ISACA ICTA: Computing Fundamentals Online Training

The ITCA certification is an entry-level credential that proves a broad level of familiarity with the basics of IT. The ITCA is issued by the international professional organization ISACA, and it's a trusted verification of the basic skills and knowledge an entry-level IT professional needs. The ITCA is broken up into five smaller badges: computing, networking, cybersecurity, software development, and data science. You have to pass a test for each badge to earn the ITCA cert.

If you're just getting started in IT, the Computing Fundamentals badge is definitely worth it. When you're in a job search, if you have little or no prior experience and the same level of education or training as everyone else, you need something that helps you stand apart. Even just one badge can move the needle in entry-level jobs, since earning one demonstrates a commitment to professional excellence and keeping up with industry standards.

This course on computing fundamentals covers four subjects: networking, virtualization, security and computing concepts. These areas form the backbone of IT. They focus on how devices connect and communicate, how virtual environments are created, how data and systems are kept safe, and get into the heart of computation. With an understanding of these four topics, a new IT professional can manage and secure modern technology infrastructures from day 1.

The ITCA certification (all 5 badges) is definitely worth it for early-career IT professionals like first-time network administrators or systems administrators. It's a trusted credential that proves you have a solid foundation of familiarity with the basics of the IT career field. However, if you already have a year or two of experience working in IT, there might be more advanced certs that will be better for advancing your career.

Even though they're the basics, it's not always easy to learn the fundamentals of computing. Many students struggle to grasp complex topics like networking protocols, virtualization, and security principles. These can be challenging topics because they take theoretical understanding and practical application, and they're abstract concepts. This course is designed to make sure you understand the abstract as well as the concrete, and that you can actually use what you learn right away.