IT job market

fredlwal

So with the stock market going up and everybody talking about hiring or giving out bonuses does it look like we are about to hit a IT Gold Rush again like in the late 90s? Also I haven't gotten a certification in almost 10 years but I was definitely thinking about getting a Security + is that something I should jump on?

scaredoftests

If you want to go in that direction....

TechGromit

In my professional opinion, a Security+ should be a minimum certification requirement for everyone involved in IT. IT Security isn't just the responsibility of the Security Team, security is everyone responsibility. It's pretty difficult if not impossible to properly secure a network when other members of IT use passwords like 12345, and clicks OK on every popup box that displayed on the screen without asking Why is it asking me this. Clueless users are bad enough, we try to educate them to a minimum level of competency, IT staff should be several steps above minimum.

crimsonavenger

I don't really see a gold rush, so much as its one of the few industries that is still experiencing growth from top to bottom. For the Security+, Yeah its practically a minimum at this point, but more importantly before you even get started you might want to figure out which sector you would like to specialize in and put yourself on a track moving forward.

N7Valiant

TechGromit wrote: »

In my professional opinion, a Security+ should be a minimum certification requirement for everyone involved in IT. IT Security isn't just the responsibility of the Security Team, security is everyone responsibility. It's pretty difficult if not impossible to properly secure a network when other members of IT use passwords like 12345, and clicks OK on every popup box that displayed on the screen without asking Why is it asking me this. Clueless users are bad enough, we try to educate them to a minimum level of competency, IT staff should be several steps above minimum.

Do you really need a Security+ to know all that though? I feel like knowledge of the finer points of the operation of an IDS/IPS as well as Business Continuity and DRPs might be a tad unnecessary for those who aren't in management or direct security roles.

It might be effective enough to simply audit your employees to see who's abiding by policy.

LordQarlyn

IT is a broad field, some areas are poised for good growth, particularly IoT and the technologies for the Fourth Industrial Revolution I think will be hot, cloud computing is also probably a good area. Others, such as help desk support, system admin, will probably always be in demand but don't expect much wage growth in those fields, it's best to use them as stepping stones. Information security will probably be a strong field, as long as there are cybercriminals, the systems will need to be secured. Other than that, I don't really see IT over all as a hot field again, certainly not like it was a while ago.

yoba222

Windows didn't even have a TCP/IP stack until around Windows 95/98ish. Being able to connect a computer to the Internet on a mainstream-level happened in the 90s and there isn't any one revolutionary event quite like that happening now, regardless of stock market levels. So gold rush, certainly not on the same level as what came out of the 90s.

Security+ is definitely a good idea to freshen and sharpen the skillset, and one layer to jump on among a few others.