Of all the I.T. areas ruling the world stage, this field has to be the biggest and most encompassing. It could take far too long to become a specialist in all factors, & so specialisation is vital to some extent. Both Cisco and Microsoft create systems for this market place. The actual software side of Networks is Microsoft's department, & the hardware side (routers, controllers and data-switches and so on.) is where Cisco primarily function. Security has grown to be a big issue in recent years, which has forced each of the businesses to get into the area in a huge way. We might also want to take note of the more commercial use of Wi-Fi these days, which is essentially wireless connections and hardware. And next we come on to Hacking (legally) and Computer Forensics - each of which are complex and highly specialised disciplines in their own right, & take a great deal of experience and knowledge.

'CompTIA' (the Computing Technology Industry Association) is a worldwide company that currently offers many of the most highly regarded vendor-neutral certification paths out there. Additional associations also offer deserving certifications, for example CWNP ('Certified Wireless Network Professional') & ISC2 (International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium). Most conspicuously of course are Cisco & Microsoft themselves, each providing their very own qualification paths. As there are so many training & employment possibilities in this field, it's a good idea to get more in depth guidance from an experienced professional prior to choosing your specific route. Without individually-tailored help you could potentially head-off in a wrong-direction and squander considerable time or money.

You'll find a variety of speciality MCSE's from MS, that cater for areas like Messaging or Security if that's the direction you need. You could possibly decide to opt for Security+ with 'CompTIA', and follow that with the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP). Prior to choosing this path though you have to be aware about the exact level of work experience needed for the 'CISSP'. Discussing your needs with one of our industry specialists will shed more light on everything for you personally.

For a lot of people contemplating getting into I.T. as a career, basic networking could be the starting point. Absolutely nothing else will make any sense until you have a grasp of the way PCs run and connect to each other. Assuming you possess effective user skills, you'll find the CompTIA A+ & 'Network+' programs are excellent to begin with. They're included under the 'CompTIA' section of this site.

Moving on you can choose to follow the Microsoft 'MCSE' or 'MCSA' track if you're keen on software, or the 'Cisco' 'CCNA' or 'CCNP' path if you are thinking about 'hardware'. Nevertheless, Microsoft boasts a high infiltration throughout the majority of network environments, and so an in-depth understanding of their 'software' is actually highly relevant whatever your specialisation. You can find more certification details on this web-site in the dedicated MS & 'Cisco' sections.

However, you may want to carry on down the vendor neutral path with further 'CompTIA' accreditation (for example Security+, Server+ & Linux+ ) or possibly try your hand at the wire-less (Wi-Fi) aspect of things with the CWNP/CWNA.

There are now wider options in addition to Cisco and Microsoft for getting accredited in these disciplines. In actual fact, several well regarded establishments are very significant players now where accreditation is concerned. It is now extensively recognised that knowledge of inter connectivity & technological-convergence is becoming extremely fundamental in networking. Networking is actually under-going some key paradigm shifts right now; notably the movement toward 'cloud' or Internet based computing (regarding data storage, and also processing power), and the mental change towards green I.T.. Green I.T. does not necessarily mean environmentally-friendly - it does of course have many elements designed to reduce CO2 impact etc., but it is also firmly installed in the commercial reality of cost savings. Computers produce less heat (and so require much less cooling) if they have lower-powered processors. Businesses with massive computer networks can reduce their fuel bills appreciably with greener and more efficient PC's.

Computer (or Digital) 'Forensics' is relatively new on the scene - Television shows like 'Crime Scene Investigation' might have brought it to our attention. There may well however be a bit less glamour with the actual workload compared to that executed by the actors on television! And yet, forensic-investigation by means of sophisticated technologies can provide a really satisfying occupation. A Digital Forensics expert will trace and explain digital artefacts which can often be used to solve crimes.

Located in a related arena to Forensics & I.T. Security comes Ethical Hacking - another fairly new discipline to manage criminal activity. The Certified Ethical Hacker ('CEH') & the 'Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator'('CHFI') are medium to high level qualifications supplied by the EC Council.

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