This area of I.T. is perhaps one of the most sweeping and comprehensive there is. It could take decades to train to become an authority in all factors, and so specialisation is vital to some extent. Both Cisco & Microsoft create systems to operate in marketplace. The software side of Networking is Microsoft's focus, & the hardware side (routers, controllers & data switches etc.) is where Cisco mainly work. Security has grown to be a big issue recently, which has led each of the businesses to get in to the sector in a big way. We should likewise note the more commercial use of Wi-Fi these days, which is basically wireless-connections and hard-ware. Although Computer Forensics and Ethical Hacking have feet in all of these areas, they are also disciplines unto themselves, and call for considerable instruction & experience to become completely effective.

Accreditations within this marketplace aren't restricted to the vendors alone. A number of well-regarded independents are now presenting progressively more applicable & important accreditations. An understanding of network interface connectivity between & among networks is becoming more and more important. We are witnessing an essential paradigm shift in network technology today, particularly the move toward Cloud or Internet based computing (in terms of data-storage, as well as actual processing-power), and the mental change toward green IT. 'Green' I.T. does not particularly mean 'saving-the-planet' - it does of course have many elements intended to lower the carbon dioxide impact etc., but it's also firmly seated in the economic reality of cost-savings. Computer systems generate less heat (& so need less cooling) if they have lower-powered processors. Electricity expenditure can be drastically reduced for businesses like data-centres that are large technology-users.

One of the more recent sectors in this particular field is Digital Forensics. We connect forensics with television programmes like CSI (Crime Scene Investigation). There might though be a bit less glamour with the actual workload when compared with that executed by the celebrities on TV! Nevertheless, technological forensics is providing a fascinating job for a lot of people these days. The job entails gathering & interpreting 'digital-footprints' that can be used for data recovery or legal enquiries.

Seated somewhere between Digital Forensics & Security, is the field of 'Ethical Hacking'. Experienced I.T. professionals can learn the principles of 'criminal' hacking for legitimate ethical security reasons. The EC Council delivers mid-high level qualifications, namely the CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker) & the CHFI ('Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator').

A rudimentary understanding of networks is a good first-base for anyone coming into the IT industry. You must know the way computers function and connect with one another before you can do anything else. Providing you already have good literacy skills, you will find programs such as CompTIA's A+ & 'Network+' offers you a very good grounding to begin your career. Examples of these are covered on the CompTIA section on this web-site.

Taking things further you'll choose to follow the MS MCSA or MCSE path if you are interested in software, or the 'Cisco' CCNA or CCNP path if you are thinking about 'hardware'. That said, MS has a major penetration in the majority of network environments, which means an in depth understanding of their software is extremely useful whatever your specialisation. You will get further qualification information on this web site in the specific Microsoft and Cisco pages.

Another alternative would be to carry on with CompTIA accreditations for example Server+ , Security+ or Linux+ and stay vendor neutral, or take the 'CWNA' or 'CWNP' and specialise in wireless technologies.

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