After all that happened in 2020, 2021 is certain to be a year of continuing changes and faster digital transformation. To stay up, IT professionals must actively seek out high-demand IT talents. Soft talents are characteristics that are inherent in your personality. They are often unteachable or tough to teach. They are necessary for interpersonal success and, in many cases, for professional success. You may be wondering what professions need the talents you naturally possess. Find out which jobs need communication, problem-solving ability, and analytical skills. Learn why IT employment may be a good match for you, but first, here are a few essential things to know about the technical skills required in IT. These in-demand skills will keep you competitive and functional for the rest of your IT career, no matter what the future brings.
Know-Hows of Cybersecurity
This year, cybersecurity has risen to the top of the list, mainly owing to the pandemic. As many companies have been forced to delay or reprioritize IT initiatives and investments, they must think more carefully about which skills will assist them in rebuilding. According to a recent International Data Corporation (IDC) study, businesses emphasize cybersecurity capabilities regardless of whether they are in the middle of an economic slump or suffering sluggish development.
Even when resources tighten, cybersecurity is an issue that cannot be overlooked. Our physical world has shrunk significantly in recent months. Still, the digital world continues to be a playground for hackers who have devised new and ingenious methods of obtaining sensitive data. The number of assaults has risen 667 percent since the epidemic began, with phishing emails increasing 667 percent since February.
Before COVID-19, cybersecurity remained a top concern. More than half of global IT decision-makers anticipate their company to invest in cybersecurity this year. And, for the sixth year in a row, cybersecurity is the most difficult recruiting sector in IT.
“As the number, frequency, and inventiveness of cybersecurity breaches increases, so does the scarcity of cybersecurity experts with the necessary capabilities to protect corporate, government, and military networks,” said Brad Puckett, Global Knowledge global portfolio director of Cybersecurity. “This worldwide scarcity of cybersecurity experts has created a high-demand market for anybody looking to take on new challenges and advance their careers.”
Expertise in Networking
As predicted by Cisco, the total number of devices linked to IP networks will be more than three times the total number of people on the planet by 2023. Network engineers and administrators will continue to be in-demand professions in the future. According to IDC, expenditure on sectors such as information technology infrastructure should not be significantly affected by a downturn in the economy.
With Cisco as the industry leader in networking and wireless technologies, it’s no surprise that IT professionals are flocking to the company to get their credentials. Cisco is the second most popular certification category in the world, behind only Microsoft and Oracle. To be more specific, 22 percent of the approximately 10,000 survey respondents who participated in our 2020 IT Skills and Salary Report had obtained at least one Cisco certification. Alternatively, you can also prepare for CompTIA a+ 220 1001 test by reviewing and taking some lessons.
Skills in Data Analytics
New information will continue to be gathered, pandemic or not. Data analysts are in high demand because businesses need people who can store and handle data. Data scientists must go into the data and comprehend how it may be utilized to solve issues and make sound choices.
However, it has proven to be a double-edged sword as companies struggle to handle the influx of new data. IDC predicts that by 2025, the globe will have produced and replicated 163 zettabytes (ZB) of data, ten times the amount created in 2016. 5 This new data is continuously being generated, posing a slew of storage and security issues that must be addressed. IT experts are urgently required to handle the exponential increase of data. It’s a significant issue in IT, and it’s made worse by the fact that decision-makers can’t find enough competent people with this particular skill set.
Over half of IT workers whose companies are presently in a slump believe that data analytics will be valuable expertise as they negotiate the path back to growth. Data analysts and scientists are already playing a significant role in the battle against COVID-19 in the health care sector.
Looking at all of the IT skills required this year may be daunting. Making a strategy to acquire the necessary technical abilities would be beneficial. First, assess your existing skills. Which of these abilities do you already have? Remove them from the list and create a new list of the capabilities you lack. While becoming competent in every talent you would benefit from possessing this year may not be feasible, it is entirely possible to add many new abilities to your CV by obtaining the appropriate IT certifications.
