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According to the Pace SkillPROOF IT Index, released in April, the IT job market experienced growth in the first quarter. The report also indicated growth in the national labor market and highlighted increased demand for several specific jobs within IT.

"As we become increasingly dependent on electronic devices to shop, bank, and pay our taxes, it is self-evident that “cybersecurity matters to all of us,” Pace researchers wrote. Although the research highlights the importance of cybersecurity, it also identifies a current shortage of professionals with the security skills and knowledge to meet that demand.

The report cited statistics from the Occupational Outlook Handbook, published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, to support its findings for a positive future for IT career professionals. According to the Handbook, employment for software developers will grow 30 percent between 2010 and 2020.

Despite these concerns, The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts growth for many IT fields. Computer and information research scientists, for example, should see their employment opportunities grow 19 percent from 2010 to 2020.

The IT job market is not expected to completely recover until 2013, according to a Janco Associates 2012 IT salary survey. Although there was in an increase in system design and support service jobs, the IT industry saw a downward trend in the telecommunications field. This trend highlights a need for computing training, certification, and in-demand skills to stay competitive in the current job market.

In a recent ComputerWorld article, John Hackney, senior vice president and CIO at John Hancock Financial Services, answered several questions about finding a career in cloud computing and gave some valuable resume advice.

According to Hackney, now is a good time to become an expert in cloud technology. The current hot IT trend in the cloud is on the selling side of things. Vendors are looking for talent to design and sell their services to customers, but it won't be too long before cloud technology professionals will be just as valuable on the buying side. Companies will need experienced professionals to successfully implement cloud solutions.

Virtualization is one of the most effective methods to save costs, increase the availability, and improve agility within an organization’s infrastructure. Microsoft Hyper-V Server is the hypervisor-based server virtualization product that allows customers to consolidate workloads onto a single physical server. Some of the key features include:

A recent CRN slideshow highlighted the technological areas where Cisco is poised to make a strong impact. According to CRN, industry experts have noted that Cisco currently lacks in security solutions, but the company's senior vice president, Chris Young, is pushing more in that direction, and many analysts predict Cisco will delve into the security market.

One of the areas Cisco has already shown rapid progress in is cloud computing, with its announcement of Cloud Connect last month, and the launch of its Cloud Channel partner program.

IT professionals may want to take note of Cisco's focus on the cloud and look for IT training programs that teach cloud skills. A recent InfoWorld article highlighted a high demand for cloud knowledge, but indicated there are not currently enough cloud-trained professionals to address this demand.

CRN also highlighted another current Cisco trend of focusing on partner-centric programs to establish a greater presence in SMBs. According to Andrew Sage, VP of worldwide partner-led, told CRN that these partner programs have become a crucial element in Cisco's strategy.

Security and application access are top concerns for professionals transitioning to cloud-based technology, according to the 2012 Cisco Global Cloud Networking Survey. The survey of 1,300 IT professionals found 72 percent of respondents ranked data protection as a top priority, followed by reliability of cloud applications at 67 percent. Respondents indicated that a lack of planning could extend the process of cloud migration.

Chief information officers play a vital role in business operations. They not only manage all IT operations, but also monitor and measure technology deployments and usage throughout company departments. As technology is being integrated into all aspects of business, CIOs are becoming a valuable asset to businesses and their board of directors. IT professionals looking to become CIOs should invest in computer training and certifications, as well as learn to develop important soft skills for the executive role.

InformationWeek reported that aspiring CIOs should develop six skills in order to succeed:

Cisco recently announced its CCNP Service Provider certification, which recognizes skilled network engineers. This, and Cisco’s CCNA Service Provider certification, distinguishes engineers who have a high level of knowledge and training with IP next-generation networks.

These Cisco certifications, among others, highlight the need for IT professionals to stay knowledgeable within their own areas and develop skills with highly demanded technology. As a recent Wanted Analytics survey found, the demand for cloud computing skills has grown beyond the number of professionals with knowledge in cloud technology.

Although it’s difficult to predict which technologies will take off and leave others in the dust, a recent salary report of 9,500 IT and business professionals found IT training and certification are important when it comes to earning potential.

The report indicated an overall increase in IT salaries, but professionals who took training the previous year still earned 8.6 percent more than those who did not, and IT professionals who earned a certification in the past five years earned 8.2 percent more.

To keep up with the latest trends and innovations, IT professionals have to participate in continuous educational activities, such as computer training and certifications, to stay on the cutting edge of technology.

Microsoft has redesigned its certification program to address the skills gap in the IT industry. The new program recognizes three different skill levels: associate, expert and master. These skill levels are designed to provide a clear path of advancement for IT professionals, and it's beneficial for employers because it ensures they hire people with the right IT training for the job.

With SharePoint gaining recognition as a fully loaded application server with several features and enhancements that specifically allow non-developers to create sophisticated sites, we figured we’d share what we found to be an excellent webinar covering some of the most important topics.