Government and Tech Leaders at CompTIA DC Fly-In

Innovative new products such as wearable devices and smart home devices allow us to better track our health, enhance the security of our homes, and reduce energy consumption. But questions about who should have access to the data these products collect, what it’s being used for, and how consumers give consent are at the center of one of our nation’s most critical policy debates.

Consumers deserve transparency and protections to ensure their personal information is not being used in harmful ways, but legislators must also strike the right balance to preserve America’s innovative spirit.

CompTIA’s 2019 DC Fly-In brought together leaders from the tech industry, government and public interest space to discuss why the U.S. should act swiftly to pass federal privacy legislation and where there’s common agreement between interested parties.

The panel was moderated by Matthew Starr – Director of Public Advocacy at CompTIA – and included:
Chris Calabrese, Vice President for Policy, Center for Democracy & Technology
Travis Hall, Telecommunications Policy Specialist, (OPAD), (NTIA), U.S. Department of Commerce
Yael Weinman, Associate General Counsel, Privacy, Verizon

Check out a few key takeaway from the discussion:

States are Putting on the Pressure

Following implementation of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in Europe, California passed a data privacy law in 2018 that establishes new rules around notices and transparency of data collection and the right of consumers to request certain information be deleted. California has long been a leader in the tech world, so panelists said it’s no surprise that many states are thinking about following suit with data privacy proposals of their own. The potential for states to take action this year is putting pressure on the federal government to take the lead in setting a regulatory framework.
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Benefits of CompTIA Certifications

At the Defense Information School at Fort George G. Meade in Maryland, the record-keeping resources are getting a high-tech makeover. Dan Nightengale, senior consultant and project manager, has been making it happen. Nightengale has spent months managing multiple teams and applying AGILE project management methodology to replace the legacy applications with a more user-friendly, efficient and effective solution. It’s a type of work he’s focused on since he began as a project manager at CGI Federal in 2016, and from which he derives a particular kind of satisfaction.

“I like seeing something start from an idea or a plan and getting it implemented, into a customer’s hands and completed and delivered,” Nightengale said.

The infrastructure conversation goes beyond Congress, too. That was made clear in remarks from FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr, who delivered the final keynote address at the Fly-In. The Commissioner said the regulatory agency wants to get out of the way of businesses so the private sector can deploy next-generation broadband networks. These 5G networks will serve as the backbone for smart cities -- from enhanced public utilities to improved transportation systems.

“We want the U.S. to win the race to 5G,” Carr said. “Technology companies will help us make this happen and the technology industry will benefit through all the advantages the next generation of networks will deliver.”

But while the current role he’s in isn’t explicitly technical, being able to handle and understand the IT side of the projects he works on is always a boon. Sometimes his roles have been more focused on IT and sometimes, like at CGI, they have been more organizational. But with every career step he’s taken, the CompTIA certifications he holds have made things easier in numerous ways.

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Pay for Your Cybersecurity Certification

Pursuing a cybersecurity certification is a wise career investment for today's security professionals. Cybersecurity certifications validate the skills needed for the more than 300,000 unfilled security jobs in the United States and 1 million open positions globally. In addition to job security, a certification can be a tool for a lucrative career path, including median earnings of more than $95,000 per year with just three to four years of experience.

CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP+) is often compared to (ISC)2 Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), and many IT pros ask themselves, “Which certification is right for me?”

Both exams assess advanced-level cybersecurity skills and are vendor neutral, but the similarities stop there. We’ve identified four advantages of CompTIA CASP+ over CISSP.


Assesses hands-on skills
Validates technical mastery skills
Fills an industry skills gap
Price

With a low demand of qualified candidates and a high supply of jobs, current and aspiring security professionals who take ownership of professional development will be rewarded with significant career mobility, stability and freedom.

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Should I Get an IT Certification

Achieving IT certifications offers a number of benefits, including personal fulfillment, financial growth and a boost in confidence. But most of all, they show employers that you have the ability to focus and learn and that you take your career seriously.

So, what does it take to climb the ranks of IT?

I spoke with a colleague of mine not too long ago, and he made an interesting point.

“If you want to take your career into your own hands, you need a trifecta.”

He was referring to these three things:
Certifications
Experience (Skills)
A Degree

With all three on your resume, there is no reason you can’t have the job of your dreams. When it comes to certifications and skills, here are 10 questions to ask yourself before you decide to chase your next IT certification.
Why should I get an IT certification?

In January, I earned the DevOps Foundation certification. Through this, I learned that the business has to establish its “why” – the purpose, beliefs, goal and reason for doing something. This can also be applied to certifications – what is your purpose, belief, goal or reason for achieving the certification? I apply this to every major decision in my life. Establishing the why puts the goal into focus.
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The Skills You Need for the Internet of Things

Among emerging technologies, the internet of things (IoT) has the most adoption and possibly the most potential for disruption. By expanding the technology footprint to include nearly every device imaginable, IoT opens the door for businesses to fully digitize their operations while also creating huge opportunities (and headaches) for IT pros.

As with any new trend, businesses are quickly looking for the skills that will lead to IoT success. A quick review of job postings shows plenty that list internet of things in the title, but the reality is that deep expertise is not necessarily required for early adoption.

As companies are experimenting, building proof of concept projects or implementing simple solutions, they can use many of the skills they have on board. CompTIA’s latest research on the internet of things found that many of the skills companies consider critical for IoT are in foundational areas of IT.
IoT and Security

It’s no surprise to see IT security at the top of the list of critical skills. The move to cloud computing demonstrated that new technology needs a new approach to security, and IoT is no exception. There are definitely some specific areas of concern with IoT, like reviewing products from non-IT vendors and monitoring for suspicious activity in non-IT environments, but some of the main activities in securing IoT systems are managing devices and securing data across networks. CompTIA Security+ provides the necessary foundation for further IoT security.
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New IT Certification

The World Economic Forum estimates that 65 percent of students today will ultimately be working in jobs that don’t currently exist. That is an alarming statistic for any person entering the workforce, but reading between the lines, this is a reminder for employers in all sectors that transferable skills and training are more important than ever, because jobs are evolving.

The smartest employers understand the necessity of training and professional development and look to industry-standard certifications like CompTIA A+ for reassurance that a professional has not just the knowledge, but importantly, the right mindset to get the job done. Hiring people who have the most up-to-date certification is not just an immediate necessity for effectively handling day-to-day business. It’s an invaluable retention strategy and a way to future-proof your business against inevitable changes in IT.

The Adult Skills Gap Report for 2019 shows that the UK spends just two-thirds of the European average on adult training, with investments declining by 34 percent from 2011 to 2016. In spite of that, a 4 four percent growth in the IT workforce is predicted by 2022.

This decrease in training is alarming. At a time of such rapid change, growth and complexity in IT, employers simply can’t afford to be stagnant in their approach to training and certification.
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Cybersecurity Checklist

When we consider the constantly evolving and rising cyberthreats plaguing enterprises, we understand why making decisions on cybersecurity investments can quickly become overwhelming. From phishing scams to app vulnerabilities, to insider threats and more, there is a wide array of threat landmines to avoid. If you’re the person tasked with ensuring that a company has a robust security posture, it wouldn’t surprise me if you’re often losing sleep.

At times, and especially for chief information security officers (CISOs), the most basic challenge can be determining the company’s critical security needs before they cut through the noise and select the strongest security solutions their budgets will allow.

When asked what technologies should be prioritized, the answers are not always as concise or as simple as one might imagine. The reason is because there are so many variables to consider for each company.

But, it’s with those conversations in mind that I offer this checklist as a solid foundation from which to build upon. These are suggestions I’ve discussed with my own CISO, when we decided how to shape our 2019 enterprise security strategy.
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The Future of the Harmonized System

The Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System generally referred to as "Harmonized System" or simply "HS" is a multipurpose international product nomenclature developed by the World Customs Organization (WCO).

The system is used by more than 200 countries and economies as a basis for their Customs tariffs and for the collection of international trade statistics. More than 98% of the merchandise in international trade is classified in terms of the HS (source: WCO). The 30th anniversary of the HS took place in 2018.

On May 2-3 the WCO held a Conference on the Future Direction of the Harmonized System. The theme of the conference was “What is needed for a 21st Century Harmonized System.” The conference was attended by more than 300 individuals from government, industry, academia and other stakeholder organizations.

Additional information regarding the conference including speaker biographies, conference papers (including CompTIA’s submission), conference presentations, and photos can be accessed on this WCO website.

CompTIA was well represented at the conference with Ken Montgomery, Vice President, International Trade Regulation & Compliance, and Carlos Halasz, Customs Compliance Officer, HP Inc. representing industry on the Panel “Is the HS Still Fit for Purpose?” Topics addressed included “The Changing Face of Trade and the HS” and “The Role of the HS in Trade Agreements.” Other CompTIA members attended and participated in side meetings.
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How to Find an IT Internship

As an IT student, “Intern with an awesome tech company” should be at the top of your bucket list. This is because an IT internship will equip you with critical technical and soft skills you’ll need during the span of your career. It will also assist you in building your resume, lengthen your list of career contacts and increase your self-confidence. And if that weren’t enough, tech internships have been touted as the answer to the IT skills gap.

If you are unsure about how to find the perfect IT internship for you, you’re not alone. Plenty of other college students around the world are in the same boat and feeling just as overwhelmed as you are. Give yourself a competitive edge and make the search process less stressful by using these tips.
Network like never before.

Finding the ideal IT internship is often an exercise in networking since a huge number of internships are never advertised. Just as many jobs are found through networking, lots of internships are found through networking as well. If you are inexperienced in this area, getting started may feel a little awkward. Keep in mind that the more you network, the more natural it will feel.

When searching for a tech internship, be bold in asking for leads. You have nothing to lose. Start by asking your instructors, peers and past employers about potential internship opportunities they may be aware of. Also, attend IT networking activities on campus and in your city.
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Complexities of Cloud Computing

As IT increasingly moves into cloud-based computing, managing information, maintaining security and protecting data integrity all become more challenging. It’s not out of line to talk about a looming cloud complexity crisis as organizations keep increasing their consumption of cloud-based computing and storage resources, creating new data sets and databases, and proliferating virtual infrastructures galore.

As more piles on top of more, IT pros are starting to realize that they face real problems from expanding use of cloud technologies, services, infrastructures and more.

Such issues include the following:
Ongoing need to monitor, manage and maintain multiple services, data collections and more, where individual resources are integrated only poorly or not at all: Computer management old-timers will recognize this as a case of swivel-chair management – the situation when one person in a swivel chair revolves amidst a sea of screens, one for each console or management utility needed.
Too many different systems and tools to learn: The problem with lots of consoles or management tools is that each one is different and requires learning and experience to deal with. As the number of such things grows, the learning and experience needs to increase even faster.
Interactions between systems get more complex and difficult as the number of systems increases: Ultimately, this means IT staff can end up spending too much time trying to figure out where the fires are, as they keep fighting one blaze after another.
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Digital Transformation from Apple

Love it or hate it, there’s no denying that Apple has a significant impact on society and the tech landscape. With 1.4 billion active devices across phones, tablets, computers and wearables, Apple has built a massive platform. It has not always been the first out of the gate with innovations, but it has managed to fine-tune its designs in a way that resonates strongly with consumers. Between the huge install base and the influence it is able to exert, Apple’s offerings and announcements can give IT pros insight into the direction of the market, even if the products aren’t specifically built for enterprise.

The opening keynote at Apple Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) 2019 followed the script that been used for previous events: a parade of employees who were each very excited to describe upcoming products, eye-popping technical specifications and well-timed pauses for thunderous applause.

At the beginning of the show, though, there was a moment that passed quickly but shouldn’t be ignored. CEO Tim Cook stood in front of a slide showing the three-pronged approach of Apple’s strategy:
Hardware
Software
Services

Obviously these three areas are part of the plan for most tech companies, but what makes Apple unique is the integrated approach it takes. When talking about digital solutions, the emphasis is shifting more and more to services. However, it makes sense for IT pros to consider each one of these areas when leading their company through digital transformation.
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CompTIA CertMaster Learn Security+

Now, I have to say that CompTIA did sponsor this video. Shout out to CompTIA, and thank you for sponsoring this video.

So, with no further ado, let’s get to it.

CompTIA has the best online training courses for certification in a variety of security fields. CompTIA also certifies the leading IT professionals in IT with the skills they need most.

I am CompTIA Security+ certified and the Security+ has helped me throughout my career. I’m also CompTIA A+ certified, and that helped me obtain my first job after the military.

The biggest message, according to Ptak, is that tech is for everyone, and an approachable education that starts early will push the industry forward by providing exciting and rewarding career paths and opportunities. Last year, BYTE worked with TSA to bring the program to ChannelCon, CompTIA’s premier conference for tech leaders and companies. Students had the opportunity to shadow a professional, ask questions and see the behind-the-scenes of what a career in tech could be like.

“The ChannelCon experience is by far my favorite because [the students] were just mind-blown about being at ChannelCon and being able to see and speak to everybody. They got to pick the attendees’ brains about working in tech and the different areas and fields that you can go into. It was amazing.”

One of the most helpful features of BYTE is that the message, resources and purpose can apply across many ages and levels of tech skill and talent. BYTE resources are readily available for download, and include toolkits about how to become a mentor, resources for partnering with nonprofits and community organizations, and parent guides for supporting their child’s STEM education.
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How Do I Get an IT Certification

You’ve soul searched to determine the next move for your career, and you’ve decided it’s time to get certified. Maybe you’ve even picked out which IT certification to get. But the big question now is, “How do I get an IT certification?” Lucky for you, we’re here to help. Follow these steps to prepare for your IT certification exam and get certified to show employers you have the skills they’re looking for.
1. Find Out What’s on the IT Certification

The best way to set yourself up for success is to know what you’re getting into. If you haven’t already, be sure to download the exam objectives (they’re free!) to get a sense of what topics are covered and thus, what you need to study. You can also learn about the exam topics on the IT certification’s webpage or in the course overview of the Official CompTIA Study Guide.
2. Figure Out What You Know … and What You Don’t

As you’re reviewing these materials, figure out what you know and what you don’t. And be honest with yourself – it’s ok if you don’t know things! That’s why you’re studying. Read through each piece, and if there’s a term you don’t understand or a topic you’re only slightly familiar with (or completely unfamiliar with), highlight it so you can focus on what you need the most work on. You shouldn’t ignore the pieces you already know, but studying those will be more review and reinforcement than learning from scratch. Once you feel like you know the material and you’re ready to move from learning to exam prep, CompTIA CertMaster Practice can help make your studying more efficient.
3. Learn from the Experience of Others

Head to the internet to get tips and tricks from people who have that IT certification. LinkedIn, Reddit and YouTube, for example, are filled with posts about how to pass IT certifications. Do a quick search for your certification’s name to see what’s out there. Just be careful that the content you’re finding doesn’t cross the line – CompTIA takes cheating very seriously, and you don’t want to find yourself in trouble before you even enter the exam room. If you encounter brain dumps or other unethical knowledge sharing, just say no. You can also anonymously report anything you find so we can shut it down.
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Yourself at CompTIA ChannelCon

People don’t travel to Las Vegas to lose money. But, let’s face it, that’s usually what happens. CompTIA ChannelCon is an entirely different story. When you participate in ChannelCon, held Aug. 5-7 at the Bellagio Hotel, the whole point is to win big. And, we’re not talking about gambling.

We want you to win big at work. When you experience everything ChannelCon has to offer--from the speakers and the networking to the meetings and the training—and apply your newfound knowledge back home, we’re willing to bet your business will feel like it hit the jackpot. Here are a few reasons why this year’s ChannelCon will make you feel like a high-roller:
Find Success Inside Yourself

Eric O’Neill is an attorney, security consultant and now a professional public speaker, but he’s best known as the FBI agent that faced off against notorious cyber spy Robert Hanssen, who was charged with selling American secrets to Russia for more than $1.4 million. Join us on Wednesday, Aug. 6, for an edge-of-your-seat spy thriller talk as O’Neill shares details of the Hanssen investigation (adapted into a Hollywood movie, “Breach”) and explains how anyone can find success inside themselves by setting small goals that ultimately lead to big accomplishments.
Break Out of Your Comfort Zone

When people know you by just one name, you know you’ve made it. On Thursday, Aug. 7, you’ll have the opportunity to hear from one. CompTIA President & CEO Todd Thibodeaux will host an intimate one-on-one conversation with NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal. The discussion will include how Shaq how transitioned from NBA Hall of Famer to successful entrepreneur, why he felt passionate about returning to school for his doctorate in education, and what he’s up to now.
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Key to Success for ANZ

Unpacking the complexities and best practice of leadership took centre stage at CompTIA’s latest ANZ Channel Community meeting in Sydney where attendees received valuable insight and guidance from the channel’s best.

Moheb Moses, co-founder & director, Channel Dynamics, and director, ANZ Channel Community, CompTIA opened the event to more than 120 attendees from channel, sales, IT, finance, and more, where almost 35% of the guests attended for the fourth (or more) time. Moses highlighted CompTIA’s mentoring initiative aimed at encouraging collaboration and learning in the industry.

Keynote speaker Brent Valle, founder, The Future Phase, shared his personal childhood and business stories to demonstrate the important traits and values newer industry members should have as they move up the ranks towards leadership positions. Valle revealed the ways channel members can repurpose life experiences into strong leadership qualities, and emphasised the importance for leaders to look after their mental and physical health. He also echoed the importance of mentorship for prospective and current leaders alike, stating that connections and guidance from influential and respected channel players can help inspire and motivate mentees in highly worthwhile ways.

Grant Cleary, senior business marketing manager, AI Group, and CompTIA ANZ Executive Council member facilitated a fascinating expert panel on leadership values and challenges. The panel included:
James Bergl, director of sales, APAC, Datto
Rachael Broadfoot, distribution manager, ANZ, Citrix
Alicia Lykos, talent optimisation director and owner, Red Wolf Group
Nick Verykios, managing director, Arrow ECS ANZ.
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Reasons Why Local Governments IT Operations

Having worked directly with local governments for over 15 years, I have concluded that it’s time for public managers to take a deeper dive into their technology systems and people as it relates to current threats and ever-growing deficiencies.

Indeed, the above headline is as much an attention-grabbing device as it is a call to action.

Recent ransomware attacks have brought to light many deficiencies in digital hygiene that have exposed system deficiencies regarding system recovery let alone preventing the attack in the first place. Certainly there are cities and counties that are performing extremely well in meeting the growing challenges of security, modernization, innovation, and lending edge applications, however far too many are living with serious deficiencies; both known and unknown.

Given the growing complexities of planning and maintaining technology as well as having the right staff, many local governments might be much better off outsourcing some or all of their IT operations.

Public managers can no longer accept the rationale from their direct reports that “I am doing the best job I can.” In way too many cases this is simply not enough and today’s demands for technology leadership goes far beyond dedication, duty, and countless hours trying to keep things going. It must include competencies as well. We must delve deeper and actively assess what vulnerabilities lie within our systems, as well as looking more closely at staff competencies and expertise. To be clear, it is not my intention to cast any shadow of a doubt regarding their hard work and dedication. Today’s technology comes with a greater price and this will be paid one way or another -- be it investments or damages.
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Drones in Business

It’s a futuristic cybersecurity threat landscape out there – one that sometimes feels like it’s ripped from the pages of a science fiction thriller. State actors and government-sized interests are finding more sophisticated ways of delivering targeted cyberattacks. Highly funded cyber-outlaws are delivering polymorphic malware that permeates enterprise defenses, establishes a foothold and transmits data back to the criminal mothership. The security industry is working overtime to create advanced malware sandboxing and endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to keep pace, but the attackers always seem to be one step ahead.

This sort of thing is going on. Networks and applications are compromised this way. Sometimes.

The truth is, though, that it’s not how most – or even how many – cyberattacks take place. Most of the instances of catastrophic hacks we hear about don’t come from rogue states with limitless resources. Rather, they’re coming from average criminals with average resources. Whether they’re mere mischief makers, low-level extortionists or affiliates of one organized crime syndicate or another, they don’t have a spare billion in bitcoin to throw at your firewall.

So why are they still getting in? The answer is simple.

Run-of-the-mill cybercriminals look for run-of-the-mill ways onto a network, system or application. They want the most bang for their buck. And while there’s a tendency for businesses to focus on the thrilling, frightening, bleeding edge of cybersecurity, most successful hacks happen because of a failure to implement the cybersecurity basics. Best practices for securing networks and applications – some of which have been standard for decades – are not followed, making it easy for a cybercriminal to get what they’re looking for without expending too much effort.

It’s no exaggeration to say that failing to manage the cybersecurity basics is leaving businesses vulnerable – understanding how and why this is the case can help both IT pros and the businesses they support take critical steps that tend to get missed.
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Help Your Tech Staff with an Individual Development

If you’re part of a small business that struggles to find and keep tech talent—something we hear in nearly every CompTIA research report—you should know about one tool I’ve seen work over and over: an individual development plan (IDP). It’s a written document used to assess where people are in their careers, their future goals and how to get here. While there is a wide variety of IDPs, based on different concepts and principles, a good one just came out from CompTIA’s Future Leaders Community.

As a human resources professional, I’ve seen IDPs work as a tool for small business owners and service providers who want to get in touch with their most important resources: their people. Your employees are the No. 1 factor to make or break your organization.
What is an Individual Development Plan?

The Future Leaders IDP helps people identify their professional goals and determine what skills, experiences and behaviors will help achieve those goals. Once all the data is there, you develop and execute an action plan. If there’s transparency between workers and management at your company, you can try to help your employees achieve their dreams within your company structure.

Developing a plan doesn’t cost a thing, but if you’re going to offer certifications or special training to help people reach their goals, it will be an investment. People like to ask, “What if I train my people and they leave?” Consider what happens if you don’t train them and they stay.
Why You Should Invest the Time

It can be tough to find a balance between developing employees and managing the daily grind but it’s critical for talent attraction, retention and the ultimate success of a business. If you don’t take the time to have real and meaningful conversations with your team, do you really think you’ll get the results you want at the end of the day?
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What Businesses Need to Know

The time has come to finally stop focusing entirely on Millennials… and start focusing on the next entrants to the workforce: Generation Z employees. Born between 1997 and 2012, people who are currently between 18-22 years old are the first wave of Gen Z employees. They may be fresh from high school or college, have a few years of work experience under their belts, or be navigating through a labyrinth of internships, part-time jobs or freelancing—or all three.

The hustle and vibrancy of Gen Z candidates is attractive to tech companies looking to find and retain the best new talent. But how to strike the right chord for the next innovators can be tricky. In fact, much of CompTIA’s emerging technology research shows that business owners are concerned about finding skilled tech talent.

In our recent Tech on the Move study, we asked 918 IT professionals about their top factors and important considerations for choosing where to live and work. While Gen Z might be the newest kid on the block, businesses could do well to pay attention to how the youngest candidates are faring against current hiring practices, and how to include employees from across a few generations into the company’s culture.
Who is Generation Z?
According to a recent podcast from Top Employer Institute, “In the U.S. alone, there are 70 million Gen Z’s … about 25% of the population entering the workforce over the next 15 years.” Fortunately for them, the national unemployment rate has stayed low at 3.7%, according to the US Dept of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, and 11.6 million tech jobs were recorded in 2018, according to CompTIA’s 2019 IT Industry Outlook report. It’s a good time to be jumping into a fruitful career in the tech industry.
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