COMPUTER HARDWARE

COMPUTER HARDWARE

Scope:

Imagining life without computers has become almost impossible for a large chunk of population today. But understanding its nitty-gritty is not a child's game and people often feel the need of expert professionals for smooth operation of their computers. Therefore, a career in Hardware and Networking has become a very good career option for those who have an interest in the field. 

Computer hardware includes various physical parts of computer.

A computer hardware engineer researches, designs, develops, tests and oversees the manufacture and installation of computer chips, circuit boards and computer systems. A computer hardware engineer also works with related equipment including keyboards, modems and printers.

There were 75,000 computer hardware engineers employed in 2008.

Skills:

To work as a computer hardware engineer one must have at least a bachelor's degree.

Computer hardware engineers who offer their services directly to the public must be licensed by the state in which they work. To be successful in this field, one should be creative, inquisitive, analytical and detail oriented. Good communication skills, both in writing and orally, are important.

 He must be able to do following Tasks:

• Update knowledge and skills to keep up with rapid advancements in computer technology.
• Provide technical support to designers, marketing and sales departments, suppliers, engineers and other team members throughout the product development and implementation process.
• Test and verify hardware and support peripherals to ensure that they meet specifications and requirements, by recording and analyzing test data.
• Monitor functioning of equipment and make necessary modifications to ensure system operates in conformance with specifications.
• Analyze information to determine, recommend, and plan layout, including type of computers and peripheral equipment modifications.
• Build, test, and modify product prototypes using working models or theoretical models constructed with computer simulation.
• Analyze user needs and recommend appropriate hardware.
• Direct technicians, engineering designers or other technical support personnel as needed.
• Confer with engineering staff and consult specifications to evaluate interface between hardware and software and operational and performance requirements of overall system.
• Select hardware and material, assuring compliance with specifications and product requirements.

References:

Wikipedia

A to Z Hardware Information

Tutorials

Basics

Certification:

There is only one major certification available in field of Computer Hardware:

The CompTIA A+ certification is the industry standard for computer support technicians. 

The international, vendor-neutral certification proves competence in areas such as installation, preventative maintenance, networking, security and troubleshooting. CompTIA A+ certified technicians also have excellent customer service and communication skills to work with clients.

CompTIA A+ is part of the certification track for corporations such as Microsoft, Hewlett-Packard, Cisco and Novell. Other technology companies, including CompuCom and Ricoh, have made CompTIA A+ certification mandatory for their service technicians. More than 700,000 people worldwide have become CompTIA A+ certified since the program’s inception in 1993.

Two exams are necessary to be certified: CompTIA A+ Essentials, exam code 220-701; and CompTIA A+ Practical Application, exam code 220-702.

CompTIA A+ Essentials measures the necessary competencies of an entry-level IT professional with a recommended 500 hours of hands-on experience in the lab or field. It tests for technical understanding of computer technology, networking and security, as well as the communication skills and professionalism now required of all entry-level IT professionals.

CompTIA A+ Practical Application is an extension of the knowledge and skills identified in CompTIA A+ Essentials, with more of a "hands-on" orientation focused on scenarios in which troubleshooting and tools must be applied to resolve problems.

NETWORK SECURITY

NETWORK SECURITY

Scope:

Increased computer attacks and subsequent losses have heightened the demand for network security professionals. Interestingly this challenge is also an opportunity - opportunity to enter the network security arena. As organizations of all types aim for better competitive edge in the digital world, they are bound to invest in more computer and network infrastructure. Nobody wants to become a dinosaur, but who will secure these network systems? There is a need for trusted professionals that can provide network security value and solutions.

And as in any other field, there are those who are in the network security to make positive contributions and there are others who are there to make some fast money. You need to be clear on your motives. Network security is rewarding, but shortcuts will not work in a field as intense as network security.

What does a network security professional do?

The role of the network security professional is to use knowledge and skills to protect consumers, businesses, government agencies, and the society. The network security professional identifies all types of threats (internal, external, intentional and unintentional) and works to stop them. The professional performs by effectively applying networking and security expertise.

Skills:

Knowledge:

It follows that to get into network security, you must equip yourself with knowledge and skills in networking fundamentals and security basics.

Network Fundamentals:

A person responsible for building network security, and protecting a network requires solid networking knowledge. Start by mastering the fundamentals of Networking. Focus first on building your Networking expertise - fundamental networking skills and knowledge . Have a good grounding in the fundamentals - knowledge, skills and experience - Local Area Networks (LANs), Wide Area Networks (WANs), network gear and remote equipment. It also helps to have a good foundation in tech support.

With a foundation in tech Support / Networking - hardware and software, you can then proceed to build on that with security experience by developing your security skills and knowledge.

Security Foundation:

You must have knowledge about threats to network security and how to combat them. How can you keep out the bad guys and help secure networks. Such threats include worms, unauthorized access, e-mail attacks, malicious code viruses, availability issues, network vulnerabilities and social engineering. The technical aspects of network security, includes designing, configuring, and installing security tools.

Security professionals need to have a good grasp of encryption technologies, authentication, network security tools, firewalls, intrusion detection systems, virtual private networks, identity services, security management, as well as key information security principles and concepts.

Education:

Certifications and academic education programs are the most popular options for acquiring the knowledge you need. But consider don’t certification and degrees purely as alternatives. They are best used to complement each other.

Other education – ethics, law, non-tech-

In addition to networking and security knowledge, I would suggest that you develop an interest in learning about cybercrime, investigations, ethics, computer crime laws, privacy, legal liability and other non-tech issues that are critical subjects within information security. It’s not just about tech know-how. The security professional should have a good grasp of the issues involved. For example, to stop the attackers, it certainly helps to think like an attacker.

Experience:

Note that education alone is not enough to build a career in network security. Regardless of your background, people who move into network security benefit tremendously from real-life working experience. You simply must practice what you have learnt. As you pursue education through your degree and certification programs, always look for work experience opportunities. Your education works better for you if complemented with hands-on system and network experience that helps you reinforce and focus your interests and learning much more effectively.

Beginners in particular should look for entry-level system or networking positions or internships - in cybercafes, ISPS, etc. Be ready to start from the basics and work your way up. Such opportunities can provide a solid foundation into network security.

Don't be reward-focused but be more contribution and learning (practice) focused. Always look for such opportunities as you develop your career. Your interest should be in increasing your value rather than your cost - value to clients, employers, colleagues, and to yourself.

You can also build a home laboratory for learning key skills and for more experience. Many commonly used technologies are easily available on the Internet as freeware or shareware. Practice gives you a better understanding of the theories and features of such security technologies.

Soft skills:

For career growth, your professional attitude and soft skills (ability to market yourself, communications skills, presentation skills, business knowledge, leadership, etc) are also important. Education deals strictly will technical knowledge and skills. Start now especially to develop your communications (written and verbal) skills, as it will be part of your responsibility to communicate regularly with the other people (colleagues, business managers, customers, vendors, IT staff, company management, etc).

You will need such skills not only to get opportunity, but also to progress. For example as a network security professional, you may need to make presentations to management and colleagues. You’ve got the job - do you want to grow? It is essential to build such skills now. Furthermore such skills are critical for network security management (planning, developing and supervision). In fact expertise with a soft skills background such as project management   or other administrative capability is required for senior positions in network security.

Lifelong:

Information and network security requires an enthusiasm for lifelong learning and a lifetime commitment to information technology. The rapid rate of change in technology and security means nobody can afford to be “mister-know-it-all”. Keep sharp. Keep up-to-date and sharp. Don’t get complacent. Earning your security certification isn’t enough. Monitor trends and attend forums that provide you with what you need to comprehend the threats and secure the networked systems of today and tomorrow. Information security is a continual learning process.

Professionalism, Trustworthiness:

The network security position is a hot seat that carries huge responsibility. Ethics and professionalism can’t be compromised. Degrees and certification are great but trustworthiness must be in the equation. Can you be trusted, what is your record like when it comes to integrity?

-->A degree program in computer science, electrical and electronic engineering or similar fields of study is a good starting point when using the formal education academic option. In such a discipline, always look for opportunities to choose network and security electives.

References:

Wikipedia

Articles,Books,FAQs and White Papers

NetSecurity Journal

Security Tips

Challenges:

As threats become more sophisticated and workplace data leaks grow more prevalent, today’s security solutions struggle to keep up. Conventional technologies like firewalls, IDS systems, and VPNs may prevent outside threats but fail to protect “inside threats” from employees who accidentally infect the network.

Security solutions such as Network Access Controls (NAC) focus on initial posture assessment and authentication of the employee’s endpoint. Once a user is authenticated, he or she is no longer monitored and can act in ways harmful to the network. In addition, today’s "borderless" organizations freely share information globally between employees and partners. These enterprises attempt to balance openness and flexibility with security risks as employees work from home, airports, and from other, non-secure, off-site locations.

Other important challenge in security field is to update yourself,i.e get yourself acquainted to new technologies,new threats and their protection.This is the field where you can daily find a new virus or a new mall-ware,so to be in the industry you  should know all these and act accordingly.

Certification:

According to recent salary surveys by ZDNET's Tech Republic organization, the following are the highest paying certifications to have in the technology industry.

Following each certification is the average annual salary being paid to individual responders that hold the certification. I have also listed training resources to learn more information about how to acquire each of the highest paying certifications.

1. PMI Project Management Professional (PMP)

With an average annual salary of $101,695, the PMP certification  from the Project Management Institute (PMI) organization tops the list of highest paying certifications for the current year.

2. PMI Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)

Next highest on the list of highest paying certifications is PMI's Certified Associate in Project Management(CAPM). The average annual salary for CAPM holders that were surveyed is $101,103.

3. ITIL v2 - Foundations

With an annual average salary of $95,415 the ITIL v2 Foundations certification came up third on the list of highest paying certifications. ITIL stands for the IT Infrastructure Library. The ITIL certification is designed to show expertise in ITIL service support and service delivery.

4. Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)

Coming in at a close 4th on the list of highest paying certifications is the Certified Information Systems Security Professional or CISSP certification from (ISC)2. The average annual reported salary was $94,018.

5.Cisco CCIE Routing and Switching

At $93,500 per year average annual salary, the Cisco CCIE Routing and Switching certification came in 5th on the list of highest paying certifications in the technology industry.

6. Cisco CCVP - Certified Voice Professional

Number six on the list of the highest paying certifications is the Cisco CCVP or Cisco Certified Voice Professional. The average annual salary of CCVP respondents was $88,824.

7. ITIL v3 - ITIL Master

The ITIL v3 certification - the ITIL Master - came in 7th on the list of the highest paying technical certifications. The average annual salary for ITIL Master certification holders was $86,600.

8. MCSD - Microsoft Certified Solution Developer

The MCSD or Microsoft Certified Solution Developer certification pays an average of $84,522. This puts the MCSD certification at number 8 on the list of highest paying certifications in technology.

9. Cisco CCNP - Cisco Certified Network Professional 

Cisco Certified Network professional or CCNP certification is number 9 on the list of highest paying technical certifications. The average annual salary reported by CCNP holders is $84,161.

10. Red Hat Certified Engineer

The Red Hat Certified Engineer (RGCE) came in at number 10 on the list of highest paying certifications. The average annual salary reported by Red Hat Certified Engineers is $83,692.

ENTERPRISE RESOURCE PLANNING

ERP(ENTERPRISE RESOURCE PLANNING)

Scope:

ENTERPRISE Resource Planning, or ERP for short, denotes a software application that allows an organisation (or enterprise) to effectively and efficiently manage its resources. The resource could be manpower, raw material, vehicles, equipment and finances to name a few. Some leading software solution providers have developed ERP packages, which now form the backbone of several large organisations. ERP packages comprise several modules that can be used either in a stand-alone mode or in conjunction with one or more of the other modules. Oracle 11i, SAP, J D Edwards and People-soft are some of the popular ERP applications. These packages have found ready acceptance amongst several large and medium enterprises, and in return have helped the organisations achieve an optimal level of performance in their respective areas.

Demand for these applications is increasing by the day, primarily because of the huge potential they hold out for users. Such an exponential growth has created job opportunities for professionals opting for a career in ERP Package implementation and maintenance.

The ERP scenario primarily offers two types of job options -- that of the Functional Consultant and the Technical Consultant. There would also be other parallel openings in the fields of database administration, systems administration, software testing and network administration. Barring the first two, all the other jobs are more generic in nature and pertain to the software field as a whole.

Functional Consultant: These professionals require a fair understanding of and experience in a particular physical process. For example, an ERP package implementation in a pharmaceutical company would require functional consultants experienced in finance, HR, pharmaceutical manufacturing processes, procurement processes, inventory management, customer relationship, supply chain management, etc.

The functional consultant would thus be a person who analyses the business process of an organisation and designs the process flow of a particular business area.

A functional consultant should ideally be an MBA in the business area he is functioning in; and should have undergone a training session in the ERP, which he is implementing. Solution providers hold training sessions in their respective areas. For example, SAP conducts training modules for functional consultants in all the different business areas involved in a programme. These courses are, however, costly. A minimum of two to three years' experience in the relevant functional area is mandatory. As for monetary benefits, pay scales start from about Rs.12,000+ per month.

Senior consultants may also be employed as architects to design and implement the entire ERP package for an organisation. Pay scales for seniors are generally very high, ranging between 500,000 and a million rupees per annum.

Technical Consultant: Technical consultants basically are software developers or IT professionals. Their task involves development of forms and reports based on inputs provided by a functional consultant. These professionals need to code the business requirements into the software and integrate them to form a contiguous package.

Typically, you should be a graduate in computer sciences to qualify for the position of a technical consultant. You should also have taken part in a training programme conducted by the respective ERP developer. Experience is not an issue at the entry level. However, senior developers and system integrators need to possess at least 5 to 7 years of experience in development. Pay scales vary from about 10,000 rupees per month at the entry stage to 30,000 rupees at the senior level.

A very senior IT professional may qualify as an architect to work along with a functional consultant in designing and implementing the application.

Many job opportunities also exist in the US and other developed countries, where there is a high demand for experienced ERP professionals

Skills:

Broadly speaking the soft skills and attributes required of the ERP professional will vary significantly depending on the business sector and the type of client.

Soft skills & attributes required of the ERP professional should also include:

For the Small to Medium Business Sector 
a) the ability work in small teams with greater responsibility towards the project success 
b) the ability manage a large portfolio of customers at any given time 
c) the ability to deal with clients who are much less systems /IT savvy 
d) ability to operate under strict budgetary constraints 
e) the ability to deal with staff/business owners, who have less time for the project but are more demanding 

For The Corporate Sector:
a) ability to work in large structured teams, comprising of very many specialists
b)ability to focus on one or two large projects/bids until completion
c) ability to work to strict deadlines 
d) ability to operate in an environment where one may have very little influence over the direction of the project
e)ability to deal with higher levels of organisational politics amongst business users.

References:

wikipedia

Softwares,planning,Vendors

SAP

Others

Challenges:

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) implementation is the most challenging issue for the companies. It takes a lot of time and resources at the time of implementation. The company owners need to keep all the challenges in mind and make all the resources available for successful implementation. This article briefs you on some of the challenging issues at the time of ERP implementation.

ERP implementation needs certain or specified pre assumed resources to carry on the work. If the customer doesn't get all these resources in place, it takes a lot of time to implement a huge application like ERP. The customer should ask vendor about the resources he needs to keep in place to implement the application successfully. It might be the manpower, hardware system requirements or any other related issues.

There is a lot of coordination required between the core enterprise resource planning teams form both the vendor as well as customer side to execute the project. It is all about the communication between the functional consultants and the ERP project manager of the customer. If the communication is not well streamlined between both the teams, it is very difficult to streamline the business processes. The business owners must ensure the proper communication between both the teams to execute the project successfully.

Most of the enterprise resource planning implementations come to impasse because of the lack of support from the top management of the customer. The top management has to support the implementer by giving the required resources and managing the core ERP team. After all, it is the decision of the top management to have an ERP system but at the time of implementation they feel so lethargic to arrange the required tools for the implementation. This is what the major challenge normally faces at the time of implementation.

ERP implementation is said to be the most challenging task for the project managers. Unless, there is a strong and experienced project manager, the success rate of ERP implementation diminishes. Getting the right project manager who can coordinate with the implementation service provider would be the challenging task. If the business owner ropes in the right project manager, the implementation process would go without many hassles.

Certification:

PeopleSoft Enterprise 9 Certifications:

Oracle Education now offers four PeopleSoft Certifications. They are:

- PeopleSoft Enterprise 9 Financial Management, General Ledger Consultant Certified Expert
- PeopleSoft Enterprise 9 Human Capital Management, Human Resources Consultant Certified Expert
- PeopleTools Developer Certified Expert
- PeopleTools Advanced Developer Certified Expert(you must obtain the PeopleTools Developer Certified Expert certification first)

 Each certification requires one exam. If you are already a PeopleSoft Certified Developer you will have to take the exam 1Z0-241 to upgrade to a PeopleTools Developer Certified Expert.

Each exam costs US $195.
Oracle offers training classes and in some cases, self study courses for each of these exams. Prices vary so check the website.

CIERP - Certified Implementer of Enterprise Resource Planning:

You must pass one 4 hour exam.
Although previous experience is not required, it is recommended that a candidate have some amount of experience or education in ERP practices.

According to CIBRES, "The cost of the program including the exam ranges from $325 to $1000+ depending on the method of study. Individuals can study at home through the use of self study materials or attend the more expensive seminars that are held regulary in different locations around the USA."

CNERPS - Certified Novice of Enterprise Resource Planning Systems:

 This is an entry-level ERP certification that requires only one exam which can be taken online. It is ideal for candidates looking for a jumping point into ERP or working towards completion of the CIERP certification.

 One online exam is required. There are no prerequisites.

SOFTWARE TESTING

SOFTWARE TESTING

Scope:

A Software Test Engineer is involved in the testing of software and is generally a member of the software quality assurance team. Software QA Engineers may test software, but are not always expert Test Engineers.

There are two main types of testing, which are white box testing and black box testing. The differences between the two are based on the assumptions and the view points taken by the testers while performing the tests. White box testing assumes an internal view of the software and black box testing basically assumes an external view of the software.

Testing is done at different phases of the software development life cycle (SDLC) and includes unit testing, integration testing, functional testing, system testing, acceptance testing (often performed by the internal or external client) and regression testing (which is often automated).

There are different level of Test Engineers. At an entry level, a testing engineer may set up and document simple test cases. As they become more experienced, Software Test Engineers may set up very complex test case scenarios, write test scripts and perform white box.

Companies Hiring Software Test Engineers:

Microsoft Corporation

Sun Microsystems

Cisco Systems

Oracle Corporation

Apple Computers

Google

Skills:

Education – Software Test Engineers

Software Testers do not always have Computer Science degree.

Becoming a Software Test Engineer

Analytical thinking skills are a key to becoming a successful Test Engineer. Communication and documentation skills are also important. There are often internships and entry level positions available in larger companies. Check out the entry level job boards for the best leads.

References:

Wikipedia

Complete Guide

books,jobs,interview questions

Tutorials

Challenges:

In our opinion, we encounter a challenge when our thought process and the thought process of an important stakeholder (e.g. the client, your management or your team) do not match. Here are some examples:

Challenges due to your client or management-

1. Your client or management thinks about testing as a cost which should be minimized. As is usual with cost approvals, you need to build a solid case for every piece of testing that you think would help.

2. Your client or management thinks about testing as a very predictable process. You are expected to prepare very detailed test plans (akin detailed project schedules) and explain every discrepancy between the planned and actual activities.

3. You receive little input on your planned tests. However, if bugs escape to the delivered application, you are grilled about your test plans.

4. There is limited or no budget for testing tools or support tools. You have to spend a lot of your valuable time to manually perform certain repetitive tasks.

5. The test environment is too restrictive (e.g. it is available only for limited times, it is also used by other teams or it is ridden with stability problems). You end up spending a lot of time waiting for the test environment to be available or need to check it constantly for problems.

Challenges due to your own abilities

1. You have been asked to use a tool that you know little about. Therefore, you face two problems. First, you need to learn the tool. Then, you need to find ways to effectively use the tool in your project.

2. You are expected to use a communication style that is different to your natural communication style. For example, if you prefer a verbal communication style, you have been asked to create detailed written reports in your project. Or, if you prefer to take time to carefully draft written reports, you are now expected to provide constant verbal updates.

Challenges due to your team-

1. You have been added to an established team and you are finding it hard to integrate and collaborate with the team quickly.

2. Your team members are less skilled in certain testing activities. Therefore, you find that the bulk of the required work has fallen in your lap.

3. Your team members are casual in their approach to testing. You now need to double check the completeness and accuracy of their work.

4. Your team is located afar and you lack instant updates from them.

Challenges due to another team or individual(s)-

1. Word is spread unofficially about your poor performance or the poor performance of your team. This discourages you.

2. Due to any reason, another team (e.g. the development team, the deployment team or the IT team) does not effectively collaborate with you or your team.

->Realizing a challenge and coming to terms with it takes time. It requires your long-term commitment to resolve a challenge. Then, you need to put in constant effort to either ease the challenge or resolve it partially or completely. The good thing about handling challenges is that they force you to solve a complex problem and you emerge even more confident than before. If nothing else, talking about a challenge and how you resolved it makes a great story. What is a big challenge that you have faced in your testing career so far?

Certification:

If you are exploring new career opportunities or want to stay current in your field, certification programs can provide focused career training and skill development for working professionals, and recent college graduates. certification programs are designed to supplement degree education.

The Certified Software Tester Program (CST)

-is appropriate for individuals who want to enter the testing field or seasoned Quality Assurance/Tester professionals seeking certification. The program focuses on the concepts of essential testing principles that are required to perform industry standard quality assurance practices.

The Certified Software Test Analyst Program (CSTA)

-is designed for individuals who want to build on their basic quality assurance knowledge. Anyone who is a Certified Software Tester qualifies for this advanced program. The program focuses on workplace processes and procedures that are related to structured and unstructured development settings.