IT Managers in Changing Tech Landscape
An information technology manager is in charge of maintaining the company's technical infrastructure. With the world going digital, every business that wishes to remain competitive needs to hire someone to manage the cyber side of their business. Here's what you need to know about the field of IT management.
Educational Requirements
IT management is a job which requires a high degree of responsibility and knowledge. To become an IT manager, you need to have a bachelor's degree in Computer Science, with knowledge of information management systems and digital solution technologies. A similar degree of equal value in the field of IT can also be used, such as an IT management bachelor degree. An MBA in computer science can also prove useful while looking for jobs in the field.
Job Experience
Landing a job leading a company's IT team requires at least five years of experience in IT systems management. Your resume should clearly reflect your experience in the field, and you need to convey to prospective employers the time you have spent personally managing central IT issues pertaining to security and maintenance.
A good IT manager should have the following qualities:
1. Communication Skills
You need to be able to communicate effectively with the team members working under you as well as the superiors whom you will report to. You should be able to conduct yourself professionally verbally and through email.
2. Effective Coordination
You need to be able to get the various IT departments to work with each other in a manner that allows for greater synergy and the ability to keep track of a problem from different angles at the same time.
3. Up-to-date Knowledge
The world of the internet is constantly changing and evolving, and as a manager, it will be your job to remain on the cusp of the changes and be aware of the latest cyber security threats and cutting-edge technologies that you can use to improve efficiency for your company's IT network.
4. Leadership Skills
You will have to lead your team of IT professionals, and they need to view you as a person with authority and control in order to follow your orders quickly and without arguments.
Cyber Security for IT Managers
A significant part of the IT manager's job description deals with managing and neutralizing security threats to the company's IT system. Within this section of your duties you will oversee the following work:
- Taking part in the building of a firewall that protects the company's network against external threats. The firewall will need to be constantly updated and strengthened against new forms of viruses and malware.
- Identifying vulnerabilities within the digital framework of the company's resources. You will need to spot areas where data leaks may occur, and take precautions against the loss of data through those areas.
- Respond to threats detected by the alarm system. You will be among the first responders to any threats the system might fall prey to. You will have to also draw up the plan to deal with the attack in a way that allows for continued safekeeping of the company data and resources against external threats.
- Testing the network systems constantly in order to ensure that all the various parts of the network are working together in harmony to protect data resources.
There are more and more new positions being created within the IT industry at all levels, and it falls to the IT managers to keep the team of professionals in check and working towards the maintenance of the company's digital network. IT managers have a full time job, and frequently work for 40 hours a week in the pursuance of their duties.
You will also be expected to attend conventions, forums, and other IT conclaves where the latest technologies from various digital sectors are on display. You will be expected to visit online sites and blogs which talk about the latest developments in the world of IT. In some cases, you might also be expected to attend seminars on leadership, communication, and other interpersonal skills that will be employed in the everyday discharge of your duties. You will be in charge of your department and will report directly to the upper echelons of authority within the company.
Excited about the field of IT management? If you're interested in earning a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration consider ECPI University for your educational needs. Be sure to contact an admissions advisor today for more information and to see if ECPI University is a good fit for you.
It could be the Best Decision You Ever Make!
DISCLAIMER – ECPI University makes no claim, warranty, or guarantee as to actual employability or earning potential to current, past or future students or graduates of any educational program we offer. The ECPI University website is published for informational purposes only. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information contained on the ECPI.edu domain; however, no warranty of accuracy is made. No contractual rights, either expressed or implied, are created by its content.
For more information about ECPI University or any of our programs click here: http://www.ecpi.edu/ or http://ow.ly/Ca1ya.