IT Learning Resources for Non-Tech Beginners (with Links and Description)

Information Technology (IT) In Brief

Working in a technological environment often requires knowledge of the slang and terms of the industry, and if you are not a technical specialist, a newbie in the industry, or not a CTO, it may be challenging to operate them. If you are interested in knowing more about the role of a CTO, read our previous article What Does the CTO in a Start-Up Do?

The IT field is one that is developing very rapidly and has a lot of terminology or specific terms in it. In contrast to computer systems in general and used for personal needs, the term IT to be discussed in this article refers to the use of computer-based technology and related matters inside it for business purposes. 

It can be said that IT is used by all companies ranging from small companies to large companies and within various types of industries ranging from startups, banking, oil and gas, telecommunications companies, ISPs, and so on. Although for the majority of non-technology companies, IT is not the core of the business, all of them typically have an IT organization to support the company's operations.

The term IT for Non-IT specialists is not intended to make people with Non-IT backgrounds become IT experts, but as much as possible to minimize the gap in IT-related knowledge. For this reason, it is important in the fast-changing and rapid competition era like now, that all employees are encouraged to be able to understand IT in order to use it optimally so that it is expected to improve the company’s performance.

Components of an IT System for Beginners

1. Hardware

Hardware is the physical tool used by humans to interact with IT systems to be able to input, process, and receive information. The main component of hardware is a computer system. There are various types and classifications of computers ranging from personal computers or microcomputers (either in the form of desktops or laptops), then also known as mini-computers for certain purposes, mainframe computers up to supercomputers. A computer generally has an input unit, output unit, arithmetic & logical unit (ALU) or microprocessor, storage media, and communication interface. 

With advances in technology related to hardware and computer networks today, the option for hardware ownership is also growing, such as the introduction of cloud computing and virtual machines. Keywords that will help you with this include computers, servers, storage, data centers, and cloud computing.

2. Software

Software is a computer program designed to complete a particular job. A particular software contains a set of structured instructions made by programmers through the process of software development or application development with certain tools or programming languages. This software is very specific in its use and also the purpose of its use depends on the needs of the user. Software is classified into two, namely system software and applications. Included as part of this system software are various operating systems (OS) as we know them today such as Windows, UNIX/Linux, and macOS which are used by users to interact with computer hardware. 

An example of an application is software whose form is used for business applications or daily work needs such as email, ERP, word processing applications, spreadsheets to create tables, applications for presentations, and so on. Keywords that can help you to explore more are applications, application development, software development, and operating systems. Although it can be related to the project management approach in general, there are several frameworks that are used specifically in the context of software development. Some of these methodologies or frameworks include DevOps, Agile, ITIL, Lean, Scrum, and many others.

3. Human Resources

Known as “IT personnel” who are the team that manages the company's IT assets, their division of tasks is very diverse, ranging from PC support staff, IT infrastructure and networks, system administrators, network administrators, database administrators, IT security, IT director to Chief information officer. (CIO) and so on. To have a reliable IT squad, in addition to educational background and experience, certification is also important for an IT staff. This certification is also very diverse in special fields and many are made by mainstream brands in the IT world such as Microsoft, RedHat, Cisco, Juniper, AWS, Google, and so on. 

The IT world is a world full of high standards and compliance. By following the certification, you will be able to work on a global scale and can interact easily with your IT colleagues anywhere because they will speak in the same context.

4. Computer networks and communications

In order for us humans and machines to be able to connect and exchange information, computers need “interconnection”. This connection was made possible by the discovery and development of various types of computer network technology so that technology such as the Internet that we know today was born. This computer network is also inseparable from existing communication technology so in some cases, the term ICT or information communication technology is also known. 

Network devices start from devices on a computer or laptop which can be an ethernet port or currently a Wi-Fi connection. This connection is also important because nowadays we can say that we work almost completely online, so network quality, bandwidth, latency, and speed of both upload and download are very important. Keywords that help are computer networks, Internet, telecommunications, internetworking, and networking.

5. Data and information

Some said that nowadays "data is the new oil". Data can be in various forms such as text, images, video, sound, and numbers. Raw data that is processed could become meaningful information. With the increasing amount of data available, known as "Big Data", it becomes very important for an IT system to manage existing data to be stored electronically in the form of a file. A good IT system will answer the question of how the data will be stored, how the data is processed, how the data is sent, and how data will be displayed as useful information for the user. 

To collect data that is very large in a certain amount of numbers, a database is needed. Data is created, processed, and accessed in a database using a form known as a database management system (DBMS). One format that is well known is the term SQL (structured query language). Useful keywords include databases, data management, data, security, storage, and data centers.

Basic IT Knowledge Resources

The following resources are expected to be your first step and stepping stone to be able to find out more about the IT world and might help you in the work you do on a daily basis, especially if you are a person who works in a technology company, or you are just starting your career in IT.

Online learning courses

1. MIT Opencourseware (MIT OCW)

Title: Information Technology I

In this open course, you will find a lot of useful lecture notes about computer building blocks, an introduction to databases, an explanation of computer networks and telecommunication, distributed computing, and web technologies.

2. Codecademy

Title: Introduction to IT

In this course, you will learn about computer basics, networks, the Internet, OS, and applications, basic software development, databases, and cybersecurity.

3. Programming Hub

Title: IT Basic

In this course, you will learn about the evolution of computers, what is inside them, computer networks, the internet, data creation, and important buzzwords in IT.

4. Udemy

Title: IT for beginners | IT for dummies | IT for non-IT

In this course, you will learn about IT, code, software development, and the roles involved in it. This is pretty basic but if you are really new to the IT world, then it might be suitable for you.

Websites/Blogs

1. Techtarget

Although this website only discusses the definition of IT, the explanation is quite complete from all aspects that make up an IT system. A brief explanation of the difference between IT and computer science, and what roles are involved in the IT department, and accompanied by videos about hardware and software. This website also discusses what certifications are needed and what skills are sought after in the IT industry.

2. Market Business News

This website provides a fairly concise explanation of IT terminology and its components.

3. Ah!

On this site, you will find a comprehensive resource on IT starting from its definition, then what are the benefits for the business, who is involved in it, including the strategy, roadmap, methodology used, and a dictionary of terms used in IT.

Videos

1. Introduction To Information Technology

In this video, you will find a basic understanding of IT, the components that make up a computer, and various types of communication technology.

2. Techno - Module 1 - Introduction to ICT

In this video, you will get various information about IT and communication technology ranging from technical definitions, some ICT terms, benefits, trends, and what aspects are affected by ICT. 

3. Computer Fundamentals - Basics for Beginners

In this video you can learn the history of computers, the types of computers, what components make them up, and the functions of each part such as hardware, software, operating systems, and peripherals. 

Summary

In a business or company, basic knowledge of IT is needed by all employees so that processes within the company can run smoothly especially if you work in a technology company. The purpose of introducing IT to non-IT people is so that these people are able to understand and maximize the use of existing IT resources as well as to reduce the skill gap between IT and non-IT professionals.