Professional Interest: IT in Science and Business - Research Paper Example

Profession of Interest Introduction The industry of Information Systems is an emerging field of information and Communications Technology (ICT) that deals with complementary software and hardware that individuals and organizations use to gather, filter, process, store or distribute data among different users (Layton 123). Information technology acts as a bridge between computer science and business relying on both computation and theoretical foundations of information to study the different models of business as well as algorithmic processes found in computer science (Layton 125). Basically, information systems deal with how individuals relate with technology in their organizations. Information systems are aimed at supporting business operations as well as assisting the management in the decision making process. The field of information technology is very wide and has many career paths that interested individuals can pursue. Among these careers include solution development, service management, project execution, information technology architecture, and information security among others (Layton 139). My area of interest is in information security. Information Security deals with the process of securing and protecting information through defending data and information from unauthorized access, disclosure, modification, inspection, use or destruction (Layton 156). Information security includes protection of all forms of information and data including both physical and electronic forms (Layton 157). This essay aims at delving in the sub-field of Information security, which is my area of professional interest. An interview will be conducted with an experienced professional in this area who will provide useful insights regarding the career of an information security manager. The details of the interview are summarized in the body of this essay. Interview criteria The individual interviewed for the purpose of this essay is an experienced professional in information security. The individual has achieved great academic goals as well as gaining substantial work experience in the career working for different companies and organizations. The interview focuses on the individual’s journey in the career of information security as well as gathering information on how information security has been of relevance in the individual’s career and the individual’s advice to any upcoming professional in this field. The person interview is Mr. Erick Lee of Interscope Computers. Mr. Lee was selected for this industry due to his immense experience in the industry as well as his high academic credentials among the hundreds of professional that had been identified. Information Systems Experience Mr. Lee has been in the industry for 16 years working for five different companies at various levels and now works as an information security manager at Interscope Computers. He holds a first degree in Computer Science and a Masters Degree in Information Technology. He is currently pursuing a Doctors Degree in business information technology. Mr. Lee is a technology enthusiast and has participated in developing applications and programs to prevent data loss for the different companies he has worked for. In his current job, he manages a team of young professionals who take care of the IT infrastructure in the company. Use of Information Systems Information security has a huge impact in Mr. Lee’s current and previous jobs. Information Security has given Mr. Lee a great background in developing and managing information systems for various businesses and organizations. In his previous positions, Mr. Lee has used his knowledge in information technology to develop business systems to improve business operations and assist managers in decision making processes. He has made systems such as I-house, which is an online management system for real estate companies among others. In his current position, Mr. Lee uses his knowledge in Information Systems to advice the company on better systems to improve the organizations operations. He also advices the company on how to manage their systems to ensure that the company’s networks are not infiltrated by unauthorized individuals and malware that can affect the data and information stored in the systems. Mr. Lee also pointed out how the field of information technology has changed and developed overtime to its current state. He notes that when he first entered in the field, there were not many professionals. He was among the first few people to get in to meaningful employment in information technology. Most IT professionals at the time were only computer Scientists who had not specialized in information technology. He is however glad at the growth of the field and the huge number of people joining in. Another area of growth in information systems is the development of various areas of specialization such as business information systems, and mobile applications systems for mobile phones. This, he says shows the maturity of the field of information technology and predicts a great future for the industry. Recommendations After showing Mr. Lee my interest and desire to be an information Systems professional specializing in information systems security, he did not hesitate to encourage me to proceed. He made several recommendations to me including the fact that I take my education serious because it will form the basis of my future career. The knowledge I get in school will be relevant and useful in my career. He also recommended me to get a mentor to take me through the basics of the field. Another great recommendation he gave me was to be active and network with different people in the profession. This would be very important in getting to know people with whom we can share knowledge and discuss various issues in the industry. I can meet fellow professionals at trade fairs and conferences organized by different stakeholders in the field of information systems. Next steps After my interview with Mr. Lee, my interest in this profession just grew bigger. His insights were eye openers to me on how great the industry of information systems is. I have decided to follow the recommendations given to me by Mr. Lee. I will begin by being very active in my education in college and reading widely to keep myself up to date with various developments in the industry. I will also keep tabs with ongoing conferences and networking opportunities in order to meet other professionals in the industry. Conclusion Information Systems seems to have a very bright future given the rate at which technology is influencing business operations. Meeting an experienced professional such as Mr. Lee has been a great starting point in mobbing me toward attaining my professional interest. Work Cited Layton Timothy P. Information Security: Design, Implementation, Measurement, and Compliance. Boca Raton, FL: Auerbach publications, 2007. Read More