability to monitor and visualize metrics with the help of the Splunk Observability cloud. You learn how to deploy and configure OpenTelemetry Collector to send in metrics, visualize metrics, find insights using analytics, and set up alerts to monitor real-time development environments.
The coursework includes topics like fundamentals of metrics monitoring in Splunk Observability, Kubernetes monitoring with Splunk Observability cloud, and visualizing and alerting in Splunk infrastructure monitoring, among several other courses. The certification is ideal for Splunk Observability Cloud and Splunk Infrastructure Monitoring.
Level: Foundational
Prerequisites: None
Duration: 120 minutes
Type of questions: 100 MCQs
Cost: $130 per attempt (Free during beta testing)
Who should take the exam: Suitable for developers and architects, observability professionals, and people looking to build a career in Splunk.
Ready to get Splunk certified? Here’s the registration process you must follow while registering for a Splunk certification.
● Sign up at the official Splunk website. Also, create an account with PearsonVUE.
● Pay the registration fee of $130. You can choose to purchase a bulk voucher for five registrations at $500.
● Schedule an exam appointment.
● You can choose to give an online proctored exam or in person at a Pearson Test Center.
Some things you should know before registering for the exam.
● Splunk exams are not open-book.
● You must be over the age of 18 years. If you are between the ages of 13 and 17, then you submit a parental acknowledgment form.
● You can cancel or reschedule your exam within 48 hours of scheduling it.
● All Splunk certifications have three years of validity.
● The first fundamentals course is free.
● While preparing for the exam, it is best to create a study plan and take the courses provided by Splunk.
Splunk is a growing platform. The demand for Splunk professionals is only going to rise in the future, making it a lucrative career path. Getting a Splunk certification is a great way to begin your career in the field. Hopefully, we answered all the questions you had in your mind related to the subject. In the article, we have discussed the Splunk certification path along with other details about Splunk that can help you enter this lucrative field.
Archer Charles has top education industry knowledge with 4 years of experience. Being a passionate blogger also does blogging on the technology niche.
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