If we take all the IT sectors dominating the modern world stage, this area is one of the biggest and most encompassing. Typically, some degree of specialisation is needed, as to cover every component could take too many years of training. Both Microsoft & Cisco create systems for this market place. The software side of Networks is Microsoft's department, & the hardware side (routers, controllers & data-switches and so on.) is where Cisco primarily work. It's become financially and economically essential for MS and Cisco to move into Security over the last several years. Equally within this field we're finding the significant growth of wireless-networking. Although Computer-Forensics and 'Ethical Hacking' have feet in all of these sectors, they're also professions in their own right, and demand considerable training and real-life experience to be entirely effective.

Industry-acknowledged certifications can be acquired from both the vendors themselves & vendor neutral organisations. Several well-respected independents are today offering progressively more pertinent and important qualifications. The understanding of network interface connectivity between & within networks is becoming increasingly more important. Networking is in actual fact going through some major paradigm-shifts at the moment; both in terms of processing & in the storage of data, with 'cloud' computing coming to the fore and 'green I.T.' getting to be increasingly relevant. From the financial perspective, 'greener' technology must be designed to be a lot more cost-effective, as well as being less harmful towards the environment. The actual processing-power within more technologically advanced computer systems is lower, which means there's less heat to be cooled down. Corporations with large computer networks can reduce their fuel expenditure substantially with greener and much more efficient PC's.

CompTIA (the Computing Technology Industry Association) is a worldwide concern that right now supplies a number of the most respected vendor-neutral certification paths out there. Various other institutions also provide worthy certifications, like CWNP (Certified Wireless Network Professional) and 'ISC2' ('International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium'). Needless to say, there is a comprehensive gamut of certification tracks from Microsoft and Cisco. The options might be somewhat overwhelming, and so we advise you to go cautiously & talk through all of your options with an expert who knows the procedure well. You might save yourself a lot of money & time, not to mention aggravation and discouragement.

If you're especially focused on Messaging or Security, then Microsoft have speciality MCSE's available to target these areas. It may be the 'CompTIA' Security+ is right for you, so you can move on to the 'CISSP' - Certified Information Systems Security Professional. 'CISSP' candidates have to have considerable professional work experience, therefore make sure you investigate this well. Our advice is always to have an educated discussion prior to beginning any kind of new career-training.

A rudimentary knowledge of networks is a great first-base for anybody coming into the IT industry. You need to understand just how PC's operate and connect with each other before you can do anything else. As long as you have got effective user skills, you'll find programs such as 'CompTIA's A+' & Network+ will give you an ideal grounding to start your career path. Examples of these are covered under the CompTIA section of this site.

Moving on you'll either follow the Microsoft MCSE or MCSA path if you are focused on software, or the 'Cisco' 'CCNA' or 'CCNP' track if you're considering hardware. However, a good understanding of Microsoft's operating-systems is highly important as they are such an important aspect of most networking-environments. You can get more qualification information on this site from the dedicated MS & Cisco pages.

Of course you might want to enhance your Wi-Fi ('wireless') skillsets by taking qualifications such as the CWNA and CWNP, or carry on down the 'CompTIA' route with Linux+, Server+ or Security+ .

You've probably noticed that Digital or Computer Forensics is a frequently used expression that has been popularised by TV shows such as "CSI". The actual reality of Digital forensics is much less glamorised than the portrayal in these types of programmes (of course!) However for many people, it offers a very intriguing and satisfying career within technology based exploration. The theory being to gather & analyse digital-footprints, to deliver evidence in either a criminal or a civil legal case.

In a comparable arena to Computer Forensics & I.T. Security comes Ethical-Hacking - another reasonably new discipline to regulate crime. Experienced IT professionals can study the principles of criminal hacking for legitimate ethical security reasons. The EC-Council delivers medium to advanced level qualifications, entitled the CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker) & the 'CHFI' (Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator).

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