Johannesburg, 12 Jul 2002
The management of electronic business communications and data storage, sharing and security requires a complex infrastructure of networking. It is vital that IT engineers obtain training in the basics of networking to develop and manage effective and efficient systems. This is according to Graham Vorster, Chief Technology Officer at Duxbury Networking.
Vorster says the growth areas in networking are in wireless, security and quality of service (QOS) and in order to have competency in any of these, the fundamental skills of networking are necessary before going into strategic training into specific areas.
According to research conducted by International Data Group (IDG) in the US, having professionals properly trained on the latest technologies is critical to companies that are reinventing their business models, executing Internet strategies, streamlining their supply chains, and trying to alleviate what is often the cause of their IT department`s biggest bottleneck - the shortage of skilled labour.
"As technologies converge network engineers will become more involved in issues that are not of their primary concern and a lack of knowledge will result in solutions that do not deliver as well as intended," says Vorster.
He says there are three general areas that any IT engineer should have a sound basic knowledge of, namely:
* Network operating systems, eg Novell, Microsoft, Linux;
* Networking hardware, eg routers and switches; and
* Protocols, eg TCP/IP.
"It is necessary to know what products and services are available on the market and to have a good knowledge of how they work and interact within the network," says Vorster.
He says anyone working in the IT industry or anyone thinking of entering the industry should consider their IT education from a long-term point of view. "Get the basics right and then choose a direction within one of these growth areas and focus," he says.
He points out that in the event of changes in the industry, development of technologies, or even personal interests, anyone with a good grounding in networking technologies can change course throughout their career.
"There are few experts in these fields as there is just so much to learn," he says. He advises that IT engineers do not get too niched, but learn and continue to update their knowledge and skills in the basics of networking. "Figuratively speaking, learn how to get inside a network and walk around in it."
Duxbury Networking offers training courses designed for students ranging from unskilled to professional with a view to possible international certification and accreditation on a wide range of product sets.
"We offer generic one and two day courses, with all courseware and training manuals included in the fee of R800 per day."
For more information about one and two day training courses contact, Lisa Havenga at Duxbury Networking on (011) 646-3323.