CompTIA Blog

On Veterans Day last November, we saw a number of stories about the state of unemployment among the veterans community. It was startling enough to learn the unemployment rate among Iraq and Afghanistan veterans was 33 percent higher than the overall population, but if you dig a little deeper, you realize the picture gets far darker. As the jobs picture improves for more Americans, among our youngest veterans, those 18 to 24 years old, the jobless rate continues to hover near 30 percent, up fro ...

Many IT projections for 2012 showed mobility as one of the hottest topics for the upcoming year. Fueled by the popularity of mobile devices and the growing numbers of employees working remotely, enterprise mobility is set to become big business in the years to come. Global Industry Analysts projects that by 2017, enterprise mobility will be a $174 billion market. CompTIA also feels that mobility will be a major trend to follow, and the newly released Trends in Enterprise Mobility study examines ...

We anticipate bi-partisan support for legislation aimed at easing access to equity capital for small businesses.  House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) announced yesterday that the Republican majority would bring legislation to the floor next week that amalgamates six existing capital access bills, four of which have been passed by the House already.  Basically, this new bill, H.R. 3606 "Reopening American Capital Markets to Emerging Growth Companies Act of 2011," is a “re-packaging” of exis ...

Activity surrounding cybersecurity saw an uptick this week as Democrats and Republicans tried to position themselves on tech-impacting legislation.  Below is a quick round-up of the leading stories: Senators Unveil Major Cybersecurity Bill New Cybersecurity Center for Excellence Launched GOP Cybersecurity Bill Takes Light Regulatory TouchPrivacy also was a top issue this week with numerous stories covering everything from a White House proposal for managing consumer privacy to coverage of Google ...

In general, companies avoid unnecessary risks and will invest in any cost-effective methods that will lessen dangers to their business. Some hazards are easy to prevent, or at least insure against—such as fire or theft, while others are more obscure and present a real challenge to those unfamiliar with prevention methods.That’s the position many businesses are in when it comes to cloud and security services. The prospect of accessing and backing up critical business systems via the Web seems con ...

On March 6th, our UK office hosts a partner luncheon on cloud computing and the need for education and certification. Led by John McGlinchey, vice president, EMEA, CompTIA, the luncheon will feature Ian Moyse, a well-known authority on cloud security. Moyse is the U.K. sales director for Workbooks.com, a Eurocloud U.K. board member and Cloud Industry Forum Governance board member.  Below is a post from Moyse on his insights into the cloud computing trend.2012 is rumored as the tipping point for ...

Takeaway of the week is that a fresh batch of reminders only strengthens the idea that 2012 really is a cornucopia of good tidings for the IT job-seekers. The U.K., for example, is bursting at the seams with plum IT roles, if you have the right skills and experience. Another ‘Hot Jobs’ list isn’t just sprinkled with technology roles, it’s downright dominated by ‘em. And, if that isn’t enough, more evidence comes forth that executives are actually investing in their technology departments as a me ...

On my way into work a few weeks ago, mindlessly listening to talk radio, I heard one of the most exciting pieces of news I’ve heard in a long time.  The Girl Scouts of America had added three new badges to its program: computer expert, digital movie maker and website designer.  I actually found myself cheering out loud and high fiving the steering wheel!As a woman who has spent nearly my entire career in high tech industry, I am acutely aware of the gender gap.  From executive meetings to client ...

On my way into work a few weeks ago, mindlessly listening to talk radio, I heard one of the most exciting pieces of news I’ve heard in a long time. The Girl Scouts of America had added three new badges to its program: computer expert, digital movie maker and website designer. I actually found myself cheering out loud and high fiving the steering wheel! As a woman who has spent nearly my entire career in high tech industry, I am acutely aware of the gender gap. From executive meetings to clien ...

In America, we often like to quote that “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Unfortunately, the effectiveness of prevention is hard for a government agency or a nonprofit organization to measure and prove. (It’s near impossible to count bad things that fail to happen due to a smart intervention.)So, instead, our society tends to fund expense mechanisms that react to problems once they do happen.Year Up is one of several workforce development organizations pointing to the new report ...

A look at the week of February 28 in public advocacy for the IT channel:  This week, the National Security Agency and the White House disagree about the agency’s role in cybersecurity.  A new study finds that the lack of uniform regulation in the cloud computing market is hurting its development.  Senator John McCain (R-AZ) plans to introduce a rival cyber bill.White House, NSA Weigh Cybersecurity, Personal Privacy — The National Security Agency has pushed repeatedly over the past year to expand ...

CDW, a leading provider of technology products and services for the business, government and education sectors in North America, actively recruits members of the military to capitalize on the transferable skills military can bring to the civilian workplace. In this CompTIA podcast, CDW Senior Director of Talent Acquisition Melissa McMahon discusses the IT job opportunities and support programs available at CDW for veterans and members of the military who are transitioning into civilian careers. ...

Chicago Tech Academy student Austin Lambert speaks at a reception before the Chicago Tech Academy Class of 2016 lottery on Thursday.Last year, Austin Lambert's goal of a career creating video games seemed far away. He was bullied at school and had low self-confidence.What a difference a year makes. After applying for and gaining a spot at Chicago Tech Academy, he's spent his freshman year learning all about technology. He's a member of a school club where he learns about video and graphics desig ...

Life on a reserve among one of the aboriginal First Nations groups in Alberta, Canada, doesn’t always mesh well with modern times, but a successful, new training program is changing that - with help from CompTIA.Brought together in May 2011, just over a dozen students - all members of the Louis Bull Tribe - began an inaugural PC support training program provided by SAIT Polytechnic with the simple goal of better employment options.Using the fundamentals-soaked CompTIA A+ certification as a train ...

Life on a reserve among one of the aboriginal First Nations groups in Alberta, Canada, doesn’t always mesh well with modern times, but a successful, new training program is changing that - with help from CompTIA. Brought together in May 2011, just over a dozen students - all members of the Louis Bull Tribe - began an inaugural PC support training program provided by SAIT Polytechnic with the simple goal of better employment options. Using the fundamentals-soaked CompTIA A+ certification as a tra ...