CompTIA Blog

Having skilled IT pros on hand to select the best equipment options, configure them properly and keep them running is becoming more and more important in every organization because operating in an always-connected environment means that service disruptions can have a serious impact.

Looking into 2017, we face difficulties on the cybersecurity front on many different levels.

It’s no secret that small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) already drive a massive portion of the technology market. Still, there are barriers that keep SMBs from being more upbeat about leveraging new technology that could help them achieve their goals faster and more effectively. Here's how to get past them.

Experts have been predicting the demise of the IT channel for more than a decade, and dozens of others have added to that narrative over the years. The problem with that premise is that the reseller/support segment of the industry has continued to strengthen and morph itself to overcome every challenge that comes its way so far. But there are some significant concerns that could threaten the channel business model as we know it.

Brazilian IT professional Wanderley Martins recently took on a new job as a senior security specialist, and his high-level CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP+) certification proved he’s got what it takes.

People learn differently, and knowing how you learn best can help you determine which exam prep option is right for you.

Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today proposed a balanced state budget that eliminates a projected $2 billion deficit and bolsters the state’s Rainy Day Fund while continuing to invest in education, health care expansion and other core programs.

Washington State legislators will convene today in Olympia for the 2017 legislative session. The regular session is scheduled to run 105 days through April 23, however special session extensions are likely.

Lawmakers gathered at the State Capitol Wednesday to celebrate the opening of the 71st General Assembly. Outgoing Speaker of the House Dickey Lee Hullinghorst (D-Boulder) and Senate President Bill Cadman (R-Colorado Springs) presided over the opening of session and then turned over their gavels to new leaders. The House of Representatives elected Crisanta Duran (D-Denver) as the new Speaker, a historic moment as she is the first Latina woman to hold the office. The Senate elected Kevin Grantham (R-Canon City) as President of the 71st General Assembly.

When combined with the growing population of “financial entrepreneurs” in the IT industry, the number of prospective business sales will continue to escalate over the next few years. But how long will the demand keep up with the supply? As they say, timing is everything.

Ray DeJean manages all the connectivity on the campus of Southeastern Louisiana University and acts as an adjunct professor. In the server room and in the classroom, he’s always learning, teaching and bringing it all to the table to help CompTIA set the industry standards for advanced cybersecurity professionals.

At the beginning of December, the CompTIA Policy Executive Board (PxB) met to review and finalize CompTIA’s 2017 policy priorities. This group is charged with ensuring all policy committees are aware of policy positions and initiatives, seek consensus for those positions, and provide guidance on the growth and direction of CompTIA advocacy activities.

Should Amazon’s foray into managed services be a major concern to MSPs? In some regards, yes, but only if providers fail to adapt and double down on their customer focus. Rather than viewing Amazon’s move as an immediate competitive threat, MSPs should consider it a catalyst for retooling their own businesses.

During a Policy Executive Board (PxB) dinner in December, we were honored to have Congressman Will Hurd (R-TX), Ambassador Rufus Yerxa, President and CEO of the National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC), and Jeff Lambert from the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) join us for a lively discussion on what the next several months may hold for tech policy and larger geopolitical considerations.

Do you have a good understanding of what each of your customer’s employees do with their individual devices and applications? What solutions could boost their productivity or make their work more enjoyable? Successful IT services firms know the answers to those questions — or at least how to find them. Fantastic solutions begin (and end) with the end users.