FEATURE
G
lobally, there is a growing
requirement for qualified
IT professions. Consider the
cybersecurity domain alone – industry
giant Symantec has predicted that by
2019, there will be 1.5 million unfilled
cybersecurity jobs worldwide and a
study by Enterprise Strategy Group
(ESG) and Information Systems Security
Association (ISSA) found that 69% of the
organisations have already been impacted
by the global cybersecurity skills shortage.
With the acute shortage of skills a prime
grievance in the Middle East & Africa
(MEA), organisations must take proactive
steps to secure their digital future.
Why training matters
While the merits of on-the-job experience
cannot be overstated, training can be
the most efficient and thorough way to
rapidly ramp up technical skills – provided
of course that they’re done right, but
more on that in a bit. This is particularly
true when an organisation is looking to
utilise new technologies that require deep
domain-specific knowledge.
By undergoing training, not only do
employees become more efficient and
have a better understanding of the
technologies they work with, they can also
become more knowledgeable in front of
customers, troubleshoot better and so on.
Vendor training
Technology vendors such as Microsoft,
Cisco and SAP, for example, offer training
and certifications specific to their solutions,
aimed at helping IT professionals install
and maintain the products correctly.
Typical IT infrastructures, however,
are hybrid in nature with integrated
architectures consisting of best-in-class
products from a variety of vendors. Product
specific knowledge therefore only goes so
far, whereas domain specific knowledge
has far greater practical advantage. For
long term success, organisations should
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INTELLIGENTCIO
opt for vendor-neutral training that focuses
on principles, knowledge and capabilities.
Deciding on delivery
Next, there’s the question of the delivery
model. Today, most IT training companies
offer the choice of classroom based
instructor-led training as well as online
computer-based training, both of which
have their unique benefits. Classroom
training allows a more personal experience
as well as deeper engagement through
interaction. Trainees get a chance to
engage with their professional peers,
which enables them to network, share
experiences and learn from others.
Time, budget and geographical constraints
might, however, make it impractical to
attend classroom training, making online
training the viable alternative. In recent
years, rich-feature sets in collaboration
tools have greatly enriched the quality of
online training. This option also grants
attendees the flexibility of undertaking
the training at their own convenience
and pace with the on-demand model.
Alternatively, they could enjoy a mix of
the benefits of on-demand and classroom
style training by opting for live webcasts
that enable real-time engagement with
instructors while still allowing attendance
from the location of choice.
By undergoing
training, employees
become more
efficient, have a
better understanding
of the technologies
they’re working with
and become more
knowledgeable in
front of customers.
Irrespective of the delivery model, it
is always best to select courses based
on the specific skillsets they help hone.
While broader subject lines might serve
as a good foundation, the complexity
of IT systems today demand specific
domain-related knowledge. For example,
mobile security alone can entail
forensics, advanced development, risk
management, as well as employee
awareness and policy development.
Key selection criteria
Two vital aspects of training that are
often overlooked are the instructor
and the course’s degree of emphasis
on practical learning. This oversight is
unfortunate as these are without doubt
the factors that most impact the value
of the course. As necessary as sound
theoretical knowledge is, there is simply
no substitute for hands-on advice and
practise! And this is best facilitated when
the course is led by an instructor who is
also a working industry practitioner.
The rapid advancement of technology
has led to shorter times to market, faster
refresh cycles and an abundance of
new technology trends. An instructor
who is also an active IT professional is
on the frontlines and therefore better
placed to get students up to date on the
latest developments taking place in the
‘real world’. They are also capable of
answering questions based on experience
and not just theory.
A case for certification
A discussion on training would be
incomplete without at least brief mention
of certification. In the simplest sense,
a certification is a strong credential
indicating one’s knowledge in a specific
technology domain. While certifications
can play a key role in the advancement of
one’s professional career and prospects,
they hold many benefits for employers
too and therefore warrant investment.
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