Outside Plant Engineer

During a panel on the state of cybersecurity, Stanger asked about using artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to enhance cybersecurity. Cyxtera Senior Vice President Tina Gravel, High Wire Networks Director of Security Operations Josue Vargas and ITProTV Edutainer Daniel Lowrie all had thoughts on the topic. “AI is definitely great at eliminating the noise,” Gravel said. “It can also save time – if it gets through all that noise. It can give you an idea that a breech is about to occur so you can have one of your smart people handle it.” Stanger chimed in to add that about 20 to 30% of a person’s workweek is spent on repetitive tasks, like pattern matching – which are not only tedious, but also things that machines can do better than humans. “When you start talking about AI, we have to remember how we're using it. The purpose is to remove that time barrier and make things that take time for us not our problem,” Lowrie said. “Remove the time barrier, make it easier for m...

Nicole Tecco Reece of Casebook PBC believes the most critical challenge to solve in implementing FFPSA both programmatically and technically is to strengthen the accuracy, timeliness and usability of provider data: “FFPSA is a great acknowledgment of years of work by the Annie E Casey Foundation, Casey Family Programs and many others, proving that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. In our experience, states most need a secure software solution to manage providers and gain insights into their performance. This will enable them to identify communities that are under-served and target recruitment. Accessible, easy to use systems will provide a data foundation to automate matching of the most effective preventative care based upon family needs, geography and provider outcomes. Extending portal access to providers will speed up application time and create a real-time communication channel for caseworkers, provider teams, parents and other stakeholders.” Teresa Lewis of Acc...

Believe it or not, but the most common IoT devices have existed for years without an IP address. And according to CompTIA's IoT study, companies are spending more time adding networking functionality to existing hardware than they are creating new hardware. Adding network functionality to old devices is not very easy, but it seems like it should be. You add small (IoT) devices to intermediary physical devices. These then connect to the legacy physical device. The smaller devices contain programming that tells the intermediary physical devices to get the larger, legacy physical equipment to do certain things. This is how organizations are making legacy dams, power grids and other devices ready for remote network administration. The good thing about this process is that we can better manage our power grids and other foundational services. The potential danger is that we don’t always follow secure software and hardware development standards as we move forward. Why Can’t We Update IoT...

Of course not every career path is the same. Some people don’t have the resources or time to pursue IT certifications early on. Others don’t learn about IT certifications, or recognize their importance, until they’ve been working for a while. People in these situations and countless more can certainly build and boost their careers with CompTIA certifications at any time in their careers. What the IDC study does indicate, though, is that if an aspiring IT pro has the resources to get a CompTIA certification before starting their first job, it’s worth it to take the exam and earn the credential. For educational institutions, it’s just as clear. Getting students CompTIA certified before they get into the workforce is putting a powerful career development tool in their hands – one that will continue to yield dividends in skill, satisfaction and career comfort long after they’ve graduated. Get a Voucher Discount from IT Career News Did you know you that IT Career News readers can sign up t...

Security is moving more into lines of business and more business heads are purchasing security, Robinson said. “Technology is becoming more ingrained in business operations and security is becoming really critical to business operations. A lot of companies had security as part of the function of their overall IT team, but we're seeing it now pull out more and more into [into business],” he said. “The more I've looked at security over the past few years, the more I almost begin to think of it the same way that I would think of accounting or legal. You have to have it and you have to have some pretty deep knowledge and specialization around it. And I think that that's kind of the theme behind this new security report.” Businesses have been stagnant the last few years regarding their security, but many are starting to take a more modern approach—understanding that it’s not just the technology and it’s not enough to just have a secure perimeter anymore. “You have to think abou...

The bottom line is that CompTIA IT Fundamentals helps you decide if a career in tech might be right for you. If you decide it is, then CompTIA A+ will show employers you have the skills they need and help you land your first IT job. CompTIA A+ is the entry-level IT certification employers know and trust. They list it in job applications and look for it on resumes to identify candidates who have the tech support skills their organization needs. CompTIA IT Fundamentals covers a broader range of topics to give you an overview of IT, whereas CompTIA A+ dives deeper into technical support skills. Once you’ve decided which certification is right for you, here are some tips on how to prepare for and earn your IT certification: 8 Steps to Getting Certified Online IT Training: What Are Your Options? How to Save Money on Your Exam Voucher 6 Ways to Prep for a CompTIA Exam What Is Online Testing? Pathway to Success You can see from the image below that there are a variety of entry-, mid- and adv...

Some IT skills can be learned on the job, and all skills can be strengthened there, but the best place to update your skill set is through IT training — either in a classroom or through self-study. IT certifications provide a direct route to a refreshed or brand new skill set. Here are a few CompTIA certifications for IT professionals just like you who want a more competitive skill set: CompTIA Network +: CompTIA Network+ validates the knowledge and skills to troubleshoot, configure and manage common wired and wireless networks. CompTIA Security+: CompTIA Security+ provides the baseline knowledge and skills required of cybersecurity professionals. CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+): CompTIA CySA+ is an intermediate cybersecurity certification that applies behavioral analytics to networks and devices to prevent, detect and combat cybersecurity threats. CompTIA Cloud+: CompTIA Cloud+ validates the expertise needed to maintain and optimize cloud infrastructure services. CompTIA Linux+...

When you’re ready to begin studying, check out CompTIA’s line of learning products, developed exclusively for the CompTIA certification candidate. No other content library covers all of the exam objectives for all certifications. The Official CompTIA Project+ Study Guide can help you prepare for your CompTIA certification exam with confidence. And CompTIA CertMaster Practice for Project+ will give you the confidence you need to pass your exam. You now have everything you need to learn the material and ensure you are prepared for your exam and your career. But if you aren’t a full-time project manager – or aren’t one yet – CompTIA Project+ might be the right project management certification for you. It can even be a stepping stone for moving into a full-time project manager role or getting PMP or a more advanced certification in the future. To help build a sustainable future, Starbucks verifies its coffee to ensure its been ethically sourced — and the coffee giant is doing a pretty goo...

Cybersecurity Manager If there’s a cybersecurity department at an organization, odds are there’s a cybersecurity manager. The cybersecurity manager is in charge of the overall cyber-safety of an organization and managing a staff of cybersecurity professionals. When it comes to project management, the cybersecurity manager determines the overall goals and plans of a cybersecurity department, and they must have impeccable project management skills. Project management training is essential if you want to become a cybersecurity manager. 7. Cybersecurity Engineer Every time a cyberattack doesn’t happen, you can thank a cybersecurity engineer. They create and maintain networks that can’t be compromised by cybercriminals. A cybersecurity engineer not only develops the impenetrable systems, but also stays up to date on new technology to keep their system secure. Working closely with an organization’s IT team, cybersecurity engineers build emergency plans for when the unthinkable happens. Havi...

Tampering Data tampering is intentionally modifying (destroying, manipulating or editing) data through unsanctioned channels. It’s one of the biggest threats that any application, program or organization can face and includes URL manipulation (or URL rewriting). This involves subtly changing parameters in a URL. To the unsuspecting user, the URL appears the same, but the altered parameter enables access to information. Configure and secure a DNS server Exploiting a Back Door A back door is a common application or program that enables remote access to software, a system or a network. Of course, hackers have found a way to exploit that by installing malware in a quest to steal data, deface a website, hijack a server, launch a DDoS attack or infect website users. Hackers predominantly utilize remote file inclusion (RFI) in these instances. In this scenario, the referencing function is tricked into downloading a back door trojan from a remote host. Lock your doors Malware Malware is an um...

In 2010, Kent became a Marine and went directly from basic training to the military’s job prep crash course. His computing knowledge quickly skyrocketed from that single key command to a working understanding of IT infrastructure. He earned his CompTIA A+ certification in short order and was on the path to an IT career. By 2013, Kent was far from a tech novice. He was facilitating tech training for military reservists from across the country, establishing and maintaining network connectivity for everyone who came through. He was ready for a more challenging role, but he needed a U.S. Department of Defense (DoD)-approved cybersecurity certification. He then earned CompTIA Security+ to advance his career. When the housing market crashed two years later though, things changed. Kent, then 23 years old, was laid off from the Chrysler plant and went from making $25 per hour to working whatever odd jobs he could find. His paychecks became less reliable, but the bills kept coming on time. He ...

Let’s take a trip back in time. The year is 2000, and I just logged on to manage my first Windows NT 4.0 server. Things like plug and play and active directory are nowhere to be found. If you wanted a USB device, you needed to install drivers. This seems so long ago. Fast forward to today, 2019, and I’m learning Linux. You may ask why, when I am a network engineer. Well the answer is simple! Linux plays a major role in every IT infrastructure. From backend to front-end devices, to the cloud and even in the networking tools that I use. Linux is all around us! So, over the past two months I have partnered with CompTIA to earn the CompTIA Linux+ (XK0-004) certification. With so many changes, in this industry, you need to embrace a mindset of continuous learning and adapting. This is why it was so important to me to partner with CompTIA and earn Linux+. It allowed me to not only improve my skills, but also to encourage others to adapt. In this post I'll help you learn how to get a Com...

Your experience as a systems engineer gives you certain transferrable skills that can help you begin a career in cybersecurity as a cybersecurity specialist, cybersecurity analyst, cybersecurity engineer, security architect and many more. Learn About the Other CyberSeek Pathways and Feeder Roles Financial and Risk Analysis Computer Networking Software Developer Security Intelligence There are more than 318,000 open jobs in the United States in the systems engineering feeder role, and the following skills show that you have what it takes to transition into a cybersecurity role: Cryptography Information Security Information assurance Security operations Network Security Risk management These are the skills that workers in this feeder role will most likely need to develop to prepare for roles in cybersecurity. Customers like up-to-date information on what’s going on and what they should expect,” Fernandez said. “This is especially critical for technical support. If a customer’s business ...

Today, more than90% of companies have moved at least some of their workload to the cloud. These organizations need business analysts, business process owners, data center staff and technical support staff who can make intelligent cloud decisions. CompTIA Cloud Essentials+ can help companies move employees into these and other cloud-related job roles and close the cloud business skills gap. Looking Ahead to Civilian IT Jobs With a few years in the service as a reservist and a few more on active duty, Quinones has some time before he can consider retirement from the military. If and when he decides to move into the civilian job market, though, he is going to be ready. When Quinones looks through civilian job postings, he notices a few themes. One is that businesses in the civilian world are asking for IT certifications to verify the people they hire have the technical skills they need. Quinones is always dedicating effort and energy to assuring he does. “[I make note of the certificatio...

The research we have done is three-fold in nature. First, we provide some macro-level prognosticating on the direction the industry is headed in terms of growth. As part of that 30,000-foot view, we gauge both the optimism and pessimism perspectives of our respondents for the year to come. From a pure projections standpoint, CompTIA projects the global IT industry will grow at a rate of 3.7 percent in 2020, with upside potential in the 5.4 percent range and a downside floor of 1.9 percent. Secondly, we outline the top trends we see coming down the pike. This year’s trends are heavy on emerging technologies and their impact, along with issues around cybersecurity and the United States’ upcoming presidential election. Here’s the rundown: Tech-Washing Fades in Favor of Real Strategy Workforce Diversity Grows in Many Ways Tech Topics Are Front and Center in U.S. Elections Hype Meets Reality with Emerging Technology Internet of Things Continues to Redefine IT Architecture Artificial Intell...

IT pros, especially those who want to build a computer networking career, must make it their mission to broaden their knowledge of networking topics. They can do so by earning a vendor-neutral certification, such as CompTIA Network+. CompTIA Network+ prepares candidates to work with any tool or product, regardless of vendor, which makes an individual’s computer networking capabilities limitless. Network Science It’s important to determine the best route to plug into a network, association or partnership that has clients similar to your business, but are not direct competition. LinkedIn has increasingly become one of the most effective platforms to do this. As the most up-to-date database of businesses, it’s important to keep your profile updated by filtering your connections to include only those individuals that are relevant and interested in your services. You should also focus your page more around what you offer your clients rather than individual strengths. You can use the banner...

CompTIA Security+ covers baseline cybersecurity skills, including the following, and prepares you for a cybersecurity career: Install, configure and deploy network components, identity and access services, management controls and wireless security settings Assess and troubleshoot issues to support organizational security Implement secure network architecture concepts, systems design and public key infrastructure Detect various types of compromise Understand penetration testing and vulnerability scanning concepts Implement and summarize risk management best practices and the business impact Cybersecurity jobs often require several years of experience in roles such as technical support and systems or network administration. Getting CompTIA Security+ while working in these roles will not only reinforce and validate the experience you’re gaining in your job, but also prove to employers you have a the foundational knowledge needed to move up the cybersecurity ladder. Keep Applications Upda...

Security can surely get in the way of productivity, and it’s up to the individuals on these teams to take this into consideration. At the end of the day, it’s the job of the cybersecurity team to keep IT operations working effectively. Just as a cybersecurity incident will slow down a company’s momentum, so can careless security procedures, and communication to the end user is key. One seemingly simple change in policy may increase a company’s security posture, but it can just as easily kill productivity. Here’s an example: Everybody's familiar with the major hack that happened at Target. And when you talk about the Target hack, the point everybody makes is that they didn't get in through a PC or a server. They got in through a subcontractor who was working on the HVAC system that is connected to the internet—it was a portal into all of its other data systems. If we don't pay attention to those things, not only are they missed business opportunities, but they remain ungu...

Big Data : The big data craze has cooled in the past couple years. Where there used to be some fascination with datasets at enormous volume or complex variety, businesses came to realize that a comprehensive data strategy was needed. Many firms did not have formal practices around their existing data management, so this became the starting point that eventually led to big data. During the period of high interest in big data, CompTIA conducted a series of studies on the subject. The latest report in this series looked at how data volumes were growing across a wide spectrum of applications, from 58% of companies reporting growth in customer relationship data to 38% of companies reporting growth in audio files being captured. In the modern era, the applications generating all this data are often spread across a variety of cloud providers, driving a need for networks that can connect many different sources and prioritize many types of data. Blockchain: More recently, blockchain and other...

Many IT roles now include some cybersecurity responsibilities, and once you get that taste, you may want to do more. Perhaps you’re even thinking about pursuing a cybersecurity career. If you currently work in networking, software development, systems engineering, financial and risk analysis, or security intelligence, you’re in luck because CyberSeek has outlined cybersecurity career pathways that begin with these roles. This article is the first in a series that details the cybersecurity career pathway that starts with each of these roles and will focus on how to get into cybersecurity from networking. Specialization Seems to Be the Trend The 2020 IT Industry Outlook predicts there will be a strong focus on training and getting certifications. The report says that 48% of IT pros plan on building technical skills within their current area of specialization, and 45% of IT pros plan on building a technical skill in a new area. With so many different topics in IT, there is plenty of room...

Start by downloading the exam objectives and practice tests to understand what topics are covered and get examples of questions that you might see. The self-paced Official CompTIA A+ Study Guide is available for order now, as are training materials for instructors. Over the next couple of weeks, CompTIA will release a full suite of CompTIA CertMaster training products, including CompTIA CertMaster Learn, CompTIA CertMaster Labs and CompTIA CertMaster Practice. We’ll also release an eBook version of The Official CompTIA A+ Study Guide. All of these will be available for purchase from the CompTIA Store. According to the National Science Foundation, in just two years, there will be more than three million unfilled skilled technical jobs. Episode 25 of Technologist Talk interviews award-winning author and social innovator Charles Eaton about the new CompTIA Tech Career Academy and how it is designed to grow tomorrow’s tech workforce by helping more adults land IT jobs today.“Right now we’...