Tech Topic Connection
For my tech topic, I chose IT careers. Having a career in IT is one of my main goals I plan to achieve in the upcoming year. Selecting this topic to research will help me understand the field better and prepare me for what's to come. To pursue a career in IT, one must be multifaceted, meaning understanding the fundamentals of information technology. In our TEC101 course, we covered how computers operate, hardware components, programming languages, and how software plays a major role in developing a skill set for a career in IT. It's important to be skilled across all IT sectors because the role requires technical knowledge to troubleshoot every part of a company's technological infrastructure. IT has been this way for a long time. Back when computers were a fresh concept, they were known for making calculations (B. Jack Copeland, 2006). Computer science has always been about mathematical computation; it processes and transforms information for us. Our jobs as IT technicians are to utilize computing systems to manage information and troubleshoot the infrastructure.
Hardware infrastructure consists of several components that enable large-scale network communication. For example, a computer comprises a CPU, RAM, HDD, Motherboard, Power supply, input and output devices, and applications. It is the responsibility of the configuration specialist to determine the need for each computer and configure each accordingly based on company demands. Once the computers are set up, network infrastructure comes into play. A network administrator will design and plan complex network configurations that support the organization's goals. This means setting up network servers, switches, and routers that enable data to be sent from several endpoints. Once the network is operational, the network security specialist is responsible for ensuring the network's systems are secure. Network security consists of data encryption, firewall configuration, and intrusion detection and prevention systems.
Of course, hardware would be nothing without software supplying commands and prompts to follow. Programming languages, to put it simply, are languages developed by humans to define instructions that a computer can execute. One role of IT that offers a wide range of tasks is software development. Some examples of this role include developing application software for a business utility, automating routine tasks such as system backups, and using coding language to analyze data (Oluwaseun Dada, Abdullahi Yunusa, 2022). Software also plays a key role in database management. Database management includes data storage and retrieval, creating data models (data tables), ensuring data integrity, and ensuring data security. Database administrators work with software engineers to manage database operations. One example of this relationship is having the software engineer use SQL (Structured Query Language) to retrieve and update data in the database for the database administrator.
The field of IT is always expanding, with many roles to play. Researching the different fields of IT has given me both insight and knowledge on what to expect when pursuing this career path. While you may specialize in one sector of IT, you must always remember the basics of what makes a good IT specialist.
References:
https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/computing-history/
Comments
Post a Comment