Wednesday 19 December 2012

The 12 Best Engineering and Information Technology Jobs

The 12 Best Engineering and Information Technology Jobs

Here is the full list of CareerCast.com’s Top 12 Best Jobs of 2012 in engineering and information technology:

1. Software Engineer

Hiring Outlook: 25.02
Work Enviornment: 41.00
Stress: 10.42
Income: $90,000
Researches, designs, develops and maintains software systems along with hardware development for medical, scientific, and industrial purposes.

2. Computer Systems Analyst

Hiring Outlook: 22.58
Work Enviornment: 47.390
Stress: 16.480
Income: $78,000
Plans and develops computer systems for businesses and scientific institutions.


3. Web Developer

Hiring Outlook: 21.49
Work Environment: 51.00
Stress: 22.79
Income: $75,000
Creating and maintaining layout, navigation, and interactivity of intranet and internet websites.

4. Petroleum Engineer

Hiring Outlook: 17.48
Work Environment: 52.06
Stress: 19.48
Income: $114,000
Plans drilling locations and effective production methods for optimal access to oil and natural gas.

5. Civil Engineer

Hiring Outlook: 18.73
Work Environment: 52.060
Stress: 22.33
Income: $77,000
Plans and supervises the building of roads, bridges, tunnels, and buildings.

6. Computer Programmer

Hiring Outlook: 11.78
Work Environment: 50.18
Stress: 11.78
Income: $71,000
Organizes and lists the instructions for computers to process data and solve problems in logical order.

7. Technical Writer

Hiring Outlook: 15.93
Work Enviornment: 65.75
Stress: 30.16
Income: $63,000
Transforms scientific and technical information into readily understandable language.

8. Nuclear Engineer

Hiring Outlook: 10.32
Work Environment: 52.06
Stress: 32.12
Income: $99,000
Conducts research, designs, and monitors the operation and maintenance of nuclear reactors and power plant equipment.

9. Aerospace Engineer

Hiring Outlook: 4.24
Work Environment: 50.06
Stress: 20.34
Income: $97,000
Designs, develops, and tests new technologies concerned with the manufacture of commercial and military aircraft and spacecraft.

10. Mechanical Engineer

Hiring Outlook: 9.03
Work Enviornment: 52.41
Stress: 22.33
Income: $78,000
Develops mechanical products and coordinates the operation and repair of power-using and power-producing machinery.

11. Electrical Engineer

Hiring Outlook: 7.39
Work Environment: 52.56
Stress: 23.39
Income: $87,000
Conducts research and plans and directs design, testing, and manufacture of electrical equipment. 

12. Industrial Designer

Hiring Outlook: 9.35
Work Environment: 48.25
Stress: 24.85
Income: $76,000
Designs and develops manufactured products. 
 
 

Eight Trends Driving the Future of Information Technology

The Future of IT


Previous


The emerging world of information technology is one in which data is king, social platforms evolve as a new source of business intelligence, and cloud computing finally delivers on IT’s role as a driver of business growth, according to a new report from Accenture (NYSE: ACN).
The identified identifies eight emerging trends that challenge long-held assumptions about IT and are poised to reshape the business landscape. The report also offers “action steps” that high performing businesses and governments can take to prepare for the new world of computing.

One of the most significant trends identified in the report finds that the age of “viewing everything through an application lens is coming to an end.” Instead, platform architectures will be selected primarily to cope with soaring volumes of data and the complexity of data management, not for their ability to support applications.
The tried and true relational database will not go away, but it will soon start to make way for other types of databases – streaming databases, for instance – that mark a significant departure from what IT departments and business users have relied on for decades.

The report also predicts the evolution of social media into social platforms. This means company websites may no longer be the first port of call for customers. This has the potential to disrupt the way companies conduct business, posing new challenges – and opportunities – for IT.
For example, “social identities” – based on the rich history of information that individuals leave in social networks – will become much more valuable to businesses than the traditional and isolated information they get when an individual registers on their corporate website.
Accenture also sees a new conversation emerging around cloud computing, which will become so pervasive that the term itself becomes superfluous. According to the report, hybrid clouds – software-as-a-service (SaaS) and platform-as-a-service (PaaS) in combination with internal applications – will “cement IT’s role as a driver of business growth.”
The focus will shift from simple infrastructure solutions to developing cloud strategies that deliver increased functionality and flexibility using a mix of public and private cloud-based application and platform services. While many challenges remain, cloud is nonetheless poised to change the face of enterprise computing.

The fortress mentality, in which all IT has to be architected to be foolproof, is giving way to a security architecture that responds proportionately to threats when and where they happen.” As a result, the role of people in data security will decline, replaced by automated capabilities that detect, assess, and respond immediately.

Individual privacy will take center stage as a result of increased government regulation and policy enforcement. The report concludes: “We expect that leading players will develop superior levels of understanding, enterprise-wide, about the distinctions between being a data processor – broadly handling the personal data of others – versus being a data controller, thus lowering the risks of unwitting breaches or privacy regulations and perceptions of privacy breakdowns.”
Companies that continue to view analytics as a simple extension of business intelligence will be “severely underestimating analytics’ potential to move the needles on the business.” Among other failings, traditional BI does not take advantage of the wealth of unstructured data that is now available. IT leaders will need to work closely with business leaders to identify where analytics can be leveraged effectively, as well as the proper mix of services required to optimize analytics capabilities across the enterprise.
Information technology is evolving from a world that is server-centric to one that is service-centric. Companies are quickly moving away from monolithic systems that were wedded to one or more servers toward finer-grained, reusable services distributed inside and outside the enterprise. The goal: to decouple infrastructure, systems, applications, and business processes from one another.
Today, business process design is driven by the need for optimization and cost reduction. Tomorrow it will be driven by the need to create superior user experiences that help to boost customer satisfaction. Great user experiences will require more layered approaches than what is typical today. As such, application design will be a multidisciplinary exercise: Typically handled today by IT architects and business owners, tomorrow it will involve optimization from the perspective of the process actor, with the emphasis on simplicity and on removing inefficiencies.




The Top 10 Information Technology Jobs

The Top 10 Information Technology Jobs
 


We all know that the IT industry is one of the hottest and most lucrative fields around these days. But do you know which specific IT jobs are considered the top 10 IT jobs? The list below details the best of the bunch and the information you’ll need to get into one of these careers yourself.




Information technology jobs are expected to increase by 37% between now and 2016.
An Overview of the Top 10 IT Jobs


Information technology jobs are big commodities now and will remain so in the future. Between now and 2016, the number of these jobs is expected to increase by 37%. The average rate of growth for jobs in general during this same time period is only projected to be 9-11%. Although job prospects will be excellent throughout the IT field, many of the best jobs are going to require higher levels of training and experience. At the top of those specific professions, however, six-figure salaries are quite common in many jobs.

The Top 10 IT Jobs

Here is some information about the top 10 IT jobs that are currently available:

• Lead Application Developer — As a lead application developer, your job is to manage the teams that are responsible for developing software. That means you can play an important role at every stage of the development process, including designing, coding, and testing the software. Generally, you will need a bachelor's degree in computer science as a minimum education requirement, and most employers will want you to have at least 3 to 5 years of experience in software development under your belt as well. On average, you can expect to earn between $80,000 and $110,000 per year in this position. Unfortunately, this is one of the few IT jobs that is expected to decline in numbers slightly in the next few years, so opportunities may not be as plentiful.

• Application Architect — When a new application is needed, the architect is the mind behind its construction. That means you'll be responsible for designing the different parts of the application, including the interface and infrastructure, based on the standards provided by the client. Although the minimum education required is a bachelor's degree in computer science, your chances of securing employment are better if you have a master's degree. You can also expect to be required to have at least 8 years experience in developing software and applications. The anticipated salary for this position is between $85,000 and $120,000. The good news is that this is going to be a fast growing field, with a current projected growth rate of over 30% over the next decade.

• Messaging Administrator — These administrators are responsible for helping companies stay in touch with one another. They handle email systems, including fixing problems with the systems and providing back-up options to ensure that none of the messages are lost. You should expect to be in demand a great deal with your employer. A few years of experience working with the same systems that your potential employer uses is highly desirable, as is at least a bachelor's degree in computer science or information systems. The salary range for messaging administrator jobs is about the same as that for application architects.

• Data Modeler — In this position, you are going to be responsible for developing models to illustrate data flow. To accomplish this goal, you will need to analyze vast sets of data requirements. Most employers are going to be looking for past experience working with data management, as well as a bachelor's degree in a computer-related field. The anticipated salary for this type of work is between $74,000 and $102,000 per year, while the anticipated growth in this area is about 38% over the next decade, which is considerably higher than average.

• Network Manager — As a network manager, you will play a crucial role in maintaining the company's networking technology. You will be required to work with other team members to make sure the network is up and running correctly at all times. Because the position is one of immense responsibility, employers want you to have at least 10 years of experience in the field, in addition to management experience. The average salary for this position is between $75,000 and $99,000 per year. Like most IT positions, job growth is expected to reach nearly 40% by 2016.

• Senior IT Auditor — For this position, you will be responsible for developing the review procedures for ensuring that the company's computer systems are meeting the industry standards. You'll establish testing and evaluation plans, as well. The position typically requires a bachelor's degree in computer science or a similar field. Most employers look for at least 5 years of experience working directly with an IT auditing team. You can earn between $86,000 and $115,000 in this position. Again, expect phenomenal job growth in this area.

The Top 10 Information Technology Jobs
For many of the top information technology jobs, six-figure salaries are common.
• Senior Web Developer — As the head web developer, you'll be responsible for handling all aspects of the process to bring your applications to the Internet. That includes working with the development and marketing staff. Most employers want to be sure that you have at least 5 years of experience working with a wide variety of web-related technologies. A degree in computer science is also necessary. The salary for this job is between $76,000 and $108,000. Again, these positions should increase by about 37% by 2016.

• Business Intelligence Analyst — In this role, your position will be to create the methods for data analysis. You'll also be responsible for a number of other issues as well, including reporting on solutions and analyzing data that can be communicated to senior management in the form of reports. You will need a bachelor's degree in a computer-related field and a number of years of direct work experience. The average salary is between $78,000 and $108,000 per year. Job growth is expected to be comparable to growth for the other IT positions.

• Staff Consultant — In this position, you'll need to work with your colleagues for project planning. Usually, you'll need to have a bachelor's degree in computer science or business. You will also need to have at least 2 years of experience in business and in consulting. The average salary for this type of job is between $60,000 and $82,000. This field is expected to increase by 78%, which is the highest rate of all the top 10 IT jobs.

• Tier 2 Help Desk — Although not one of the most prestigious of the top ten IT jobs, working at the tier 2 help desk is essential. You would take the calls that can't be solved by the Tier 1 staff, and you have to filter out the issues which require in-person service. Having past help desk experience is essential. Most employers would also like these employees to have either a two- or four-year degree in computer science. The salary for these jobs is typically between $35,000 and $46,000 per year. As more companies expand their computer and technology products, more help desk staff will be needed, so strong growth is expected.

Tuesday 18 December 2012

FortiGate Network Security Platform


                FortiGate Network Security Platform

FortiGate consolidated security platform delivers unmatched performance and protection while simplifying your network. Fortinet offers models to satisfy any deployment requirement from the FortiGate-20 series for small offices to the FortiGate-5000 series for very large enterprises, service providers and carriers. FortiGate platforms integrate the FortiOS™ operating system with FortiASIC™ processors and the latest-generation CPUs to provide comprehensive, high-performance security. Each FortiGate includes the widest range of security and networking functions on the market, including:
  • Firewall, VPN, and Traffic Shaping
  • Intrusion Prevention System (IPS)
  • Antivirus/Antispyware/Antimalware
  • Integrated Wireless Controller
  • Application Control
  • Data Loss Prevention (DLP)
  • Vulnerability Management
  • IPv6 Support
  • Web Filtering
  • Antispam
  • VoIP Support
  • Layer 2/3 Routing
  • WAN Optimization & Web Caching

FortiGate appliances provide enterprise-class protection against network, content, and application-level threats. Dynamic updates from the FortiGuard Labs global threat research team ensure your systems are protected against the latest threats. FortiGate platforms incorporate sophisticated networking features, such as high availability (active/active, active/passive) for maximum network uptime, and virtual domain (VDOM) capabilities to separate various networks requiring different security policies.

Products

FortiGate® Network Security


                FortiGate® Network Security Platform

FortiGate consolidated security platform delivers unmatched performance and protection while simplifying your network. Fortinet offers models to satisfy any deployment requirement from the FortiGate-20 series for small offices to the FortiGate-5000 series for very large enterprises, service providers and carriers. FortiGate platforms integrate the FortiOS™ operating system with FortiASIC™ processors and the latest-generation CPUs to provide comprehensive, high-performance security. Each FortiGate includes the widest range of security and networking functions on the market, including:
  • Firewall, VPN, and Traffic Shaping
  • Intrusion Prevention System (IPS)
  • Antivirus/Antispyware/Antimalware
  • Integrated Wireless Controller
  • Application Control
  • Data Loss Prevention (DLP)
  • Vulnerability Management
  • IPv6 Support
  • Web Filtering
  • Antispam
  • VoIP Support
  • Layer 2/3 Routing
  • WAN Optimization & Web Caching

FortiGate appliances provide enterprise-class protection against network, content, and application-level threats. Dynamic updates from the FortiGuard Labs global threat research team ensure your systems are protected against the latest threats. FortiGate platforms incorporate sophisticated networking features, such as high availability (active/active, active/passive) for maximum network uptime, and virtual domain (VDOM) capabilities to separate various networks requiring different security policies.

Products

FortiGate® Network Security


                FortiGate® Network Security Platform

FortiGate consolidated security platform delivers unmatched performance and protection while simplifying your network. Fortinet offers models to satisfy any deployment requirement from the FortiGate-20 series for small offices to the FortiGate-5000 series for very large enterprises, service providers and carriers. FortiGate platforms integrate the FortiOS™ operating system with FortiASIC™ processors and the latest-generation CPUs to provide comprehensive, high-performance security. Each FortiGate includes the widest range of security and networking functions on the market, including:
  • Firewall, VPN, and Traffic Shaping
  • Intrusion Prevention System (IPS)
  • Antivirus/Antispyware/Antimalware
  • Integrated Wireless Controller
  • Application Control
  • Data Loss Prevention (DLP)
  • Vulnerability Management
  • IPv6 Support
  • Web Filtering
  • Antispam
  • VoIP Support
  • Layer 2/3 Routing
  • WAN Optimization & Web Caching

FortiGate appliances provide enterprise-class protection against network, content, and application-level threats. Dynamic updates from the FortiGuard Labs global threat research team ensure your systems are protected against the latest threats. FortiGate platforms incorporate sophisticated networking features, such as high availability (active/active, active/passive) for maximum network uptime, and virtual domain (VDOM) capabilities to separate various networks requiring different security policies.

Products

How to setup FortiGate to use 3G USB mobile internet modem as the WAN connection


How to setup FortiGate to use 3G USB mobile internet modem as the WAN connection

Requirement:
  • FortiGate 50B device with FortiOS v4.0,build0320,110419 (MR2 Patch 6)
  • Huawei Mobile Connect E169 HSDPA USB stick with a SIM card for a Vodafone Mobile Connect services

Configuration steps:

  • connect the modem in the USB port on the FortiGate device and enable the modem with the following command:
    config system modem
        set status enable
    end
  • Detect the custom vendor and product ID of the USB modem with the following command:
    diagnose sys modem wireless-id
    you should get something like this:
    vendor: 0x12d1, product: 0×1003, registered: yes
    0x12d1 is the vendor ID for the Huawei, and 0×1003 is the product ID for Huawei E169, for Huawei E367a the product ID should be 0×1446 and for Huawei E367b 0×1506
  • Configure your modem interface with the following commands:
    config system modem
        set status enable
        set pin-init "at+cpin=YOUR_SIM_CARD_PIN#"
        set auto-dial enable
        set wireless-custom-vendor-id 0x12d1 (HUAWEI ID)
        set wireless-custom-product-id 0x1003 (E169 ID)
        set phone1 "*99***1#"(VODAFONE NUMBER)
        set extra-init1 "at+cgdcont=1,\"ip\",\"data.vip.hr(YOUR APN)\""
    end
  • Dial the modem with:
    execute modem dial
If you are using the web interface of your FortiGate device, when you enable the modem interface you will get Modem option under System > Network section on the left side menu. You can set up some of the options, like phone or Extra Initialization String there too. Also you can condial or hang-up your 3g connection from there too.
Web interface for modem connection