Quality Assurance for IT Talent
Leading Russian software vendors are introducing unified certification standards for IT professionals.
The Tantor Labs team has launched its own certification program for database administrators working with Tantor Postgres and PostgreSQL. IT professionals can now formally validate their technical expertise through an industry-recognized credential.
Tantor Labs is a technology leader in developing database management systems (DBMS) and database appliances for government organizations and large enterprises. The company began operations in 2016 as an international PostgreSQL consulting center before fully shifting its focus to the Russian market five years later. Since 2022, Tantor Labs has been part of Astra Group, allowing it to strengthen product security through deep integration with Astra Linux. All of its solutions are listed in the Mintsifry (Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media) software registry and provide a reliable domestic alternative for critical IT infrastructure.
From Fundamental Skills to Advanced Architecture
The first certification exams are being administered through the FORS Group training center, which has more than 30 years of hands-on experience training engineers to work with PostgreSQL, Astra Linux, and related technologies. The program is expected to expand later, making certification available through additional authorized training centers. Candidates who pass the exams receive one of two qualification levels. The Professional certification confirms solid command of the core capabilities of the DBMS, with a passing score of 60%. The Expert certification confirms advanced product knowledge and the highest level of database administration expertise, with a passing score of 80%. After successfully completing the exam, each participant receives a personalized certificate issued by Tantor Labs.
New Standards for Assessing Technical Expertise
Growing demand for IT certification reflects broader changes in Russia's software market. Organizations migrating from commercial foreign database platforms such as Oracle and Microsoft SQL Server to PostgreSQL require specialized engineering expertise to manage high-load database clusters. In practice, the challenge has shifted from simply purchasing and installing software to training professionals who can configure, scale, and maintain these environments during day-to-day operations. The new certification program is designed to address the shortage of qualified specialists while giving companies that use Astra Group solutions an objective way to evaluate employees without relying solely on subjective assessments of their skills.
Certification as a Career Accelerator
In recent years, Russian software vendors have been moving beyond standalone training courses toward comprehensive workforce development programs built around their own products. Astra Group, one of Russia's leading developers of software for information security and IT infrastructure management, illustrates this trend. In 2023, the company certified 94 students at RTU MIREA in Astra Linux and the Tantor database management system. By 2024, its network of authorized training centers had expanded to 49 locations across the country. Over the past three years, more than 14,600 people have completed training on Astra Linux, the Tantor DBMS, and the company's other software products, while 4,500 university and college students have earned official certifications.
An important milestone was integrating certification into the Astra-karera (Astra Career) project. Graduates who validate their knowledge can now pursue employment opportunities with companies deploying Russian software. During the 2023-2024 academic year alone, more than 2,000 students joined the program, turning technical training into a practical pathway to employment for young IT professionals while helping address industry demand for qualified personnel. A similar model has been developed by Postgres Professional, Russia's largest contributor to the global open-source development of enterprise PostgreSQL-based database systems. The company has established a multi-level certification framework for database administrators that allows engineers to verify their expertise while giving employers an objective basis for evaluating candidates' qualifications.
Building a Unified Professional Ecosystem
Russian IT certification is also gaining importance internationally as expertise in building sovereign digital infrastructure attracts growing interest across CIS countries and BRICS markets. Astra Group, for example, has certified Astra Linux in Belarus for use by government organizations. In November 2025, the company signed a strategic partnership agreement with the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to support joint development and deployment of innovative software, knowledge transfer, and technical training. The partners will jointly develop electronic document management systems, data storage platforms, and server hardware for Congolese government agencies. Particular emphasis will be placed on workforce development through training programs and internships covering software design, administration, and maintenance, as well as cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and blockchain technologies.
Postgres Professional, meanwhile, works with authorized training centers and corporate partners in Belarus and Kazakhstan, where engineers from the banking and transportation sectors receive training and certification in administering Russian database management systems. As a result, Russian certifications are becoming more than a tool that enables businesses and government agencies to confidently deploy sovereign software. They are also helping establish a shared professional ecosystem with specialists across partner countries.
