This year, the New Castle Career Center (NCCC) Computer Operations program has added an Information Technology Support specialty to help students develop the technical and customer-service skills needed to support the technology organizations rely on every day.
“Information Technology Support is being added to the Computer Operations program this year to help students prepare to build, support, and troubleshoot the technology that organizations rely on every day,” said Darrell Shawl, NCCC Computer Operations instructor. “Students will also develop the customer-service skills that set IT professionals apart.”
Preparing Students for Needed IT Careers
Nearly every organization depends on technology, creating a need for professionals who can install, maintain, troubleshoot, and support computer systems and users.
Through the Information Technology Support specialty, students can begin preparing for careers such as:
Help Desk Technician
IT Support Specialist
Desktop Support Technician
Technical Support Specialist
Service Desk Analyst
Computer User Support Specialist
Field Service Technician
IT Technician
Security Operations Center Analyst
Cybersecurity Technician
Learning How Technology and Security Work Together
Students in the new specialty will learn computer algorithms, including algorithm development and implementation using flowcharting and Unified Modeling Language (UML). They will also explore cybersecurity and information assurance, focusing on both the technical and managerial aspects of the field. Students will learn to identify security threats involving network services, devices, traffic, and data, and how to use tools to secure network communications.
This combination of IT support and cybersecurity knowledge can give students a broader understanding of the technology systems they may encounter in the workplace.
Toward the end of the school year, students will have the opportunity to take the CompTIA A+ Certification Exam, giving them a chance to demonstrate foundational IT knowledge and skills. Students also earn an Ivy Tech diploma after completing the first year, with the NCCC program covering courses like Computing Logic, Introductions to Networking, and Introduction to Cybersecurity/Information Assurance.
Learning Real-World Cybersecurity Challenges
As part of the specialty, cybersecurity will be a key topic. Students will explore security reviews and learn how to evaluate the effectiveness of security programs. They will also study how security breaches are investigated and how systems can be monitored for accuracy and abnormalities.
Additional topics will include legal, ethical, and professional issues involved in information security. Students will examine common security threats, including denial-of-service attacks, spoofing, and hijacking.
For students interested in technology, problem-solving, and working with people, the new Information Technology Support specialty offers a strong pathway into the IT field. To learn more about the Information Technology Support program, visit https://www.nccareercenter.org/o/nccc/page/computer-operations