Career Advancement through certification programs

Certification programs are often lumped in with higher education options but a certificate is not an academic degree. A certificate is professional qualification, proof that individuals are knowledgeable and proficient in a specialized skill, trade, or profession according to standardized requirements. Standards are regulated by accredited professional organizations or associations. In some professions, certification is required for employment, similar to licensure. Licensure, however, is a legal requirement for certain professions and is regulated by the government via state agencies, primarily to ensure public safety. Registration is another form of regulation, requiring professionals to file and comply with regulatory agencies.


In many professions, certification isn't required but voluntary, a career tool, one that defines and affirms your abilities, one that allows you portability in the field, and one that can lend you a competitive edge in the workplace. Expertise and experience can be subjective, relative to the places you have worked and how your jobs functioned within individual workplaces. Certification is an objective declaration of your credentials, particularly helpful for employers that are unfamiliar with the context of your experience.


Specialization is often key to certification programs. While professionals may have earned academic degrees that prepared them for entrance into an industry or practice of a certain occupation, professional mobility and advancement is dependent on job-related expertise and discrete skill sets. An entire subset of certification is product-specific. Information technology is a field rife with certificate programs. IT professionals are pursuing certification in hardware or software specialties.


According to Quint Careers and the Career Masters Institute, certification is increasing in visibility and number in a few particular fields: Information Technology, Financial Management & Planning, Safety, Healthcare, Human Resources, Hospitality, Internal Auditing, Manufacturing, Homeland Security, Training & Instructional Design, Automotive, Administrative, Project Management, Fitness Training, and Real Estate.


Certification Program Basics


Make sure that you choose a program that is accredited within your industry. Your human resources manager may be able to provide guidance. Professional association and organization websites provide extensive resources and links to help direct you to accredited programs. ABCO Technology has a helpful list of accredited certification programs for the Information Technology industry - http://www.abcotechnology.edu

1. Pay close attention to prerequisite requirements. Enrollment in certificate programs may require a prerequisite academic degree, workplace experience or achievement, letters of recommendation, or other requirements unique to your profession.
   
2. Certification programs typically prepare students for national credentials exams. Know how and when exams are administered, if there are fees attached to exams, and whether you can retake exams in the case of poor performance.
   
3. In many professions, certification needs to be renewed after a certain amount of years, and renewal may require education upkeep.
   
4. Different programs come with different costs and fees. Comparison shop, not for a bargain but for value: the elements and benefits of a program should match the price.
   
5. Certification should directly correspond to your career. The cost and effort you put into a certificate program should be useful and resonant. Ask yourself if certification is a redundant effort, if it is a vanity effort, if it is a misdirected effort, or if it genuinely offers you a professional advantage.
   
6. Consider consulting your employer about financial assistance. Many companies have tuition reimbursement programs and even those that don't may be amenable to funding certification programs that directly boost employee expertise and job-related skills.
   
7. Certain professions lend themselves to online education. Online certification programs can provide the necessary flexibility for full-time professionals.

The New MCSE Certification and MCITP

The re-invention of MCSE back, has spawned a number of questions and concerns among students. Many students and IT professionals have contacted ABCO Technology with questions regarding the status of the MCITP Certification. I have spent a lot of time researching as much information as possible on this, and have had multiple discussions with the Microsoft Learning team to make sure that we’re sharing the most correct, up-to-date information with you. If you’re confused about the new MCSE or have questions, please contact us at (310) 216-3067 or visit our website at www.abcotechnology.com


Here is where I'll begin with what we know.

• All existing Windows Server 2008 MCITP: Server Administrators and MCITP: Enterprise Administrators have been granted the new MCSA certification for Windows Server 2008.
• The Windows Server 2008 MCSA is a requirement to achieve the new MCSE: Private Cloud certification.
• The MCSE: Private Cloud certification is the only MCSE certification which will be associated with Windows Server 2008.
• MCITP: Enterprise Administrator will remain the premier certification for Windows Server 2008.

What exactly is the new re-certification process?

• According to a historically reliable source at Microsoft, the new MCSA certifications will NOT have to re-certify because they are product specific.
• According to the same source, the new MCSE certifications will have to re-certify every 3 years, but they are looking to simplify the re-certification process.
• The explanation for creating the 3 year re-certification is that the new MCSE is not designed to be “product specific” and Microsoft sees the industry moving to a cloud based model where software and services are updated frequently.

Will Microsoft have a lineup of MCSEs?

• Microsoft claims to have an entire lineup of MCSEs which will be release in the near future.
• Many people seem to be complaining that there is not a premier level certification which is product based for the upcoming Windows Server 2012.
• Microsoft representatives are asking us to stay tuned; they believe that IT pros will all be very satisfied with the MCSEs they are going to release based on Windows Server 2012.

Let us sum it all up...


Now here’s my current overall opinion about the new certification program and how I think IT professionals should be approaching it. Overall, I am very excited about the return of the clearly branded MCSA and MCSE certifications. It clearly has a name beyond recognition amongst employers and IT professionals. If anything, I think Microsoft should have brought it back sooner. I like the fact that Microsoft has included the MCSA in the Windows Server 2008 lineup, but wish they would have come up with a better MCSE solution on Windows Server 2008 than the Private Cloud certification.

That being said, I would recommend existing MCITP professionals, especially the ones who are half way down the road to not panic and continue on their path. We all have to wait and clearly see by the beginning of next year to really see the certifications that Microsoft releases with Server 2012. Microsoft’s certification program has been around and very successful for 20 years now, and that doesn't happen by accident. I see no reason to believe it is going anywhere. Yes, I’m sure there will continue to be hiccups along the way, but Microsoft takes their certification program very seriously and will make sure it continues to succeed for many years to come.

If you are currently working toward a Microsoft certification then my clear advice is that you continue to stay the course and essentially pretend that nothing has changed. I have seen many of these types of revisions to certification programs and this is the same advice that I have always given throughout the years. I have never had a single student come back and tell me that they regretted continuing their quest toward certification. Certification has played a huge role in the correct placement of IT professionals in their careers and I don’t see that changing any time soon, even with the introduction of the new MCSE.

If you are looking for training, then I strongly suggest you contact ABCO Technology as quickly as possible and schedule your classes for MCITP before they run out. You can visit our website for more information www.abcotechnology.com or call us at (310) 216-3067.

Wear your white hat and guard your company from destructive hackers

IP theft, security breaches, HR issues, data leakage. The masterminds behind these destructive acts are far ahead of you. A solution to this expensive and time consuming problem is to hire an IT professional who can act and think like a computer hacker by applying their hacking skills to benefit and safeguard your valuable information.

Information technology infrastructure and network security has been the major concern for companies and organizations doing business over the Internet. Your company hires auditors to regularly audit accounts and monitor finance records. In the same manner organizations hire professionals to audit security policies, secure sensitive data and save their company from total disaster caused by a destructive hacker. This IT professional is known as a certified ethical hacker. You can join their ranks by reading this article.

What is the difference between a black or white hat hacker?

A black hat hacker is someone who penetrates your computer system without your permission and for the purpose of causing damage or stealing your data.

This is the definition of illegal hacking. Whereas, an ethical hacker, or white hat is a hacker, who protects your company computing system and network from those vicious hacker attacks.

The ethical hacker is employed or contracted by the business to hack into the computing system, find out the loopholes and weaknesses, and finally resolve them to keep your data and system secure. The white hat attacks your system before the black hat hacker can do damage. Hacking is a serious crime, but since the Ethical hacker is employed by the company, he has the authority to probe into your network, and that's why this type of hacking is beneficial and legal.

With the amount of cybercrimes increasing day by day, the need for trained and certified ethical hackers is rising exponentially. Businesses and organizations are looking for people who can actually think and perform like malicious hackers, to guard and protect their networks from these challenging threats. That's where ABCO Technology’s Certified Ethical Hacking EC Council course can open the doors of gainful employment for you.

Certified Ethical Hacker Training & Certification

ABCO Technology Certified Ethical Hacker Training course gives you a thorough knowledge of network security. This certification increases a large number of your networking skills in using the tools and methodologies, as used by the black hat hackers. ABCO Technology’s course is taught by seasoned security professionals, who have at least five years of Internet security experience. ABCO’s students gain expertise in real-world computer security, and they learn state-of-the-art methodologies to mitigate the different types of hack attacks. Upon the completion of this course, the students have a thorough knowledge of security systems.

This course is geared towards security officers, security experts, auditors, or anyone who deals with Internet security for a network on a regular basis.

The curriculum covers:
* Ethics and Legal Issues

* Foot printing

* Scanning

* Enumeration

* System Hacking

* Trojans and Backdoors

* Sniffers

* Denial of Service

* Social Engineering

* Session Hijacking

* Hacking Web Servers

* Web Application Vulnerabilities

* Web Based Password Cracking Techniques

* SQL Injection

* Hacking Wireless Networks

* Virus and Worms
*hacking Windows

* Hacking Novell

* Hacking Linux

* IDS, Firewalls, and Honey pots

* Buffer Overflows

* Cryptography

To be on the safe side, black hat hackers keep changing their techniques. This course keeps you abreast of the hacker’s latest tactics and the torrent of current threats your organization will face in the future.

Contact ABCO Technology to learn how this valuable certification will deliver many opportunities for employment.

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ABCO Technology gives 5 reasons for every business to have a server to increase efficiency

It’s common for small business employees to wear a number of hats in the course of the average day, from tech support to customer service to office manager, and even finding time for the job they were hired to do. That’s because small businesses need to make the most of the resources they have.

Whether it’s dealing with customers, technical issues, or other employees, it’s important for everyone involved in a small business to know where they can find the resources they need to get the job done. Investing time and energy into any task that takes away from focusing on the core business simply cannot be tolerated in a successful small business. Every month small businesses devote countless hours to tasks that drain their precious resources. Time can’t be wasted searching for the right file or form or updating PC software, for example.

Investing in a server and creating a server-based network for the small business creates a number of efficiencies. A server changes the way that small businesses handle information by making small businesses more efficient in the way they communicate with partners and employees, collaborate on projects, and secure the information that is vital to the business.

Here are five ways that buying that first server for the small business will increase efficiency and allow employees to concentrate on the core business.

1. Easier Access to Information

Once a small business grows beyond more than one person or PC, the files and data that the business depends on can become more difficult to track. Peer-to-peer networks, which are popular among small businesses without a server, only work when all of the PCs are available and connected to the network. USB drives and Web-based e-mail are popular ways to transport and store data, but they present security risks and aren’t an efficient way to find and share files.

A server provides a centralized, secure repository for all of the important files that make small businesses go. Administrators can create, edit, and delete registered users of server-based networks to help control which users have access to the information. Applications that live on servers, and the information they contain, are available to users with accounts for those applications.

Using secure remote access technologies like virtual private networks allows employees to access information from laptops when they aren’t physically in the office. The ability to remotely connect to a server-based network means even a small business with one employee can benefit from using a server if they spend a lot of time on the road, visiting clients, or working from job sites. Gaining access to e-mail and information from mobile devices like a BlackBerry or Windows Phone requires a server to manage users and security. Small business employees need to quickly and easily locate the information they need regardless of their location. Introducing a server-based network keeps information organized and accessible to those who need it with more reliability and security than peer-to-peer networks and ad hoc methods of storing information.

2. Gain Control of E-Mail

Having a server allows small businesses to create, use, and control e-mail addresses on their own domain, which gives even the smallest of businesses a more professional image than using a free e-mail service like Yahoo! or Hotmail. Small businesses can turn to a hosting provider to get e-mail using their domain name, but like any outsourcing relationship, that means giving up some amount of control.

Buying a server and hosting e-mail lets small businesses control the creation of e-mail addresses, aliases, and distribution lists. This level of control makes it easier for e-mail to grow with the company.

Even more important than the e-mail addresses is the e-mail data. Businesses of all sizes rely on e-mail for communication with employees, customers, partners, and suppliers. Maintaining control over all of those communications is not only convenient, but it has legal implications as well.

Business working in a number of industries, such as financial services and pharmaceuticals, are subject o industry and government regulations that require that they store electronic communications and make them available for legal proceedings when requested. In some instances, businesses that work with companies in these industries may be subject to these electronic discovery requirements as well.

A server allows small businesses to maintain, archive, and search their electronic communications without relying on a third party to store and retrieve the information. This data portability is important for businesses with plans to grow or working in industries with compliance regulations.

3. Better Collaboration

It’s easier than ever for people to collaborate on projects, whether they’re working with customers, partners, or co-workers. Thanks to a number of technologies, it’s entirely possible — and not really unusual — for small businesses to be run by employees working from home offices that rarely see each other in person.

E-mail is usually the method of choice for sharing documents like spreadsheets and presentation, but when it comes to collaborating on the creation of documents and files e-mail is possibly the most inefficient method of collaboration since the Pony Express.

Rather than e-mailing documents back and forth and incorporating edits, a server-based document repository that allows users to check out documents, make and track edits, and even host team workspaces creates a more efficient method of collaboration. Microsoft SharePoint is one example of an application with a document repository. Windows SharePoint Services are included with Microsoft Small Business Server software.

Small businesses that work with large files in industries like engineering, design, and media will find that a server-based repository for their CAD files, rich media designs, and audio and video files makes transporting the files easier because they’re often too big for e-mail.

A server-based repository makes collaboration more efficient whether the collaborators are across the hall or across the globe. By controlling the access and security, helping track the changes, and supplying a place on the network where collaborators can discuss ideas, a server allows collaboration to focus on the exchange of ideas and the creation of information, rather than the transporting, tracking, and storing of documents and files.

4. Centralized Data Protection

Small businesses that use peer-to-peer networks to store and share information are relying on the security of individual PCs in the organization. Using a server-based network, on the other hand, provides a secure repository for information and helps keep the entire network secure.

Data protection on a server-based network starts with user accounts, controlled by an administrator, that allow users to access the network, applications, and information. User accounts can be set to allow different levels of access, so users can only access the information they really need.

Like PCs and laptops, servers need to be defended from malicious attack. But servers can also decide which PCs, laptops, and devices can access the network. Machines that don’t meet the security bar set for the network can be denied access.

Protecting the data on the server is important because it’s often the most sensitive data in the business. Communications with customers, suppliers, and partners; information about products and services; and sensitive information about customers, including social security numbers, phone numbers, addresses, account numbers, and credit card information all need to be protected to help ensure the trust and loyalty of all parties involved. Putting this information on a secure server reduces the attack surface exposed to hackers and malware.

Centralized information is easier to protect that data that’s scattered among different PCs and storage devices. A server helps small businesses reduce their attack surface and protect their company’s information by keeping it secure and available only to users who need to access it.

5. Easier IT Management

For all of the ways computers and the Internet make it easier for small businesses to level the playing field and grow their business, PCs and laptops still require a lot of time and resources for maintenance.

Smart small businesses recognize that to run efficiently and securely, their applications need to be up to date with patches and security fixes. Applications still need to be installed on new machines, for new employees, or rolled out as they are introduced; machines need to be scanned for malware and viruses; and tech support needs to be available when there are problems.

All of these scenarios can be accomplished more efficiently with a server, especially when the small business doesn’t have a full-time IT person.

Consider the alternatives: desk-side visits for tech support and software installations, which take up valuable time and resources and increase downtime for affected employees, and relying on employees to conduct their own virus scans, and patch downloads and installations.

A server-based network can allow applications, patches, and updates to be installed remotely by an administrator. It can also allow an administrator to remotely take control of a PC to fix technical problems or install software.

Small businesses shouldn’t be worried about uptime and PC maintenance because these tasks detract from the core business. Easier IT management using a server-based network allows small businesses to make the most of their technical support resources, decreases downtime, and increases the safety of the network and information.

Summary

Small businesses don’t have the luxury of time or resources and need to make the most of what’s available to them. Adding a server to a small business creates a number of efficiencies that help manage and secure the flow of information and help small businesses concentrate on the tasks that will make money and help grow the business.  ABCO Technology offers several training courses and certifications for IT professionals to learn and administer a server based network.  For more information, please review these courses at www.abcotechnology.com/courses_home.php

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