Understanding Corporate Computing

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Course Overview

This course is aimed at those who interact with IT and need to understand the technology, terms, roles and the emerging trends. Staff such as business analysts, managers, IT staff looking for an update...... anyone looking to solidify their knowledge and address the communications gap between business and corporate IT. Possibly just as importantly for business people, the course explains many of the strategic agendas relating to IT decisions.The sessions cover the buzzwords and industry terms in areas such as open systems, centralised versus de-centralised (thin and thick clients,) the understanding of IT architectures (n-tier component and service architectures,) application integration technologies, compliance issues, outsourcing and other IT topics such as Virtualization.

The discussion brings together application software, middleware systems and underlying platforms. Core areas such as the Java 2 Enterprise Edition environment (J2EE) and the .Net platform along with strategic products such as Websphere and Weblogic are brought onto perspective. There is strong focus on eXtensible Markup Language (XML), Web Services and Service Oriented Architecture (SOA).

This is an intensive two-day set of presentations taking a holistic approach where, for example, data management may cover. databases, data life cycle, compliance, encryption needs and archiving systems. The course offers delegates the opportunity to address questions on a wide range of topics of individual relevance.

The Application Analysis and Development areas for those working in multi-tier corporate systems. The Project and Systems Management areas where a firm grasp of the methods, terms, trends and platforms are vital The Web development courses where an understanding of distributed and corporate 'back office' systems are needed

Audience

This course is aimed at those who interact with IT and need to understand the technology, terms, roles and the emerging trends. Staff such as business analysts, managers, IT staff looking for an update...... anyone looking to solidify their knowledge and address the communications gap between business and corporate IT.

Skills Gained

• recognise the architecture of IT systems and the services different areas perform
• understand the emergence of 'thin clients' and web based systems
• appreciate the range of hardware in use and the growing trend of Virtualization
• be familiar with the role of package software such as SAP, Siebel, WebSphere and the issues relating to integrating products
• be comfortable with .Net and Java / J2EE as well as current market trends
• understand databases, application servers, web servers, security, and middleware integration products and be aware of the key players
• be comfortable with issues regarding objects, development tools, methods
• realize the significance of XML, Web Services and Service Oriented Architecture (SOA)
• appreciate the techniques in effective data management relating to compliance and improving access and sharing of corporate data across and beyond the enterprise
• feel confident regarding the core working of networks, Wi-Fi 802.11 and WiMax wireless terms, mobile and internet technologies
• feel empowered by knowing the terms and understanding the agendas needed to interface with IT departments - thus closing the communication and knowledge gap

Prerequisites

• Anyone requiring an understanding or update of the 'what, why, where and who' of corporate IT systems. Those already working in departments that interface with IT will benefit in particular from the combination of IT factual information, the coverage of architectures and the explanation of trends.
• Having the need to understand the terms of modern IT and its architectures. A familiarity with the IT applications and central IT directions in your company would be very useful.

Course Outline

Evolution Towards Thin Client & The Web

Centralised mainframe departments; Ramifications of PC and Client/Server evolution and issues leading to thin client models

Core IT Issues

• The knowledge gap - business's interaction and communication with IT; Application integration; Outsourcing issues; Open systems; Centralised versus de-centralised; Legal compliance; Understanding the IT architecture

Hardware Platforms

• Establishing terms and types of hardware; Key criteria in corporate computing - scalability, availability, recovery; Clustering and RAID; Major suppliers and machines - IBM, Sun, HP, et al.; Industry norms; Impact of Intel's Itanium and Xeon-64 systems

Emerging Technologies and Trends

• Virtualization and grid computing; role of Open Systems; the position of Intel based systems; IBM v. Sun and Microsoft; position of key players - MS, Sun, et al.

Operating Systems

• Trends and influences in the industry; Position of UNIX and Linux compared to Windows, including 2003 servers; Description of these and others such as z/OS, Netware

Java / .Net Platforms, Objects and Components

• Object Orientated (OO) concepts; Comparison to components; Illustration of using components showing interfaces and use; explaination of J2EE (Java) and the Microsoft .Net environments; web technologies - Active / Java Server Pages (ASP/JSP); JavaScript, Flash.

Security

• Firewalls and security issues. Intrusion detection
• Corporate IT Architectural Layers
• Web servers, Application servers and EAI (Enterprise Application Integration); Database Servers; Explanation of what and why - scalability, independence of location and platform; 2-tier and 3-tier architectures; WebSphere, WebLogic, BizTalk and other products

XML, Middleware and Application Integration

• XML (eXtensible Markup Language) and SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocal); COM+, Corba and Java's RMI; Messaging - IBM's MQ Series
• Data Management - Sharing, Compliance and Security
• Effective data management; improving access to corporate data with an emphasis on sharing various forms of information across and beyond the enterprise; Encryption; RSA; Digital signature: Virtual Prive Networks;

Web Servics and Service Oriented Architecture (SOA)

• Web Services - publishing and consuming; thinking behind SOA; Current playes; Standards

Network Terms

• Key terms and topologies; Local area networks (LANs), Token ring, Star; Components such as hubs, routers, bridges, gateways, twisted pairs, Ethernet; Protocols such as TCP, IPX, SNA ; Wide area networks (WANs); Packet switching; Broadband; ADSL; Wireless systems; 802.11

Wi-fi and WiMax technology; Bluetooth

• Business Objects / Intelligence, Portals and Other Services
• Serving client information needs -business intelligence systems such as Business Objects; Portals; Document management;

Packages, Frameworks and Service Providers

• Use of packages such as SAP and Oracle Financials; Make or buy;
• Outsourcing; Growing role of Application Service Providers; Key participants and the current market

Databases and the Data Life Cycle

• Relational structures; Key vendors and products - Oracle, IBM, Microsoft et al; tables illustrating normalisation and SQL; the relevance of the Data Life Cycle

Mobile Computing

• Key vendors and products - wireless technologies; mobile operating systems; mobile device and smartphones; data security; applications

Understanding Corporate Computing / UCC-2