With the burgeoning size and shape of information technology today, driven by the growth of the Internet, it is important that schools teaching the fundamentals of Information Technology keep up with the latest trends. One school, with two locations in the Washington area, is constantly upgrading its curriculum to meet the needs of its graduates entering the IT workforce or upgrading their skill set to meet the increasing demand.

The face of the IT professional is changing as needs increase and more and more people enter the workforce. The Information Technology professionals of tomorrow will be congenial, well-informed, highly intelligent men and women who display a lifelong commitment to developing their skills to keep up with the rapidly-growing IT industry. Many of these people start preparing for their IT profession in middle school and high school and don’t stop training throughout their career. They are practical intellectuals, systems support wizards, network experts, and the Academy of Computer Education (ACE) exists to provide the kind of top-notch education that they need.

ACE stands at the forefront of the IT field's rapid expansion with two locations in perhaps the largest IT region in the country (Baltimore – Washington metro area). IT used to be a secondary, if useful element to business. Now, there is no serious organization that doesn't take its information technology almost as seriously as its bottom line. Nearly everybody is connected to the Internet through their desktops, laptops or smart phones and everyone with those data discovery resources also rely heavily on a server which houses all of their secured information and company essential documents. Hackers and creators of viruses thrive on the freedom provided by the Internet's rapid expansion; this makes good network and data security vital for any business, new or established. It has been proven over the past decade that an organization’s network quality corresponds directly to its level of productivity. ACE provides the tools for its graduates to stand confidently before businesses and promise them the very best, most modern network services possible.

The world of IT has always gravitated toward increased homogeneity of training. Standard certification processes, created by agencies who focus purely on setting baselines of IT quality, ensure that best practices are universally followed. Especially with the increased importance of information technology in the modern era, it is more necessary than ever for business and government to conform to certifiable standards to ensure that the flow of information remains intact.

The Academy of Computer Education offers the standard basic certification programs such as A+, Network+, and Security+, as well as more advanced programs such as CCNA/CCNP (Cisco Certified Network Associate/Professional). ACE also teaches brand new product programs like MCITP-SA (Microsoft Certified IT Professional), which because of Server 2008, replaces Microsoft's MCSE and MCSA certifications.

ACE's MCITP program is designed to give system administrators the edge and expertise they need in the changing Microsoft server market. With the advent of Microsoft Server 2008, the MCSE and MCSA certifications are going to be retired. Network admins need to be trained in the new platform, which is where ACE comes in. The course is designed for working professionals, and meets on a part-time schedule at their Greenbelt, MD and Ashburn, VA campus, for about three months. There are 96 hours of course work, consisting of lecture, question-and-answer sessions, in-class assessments, and hands-on labs. The payment of $4595.00 covers the cost of the course, books, practice tests, and the three exams that comprise MCITP certification.

Those who study for their MCITP certification with ACE are eligible for a number of unique perks. These include free registration with Microsoft's Student Online Campus, which contains valuable information, forums, mentoring opportunities and discounts on Microsoft software. ACE also provides a free online MCITP course, free virtual lab simulator software and the Transcender brand practice test software for each module all for additional home study. Finally, when you study with ACE, you are guaranteed free unlimited tutoring from a qualified MCT or MCITP, assuring that no matter how many difficulties you have with the material, you will, in all likelihood, become a certified MCITP-SA (Server Administrator).

ACE offers many other programs that apply to the IT scene in the Baltimore-Washington area including the more eclectic, technique-based CEH. By far the most interesting course offered by ACE and arguably the hottest certification in IT Security, the CEH, or "Certified Ethical Hacker" training is unlike any other IT certificate program ever taught. With this intermediate/advanced level cert, you will be ready both mentally and technically to make any network much more secure. In today's atmosphere of data compromise, deadly viruses and bandwidth-sucking malware, this is a highly marketable skill. In fact, many Defense contractors and Government Information Assurance employees are now required to have the CEH, since it was recently added to the DoD 8570 directive.

What is a Certified Ethical Hacker and why is a reputable IT training company offering classes on how to be a hacker? The standard thought is that hackers are the "bad guys," the ones a network professional tries to protect against. Sun Tzu wrote in The Art of War, "Know the enemy and know yourself; in a hundred battles you will never peril." The best training for defending against hacking attempts is learning to be a hacker oneself. The only way to shore up a network's weak security is to be able to look at it from the point of view of someone trying to break in. This penetration testing philosophy is at the heart of the CEH training. Hackers are always going to be out there - to be an Ethical Hacker is to use their techniques against them in defense of business, government and data.

In September of 2009, the Academy of Computer Education was awarded the distinguished ATC Circle of Excellence Award from the EC-Council for its CEH program. ACE is among the top five Certified Ethical Hacker training companies in the United States. The Academy offers two different structures: those who live in the Maryland/Virginia area can take the five-day-long Certified Ethical Hacker Boot Camp for $2995.00. For those flying in from out of town for the certification, the flight, hotel, and breakfast will be paid for in addition to the class for only $3995.00. The class consists of forty hours of training and concludes with the EC-Council's certification exam. The examination contains 125 questions, with a passing score of 70% required.

The prerequisites for the CEH class are: a strong working knowledge of TCP/IP, familiarity with Linux or working support knowledge of Microsoft XP or Vista, and at least two years of experience working with information technology. This is important, because CEH instructors will jump right into the technical details, as there is a lot to cover in a week's time. The successful participant will end up with skill sets such as port scanning, network surveying, document grinding, OS fingerprinting, and system/service identification, among others. He or she will be able to test Internet applications, research vulnerabilities, perform legal assessments on foreign/remote networks, and immediately recognize security issues within an organization. The fine art of penetration testing in order to test how secure a network is will be second nature. Through hands-on exercises within an interactive hacking environment, students attempt to break into multiple networks. No real network will be harmed, but through this experience, students will learn how to think like a hacker. Students study how people remotely exploit vulnerabilities through DDoS attacks, buffer overflows and viruses, and then learn how to develop appropriate countermeasures to shore up weaknesses and prevent intrusion. Getting inside a hacker's head will give you the insights and instincts you need if there's ever a crisis on the job.

For IT professionals already employed, those out of work, or those looking to upgrade a career, CEH training is incredibly useful, especially in this down economy. It will strengthen the knowledge site administrators, security professionals, auditors, and anyone whose job is based on network infrastructure integrity. It is arguably the most exciting new certification program in the IT field, it's got everyone in the know talking, and it will definitely be a selling point on any resume. Training with ACE ensures that your learning experience will go above and beyond just what's on the test. ACE’s instructors' passion for CEH give graduates an additional jolt of confidence, which translates into being remembered by prospective employers.

As a brief example of the passion of teachers at the Academy of Computer Education, Lead Instructor James Younger made DC news when he agreed to help investigate a phishing email scam that victimized a woman in the community. The story brought awareness to just how many scams and dangers there are online these days, and showcased the importance of having professionals out there who stay two steps ahead of the hackers and scammers that populate the Internet.

As previously mentioned, the U.S. Department of Defense has caught on to this reality as well, with what is known as DoD directive 8570.01, which states that all IA (Information Assurance) professionals working in the Department of Defense have multiple certifications, depending on their specific occupation, level of experience, and level of responsibility. The DoD's reasoning behind this is that in order to keep pace with the rapidly expanding threats to network security, it is important to standardize the minimum skill level of its employees, provide qualified professionals to the systems and workers who need them, and increase the knowledge of everyone working with networks in the DoD.

No matter what your background or interests, the courses of study at Academy of Computer Education are designed to give you a leg up in these tumultuous times, with the down economy and the rapid spread of technology. It may seem scary, but with ACE's help, it can become an extremely lucrative time for you and your career. In times of apparent chaos, the strong-willed, sharp-minded, well-taught individuals rise to the top. Academy of Computer Education knows you're capable of the first two; its job is to provide the best instruction possible to keep your career advancing forward.