This subject is among the largest and most all encompassing areas in the field of I.T. With so many advanced skill-sets to learn, some specialisation is really the only practical option. The key systems players in this marketplace are Microsoft and Cisco. The actual software program side of networking is MS's department, and the hard-ware side (routers, controllers & data-switches and so on.) is where Cisco primarily work. Security has grown to be a huge concern recently, which has forced each of the vendors to get into the market in a huge way. Equally within this field we're finding the substantial growth of wireless-networking. Even though Computer Forensics and Ethical-Hacking have fingers in all these sectors, they're also disciplines by themselves, and need considerable instruction and real-life experience to be completely effective.

Accreditations in this field are not limited just Cisco and Microsoft alone. In fact, a number of well respected bodies are important participants now where certification is involved. The essential knowledge of network-interface-connectivity between and within networks is becoming increasingly important. We're seeing a significant paradigm shift in networking technology at this moment, both in processing terms and in data-storage, with internet based computing gaining momentum and 'green I.T.' starting to be more and more relevant. From the financial viewpoint, greener engineering must be designed to be much more cost effective, in addition to being less harmful to the planet. The actual processing power in more technologically advanced computers is lower, which means much less heat to cool down. Businesses with significant networks of computers can lower their energy costs significantly with 'greener' & more efficient computer systems.

A number of the best industry-acknowledged accreditations now come from the vendor-neutral Computing Technology Industry Association ('CompTIA'). Various other establishments also supply worthwhile certifications, like CWNP ('Certified Wireless Network Professional') & ISC2 ('International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium'). Most conspicuously however are Cisco and Microsoft themselves, each providing their own certification paths. With so many training and career options available in this field, it is a good idea to get more in-depth help and advice from an experienced industry expert before choosing your particular route. Without any individually tailored help you could head-off in the wrong-direction & squander a lot of time or money.

If you're looking to build a career in I.T., begin by picking up some networking know-how. Nothing else will make sense until you have an understanding of how PC's run & connect to one another. Assuming at least a basic level of computer user-skills, (see the general Computer Training pages if not,) the recommended starting-point is nearly always the CompTIA A+ and Network+ . Details of these certifications are featured on the 'CompTIA' area of this web site.

Moving forward you can choose to follow the Microsoft 'MCSA' or 'MCSE' path if you are interested in 'software', or the 'Cisco' 'CCNA' or 'CCNP' path if you are interested in hardware. That said, Microsoft has a high infiltration within most network-environments, and so an in depth knowledge of their 'software' is actually very useful whatever your specialisation. For more details, you will come across details about each certification on the Cisco and Microsoft pages of the site.

On the other hand, you might choose to keep going on the 'ventor-neutral' path with more CompTIA accreditation (e.g. Linux+ , Server+ & Security+ ) or even try your hand at the wire-less (Wi-Fi) area of things by taking the 'CWNP'/'CWNA'.

CompTIA A Plus Certification Training >>