Overview
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Prepare for an in-demand career in Information Technology (IT). In this program, you’ll develop a strong foundation in IT fundamentals, networking, cybersecurity, and cloud computing to get job-ready in as little as 3 months, with no prior experience or degree needed to get started.
Almost every organization, business, or individual relies on technology. A career in IT Support is about providing technological assistance to better optimize organizational efficiency. This can include troubleshooting, setting up computers, setting up network & wifi, along with providing excellent customer service.
You’ll learn the latest skills and tools used by IT support professionals including hardware and software setup, technical support, customer service, ticketing systems, service level agreements, and troubleshooting. You’ll demonstrate your knowledge of networking, security, and cloud computing, and practice analyzing user help requests and troubleshooting various issues.
When you successfully complete the program, you’ll have a portfolio of projects to demonstrate your proficiency, a Professional Certificate from IBM to showcase your job readiness to potential employers, and you’ll receive exclusive access to career support resources to help you in your job search.
Syllabus
- Course 1: Introduction to Technical Support
- Course 2: Introduction to Hardware and Operating Systems
- Course 3: Introduction to Software, Programming, and Databases
- Course 4: Introduction to Networking and Storage
- Course 5: Introduction to Cybersecurity Essentials
- Course 6: Introduction to Cloud Computing
- Course 7: Practice Exam for CompTIA Tech+ Certification
- Course 8: Technical Support (IT) Case Studies and Capstone
- Course 9: Tech Support Career Guide and Interview Preparation
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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Ready to get hands-on exploring software, programming, and databases in this comprehensive introduction to the digital technologies transforming today’s workplaces? During this course, you’ll build a strong foundation in computing platforms, software lifecycles, application compatibility, and cloud-based deployment. You’ll learn to install, manage, and secure modern web browsers using extensions and plug-ins. You’ll explore programming with coding logic and get hands-on using languages like Python. Plus, you’ll discover data and database fundamentals, including interfaces, backups, and real-world applications. You’ll also dive into cutting-edge concepts such as artificial intelligence (AI), generative AI, chatbots, and modern analytics applications. Additionally, you’ll explore data monetization strategies and gain insight into how organizations are leveraging data as an asset for growth and innovation. Throughout, you’ll get hands-on experience in labs. Then, in a final project, you’ll apply your new skills in software, programming, databases, and emerging technologies. Enroll today to build core skills you need to kickstart your career in IT!
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Ready to dive into the world of hardware and operating systems? This beginner-friendly course builds essential entry-level skills needed for roles in IT support, networking, cybersecurity, and software development. During this course, you’ll explore core computing concepts and the four functions of computing. You’ll then dive into internal hardware such as CPUs, motherboards, GPUs, memory, interfaces, ports, and peripherals. Plus, you’ll look at how modern technologies such as virtualization (including host/guest OS and hypervisors), parallel-processing GPUs, IoT devices, and VR/AR systems are transforming today’s IT environments. You’ll get hands-on with operating systems, including Windows, macOS, Linux, and mobile platforms, and practice workstation setup, configuration, acquisition, and troubleshooting just like an IT professional. Plus, you’ll look at specialized devices like wearables and e-readers to gain practical technology insights. Throughout, interactive labs help reinforce your learning. Then, in a final project, you’ll apply your new skills in real-world scenarios. This course is also part of the series to help you prepare for CompTIA Tech+ and A+ certification exams.
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Ready to build essential cybersecurity skills employers need? This beginner course introduces the foundational concepts, tools, and best practices used by cybersecurity professionals. During the course, you’ll learn to identify common threats such as data theft, tampering, phishing, and malware. You’ll discover how cyberattacks unfold and explore the physical, environmental, and access control measures used to secure devices and facilities. Plus, you’ll develop strong digital hygiene habits using secure passwords, password management techniques, and multi-factor authentication, and understand the risks of password reuse, sharing, and default credentials. You’ll also practice device hardening, use encryption tools, apply safe browsing techniques, and configure web browsers to minimize vulnerabilities. Plus, you’ll explore methods of managing and protecting confidential information to prevent identity theft and privacy breaches. Hands-on labs provide practical experience, and a final project tests your proficiency across key cybersecurity topics. Enroll now to gain the essential cybersecurity skills that will help you kickstart your IT career!
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Keen to kickstart your IT career with networking and storage skills employers need? This beginner course introduces essential IT concepts to help you diagnose and support modern systems. During this course, you’ll explore networking fundamentals such as cables, topologies, network types, and communication models and learn how data travels across wired and wireless connections using protocols and standards. You’ll dive into Wi-Fi, exploring SSID configuration, access point setup, security evolution from WEP to WPA3, and Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) features such as frequency bands and channel planning. Plus, you’ll look at NFC (near-field communication) concepts and practical applications. Next, you’ll get hands-on with device configuration and the command-line tools used to troubleshoot connectivity issues in Windows environments. You’ll look at storage essentials, exploring memory , local versus cloud options, and file, block, and object storage. Plus, you’ll learn how to select storage solutions for different networking scenarios while examining NVMe performance factors, including PCIe generations and thermal management. Enroll now to build IT skills in networking and storage employers need!
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In this IBM course, you will apply the knowledge gained from the IT Support Professional Certificate to realistic situations. This capstone course leads you through a series of technical support case studies that require hands-on work to resolve. Upon completing this course, you’ll gain an enriched perspective on employing technical support in professional settings, making you a sought-after IT professional. You’ll navigate a range of hands-on technical support labs crafted to challenge and enhance your problem-solving abilities. You’ll merge theory with practice to analyze user help requests and employ systematic troubleshooting techniques to diagnose and resolve technical issues. A comprehensive understanding of escalation protocols and adept utilization of ticketing systems and diagnostic tools will become second nature to you. You’ll examine the intricacies of hardware and software across diverse computing platforms, grasp network fundamentals, delve into security, and explore the cloud computing landscape. You will have the opportunity to sharpen your communication skills and master conflict mitigation and de-escalation techniques, culminating in a comprehensive customer service orientation. By the end of this course, you will better understand how to use your technical support skills in everyday professional settings. This course assumes that you are already familiar with IT fundamentals knowledge. If you do not have this knowledge, it is recommended that you complete the previous courses in the IBM IT Support Professional Certificate before starting this course. Learners who complete and pass all courses in the IT Support Professional Certificate will receive a 30% discount voucher for a CompTIA Certification exam.
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Technical Support professionals are in great demand! This is the first course in the IBM IT Support Professional Certificate program, designed to prepare you for a rewarding career in technical support. You will begin this self-paced course by learning what Informational Technology (IT) support is all about. You'll find out the roles and responsibilities of Technical Support professionals and become familiar with all the different career paths you can take in Technical Support. You will also hear from experts in the IT industry about getting started in the field and how you can pursue this career without prior experience or degrees. You'll also learn some basics about the technology that technical support professionals use. You will hear from industry insiders about how you can develop a customer support mindset and how to talk with customers and solve their problems. You will gain insights into performance evaluation, career paths, and the industry-recognized certifications that can propel your technical support career forward. You'll then gain a comprehensive understanding of support tools and support channels and how they streamline issue resolution. You will also learn about the importance of Service-Level Agreements (SLAs) and how they contribute to delivering exceptional support experiences. Next you will explore ticketing systems, a fundamental component of modern technical support. You'll learn about their features, benefits, and the lifecycle of a ticket or a support issue. Moreover, you'll immerse yourself in tech support methodologies, frameworks, and the art of effective documentation. The course wraps up with a project that provides you with the opportunity to use a ticketing system hands-on and simulate the work that IT Support Specialists and Helpdesk Technician’s perform.
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This course is designed to prepare you to enter the job market as a technical support specialist. It provides guidance about the regular functions and tasks of support professionals and options for career development. It explains practical techniques for creating essential job-seeking materials such as a resume and a portfolio, as well as auxiliary tools like a cover letter and an elevator pitch. You will learn how to find and assess prospective job positions, apply to them, and lay the groundwork for interviewing. You will also get inside tips and steps you can use to perform professionally and effectively at interviews. Let seasoned professionals share their experiences to help you get ahead of the competition. A note: This course often discusses technical support specialists specifically, but the majority of the content will apply to technical support specialists overall, and the terms “technical support engineer,” “help desk specialist,” “IT specialist,” and “technical support specialist” will be used interchangeably.
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CompTIA Tech+ certification is highly regarded by employers and can open the door to entry-level roles such as help desk technician or junior system administrator. This short course helps you prepare effectively for the certification exam. You’ll look at the exam eligibility requirements, sign-up process, and testing methods. You’ll be reminded of the domains covered - IT concepts and terminology, infrastructure, applications and software, software development, artificial intelligence, cloud fundamentals, database fundamentals, and security. You’ll review a sample assessment on cloud computing topics. Plus, you’ll complete a mock exam that simulates the certification exam experience. If you’re keen to give yourself a test run before you take the CompTIA Tech+ Certification exam, enroll today. Limited time offer: Receive a 30% discount voucher for the CompTIA Tech+ Certification exam! Please note: To gain the knowledge covered by this exam, we recommend that you complete either the IBM IT and Cloud Fundamentals Specialization or the IBM IT Support Professional Certificate.
Taught by
Amy Norton, IBM Skills Network Team, Rav Ahuja and Roopa Raghavan