Matthew Stern's Posts

Even if a tech has worked for more than a decade as an IT professional, without a certification, recruitment specialist Dave Atherton can’t put them on the job.

A security breach in this constantly connected world can mean anything from being inconvenienced to being extorted — and for businesses that don’t properly secure their networks it can mean massive losses in profits and time. At a time when it’s harder than ever to find highly skilled IT security staff, CompTIA’s 11th Annual Information Security Trends study shows data breaches cropping up with growing frequency, and recovery taking longer than ever before.

Whether just starting out in the field or trying to get back into the game after a long absence, certification is a critical differentiator for IT professionals looking to move their careers forward. Having effective study tools is key for IT professionals looking to pass their certification exams. Four IT workers, all at very different points in their professional lives, found that CertMaster not only helped them study to pass an exam, but helped them retain practical knowledge that may come in handy in their careers to come.

When a teacher’s computer goes down in a Doss High School classroom, it isn’t the school’s tech support person who shows up to fix it. Rather, it’s one of the students in technology coordinator J.R. Drummond’s help desk class, putting into practice in the field everything they’re learning in the classroom.

Just as Terminator: Genisys hits theaters, we took a look at how much technology speculated about in the Terminator movies has become a reality in 2015.

Ralph Lazaro accumulated more than a decade’s worth of hands-on computer experience in the U.S. Navy. But when he got out of the service and sent his resume around in search of civilian jobs, he was not getting calls back. His resume was missing one crucial element – certifications.

CompTIA A+ gave Robert Vance his start in IT, and returned his work-life balance to a point where he could once again enjoy his native New Orleans; as he describes it, “the music capital of the world.”

Long days don’t bother Paul Busby. Since getting numerous CompTIA certifications and a bachelor’s degree in technical management, there has been one big factor—besides, of course, the money—that makes all the work worth it for him. “It’s something I want to do,” he said.

From a single mother who was in dire financial straits now thriving at a distribution center for a large retailer to a student now working as a database administrator for tax service Hewlett Jackson, IT pros from all walks of life have gotten their starts at Manatee Technical College – with an assist from CompTIA certification.

Learn about how Joshua Wragg went from struggling as a tech novice to owning his own tech support firm; a rising success he credits to CompTIA A+.