high demand, new survey reveals By Ahmed ElAmin Recent stories about the continuing shortage of workers in the computer industry should give any one with an inclination the prod to get moving on entering the field.

There is code to be written, wire to be laid, systems to be implemented, advice to be given, fixes to be found and money to be made. All this glory comes of course with the suspicions of those other co-workers who want you to get on with your job so they can get on with theirs. They don't care about the nifty bit of brilliance you see sparkling in the electronics.

Generally the kinds of jobs available in the computer and communications systems sectors are referred to as careers in information technology -- or IT to those in the know.

In its April newsletter, the Computer Society of Bermuda put together an info package about jobs on the Island. Entry level positions are in the $20,000 to $30,000 range, rising anywhere up to about $80,000 in five to 10 years.

The organisation found that on some days about 25 percent of the jobs advertised in the local newspapers are IT positions.

"Bermudian computer professionals are in demand,'' the newsletter states.

"Employers would rather hire locally than face the cost and time involved in recruiting overseas, but often they have little choice.'' The 1996 Employment Survey, the most recent statistics available, found 490 Bermudians and spouses of Bermudians were employed as IT workers, while 239 were expatriates.

Except for one category, that of programmer/analysts, Bermudian workers and spouses outnumbered expatriates employed in IT. Telecom engineers, telcom technicians, analysts, programmers, administrators, managers, project leaders and machine operators were the other categories listed.

"Note that other related occupations including consulting and marketing positions are not included, so the field is even larger than these numbers show,'' the organisation states.

A recent job recruiting survey by Michigan State University puts Bermuda in perspective with the US. Associated Press says the survey indicates that the US is experiencing the "hottest hiring market in almost three decades'' for college graduates.

Starting salaries are up five percent over last year and employers surveyed expect 27.5 percent increase in job openings for 1998 graduates.

The survey found those graduating in the field of computer science can expect an average starting salary of $38,741, up 4.8 percent over last year. That doesn't include the signing bonuses and other goodies employers are giving away to attract students.

By way of comparison, top average starting salaries include $44,557 for chemical engineering graduates, up 4.2 percent, and $41,167 for mechanical engineering graduates, up 3.4 percent.

On the bottom end of the scale were telecommunications at $22,563, up 0.5 percent, and liberal arts at $24,578, up 2.1 percent. And I've got to mention this -- but don't tell The Royal Gazette -- fresh, young journalists were at the bottom of the pile. They can expect only an average starting salary of $24,588. Even that's a gain of 11.2 percent over 1997 starting salaries. Why doesn't anybody like us? Robin Henagulph has owned and operated computer retailer Bermuda Best Buys, located at the Washington Mall, for the past ten years. After customers kept coming to him with stories of "horrendous disasters'' after their computers failed, he decided to start DataSafe Ltd., which provides a means for them to backup their computers.

Many problems with computer failure in Bermuda stems from the high humidity coupled with the salty air he said. Hard drives, the memory storage space on the computer, tends to fail more easily when subjected to this type of abuse.

Virus problems, fire, accidental deletion can also lead to loss of important data.

Many businesses keep a back-up of such key information as customer accounts in case they do encounter problems with computers. However the back-up may not have been done properly, or may have been forgotten.

DataSafe provides offsite storage at Bermuda Best Buys offices. Customers are given a software package, which automatically backs up the computer as many times a week as needed. The package will dial into DataSafe's storage computers over the telephone and send copies of the data for safekeeping. If the computer fails DataSafe will provide a CD-ROM with the back up information.

Local firm Applied Computer Technologies is selling a way for businesses and individuals to prevent unauthorised users from gaining access to their computers.

A sophisticated hacker, or more usually a worker who wants to roam where he's not supposed to go, can breach the usual password access systems most computers use. Passwords get written down and left around for prying eyes. Or someone may indiscriminately hand out their password and allow a breach of the system.

With the SecurID the system puts up another barrier to entry. Users will need a password, and a SecurID token to get into the system. The token is a thin electronic pad about the size of card which users carry with them. The system generates a unique syncronised code every 60 seconds. To gain access to the computer, the user types in his password, then the current code displayed by the SecurID token. The system has to recognise both the password and the code.

Now to get users to carry their cards with them and not write their passwords on the back...

The deadline for applications for four Computer Society of Bermuda information technology scholarships is May 29. Applications can be obtained from Student Services at the Bermuda College and Ernst & Young. For information, contact the Computer Society of Bermuda at www.csd.bm Tech Tattle focuses on technology and computer industry issues. You can contact Ahmed at 295-5881 ext. 248, or 238-3854, or techtattle ygazette.newsmedia.bm NEW SECURITY -- SecurID cards are aimed at protecting passwords from hackers.