Overview
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In today’s connected world, core knowledge of IT hardware, software, networking, cybersecurity, and cloud technologies is vital for almost every function, or role within an organization. Adding storage, updating an operating system, connecting to a network, recognizing phishing, and setting up Cloud instances are some of the skills employees need or need help with. This five-course specialization provides prerequisite skills for almost all IT careers, including technical support specialist, data analyst, data scientist, AI specialist, web developer, software engineer, systems administrator, DevOps and site reliability engineer, data center technician, networking specialist, IT Manager, and cyber-security analyst.
You’ll acquire hardware, operating systems, programming, database, networking, storage, cybersecurity, and cloud computing knowledge and skills that can prepare you for an entry-level IT role or better help you understand and manage IT responsibilities within your organization.
In addition to receiving an IBM credential upon successful completion of this specialization, it provides a dual benefit of preparing you for the CompTIA IT Fundamentals (IFT+) Certification Exam, which can attest to your skills, helping you gain a competitive advantage.
This program is for beginners. To start this program, no prior IT background, programming experience, or cloud skills are required. All that's necessary is basic computer literacy.
Syllabus
Course 1: Introduction to Hardware and Operating Systems
- Offered by IBM. Get ready to enter the thriving field of Information Technology (IT), with job ready skills! This beginner friendly course ... Enroll for free.
Course 2: Introduction to Software, Programming, and Databases
- Offered by IBM. Take the next step in your IT professional journey with this self-paced, beginner friendly course! This course covers the ... Enroll for free.
Course 3: Introduction to Cloud Computing
- Offered by IBM. Start your cloud computing journey with this self-paced introductory course! Whether you need general cloud computing ... Enroll for free.
Course 4: Introduction to Networking and Storage
- Offered by IBM. Jumpstart your career in Information Technology (IT) with this beginner friendly, self-paced course! By taking this course ... Enroll for free.
Course 5: Introduction to Cybersecurity Essentials
- Offered by IBM. With this beginner friendly course, learn fundamental Cybersecurity skills that are crucial for anyone using computing ... Enroll for free.
Course 6: Practice Exam for CompTIA ITF+ Certification
- Offered by IBM. This short course from IBM will test your readiness for the CompTIA ITF+ Certification exam. Success in the CompTIA ITF+ ... Enroll for free.
- Offered by IBM. Get ready to enter the thriving field of Information Technology (IT), with job ready skills! This beginner friendly course ... Enroll for free.
Course 2: Introduction to Software, Programming, and Databases
- Offered by IBM. Take the next step in your IT professional journey with this self-paced, beginner friendly course! This course covers the ... Enroll for free.
Course 3: Introduction to Cloud Computing
- Offered by IBM. Start your cloud computing journey with this self-paced introductory course! Whether you need general cloud computing ... Enroll for free.
Course 4: Introduction to Networking and Storage
- Offered by IBM. Jumpstart your career in Information Technology (IT) with this beginner friendly, self-paced course! By taking this course ... Enroll for free.
Course 5: Introduction to Cybersecurity Essentials
- Offered by IBM. With this beginner friendly course, learn fundamental Cybersecurity skills that are crucial for anyone using computing ... Enroll for free.
Course 6: Practice Exam for CompTIA ITF+ Certification
- Offered by IBM. This short course from IBM will test your readiness for the CompTIA ITF+ Certification exam. Success in the CompTIA ITF+ ... Enroll for free.
Courses
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Start your cloud computing journey with this self-paced introductory course! Whether you need general cloud computing knowledge for school or business, or you are considering a career change, this beginner-friendly course is right for you. In this course you’ll learn about essential characteristics of cloud computing and emerging technologies supported by cloud. You’ll explore cloud service models, including Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), Software as a Service (SaaS), and Public, Private, and Hybrid deployment models. Discover the offerings of prominent cloud service providers AWS, Google, IBM, Microsoft, and others, and review cloud computing case studies. Learn about cloud adoption, blockchain, analytics, and AI. You will learn about the many components of cloud computing architecture including datacenters, availability zones, virtual machines, containers, and bare metal servers. You will also familiarize yourself with different types of cloud storage options, such as Object Storage. You’ll gain foundational knowledge of emergent cloud trends and practices including Hybrid, Multicloud, Microservices, Serverless, DevOps, Cloud Native, Application Modernization, as well as learn about cloud security and monitoring. You’ll also explore cloud computing job roles and possible career paths and opportunities. You will complete a number of labs and quizzes throughout this course to increase your understanding of course content. At the end of the course, you will complete a final project where you will deploy an application to Cloud using a serverless architecture, a valuable addition to your portfolio. After this course, check out the related courses to help you towards your new career as a cloud engineer, full stack developer, DevOps engineer, cybersecurity analyst, and others.
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Take the next step in your IT professional journey with this self-paced, beginner friendly course! This course covers the basics of software, cloud computing, web browsers, application development concepts, programming languages, and database fundamentals. You will first be introduced to computing platforms and software applications. You’ll learn about the software lifecycle, software compatibility across different platforms, and software versioning. You'll also learn about installing and managing web browsers, using extensions and plug-ins, and keeping them secure and updated. Next you will learn about basic programming concepts, coding logic, and the different programming languages like Python. You’ll move on to data and database fundamentals and learn how to use, interface with, access and backup databases. After completing this course, you'll have a better grasp of software processes and feel more confident about using and securing applications. From mobile phone operating systems to workplace database applications, this course covers a wide range of software. Discover the benefits of cloud-based technologies and see how using the cloud can help businesses create and deploy applications faster. To solidify your understanding and put your skills to the test, the course includes numerous hands-on labs. It ends with a final project where you’ll showcase your newfound expertise and demonstrate your understanding of software, programming, and databases. Enroll now to take the next step in developing expertise in IT Fundamentals.
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Get ready to enter the thriving field of Information Technology (IT), with job ready skills! This beginner friendly course provides the core hardware and operating system knowledge needed by anyone new to IT and computer hardware who wants to start a new career in technology, including IT Support, Networking, Cybersecurity, and Software Development. You will first be introduced to computing fundamentals, the four functions of computing, and the benefits of computing. You will become knowledgeable of internal computer components, including motherboards, central processing units (CPUs), memory, hard drives, expansion slots, and others. Learn to identify interfaces, ports, connectors, and peripherals. You will become familiar with tasks that IT professionals perform; including workstation procurement, workstation setup processes, configure commonly used operating system settings & screen capture commands, computer acquisition practices, and job-essential troubleshooting processes. By the end of this course, you will become knowledgeable about hardware and operating systems, mobile operating systems, interfaces and connectors, Linux, and macOS. Throughout the course you will practice what you learn using interactive exercises and hands-on labs. At the end of the course, you will have the opportunity to complete a final project where you will apply your understanding of course content. This course is also part of the series to help you prepare for CompTIA ITF+ and A+ certification exams.
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With this beginner friendly course, learn fundamental Cybersecurity skills that are crucial for anyone using computing devices and connecting to the Internet. You will first learn to recognize common security threats and risks that individuals and organizations may face, such as theft, tampering, and destruction of sensitive information. You’ll then discover the characteristics of cyber-attacks and learn how you can employ best practices to guard against them. Next, you’ll learn about the best practices against cyberattacks. These include using strong passwords, good password management, and multi-factor authentication. You’ll learn ways in which you can strengthen your security plan with techniques like device hardening, encryption and more. You’ll then learn about safe browsing practices. You’ll gain an understanding of why you must practice safe browsing; to protect yourself against hackers, phishing, identity theft, security leaks, privacy issues and more. You’ll also explore methods for securing and managing confidential information. Then, discover how to configure browsers to help reduce security breaches. Throughout this course you will complete many hands-on labs which will enhance your understanding of course material. At the end of this course, you will have the opportunity to complete a final project where you will demonstrate your proficiency in cybersecurity. Designed specifically for beginners and those who are interested in a Cybersecurity Specialist or Analyst roles as well as entry-level roles in Information Security (Infosec) engineering. This course dives into the world of cybersecurity to give you the critical skills employers need. It also supports the needs of technical and IT support roles, who can find themselves on the front lines of defense for cybersecurity issues.
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Jumpstart your career in Information Technology (IT) with this beginner friendly, self-paced course! By taking this course you will enhance your base knowledge of essential skills in networking, storage, and system administration. You'll first learn about networking fundamentals which include: network types, network cables, topologies, and models. Understand how data travels across a network, and discover how protocols and standards enable all network activity. Then, you’ll learn how to set up and configure devices and cables for both wired and wireless networks. Next, you’ll learn to diagnose and troubleshoot network connectivity issues and discover how to use command line utilities and network tools in Windows settings. After that, you’ll identify different types of storage drives and discover the difference between short-term and long-term memory. You’ll learn the features of local, offsite, and cloud storage and when to use each. And you’ll investigate file, block, and object storage and work out which cloud provider solutions work best for different networking scenarios. Videos, practice activities, and virtual hands-on labs will help you develop and apply the skills you need to diagnose and repair basic networking and storage issues so you can keep users connected and their data accessible. At the end of this course, you will complete a final quiz and assignment where you will demonstrate your understanding of the course content.
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This short course from IBM will test your readiness for the CompTIA ITF+ Certification exam. Success in the CompTIA ITF+ exam certifies candidates’ readiness to embark on a career as an IT practitioner, for example, an IT Support Specialist. In this course, you will become familiar with the eligibility requirements, sign-up process, testing methods, and the knowledge and skills related to IT fundamentals that are assessed in this examination. You will also complete a mock exam that contains the same number and type of questions as the CompTIA ITF+ Certification exam. Through this course, you will learn about the domains the ITF+ exam is based on and exam testing strategies. You will also have the opportunity to practice for the CompTIA ITF+ Certification exam. This comprehensive assessment will test your knowledge and skills in IT concepts and terminology, infrastructure, applications and software, software development, database fundamentals, and security. Additionally, the course includes a sample assessment on cloud computing topics. This course assumes that you are already familiar with IT fundamental knowledge that the ITF+ exam tests on. If you do not have this knowledge, it is recommended that you complete the courses in the IBM IT and Cloud Fundamentals Specialization, or the first six courses in the IBM IT Support Professional Certificate prior to starting this course.
Taught by
Rav Ahuja, Roopa Raghavan and Skills Network