This area of I.T. is perhaps just about the most sweeping and extensive there is. Generally, some degree of specialisation is required, as to learn about every component would probably take too many years of studying. Cisco & Microsoft are the 2 main corporations dominating this particular sector. The Network and Server software programs are done by MS, while Cisco are mainly responsible for routers and data-switches, i.e. the Network hardware. 'Security' has grown to be a huge problem recently, which has led both businesses to get into the sector in a big way. We also needs to take note of the more professional use of WiFi now, which is basically wireless-connections and hardware. Although Digital-Forensics and Ethical-Hacking have fingers in all these areas, they are also professions in their own right, and call for considerable training & experience to become entirely effective.

MS offer numerous MCSE specialism's, such as in Security or Messaging for trainees who have a specific interest. Quite possibly, the CompTIA Security+ , advancing onto the 'CISSP' (Certified Information Systems Security Professional) could be appropriate. CISSP candidates need to have considerable professional work experience, therefore make sure you investigate this well. Talking things through with our industry specialists will shed more light on everything for you personally.

Digital (or Computer) Forensics is relatively new in this area - Television shows such as CSI-Crime Scene Investigation might have made us aware of it. Clearly though the job in actuality won't be quite so glamorous as the shows would have us think! Nevertheless for many, it provides a highly interesting and satisfying role within technology-based exploration. The process being to gather & evaluate 'digital-footprints', to deliver evidence either in a criminal investigation or a civil enquiry.

In a similar arena to Forensics & IT Security is Ethical-Hacking - another relatively new discipline to regulate crime. The Certified Ethical Hacker ('CEH') & the 'Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator'(CHFI) are mid - advanced level qualifications supplied through the EC-Council.

If you are planning to progress a professional career in I.T., begin by developing a certain amount of networking expertise. Practically nothing else will make sense until you have a grasp of just how computers operate & link to one another. Assuming you possess competent user skills, you will find the CompTIA A+ and 'Network+' programs are perfect to begin with. They're dealt with within the 'CompTIA' pages on this site.

Where you venture next depends largely upon whether you would like to focus on 'hardware' or 'software'. With regard to 'hardware', you are talking about 'Cisco' ('CCNA'/'CCNP'), and for 'software' you will need Microsoft (MCSA or MCSE). Nevertheless, a good understanding of MS's operating-systems is highly beneficial as they're such an important aspect of the majority of networking environments. For more details, you'll find details about each accreditation on the actual 'Cisco' & Microsoft sections of this website.

Alternatively, you may want to remain on the vendor-neutral route with more 'CompTIA' certification (e.g. Linux+, Security+ and Server+ ) or possibly try your hand at the wire-less (Wi-Fi) side of things with the CWNP/CWNA.

CompTIA (the Computing Technology Industry Association) is a world-wide organisation that currently provides a lot of the most reputed vendor-neutral certification tracks out there. In addition there are various other organisations, including the ISC2 (shortened from the somewhat long winded: 'International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium'!) and CWNP ('Certified Wireless Network Professional'). Naturally Microsoft & Cisco offer a complete selection of skilled professional accreditations. The options might be rather over-whelming, and therefore we encourage you to tread carefully & discuss all your options with an advisor who knows the process well. This will stop you from getting into an expensive mistake, both in terms of time and money spent.

You'll find broader options beyond Cisco & Microsoft to become qualified within these sectors. In fact, some well respected associations are very essential players now where certification is concerned. It's now widely accepted that understanding inter connectivity & technological convergence is becoming incredibly fundamental in networking. Networking is actually undergoing some significant paradigm shifts at the moment; thoughts generally are inclined towards greener IT, & both processing-power & data storage are heading towards Cloud computing. 'Green' I.T. doesn't specifically mean 'saving the earth' - it does have elements designed to minimise CO2 impact and so on., but it's also solidly seated in the economic reality of cost reduction. Lower-power processors & computers produce much less heat, so much less cooling is needed. Corporations with substantial computer networks can reduce their energy bills considerably with 'greener' & much more efficient computer systems.

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