On this page, you will find an overview of my achieved IT certifications. Earning certifications in the IT world is essential; they not only demonstrate your knowledge but also your skills. Additionally, they enhance your career opportunities as many companies are constantly looking for people who truly understand their field. When a person acquires multiple and diverse certifications, they deepen their knowledge and can distinguish themselves from others.
Most of my certifications can be found on my Credly profile, a platform that allows professionals to share and validate their learning achievements. Credly uses digital badges, which provide a visual and verifiable representation of skills and accomplishments. I have also obtained certifications through LinkedIn Learning, a platform offering a wide range of courses to develop and refine skills. These certificates are also visible on my LinkedIn profile, along with Credly badges. You can visit my Credly profile at the following link: https://www.credly.com/users/ivar-de-graaf
Diploma MBO 4: Expert IT Systems and Devices
The Diploma MBO 4: Expert IT Systems and Devices is a fully recognized diploma that demonstrates a student has extensive knowledge and skills in ICT. This program forms the foundation for further specialization in advanced courses, such as the Cloud & Infrastructure Technician.
During the program, a broad range of IT skills are developed, including:
- Hardware management: installing, maintaining, and repairing computers and peripherals
- Software and operating systems: configuring Windows and Linux environments
- Network management: basic principles of networking, connectivity, and security
- User support: handling tickets, service desk processes, and SLAs
- Cybersecurity: awareness of information security and digital threats
The diploma provides a solid foundation for further specialization in the IT sector and prepares students for advanced programs, such as the elective Datacenter IT Techniques or other specialized tracks in infrastructure and data center management.
Industry Certificate: Datacenter IT Techniques
The Industry Certificate Datacenter IT Techniques is a recognized certificate issued by the Dutch Datacenter Association (DDA). It confirms that a professional has the knowledge, skills, and practical experience needed to work in the data center industry.
The certificate focuses on the following core areas:
- Infrastructure and hardware: setup, management, and maintenance of racks, servers, and cabling.
- Cooling and power supply: optimal operation of cooling systems, batteries, and backup power.
- Safety and security: physical security, access systems, and operational protocols.
- Operational processes: service desk, remote hands, change management, and managing work orders according to SOPs, MOPs, and EOPs.
To obtain this certificate, a portfolio is compiled that combines practical experience, project work, and additional certifications. For students of the elective Datacenter IT Techniques, this portfolio may include:
- AWS Academy: Data Center Technician and Engineering Operations Technician
- Microsoft Datacenter Academy: Student and Graduate
Obtaining the Industry Certificate Datacenter IT Techniques provides recognition within the sector and increases the chances of a successful career in data centers and IT infrastructure.
Microsoft Datacenter Academy Graduate
The “Datacenter Academy Student” badge, issued by the Microsoft Datacenter Academy Program and awarded via Credly, recognizes that I have completed the official Datacenter Academy student modules at an authorized partner institution successfully.
The badge specifically indicates that I have developed knowledge and practical skills required to handle tickets, monitor, and operate data centers (control room/floor operations) — skills directly applicable to daily data center operations.
The digital credential is verifiable via Credly and usually contains a brief description of the achieved level and competencies, which is useful for showcasing in a portfolio, CV, or LinkedIn profile.
Microsoft Datacenter Academy Student
The “Datacenter Academy Student” badge, issued by the Microsoft Datacenter Academy Program and awarded via Credly, recognizes that I have completed the official Datacenter Academy student modules at an authorized partner institution successfully.
This badge confirms that I have completed the core learning objectives and hands-on lab activities of the Datacenter Academy program. During the course, I gained practical knowledge and skills in areas such as the role and basic principles of data centers, physical infrastructure (racks and cabling), power supply (UPS, batteries), generators, cooling systems, fire protection, monitoring, and basic operational procedures and safety guidelines. The training materials combine theoretical modules with hands-on lab work and operational exercises.
The program is designed as a workforce development track: Microsoft supports partner schools with curriculum, lab equipment, and opportunities for mentoring or local work placements, making the badge not only a demonstration of knowledge but also enhancing practical employability for entry-level data center operations roles. The digital badge is verifiable via Credly and contains a brief description of the competencies achieved.
AWS Academy Engineering Operations Technicians
The AWS Academy Graduate — AWS Academy Engineering Operations Technicians badge, issued by Amazon Web Services Training and Certification via Credly, recognizes that I have successfully completed the AWS Academy course of the same name.
The course consists of 18 modules that together provide a broad, practical foundation for working in data centers. Topics covered include data center fundamentals, physical infrastructure (racks, cabling), basic electrical principles, power supplies and batteries, generators, cooling systems, fire protection, maintenance, availability and reliability, efficiency, operational procedures, safety considerations, and data center regulations.
The course is intended as an introduction to engineering operations roles within data centers and focuses on developing both theoretical knowledge and practical operational skills — precisely the type of curriculum AWS Academy offers to prepare students for technical roles in data center and cloud infrastructure.
AWS Academy Data Center Technician
The ‘AWS Academy Data Center Technician’ badge, issued by AWS Academy via Credly, recognizes that I have successfully completed the AWS Academy course of the same name.
The course is designed to develop students’ technical expertise in data center operations and is a fundamental training requiring basic knowledge of mechanical and electrical concepts.
This badge demonstrates proven knowledge and skills in areas such as computer components, data center operations, hardware fundamentals, network fundamentals, operating system fundamentals, and programming fundamentals — awarded based on completion of the AWS Academy Data Center Technician program.
Network Addressing and Basic Troubleshooting
The ‘Network Addressing and Basic Troubleshooting’ badge, issued by Cisco and obtained through Credly, acknowledges that the recipient has successfully completed the corresponding course. This badge demonstrates that the recipient understands the physical, data link, and network layers and how they work together for end-to-end connectivity. Additionally, the recipient comprehends IPv6 addressing functions, acquisition, and the neighbor discovery process. The recipient has also practiced troubleshooting with up to 13 activities in Cisco Packet Tracer, which is crucial for maintaining a network.
Prepare for the Microsoft Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900) Certification
The LinkedIn Learning course ‘Prepare for the Microsoft Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900) Certification’ is a comprehensive preparation for the AZ-900 exam, designed to help candidates without prior knowledge transition to cloud computing. Led by Kunal D Mehta, participants explore the fundamentals of cloud technology and the core components of Azure. While this course does not provide an official certificate, it is a valuable resource for knowledge and preparation for the official Microsoft AZ-900 exam. Click on the certificate below to go to the official LinkedIn Learning page.
Ethics in Information Security
The ‘Ethics in Information Security’ course helps cybersecurity professionals understand the ethics in their field, including stakeholder expectations and the need for ethical discussions. Instructor Jerod Brennen covers practical situations and research dilemmas such as responsible disclosure and hacktivism, providing practical guidelines for ethical behavior in cybersecurity. Click on the certificate below to go to the official LinkedIn Learning page.
Learning the OWASP Top 10
The ‘Learning the OWASP Top 10’ course on LinkedIn teaches IT security professionals about the top ten security risks for web applications, provided by OWASP. Caroline Wong leads the course, which offers essential knowledge for protecting applications against common security threats. Click on the certificate below to go to the official LinkedIn Learning page.
The Cybersecurity Threat Landscape (2019)
The LinkedIn course “Learning The Cybersecurity Threat Landscape” from 2019, taught by Marc Menninger, provides an in-depth look at common cybersecurity threats such as phishing and ransomware, as well as newer attack vectors such as cryptojacking, cloud-based threats, and unsecured IoT devices. The course emphasizes the importance of protecting organizational data and teaches the best countermeasures to reduce or eliminate the impact of these threats. Click on the certificate below to go to the official LinkedIn Learning page.
**Unfortunately, some certifications could not be added to this page. Recently achieved certifications will be added later to this page. Please visit my LinkedIn profile or my Credly profile for a more up-to-date version of this page**