Computer Networking 10000 Information Technology subject sub_topic A degree or certificate program in Networking & Security addresses defense procedures and protocols associated with protecting an electronic systems network from malicious content in the form of hacking, virus corruption, or spyware. Security protects individual user data in addition to the overall integrity of the network by preventing worm and virus transmission and spread, securing encryptions, isolating anomalies, and monitoring network traffic and performance. Networking & Security Administrators, Engineers, and Technicians typically have professional certification, an Associate's or Bachelor's Degrees in a related technical field, and are proficient in personal computer operation and maintenance. To learn more about education in Computer Networking Security, <b>request free information packets</b> from the schools listed below. 0 0 1 10330 <p>Computer networking professionals are greatly needed by most schools, hospitals and private enterprises alike. These professionals are responsible for maintaining, fixing and upgrading a computer network or a group of computer networks. Essentially they ensure that the technical operations of a business run smoothly. Computer networkers oversee both large-scale operations, referred to as wide area networks (WAN) and small-scale operations, referred to as local area networks (LAN). </p> <strong>Computer Networking Education </strong> <p>It used to be that you could only obtain a degree related to computer networking from a four-year institution. However, that has all changed as the need for these professionals has grown rapidly over the recent years. </p> <p>Before finding a computer-networking program you should be aware that computer networking is a broad term used to describe a very large and diverse field. Due to this most colleges and universities do not offer a degree in computer networking, but rather offer more specialized degrees that cover part of the computer networking profession. Just some of the common degrees that most colleges and universities offer that fall under the umbrella term of computer networking are: </p> <ul> <li><a href="http://www.guidetoonlineschools.com/it.html">Computer Science</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.guidetoonlineschools.com/electrical_engineering.html">Electrical and Computer Engineering</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.guidetoonlineschools.com/management_information_systems.html">Information Systems</a></li> <li>Telecommunications or Telecommunications Management</li> <li>Decision Information Sciences</li> <li>Computer Information Sciences</li> </ul> <p>While each of these degrees has their specialty, all still require students to learn basic networking skills - allowing them to choose from a wide variety of career paths. Configuring routers and switches, installing wire, network diagnostics, monitoring network activity and working with various network protocols and operating systems are all part of basic computer networking training. Just having these basic skills under your belt will qualify you for several jobs. </p> <strong>Computer Networking Careers Paths </strong> <p>One of the many reasons people choose to get a degree in a computer networking related area is because of the variety of career paths available to them. There are nearly an unlimited number of positions and industries you will be able to enter as a computer networker. Following are just a few of the main career paths for career networkers: </p> <ul> <li><a href="http://www.guidetoonlineschools.com/careers/computer-networking#network-security-administrator-career">Network Security Administrator</a>: These professionals maintain security devices such as firewall, IDS, and VPN and play an important role in protecting digitalized information from hackers. </p> </li><li><a href="http://www.guidetoonlineschools.com/careers/computer-networking#network-systems-analyst-career">Network Systems Analyst</a>: These professionals design and build specific systems of computer networks. They often specialize in certain areas such as telecommunications, business or financial systems. </p> </li><li><a href="http://www.guidetoonlineschools.com/careers/computer-networking#network-administrator-career">Network Administrator</a>: These professionals provide day-to-day support for network users in a variety of settings. They usually wear all hats when it comes to the technical side of business operations to ensure that the network runs smoothly at all times. </p> </li></ul> <strong>Computer Networking Salaries </strong> <p>Pay is quite good for computer networking professionals as the demand for positions continues to grow quickly. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual earnings of all various wage-and-salary network and computer administrators were $62,130 in May 2006. Those working for wired telecommunications carriers saw the highest earnings of all industries, while those working for public schools saw the lowest. </p> <strong>Continuing Education </strong> <p>One way to greatly further your career as a computer networker is to obtain an <a href="http://www.guidetoonlineschools.com/vocational_certification.html">IT certificate</a> in your specialty. Certifications have become increasingly sought after by employers in the information technology industry as they verify that job candidates have the skills needed to perform the required tasks. Obtaining a certification usually entails passing a very long examination. </p> <p>There are certifications for almost every aspect of computer networking, however two of the largest and most prestigious certifications are through Microsoft and Cisco. The <a href="http://www.guidetoonlineschools.com/microsoft_certification.html">Microsoft certification</a> shows employers that you are well adept to work with Microsoft workstations, software and servers. The same holds true for the <a href="http://www.guidetoonlineschools.com/cisco_certification.html">Cisco certifications</a>; Cisco is a company recognized around the world for its network equipment. </p> <p>Employers know without a doubt that certified job candidates can perform the tasks at hand. For this reason, employers will almost always hire a certified job candidate over a non-certified job candidate. It's well worth your time and effort to procure your certification once you've chosen the specialty area you'd like to work in. </p> <strong>Article References </strong><br><br> Bureau of Labor Statistics<br> <a href="http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos268.htm" target="_blank">http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos268.htm </a><br><br> Microsoft MCSE<br> <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/LEARNING/MCP/MCSE/default.mspx" target="_blank">http://www.microsoft.com/LEARNING/MCP/MCSE/default.mspx </a><br><br> Cisco Systems Certifications<br> <a href="http://www.cisco.com/web/learning/le3/learning_career_certifications_and_learning_paths_home.html" target="_blank">http://www.cisco.com</a><br><br> Information Technology Association of America<br> <a href="http://www.itaa.org/" target="_blank">http://www.itaa.org/</a><br><br> networking Computer Networking Computer Networking 10600, 10620, 10350, 10780, 10335, 10340 Accredited Computer Networking & Security Schools, Degrees, Certification 1 0