What Does Computer support specialists typically do

Computer network support specialists, also known as technical support specialists, typically work in your company's IT department. They help IT staff analyze, troubleshoot and evaluate problems in the computer network. They play an important role in the routine maintenance of your company's networks, e.g. B. when backing up files on the network. Maintenance can be done daily, weekly, or monthly and is important for a company's disaster recovery efforts. The quick solution to an IT problem is important because companies depend on their network systems. Network support specialists can assist company computer users by phone, email, or in person. You often work with network and computer system administrators who perform more complex tasks.

Computer user support specialists typically do the following:

Pay attention to customer descriptions of their computer problems.

Ask customers questions to properly diagnose the problem.

Guide customers through recommended troubleshooting steps.

Set up or repair computer devices and related devices.

Train users to work with new hardware or software such as printers, word processors, and email.

Provide other team members and organization managers with information about what causes customers and other problems the most.

Computer user support specialists, also known as help desk technicians, generally provide technical help for non-IT computer users. They respond to requests for help by phone and email. You can usually help users remotely, but they can also make on-site visits to personally solve a problem.

Help desk technicians can solve a variety of problems that vary by industry and company. Some technicians work for large software companies or support service companies and have to instruct business customers in the use of certain business programs, e.g. B. an electronic patient record program that is used in hospitals or doctor's offices. Sometimes they work with other technicians to solve problems.

Other help desk technicians work in call centers and answer simpler questions from non-commercial customers. You can guide customers through the basic steps to reconnect to the Internet or troubleshoot household computer products such as a wireless router.

Read More: computer operator jobs description

How to become a Computer operator

Step 1: acquire technical knowledge

The requirements for training as a computer operator vary depending on the employer. According to the United States Department of Labor Statistics (BLS), you can only start this career with a high school diploma. However, university graduates who are successful in this area usually enter the labor market with knowledge in the fields of computers, computers and peripherals. One way to acquire technical knowledge without a degree is to attend technology seminars.

To really shine in the field, you earn a degree. Technical schools, community colleges and some computer companies offer the training necessary to advance in this profession. Most related degrees in computer science generally include web authoring courses, databases, programming, database management systems, algorithms, and data structures.

Step 2: looking for work

Computer operator jobs can be found in many areas, including data processing, finance, insurance and government services. Depending on the needs of the employer's employees, IT operators can perform a flexible shift that can include nights, weekends, or holidays.

It is important to gain experience in the workplace. Some employers offer computer operators on-the-job training in their specific software and hardware programs.

Step 3: advances in IT

To achieve a more profitable position as a software developer or IT analyst, IT operators typically need to have a degree in computer science or a related field. Because this particular area is about computers, professionals looking to gain a competitive advantage typically take lessons throughout their careers to keep up with the changes and advances that technology is struggling with.

It can also be helpful to join a professional organization. The Association of IT Professionals offers its members conferences, training events, scholarships and networking opportunities. Participation in a professional organization can lead to more skills and professional opportunities.

Read More: computers operator jobs

CCNA Cyber ​​Ops & CCNA Data Center

CCNA Cyber ​​Ops

We all know of disastrous IT security breaches. It is therefore not surprising that cybersecurity professionals are in great demand. Cyber ​​security is an extremely complex field, which is why organizations are deploying teams of specialists to protect themselves, detect violations and respond to incidents. CCNA Cyber ​​Ops certification will prepare IT professionals, such as network and system administrators, to earn an associated level job in an IT security team.

Job titles associated with CCNA Cyber ​​Ops:

Information security analyst

Security engineer

Network security engineer

Cyber ​​security engineer

With security as a key role for most networks, CCNA Cyber ​​Ops appears as an optional certification for more generalized publications. Cyber ​​security is a broad and complex topic, so titles and responsibilities may vary. The roles will be different and specialized in large organizations, while in small companies, both the role of analyst and that of the respondent may fall on a network administrator.

The United States Department of Defense (DOD) has approved CCNA Cyber ​​Ops certification for its CSSP Analyst and CSSP Incident Responder cyber security job categories. The role of the security analyst focuses on the tools, procedures and controls that need to be implemented, while the task of a rescuer is to use these tools to recognize and counter threats as they occur.

CCNA Data Center

Today's data centers are not your father's data centers. Technologies and strategies such as distributed computing, server and storage virtualization, software-defined networks, automation and cloud computing have fueled huge changes led by ancestors in the modern mainframe of the data center. The typical data center is now a hive of servers, switches and software, which requires professionals closely connected with a wide range of skills.

Job titles associated with CCNA Data Center:

Data center manager

Network engineer of the data center

Data center technician

Unlike CCNA Cyber ​​Ops, security and research and development, CCNA Data Center specializes in a specific environment. CCNA Data Center certification allows you to prepare network management systems and professionals for a role in a data center. Job titles vary: the data center technician is one, but generic titles are often used as a network engineer and systems analyst. It also helps to obtain other certifications for these roles, such as VMware, CompTIA and CCNA R&S.

As with cyber security, data center design and administration cover a wide range of topics, from installation and configuration to maintenance and continuous operation of the data center infrastructure. The CCNA Data Center Certificate will validate your understanding of data center infrastructure, data center networks, storage networks, unified computing, network virtualization, data center automation and Cisco Application infrastructure. Centric (ACI).

Read More: ccna vs ccnp

Cisco CCNA Cyber Ops Certification

Cyber ​​security is one of the most frequently discussed and critical issues in the IT industry. Companies urgently protect their network, reputation and customer confidentiality from potential attackers.

It's a constant struggle to keep your systems, processes and people up to date on the latest cyber security risks. However, if we understand the variety of threats and identify them through continuous assessment of network and host traffic, we have a much better chance of defending ourselves.

To this end, Cisco has developed the CCNA Cyber ​​Ops certification path that enables cyber analysts working in the Security Operations Center (SOC) to identify and stop potential threats.

"Although no system is 100 percent secure, the ability to distinguish between typical network traffic and potentially harmful malware is critical and is at the heart of this associated certification path," said Dave Petts, Cisco Chief Instructor at Firebrand Training.

Developed for the Security Operations Center.

Large companies will invest in a security operations center that is part of the IT department responsible for network / forensic host and incident response procedures.

The CCNA Cyber ​​Ops consist of two modules, the SECFND and the SECOPS, with two corresponding exams. Both are specifically designed to give you a deep understanding of what it's like to work in a SOC team and what role a Level 1 or Level 2 analyst plays.

“The CCNA Cyber ​​Ops certification provides an analyst with a framework to acquire the skills necessary to monitor the network for security threats, to know when to provide triage services, and to mitigate a low-level threat or when to follow the escalation policy A level threat is detected, "adds Dave.

“Each SOC team will have its own internal structure. CCNA Cyber ​​Ops aims to provide each team with the right knowledge and skills. "

Read More: what is ccna

Overall CCNA Job Outlook

When viewed at the macro level, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics says that job prospects for IT network professionals (especially those with CCNAs) should record a steady growth rate of 8% through 2024. This Growth for CCNA is driven by two main reasons:

Increased use of cloud and network-based technologies in the corporate sector

During the period up to 2024, it is highly likely that companies and companies will quickly update their network infrastructure so that it is not only much more efficient, but also more secure.

It is important to note that one of the "most popular" industries for CCNA will be healthcare. This is primarily due to HIPAA mandates to prevent patient information and data from falling into the wrong hands (like that of a cyber-attacker).

Overall, the average salary for a CCNA that has just started after receiving certification is around $ 75,790.00. But of course, with more work experience, this salary will grow exponentially only in the future. The general salary range for CCNA is between $ 69,342.00 and $ 121,842.00.

Always remember that the type of salary a Cisco CCNA requires will depend not only on your level of work experience, but also on the specific title you possess. This will be reviewed later in the next section.

Cisco's expert-level certifications

Cisco expert level credentials include two main certifications: the coveted Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) and Cisco Certified Design Expert (CCDE). None of the certifications imposes prerequisites, but to earn one of these credentials, you must pass a written exam and a rigorous practical exam.

Beginning in July 2016, Cisco updated the expert level exams to include an evolving technology domain. This new domain targets cloud, network scheduling capacity, and IoT, and accounts for 10 percent of the total exam score. Cisco can modify the topics included in this domain to reflect emerging technologies when they reach a commercial interest, potential and presence strong enough to make them notable. The company describes this mechanism as a way to help its future-proof certifications so that employers can assume that even those with current credentials are up-to-date with important new network technologies.

For many network professionals, joining CCIE is the highlight of their career. A CCIE has expert technical skills and knowledge of Cisco network products and solutions in one of CCIE's technical tracks, which currently include collaboration, data center, routing and switching, security, service provider, and wireless.

The CCDE identifies experts who design infrastructure solutions for large corporate environments, including the technological, operational, commercial, and budgetary aspects of a project.

Cisco Architect Level Certifications

For people seeking positions as a network architect or data center architect, a smart move is to become Cisco Certified Architect (CCAr) certified. The CCAr is like a doctorate. Cisco Professional Certification Program - This is the highest level of certification offered by Cisco. This credential validates the skills of a senior network infrastructure architect, someone who can plan and design the IT infrastructure based on business strategies. CCAr is considered by many people as the most difficult technical certification to obtain.

To achieve CCDE certification, you must design a network solution to implement an assigned strategy; therefore, a Cisco-designated panel is required to explain and defend this solution.

Read More: cisco ccna salary

CCNA Certification: Overview And Career Path

Newbies in any area usually have many unanswered questions in their heads. Those who enter or pass to the field of the network want to know where to start, how to progress and what certifications (if any) to acquire.

In this article, we review one of the industry's most recognized network certifications, the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certification. We will consider topics such as the target audience of the certification, the experience required, whether it is still worth acquiring and how you can train for the exam.

What is CCNA routing and switching certification?

The "CCNA" certification is probably better known than the "Cisco" certification. CCNA Routing and Switching certification is an entry-level Cisco certification for the networking industry. Certification is provided by Cisco and can be directed to Cisco in some areas. However, it includes general network technologies, routing and switching, wide area networks (WANs), security and other network problems.

Note: This certification was previously simply referred to as "CCNA". However, as additional entry level certifications have become available for other areas such as CCNA Security and CCNA Wireless, Cisco has decided to call them CCNA Routing and Switching. So when we say "CCNA" we mean CCNA Routing and Switching certification.

As the name suggests, Cisco CCNA certification is managed. In simple terms, Cisco is a network device vendor that manufactures devices such as routers, switches and even firewalls. They have been around for some time (since 1984), have built a strong brand and are market leaders in areas such as routing and business transfers.

Read More : ccna jobs