Information Technology Degree & Scholl
With computers in every type of workplace from the high-rise office to the post office, an information technology degree is simply one of the most useful qualifications available. A dependence on computers has created a need for those who understand the inner workings of various information systems. IT professionals not only get networks up and running, they keep them running and are able to create resourceful solutions on their feet.
Whether one chooses to work in network engineering or security, management information systems or computer programming, there are many different areas of IT that require just as many different skills and abilities. While a love of computers is certainly a necessity, attention to detail, abstract thinking ability and a good memory are also requirements. Individual preferences for certain IT areas also come into play.
By getting an education in information technology, students can learn how to take their best abilities, merge them with state of the art skills and apply them effectively. As many come to find, the scope of IT is extremely wide allowing specialized skills to be used in a number of different places. A career in IT means never being forced to stay in only one aspect of the industry.
It is widely known that IT professionals have the benefit of a higher than average salary than other careers, even when first starting out. Plus, with computers used in every single area of life, there is hardly anywhere on the map a person could go in search of a job that doesn’t need IT professionals in some manner. With technology consistently changing and updating, the demand is greater than ever.
A good information technology program teaches the latest in Microsoft, Cisco, Security Certified Professional and even cyber security. Prospective employers often look for and prefer individuals who are well versed in working with these programs. Not only is an information technology degree important, certifications in Cisco’s CCNA or Microsoft’s MCSE are also sought after skills.
It is not uncommon for those who work in the information technology field to eventually move on to managing their own IT division. This means the complete coordination of a company’s information technology department, from planning to directing. This is a great position for those who also have great leadership skills. It is also a position that has one of the highest salaries in the IT industry.
A Bachelor’s degree is generally the most basic qualification necessary for many entry-level IT positions. It allows one to develop basic programming skills and learn the ins and outs of different networks. Data administration and business skills are also common subjects.
One can also earn their Master’s degree in information technology. The newest cutting edge skills merge with a further understanding of market demand and other business aspects to create a well-rounded education. The higher the education, the better an individual’s earning power will be.
There is nothing more satisfying than being able to see one’s work have a positive effect and make a difference. It provides not only confidence but also a sense of accomplishment. Those who work in IT can rest on the knowledge that theirs in an industry with a strong future.
With dependence on computers growing every day, it is no wonder that so many have decided to seek out an information technology degree. While it is a chance to provide oneself with a solid future, it is also a chance to stay at the forefront and take part in the newest of technologies. For those who truly love the ever-changing world of technology, that is the best part of the job.
Networks Under Siege
The threat level for computer networks is high. That’s why Cyber Security professionals are in high demand.
What is Cyber Security?
You could say that modern cyber security was born on December 31, 1999.
Remember the Y2K bug? Before New Year’s Eve 1999, there was a fear that a software glitch would cause programs and networks everywhere to crash when the year changed to 2000. The worst-case scenarios included ATM and banking systems going down, air traffic control systems being disabled, and the flow of goods and services being disrupted.
Of course, in this case, the worst case didn’t come true.
This was certainly not the first time that cyber security was an issue. But the widespread media attention and publicity brought the issue of the vulnerability of computer networks to the attention of many people who had never thought about the issue before. People began to worry: What if computer networks go down? What will happen?
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Cyber Security Threats
When contemplating the issue of cyber security, or network security as it could also be called, there is one inherent problem. Computer networks and tech infrastructure are never 100% secure. The power of the Internet and other networks is their open structure. They can be accessed at many points, built and expanded upon, and used by many people. But this also makes them vulnerable.
The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 were another unfortunate milestone in the history of cyber security. People began contemplating what an individual or a group trying to harm to the United States economy might go after. One of the obvious answers was: the computer networks that drive so much of the country’s economy.
On top of large-scale events such as the Y2K bug and 9/11, there are, of course, the everyday security concerns that almost anyone with a PC faces. Worms, viruses, and other agents that attack personal computers have been a threat since the beginning of network computing and have only become more so as the size and scope of computer networks has grown.
The growing field of cyber security is about managing the risk inherent in vulnerable computer systems.
Training and Education
In the beginning of the computer industry, many people specializing in cyber security or network security were self-taught. But now that these issues have come to the attention of a wider public ? including business and government ? academic degree and training programs in cyber security and network security are available from many colleges, universities, and other academic institutions.
Degree and training programs in cyber security vary widely in their length and scope. Some certificate programs and associate’s degree programs might last a matter of months or up to two years. Whereas, bachelor’s degree programs or master’s degree programs can last up to four years. In the case of a bachelor’s degree at a four-year college, a focus in cyber security or network security might be combined or come under the umbrella of another degree program such as a bachelor’s degree in computer science or information science.
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In almost any academic program in cyber security, basic classes would cover topics such as how to build and maintain a network, training in Linux and Windows networks, basic computer programming, network protocols, network intrusion detection, and local area networks (LANs) and wide area networks (WANs). Courses in criminal justice, ethics, political science, history, and business are also sometimes included in network security and cyber security curricula.
Certifications
Specific certifications in the Internet security and cyber security fields abound. Some are brand specific and qualify the individual to work on hardware or software made by a particular company. Others, known as ?vendor neutral? certifications, show a general proficiency in the field.
One of the best known certification groups is the International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium, (ISC²). This group sponsors several certifications that are well respected in the industry including the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and the Systems Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP). Other organizations offering certification include the SysAdmin, Audit, Network, Security (SANS) organization and CompTIA. While no certification is required for employment in any job, certification can be a good indicator for an employer of a candidate’s experience and focus in the field. Many academic programs incorporate certification preparation into their curricula.
Careers
Virtually every company of any size that operates a computer network (such as for company e-mail or a company intranet) has a designated network or cyber security expert. Titles may vary, but look for names like network security specialist, network administrator, information security technician, and so on. At larger companies, network or cyber security experts might work on a project by project basis and take a specific role in the development of new products, services, and systems.
The role of the cyber security expert can take many forms, but it essentially boils down to protecting sensitive data and managing access to resources and networks. This might include protecting customer data, such as credit card numbers, or protecting employee data, such as health care records. It also might include preventing intrusions and criminal activity over the company’s networks.
While cyber security has played a large role in the banking industry and other large corporate transactional businesses for some time, even small companies are facing cyber security issues today. With the advent of e-commerce, network security has taken on an even larger role as financial transactions and personal information such as credit card numbers are passed along computer networks with even greater frequency. Cyber security is also an important function inside companies, as employee data must be kept private and confidential according to the law.
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As mentioned above, the September 11 attacks gave a new urgency to the problem of cyber security, and the federal government has stepped up its efforts at directing cyber security research and monitoring. In 2003, the Department of Homeland Security created its own cyber security division, US CERT (United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team). This agency is responsible for coordinating the government response to cyber attacks and also serves as a national clearinghouse of cyber security information. The Department of Homeland Security is now one of the government’s largest employers, and many career opportunities have opened up in cyber security and related fields as a result.
One of the more exciting segments of the cyber security field is cyber forensics and investigation. Experts in this field investigate cyber crime and attacks after they happen and attempt to track down the perpetrators. Local law enforcement agencies and Federal agencies such as the FBI all employ cyber security professionals in this capacity.
Sometimes, as in many tech businesses, cyber security professionals might work as independent contractors, hired by companies when they are designing a new system or have had some kind of cyber crime committed against them. This system, while giving flexibility, also requires business savvy on the part of the employee to manage clients and continually look for work.
The U.S. Department of Labor estimates that job growth for system administrators (a loose term including cyber security experts) will see some of the fastest growth among all professions, growing at a rate of approximately 25% until 2014.
Ongoing Growth
The awareness of the cyber security threat continues to grow and the importance of cyber security to corporations, government, and private individuals continues to increase. Privacy is an important concern in American life and the protection of data has become a key issue. With concerns over identity theft and other similar cyber crimes, public focus remains intense on the cyber security field.
The ongoing struggle against terrorism and the quest for emergency preparedness and disaster preparedness puts a continued urgency into the cyber security field as well. Corporations are also facing new scrutiny in how they handle their data in the wake of corporate scandals. In short, the cyber security field is growing, and those with the proper training and experience will find plenty of opportunities.
What will be a perfect password?
Myth: if it is encrypted, it is secure
Truth: if it is not encrypted, it is not secure
Before creating a password you should know:
NO password is uncrackable.
The best you can do is making it difficult and non-trivial to determine your password.
What’s the worst password? The one you’ve forgotten.
Password recovery is the most difficult process, sometimes even is impossible.
?Whatever method you choose, it’s a good idea to change your password often.
The more important the password, the more often it should be changed.
Why? If someone is attempting a brute-force attack on your password, the hope is that you’re changing it to something they’ve already tried and found to be wrong.
?The longer the password, the harder it is to ‘guess.’
Note: many systems limit passwords to 8 characters.
Some clever people are foregoing brute-force hacks (e.g. dictionary attacks), in favor of ’social engineering’ to obtain passwords.
If somebody calls or emails, requesting your password, it’s a dumb idea to give it to them.
Of course nobody would sticky-note a password to their monitor, or under a keyboard.
A good password is one that’s hard to guess, yet easy to remember. So here are the 6 steps to build a strong password related to you but look no relation. It also used to avoid common password strategies that fail
The strongest passwords look like a random string of characters to attackers. It will be perfect if it begins with a letter and mixes with capital letters and small letters and numbers and special characters.
Let’s try to make strong 6 characters password.
1. Think of something that you really want.
Example: “I want 1 million dollars.”
2. Turn your sentence into a password.
try character encoding scheme in this case: “iw1m$”.
3. Add complexity to your password or pass phrase
Mix uppercase and lowercase letters and numbers. Introduce intentional misspellings.
For example, in the sentence above, you might substitute the letter i for the word “I”, so a password might be “Iw1m$”.
4. Substitute some special characters
Use symbols that look like letters, combine words, or replace letters with numbers to make the password complex. You see, 1=1.0.
Using these strategies, you might end up with the password “Iw1.m$”
5. Test your new password with Password Checker
Password Checker evaluates your password’s strength as you type.
6. Keep your password a secret
Treat your passwords with as much care as the information that they protect.
Qualities of strong passwords
Length
Each character you add to your password increases the protection it provides.
8 or more characters are the minimum for a strong password; 14 characters or longer are ideal.
Complexity
The greater variety of characters that you have in your password, the harder it is to guess.
An ideal password combines both length and different types of symbols.
Use the entire keyboard.
Easy to remember, hard to guess
The easiest way to remember your passwords is to write them down.
It is OK to write passwords down, but keep them secret so they remain secure and effective.
Note:
Avoid sequences or repeated characters
“12345678,” “222222,” “abcdefg,” or adjacent letters on your keyboard do not make secure passwords.
Avoid using only look-alike substitutions of numbers or symbols
Criminals will not be fooled by common look-alike replacements, such as to replace an ‘i’ with a ‘1′ or an ‘a’ with ‘@’ as in “M1cr0$0ft” or “P@ssw0rd”.
Avoid your login name
don’t use any part of your name, birthday, social security number, or similar information for your loved ones.
This type of information is one of the first things criminals will try, and they can find it easily online from social networking sites, online resumes, and other public sources of data.
Avoid dictionary words in ANY language
Criminals use sophisticated tools that can rapidly guess passwords that are based on words in multiple dictionaries, including words spelled backwards, common misspellings, profanity, and substitutions.
Avoid using only one password for all your accounts
If your password is compromised on any one of the computers or online systems that use it, you should consider all of your other information protected by that password compromised as well.