Computer network training is one of the latest gateways to jump into the competitive IT world. Network is a media for computers to communicate with each other by sending files, instant messages and other information. This is accomplished through LAN (Local Area Network) and WAN (Wide Area Network). Nowadays, many companies use networks of computers to run their operations smoothly. So, computer networking is a good job option. Basically, there are two main networks, namely Microsoft and Novell.
Specialized degree and certificate network training programs are available through several institutions, schools and online coaching. Many schools conduct training courses as part of regular programs and vocation courses. Some of these schools have labs outside the classroom that students can attend during designated hours. Online training courses allow students to take their courses anytime, anywhere. In addition, you can purchase training courses individually or bundled, available on CD-ROM. Each regular training program extends from six months to one year.
Each networking training course comprises fundamental programs about the working plans of network, wiring and the types of software installed in computers. Normally, these basic courses run just for a few weeks. Students learn about workstations, servers, their functions, and different types of networking such as client server and peer to peer.
After the fundamental program, the training moves gradually toward the next higher part. In this phase, students can learn about individual systems and their differences. Many schools divide this phase into two operating systems, for Novell and Microsoft. Students can take either one or both. Each operating system course normally extends up to 3 months. But some schools concentrate on one system. Practical procedures such as installing workstation software, installing server software, wiring and finally, making a simple computer network are involved.
The students are prepared for the certification exams. The examination has a number of practice tests. Most centers allow their students to continue the training until they have passed the exams.
By: Ken Marlborough
Posts Tagged ‘Workstations’
Network Security at Work
January 14th, 2010
If you have a small business with a few workstations at the office, you’ll still need to take active steps in protecting your network. After all, you’ll never know what any of your employees could be up to while surfing the net. Although they wouldn’t will it to compromise the security of the network nor your business, some of them unknowingly do so due to lack of education. They may think there’s nothing wrong with clicking a link on a spam mail they got when that link would have linked them directly to a hacker’ s website. In other words, there has to be a way for employee’s browsing habits to be monitored and observed in order for your network technician to know what dangers he may be up against when it comes to keeping the network in good shape.
Moves to protect a network definitely need to be fully functional, which means they must not leave out any chance for the dangers to find their way into the network. There has to be an administrator who will be in charge solely of keeping it clean and working well. Sometimes, small businessmen take this for granted, not realizing that one false move by an uneducated or reckless employee can get all computers on the network to crash. Definitely, the administrator should be consistently what people using the network are using it for. There must be clear guidelines on the use of the Internet. In fact, Internet usage that is not directly related to the job at hand must be banned altogether to reduce the risk of compromising the network’s security.
Another step a businessman can take is to have network security experts conduct a seminar within the office to be attended by all network users. People usually put their computers or networks at risk due to the absence of knowledge about these risks. By carefully taking the time to inform employees about the dangers associated with certain Internet activities such as file-sharing using peer-to-peer sites and downloading software whose integrity is unknown. When people are aware of the presence of threats, they would usually take it upon themselves to be more careful an d conscious of their Internet activities in the future, unless the intention is really to compromise the network.
Of course, to make sure that important files are never affected and always accessible for retrieval in case problems with the computers or the network come up, it is recommended that all of such files be safeguarded with backups on a remote access server site. You’ll never know when a bug begins to strike and wipe out your entire hard drive. Just to not leave anything to chance, which could mean too great a loss, it is important to have backups all the time.
In terms of prevention of online risks, a good move would be to install an IP changing software. With this program, anyone on the network is able to surf the web with their IP address hidden. And when the IP is hidden, so is that link between the hacker and his victim.
By: Brad M Smith
