ITTA - IT Pro Trainings

ITTA – IT Pro catalogue in Geneva: cross-cutting IT skills for non-specialist profiles

The ITTA – IT Pro catalogue gathers the generalist IT training courses delivered directly by ITTA, without affiliation to a specific software vendor. The scope covers data skills (SQL fundamentals and advanced), computer security (user awareness), and data protection (European GDPR, new Swiss FADP, GDPR Foundation, Data Protection Officer training). This catalogue is aimed at non-specialist profiles who need a solid IT foundation for their daily work, as well as subject-matter experts who need to grasp the implications of data and compliance in their projects.

Why a cross-cutting IT catalogue?

Many IT training courses in the ITTA catalogue are linked to a vendor (Microsoft, Cisco, AWS, VMware, etc.) and prepare for vendor certifications. But some skills are independent of any product: SQL is a standard language shared by all relational databases, GDPR/FADP compliance applies to all European and Swiss organisations regardless of their technical stack, and user security awareness concerns every employee using a computer. The ITTA – IT Pro catalogue addresses these cross-cutting topics with a pragmatic pedagogical approach, anchored in the Swiss and European context.

SQL: the cross-cutting data skill

SQL (Structured Query Language) remains the lingua franca of enterprise data. Every relational database (SQL Server, Oracle, PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite, BigQuery) accepts standard SQL with dialect nuances. For analysts, controllers, data marketers, project managers, HR specialists, accountants or salespeople who want to gain autonomy with their data without depending on IT teams, SQL is a high-return investment. The catalogue offers two complementary courses:

• SQL – Fundamentals and Queries: relational database structure, SELECT, WHERE, ORDER BY, JOIN, aggregations (GROUP BY, HAVING), subqueries, date and string functions, first analysis patterns.
• SQL – Advanced Queries: CTEs (Common Table Expressions), window functions (ROW_NUMBER, RANK, LAG, LEAD, partitioning), advanced analysis patterns (pivots, deduplication, time series), query optimisation (execution plans, indexes), best practices.

User security awareness for end users

Most cybersecurity incidents begin with a human action: clicking on a phishing link, weak password, manipulating a suspicious attachment, sharing credentials with fake technical support. The Computer Security Awareness course is a short training (typically one day) aimed at all employees of an organisation. It covers the fundamentals: recognising phishing, managing passwords, identifying CEO fraud, securing a workstation, protecting mobile devices, behaviours to adopt in remote work, reporting an incident. It is often delivered in-company as part of a broader cyber-resilience initiative.

GDPR, Swiss FADP and data protection: complying in Switzerland and the EU

Since the entry into force of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in May 2018 in the European Union, and of the new Federal Act on Data Protection (nFADP) in September 2023 in Switzerland, all organisations must frame their personal data processing. The ITTA – IT Pro catalogue offers three complementary training courses:

• New Swiss Data Protection Act (nFADP): changes introduced by the nFADP compared to the previous act, processing register, impact assessment, data subjects’ rights, sanctions, articulation with GDPR.
• GDPR Foundation (GDPRF): recognised certification covering the GDPR fundamentals: definitions, principles, legal bases, data subjects’ rights, controller and processor obligations, international transfers, sanctions. Foundation exam at the end of the training.
• GDPR – Certified Data Protection Officer (DPO): full certifying training to act as a DPO, covering operational compliance, impact assessments (DPIA), incident management, communication with authorities (CNIL, Swiss FDPIC), and regulatory monitoring.

Key skills built across this ITTA – IT Pro catalogue

• Write simple and advanced SQL queries on a relational database
• Adopt the right reflexes when facing daily cybersecurity threats
• Understand GDPR and nFADP obligations for your activity
• Prepare for GDPR Foundation certification
• Take on the Data Protection Officer role
• Gain autonomy on your data without depending on IT teams

Complementary ITTA catalogue

• ITTA – Development: ITTA catalogue dedicated to development and programming.
• IT Pro: global domain covering systems, networking, security, data.
• CompTIA: generalist IT certifications (A+, Network+, Security+).
• Audit and cybersecurity: cybersecurity domain.
• GDPR: data protection domain.

Featured ITTA – IT Pro courses

• SQL – Fundamentals and Queries
• SQL – Advanced Queries
• Computer Security Awareness
• New Swiss Data Protection Act (nFADP)
• GDPR Foundation (GDPRF)
• GDPR – Certified Data Protection Officer (DPO)

Learning formats

Training in the ITTA – IT Pro catalogue takes place in Geneva and Lausanne on-site, and also in synchronous remote mode. They favour short formats (1 to 5 days depending on the module) with a strong practical component: for SQL, exercises on a sample database; for cybersecurity awareness, real cases and quizzes; for GDPR/nFADP/DPO training, case studies and exam preparation. Inter-company sessions bring together participants from different sectors, which is valuable for comparing practices. In-company sessions are tailored to the organisation’s context, particularly relevant on cybersecurity awareness and compliance.

Frequently asked questions on this ITTA – IT Pro catalogue

Is SQL still relevant in the era of low-code and AI? Yes, more than ever. Even modern analytics tools (Power BI, Tableau, Looker Studio) rely on SQL under the hood, and databases remain at the core of information systems. An analyst who masters SQL gains autonomy on their own queries, without depending on a developer or an Excel export intermediary. With the rise of generative AI (ChatGPT, Copilot for SQL), SQL also becomes a preferred dialogue language: describe a need in natural language, receive an SQL query, understand it and adapt it.

What is the difference between Swiss nFADP and European GDPR? The nFADP picks up the main GDPR principles (consent, data subject rights, processing register, impact assessments, breach notifications) but with specificities: no universal DPO requirement, criminal rather than administrative sanctions, FDPIC supervisory authority more consultative than France’s CNIL. A Swiss organisation active on the European market must comply with both texts; ITTA offers training covering both frameworks.

Is cybersecurity awareness enough or do we need a global programme? Awareness is an essential pillar but is not sufficient on its own. For a robust cybersecurity posture, an organisation should complement with: technical hardening (strong passwords, MFA, MDM, patching), governance (security policies, access management, regular auditing), incident response (CERT, playbooks, drills). ITTA delivers these aspects through dedicated cybersecurity training in the audit and security domain.

Building a compliance and cybersecurity learning path for your company

For an organisation starting a structured compliance and cybersecurity initiative, ITTA recommends a three-phase approach. Phase 1 – Awareness: roll out cybersecurity awareness training to all employees, then train managers on incident management. Phase 2 – Compliance: train leadership and functional leads on GDPR and nFADP through the GDPR Foundation and nFADP modules, then train future DPO(s) through the dedicated certifying course. Phase 3 – Technical reinforcement: complement with advanced cybersecurity training (CompTIA Security+, CISSP, CEH depending on the profile) and set up regular monitoring of regulatory evolution and emerging threats. This path typically spans 12 to 18 months and benefits from in-company support to anchor learnings in the organisation’s specific context.