CompTIA Blog

Grab a cup of coffee and spend just 20 minutes learning actionable market and channel intelligence from CompTIA. The Channel Bytes Webinar: 2015 IT Industry Outlook Series kicks off March 4 with key insight into the macro forces shaping the IT industry and workforce in the year ahead.

There’s no room for complacency when it comes to commoditization, but most channel companies aren’t built to win a pricing war. The best alternative is to know your company’s priorities, add services and expertise where you can, and stay focused on your goals. Fair-weather plans will leave you scrambling for an identity, and you don’t want to end up like Radio Shack.

High school junior Shannon Watkins didn’t have a career path in mind when she started at Sarah E. Goode STEM Academy in Chicago, but her skills-based learning experience at one of Chicago’s five Early College STEM Schools — plus exposure to real IT workplaces like IBM and Razorfish — opened her eyes to some wild possibilities.

Technology insiders and advocates spent the second day of the TechAmerica D.C. Fly-In focused on data security, the Internet of Things and the overall future of the IT industry. The morning’s speakers included two U.S. Representatives, a policy adviser for the National Economic Council and representatives from the FCC and FTC.

Last Tuesday, Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) delivered his 2015 State of the State address to a joint session of the Texas House and Senate. In his remarks, Governor Abbott laid out his legislative priorities and detailed a roadmap to achieve his agenda. The Governor also announced five emergency items: early education, higher education research

Last week I attended a fly-in in Washington, D.C., that was organized by the TechAmerica division of CompTIA. More than 21 technology associations from Technology Councils of North America participated in the two-day event.

U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.), U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Xerox Corp.'s Aaron Woods were honored during the TechAmerica Champion Awards Dinner, a special reception held to recognize those who have championed policies that advance the country’s IT industry.

These seven new things about the CASP certification will show you a few of the ways that CompTIA is preparing the top-level IT pros to keep the online world safe.

In our 2015 IT Industry Outlook, CompTIA identified four technology trends that we expect to play out over the upcoming year, plus counter trends that will still be driving business decisions without always making splashy headlines. Read analyst Seth Robinson’s take on why IT’s future is built on the recent past.

The future of broadband, the reality of cybersecurity and the logistics of high-skilled immigration reform were discussed at length by IT experts and Washington insiders during the 2015 TechAmerica D.C. Fly-In, organized by TechAmerica — the public sector and public advocacy department of CompTIA and the Technology Councils of North America (TECHNA).

Business transformation is — or should be —an ongoing journey. Tweaking, tinkering and constant review are part of the process, but many channel firms fail to recognize this. They start with a transformative activity, but fail to follow the plan to its full evolution. Learn to keep pace in today’s market with insight from CompTIA researcher Carolyn April.

Wearable technologies — while interesting and sometimes intriguing — might not seem like the right fit for your business, but because of competition and the continued commoditization of this type of technology, there’s no better time to explore viable and profitable solutions in this space.

The House of Representatives has passed H.R. 636, “America’s Small Business Tax Relief Act of 2015.” This legislation would permanently reinstate the 2014 small business expensing limitation of $500,000. The limitation was decreased to $25,000 beginning on 2015. TechAmerica has long called for the higher $500,000 limitation to be permanently extended.

Strong leadership is one of the single most important aspects of business excellence, and is a hallmark of many CompTIA members, especially those featured on PCR’s 2015 top 50 UK IT Execs list. See who made the prestigious list.

State of Texas technology contracts—specifically Texas Cooperative Contracts—have recently drawn increased scrutiny from the Governor’s office, legislators, and media. As lawmakers work to craft appropriate solutions and reforms, TechAmerica, the public policy arm of CompTIA, has expressed its support for the transparency and accountability measures outlined by Governor Abbott, Speaker Straus, and the proposed bills by Senator Nelson and Rep. Price in SB 353 and HB 1027.