Digital (or Computer) 'Forensics' is fairly new in this area - Television shows like 'Crime Scene Investigation' may have made us aware of it. The actual reality of Digital forensics is very much less glamorous than the portrayal in these types of programmes (obviously!) All the same, forensic-investigation employing sophisticated technologies can offer a really gratifying career. A Computer Forensics specialist will trace & interpret 'digital artefacts' that can often be used to resolve crimes.

In a comparable arena to Computer Forensics and I.T. Security is Ethical-Hacking - which is another reasonably new discipline to control crime. Seasoned IT professionals can study the concepts of 'criminal' hacking for ethical security purposes. The EC Council offers medium to advanced level qualifications, entitled the CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker) & the 'CHFI' (Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator).

Have you recently questioned how safe your job is? Normally, this only rears its head when we experience a knock-back. But really, The cold truth is that our job security doesn't really exist anymore, for all but the most lucky of us. Whereas a marketplace with high growth, with huge staffing demands (due to an enormous shortage of commercially certified workers), creates the conditions for real job security.

Using the computer business for example, a recent e-Skills study demonstrated a skills shortage throughout Great Britain around the 26 percent mark. Alternatively, you could say, this clearly demonstrates that Great Britain can only find 3 certified professionals for each 4 job positions in existence now. This disquieting idea reveals the urgent need for more commercially qualified IT professionals throughout the United Kingdom. Actually, acquiring professional IT skills over the next few years is very likely the greatest career move you'll ever make.

CompTIA (the Computing Technology Industry Association) is a global organisation that currently provides many of the most highly regarded vendor neutral accreditation paths available. Some other bodies also offer valuable accreditations, such as CWNP ('Certified Wireless Network Professional') & ISC2 ('International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium'). As you would expect Cisco & Microsoft offer a comprehensive selection of professional qualifications. As there are so many training and career options available in this area, it's prudent to take more personal guidance from an experienced expert before selecting your particular course. This will prevent you from making an expensive mistake, both in terms of time and money spent.

A number of students are under the impression that the tech college or university path is still the most effective. So why then are commercial certificates slowly and steadily replacing it? With 3 and 4 year academic degree costs spiralling out of control, together with the IT sector's recognition that key company training is often far more commercially relevant, we've seen a dramatic increase in CISCO, Adobe, Microsoft and CompTIA accredited training courses that create knowledgeable employees at a much reduced cost in terms of money and time. In essence, only required knowledge is taught. It's slightly more broad than that, but the principle objective is to focus on the exact skills required (including a degree of required background) - without trying to cram in everything else - in the way that academic establishments often do.

In simple terms: Accredited IT qualifications let employers know exactly what you're capable of - everything they need to know is in the title: i.e. I am a 'Microsoft Certified Professional' in 'Managing and Maintaining Windows Server 2003'. Consequently companies can identify exactly what they need and what certifications are needed for the job.

Self-Paced Courses In Digital Forensics & Security >>