What Is Business Programming?

In today’s tech- and data-driven economy, businesses big and small employ a wide range of technologies. They might use one program to monitor sales, another to run virtual meetings, and yet another to fend off cyber attacks and other threats. They might even use a combination of cloud and physical servers to store all the information they use to make decisions.

However, keeping these systems running smoothly takes a lot of work. Business programmers are the professionals in charge of that complicated task.

Using programming logic and languages, business programmers help their organizations streamline databases, combine multiple communication platforms, implement advanced cybersecurity solutions, and much more. To get into business programming, professionals often need a foundational education in both information technology (IT) and business administration.

What Is Business Programming Used For? Applications and Key Skills

In general, all business programmers have the same core responsibility: maintain software that helps businesses streamline IT-related operations. However, a business programmer’s exact responsibilities and required skill set can change depending on what area of a business they’re working in. While programmers can help with anything from marketing to accounting, their skills are particularly useful in data analysis, cybersecurity, and information and communication technology.

Data Analytics

Data analytics refers to the collection and interpretation of vast amounts of data. This can include using raw data from social media platforms to inform marketing strategies, reviewing historical sales trends to determine production quotas, or analyzing employee performance metrics to drive hiring campaigns.

While programmers may be involved in the collection and interpretation of data itself, they’re most often responsible for:

Maintaining databases
Creating programs that can predict future trends based on past data
Making visual models for executives, managers, and other stakeholders
Ensuring data from multiple teams is easily accessible to decision makers
Helping coworkers implement multiple data-tracking programs

One of the most important programming languages for business programming is structured query language (SQL). SQL allows users to enter new information into a database, change variables in a dataset, and search for and retrieve previously recorded information. Programmers often create user-friendly programs based on SQL so their coworkers can accomplish these essential tasks.

Cybersecurity

In 2023, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center received almost 900,000 cybersecurity reports. The individuals and businesses affected by these incidents lost an estimated $12.5 billion. While cybercrime can have devastating effects on anyone, businesses stand to lose the trust of their employees and customers, and can even be open to lawsuits when they are compromised.

Programmers in cybersecurity roles can help their organizations guard against threats of all kinds by:

Monitoring company data for unusual activity
Implementing different types of cybersecurity software to guard against different threats
Performing penetration tests and audits to find vulnerabilities
Educating leaders and coworkers about the latest cybersecurity threats
Creating security protocols for users

Everything from a company’s wifi network to their employees’ email habits can be a potential gateway for a cyber attack. This means that programmers in cybersecurity must have a diverse knowledge of operating systems, network architecture, communication channels, and programming languages like Python and Powershell.

Information and Communications Technology

Information and communications technology (ICT) is focused on how the people, hardware, and software in a business’s network communicate with each other. Unfortunately, different aspects of a network aren’t always compatible. ICT business programming experts help their organizations overcome that issue.

ICT programmers can have a diverse set of duties, but they often:

Design file-sharing and data storage networks
Troubleshoot network problems
Integrate different tools into person-to-person communication channels
Implement e-commerce platforms, data analysis tools, cybersecurity programs and other types of software
Set up new hardware and connect it to the network
Help executives strategize new technology-focused initiatives of all kinds

ICT specialists often need a range of IT skills. They should be up to date on the latest business communication software, internet protocols, and database management. To automate network processes, ICT specialists may also need to know programming languages such as C++, Python, and JavaScript.

How To Start a Career in Business Programming: Steps and Potential Job Titles

Business programming professionals can hold a number of different positions throughout their careers. Some go into advanced programming roles where they develop new software and maintain their organization’s IT infrastructure. Others take on more administrative roles.

But no matter which path a professional chooses, a business programmer often needs a combination of education and experience to move up.

Step 1: Earn a Bachelor’s Degree

To learn core programming and data management skills, future business programming professionals often earn bachelor’s degrees in IT. IT programs take an application-focused approach to computer science by teaching students how to use technological skills in a private business or public organization.

Bachelor’s IT programs offer classes on:

Statistics
Multiple programming languages
Network, system, and database administration
Cybersecurity

IT students also often take classes on business principles such as accounting, communications, and project management. This is so they can be prepared for both hands-on and administrative IT positions. Computer science programs offer a similar curriculum but typically don’t include classes on everyday business applications.

Step 2: Gain Experience in an Entry-level Position

In the early stages of their careers, business programming professionals often fill positions to help their organizations with a specific aspect of their IT operations. This is a good opportunity for new recent grads to learn the specifics of their industries and gain hands-on experience with common issues.

Some positions a new business programming professional might hold include:

Web developer
Software developer or engineer
Telecommunications specialist
Database administrator
Database programmer
IT support specialist for employees
Cybersecurity analyst

There are other more specialized roles at this level. The roles new professionals are qualified for will depend on the programming languages and skill sets they learned in their studies.

Step 3: Pursue Advancement Opportunities and Consider Professional Certifications

As business programming professionals gain experience, they can take on more advanced IT roles and administrative positions. Though not always required, professionals can also pursue professional certifications in specific programming languages, network security, artificial intelligence, and other IT-related topics. Certifications are available through major tech companies, colleges, and universities, and students can often earn them completely online.

Advanced positions for business programmers include jobs such as:

Database architect
Cloud solutions architect
Machine learning engineer
Lead programmer
Project manager
Information security manager

In addition to completing their technical duties, programmers in these positions are often in charge of teams, guiding new IT initiatives, and coordinating efforts between different departments.

Learn How To Leverage Core IT Skills in a Business Environment

Being a successful programmer or other IT specialist in the business world often requires more than knowledge of programming languages and network protocols. It requires knowing how to fit multiple aspects of a business together using those technical skills. North Carolina Central University Online’s online BS in IT degree completion program can help you learn both.

Along with core computer information systems classes, NCCU Online’s IT students take classes on business communications, accounting, marketing, and other business fundamentals. With the opportunity to take on degree specializations in data analytics, ICT, and cybersecurity, students can learn advanced, career-ready skills in a number of in-demand sectors of IT.

Designed with working and nontraditional students in mind, this program is available 100% online and can help career-minded students prepare for high-level professional certifications. To find out more, reach out to a member of NCCU’s admissions team today.

Recommended Readings

How the Top Tech Companies in North Carolina Are Driving Industry Growth

What’s Information and Communications Technology?

Computer Systems Analyst Career Overview

Sources:

FBI San Francisco, FBI Releases Internet Crime Report

Indeed, “6 Examples of Cyber Security Skills and How to Improve Them”

Indeed, “10 Uses of SQL (With Definition, Benefits, and Examples)”

Indeed, “16 Communication Technology Examples To Use at Work”

Internet Crime Complaint Center, “Internet Crime Report 2023”