Information Technology

This guide will link you to library services and resources to support your education in CVTC's IT programs.

Using Websites in Research

Cultivate an attitude of skepticism when it comes to web-based content. If you have any doubt whatsoever about the reliability of any given website, clear it with your instructor or check with a librarian before you use it in your paper.

Be wary of corporate website content

While it is useful to visit corporate websites to gain an understanding of the information and image that the individual company is looking to portray, this information should not be mistaken for unbiased reporting/data. Content on a corporate website may be editorial (created by the company to promote a particular point of view) or even written by an outside source (third party) for use in promotion of a particular product or brand. Several prominent corporate websites - including Forbes, Fast Company and Huffpost - have recently come under fire for masking such outside content (for which writers are paid) as unbiased reporting. Don't be fooled - always consider the potential bias of a source and refer to suggested CVTC databases when applicable.

Need help? Ask a CVTC Librarian or visit AllSides, a media bias ranking resource or Mediabiasfactcheck.com.

General Interest IT Websites

W3Schools
The world's largest web developer site!
Slashdot
Slashdot is the oldest tech news and discussion site on the web. Slashdot is also one of the largest business software comparison and review websites in the world, with over 100,000 business software products. Millions of people visit Slashdot every month to find and compare the best business software.
Information Technology Laboratory Computer Security Resource Center
This glossary from NIST's Computer Security Resource Center includes terms and definitions from NIST's cybersecurity- and privacy-related standards, publications and reports.
System and Network Security Acronyms and Abbreviations
This report contains a list of selected acronyms and abbreviations for system and network security terms with their generally accepted or preferred definitions.

Professional IT Organizations

Association for Computing Machinery
ACM, the world's largest educational and scientific computing society, delivers resources that advance computing as a science and a profession. ACM provides the computing field's premier Digital Library and serves its members and the computing profession with leading-edge publications, conferences, and career resources.
Association for Information System
AIS is a professional association for individuals and organizations who lead the research, teaching, practice, and study of information systems worldwide.
Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA)
Through education, training, certifications, philanthropy and market research, CompTIA promotes industry growth. It is "vendor-neutral," and an independent source of information on a wide range of technology topics.
Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineering
IEEE and its members inspire a global community to innovate for a better tomorrow through highly cited publications, conferences, technology standards, and professional and educational activities. IEEE is the trusted “voice” for engineering, computing, and technology information around the globe.
Society for Information Management
SIM's programs and offerings provide opportunities in projects ranging from independent research on IT trends to STEM outreach, enterprise architecture, procurement, and other special interests.
NCWIT
The National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT) is a nonprofit organization that works to increase participation of girls and women in computing.

Standards

Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
IEEE Standards Association
IEEE, the world's largest technical professional organization, has over 400,000 members. It publishes nearly one-third of the world's technical literature in electrical engineering, computer science, and electronics, and is the leading developer of international standards in telecommunications, information technology and power-generation products and services.
American National Standards Institute (ANSI)
ANSI facilitates the development of American National Standards (ANS) by accrediting the procedures of standards developing organizations (SDOs) and approving their documents as American National Standards (ANS). This process serves and protects the public interest since standards developers accredited by ANSI – and the ANS they develop – must meet the Institute’s requirements for openness, balance, consensus, and due process and adhere to ANSI's neutral oversight, assuring that all interested parties have an opportunity to participate in a standard’s development.
International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
ISO is an independent, non-governmental international organization with a membership of 162 national standards bodies.It develops and publishes International Standards - standards are formulas that describe "the best way of doing something" - from "making a product, managing a process, to delivering a service or supplying materials... ."
International Telecommunications Standardization (ITU)
From its inception in 1865, ITU-T has driven a contribution-led, consensus-based approach to standards development in which all countries and companies, no matter how large or small, are afforded equal rights to influence the development of ITU-T Recommendations.
Internet Assigned Name Authority
The global coordination of the DNS Root, IP addressing, and other Internet protocol resources is performed as the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) functions.
Internet Engineering Task Force
The Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), founded in 1986, is the premier standards development organization (SDO) for the Internet. The IETF makes voluntary standards that are often adopted by Internet users, network operators, and equipment vendors, and it thus helps shape the trajectory of the development of the Internet. But in no way does the IETF control, or even patrol, the Internet.
World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)
W3C standards define an open web platform for application development. The web has the unprecedented potential to enable developers to build rich interactive experiences, that can be available on any device.

Certifications

CISCO
The widely respected IT certification programs available through Cisco Certifications bring valuable, measurable rewards to network professionals, their managers, and the organizations that employ them.
CompTIA
Find information on CompTIA A+ and other skills certifications for IT professionals, or access the portal for CompTIA’s Authorized Partner Program.
Oracle
Become Oracle Certified
More than 80% of people who earned an Oracle certification reported a salary increase, promotion or career improvement.