CompTIA Blog

  • Crowdfunding Webinar: Learn the Basics

    Jun 26, 2012, 19:00 PM by Lamar Whitman
    Following the enactment of the JOBS Act on April 5, there has been a lot of interest in the nuts and bolts of crowdfunding.  Does your company qualify?  Does it make economic sense for your needs?  Right now, there are a lot of unanswered questions as the Securities and Exchange Commission is working on the initial draft of regulations to implement this new law.Get ahead of the curve.   Join us for a webinar at 2pm EDT on July 25 titled:  Crowdfunding: Opportunities for the IT Channel and What Y ...
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  • How to Ace The Job Interview

    Jun 26, 2012, 19:00 PM by Janet Pinkerton
    If you really want that job, you have to prep thoroughly to nail the interview. Here's how.
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  • Technology Transforms the Retail Sector

    Jun 25, 2012, 14:52 PM by Tim Herbert
    I recently bought a bagel and a cup of coffee at my neighborhood coffee shop. Unlike most shops though, my wallet stayed in my pocket. Using the Square mobile payment app on my smartphone, I simply informed the cashier of my name, which populated the cash register (an iPad) with my account, confirmed by the proximity of my phone. I accepted the charge and that was it. On the way out, using my Belly customer loyalty app, I swiped my phone across a digital display to get credit toward future rewar ...
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  • Weekly Word on the Street: Cybersecurity Skills Still in Demand

    Jun 22, 2012, 18:00 PM by Jim Staats
    Takeaway of the week is the suggestion to view the current IT job market in the "glass is half-full" mode. Reports on the overall IT job market might not be glowing, but it's certainly doing a lot better than other industries in today's economy. IT prospects continue to grow at a steady pace. Let's just hope that forecasts of IT skills gaps are a thing of the past in the near future. Wanted: Cybersecurity Skills Amid a growing spate of cybersecurity attacks to both government and corporate netw ...
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  • ChannelTrends: Leveraging the Power (and Revenue) of Managed Print

    Jun 22, 2012, 17:05 PM by Brian Sherman
    Have you ever considered how your clients’ manage their printers and copiers, and how much these devices and the related infrastructure cost their organization’s each year? If you’re not already providing managed print services, or considering the opportunity, it’s a great time to evaluate the benefits (and obstacles) of offering them to your business customers.Not only are the channel options for offering managed print services expanding, but more businesses are open to outsourcing their print ...
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  • College Finds Success Teaching IT to High School Students

    Jun 21, 2012, 16:00 PM by Janet Pinkerton
    Indianapolis Public Schools students Christopher Williams, Nigel Leitzell, China Harris, Andrea Williams, and Scott Patrick earned their CompTIA Strata IT Fundamentals certifications after an enrichment class in conjunction with Harrison College. Harrison College's offer to teach a CompTIA Strata IT Fundamentals technology class to a group of Indianapolis public high school students was a handshake deal that became a success. Thanks in no small part to the students' aptitude and hung ...
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  • Small cloud companies struggling to secure federal contracts

    Jun 20, 2012, 20:44 PM by Elizabeth Hyman
    A look at the week of June 19 in public advocacy for the IT channel: Small cloud companies are struggling to secure federal contracts and certification due to the overwhelming demand of the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program, says the Washington Post. Small business owners are embracing a new bill designed to keep productive immigrant workers in the U.S., says the Wall Street Journal. The chairman of the House Intelligence Committee predicts that Obama will back down from his thre ...
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  • College Finds Success Teaching IT to High School Students

    Jun 20, 2012, 17:00 PM by Janet Pinkerton
    Indianapolis Public Schools students Christopher Williams, Nigel Leitzell, China Harris, Andrea Williams, and Scott Patrick earned their CompTIA Strata IT Fundamentals certifications after an enrichment class in conjunction with Harrison College.Harrison College's offer to teach a CompTIA Strata IT Fundamentals technology class to a group of Indianapolis public high school students was a handshake deal that became a success. Thanks in no small part to the students' aptitude and hunger for IT, th ...
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  • Good Things Come to Those Who Wait

    Jun 19, 2012, 14:20 PM by Seth Robinson
    Last night, Microsoft held an event that had the tech world buzzing through the weekend. Most industry watchers knew a tablet was in the works, but beyond that there wasn’t much firm data. Since Apple, Google and Facebook have been the companies making the most waves in tech recently, there was a sense of surprise that Microsoft had been able to generate so much interest.There was indeed a tablet at the center of all this interest: the new Microsoft Surface. Steve Ballmer said that the Surface “ ...
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  • Tech Influence on Recent Poll Numbers

    Jun 18, 2012, 14:28 PM by Elizabeth Hyman
    Although still early, the 2012 Presidential election remains very close (within the margin of error).  According to Rasmussen Reports, Governor Romney leads President Obama 47 percent to 44 percent (5 percent support another candidate and 4 percent are undecided).  Expect these numbers to fluctuate throughout the election, but generally remain very close.Of course, some events may lead to slight changes in polling numbers in the near term, including the Supreme Court’s ruling on healthcare refor ...
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  • ChannelTrends: Can Solution Providers Compete in the Cloud Environment?

    Jun 15, 2012, 15:45 PM by Brian Sherman
    While some may choose to dismiss the various discussions, events and training programs on cloud solutions as hype, there are many more proving that the business model works. Members of the IT channel can be somewhat cautious, but it’s rare for them to ignore business applications that their customers want. And everyone from the smallest mom-and-pop retailer to the largest corporation wants the benefits that cloud services offer, according to respected industry analysts.For example, IDC reports t ...
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  • Weekly Word on the Street: Skilled IT Workers Sought

    Jun 15, 2012, 15:39 PM by Jim Staats
    Takeaway of the week is that it remains good to be in the IT job market, if one has to be in a job market at all. Choices abound, given the right skills and aptitude. This goes for anywhere in the globe, given the right skills. Dice: Tech Job Market Rises Above Despite economic woes, the job market for IT pros remains hot, a new Dice hiring survey indicates. According to the survey, nearly three-quarters of IT-focused recruiters and hiring managers expected to build out tech staffs in the last ...
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  • Build a Management Team So the Business Isn’t All About You

    Jun 14, 2012, 14:45 PM by Bob Dale
    In my previous blog I wrote about the need to reduce customer concentration in order to increase your value to prospective buyers.  Now let’s talk about the importance of building your internal management team.In the early days of running your own business, it's natural for the founder to do as much as possible. It's the most cost-effective way to do things in the beginning—and no one knows your stuff better than you do. But as the company grows, you'll find yourself stretched too thin. At some ...
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  • No Better Than 50/50 Chance for Cybersecurity Reform

    Jun 13, 2012, 19:49 PM by David Valdez
    As early as last week, Senator Lieberman stated that he is hopeful that “there is still a possibility” that cybersecurity could get passed in the Senate this year.  This is Senator Lieberman’s last legislative session since he is retiring this year.  Many beltway insiders believe that the chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee is eager to see passage of comprehensive cybersecurity reform as his last major achievement.Although the odds are no better than 50/50 to get ...
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  • Computer Attack on Iran Nuclear Program Adds Urgency to Cybersecurity Efforts

    Jun 13, 2012, 18:51 PM by Elizabeth Hyman
    A look at the week of June 13 in public advocacy for the IT channel: The revelation that the U.S. was partly behind a computer virus used to damage Iranian nuclear centrifuges has added urgency for Congress to compromise and push through cybersecurity legislation, says The Hill. Two cybersecurity bills are stalled in the Senate amid the growing media spotlight on the U.S.’s vulnerability to cyberterrorism, says the National Journal. A bipartisan group of senators is working out a compromise rega ...
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