Insurance industry looking for certified IT professionals

Experience in database administration, cloud computing, cybersecurity, Hadoop and other specialties can greatly benefit those looking to position themselves in IT.

Microsoft certification courses and other accreditation programs provide professionals with a comprehensive understanding of a particular sector of IT, whether it be a software solution or general trade. The insurance industry is beginning to take note of these skills, searching assiduously for qualified personnel to help them secure contemporary infrastructures.

Top of mind

Insurance networking acknowledged a study conducted by Jacobson Group and The Ward Group, which queried insurance companies as to what positions they needed most. One of the biggest issues hindering the industry from becoming more versatile, flexible and relevant is the ubiquity of legacy systems. Jeff Rieder, a partner of The Ward Group, maintained the latest IT provisions offer these capabilities. He also acknowledged five reasons why hiring adroit IT staff is becoming essential:

• Conducting business transactions online and through mobile devices has become a necessity
• Tedious, time-consuming processes can be automated
• Multiple platforms (enterprise resource planning, customer relationship management) can be consolidated
• Those possessing experience with legacy systems aren’t familiar with cloud computing, big data environments and other new assets
• Owning sophisticated business intelligence software is a must.

The latter point is particularly apparent. The source noted many firms will be looking for those well-versed in analytics – capable of collecting pertinent information and identifying critical trends that profoundly affect the industry.

What’s the most popular?
Data analysis and cloud computing aside, one cannot deny the need for skillful cybersecurity employees. As cloud computing grows more prevalent among businesses of every ilk, securing network connections has become a must. Encrypting the data within these environments is of equal importance, as it provides an extra layer of protection in the event a hacker gains access to databases.

The proof lies in the job growth. InfoWorld noted Dice.com’s findings, which show the number of job postings for cybersecurity positions grew 90 percent from August 2016 to August 2017. Demand for information security personnel has risen 24 percent and need for certified information systems security professionals increased 27 percent over the same time frame.

Not only are enterprises searching for full time employees, they’re also hiring contract workers to help them launch specific solutions. For instance, an organization may look for a group of professionals capable of constructing a scalable, secure private cloud environment and then offer positions to the select few who showed the most promise.