This area is among the widest and most all-encompassing areas in the field of IT. Generally, some degree of specialisation is needed, since to learn about every element would probably take too many years of studying. Cisco and Microsoft are essentially the two major companies dominating this particular sector. The actual software side of networking is Microsoft's department, and the hardware side (routers, controllers & switches and so on.) is where Cisco mainly function. It has become financially and economically essential for both MS and Cisco to move into security during the last decade. We also need to take note of the more commercial use of WiFi these days, which is basically wireless connections and hardware. And next we come on to Hacking (legally) and Digital Forensics : both complex & extremely specialist disciplines in their own right, and take a great deal of practical experience and understanding.

Computer (or Digital) Forensics is relatively new on the scene - TV programmes such as 'Crime Scene Investigation' may have familiarised us with the term. The actual reality of Computer Forensics is very much more routine than the portrayal in these types of shows (of course!) Having said that, technological-forensics is providing an intriguing job for a lot of people these days. A Computer Forensics specialist will trace & interpret digital-artefacts which are frequently utilised to resolve criminal offences.

Sitting somewhere between Computer Forensics & Security, is the field of Ethical-Hacking. The 'Certified Ethical Hacker' (CEH) & the Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator('CHFI') are medium to high level qualifications provided by the EC Council.

To a lot of people taking a look at coming into IT as a career, basic networking is the starting-point. Before you understand the way a PC functions & 'communicates' with other PCs, anything more is probably nonsense. Providing you have effective literacy skills, you will find programs that include 'CompTIA's A+' and N+ offers you an ideal grounding to start your career path. These are dealt with within the CompTIA pages of this web-site.

Moving forward you'll choose to go down the Microsoft MCSA or MCSE track if you're considering 'software', or the 'Cisco' CCNA or CCNP track if you are thinking about hardware. Nevertheless, Microsoft has a major domination throughout most network environments, which means an in-depth understanding of their software is actually very useful whatever you specialise in. You will get more qualification information on this web site in the specific MS & 'Cisco' pages.

A different alternative would be to continue with CompTIA certifications like Linux+, Security+ or Server+ and continue being 'vendor-neutral', or perhaps take the 'CWNP' or 'CWNA' & become a specialist in 'wireless' technologies.

MS produce numerous MCSE specialism's, such as in Messaging or Security for all those who have a particular interest. Maybe, the CompTIA Security+ , progressing on to the CISSP ('Certified Information Systems Security Professional') could be appropriate. There are strict experience specifications for the 'CISSP', & these need discussing and understanding prior to deciding to go along this particular track. As usual, we recommend talking with a professional industry advisor in order to avoid any misunderstandings.

Industry recognised certifications can be obtained from the vendors & vendor-neutral companies. A number of well respected neutral organisations are today supplying increasingly more applicable and significant accreditations. An essential knowledge of network-interface connectivity between and within networks is becoming more and more important. There are now a number of seismic changes going on in the world of networking - both in processing terms & in the storage of data, with internet based computing gaining momentum and 'green I.T.' growing to be increasingly relevant. From the financial point of view, greener engineering must be built to be much more cost-effective, in addition to being kinder to the planet. Lower-power processors & computers create much less heat, therefore less cooling is required. Both of these together greatly lower the fuel bill, and so impact upon a corporation's bottom-line -- in particular in data centres and high volume processing areas.

The vendor-neutral international institution 'CompTIA' now delivers perhaps the most familiar and highly-regarded impartial I.T. certifications. There are also many other companies, such as the 'ISC2' (abbreviated from their rather long winded: 'International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium'!) & CWNP ('Certified Wireless Network Professional'). Clearly, there's a whole variety of accreditation tracks from Microsoft & Cisco. The choice may well be somewhat over-whelming, & so we advise you to tread carefully and discuss all your alternatives with an advisor who knows the procedure well. This will likely keep you from getting into an expensive mistake, both in terms of money and time-spent.

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