Occupation Description:
System Administrators are the gatekeepers to the many IT systems and resources that run businesses. System Administrators at IBM and our clients have the opportunity to provide high-value IT services and leverage our leading-edge technology portfolio in our global network. The work is essential to keep the business transactions flowing, whether it's payroll, sales orders, credit card transactions for our financial institution clients, the System Administrator has a direct impact on the day-to-day productivity of our business ensuring security, scalability, throughput, and resiliency.
Program Description:
Mainframe System Administrator Apprentices work with other System Administrators, System Programmers, and network and applications teams to perform daily activities ranging in complexity and will be responsible for the installation, configuration, upkeep, and reliable operation of one or more client environments. Apprentices may also work closely with Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) to customize application solutions and tools to help improve the value of the IBM zSystems platform to our clients. The Mainframe System Administrator Apprenticeship includes micro-credentials like professional skills, agile development, and design thinking. The program also includes a broad range of fundamental skills in computer science and programming within mainframe systems, z/OS operating system, REXX programming, DB2 fundamentals, and Customer Information Control System (CICS). The program is a great pathway for a career as a Mainframe System Administrator as well as System Programmer, Application Programmer, and System Operator.
Program Objective:
The objective of this course is to prepare students for a career as a Mainframe System Administrator at IBM.
Learning Outcomes:
- describe basic operations of computer hardware and software
- perform basic Operating System operations
- process information using word processing, databases, spreadsheets, email, and related tools
- identify types of storage
- describe the use of files and folders
- use the Internet and online resources
- apply security and privacy concepts in all computer activities.
- input data into forms
- download data sets for analysis
- develop SQL reports
- administer updates to the database management system (DBMS)
- integrate the database with external systems
- utilize the Python programming language format and structure in coding
- understand and utilize Python programming concepts, including lists, dictionaries, classes, and loops
- use Python libraries and tools
- debug basic Python programs
- employ Python as a means for developing information security tools
- create programs using fundamental concepts
- identify programming's role in cyber operations
- create flow charts and design and implement pseudo-code to solve problems
- identify variable types and strings
- analyze, create and compile programs
- describe the use of classes and objects in programming
- explain vectors and create functions in programming languages
- apply security practices to routers, switches and networks
- install, configure and manage malware detection software
- deploy security tools in defense of computer systems and networks, including firewalls and intrusion detection software
- monitor networks to detect denial of service (DOS), malware and rootkit attacks
- perform network security risk analysis
- mitigate external and internal security attack potential.
- describe basic concepts of information systems and computer networks
- demonstrate knowledge of computer applications suite
- demonstrate the use of Internet and email tools
- apply the use of computers in a variety of environments
- create, organize, and manage electronic files and folders
- create, modify, and maintain a word processing, spreadsheet, database, and presentation documents
- use functions, formulas, and charts in documents, spreadsheets, and databases
- utilize applications and terminology effectively
- analyze a complex computing problem and apply operating system administration principals and other relevant disciplines to identify solutions
- analyze a complex computing problem and apply principles of programming and other relevant disciplines to identify solutions
- evaluate the requirements for a specific system configuration and recommend solutions
- create the program to meet the objectives
- function effectively as a member or leader of a team engaged in activities appropriate to the task
- identify and analyze user needs then create, integrate solutions in the computing-based project
- demonstrate the application of knowledge and skill sets acquired from the courses and workplace in the assigned job function
- demonstrate critical thinking and problem-solving skills by analyzing underlying issue/s and apply to project challenges
- recommend ideas to improve work effectiveness and efficiency by analyzing requirements then considering viable options
- describe the life cycle of a process and how multiple processes can execute at the same time and share hardware resources
- describe and illustrate dynamic memory allocation, dynamic address translation, virtual memory, and demand paging
- describe disk management and scheduling algorithms, directories, protection, and crash recovery
- demonstrate presentation skills
- prepare effective business messages for culturally diverse audiences
- communicate by written, oral, and visual methods
- compose clean and concise business letters, reports, memoranda, and emails
- use creative thinking to solve problems
- develop strategies for risk analysis and risk mitigation
- conduct situational analysis
- use decision support systems; conduct backward planning
- allocate resources to resolve problems
- apply ethics to problem solving
- define networking basics to include LAN, cabling and Ethernet
- perform networking addressing
- explain network communication protocols
- define and apply the Open System Interconnection (OSI) model and Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) to define data layers
- perform basic network troubleshooting
- employ IPv4 and IPv6 addresses and subnet masks
- perform troubleshooting techniques
- deploy advanced data structures like arrays and linked lists
- connect to and utilize networked data stores (flat files and relational databases)
- develop well designed and functional user interfaces
- function in a modern development environment using current tools (GitHub, Jenkins, Tekton, Kafka, etc.)