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Look for a future in IT security
In today’s scenario, everything depends on IT. From letters to tax collections, booking the cheapest airline tickets, banking online to trading shares online, the modern world works through the ‘net’ even at the price of risking your privacy and probably your bank balance! The recent bomb blasts in cities like Mumbai, Varanasi, Jaipur and Delhi are fresh examples of the use of IT and the Internet in carrying out heinous crimes. The terrorists had hacked into Internet connections and computers of unwary citizens to set off the blasts.
The basis of an information system is the sharing and processing of information and ideas. But much as the computer rules our lives, computer-related gadgets have become soft targets for virus attacks. Hacking has become a household word with hackers today having evolved from a small group of highly specialised people writing malicious virus codes to widespread professional thieves stealing identities and assets, destroying individual lives and ruining businesses. As a result, society has come to rely more and more on information security professionals. Information security, as the name itself suggests, is therefore the discipline that deals with the security of information. It seeks to prevent unauthorised disclosure of information, whether accidental or intentional assuring the correctness, reliability, availability, safety and security for all aspects of information and information systems. Information Security is crucial for the economic well-being of all commercial enterprises and for national security as well as for the integrity of global economy. Major businesses and government departments using the Internet need to ensure Corporations need to ensure that their Internet, Intranet, VPN, network and database systems are safe. Government agencies, including the military and law enforcement agencies, need to secure themselves against cyber-terrorism and cybercrime, and to track down and prosecute hackers, fraud artists and terrorists. Financial organizations and consulting firms need security specialists to ensure protection to their clients. The growing global business environment has given way to a more integrated information system and better sharing of information. More and more organizations realise the importance of a security manager, who can help the company identify its security needs and develop policies and adapt systems that can help the company deal with the threats to its environment. Areas of expertise within information security cover a huge range of jobs, both technical and non-technical, although they are as yet limited in India mainly due to the paucity of training programmes and trained experts. They include: Getting In
If you are technically sound in IT and abreast of the technological changes then a career in IT security can certainly open up expanding career opportunities. The technical skills in this profession include good programming and analytical skills, reasonable knowledge of databases, networking and operating systems and understanding of the Operating system, IP, Routers and Switches, other networking, firewalls and content security. Security is all about problem-solving, so you need to find out how the system can be broken,
then after that, what to do to protect it and buffer it so it doesn’t happen again. You should be abreast of the technological changes since new technologies would most definitely open up new avenues of threat to an IT system. Most of all it is good to keep in mind that a lot of security is about trust, and that your personal integrity and reputation are most important to your ability to function effectively, particularly in this field. Computer graduates with a course in network administration and database administration activities like CCNA (Cisco certified network administrator), MSCNA (Microsoft certified network administrator), Solaris administrator and Oracle DBA are best suited to jobs in information security. One to two years of experience in networking and systems administration and/or database administration with some coding experience is an advantage. There are limited courses available in India and most are product-oriented courses or specialised programmes in tie-ups with foreign players. Among the better known is the Certified Information System Security Provision
(CISSP) certification, while NIIT also offers a course in Information Security Systems. Besides, there are certain specialised courses being run by companies like Cisco, Global e-Secure, Appin Online and others which help an individual trying to make a career in the security arena. Experts predict that the next two years will see a heightened frenzy of activity in terms of training the security professionals. Although majority of the organizations that hire information security professionals are in professional services, government, telecommunications, and banking, organizations of all kind and sizes, including a growing number of smaller businesses, and agencies with huge IT systems need and are hiring information security staff. With the rise of terrorist activities, security agencies like
IB, RAW, income tax, and defence organizations are also expected to witness a considerable demand for security professionals in the coming times. Besides, there are immense opportunities in the energy/oil & gas segment, hospitals, call
centres, large infrastructure projects and with large IT services and consultancies. In addition, there is scope to run an independent IT security audit service.
The salary is also expected to be high, based on requirements and criticality of the job, the starting salary in this sector ranging from Rs 2-4 lakh per annum for a technical specialist. Today there is an acute shortage of Information Security personnel. Not surprising therefore that Information Systems security is one of the hottest jobs on offer in IT. Microsoft had estimated a requirement of 2.5 million ITS Experts by 2010. According to
NASSCOM, the demand for ITS Experts in India will be 10 lakh by 2010 in India. A gaping disparity prevails in the demand and supply of well-trained professionals, so if you are looking for an IT career and have a nose for ferreting out problems, a career in information security presents huge opportunities.
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Patience, perseverance pay
No road is too tough for a young man or woman You are not a failure because you are defeated. You are a failure because you give up. Lives of many young men and women tell a story of
might-have-beens. They are bad tales of brilliant minds. Tasks half done. There is always an imaginary future right time when they will resume the unfinished task. It is an alibi. “Today circumstances are not
favourable.” Tomorrow, these may be worse. They overlook this stark reality.
Time passes Success in a career chase needs
stickability. The ability to keep going until the destination is reached. Tortoise wins the race!
It is the quality to go on with your pre-determined goals. Even when you think that you have hit a wall. Average man plus stickability can achieve what others call “miracles”. Confidence in the self, giving shoulder to the wheel, to look hopefully to future, are factors that make for successes in the world of stiff examinations and interviews. Never give up for you never know what tomorrow may throw up.
Once you expect stonewalls as part of the gameplan for success, you are on your way to success. They can be cultivated by recognition of opportunity when it comes. It must be backed up by stiff determination. You must work, harder than the man in competition with
you. Ranjan Chawla, managing director, of a company, cleared all eight papers in the chartered accountancy examination in the very first attempt, a rare feat, because he sweated over his books when others were having fun.
Perseverance can turns brilliance into genius! Ten minutes’ daily study in one week comes to 70 minutes. Multiply it with one month, one year and you will be astounded at you can achieve. Your task is made easier by zest. Add it to your work. You need willpower, to force yourself to do a thing which ought to be done. One attribute of a successful person is that he knows when to do a thing, and does it. No excuses. Keep drumming into your ears the profits that will come to you from following this regime. Think less about the ordeals that entail doing a hard job. Think more of the benefits that comes from it. Remind yourself of the rewards that will follow in the striving. There is a supreme pleasure and pride in
achievement. There are three Ps of success — patience, perseverance and persistence. Falling drops will wear the stone, goes an adage.
One dictionary meaning of perseverance is to continue trying. You find it easier
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Make way for designpreneurs!
The Union Government has announced setting up of a rolling fund at the National Design Business Incubator
(NDBI) to support young designers aspiring to become entrepreneurs. The major objective of the
NDBI, an initiative of the National Institute of Design (NID), is to kindle the spirit of innovation and pave the path for a new breed of
‘Designpreneurs’.
Lack of adequate support in pursuing their ideas into business models has so far been a debilitating factor for young designers in setting up start-up businesses in spite of excellent business ideas. This has forced most of them to take up jobs. The incubator, set up in 2005, aims to make ‘made in India, designed for the world’ a reality. The first and only design-led business incubator in the country, it helps young designers turn innovative ideas and concepts into successful competitive businesses by providing an environment where they can develop the essentials of business management skills and systems. Design and innovation are inextricably linked, the distinction between them often blurred. The design process guides the transformation of innovation into fully functional, marketable products and services. It is design which links technology to the needs and desires of markets. The need to set up a separate rolling fund has arisen especially when most of the financial institutions do not support young designers who are fresh, and first generation entrepreneurs just out of the academic institutions, without industrial experience. The government has also agreed to permit the NID faculty to have a share in their consultancy work. The pattern of consultancy sharing would be on the lines of other premier educational institutions such as IITs and
IIMs.
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Art of listening can be your passport to success
People feel elevated as you listen to them when they tell how handsome, how smart, how honest, and how intelligent they are. When you listen to a person’s ideas and opinions, you let him feel that he is wanted. Psychologically he feels secure. No one wants to be a non-entity. Even the lowliest of the peon wants to be treated as something useful. True, everyone wants to be treated as somebody. Listening skill wins you a friend for ever. It lubricates the machinery of all social relationships in general. The officer who listens to what his employees say becomes the most popular. Most of his problems are amicably solved. The employees who are allowed to give their advice on matters of importance develop their individual identity. And such employees prove much more productive and constructive. The father who keeps the doors of his mind open to his children develops excellent family relations. He makes his children feel duly valuable, who develop a sense of self-esteem. The same applies to husband, wife, relatives and friends. The more patiently one listens, the thicker the relations. One can even mend a problem person when the latter is properly listened to. When I was the head of my department, I had to see to the work of 11 competent teachers each one excelling the other. Then a new fellow joined our team. Giving a patient hearing to his views, I made him clear: “I don’t care what you “My simple four words “sufficient potential in you” sank deeply into his subconscious mind. And he really proved his mettle, giving us top positions in all four classes assigned to him. Listening helps a salesman hook a client. Example: A person approached a bike salesman who had to listen: “How can I be sure this bike suits me?” “Suits you?” queried the saleman in order to listen more. “How can I be sure this bike suits my personality?” “Suits your personality?” queried the salesman for more clarification. “I think I need something sporty!” And the salesman showed him a sporty bike and the deal was struck to the entire satisfaction of the salesman. Learning the art of listening requires tact and patience. Just make it a hobby to take interest in others’ problems. This will not only make you listen more, but will also make you forget your own problems. You will not only develop good relations with others but most of your problems would be solved automatically through relations. Learning the art of listening is a matter of practice. The more you practice, the more proficient you will become in listening. There is nothing to lose. You certainly have much more to gain!
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SEBI for investor education
The Security Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has called for better investor education and law endorsement in the capital market during 2008.
And this would be possible only if the government and financial institutions open more educational institutions to train financial professionals across the country. Presently, there is a huge demand of courses for bourses in the country. Now shortage of trained professionals in the financial markets has prompted the need for specialiised courses in the stock markets and commodity training. BLB institute of financial market have launched short term job
oriented diploma programmes and long term Post graduate diploma management and MBA programmes in financial markers. The gap in the demand and supply for trained professionals in financial markets is increasing every day with percentage of people joining the capital market And now there is need for trained professionals. The industry needs at least 1,00,000 people while there are just 20,000 professional available. The BIFM has started providing high end based practical training. They have proper lab s for software to provide students actual live trading experience. Interactive training is given to equip students with a better understanding of theoretical concepts of capital and commodity markets. The programmes in the institute provide exposure to learning analyzing and selecting stock of NSE, BSE, NCDEX and
MCX. The students get placed as dealers, jobbers, swing traders, arbitrageur, client relationship manager and commodity market dealer. More than 1000 students have been placed at the institute. Some of the top recruiters include Indiabulls, Angel Broking, IL and FS, Kotak Sedurities and Chug securities. The salary levels for freshers ranges between Rs 3 to 5
lakh annually. SEBI mush identify mischief makers and need to ensure investor education is taken in our jurisdiction said the chairman of
SEBI. The Chairman said that regulators cannot have knee jerk reactions to the developments in the markets and will have to make rules and principle based regulations to avoid any systemic risks. He further added tht we have to put in place practices that are better suited to our markets at present and world over, investors are not given the kind of attention They deserve despite the fact that they are most critical to the market. However, in India SEBI and the government have decided to make investors education the top priority in 2008. Despite the work relating to investors awareness done by organizations like SEBI, stock exchanges and investors associations, investors in general are still unaware of the risk involved in the investment in stock market instruments not to speak of their rights and obligations under the Company Act 1956 and SEBIAct 1992 and the rules and regulations framed there under and the Rules, Bye laws and Regulations of stock
exchanges. Most of them are not aware of the authorities whom they can approach for redressal of their grievance. Apart from limited advertisements, which SEBI publishes occasionally there is practically no publicity in this regading in newspapers, journals and electronic media. While this has to be regular exercise by the authorities concerned, it is equally necessary for them to come out with pamphlets in various languages priced modestly on a mass scale and made available at newspaper staff and other public places as also at the offices of various intermediaries. In the interest of investors, it is necessary to evolve suitable rules and regulations governing publications by analysts. In order to ensure that retail investors are brought back to stock market , it would be necessary to give up the book building system lock, stock and barrel, at least for some time. SEBI has also decided to prepare investoment advisors and will be trained as professionals being established on organized lines. Being more organized, entry will be restricted and the investor can now actually hold someone accountable in case something goes wrong. Some market men feel that it is about time that this rule came about , as the obvious investor ought to know who he is dealing with. There are a bit too many of your road side briefcase investment advisors out there today. It is about time that we let the investor know who he is dealing with.If merchant bankers need to be registered why should the investment advisors be let off, questions a hed of equity markets group of a leading firm of merchant Bankers in the city. This sytem might have some short term glitches, may be something like hureatcratic hassles. Loopholes will eventually be found side line dealing will be a part of it too. According to SEBI persons offering financial advice will have to be registered with SEBI and they shall not put themselves in a position of conflict of
interest with their clients. Furthermore, the advisors will have to make relevant disclosures about themselves, their operations and affiliations. Capital market regulators SEBI faces shortage of trained staff to conduct effective surveillance investigations and enforcement for market that has grown by leaps and bounds in the last five years.
SEBI lacks the required level of trained staff to conduct effective surveillance investigation and enforcement more staff and significant additional training are required. SEBI regulatory task force has not grown despite significant growth of the market and intermediaries over the past five years. Besides staff constraints,
SEBI lacks immediate access to specific information on market intermediaries the report
said. It does not have a centralized information database for several thousands of market in termediaries that can boost surveillance capacity of the regulator at a time when it is facing shortage of trained staff.
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‘Madrassa’ degrees likely to be recognised
S.C. Dhall The University Grants Commission (UGC) is understood to have asked the Association of Indian Universities to recognise degrees obtained from “madrassas” so that their students become eligible to apply for jobs with the Government of India. If okayed, only individuals holding “madrassa” degrees recognised by the state governments will be eligible to apply for government jobs. While the BA/B.Sc degree has its equivalent in the form of “Aaalim” from a madrassa, MA/M.Sc degree is equivalent to “Fazil”. “Madrassas” also have equivalents of matriculation and intermediate. Currently, nine states — Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Orissa, West Bengal, Tripura, Chhatisgarh and Assam — recognise degrees of “madrassas”. A committee headed by Jamia Milia Islamia University VC Mushirul Hasan recently submitted its findings to the ministry of human resource development and was of the opinion that the standard of education imparted in “madrassas” was on a par with that of universities. The committee was set up two years ago. As of now, only students from “madrassas” in states that recognise these degrees are eligible to apply for jobs in respective state governments.
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HDFC, ICFe tie-up on study loans
The Institute of Computer and Finance Executives (ICFe), the leading provider of training for financial sector, has formally announced its tie-up with the HDFC bank for providing study loan facility. The facility is available to the bright but economically weak students who are desirous of taking loans to undertake courses offered by ICFe. This education loan facility is available at all ICFe centres across India. ICFe imparts training in the fields of accounting, banking, insurance and financial services. ICFe already has 60 centres running in the states of Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Delhi-NCR region. Any ICFe student will be eligible for the education loan, ranging from Rs 50,000 to Rs 1,00,000 from the HDFC bank. The loan is available in easy payback instalments of 12, 24, 36 and equal monthly instalments, after the course is finished. The bank is granting the educational loan with special interest rates and without any security exclusively for ICFe. Santosh Mangal, CMD, ICFe, says on the tie-up with the HDFC bank, ‘‘Many dreams and aspirations of the bright and deserving candidates remain unfulfilled because of the lack of finances. We are happy that the HDFC bank is helping us in this initiative to develop and nurture the future of budding talent by providing them with educational loans at the best possible rates. Through this tie-up, many brilliant learners will come forward in contributing towards the Indian accountancy sector, which is in the need of sharp calculating minds.” Krishnendu Dutta, manager, Education Loans, HDFC, says, “We believe that every student has the right to better his chances professionally and we are there to assist him in this endeavour. HDFC education loans will provide an impetus to the ICFe initiative of training the students from the smaller cities and towns and from the lower income group.” Applicants for the loan would have to meet the criteria specified by the bank as per its eligibility criteria. The process is very simple and as per the usual practice and policy like handling enquires on credit documentation, collection of loan application and requisite enclosures, documents verification, execution of loan agreement from the students of ICFe. ICFe will evaluate the intent and capability of the students who are going to pursue the ICFe course in the right direction so that only the deserving and committed students get recommendation from the ICFe to get the HDFC educational loans. ICFe imparts training in the fields of accounting, banking, insurance and financial services. ICFe already has 60 centres running in the states of Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Delhi NCR region. The Institute of Computer & Finance executives (ICFe) has been in operation for the past five years and provides in-depth practical knowledge to candidates by using latest computerised techniques. The mission of the organisation is to prepare and provide competent accountants to the industry. ICFe has around 60 centers spread across India.
C2C programme to boost employability of youth
Aptech Ltd, in association with Italy’s Seven Rings International, an international training company, has launched C2C (Campus2Career) – an innovative training programme that enhances the employability of youth.
This involves the development of soft skills and essential computer knowledge to make job aspirants more “employable”. Peter Kimmel, Antionio Grasso and Ela De Prisco of Seven Rings International spoke on the need for training to equip students to enter the international job arena and emerge successful. Peter Kimmel, executive chairman of the board of Seven Rings, said, “Educational institutes contribute to learning of academics, but stops short in giving youth the communication skills and technologies that are essential in any work place. These include soft skills as well as essential computer knowledge and expertise. When students add these skills to their portfolio, they get the edge that every company seeks in its employees.” Aptech commenced its IT education and training business in 1986 and has trained over 5 million students – globally. Aptech is an ISO 9001:2000 organisation and the first IT training and education company to get this certification for Education Support Services in
1993. Aptech is a learning solutions company with two main streams of businesses – Individual training and Corporate Learning
Services. Under Individual Training, Aptech offers career and professional training in IT (Aptech Computer Education), Animation & Multimedia (Arena Animation); Certified Hardware & Networking Training (N-Power) and Aviation & Hospitality Training (Avalon
Academy). Corporate Learning Services includes Content Development (Aptech Learning Services); e-learning (onlinevarsity.com), Training & Assessment Solutions for Corporates & Institutions (Aptech Training Solutions & ATTEST) and Developer Training &
Consultancy (Synergetics). Further information can be had from www.aptech-worldwide.com.
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Scope of advertising for MBA graduate
Pervin Malhotra
Q. What is the scope of advertising for an MBA graduate? I am taking the A. Well yes if the advertising world fascinates you then you can look at the following options: That of a media planner or an advertising account executive. If you thought that the unprecedented publicity blitz for Rock On or Singh is Kingg there was certainly a well-planned method to it. In fact an entire team of professionals burnt the midnight oil diligently crafting the perfect marketing strategy for the film. Little wonder then that Bollywood's media planning strategy is being studied at the top notch B schools like the IIM's. So don't worry, you won't feel like a fish out of water if you opt for the advertising industry after completing your MBA. In the advertising industry, the media planner is responsible for placing advertisements in the right place at the right time, so that they reach the desired audience at the most economical cost. They study the viewing, reading and web-browsing habits of consumers to determine, which medium (newspapers, magazines, TV radio, Internet, hoardings) is best suited to get the client's message across. They then study the number and types of people reached by different media and calculate the total reach. With a boom in the media industry there is a great demand for media planners and analysers. Since crores of rupees are at stake taking informed decisions on the right media or a combination media platforms is the media planner's job. While a Master's degree preferably with a specialisation in marketing, advertising or maths/stats is considered ideal for a media planner. MBAs who have specialised in marketing are also in demand. If you have a background in marketing or statistics and years of experience usually fill research positions. Another closely related area is client servicing. Account executives usually work as part of the client servicing team. Their job includes collecting information about the client like the product and the company details, budgeting and the marketing goals. They then have to brief the same to the creative team, media planners and the researchers. It is their job to supervise and coordinate the work of the various production departments so that the campaign proceeds according to the plan. Throughout the project the AE works closely with the client, assisting them with Personality traits like creative ability, imagination, good communication skills, organisational skills, ability to work under pressure and analytical skills are valuable assets to stay ahead in the highly competitive ad industry. Preference is given to executives with a formal management or advertising qualification at the entry level in the agency's Client Servicing Department.
Is MBA degree the same as PGDM course?
A. According to the revised regulations of All-India Council for Technical Education
[AICTE], which regulates management education in the country, every 2-year full-time general management programme which is not affiliated to any university, must be referred to as Post-Graduate Diploma in Management
(PGDM). In addition, B-schools are required to mention the sector/branch in brackets. For instance, programmes focusing on finance will be called PGDM [Finance]. Only 2-year Management courses offered by Univs can be called MBA. Hence, even the management programmes offered by the IIMs are called PGPM because the IIMs are not a university or affiliated to any university. So these terms are merely a difference of nomenclature, and no way an indicator of the value or quality of the
programme. Also all management programmes between 1-2 years duration are treated as This means no private B-school can offer an MBA or a PGDM if the course duration is more than one year and less than two years.
Upgrading ITI skills
Q. I have been working for the last three years in a small private factory after doing my ITI Certificate course.
I am very keen to upgrade my skills but due to financial constraints, can't leave my job to do a regular diploma in engineering course in a polytechnic. Please help me. A. Here's an option that will fit you just fine! The Indira Gandhi National Open University [IGNOU] is launching a Diploma in Mechanical Engineering [DME] in January 2009. Eligibility for admission to this programme is matriculation (55%) or matriculation with an ITI Certificate/Certificate in Motorcycle Service & Repair from IGNOU. Candidates should be employed in Central or State level or public or private manufacturing industries or in other related organizations employing similar manpower or be self-employed in an equivalent capacity. The prospectus and application forms are available on payment of Rs 100 by hand and Rs 150 by post. Forms can be obtained from the Programme Coordinator [DME], Room No 104, Block -C New Academic blocks, IGNOU Campus, Maidan Garhi, New Delhi 68.
Hurry, application deadline is October 30, 2008. Details: www.ignou.ac.in.
Genetic Engineering
Q. I am studying in B.Sc. I want to do M.Sc in genetic engineering after graduation. Please some recognised universities where I can pursue MSc Genetics. A. You could look at the following universities that offer MSc Genetics in North India. The subject is also offered as a specialisation in MSc Biotech programmes. The typical eligibility for both courses is a Bachelor's degree in physical or biological sciences, biotech, agriculture, biotechnology, medicine, dentistry or veterinary sciences.
Genetics is also taught as a part of Dairy Technology courses. All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi |
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The information technology world has seen rise and fall of many jobs and careers, but one that continues to play an increasingly vital role and grow in stature is that of information security.
The computer has emerged as the largest storehouse of information and telecommunication technologies have become essential information system components. Information Systems is the written, electronic or graphical method of communicating information.
If you are aspiring to get into the civil services,
Believe it or not, the art of listening is your passport to success. It may seem difficult to learn, but once learnt, it pays dividends. It is a panacea for almost all human problems. If you really listen to what the other person has to say, you virtually make him feel important. And this is what every human being yearns for!
Q. Can you please clarify if MBA and PGDM are one and the same thing? When the course offered by the IIMs is called a Post Graduate Programme in Management, how come several private B-schools call their programmes
MBA?