CompTIA Blog

As the name suggests, unified communications (UC) refers to the convergence or unification of communication streams or systems. While many of the elements of UC have been around for some time, it’s only recently the pieces have fallen into place to make UC a viable option for businesses.CompTIA’s recent study of 900 end users and IT firms points to robust growth of this market, a sentiment echoed by forecasts from IDC, Gartner and Forrester.Because the UC space is about to get a lot more crowded ...

Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack stated during a hearing this week that “we are not going to take it anymore,” referring to her efforts to pass comprehensive data notification breach reform, in response to the recent announcements by Sony and Epsilon of its major data breaches. As Congresswoman and Chairwoman of the Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade Subcommittee, she also stated that the recent massive data breaches convinced her for the need to introduce the Secure and Fortify Electronic Data Act ...

Communication is a key element to business success and, when adding cloud services to your portfolio, there is no exception to the rule. A clear and concise discussion on the pros and cons of any new technology solution (or delivery method, in this case) is essential to setting the proper expectations. Without that conversation, your chances for building a successful cloud practice diminish significantly, leaving it up to your clients to decide if the initial and continued investment is worthwhi ...

Even as discussions about tax reform are continuing in D.C., the reality that reform might not be accomplished soon is beginning to set in.  Sure, we need a simpler and more efficient tax system, and we also need additional tax revenues that can be gained from closing loopholes.  However, considering the ongoing impasse in Congress, how do we get there?Part of the answer might be forced by the negotiations on increasing the nation’s debt limit, which will/must be addressed by the end of July.  H ...

Andrea Di Fabio Andrea Di Fabio Information Security Officer, Norfolk State University Which exams have you helped develop? CompTIA Security+, CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner, CompTIA Network+, CompTIA Linux+, CompTIA Strata IT Fundamentals, CompTIA Green IT. Why did you become a subject matter expert? It is an incredible opportunity to work in unison with remarkably talented IT experts from different backgrounds, and share our knowledge to improve the state of IT  You’ve ...

Do you need a social media makeover? Do you use Twitter and Facebook to drive your business? Are you on LinkedIn? Do you use a resource like Constant Contact to stay in touch with customers and prospects? Do you even know what your customers “like”? If the answer is no to any of these questions, you might be in need of a “social media makeover”.At the upcoming CompTIA Breakaway in Washington, D.C., the first week of August, we are featuring the results of a social media makeover done for one luc ...

A look at the week of June 13 in public advocacy for the IT channel:A bill to keep foreign workers in the U.S. is encountering difficulties finding majority support in the House. The SEC has announced that public companies must disclose any breach that could jeopardize intellectual property or trade secrets. Federal agencies are reporting cost savings and improved technology thanks to federal CIO Vivek Kundra’s IT reform plan.Tech Execs Seek Visas for High-Skilled Workers — According to Politi ...

A couple CompTIA-certified entrepreneurs have joined in a new business arrangement offering residents of their South Carolina town one-stop shopping for computer assistance, insurance services and knick-knack shopping.   Mark Ford and Robert McDaniel, owners of Xcellent Computer Services, Inc. of Winnsboro, S.C. and CompTIA A+ certified pros, have partnered their downtown address with another business to offer their clients more than just computer support.   The three-year-old c ...

The popular perception of the IT industry often conjures images of computers, software, and networking gear — the rudiments of an emotionless, digital world.But a series of gifts by CompTIA, the IT industry trade association, through its 10 official communities around the globe, is showing that IT is just as much about connecting people to the needs in their communities as it is about running cable.CompTIA VP Jim Hamilton“This is a way for people to think how the IT industry is giving back. It’s ...

Carlota Perez, leading economist at Cambridge University and an expert in global techno-economic paradigm shifts, explains that every 70 years, a disruptive technology emerges that alters the foundations of the economy. The five ages of transformation to date include the industrial revolution; the age of steam and railways; the age of steel, electricity and heavy engineering; the age of oil, cars and mass production; and the age of information and telecommunications.   It interests me to se ...

Growth can happen as long as there's clear vision among the company's leaders and managers. As chair of the new CompTIA IT Business Growth Professionals Community, I am proud to introduce the group mission and its value as a resource for the entire association’s membership. The tag line describes our focus: Delivering expertise and guidance to impact solution provider success." Our members accomplish this by providing coaching, consulting, products and services to the partner, distributor and ve ...

What sources do you rely on for reliable IT industry research and data? Some answers may include government data (e.g. BEA, BLS), research subscription services (e.g. IDC, Gartner), news websites (e.g. Channel Insider, CIO) and search engines (e.g. Bing, Google). That’s a lot of sources to dig through!Even then, there is still no guarantee of mining that “golden nugget” of information. Clearly, there must be a more efficient and effective way to search for that meaningful market size data, growt ...

Last week, two events took place that typically would not draw much channel interest. Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference took place in San Francisco, and without a new device launch, some wondered how exciting the event might be.  Down the coast in Los Angeles was an event even further removed from standard channel scrutiny: the Electronics Entertainment Expo, better known as E3. However, both of these events presented reminders that the way we interface with technology is changing as rapidl ...

Carlota Perez, leading economist at Cambridge University and an expert in global techno-economic paradigm shifts, explains that every 70 years, a disruptive technology emerges that alters the foundations of the economy. The five ages of transformation to date include the industrial revolution; the age of steam and railways; the age of steel, electricity and heavy engineering; the age of oil, cars and mass production; and the age of information and telecommunications.It interests me to see the te ...

The stock market and consumer confidence indexes continue to show signs of anxiety, with some economists suggesting it may take a couple more years before we get back on track. While that prediction may be too pessimistic, conservative spending habits will likely continue to be the norm for most businesses. Despite the doom and gloom, one key business sector is on the rise; SMB. That segment is also a major consumer of VAR solutions and services, so this should be welcome news for the IT channel ...