WGU D322 Section 2

Computer engineering (CE)

Focuses on the design of hardware systems and the software that makes them work. Writes drivers for peripheral devices such as keyboards and printers. Addresses the development of solutions that use computers embedded in other devices like alarm systems, refrigerators, and self-driving cars.

Computer science (CS)

Addresses the design and implementation of software with an emphasis on developing effective ways to solve computing problems and creating new ways to use computers. It encompasses a range of computing-related tasks such as robotics, artificial intelligence, augmented reality, and algorithms designed to solve problems.

Software engineering (SE)

Focuses on the development and maintenance of reliable and efficient software systems.

Information systems (IS)

Integrate IT solutions meant to meet organizational business goals. This computing discipline addresses systems that generate, process, and distribute information and support organizational communication and collaboration, their design, and their implementation.

Information technology (IT)

Responds to the practical needs of the organization, including reliable and secure solutions that are appropriately maintained, updated, and replaced. Focuses more on the technology supporting information systems in an organization rather than the information residing on the systems or being communicated with them.

System administrator

Responsible for providing technical support for hardware and software issues end users encounter, such as log-in issues.

Network administrator

Designing, planning, setting up, and maintaining an organization's network. Responsible for the installation and maintenance of hardware and software that make up a computer network.

Database administrator

Responsible for installing and configuring databases. This position also fixes database errors and creates user accounts. May also be involved with the integration of data from older systems to newer systems and often expected to play a role in application design and development.

Security administrator

Responsible for installing, administering, and troubleshooting network security issues.

Web administrator

Responsible for troubleshooting error messages employees encounter when attempting to access their organization's website. Also responsible for tracking, compiling, and analyzing website usage data. This role reports security breaches to appropriate personnel.

Responsible for maintaining websites; installs, configures, maintains, secures, and troubleshoots the webserver.

Network architect

Responsible for designing networks and monitoring traffic. Also responsible for installing routers and modems and upgrading hardware and software that are essential for the network to function properly.

Automation architect

Responsible for modernizing business processes and developing reasons or rationales for or against a process being automated.

Cybersecurity architect

Responsible for designing, building, testing, and implementing security systems within an organization's information technology network.

Machine learning engineer

Responsible for allowing an organization to take full control of its data.

Software engineers

Design and develop software that makes hardware and software systems work, including operating systems, database systems, and embedded systems. They need to understand hardware and software.

Network engineers

Set up, configure, maintain, and upgrade systems where data resides and that support the exchange of information, including communication systems and networks. Ensure that the security of data and information is appropriate and that companies have processes and procedures in place to enable business operations to continue in the event of a disaster.

Cloud software engineers

Use their technical and analytical skills to help companies identify opportunities for migrating a part or all of their infrastructure to the cloud, supporting the more efficient use of resources and improving IT operations.

Technical support specialist

Supports, monitors, and maintains workplace technology and responds to user requests for help.

Systems analysts, Systems engineers

Investigate business problems and create information systems to provide solutions. These jobs require both business and technical knowledge and rely on effective communication to understand clients' requirements.

Data analysts

Use statistical and other quantitative methods to gain insights that support the organization's decision-making. Use their analytical expertise and presentation skills to tell the stories hidden in the data.

Security analyst

Responsible for monitoring an organization's network for security breaches.

Cybersecurity specialists

Work with organizations to keep their information systems secure and ensure integrity, confidentiality, and availability of data. They determine which users require access to what information, and then plan, coordinate, and implement information security solutions. They use their specialized expertise to help identify and protect against threats such as malware, phishing, viruses, denial-of-service attacks, and information warfare.

Technical consultants, IT consultants

Provide technical expertise by developing and implementing IT systems for external clients. Skills that are of particular importance for these roles include communication, presentation, technical and business understanding, project management, and teamwork. Consultants may work for themselves or for an organization providing third-party IT services.

Project manager

Organizes people, time, and other resources to make sure projects meet requirements and are completed on time and within budget.

Web developer

Builds and maintains websites and their infrastructure. Typically more involved with the infrastructure, such as installing web services, configuring authentication (if any), and managing database connections.

Software tester

Responsible for creating, documenting, and executing manually created test plans and procedures relating to system anomalies. They then communicate their findings to the project team to identify solutions that will mitigate the issues.

Technical Sales

IT professionals who identify and help clients adopt IT services or technologies. These positions require both technical knowledge and the ability to communicate solutions or services to an organization.

Data architecture

The infrastructure used to manage data in an organization.

IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service)

Provides access in a virtualized environment and the computing resources are composed of virtualized hardware. This includes things like network connections, virtual server space, and load balancers. Client is responsible for licensing the operating system and managing the back-end networking.

PaaS (Platform as a Service)

Customers have access to a platform that supports the development and management of web applications. Enables quicker development life cycles and reduced infrastructure requirements since the majority of processing happens in the cloud rather than on local storage and processor resources. Cloud service provider is responsible for licensing the operating systems and back-end storage and networking.

SaaS (Software as a Service)

The software is licensed to customers with subscriptions and central hosting.

capturing, analyzing, and using

The three general steps for transforming institutional knowledge into implementable data solutions.

bus, star, ring, and mesh

The most common network topology layouts.