CompTIA Blog

On September 26th, in partnership with the Illinois Technology Association (ITA), CompTIA launched its second TechVoice Chapter in Illinois.  The official kick-off, which was also co-hosted by the Partnership for a New American Economy, took place at the ITA offices in downtown Chicago.  The aim of this first gathering was to introduce the 65 attendees to a proposal now pending in the United States Congress called the Startup 2.0 Act (H.R. 5893 and S. 3217).  By hearing from one of the Congressi ...

Sen. Jay Rockefeller solicits info on cyberthreats. Senate blocks a $1 billion veterans jobs bill. House of Representatives blocks legislation easing retaining foreign workers educated in STEM fields. Sen. Jay Rockefeller is sending letters to CEOs of Fortune 500 companies in order to understand how companies handle cyberthreats and what they believe the government should do to help, says the Wall Street Journal. The surveys are meant to guide lawmakers on how to proceed with cybersecurity leg ...

In order to enhance certification exam security, CompTIA will require all test-takers worldwide to have their photo taken and signature recorded as part of the admissions process at all Pearson VUE testing centers.

Earlier today, the White House issued a letter addressed to Senator Jay Rockefeller, Chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, signed by John O. Brennan, Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism.The letter states “the President is determined to use existing executive branch authorities to protect our nation against cyber threats.” This letter makes clear that in the absence of comprehensive cybersecurity legislation the White House will ...

In the IT channel, a lot of focus is placed on the market potential of certain solutions and technologies, especially in areas where few solution providers would dare to invest their resources. If the opportunity for entering a new market isn’t large enough or requires too much time or money to get started, it often gets shelved until the situation changes to make it a more lucrative endeavor. But one aspect many companies overlook is the cost of what’s not on their list of portfolio options.Fiv ...

Takeaway of the week is a nice and tidy set of fun-filled nuggets that just about everyone in and around the IT job market will find interesting. Tech hiring hotspots are examined West Coast to East Coast with some surprising results; big-picture career decisions are broken down in ways that every candidate should be doing them if they haven't already; and sometimes career advancement begins outside of working hours. Tech Hotspots with a Shocker Up Top So long Silicon Valley? Nice knowin' y ...

Small business owners feel policies favor large businesses. Republicans oppose more regulations to boost private businesses’ cybersecurity. Former FBI official calls for clarity on how to combat cyberthreats. Small business owners feel too many policies endorsed by politicians favor large businesses, says Bloomberg. SMBs say politicians unjustly believe that small companies operate just as larger corporations do when in reality they are not operationally similar. Republicans feel tha ...

While Congress and the Administration concentrate on the upcoming elections, Middle East crises and keeping the government running, expiration of the Bush tax cuts looms as a huge issue for all Americans, especially small businesses.  Currently, business planning is near impossible, as major tax increases could take effect on January 1, 2013.  The potential expiration of these cuts could cause an economic slowdown as consumers and businesses face uncertainty on their 2013 tax bills.  This uncert ...

IT veteran Jimmy Hooh says CompTIA played a major role in his grasp of cloud security.

Going with the flow isn’t a strategy, and it certainly isn’t a route that business owners should take. But the path of least resistance is often thrust upon solution providers, especially when their clients and prospects are the ones making the decisions. Satisfying clients while doing what’s in their own best interests is a delicate balancing act. With cloud services, that’s a common dilemma.Without a carefully crafted, well-validated strategy, solution providers may find themselves pulled into ...

Takeaway of the week is something akin to a broken record: Notably, that another publication touts the value of "soft skills" in the hiring process, IT certifications tend to bump up one's pay grade and IT hiring continues to be on the rise. Nothing new, yet good to know. The IT Skills That Matter Most Just about anyone worth their salt in the IT job market these days can code, so what can set a candidate apart from the pack? We'll give you a hint. It's not hard. As a recent item in TechRepublic ...

Big Data, the buzzword du jour, has captured the IT industry’s attention with some truly impressive examples of what the future may hold.

White House drafts preliminary executive order intended to protect U.S. computer systems. Congress back in session; expected to react. The Obama administration has sought to boost loans to small businesses. The White House has drafted a preliminary executive order with the hope of protecting our nation’s computer systems, says the Washington Post. The exact dimensions of the order are still being debated, but it would create voluntary standards for businesses. With Congress back in ses ...

Due to changes in the information technology industry, CompTIA will retire the CompTIA CTP+ certification exam at the end of this year. The CompTIA CTP+ certification exam, launched in 2010, covers the topic of convergent technologies, more commonly referred to today as unified communications. Since the exam launch, new forms of technology have developed, causing changes in the way business is conducted. These technologies include new mobile technologies and business models such as cloud computi ...

What skills are in demand? How do certifications impact salary? How does your salary compare to national averages? Global Knowledge and Windows IT Pro are undertaking these issues and more in the 2013 IT Skills and Salary Survey. Participants receive a complimentary copy of the final report. Those who enter by Oct. 19 will be entered into a random drawing for one of eight $250 American Express gift cards. The annual report is one of the industry's most extensive surveys of IT and business profes ...