Thinking of getting an IT degree online? IT is a promising field of study for tomorrow’s professionals, preparing students with critical skills in demand for businesses in both the public and private sectors. With so much business today done on computers, from Excel to Word and Sage to Salesforce, it pays to be computer literate at the very least. Opting to earn an IT degree online provides you with the same level of expertise as in-classroom settings when you choose the right educational institution. Here’s what you’ll learn from an online IT degree.
HARDWARE AND OPERATING SYSTEMS
Students studying IT will first learn about the various hardware and operating systems used in modern computing. Without a firm grasp on these basic elements, it’s impossible to understand how devices connect and collaborate within a network. IT graduates are able to identify and place the various hardware components of modern computing devices as well as differentiate operating systems and understand how they work as the operational basis for most of the programs users depend on today.
FUNDAMENTALS OF NETWORKING
One of the most important topics you’ll cover in an online IT degree program is the fundamentals of networking, and it’s one of the core components of studying IT at Bryant and Stratton online and other comparable programs. In addition to gaining an understanding of hardware and operating systems, an online IT program teaches you how networks function within an infrastructure. It’s critical to understand how endpoints communicate with one another to facilitate the needed functionality within an organization.
NETWORKING WITH VARIOUS OPERATING SYSTEMS
Networking is not the same across the board. It works differently depending on the operating system used. LINUX/UNIX and Windows have different foundations, so it’s important to understand the differences between the two and facilitate communications between them if necessary. Without a firm grasp of the basics of how these operating systems work, it’s impossible to understand the framework within which computers based on these systems interact and connect with one another.
NETWORK SECURITY AND FORENSICS
IT professionals face security risks every day. The best online IT degree programs teach students how to prevent, identify and respond to the ever-changing threats in today’s cyber environment. Security is a top concern for many organizations today, as a single cyber-attack costs an average of $188,242 for a small to medium-sized business.
WIRELESS NETWORKS AND WAN’S
Today’s IT environments aren’t limited to the standard wired connections that were common a decade ago. Modern organizations rely on wireless networks and WAN’s to stay connected and conduct business across geographic regions. IT professionals must be proficient in managing networks, including providing appropriate access to mobile devices commonly used to conduct business today.
NETWORK DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION
IT professionals are called on to configure networks from design to implementation depending on the professional setting in which they are employed. Whether that means expanding the company’s existing IT infrastructure or creating a network from the ground up for a startup corporation, the ability to design and implement networks is a valuable skill for IT graduates.
Online degree programs are widely accepted as credible education in today’s business world. Fields such as IT are especially compatible with online delivery formats, as the majority of the areas of study focus on computers and networking. Graduates of IT degree programs are capable of developing and maintaining the complex networking systems most businesses rely on today.
