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Why machine data is crucial to companies

Have you ever wondered why social media seems to know so much about you? Well, don’t be fooled into thinking that they’re an all-knowing and all-seeing magician that knows your deepest secrets and desires. It’s just all about data, machine data.

Now, you are wondering again, what’s machine data? How do they know what they know? Is it some kind of weird science that would eventually turn into your worst nightmare, where you lose all your friends and followers and put mustaches on all your selfies?

Well, as much as I want to say YES, but for the purpose of giving you relevant information, the answer is NO. Machine data, simply put, is the digital information generated by machines from various activities and interactions you make on mobile phones, computers, and other network devices. It is a record of all the information you put into different online systems that created a pattern of your choices, interest, and behavior.

Picture yourself going through your typical day. You get up in the morning; you check your mobile phone for the latest news in the world, entertainment, or stock market. As you are getting ready to leave for work, you make calls to the office to get ahead of the work that needs to be done. When you get to your car, you put in music and log in your destination. From your waking moment to the end of your day, all these activities, if done through the internet, turns into a considerable wealth of definitive and real-time information that’s recorded to the system of every application or network that you use.

On a bigger scale, machine data is not just about tracking and collecting individual people’s information. It is also a result of business and process logs, application logs, sensor data, call records, internet and website activity logs that big organizations use for different purposes.

Now, the question is, WHY? It is kind of creepy when you come to think of it. But, if you look at the big picture, machine data serves a significant role in monitoring and predicting outcomes that would affect not only you but the world.

Here are some examples:

Machines and technology run almost everything. With machine data, companies that own them can analyze these machines’ performance to monitor, maintain, and anticipate malfunction and then find ways to prevent and fix them before they break down.

Another use of machine data is for monitoring warning systems for natural disasters, based on feeds from sensors and forecasting systems that collect data from weather stations and satellites to help predict the weather and earth activities, like volcanic activities and earthquakes.

Machine data is also used to ensure gas and oil pipelines are working correctly and efficiently. One missed data point can cause great devastation and loss of property and lives.

Giant industries endlessly run, build, and improve the systems and technology they created. This continuous innovation requires strict and up-close monitoring to make sure that they are functioning well. Real-time monitoring is an essential tool when running systems as large as power plants, or as small as app errors on a consumer’s mobile phone app. These innovations’ success and efficiency hinges on the information that machine data supplies. Without machine data analytics, diagnosing issues is slow, delayed, and tedious, human error can contribute to more missteps, and unforeseen issues will not be anticipated, thus creating problems in the long run.

Of course, it’s not just all about saving the world. Machine data can be used to fatten the bottom line. To stay even competitive as a modern company, these businesses have to perform at breakneck speeds, and process information as quickly as possible.

In return, businesses and companies can make big bucks from machine data. What??? Oh yes! It’s not a shocking concept, though. These practices already existed way back, even before the rise of machines and technology. But NOW, with the help of machine data, these practices are more refined, accurate, and way more effective and bankable than before. Here’s how:

Businesses can gather detailed feedback on social media about their products and services. Machine data can give them the power to determine what people are saying about their brand, what they like, and what they don’t like. This information is compelling when it comes to customer satisfaction. They will be able to give them what they want and need. As they say, a happy customer is a paying customer.

Companies can get ahead of their competition through comparative analysis using machine data information. They will be able to compare services and products based on how consumers are engaging with their business and their competition’s business. With the information they get out of this, they can get ahead of the competition and offer better and more relevant products to their consumers.

Machine data also plays a vital role in product development. Businesses can collect data on the possible product and check the market demand. They would know whether the targeted customers would want this product or not, they would know who the competition might be, and they would also find out if the product will make money. This information is crucial to know before companies start investing any money. Machine data can help answer all that.

Many big corporations spend millions in marketing ads and campaigns but sometimes fail badly, leading to bankruptcy. This happens because these businesses do not know about their customers and what they want. But with machine data, companies can monitor their consumer base online and check the current customer trends before creating a marketing campaign. This will ensure a targeted marketing campaign that focuses on existing customers and future customers.

In a way, machine data is indeed magic, brought about by wizards and geniuses who collect them daily. More and more people are getting into careers to gather this information. IT schools such as Northedge IT Training produce proficient and knowledgeable machine data engineers equipped with advanced Northedge Splunk Training to guarantee that the data collected is accurate and relevant to its purpose. Computers and machines may indeed run the world right now, but the fuel that makes it run efficiently still comes from the people behind the technology.

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What life is like with a career in Information Technology

What comes to mind when you hear about Information Technology (IT)? Nerds, right? Frumpy men and women, with big glasses and zero social life! Well, that stereotype is very, very far from reality now. Gone are the days when IT professionals get laughed at and ridiculed. Gone are the days when being a tech-nerd means you're no fun and such a "loser." To make a long story short, NERDS runs the world now.

One might think, how did that happen? Well, for one thing, everywhere you go, computers run almost everything. The increasing demand from governments and businesses looking for digital transition and advancement created a need for IT experts. These “nerds” hold the power to provide all these services with a tip-tap on their keyboards, from data gathering, data sharing, information dissemination to cybersecurity. Thus, as we move forward to connect everything and everybody in the world electronically, the people who can make this happen get more attention and popularity.

So, what is life like for someone who holds that much power and importance? What's it like to have a career in the information technology field?

It's all about the money!

The IT industry is one of the fastest-growing business sectors globally. The tech world has created and provided job opportunities to millions of people worldwide. Though it may be a very challenging and cutting edge career, it is also a very financially rewarding one. For instance, graduates from Northedge IT Training are paid top dollar depending on their skill-set, thus making them one of the world's highest-paid professionals.

According to statistics, people with computer and information technology professions are said to have an average annual wage of $88,240 in May 2019, which was higher than the median yearly wage for all occupations of $39,810. With Northedge IT Training, the average annual salary for graduates is between $140,000 and $160,000.

On top of that, tech companies offer premium employee benefits, such as health care, 401(k), paid parental leave, tuition reimbursements, paid vacation leave, education incentives, and more.

It's not your diploma; it's your talent and skills that matter.

Tech companies and private businesses are continuously looking to hire skilled IT professionals. Since the demand is very high and the supply of adequately trained professionals is deficient, it would take a millennia before this trend of hiring demand ends. It is projected that the technology industry will grow 30% more in the years to come. So, to get what they need, businesses and companies just go ahead and hire people who possess the skills set and certifications, taking into account experience and willingness to learn over college degrees. Northedge IT Training offers top-quality education and hands-on learning that ensures graduates get a competitive edge in the market.

You have options, options, options!

With a career in Information Technology, IT professionals work across different sectors, from healthcare, education, and agriculture. The global transformation brought about by digital innovation is opening doors to all avenues that allow them to choose a career that aligns with their passion and interests. They get to work on something they're good at and enjoy.

You have nowhere to go but UP!

Technology is continuously changing and improving. It is expected that IT professionals SHOULD evolve and grow together with it. You might say it is a job requirement. With this continuous development and pursuit of knowledge, it is easy for them to grow their careers faster and easier than others. It is not a surprise in the tech industry to see newly hired people rise to the ranks in just a few years due to the merits of performance and knowledge, and not on how long they have been in the industry.

As long as you keep learning digital skills, improving, and honing your abilities, you'll always be going places in your career if you are an IT professional.

You can work anywhere, anytime, and with anybody.

The best part of having an IT career is that you do not need to be in the office 9-5. You can work from home or from anywhere in the world and still have gainful employment, with solid benefits. Graduates from Northedge IT Training’s Splunk program acquire all the aforementioned benefits and still earn more than bank managers and university professors without stepping foot out of their houses. They set their own schedule, and feel autonomous throughout their workday. Not to mention, the cost savings from transportation, work clothes, and extra expenses from buying lunch every day.

In other words, it’s AWESOME!

That’s what life is like if you have a career in the technology space. You are not tied down to a desk; you get to work with creative and innovative people; you get to learn and gain more knowledge to move ahead in your career, and the best part is you get to have a GOOD LIFE. It may not be for everybody, but if you have what it takes, answer the call of the NERDS. It’s not all about labels anymore. Yes, the paycheck may be hefty and but in the end, you get to be a part of something that CAN SHAPE and CHANGE the world.

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Benefits of working from home and how the IT world allows this

Information technology has paved the way for countless innovations and advancements worldwide. What’s impossible 20 years ago is now something everyone takes for granted because it’s just as common as the sun in the sky. Who would have thought in the ’80s that you would be able to take a picture without using film? It is absolutely unimaginable! Yet, look at us now, posing and preening, taking selfies left and right with film-less cellphones. 

The way technology has changed businesses is entirely mind-blowing. It allowed them to function more effectively, efficiently, and compete globally. Discoveries and practices brought about by information technology have created countless new policies and game-changing strategies to bring in more sales and increase revenue. One example of this is the work-from-home (WFH) option that companies gave their employees during the Covid-19 pandemic. This work set-up has become a go-to solution to keep employees safe, maintain productivity, and ensure that deliverables are being completed on time.

So how would business operations continue in this form of practice?

Performance Monitoring

With information technology, businesses can monitor employees who work from home through virtual team-working. Supervisors and managers can communicate via email,  audio-conference calling, video-conferencing, or instant messaging. They can even track your work time and take computer screenshots remotely. Not only that, supervisors can monitor multiple employees simultaneously via webcams.

Delegation and data sharing

For data sharing, employees can access databases and company networks through intranet or extranet. With a good project management platform in place, it is easy to have projects monitored and get tasks assigned to the team. Work hours are being logged, and progress can be observed as well.

Accountability and Connection 

Accessibility is not a problem in the digital age. Employees can still meet face-to-face to arrange meetings, transfer documents, and brainstorm ideas through desktop computers,  laptops, and mobile devices connected to the internet. You can quickly check if an employee is around or not.

Security 

For additional security, companies can install anti-virus and firewalls. They can also restrict access to people who don’t need to be on some system or files. With the IT experts’ help in the offices, this can be set up and implemented. 

With these advanced processes, companies are now comfortable letting their employees work from home. As a matter of fact, with what’s going on in the world today, some businesses and industries are pushing for it. But really? Who wouldn’t love to work from home? Almost half of companies’ workforce would opt for that.  I, for one, chose to work from home. Why?

Well, as a top graduate of Northedge IT Training who enjoys this work set-up  (an incredible perk of my job, thanks to Northedge Splunk Training), I will tell you all about the benefits of working from home.

You are on your own time. The flexible schedule when working from home is one of the best benefits of this work set-up. You can take breaks anytime you want; you can eat while on a boring meeting, take personal calls, gossip with friends, hug your kids, blast the music you want (definitely can’t do that in an office setting!), all while getting things done. 

You get to customize your workspace. You no longer have to make do and tolerate the office’s ugly and nauseating wallpaper or suffer the weird smells that nobody can identify. You can create your own space to allow your productivity and creative juices to flow.

No dress code. You get to wear your ratty sweatpants and those oversized shirts with holes in the armpits, and nobody would give you grief about that. You don’t even have to wear make-up during video conference calls! Just turn your cameras off or apply a filter.

You can multi-task. You get to do household chores while doing your office work. You can load the laundry, then get back to work. You can marinate the chicken, then get back to work. Sweep the floor while you’re on your break. Or even trim your nails while on a call. 

No office distractions. You can totally avoid talking to that one annoying co-worker—no office drama. Nobody is stealing your yogurt from the office fridge. And if you have an ex in the office, you’re not going to see them! On top of that, you can (mostly) avoid office politics. That sarcastic email you received? Well, at least you didn’t have to deal with their death stare in person! And that’s a massive bonus for everyone involved, isn’t it?

Zero commute, thus traffic-free. You will be free from the morning rush of traffic when catching a bus or driving to the office. Before my Northedge Splunk Training that got me this work from home gig, the morning commute was killing me. Almost a quarter of my energy is spent just by trying to make it to work in the morning. Most days, I'm cranky by the time I get to the office, affecting my performance and productivity.

Saves money. Working from home saved me a ton of money from not buying lunch anymore. Office cafeteria food or eating out is costly. I spend 10-15 dollars a day on a measly sandwich while working on site; that’s about $400 per month on lunch! Now, the 10-15 dollars can get me through 2-3 days of food at home, and it’s so much healthier for me to cook for myself. 

To be honest, even without the pandemic, I would still opt to work from home. Thank the heavens for information technology. It has made life easier, more convenient, and comfortable for everyone. If you come to think of it, even though IT is all about computers, its effects and advantages are very humane and people-friendly.