Matt Swanston Posts

Saying that one’s head is in the clouds suggests that he or she is isolated and detached from the realities on the ground below them.  I suppose it could be interpreted as taking a high altitude view of something, but that wasn’t the impression I got when my teachers (and later, bosses) encouraged me to come back down to Earth. In that context, the clouds represent unrealistic ideas and expectations rather than high ideals and a visionary point of view.In tech parlance, the cloud refers to non-c ...

During CompTIA’s first Annual Member Meeting in Chicago earlier this month, heavy hitters from the IT industry described the current and future opportunities they see from their corner offices.  The panel session entitled “A Word From the Big Guys” was moderated by CompTIA CEO Todd Thibodeaux who guided the panelists through a candid discussion on the economic landscape and where the IT channel is headed.The panel consisted of the following IT industry visionaries:Steve Dallman, VP & GM, Wor ...

During CompTIA’s inaugural Annual Member Meeting, April 7-8 in Chicago, leaders in the security world delved into what it really means to provide security services and how to determine which resellers are qualified to provide them. A panel of experts shared proven approaches to vertical and niche markets and provided insights on partnering with other organizations to deliver a larger suite of security services.Moderator:Larry Walsh, Vice President and Group Publisher, Channel InsiderPanelists:St ...

The CompTIA Security Trustmark is a key differentiator for its holders, giving those CompTIA members an edge over their competition. Should CompTIA create a similar credential for Managed Services? The answer isn't obvious - issues regarding scope, varying business models and consistent metrics are just some of the challenges - but the potential benefit for MSPs is huge. Join the debate and help define the future!Facilitators:Ted Roller, Vice President Business Development North America, itContr ...

Everyone’s talking about cloud computing, but what does it really mean to your customers and for your business. Jeff Kaplan, Managing Director of THINKstrategies and the founder of the SaaS Showplace, explains the meaning of cloud computing; how this concept has gained such widespread attention; why customers are curious about its capabilities; and what IT solution providers need to do to respond and capitalize on this historic shift in the technology industry.Download or listen to the podcast h ...

The key to selling IT security is building trust between businesses and clients, panelists at an Annual Member Meeting presentation said today.That’s important for a product that succeeds when nothing happens.“Customers small, medium, large – they need this,” said Randy Cochran, Symantec vice president of channel sales. “You are their resource.”Explaining return on investment for security solutions is different because it is more about risk management and explaining what can be avoided, said mod ...

“It takes guts to lead with love and trust!”  So began Dr. Kevin Freiberg’s passionate and energetic luncheon keynote presentation at CompTIA’s Annual Member Meeting on Thursday, April 8th.  Based on his book entitled “GUTS! Companies that Blow the Doors Off Business-as-Usual” Freiberg’s presentation was an impassioned plea for attendees to decommoditize their businesses by thinking creatively and taking risks to stand out.To illustrate this point, Freiberg asked attendees to consider if clients ...

Tim Herbert, Vice President, Research, CompTIA and Cushing Anderson, Program Vice President, Project-Based Services, IDC shared their thoughts on current and future prospects for the IT training industry during their State of the Industry Address at CompTIA Colloquium 2010 on Thursday, April 8 in Chicago.Herbert kicked off the address with a brief presentation on the challenges faced by IT decision makers from a variety of verticals. “Productivity decisions intensify during difficult economic ti ...

Members of CompTIA’s IT Security Special Interest Group met to identify industry needs and explore potential initiatives during CompTIA’s Annual Member Meeting Thursday morning.  Group chair Fernando Quintero, Vice President, Channel Sales – The Americas, McAfee, led a discussion on the group’s mission, format, objectives and initiatives.The group, consisting of IT industry professionals from a variety of disciplines from healthcare to education, began by reviewing a draft IT Security Code of Et ...

“Are you sure that’s your final answer?” If you ask Steve Ernst, the first part of that sentence – “are you sure?” -- is every bit as important as the answer itself. Individuals who are confident in their answers and knowledge can retain that information longer, according to Ernst, Vice President, Client Services, Knowledge Factor. The company focuses on measuring both knowledge and confidence in its learning software, he said at a CompTIA Colloquium sessi ...