Top 7 advanced tech courses to boost your career

For those of you looking to upskill within tech during your spare time, we’re here to help outline the best advanced tech courses to help you do so. With so many options available and courses coming in a variety of skill levels, picking an online course isn’t always an easy task. 

The advanced tech courses we’re going to discuss are designed to bring value to your career and help you build recognisable skills and certifications from educators like The Open University and Cisco. 

So, let’s get into it!

1. Cisco: Python Programming (OpenEDG) by The Open University & Cisco

First on our list is the advanced microcredential designed to help you master Python programming. Python is one of the most popular programming languages, used across a wide variety of industries – including machine learning and data science, as explored in our article exploring Python’s popularity. 

On this microcredential, you’ll gain a solid understanding of the Python programming language as well as gaining hands-on experience and practical skills. By the end of this advanced tech course, you’ll be able to:

• Describe a comprehensive range of coding technologies, practices, and applications
• Experiment with a coding environment 
• Design a simple coding solution to a given problem 
• Apply a range of practical coding concepts  
• Synthesise a range of practical coding skills. 

What do you need to know before you sign up to this advanced tech course?

• The course duration is 10 weeks
• You’ll gain a certificate of completion from Cisco Networking Academy
• If you pass the course-based assessment with 70% or higher on your first try, you’ll get a 50% discount on the optional OpenEDG Python Institute PCAP examination
• You don’t need any prior experience or qualifications to enrol on this undergraduate microcredential.

2. Cyber Security Operations (Cisco) by The Open University & Cisco

Upskill in cyber security operations and enhance your working knowledge of cyber security on this advanced tech course with Cisco and The Open University. Cybersecurity is a rapidly evolving industry with many opportunities for rewarding, high salary career opportunities. 

On this microcredential, you’ll learn how cyber security professionals respond to cyber threats and develop skills and knowledge to prepare for the Cisco CyberOps Associate Certification exam. By the end of this advanced tech course, you’ll be able to:

• Explain the purpose of different cybersecurity technologies
• Evaluate current, commonplace threats in the context of a cybersecurity investigation
• Evaluate how different security and cryptographic techniques affect a cybersecurity incursion
• Investigate evidence from a cyber security incursion
• Apply legally defensible practices to a cyber security investigation.

What do you need to know before you sign up to this advanced tech course?

• The course duration is 12 weeks
• You’ll get a certificate of completion and digital badge from Cisco Networking Academy
• If you pass the course-based assessment with 70% or higher on your first try, you’ll get a 50% discount on the optional Cisco CyberOps Associate Exam
• All required skills and foundational knowledge are covered within this microcredential, but it’s recommended you have a good understanding of computer technology and technical experience.

3. AWS: Machine Learning Foundations by The Open University & AWS academy

Up next, develop highly sought-after skills to design and deploy machine learning models on the cloud with this advanced microcredential. Machine learning is becoming increasingly important to businesses and in our everyday lives, creating a huge demand for skilled professionals. 

Take advantage of this skills gap and learn how machine learning works by developing industry-recognised skills. From there, you can launch your career in cloud computing. By the end of this advanced tech course, you’ll be able to:

• Describe machine learning 
• Implement a machine learning pipeline using Amazon SageMaker 
• Use managed AWS machine learning services for forecasting, computer vision and natural language processing
• Critically evaluate the limits of machine learning models and their ethical implications.

What do you need to know before you sign up to this advanced tech course?

• The course duration is 10 weeks
• You’ll get a certificate of completion from AWS Academy
• You don’t need prior experience or qualifications to enrol. 

4. AWS: Solutions Architect by The Open University & AWS Academy

This microcredential is designed to equip you with skills needed for the AWS Certified Solutions Architect certification and kickstart your career in cloud computing. You’ll learn how to architect and deploy secure and robust applications on AWS technologies and much more.

Discover best practices and strategies to guide the implementation of cloud services and build a variety of infrastructures via self-paced virtual labs. By the end of this advanced tech course, you’ll be able to:

• Design cloud architectures based on established principles and best practices 
• Configure AWS services to make infrastructure scalable, reliable and highly available 
• Demonstrate how AWS managed services can enable greater flexibility and resilience in a cloud infrastructure 
• Demonstrate how AWS can improve the performance and reduce the cost of a cloud infrastructure 
• Evaluate the AWS Well-Architected Framework to improve cloud architectures.

What do you need to know before you sign up to this advanced tech course?

• The course duration is 10 weeks
• You’ll get a certificate of completion and digital badge from AWS Academy
• If you successfully complete this course, you’ll get a 50% off voucher for the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate exam. 

5. Cisco: CCNA – Introduction to Networks by The Open University & Cisco

Increase your knowledge, skills, and expertise on different networking concepts with this advanced tech course, made to prepare you for a range of different technology routes, including the Cisco Certified Network Associate.

You’ll learn the basics of networking, from network fundamentals and technologies to the principles and structure of IP addressing, ethernet concepts, and network application communications. By the end of this advanced tech course, you’ll be able to:

• Describe the range of network technologies in current use
• Experiment with a practical networking environment
• Design a simple network addressing scheme
• Calculate an address range based on a given scenario
• Apply a range of networking concepts
• Synthesise a range of practical networking technology skills.

What do you need to know before you sign up to this advanced tech course?

• The course duration is 10 weeks
• You’ll get a certificate of completion and digital badge from Cisco Networking Academy 
• By passing the Cisco final course-based assessment in all three microcredentials in this pathway, each with 70% or higher at first attempt, you’ll get a 50% discount on the optional Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) exam.

6. Cisco: DevOps using DevNet by The Open University & Cisco

Gain industry-focused DevOps skills to develop and manage networked systems on this microcredential. DevOps is often sought for career entry as well as personal development by many computing professionals, making it an incredibly useful area to gain skills in.

You’ll build knowledge and experience of using Python to code a range of data formats using code, the DevOps methodology and various microservices deploying applications. This advanced tech course will also prepare you for the Cisco DevNet Associate certification examination. By the end of the course, you’ll be able to:

• Experiment with different coding resources to create a network automation solution  
• Evaluate different coding methodologies to ensure a secure implementation  
• Design a DevNet coding and network automation solution based on a given scenario  
• Justify your design and coding solution based on a given DevNet scenario  
• Produce a DevNet coding and network automation solution based on your design  
• Investigate current secure DevOps practices within a network infrastructure context.

What do you need to know before you sign up to this advanced tech course?

• The course duration is 10 weeks
• You’ll get a certificate of completion and digital badge from Cisco Networking Academy
• By passing the Cisco final course-based assessment with 70% or higher on your first try, you’ll get a significant discount on the optional Cisco DevNet Associate examination
• To study this microcredential, you will ideally have prior coding experience and ability.

7. Supply Chain Cybersecurity by Federation University

Dive into the world of cyber crime and cybersecurity with this advanced tech course, where you’ll develop the skills to recognise threats and respond accordingly to minimise risk and reduce response times. The knowledge you’ll gain on this course can be applied to your employment and daily life to keep you safe against cyber threats. 

Throughout this microcredential, you’ll unpack cybersecurity strategies, learn how to prevent cyber attacks, understand how supply chain data falls victim to cyber threats and more. By the end of this advanced tech course, you’ll be able to:

• Identify cybersecurity threats
• Report cybersecurity threats
• Manage workplace cybersecurity
• Identify and mitigate supply chain risks.

What do you need to know before you sign up to this advanced tech course?

• The course duration is 10 weeks
• Learners should be proficient in basic computer skills.

Final thoughts 

Whether you’re upskilling to secure your first role in tech or you’re looking to enhance your knowledge for success in your current role, these advanced tech courses are a great starting point. 

We hope that this list of our top 7 advanced tech courses helps you plan out the next step in your career. Why not ​​get acquainted with our online microcredentials in our recent article to learn more about how they could add value to your career?