TrainACE - IT and Cybersecurity Training Blog

Career paths are not always as straightforward as they seem. There are going to be those people fortunate enough to find what they're looking for in their first job and build a career from that point. For many though, the process of learning and self-discovery takes much longer and sends them down paths they never anticipated or allows them to find passion through different means than they had pictured. This is very accurate in the mysterious world of information technology (IT).

Just because you graduated college as a history major doesn't mean you can't pursue a career in IT, right?  If you want career change, and IT looks attractive to you, follow this infographic for some direction! Then for more helpful tips on breaking into IT check out our Getting Started in IT guide

Are you feeling stuck in your current job and considering a career change? If you've thought getting in an IT career but are having some doubts, it's normal to be apprehensive. But don't let your doubts stand between you and your dreams! 

To help you understand how you how to succeed in information technology, TrainACE connected with a couple of our students from different backgrounds to show that success comes in many ways.

Learn about their challenges and how they were able to succeed in their IT careers through training and commitment. If they can do it, so can you!

(**Updated in April, 2023)

It's becoming increasingly evident that the internet is playing an ever-growing role in our lives, from grocery purchases to healthcare advice. The COVID-19 pandemic has only accelerated this transition. At the same time, the volume and sophistication of cyber-attacks have also increased, with cybercriminals taking advantage of increased vulnerabilities due to most of us working from home on less-than-ideally-secured networks. So, as an IT professional, what can you do to positively impact an increasingly insecure world while improving your financial standing?

In the fairly recent past, the places that information technology (IT) professionals could find careers were limited to security firms, government agencies, and the occasional jobs in mainstream organizations. Today though, as technology continues to advance, the need for cybersecurity professionals keeps growing to keep up. However, there is a huge shortage of security professionals to fulfill the need.

Today, end users having very different expectations of their IT departments than they did in the past. Large developments in networking capacity, media streaming, data processing, and the Internet have accounted for very different preferences.

These days there are many college students who graduate with a degree in a field where finding an actual job to start a career just doesn’t happen – at least not right away. Whether you are in that position or you’re a student still looking for the right career choice, cybersecurity should be on your shortlist. It’s a field that is ripe with opportunity and growth. It’s also one that offers above average salaries.

The Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certification is an important credential for IT professionals to have because it’s the first step to pursuing other, more advanced Cisco certifications. It will provide you with the foundational understanding of core technology concepts, and it looks great on a resume. But those are not the only reasons you should consider getting a CCNA certification – there are many others. Here are five of the best.

(**updated in March 2022)

Information technology professionals are in demand. It's one of the few industries where there are more jobs available than candidates to fill them. Working in IT is especially rewarding, with exciting roles and potentially lucrative salaries. With technology constantly evolving, IT roles suit candidates willing to learn and stay up to date with technological advances, proving their knowledge with appropriate certifications.

So, how do you get started in an IT career? In this article, we'll break down the five best entry-level IT jobs in Maryland, their certification requirements, and how much you can expect to make from them.

If you are thinking about a career in the information technology (IT) industry, the quickest way to get your foot in the door with an entry-level job is by earning IT certifications. But there are so many different certifications out there, it’s hard to know which ones to start with. You don’t have to wonder anymore. To help you know where to begin, we’ve put together a list of the first five IT certifications newcomers should work to earn.

Nowadays organizations experience malware attacks, system intrusions, DDOS attacks and countless other threats coming at them from every corner of the web. This is an ongoing assault that has profoundly transformed how organizations need to approach cybersecurity.

The rapid increase in volume and the growing intricacy of threats means that if organizations want to stay secure they need look at the responsibility in a different way. The way to do this is with understanding the data and well-trained and perceptive employees who know what they’re looking at, interpret it correctly and apply it properly.

As you advance your IT career, there are certain certifications that will give you higher earning potential. The cybersecurity field is in need of qualified IT security professionals – there are more jobs than candidates for them right now. And the demand continues to grow as cyber criminals get smarter and bolder. With so many IT cybersecurity certifications available, it’s hard to know which ones are going to help you earn a better living than others. Help combat cyber criminals and earn a healthy salary at the same time with the certifications that top our list.

Rising to the surface in a sea of cybersecurity hiring candidates demands more than mere skill. Employers demand stronger assurances, and the best guarantees of employee talent come in the form of certifications.

Choosing between obtaining Certified Ethical Hacker and Offensive Security Certified Professional credentials may seem difficult to the uninitiated. Here's some vital clarification on which certs will help you outswim your professional peers.