What Qualifications Do You Need to Have to Become an IT Support Technician?

Technology is hands down the ultimate game-changer revolutionizing how we interact with one another, grow businesses, and explode economies. As more and more companies are embracing technology, computers have become an integral part of every professional or firm.

But when you experience a network problem or hiccup with specific hardware or software, most people are unable to fix the problem themselves, let alone diagnose what the real issue is.

This is where we appreciate the magic hands and brains of IT support technicians who assist computer users in maintaining their computers in good working condition. Explore computer problems and find solutions.

Are you thinking of joining the tech world and becoming an IT guru? IT Support Company Fusion Computing has got you covered with this article. You need to know what the day to day responsibilities of an IT technician are and what are the necessary education and certification required for this field.

Who is an IT support technician?

Information technology (IT) support technicians are also known as computer support specialists or desktop support technicians.

An IT technician is someone who ensures computer systems are working as required, diagnose computer issues, and provide technical support. The technician also monitors computer processing systems, install and troubleshoot computer equipment, software, and programs. Technicians can also educate their clients on the skills necessary to operate new programs. Support can be provided online, over the phone, or on a face-to-face basis. They also set up computer equipment and schedule maintenance.

As an IT technician, you need to have a broad understanding of computers (the hardware and software) and how they operate, basic computer programming and operating systems. You need to be familiar with internet applications, electronic equipment, and security. Excellent communication skills are a plus considering this role requires frequent interaction with clients who have minimal technical knowledge. You’ll need to be patient and methodical, collaborate with others, and lead effectively.

Where do IT support technicians work?

So who is your potential employer? Well, IT support technicians are employed by computer software or hardware companies and work in the company’s IT department. They are also employed as resident employees in organizations that use computer systems.

Here, they assist customers with products, diagnose computer issues, and offer solutions. They also provide computer support to company employees, install equipment, and train new technicians. The technicians also oversee the proper functioning of the company’s computer equipment and services.

What qualifications do you need to be an IT support technician?

Even though a handful of techie gurus may be hired with a high school diploma, IT technicians with some level of formal training appeal to a majority of employers.

To be an IT technician, you’ll need a certificate, associate or bachelor’s degree in information technology, computer science, or computer information systems. These certifications open you up for more significant advancement opportunities.

Subjects that’ll lead you into a career in IT include computer sciences, electronics, maths, software development, and engineering. Coursework in these programs may encompass hardware configuration, computer security, and technical support. You will also learn about operating systems, database programming, and software installation.

Even though not all employers require certification from IT technicians, taking that extra step will prove your worth to the employers. And show you have the necessary skills and training to deliver on the job requirements. Certifications boost your credibility and make you an attractive prospect to employers or hiring managers. Plus even increase your pay.

Standard certifications for IT support technicians include Linux+ and A+ certifications by CompTIA, Cisco Certified Network Associate credentials and Microsoft Certified IT Professional.

If you are an IT professional pursuing information security, check out The International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium which offers a variety of certifications. You’ll also be required to have exceptional communication, analytical, teamwork, persistence, and problem-solving skills.

What is the Salary information and Career outlook?

According to the U.S Bureau of Labour and Statistics (BLS), the demand for computer support specialists is expected to grow by 11% between 2016 and 2026. Upgrades in existing computer infrastructure and systems will play a significant role in this growth. Plus the growing adoption of technology and computers by most businesses.

The BLS reported in May 2018 that computer support specialists earned $26.46 per hour in terms of the average wage. The salary of an IT support technician will vary with the employer, training, location, and level of experience but typical wages are as follows:

Level of experience Pay per annum
Entry-level IT support technician £16,000- £22,000
Experienced IT support technician £22,000- £30,000
Senior IT support technician £35,000+

Source: National Careers Service

Your salary as an IT support technician will increase over time as you build skills, experience, and knowledge.

What are the working hours of an IT support technician?

Desktop support technicians work up to 40 hours a week from Monday to Friday with some working on shifts in the evenings or over the weekends. Even though most technicians spend their time in the department’s office, they regularly visit the company’s departments to troubleshoot and fix problems. Or travel to a client’s business. They can also work remotely via phone, email, or web-based applications.

What is the career path and progression?

  • Database administration.
  • Network engineering.
  • Business or systems analysis.
  • IT project management.
  • IT security.
  • Technical sales

Several organizations offer digital careers such as;

Final note

With the recent and growing tech boon, IT support technicians are the lifeblood of today’s workforce. A knack for solving problems and exceptional customer service skills will land you favorable job prospects if you decide to be an IT support technician.

The job market is ripe, and there is a growing demand for IT technicians as technology is going nowhere. So if you want a career for the future: IT is king. Tech innovation is disrupting the world, and you don’t want to be left behind.

cloud based hosting in cloud computing

State Of Cloud Hosting Today: What You Ought To Know

Who in the IT word today is yet to catch on with the buzz regarding the cloud? Cloud computing has been growing steadily the last few years. In the near future, every startup entrepreneur will have to know their way around cloud computing to make significant headway into any market. With these trends, it is no wonder that many companies have emerged to offer cloud hosting services. A quick look at http://www.truenorthitg.com/cloud-hosting/ reveals why companies should consider cloud hosting. True North says cloud hosting allows businesses to save big while improving performance. So, if you are already sold on switching to the cloud, what are the things you ought to know? Consider the following:

Cloud hosting will lower your costs

Lowering operational costs remains the prime reason why business executives are switching to the cloud. According to available statistics, over 80% of companies that have shifted their operations to the cloud have recorded lower operational costs. It is not surprising given that companies save quite some money when they stop running their own servers under a cloud computing environment.

Cloud security concerns are still an issue

While many business organizations have shown interest in shifting to the cloud, they have shown reluctance because they are concerned about how safe their businesses would be in the cloud. Many others worry about giving up their company information and business secrets to third parties. They wonder how smart it would be to give up such sensitive information to cloud providers.

That said, anyone who has been keeping up with the developments with the cloud would tell you that the last few years have seen a drastic improvement in cloud security. Any of today’s cloud hosting provider understands that their business survival is closely linked to how well they can keep their client’s business information safe. All the same, it is the responsibility of the company seeking out a cloud services provider to do its own research before handing over their company information to another company.

Cloud hosting will increase productivity

Through the cloud, employees are able to get more work done than they would otherwise. This is because they can access company resources even on-the-go. The reduction in the time wasted during travel and the capability of working remotely using any device has been found to increase efficiency and productivity in business organizations. If your cloud hosting provider properly implements the cloud for you company, you will in a few months start to note the difference that cloud hosting brings.

App development

More Companies Now Investing In App Development

If your business is not targeting smartphone users, you are missing out on a huge market with great potential for growth. Today’s smartphone uses want to do everything using their phones: from getting directions to making purchases. What’s more, the number of smartphone users is expected to increase in months and years to come. Therefore, you should consider contacting a custom app development firm like Entrance App Development and ask for a mobile app solution for your business. Investing in app development for mobile phone users can no longer be a preserve of big corporations. To make headway in a crowded marketplace, it would serve you well to invest in mobile app development. Here’s a closer look at reasons why you should invest in app development.

Increase product accessibility

Mobile technology is the in-thing. By investing in it, you can significantly increase the number of people who interact with your product or service. Because people carry their smartphones everywhere, your product visibility will increase exponentially when you create a mobile app. It also ensures that your customers get in touch with you directly and with ease. When your customers access your product or service with ease, your brand authority improves.

Improve consumer engagement

When consumers of your product interact with your company’s product via a mobile app, there is usually increased engagement between the parties. That means you will be able to get better, more accurate data regarding your customer profiles and how they are interacting with your product. You will also receive feedback on how helpful your product is and even how you can change it to make it better for your customers. You customer profiles will go a long way in helping you create unique, bespoke solutions for you customers based on their geographical location, their online footprint, etc.

Convenience for consumers

With mobile applications, your customer is simply one click away. The nature of mobile applications is that customers can easily use them without going through third parties. By bringing your product or service directly in front of the eyes of your consumers, you give them convenience, which often results in increased sales. In addition, the flexibility of mobile applications is greater than that of websites, making it possible for you to get your customers exactly what they need exactly when they need it. Having an operational website is no longer enough. Today, in addition, you must invest in creating a user-friendly mobile application.

security systems toronto

Home Security Systems in Toronto: Your Home Might Not Be As Secure As You Think

Unless you are using home security systems in Toronto from a reputable company, the likelihood that your security system is not secure is considerably high. In today’s world, it is not enough to set up a basic security system in your home. Recent research now indicates that those basic security setups can easily be manipulated to allow unauthorized and undetected access to your home. Most security systems Toronto are automated, yet these have been found to have some fault lines that can cost you dearly.

Change your approach to home security

 

Two different groups of researchers successfully managed to work around a number of security systems that are popular with many security system buyers. Now, instead of relying on the system to be good enough to keep you safe, the right way to secure your home today is by being proactive and learning a thing or two about the best security practices.

Wireless alarm systems are insecure

 

When securing your home, you should assume that all wireless alarm systems are insecure and are therefore not good enough for your home security system. This is because the available research today shows that hackers can, without much spending, penetrate these wireless security systems Toronto.

 

Most wireless alarm systems use signals of radio frequency at entryways between their sensors. As data is transmitted using these signals, a hacker can intercept, decrypt and play the commands being transmitted. This gives the attacker the ability to suppress your home alarm when they open your front door. With access to your home, they can do everything they want to do in your house and then leave, leaving you wondering how they bypassed your security system.

 

While different security systems Toronto use different types of hardware, the general working of most of them is more or less the same. The wireless security systems Toronto that most of these alarm systems have are from the 90s. If you still want to use wireless alarms systems, then at least make sure that the one you choose does not use outdated communication systems.

Wireless systems’ limitations

 

While wireless systems are not the best way to secure your home, the bigger problem is in the user’s failure to realize their shortcomings. The assumption that the security systems Toronto are by default designed to give you the best security is what leads to your overconfidence in the system and the choice to ignore its glaring limitations. If you want a security system that can give you considerable security and a peace of mind, go for layered security.

product development

How You Can Accelerate Product Development without Compromising On Quality of Code

With the right approach, there are ways you can speed up the development of your business idea into a product without sacrificing its quality. Product development can sometimes take too long pushing you to become impatient.

Business executives are often quite impatient and can push the product development team to finalize the process faster than it may seem possible. Yet, there are certain things you can do that can accelerate the development process without compromising on the quality of the code you create.

Frequent removal of old or unused code

Many developers often integrate new features into the existing codebase. This slows down your product development. In addition, it increases the amount of money you will have to use to build new features.

This can be frustrating to a developer who is not quick to realize that the old or unused code is what is slowing down the development process. You should prioritize code cleanup on a weekly basis to allow you to do your new projects in the best possible product development environment.

Don’t shy away from exploring alternatives

There are many methods of software development. Some methodologies are better for certain types of product developments. Understanding the different approached to software development can help you identify the best method for the product you are creating.

Take time to explore what’s out there and adopt the methodologies that can help you develop your product in the shortest possible time without a compromise in the quality of your output.

Is your process clearly defined?

Defining your process will help every member of your team know exactly what comes next at every stage of development. A clearly defined process will also give you clear insight into the progress you are making and even the fault lines that are emerging in the process, giving you a chance to deal with problems such as hacking before they become a nuisance to your development process.

Test everything

Many developers skip testing as a way of speeding up the process. The problem with this is that failure to test is admitting that your code might be having some problems but you are not willing to face them. At the end of the day, the problems you refused to face during the development process will come back to haunt you at a later stage. To avoid this, test everything and identify in good time where problems might arise later during development.

Review your process

How often do you review the steps that make up your development process? A review of your process might reveal to you some things you can do to improve development. You may also find that you can do away with certain parts of the process and thereby speed product development. Inertia Engineering – www.inertiaengineering.com – helps companies make the most of their product development, including clearly defining and doing a proper cleanup of the process.

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