From the earliest days of the computer, long before the World Wide Web became a pervasive part of our lives, the role of this new machine was not restricted to government or business applications. The idea of the computer as educational tool was already up for serious discussion in the 1960s, some two decades before the “personal computer” began its conquest of the desktop.
The CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP) certification is intended for professionals with at least ten years of experience in security administration. Five of those years must be hands-on technical experience. The CASP does not require that any previous exams have been passed, but is a higher-level exam than the CompTIA Security+.
After the walls came down on 9/11, the walls went up on computer security. Cybercrime, computer-based terrorism, and nuisance computer hacking have become major problems in a world increasingly dependent on information technology. Computer forensic specialists have trained to uncover evidence of computer tampering not only to point out violations but also to get legal evidence for use in prosecuting criminals.
UPDATED October 2022. As the cybersecurity industry matures, there are increasing opportunities for experienced infosec professionals to move into senior management roles in and around the Washington, DC, region. With the rapid rise in volume and severity of cyber threats, these roles are challenging and bring much responsibility, but they offer technologists an exciting career with lucrative salaries.
CISSP is one of the primary certifications that IT professionals can earn to prove their information security management prowess and take advantage of the opening opportunities in the field. But what is CISSP, and what is the average salary you should expect for a CISSP-related job?
Here's a neat little info-graphic that illustrates what goes on between your computer and the internet. Take a look at all the steps between your PC and the internet you access every day. It may seem like you just plug directly in to the internet and go, but it's a lot more complicated than that, and quite interesting!
In the last few years, businesses have started to transition over to cloud computing solutions that make it possible for them to recover data, and to save money on equipment costs. Because of the convenience that comes with cloud computing, there has been a massive movement in this area, and it is poised to get even bigger in the near future. Tech firms who want to capitalize on this phenomenon need to put an emphasis on learning security measures for the cloud.
Microsoft recently announced its plan to reintroduce the MCSE and MCSA certifications, which address the evolution of technology toward cloud computing. Many IT professionals are already aware of the MCITP certification that resulted from the Microsoft Server 2008 upgrade, but it appears the company tossed the four-year-old certification. With the reintroduction of the old but new MCSE and MCSA certifications, Microsoft also detailed that each one is not necessarily the same as it used to be.
The expanding role of cloud computing in the IT and software development fields has Microsoft sitting up and taking notice: the company announced recently that it will be reorganizing its Microsoft certification program to address the evolving impact of the cloud. In the process, the MCSA, MCSD and MCSE certification designations will also be returned to duty, with two small changes – the “A” will now stand for “associate” instead of “administrator,” and the “E” will now stand for “expert” rather than “engineer.”
If you're thinking about pursuing a career in the information technology field, it helps to have a basic goal in terms of the kind of work that you'd like to do. There is a wide array of job titles and roles within the IT industry, and it's easy to get confused when browsing through them. One way to narrow things down is by getting a clear understanding of the differences between the industry's most common careers: network administration, systems administration, IT security and information assurance. With a firm grasp of those basic roles, you should have an easier time choosing the right career path. Learn more about each of these common information technology careers below.
Information Technology is a reliable industry with continued growth, competitive compensation and a variety of specializations. Even in the recession-ridden decade between 2008 and 2018, job growth in the Information Technology field is expected to grow by approximately 17 percent.