You'd think creating software with Cisco's DevNet would be something reserved for experienced developers. But that's not the case. We took a look at DevNet to see how new and less experienced developers could take advantage of of it.

Hey Lifehacker, I am currently employed at a helpdesk and want to get certification to further my career prospects. I cannot afford the high costs of most TAFE/online courses, and work will not pay for me. Is there a way I can get skills in a cert IV or similar without the huge costs?

We mentioned last week that training company CBT Nuggets was going to introduce a free 7-day trial for its video content. That trial offer has now gone live, offering you options to access content from its IT pro, project management and office tools libraries.

Certification is a necessary evil if you want your IT career to advance. But do you have to spend months on the process? One trainer argues you can complete some certifications in a week.

Amazon has expanded its range of Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud certifications, adding new associate-level options for developers and system administrators.

Certification exams can be both tricky and expensive, so if you're a nervous virtualisation expert-in-training, this could be welcome news. From now until 31 March 2014, VMware will allow anyone who fails a certification exam to take it again, free of charge.

Dear Lifehacker, I'm in a bit of a pickle about where I want my IT career to go. I currently work full-time for an IT company, but I haven't got any certifications or diplomas in anything yet. Would be a good idea to drop down to part time next year and go out and get a diploma in IT or management? Thanks, Confused Worker

Certification is a prerequisite for many IT pro roles. If you've been busy deploying Amazon Web Services, you'll soon be able to certify your skills, with Amazon introducing a range of certification options.