This area of IT is perhaps one of the most sweeping and extensive there is. Generally, some level of specialisation is required, as to cover each element would probably take decades of learning. Cisco & Microsoft are the two significant vendors dominating this particular sector. Microsoft create Network and Server software, whilst Cisco focus mainly on the hard-ware end of networking: Routers, data-switches, controllers and so forth. It has become financially and economically essential for both Microsoft and Cisco to get into Security over the last several years. We might also want to note the more professional use of Wi-Fi these days, which is basically wireless connections & hard-ware. And finally, two very important & growing sectors in the security market are Computer Forensics & Ethical-Hacking.

Qualifications within this marketplace are not confined Microsoft & Cisco alone. Indeed, quite a few highly thought of institutions are very significant participants now where accreditation is involved. The need for grasping converging-technologies and inter connectivity in networks has become well appreciated. Networking is actually under-going some major paradigm-shifts at the moment; attitudes in general are leaning toward greener I.T., and both processing power and data-storage are going towards Cloud computing. The development of green IT covers two essential elements - reducing the effect on the planet is 1, but perhaps of equal importance to business is cost. Lower-power processors and computers generate much less heat, therefore much less cooling is needed. Corporations with large networks of computers can bring down their energy costs appreciably with greener and much more efficient PC's.

One of the newest areas in this field is called 'Computer Forensics'. We link 'forensics' with television shows like CSI Miami. Clearly though the work in actuality will not always be quite so stylised as the TV shows might have us think! However for many, it offers a highly intriguing and rewarding career within technology based analysis. The job involves gathering and interpreting digital-footprints to assist with data recovery or legal cases.

Seated between Computer Forensics & Security, comes the developing field of Ethical Hacking. The Certified Ethical Hacker ('CEH') & the 'Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator'(CHFI) are mid to advanced level qualifications supplied through the EC Council.

If you are particularly focused on 'Messaging' or 'Security', then Microsoft have specialist MCSE's available to address these areas. Perhaps, the CompTIA Security+ , moving onto the 'CISSP' ('Certified Information Systems Security Professional') could be suitable. There are rigid 'experience' requirements for the 'CISSP', & these need discussing and understanding before you go down this track. As usual, we recommend a discussion with a professional IT training advisor to prevent any mistakes.

The vendor neutral world-wide association 'CompTIA' now delivers perhaps the most recognised and widely respected impartial IT certifications. Companies such as 'ISC2' offer 'Security' qualifications, and 'CWNP' supply specialist wireless-networking paths. Most prominently of course are Cisco and Microsoft themselves, both providing their own certification tracks. As there are so many training and employment possibilities in this sector, its sensible to get more in depth guidance from an industry advisor prior to selecting your specific track. This will likely keep you from getting into a costly mistake, both in terms of time and money spent.

To many people checking out getting into IT as a profession, basic-networking could be the starting point. Before you understand just how a Computer functions & 'communicates' with other PCs, the rest is nonsense. Presuming a basic level of computer literacy, (read the more general IT Training web-pages if not,) the recommended starting-point is almost always the CompTIA A+ & CompTIA Network+ . We include information regarding these training programs on the pages dedicated to CompTIA.

Where you venture next depends largely upon whether you would like to specialise in 'hardware' or 'software'. With regard to 'hardware', you're looking at 'Cisco' (CCNA/CCNP), and with regard to software you'll need Microsoft ('MCSA'/'MCSE'). Having said that, an in depth knowledge of Microsoft's operating-systems is extremely useful as they are such a key element of the majority of networking environments. Once again, these certifications are featured in depth on their respective pages on this website.

A further alternative would be to carry on with 'CompTIA' accreditations such as Linux+, Server+ or Security+ and remain vendor neutral, or take the CWNP or CWNA and become a specialist in wire-less technologies.

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