The field map
Every IT field, and the roles inside it.
IT is far more than four vendors. Browse the fields of practice below and the specific roles inside each — every role page shows what the work feels like, the skills to build, a weekend trial, and a certification roadmap. Not sure where you fit? Take the free assessment.
Networking & Connectivity
Moving data reliably and securely between systems, sites, and users.
- Network Administrator → Enterprise Networking / Network Operations
Specializations: Enterprise Networking · Network Operations (NOC) · Network Security · Wireless & Mobility · SD-WAN & Edge
Cybersecurity
Protecting systems, data, and identities from adversarial threat.
- SOC Analyst → Security Operations
Specializations: Security Operations (SOC) · Identity & Access Management · GRC & Risk · Application Security · Incident Response & Forensics
Systems & Infrastructure
Provisioning and running the compute, storage, OS, and identity a company depends on.
- Systems Administrator → Server / OS Administration
Specializations: Server/OS Administration · Virtualization · Directory & Endpoint · Datacenter Operations
Cloud & Platform Engineering
Building and operating cloud platforms, infrastructure-as-code, and developer platforms.
- Cloud Engineer → Cloud & Platform Engineering
Specializations: Cloud Engineering · Platform / IaC Engineering · Container Orchestration · Site Reliability (SRE)
Software Engineering
Designing, building, and testing the software people use.
- QA Engineer → QA / Test Engineering
- Software Developer → Backend / Web Development
Specializations: Backend · Frontend / Web · Mobile · QA / Test Engineering · API & Integration
Data & Analytics
Turning raw data into stored, modeled, and analyzed information people act on.
- Data Analyst → Data Analytics / Business Intelligence
Specializations: Data Analytics / BI · Data Engineering · Data Warehousing · Analytics Engineering
IT Support & Operations
Keeping end-user and business IT running day to day — the most common way in.
- Help Desk Technician → Service Desk / Desktop Support
Specializations: Service Desk / Help Desk · Desktop & Endpoint Support · IT Operations / NOC · Field Services
Enterprise Applications & Business Systems
Administering the packaged platforms businesses actually run on.
- Microsoft 365 Administrator → Collaboration / M365
Specializations: ERP (SAP/Oracle) · CRM (Salesforce/Dynamics) · Collaboration / M365 · ITSM Platforms
IT Project, Business Analysis & Communication
The non-coding, people-and-process side of IT — coordinating projects, translating business needs, and documenting how things work.
- IT Project Coordinator → Project Coordination / Business Analysis
Specializations: Project Coordination · Business Analysis · Technical Writing · Service Management (ITIL)
Telecommunications, Cabling & Field Infrastructure
The physical layer of IT — the cabling, radios, towers, and on-site equipment every network depends on.
- Field / Telecom Technician → Structured Cabling / Field Services
Specializations: Structured Cabling · RF & Tower · Field Services · Telecom Transport
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