Information technology (IT), as defined by the Information Technology Association of America (ITAA), is "the study, design, development, implementation, support or management of computer-based information systems, particularly software applications and computer hardware."^[1] IT deals with the use of electronic computers and computer software to convert, store, protect, process, transmit, and retrieve information.

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to information technology:

[edit] Different names

This section requires expansion.

There are different names for this during the ages or through fields. Some of theses names are:

• ICT:- Information, Communication and Technology;
• IT:- Information technology;
• DCT:- Data Communication & technology;
• CDT:- Creative digital technology;
• DT:- Design & technology;
• IDCT:- Department of information & software technology;
• Infocomm:- Communication technology;
• TelCo (phones) & CompBusiness (HW+SW) & development (SW):- sets of professions as referenced within Human Resources departments; and many more...

[edit] Branches of information technology

• Computer Science
• Information Technology - Refers to the application of computer science, that is, its use by mankind.
• Information and Communications
• Computer engineering (see also Outline of computer engineering)

This section requires expansion.

[edit] History of information technology

This section requires expansion.

Main article: History of information technology

• History of computing

[edit] Leaders in information technology

This section requires expansion.

• Information technology scholars
• Information technology companies

[edit] Certification in information technology

• Information technology scholars
• Information technology companies
• Samkit Maniar

[edit] Vendor-specific certifications

• Apple Inc. sponsors the Apple certification program^[2]
• Cisco Systems sponsors the Cisco Career Certifications program
• Citrix Systems sponsors the Citrix Certified Administrator program
• Hewlett-Packard sponsor the HP-CP certifications related to HP Technologies ^[3]
• Dell sponsors the Dell Certified Systems Expert program with Associate and Master levels ^[4]
• IBM sponsors certifications ^[5]
• Juniper Networks sponsors the Juniper Networks Technical Certification Program ^[6]
• LANDesk sponsors the Certified LANDesk Administrator and Certified LANDesk Engineer program
• Microsoft Corporation sponsors the Microsoft Certified Professional program
• MySQL (as part of Sun Microsystems now) sponsors a certification program ^[7]
• Nortel sponsors the Nortel Certifications program
• Novell sponsors a certification program
• Object Management Group sponsors the Certified Professional program for the Unified Modeling Language
• Oracle Corporation sponsors the Oracle Certification Program^[8]
• Red Hat sponsors the Red Hat Certification Program
• SAP sponsors individual training and certifications ^[9]
• SolarWinds sponsors the SolarWinds Certified Professional Program for network management ^[10]
• Sun Microsystems sponsors the Sun Certified Professional program
• Sybase sponsors the Certified Sybase Professional program
• Ubuntu, provides Ubuntu Certified Professional program
• VMware sponsors certification programs (VCP & VCDX) ^[11]
• Zend Technologies sponsors the Zend Certified Engineer program

[edit] Third-party and vendor-neutral certifications

Third-party commercial organizations and vendor neutral interest groups that sponsor certifications include:

• The BSD Certification Group Inc. A non-profit organization committed to creating and maintaining a global certification standard for system administration on BSD based operating systems.
• INFINIDOX sponsors 12 professional information security certifications.
• Basic Computer Literacy Certification
• XML Certification Program - XML Master
• eCertifications
• Certiport sponsors the Microsoft Office Specialist and IC3 certification (Internet and Computing Core).
• CompTIA (Computing Technology Industry Association) CompTIA offers 12 professional IT Certifications, validating foundation-level IT knowledge and skills.
• European Computer Driving License-Foundation sponsors the European Computer Driving License (also called International Computer Driving License) (ICDL)
• ExpertRating
• International Information and Communication Technology Council Certification Program
• ISC2 sponsors the CISSP, SSCP and other security certifications
• Linux Professional Institute
• Majinate sponsors the Accredited Symbian Developer scheme for Symbian OS
• NACSE (National Association of Communication Systems Engineers) sponsors 36 Vendor Neutral, knowledge specific, Certifications covering the 5 major IT Disciplines which are: Data Networking, Telecomm, Web Design & Development, Programming & Business Skills for IT Professionals.
• The Open Group sponsors TOGAF certification and the IT Architect Certification (ITAC) [12] and IT Specialist Certification (ITSC) [13] skills and experience based IT certifications.
• Planet3 Wireless sponsors the Certified Wireless Network Administrator (CWNA) certification [14]
• Prosoft Learning Corporation offers CIW, CCNT, CTP, AssessPrep certification tracks. Prosoft Learning
• SAGE (organization) sponsors the cSAGE program
• SANS Institute operates the Global Information Assurance Certification program
• Storage Networking Industry Association (SNIA) sponsors the SNIA Certification Program[15]

[edit] Third-party and vendor-neutral certifications

Third-party commercial organizations and vendor neutral interest groups that sponsor certifications include:

• The BSD Certification Group Inc. A non-profit organization committed to creating and maintaining a global certification standard for system administration on BSD based operating systems.
• INFINIDOX sponsors 12 professional information security certifications.
• Basic Computer Literacy Certification
• XML Certification Program - XML Master
• eCertifications
• Certiport sponsors the Microsoft Office Specialist and IC3 certification (Internet and Computing Core).
• CompTIA (Computing Technology Industry Association) CompTIA offers 12 professional IT Certifications, validating foundation-level IT knowledge and skills.
• European Computer Driving License-Foundation sponsors the European Computer Driving License (also called International Computer Driving License) (ICDL)
• ExpertRating
• International ICT Council
• ISC2 sponsors the CISSP, SSCP and other security certifications
• Linux Professional Institute
• Majinate sponsors the Accredited Symbian Developer scheme for Symbian OS
• NACSE (National Association of Communication Systems Engineers) sponsors 36 Vendor Neutral, knowledge specific, Certifications covering the 5 major IT Disciplines which are: Data Networking, Telecomm, Web Design & Development, Programming & Business Skills for IT Professionals.
• The Open Group sponsors TOGAF certification and the IT Architect Certification (ITAC) [16] and IT Specialist Certification (ITSC) [17] skills and experience based IT certifications.
• Planet3 Wireless sponsors the Certified Wireless Network Administrator (CWNA) certification [18]
• Prosoft Learning Corporation offers CIW, CCNT, CTP, AssessPrep certification tracks. Prosoft Learning
• SAGE (organization) sponsors the cSAGE program
• SANS Institute operates the Global Information Assurance Certification program
• Storage Networking Industry Association (SNIA) sponsors the SNIA Certification Program[19]

[edit] General certification

General certification of software practitioners has struggled. The ACM had a professional certification program in the early 1980s, which was discontinued due to lack of interest. Today, the IEEE is certifying software professionals, but only about 500 people have passed the exam by March 2005^[update].

• The IEEE Computer Society sponsors the Certified Software Development Professional as well as membership designations, "Senior" and "Fellow" which reflect experience and peer review qualification.
• The IET sponsors the Chartered Engineer and Incorporated Engineer, which can be ratified into the European Engineer ^[12]
• The BCS sponsors the Chartered IT Professional (CITP) programme.
• The Institute for Certification of Computing Professionals sponsors the Certified Computing Professional (CCP) and Associate Computing Professional (ACP) certifications
• The BDPA IT Institute sponsors the BDPA IT Associate (BITA), the BDPA IT Professional (BITP), and the BDPA IT Master (BITM) certifications
• The Canadian Information Processing Society sponsors the Information Systems Professional certification in Canada.
• The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants sponsors the Certified Information Technology Professional program.
• APICS establishes operations management standards and sponsors certification for Logistics ^[13]

[edit] Information systems security

In an information systems environment that requires formal security accreditation, Certification refers to the comprehensive evaluation of the technical and non-technical security features of an information system.

Certification is formally defined by Krutz and Vines as:

[edit] Software Testing

• British Computer Society
• National Software Testing Laboratories
• American Society for Quality#Certifications
• ISTQB
• CSTE

[edit] DoD Directive 8570.1

The U.S. Department of Defense Directive 8570.1, signed in August 2004, requires every full- and part-time military service member, defense contractor, civilian and foreign employee with privileged access to a DoD system, regardless of job series or occupational specialty, to obtain a commercial certification credential that has been accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

See: www.isc2.org/dodmandate/

[edit] Education

Research on college students and high school students has been done to determine “are relevant Information Technology industry certifications an asset to the teaching profession as they appear to be in the business world” (Jenkins, 2005; Potenza, 2005; Vakhitova, 2006)?

The studies investigated CIS/IT student perceptions and outcomes of certified and non-certified instructors. As observed by Adelman, many post-secondary CIS/IT faculty were unconcerned about the emergence in the 1990s of “a new, parallel universe of postsecondary credentials”, Andersson and Reimers’ found that CIS/IT students were keenly aware if their instructors had them. For example, certain certifications DOD 8570.1M are the only commercial certifications that the Department of Defense will accept towards meeting their Information Assurance hiring requirements.

The studies found a significant difference in learning outcomes between technology courses taught by certified and non-certified instructors; students whose instructors held IT industry certifications had higher levels of achievement than their non-certified peers and that college undergraduate students showed a significantly greater perception of their instructor’s effectiveness, teaching skills, professor technical expertise, and their own engagement in their classes with certified professors.

Andersson, D. (2009). Information Technology Industry Certification’s Impact on Undergraduate Student Perception of Instructor Effectiveness.

Reimers, K. (2005). Impact of Information Technology (IT) Industry Certification on the Achievement of High School Students Enrolled in Technology Courses.

[edit] Criticisms

The current proliferation of IT certifications (both offered and attained)^{[citation needed]} has led some technologists to question their value. Proprietary content that has been distributed on the Internet allows some to gain credentials without the implied depth or breadth of expertise. Certifying agencies have responded in various ways: some now incorporate hands-on elements, anti-cheating methodologies or have expanded their content. Others have expired and restructured their certificate programs, and/or raised their fees to deter abuse.

[edit] See also

Software_Testing portal

Information technology portal

[edit] External links

1. ^ http://www.itaa.org/es/docs/Information%20Technology%20Definitions.pdf | p30, Accessed March 3 2008
2. ^ [1]
3. ^ [2]
4. ^ [3]
5. ^ [4]
6. ^ [5]
7. ^ [6]
8. ^ [7]
9. ^ [8]
10. ^ By Shamus McGuillicuddy, SearchNetworking.com."SolarWinds offers network management training and certification." June 24, 2009. Retrieved August 20, 2009.
11. ^ [9]
12. ^ [10]
13. ^ [11]

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Quotations from Wikiquote
Source texts from Wikisource
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News stories from Wikinews
Learning resources from Wikiversity

• Information Technology Dictionary
• Information Technology Association of America

[edit] Internal links

Information technology portal