Four IT Players to Draft for Your Team

In March 2020, the employment world was turned completely upside down. A few held their company at bay, while the majority had to adopt telework as a new routine. Several trades did fall into both categories. In fact, IT experts may not have been researching the next COVID vaccine however, their expertise proved to be just as essential as many other professions. Even in the shadows, they were always on the frontlines to ensure that your IT infrastructure met the demand, that your tools remained on the cutting edge of technology and that the security of your system was not threatened.

4 positions to score a winning goal

In some ways, IT experts are like a hockey team. They work together passing the puck to score a goal while defending their territory. An ideal draft should feature four key players: the software engineer, the cloud specialist, the cybersecurity analyst and the IT project manager. Moreover, even though the field players may perform several tasks, each has a clear and precise role.

The Software Engineer: The Center Player

Also known as a programmer or developer, the software engineer is the main player in an offensive situation. Solid, this teammate knows how to use their imagination to establish themself in the game and stand out. Although they occupy a specific strategic position, it should be noted that there are several types of developers: front-end, back-end and full-stack. If you are interested in the technology and IT market, you have probably heard these terms before. The question is, do you really know how to differentiate them?

• The front-end developer takes care of the deployment of the graphical user interface. In other words, this developer is responsible for the visible part. This involves making sure that all graphical elements are correctly installed for optimal use of the interface. To do this, the front-end developer must master a set of tools, including the main Web languages (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) and be familiar with Angular and React, the most popular frameworks on the market.
• The back-end developer designs the functionalities of the product, making sure the hosting server, platform and database work together. To be able to do a good job, the back-end developer must be fluent in SQL, Python, JAVA and C#, which are the most commonly required languages.
• The full-stack developer, as the title suggests, is the "whole package", a combination of the latter. The full-stack developer alone has the ability to work on both the architecture and the user experience, they are the star of the game. 

To this day, software engineers occupy a key position in one’s company. During the pandemic, companies had no choice but to turn to them to strengthen or accelerate their digital shift.

The Cloud Specialist: The Winger

Although widely known as DevOps, this term is not so much a professional title as it is a philosophy, according to those who practice it. Simply put, the Cloud Specialist masters algorithms and has programming expertise that allows you to store your data outside of your organization, therefore supporting developers while helping them make decisive passes. In other words, the Cloud specialist has their head in the clouds, but feet on the ground... or skates on the ice as the analogy goes!

Some of the most popular cloud computing platforms include Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud Platform and Microsoft Azure. The ideal candidate should also be familiar with Docker, Ansible, Kubernetes and Elasticsearch.

While some organizations have been rather hesitant to take the plunge, the cloud has quickly emerged as the gateway to modernization, enabling them to achieve economies of scale, optimize their operations and facilitate the transition to a complete “work from home” or hybrid model, for those companies who have maintained this form of flexible work arrangement. The adoption of cloud computing technologies allows companies to increase their growth rate by 19.6%, according to a study by Statista and CenturyLink. Likewise, it should be noted that the province of Quebec became a global epicenter of cloud architecture, with its 45 data centers.

The Cybersecurity Analyst: The Defender

Just like a defender, the cybersecurity analyst protects their zone and does not hesitate to check an opponent on a counter attack. Their role is primarily to detect flaws in computer systems to avoid any risk of attack as well as set up a structure that will secure an organization and its customers’ sensitive data.

In addition to demonstrating an increased knowledge of security norms and standards, candidates with information security certification(s) will more likely gain the confidence of employers. Some of the most recognized certifications include: Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) and Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH).

Before the pandemic, certain organizations were faced with a completely different type of crisis: from the Cambridge Analytica controversy to the data breach at Desjardins, privacy issues and the protection of personal data has long been of top concern. While the COVID-19 health crisis reduced the interest in IT security, the issue is still relevant today and cybersecurity specialists are still in high demand. In an increasingly connected world, cybersecurity analysts are becoming the most effective remedy for computer viruses.

The IT Project Manager: The Coach

A good hockey team goes beyond the players on the ice, it extends to the quality management and guidance received from the coach. Much like the role of the IT Project Manager who orchestrates the game plan and directs the players to complete all projects on time and on budget.

A good coach must understand the rules of the game in order to guide the team and possess some technical knowledge. However, as in hockey, they must be able to face any eventualities. In fact, the player who adopts an agile philosophy based on iteration, flexibility and resourcefulness is more likely to efficiently manage time and financial priorities than an opponent who favors more traditional methods. Therefore, the manager certified in PMP, PMI or Scrum Master, where agile methods are at the center of the curriculum, is a step ahead of the others.

A study by the Project Management Institute and the Anderson Economic Group suggests that the demand for project management across all sectors will grow by 33% between now and 2027!

Let's Go for the Cup!

The expansion of e-commerce, increase of hybrid work schedules and surge of cyberattacks illustrate businesses’ growing need for IT. The prospects for this sector are therefore more than favorable. With all these players on your team, you are sure to be victorious!