The 4 Most Respected Professions in IT

Australia’s IT industry continues to be a crucial, ever-expanding field of innovative opportunity. With more people, businesses, and industries reliant on the online space than ever before – skills in  developing, enhancing, and maintaining such technologies and IT courses have become increasingly critical.

The country’s technological growth even bodes plenty of opportunity for aspiring ICT professionals, with a forecasted rise of over 1.1 million technology workers by 2026.

Those seeking a fulfilling career path in IT will find no better time to enter the industry, spoilt for choice across growing, in-demand areas of cyber security, data science, web development, artificial intelligence, and more.

Below, we explore the most respected, lucrative, and highly-demanded roles of IT today, and how studying with Lumify Learn can help you get started.

Cyber Security Architect

In an era where cybercrimes cost Australian businesses $4.26 million on average per data breach, data security has become a critical, high-priority operation. With more people now working from home, organisations must take extra measures to ensure their information remains in good hands.

This is where cyber security architects come in handy — they are responsible for designing, implementing, and maintaining the security systems a business needs to make this possible. They perform regular assessments of a company’s current security measures and protocols, recommending and apply enhancements where necessary. They may also conduct regular network security tests and monitor daily activity for suspicious data or behavior.

And in the case of security emergencies, cyber security architects must have proper incident response and disaster recovery procedures in place.

Professionals in this area are required to have a thorough knowledge of current IT risks, security protocols, cryptography, and network monitoring. Awareness of new, common authorisation procedures such as multi-factor authentication, identity management, and other related technologies is also a must.

Aspiring cyber security experts can build on these skills (and more!) by pursuing an online qualification. Lumify Learn, for instance, currently offers an ICT50220 – Diploma of Information Technology (Cyber Security); a program that covers the fundamentals of network security, security analysis, security architecture, and general ICT project management.

Average yearly salary: $185,000 AUD (SEEK)

Data Analyst

An estimated 3.5 quintillion bytes of data are currently generated each day, and this number may even reach 463 quintillion by 2025. The skills required to gather, organise, and analyse such information have thus never been more in demand.

Data analysts help companies grow their revenue by collecting data pertinent to their business, these including areas of customer demand, product/service satisfaction, and current market trends. They organise this information and translate their findings into meaningful statistics or conclusions. Business owners can then use these analyses to improve their services or company procedures, helping inform future business strategies.

Lumify Learn currently offers an online Certified Data Science Professional course, training aspiring data analysts in the essentials of data science, cloud data services, AI solutions, and more.

Average yearly salary: $100,000 AUD (SEEK)

Web Developer

We can easily communicate, shop, and browse online no matter where we are or what device we're using, all thanks to web developers. These are professionals who design, manage, and maintain websites according to the needs of users.

There are three main types of web developers: back-end, front-end, and full stack. Back-end web developers focus on the server-side aspects of a website; developing, configuring, and maintaining the systems and code that support the user-facing elements of the site. Front-end developers, on the other hand, are tasked with managing how a website looks and interacts with the end user, focused on the design, graphical elements, and interactive functions of the site.

Those who handle both the front and back-end of the web development process are known as “full stack” developers. Their comprehensive skillset allows them to see the “big picture," helping them play a highly valuable role on the team.

Individuals looking to train in the basics of web design, development, and SEO can find the flexible, nationally-recognised training they need through Lumify Learn’s ICT40120 – Certificate IV In Information Technology (Web Development). The program offers a thorough look into the skills of front-end development, cyber security, database management, and more.

Average yearly salary: $85,000 AUD (SEEK)

Cloud Computing Engineer

More and more Australian businesses are embracing the cloud, thanks to its flexibility, reliability, lower costs, and scalability. In fact, according to Gartner, Australian organisations will likely spend more than $23.3 billion on public cloud services in 2024, a 19.7% increase from 2023.

Professionals in the industry have since skyrocketed in demand, with cloud engineers, in particular, commanding six-figure salaries.

Cloud engineers are responsible for helping businesses migrate to the cloud; typically assessing their current infrastructure and moving the necessary functions (i.e., storage) to their cloud system of choice. They may also help develop, test, and maintain such platforms.

A knowledge of cyber security, cloud computing, and the business skills to negotiate with vendors is essential. Experience in at least one of the major cloud providers (Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform) is also required.

Aspiring professionals can get their start in the cloud through Lumify Learn’s Azure Cloud Computing Professional and AWS Cloud Computing Professional courses.

These programs cover the fundamentals of cloud architecture, management, security, and compliance in Microsoft Azure and Amazon Web Services, thus equipping students for entry-level roles in cloud and systems engineering.

These courses are available in two formats:

• Full Bootcamp: Includes three industry and vendor certifications that will validate your cloud computing knowledge and skills. This format is ideal for beginners and career changers who want to start from scratch and gain a comprehensive understanding of cloud computing.

  • AZCCP: CompTIA Cloud Essentials+, Microsoft Azure Fundamentals AZ-900, and Microsoft Azure Administrator AZ-104

  • AWCCP: CompTIA Cloud Essentials+, AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner CLF- C02, and AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate SAA- C03

• Fast Track: This format includes two vendor certifications that will prove your expertise in using a specific cloud platform. This format is perfect for upskillers and those already working in the industry who want to enhance their cloud computing skills and credentials.

  • AZCCP: Microsoft Azure Fundamentals AZ-900 and Microsoft Azure Administrator AZ-104

  • AWCCP: AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner CLF- C02 and AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate SAA- C03

Average yearly salary: $130,000 AUD (SEEK)

Seeking a career in IT?

As an innovative field with brimming opportunity, now’s the best time to pursue your passions in the world of ICT.

As mentioned, Lumify Learn offers a wide array of courses in areas of data science, cloud computing, cyber security, and more. All programs lead to nationally-recognised (or in some cases, globally-recognised) certifications, helping you stand out from the competition.

Each course is delivered online, allowing you to study at a time and pace that suits you best. The best part? Once you complete your course, you can join our Lumify Edge program where we can help you develop your professional brand and connect with companies looking to hire IT professionals.

Launch your dream career in IT today, and enquire with us on a course!