The Salesforce job market is booming. According to Salesforce market research, the Salesforce industry is valued at USD 850 million in 2022 and will reach USD 1.95 billion by 2030, registering a CAGR of 11% for the forecast period 2023-2030. This growth has supercharged demand, and the market for Salesforce professionals is booming. So, how do you crack the code and kickstart your Salesforce career? By earning the all-important Salesforce certifications – the key “currency” in the Salesforce job market.
Salesforce provides a range of professional pathways throughout its ecosystem. However, starting your Salesforce journey can be daunting. This article is carefully crafted to guide you in obtaining your first Salesforce certification, starting with the easiest certifications in the Salesforce ecosystem.
Which is the Easiest Salesforce Certification in the Salesforce Ecosystem?
Salesforce’s ‘Associate Credentials’ offer entry-level Credentials. The Salesforce Associate Certification is a beginner-level certification intended for those with less than six months of Salesforce experience. It’s an excellent place to start if you want to learn about and utilize Salesforce. Candidates should also be able to explore Salesforce and possess a basic understanding of its features. As of right now, four associate-level certifications are available.
Salesforce Associate
The Salesforce Associate Certification is intended for users with experience with Salesforce. The exam will test a basic understanding of reporting, user administration, report sharing, customization, and data management. Technical expertise is not essential.
Salesforce AI Associate
The Salesforce AI Associate Certification is intended for individuals with some prior experience with artificial intelligence (AI), regardless of level of expertise. The test validates fundamental abilities in data management for applying AI in CRM.
Salesforce Marketing Associate
Those with a basic understanding of the Salesforce Platform and Salesforce Marketing Cloud Engagement are ideal candidates for the Salesforce Marketing Associate Certification. This certification demonstrates a person’s aptitude for learning about broad marketing principles and the Marketing Cloud.
Salesforce MuleSoft Associate
The Salesforce Certified MuleSoft Associate credential is intended for people who are interested in contributing to MuleSoft projects as knowledgeable team members and who understand the core concepts of application programming interface (API)- led projects. It is best suited for Software developers, software architects, etc., who have knowledge and expertise in coding and APIs.
Key Exam Details of Salesforce Associate Certification
Listed below are some essential information about the Salesforce Associate Certification Exam:
| Parameter | Microsoft Office 365 | Google Workspace |
|---|---|---|
| Collaboration | Microsoft Office 365 advocates a more traditional approach to collaboration, with Office platform features such as co-authoring, track changes, and live presentations. | Google Workspace emphasizes real-time collaboration with in-app chat, commenting, and direct editing |
| Pricing Structure | The editions offered include: - $5 OneDrive for Business Plan 1: 1TB storage. No Microsoft 365 apps included. - $5/$6 Microsoft 365 Business Basic: 1TB storage. Includes mobile and web versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams. Desktop versions not included. - $15 Microsoft 365 Business Standard: 1TB storage. Only plan that includes Teams, Planner, and Yammer – essential for remote teams. Includes all versions of Microsoft 365 apps – web, mobile, and desktop. | Google Workspace pricing options available are: - $6 Business Starter edition with 30GB storage - $12 Business Standard edition with 2TB storage - $18 Business Plus edition with 5TB storage - Customized Pricing for the Enterprise Edition with Unlimited Storage |
| Storage | Microsoft 365 Business plans offer 1TB of OneDrive storage and 50GB of email storage | Google Workspace Business plans include 30GB of Gmail, 100GB of Drive storage, and 1 TB of storage per user for accounts that contain 5 or more users. |
| Productivity Tools | Microsoft 365 Business plans offer 1TB of OneDrive storage and 50GB of email storage | The Google ecosystem is vast with applications for your business and collaboration needs. More importantly, every Google Workspace edition includes apps such as Gmail, Calendar, Meet, Chat, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Forms, Keep, Currents, and Sites. |
| Customization | Microsoft Office 365 has a more fixed user interface with fewer customization options. | Extensive customization support, including custom domain names and themes, custom email templates, and new custom extensions. |
| Ease of Third-Party Integration | Microsoft business accounts cannot be synced with non-Microsoft apps. In particular, accessing Google Drive from a Microsoft account can be cumbersome and involves connecting Google Drive to the OneDrive account | Google has a vibrant ecosystem of third-party apps and services, ranging from media players and photo/video editors to accounting software. This allows users to access high-end tools that they may not be able to find elsewhere, and it's just one of the many reasons why people choose Google. |
| Security | Microsoft 365 too offers advanced threat protection capabilities, including safe links and safe attachments. It includes features such as data loss prevention, eDiscovery, and legal hold capabilities. | Google Workspace utilizes advanced AI to automatically detect and repel threats such as phishing and spam. It also provides data loss prevention for Gmail and Drive, two-step verification, and security key enforcement. Google’s Vault for eDiscovery and archiving also ensures that you can manage and preserve your organization’s data for legal and compliance purposes. |
| Data Recovery | Microsoft 365 provides a 30-day file history and automatically empties the Recycle Bin when the storage limit is reached. Archival methods like e-Discovery and Litigation Hold do not provide simple, unlimited point-in-time recovery and may not be included in all plans. | Google provides a 30-day history of deleted files, with automatic clearing every 30 days. Google Vault, while archival, is not included in all Google Drive plans, and file recovery can be tedious, time-bound, and error-prone. |
Steps to Register for Obtaining the Salesforce Associate Certification
- Step 1: Log in to Webassessor at www.webassessor.com/salesforce and create a profile if needed.
- Step 2: Click “Register for an Exam.”
- Step 3: Find your desired exam and choose onsite or online proctored delivery.
- Step 4: Select a date and time, read the policies, and check the acknowledgment box.
- Step 5: Review details, click “Checkout,” enter payment info, and submit.
- Step 6: Receive payment confirmation via email.
Salesforce Certification with CloudAlly
In this digital age, robust data security is vital for protecting your organization’s sensitive information from breaches, ensuring privacy, and maintaining trust. Safeguard your data to stay resilient and compliant. CloudAlly Academy offers a flagship course, “Principles of Salesforce SaaS Data Protection,” expertly led by Francis Pindar, an 8x Salesforce MVP and Hall of Fame inductee. This course delves into the intricacies of data protection, specifically for Salesforce SaaS environments. With years of industry experience, Francis Pindar provides invaluable insights and practical knowledge to help you navigate the complexities of data security.
Participants will thoroughly understand essential data protection principles and learn best practices to implement robust security measures. You’ll be well-equipped to protect your organization’s valuable data assets in the ever-evolving digital landscape. Unlock the secrets to Salesforce data protection and enhance your data security posture with CloudAlly Academy.
Seize the opportunity in the thriving Salesforce job market. You can propel your career forward by honing your skills and expertise and play a pivotal role in driving customer success and business growth. Start your journey today!
