How Do I Become an IT Support Professional?
Interested in learning more about becoming an IT support professional? Wondering what is the best way to attain this role? The easiest way to become an IT support professional is by taking an IT program at a trade school. So, what do you learn during this IT program?
What Do You Learn During an IT Program?
An IT program is centered around entry-level employment within the tech sector. The easiest way to look at the topics covered in an IT program is to think about the professional sector’s use of computers. Most corporate environments make use of both the Internet and Intranets. As such, everything related to Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) and Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) models is covered by an IT program.
An emphasis on the OSI and TCP/IP models provides you with the ability to both work with and fully understand various networking functions including wireless equipment, Cisco routers, and switches are covered. This ensures that you have a firm grasp of the most popular and powerful technologies to start an entry-level position as an IT support professional.
Corporate environments also need to protect their valuable data, and you can see that need mirrored in an IT program’s emphasis on network security. The course will offer information to help you understand the most common security issues and how to harden systems against them.
General system administration is also an important part of managing IT-related environments. And the IT program covers this by teaching you about the important points of IT administration. This includes advanced methods to administer desktop and server-based systems. Administration also covers the network-based versions of hardware solutions. For example, the IT program will teach network administration and network operating systems.
How Long is the IT Program?
It’s natural to wonder how long it’ll take to learn about such a wide variety of subjects. It’s true that this is a lot of information to take in, but the program is designed to teach you in the most efficient way possible. This means that you can graduate and complete an IT program in as little as 9 months, attending full-time.
An IT Program Paves the Way for Many Different Paths
An IT program is an important entry point to many professions. However, it’s also an excellent step for several different certifications. An IT program can help prepare you for certification exams, and these are some the certifications:
CompTIA A+ Certification
The CompTIA A+ certification is an excellent option for an IT support professional. The A+ certification exam is focused on during an IT program. Getting A+ certification highlights that you have mastered subjects needed for general IT management.
For example, A+ certification would show that you can work with the operating systems on both servers and desktop systems. Likewise, A+ certification covers some of the basics of the TCP/IP stack and networking functionality. All this highlights just how much overlap there is between the subject matter in an IT program and the A+ certification exam.
CompTIA Network+ Certification
The A+ certification touches on networking functions, whereas the Network+ certification takes things to the next level. Network+ assumes that you already have a basic knowledge of computational fundamentals covered in A+. It essentially builds upon that foundation to address the most advanced subjects related to networking.
The Network+ certification also covers covered in an IT-related program. In particular, you can see some overlap between networking hardware. An IT program will already prepare you to work with some of the most common and powerful routers. Likewise, you can expect to see those topics covered in the Network+ certification exam.
However, it’s important to keep in mind that networking is a huge subject unto itself. Studying networking as whole moves beyond the foundational level. So, it’s important to also work on the most advanced elements such as virtualization, cloud technologies, security, and hardening strategies.
CompTIA Security+ Certification
As the name suggests, Security+ certification covers some of the more advanced areas of cyber security. An IT program provides a foundation in cyber security. And Security+ builds upon this in a similar way to how Networking+ builds on networking fundamentals. You also find other points where an IT program prepares you for the Security+ certification. For example, the IT program provides information about security concerns related to networking, and the Security+ certification also deals with networking.
CCNA Certification
You can see why CCNA certification fits with an IT program by looking at the acronym’s components. CCNA stands for Cisco Certified Network Associate. The certification is similar in some ways to Networking+. An IT program provides all the same advantages to CCNA certification as it does Networking+ certification. However, there’s one significant addition to those benefits. An IT program puts special emphasis on Cisco hardware. Likewise, CCNA certification also gives special attention to Cisco’s routers and networking products.
CWNA Certification
CWNA, or Certified Wireless Network Administrator, you also prepare for this CWNA certification during an IT program. An IT program deals with many topics related to wireless networking. As you might expect, the Certified Wireless Network Administrator certification also deals with that subject.
The importance of an IT program’s emphasis on TCP/IP and OSI models can also be seen here. Understanding the methodology inherent to those designs helps inform how you build and work with networks. This is especially important when working with the wireless networking techniques covered by the CWNA certification.
ITIL Foundation
The ITIL Foundation certification builds upon three key concepts: Lean, Agile, and DevOps. The certification differs from the others we’ve looked at by its stronger emphasis on design and deployment. This often manifests by considering how to deploy the technologies you have considered up to this point, within a larger business environment.
The ITIL Foundation is taught during an IT program. The main point of divergence comes from asking what essentially amounts to a follow-up question. Once the ideas presented by the IT program are implemented in a business setting, how can the IT department use it to further the company’s larger business plan? As you will soon see, this is an especially important concept given the wide range of job options available to someone who’s working as an IT support professional.
Where Do IT Professionals Work?
At this point, it’s quite clear that an IT program can follow a lot of career paths, but it’s also important to consider some of the specifics of the IT industry. Where do IT support professionals typically work?
The simplest answer to the question can be found by making a small change to the question. Where do you find IT departments? Almost every company has an IT department. Consequently, an IT professional has many choices of career paths. Because almost every company has an IT department, an IT professional can work almost anywhere.
Even the exceptions to this rule open up a lot of possibilities. The main reason companies might not have an IT department is their size. Smaller companies may not have the income to devote to a full IT department. In these cases, the duties are usually outsourced to an IT firm. And, of course, those IT firms employ IT professionals. In short, IT professionals have many options do work at most companies in any industry.
Want to Learn More?
Under this Information Technology training program, you will learn Network Administration and how to build, troubleshoot and maintain computer systems. You will also learn to build networks to specifications using Cisco routers and switches. The Information Technology Support Professional program at Peloton College will prepare you to sit for the following certifications: including CompTIA A+, Network+, Security+, CCNA, CWNA and ITIL foundation certifications.
The mission of Peloton College is to be the premier provider of hands-on training and education by providing you with the necessary skills to secure occupational careers. Contact us today to learn more.
