CIO & LEADER-Issue-10-January 2018 (1)

Insight
The transformation in the world
is happening at a pace which we
have not experienced in the past.
Implementation of new cuttingedge
technology is moving out from
a drawing board stage to being
practised by organizations
TThe transformation in the world of
technology is happening at a pace
which we have not experienced in the
past. Implementation of new cuttingedge
technology is moving out from a
drawing board stage to being practiced
by organizations across the world. As
more and more organizations undertake
the process of digital transformation
to offer tech-enabled products or
services, IT roles and skills is undergoing
radical shifts, something which we
are already observing. This will affect
the tech job scenario as we move into
2018 and beyond.
In-demand IT roles have started
to shift towards including positions
focused on advanced technologies,
such as artificial intelligence (AI), augmented
and virtual reality (AR and
VR), and the Internet of Things (IoT)
along with exciting positions within
cybersecurity, cloud computing, and
network technology.
Through these observations we have
identified the following as some of the
key job roles companies require as
they transform their businesses and
processes for the future:
Cybersecurity Analyst: This individual
will manage risk for organizations
through the use of relevant tools
and techniques to gather vital endpoint
and network host data with the
goal of identifying vulnerabilities.
Network Engineer: This role will
encompass coordinating between
cloud and traditional networking
resources to make a business communicate
efficiently. They will need
to know how to map technical network
elements (e.g., a router, an edge
device, a micro datacenter) to a company’s
business needs.
Vulnerability Assessment Manager:
The role of a penetration tester
has matured. Today’s pen tester does
more than hacking a server or using
fancy security tools. Today’s pen tester
takes a responsible approach and
conducts strong, comprehensive tests
to identify – and correct – unacceptable
risks.
Technical Support Specialist: Gone
are the days when the help desk
professional fixed PCs. The world
needs more tech support specialists
than ever before: today’s tech support
engineer helps manage increasingly
complex issues involving data
management, authentication, and
network troubleshooting.
Machine Learning Engineer:
Machine learning uses sophisticated
programming, such as R and Python
to develop AI machines and systems
that can learn and apply knowledge
to perform tasks. These professionals
will also work with complex datasets
and algorithms to convert machines
to intelligent machines.
Network Analysts: Businesses are
investing more heavily in their networks
as IoT is fast becoming critical
to manufacturing tech-enabled products.
A growing number of “things”
need to be connected in an efficient
way, and that's going to be a major
driver of demand there. Network
analysts in the coming years will
combine their technical skill set with
an understanding of how to apply it
to provide real-time trending information
on network traffic, and what
those insights mean for the business.
Cloud Engineer: Almost all businesses
are mobbing their on-prem
systems to cloud and are choosing
a hybrid approach, with multiple
vendors. In the coming years, cloud
engineers will need to create solutions
which are a mix of multiple
technologies. Gone are the days when
an Amazon engineer only worked
on AWS or Microsoft engineers only
knowing Azure
–The author is Regional Director,
CompTIA India
January 2018 | CIO&LEADER
29