CompTIA Blog

Last summer, Congress passed the Budget Control Act (BCA) in order to raise the debt ceiling. The BCA dictated that in the event that the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, which was created by the legislation, was unable to find $1.2 trillion in spending cuts, then across-the-board cuts, or sequestrations, would be triggered. The Committee failed to find the necessary spending cuts and thus, sequestration is currently scheduled to go into effect on January 1st, 2013. Sequestration wil ...

Like it or not, today’s business is driven by the world economy. World markets and international manufacturing have a profound effect on literally everything we buy and sell, and that interconnect is sure to grow in the future, as companies and countries leverage their combined resources. There are as typically more similarities than differences in the organizational and technology issues facing businesses in each region, with the legislation and culture the biggest variables.The IT channel is k ...

CompTIA’s UK Community can be described in a word: momentum. This nascent community group is characterized by fast growth, having increased six-fold in the number of participants in just the last year. Gathered this week as an adjunct to CompTIA’s annual EMEA Member and Partner Conference in London, the community’s commitment to fostering business growth and collaboration is evident in the robust conversations, spirited speakers and a refreshing dearth of droning devices.Against this animated ba ...

Damien Manuel Damien Manuel Information Security Governance Manager, National Australia Bank Which exams have you helped develop? CompTIA Server+, CompTIA Security+, CompTIA Network+, CompTIA A+ and CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP). I also review potential SME candidates for other exams. Why did you become a subject matter expert? I viewed the SMEs at CompTIA as a group leading the direction of the industry and I set it as a personal goal to become a subject matter expert for ...

The CompTIA Public Advocacy team wants your input and is forming a working group within CompTIA membership that will focus on workforce development issues.  With a new Congress coming in to town in a few months, we will have an opportunity to solidify our standing as a leader on this issue and there will be a lot for the working group to do!You should join this group if you are interested in the following areas:Cybersecurity Workforce: There is a great deal of collaboration that can be done with ...

Following the affirmation of the Affordable Care Act (more commonly known as Obamacare) this summer by the Supreme Court, CompTIA began to see an uptick in interest from its members as to how this law would affect their businesses. Since its controversial passage in March of 2010, ongoing challenges to the constitutionality of the reform measure led many businesses to take a wait-and-see attitude. Now that the law has been upheld, it’s time to take another look at how small businesses might be a ...

Cybersecurity startups raising more money than ever. Military veterans struggle to sell skills. Obama and Romney offer differing strategies to foster entrepreneurism. Cybersecurity startups in the Washington, D.C., area are raising more money than ever as investors see it as a burgeoning industry, says the Washington Business Journal. Entrepreneurs are viewed as having the upper hand these days as they have “more funding options from a wider range of venture and private equity sources, ...

Ever since attending her first IT channel event in 1995, Mary Ellen Grom has been a self-proclaimed high tech channel marketing junkie.In her role as vice president, US marketing at SYNNEX Corporation, Grom is responsible for leading all B2B activities, including implementing channel marketing strategies. SYNNEX Corporation is a Fortune 500 business process services company, servicing resellers and original equipment manufacturers in multiple regions around the world.Grom’s journey on the IT mar ...

Have you been in the market for a new vehicle lately or just checked out the latest cars on display at the dealership? If so, you likely saw vehicles that incorporate some cutting edge communications systems—including General Motors’ OnStar, Ford’s SYNC and Hyundai’s BlueLink. While these packages are tailored to the everyday needs of the average driver, tying in apps and voice control options to improve safety and convenience, they also increase productivity for mobile workers.These computer-dr ...

The energy and attention of President Obama and Governor Romney’s presidential campaigns have shifted to the debates. The first debate, which focused on domestic issues – everything from the state of the economy and tax reform to deficit reduction and spending, was viewed by over 66 million people. The general consensus was that Romney won the first debate. A CNN poll found that 57 percent of respondents thought Romney won the debate while 25 percent thought Obama won. A CBS News poll of uncommi ...

Obama and Romney face engaged technology industry. Executive order on cybersecurity by Obama predicted. Bills that would impose sales taxes on online goods and services debated in Congress.Presidential candidates Barack Obama and Mitt Romney are facing a technology industry that is more politically and financially engaged in the election this year than in elections past, says the New York Times. While both parties have combined to raise more money from tech donors than in 2008, Romney has fared ...

In a managed services business, change is not only inevitable; it’s a necessity. The true value of an MSP is an almost telepathic view into your clients’ business operations; spotting and addressing potential risks and performance issues before they cause a disruption. Of course, those clairvoyant abilities are fueled by innovation and continual improvement, employing the latest technologies and processes to ensure that each client system is secure and robust.The latest technology news from the ...

Today, CompTIA launches the CompTIA A+ 800 exam series, which adds performance-based questions, new objectives for mobile devices and virtualization, and an increased emphasis on troubleshooting. The changes reflect new demands being placed on the entry-level IT technician, who must now help integrate and manage computer networks interfacing with a wide range of devices, such as smartphones and tablets. The current CompTIA A+ 701 and 702 exams, which focus on assembling, fixing and troubleshoot ...

Takeaway of the week is regardless of the season, it seems, the binge continues for talented IT workers with the right combination of skills and experience. Cloud computing isn't just big in the IT industry, but in the IT job market as well, and don't count yourself out of the market just because you might be thought of as "over-the-hill." IT Jobs in the Cloud Wondering where to find today's high-value IT jobs? They're right where the industry as a whole is going: The cloud. At least that's the ...

Demand for cybersecurity professionals outweighs supply. Obama administration boasts about SMB tax cuts. Romney and Obama close in several key states. Demand for cybersecurity professionals outweighs the supply of qualified candidates, driving up compensation and increasing competition among employers in need of highly skilled workers, says the Washington Post. This means employers have less power as job candidates seek more attractive offers. President Barack Obama’s administration bo ...