Outside Plant Engineer

Here is a simple example: A data center may have a portfolio of aging data center equipment (server, storage and networking) that was sold with a three-year warranty and support agreement. At the end of year three, the support expires. Enter TPM service providers who will extend support for the equipment for a fee. Service level agreements (SLA) spell out important support functions such as response times (i.e., same day or next day) and specify minimum certification levels for the support engineers, etc. TPMs are relevant because they allow the customer to avoid a hardware refresh, but still enjoy the same level of operational quality. The TPM approach is also a tactic to manage or delay OEM-forced upgrades. Why MSPs Should Consider TPM With the economic challenges in mid-2020 and for the foreseeable future, the tendency is to try to extend the useful life of hardware assets (and again, avoid the cost of a hardware refresh). This is analogous to repairing your older model car instead...

The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) provides you with three pricing options for CompTIA Security+ certification exam: If you buy just an exam voucher, it will cost $339. For $899, you can purchase the CompTIA Security+ Deluxe Bundle, which includes the exam voucher plus a voucher good for one retake and two training resources — CompTIA CertMaster Learn for Security+ and the Official CompTIA Study Guide for Security+ eBook. If you want more, you can choose the premier bundle, which includes everything the deluxe bundle does plus CompTIA CertMaster Practice for Security+, for $1,049. If you earned your certification before Jan. 11, 2011, you remain certified for life. Otherwise, your certification will be valid for three years from your exam date. To renew your certification, you need 50 continuing education units (CEUs) over the three years. You can earn your CEUs by completing the CompTIA CertMaster CE course, earning a higher level CompTIA certification, earning a...

Part of the EC-Council’s core program, the Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) certification is designed for cybersecurity practitioners with advanced technical skills. CEH credential holders are well-versed in the techniques and tools used by hackers to cause harm. Rather than use their skills for malicious purposes, CEH holders work to beat hackers at their own game by looking for system vulnerabilities and other network system weaknesses. While not required, the official CEH training is highly recommended; it covers over 340 common cyberattack technologies and methods. There are two paths to earning the CEH. Candidates who attend CEH training can take the CEH exam without going through the application process. Those who choose not to attend training must have at least two years of experience and submit an application package that verifies that work experience; when their applications are approved, candidates are sent an exam voucher code that allows them to attempt the exam. Once candid...

Software developers need experience with programming languages, of course, but also look for certifications from AWS, Google, Microsoft, Oracle, Red Hat and VMWare that help you see how your applications fit into the larger system. This career path offers one of the highest IT salaries: $105,590, according to BLS. Data specialists who oversee a company’s database and turn raw data into usable information are looking at an average salary of $90,272, according to BLS. Look to beef up your skills through certifications from IBM, Microsoft, Oracle and SAS. Whichever direction you go in IT, start with an attitude of continuous learning. Nothing in tech stands still, and neither should your knowledge. The more you learn, the more valuable you’ll be. Then add certifications to help prove that you know your stuff, to either your current employer or a future employer. More Info: what can you do with an a+ certification

Read at least half a chapter a day. (Chapters 7 and 8) After reading, review the Chapter Review topics for what you read. After the review, do at least 10 of the practice test questions for the chapter. After doing the practice test questions, take the time to read the explanation. Day 21 Reread all the chapter reviews from chapters you’ve finished. Do all of the practice test questions that you’ve finished previously. Look at blog articles for any topics that interest you or you want to dig into deeper. Days 22 through 25 Read at least half a chapter a day. (Chapters 9 and 10) After reading, review the Chapter Review topics for what you read. After the review, do at least 10 of the practice test questions for the chapter. After doing the practice test questions, take the time to read the explanation. Reread all the chapter reviews from chapters you’ve finished. Do all of the practice test questions that you’ve finished previously. Look at blog articles for any topics that interest yo...

Purchase a Security+ certification voucher for the exam. These typically are good for a year, and purchasing it early provides some motivation to you to keep you studying. You can get a code for a 10% discount on all CompTIA vouchers here. Be careful about buying vouchers from unknown sources. Many people have purchased vouchers through sites such as eBay only to learn that the voucher isn’t valid. Schedule your exam for your target date. Contact a Pearson Vue testing center and schedule your exam. Just as purchasing the voucher provides some motivation for you to keep studying, scheduling your exam helps keep you focused. Even if a life event pops up and slows you down, you can still reschedule the exam for a later date. Practice test questions help you gauge your understanding and ability to pass the actual exam. These can be very useful, but beware of questions without explanations. Many “braindumps” have questions and answers but the majority of the questions don’t have any explan...

If we go out with the DHCP discovery packet and the DHCP server does not respond, that means one of two things. Either we’ll get an alternate configuration, which is that configuration if we are a DHCP client, I’m running Windows 7 or later, we have that option. Or, we’re going to get an APIPA address, which is the 169.254.x.x IP address. The way we’re going to verify this, that we have an expired IP address, is we’re either going to use ipconfig or ifconfig to verify our TCP/IP configuration. We’re going to balance it against our documentation. If we’re supposed to have a 10.1 IP address and that’s not what we’re getting, and we’re getting an APIPA instead, we know the DHCP server didn’t respond. Or if we are using an alternate configuration, we know our DHCP server didn’t respond. Let’s take a look at these two settings where we can find the alternate configuration on my DHCP server. We begin with TCP/IP settings under Network Connections and then Ethernet. More Info: comptia a+ en...

CASP+ certified professionals are unique not only because they create cybersecurity policy and procedures, but they also implement cybersecurity policies and framework solutions. For example, many chief information security officers (CISOs) do not have hands-on cybersecurity skills, but preparing for and earning CASP+ would prove their hands-on and risk management mastery of enterprise IT networks. A CISO with hands-on cybersecurity skills would be among the most effective CISOs because they would know how to create and implement risk-related policy. Implementation is tricky in enterprise networks because one change can affect dozens of systems. A CISO who knows how enterprise systems operate can analyze them to better secure the organization. CASP+ is compliant with ISO 17024 standards. Regulators and government rely on this accreditation because it provides confidence and trust in the outputs of an accredited program. CASP+ is also approved by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to...

This is probably my most compelling reason for taking a test remotely … we have more control over our pre-exam routine. As I mentioned at the beginning of this post, I played Call of Duty, one of my favorite video games, just moments before my exam. Doing this removed nearly all the anxiety and stress I had going into this exam and put me in the best state of mind. For you, (and also for me), this process might involve making a cup of coffee, going for a run or just reviewing your notes. Taking the exam remotely gives you more control of your mental state going into the exam. 4. Testing Where You Studied During the exam, I almost forgot I was taking an IT certification exam. That was the fun part for me. I had spent time studying for CompTIA Linux+, using tools like CompTIA CertMaster, in the same environment where I took my exam. The effect was that it often just felt like another study session, which relieved the pressure a bit and allowed me to think more clearly. I tend to get exa...

For a limited time, qualified candidates can register to take the newly updated CompTIA Cloud+ (CV1-003) beta exam for the discounted price of $50 USD. The beta exam will be available for a limited number of candidates, and the formal exam release will occur in the second quarter of 2021. This marks the first time ever that a CompTIA beta exam will be offered through online testing. To take the CompTIA Cloud+ beta exam, you’ll need the following qualifications: Systems administrators, network engineers and cloud engineers with two to three years of hands-on experience Familiarity with a major hypervisor Hands-on experience using one of the major IaaS platforms CompTIA Network+ and Server+ are recommended Registration for the beta is available through Pearson VUE and can be found using exam code is CV1-003. Registration is now open and will be available for a limited number of registrants. You must login to your Pearson VUE account in order to register for the beta exam. The beta exam ...

Once you are done with CompTIA A+ certification, you would look out for the next level i.e. CompTIA Network+ which is even more important than the CompTIA A+ certification. This certification makes you efficient in running, maintaining, troubleshooting, installing, and configuring computer network infrastructures. Companies which have large number of computer networks, connecting many employees, this certification is for them. There is high demand for IT networking professionals, so getting your CompTIA Network+ certification is a good next step after you complete your A+ certification. CompTIA A+ is the basic of all the certifications provided by CompTIA. Another important CompTIA certification is CompTIA Network+. This certification tests your proficiency in maintaining, running, troubleshooting, installing, and configuring computer network infrastructures. This is majorly in need in companies where hundreds of employees get connected to the network. After you complete your A+ certi...

It’s easier to get a job with a certification. Passing the new CompTIA A+ confirms you know your stuff in an industry-approved way. Hobbyist experience is great. You’ll certainly thrive in a support role, but that experience won’t hold the same authority on a resume compared to A+ certification. Certifications are a basic competency assurance for an employer. And that’s exactly what a person needs if they have no experience in IT. In this day and age of service-level agreements, why get your hands dirty? You can simply call the vendor and have them resolve the issues. But wouldn’t it be quicker if you could just do it yourself? Yes, it is true that most companies will send out their own service technicians to repair most hardware on site. But some manufacturers will ask you to perform the first line troubleshooting with them over the phone. They can help you point and click, but it’s easier if you can narrow it down in the correct terms. The A+ can help with that — the new exams cover...

It is currently estimated that 69% of companies are understaffed when it comes to information security. And 32% say that it can take six months or more to fill a single cybersecurity job. Artificial intelligence and machine learning are being leveraged to fill in gaps in staffing, supplementing the hard work of security analysts, but it’s not enough. It is anticipated that by 2022, there will be 1.8 million unfilled cybersecurity jobs, which is an increase of 20% from 2015 (1.5 million vacancies). These unfilled positions and understaffed security teams only exacerbate the data breach issues that face companies today. While colleges and universities offer cybersecurity tracks, the skills gap is not necessarily being closed by these degree programs. Organizations are seeking analysts with practical experience and performance-based training that comes from well-respected certifications, such as Security+ from CompTIA®. In addition to certification being practically mandatory for securit...

In today’s world, organizations must ensure the security of their systems. With the digitalization of the processes, organizations are more prone to cyber attacks. Organizations need to protect their valuable assets from the rising number of threats. No wonder, businesses need IT professionals with expertise in networking and security. In this blog, we will discuss why CompTIA A+ certification is necessary for your IT professionals to help your organization function seamlessly. Do you want to expedite your IT skills with CompTIA A+ and Network+ certification? Then watching this recorded CompTIA webinar will certainly help you out! What is CompTIA A+ certification? CompTIA A+ certification validates basic yet necessary IT skills. That’s why it is crucial for organizations to provide training to their IT professionals for this certification—they can outpace their competitors. To get CompTIA A+ certification, your IT professionals need to pass two exams. Both of these exams are focused o...

More than 38 million Americans are out of work due to COVID-19 - the highest unemployment numbers since the Great Depression. Workforce boards around the country are dealing with new challenges including restructuring the job training services and programs they offer. Mark Plunkett, Senior Director, Strategic Business Development & Training Operations, Custom Training Solutions for CompTIA, works closely with workforce boards. They are sharing with him their struggles but also expressing optimism about how they can use this time to be more innovative. During a recent video discussion with Julian Alvarez, Commissioner, representing Texas Workforce Commission; Dale Robertson, Director, Workforce Initiatives with the Texas Workforce Commission and Mardy Leathers, Director, Workforce Development, State of Missouri, Plunkett commended the boards for their efforts and the strides they are taking as their work is absolutely critical to the individuals within their communities. “Lots o...

People don’t care until they have skin in the game. Certification exams cost money. Sometimes a lot of money. Yet, when you are first starting on your journey to certification master, there is this temptation to achieve good results with minimal cost. This frugal attitude can sometimes be our downfall. Buying a CompTIA course not only gives you access to massive amounts of resources but forces you to be a steward of your time and education. When things are free, they often aren’t as valuable to us. This is why it is great to buy a book or course covering the CompTIA A+ exam. Not only does money put teeth into studying, (you want to pass so you can earn money and make that purchase worth it) premium resources usually cost money. This is good news though! Education in certification is an investment and it is a far better deal to spend $10 on some serious material then pay another $300 to retake a failed test. Seriously consider fasting from Starbucks for a few a drinks to save some cash...

Better Career Options Recruiting agencies prefer candidates with more certifications. And if it is for the role of IT technician, you can be more than sure CompTIA A+ will feature on top of the preferred list of certifications for the job-seeker. The CompTIA website lists Canon, Cognizant, Computacenter, Fujitsu, Ricoh, Toshiba, Unisys and Intel recommend or require CompTIA A+ certifications for their IT staff or partners. Credits towards other certifications Popular certification programs such as those offered by Microsoft, IBM, Hewlett-Packard, Novell, Certiport and CISCO recognize CompTIA A+ certification for credit or continuing education towards their advanced certification tracks. Conclusion The A+ Certification will assist you in earning a raise, moving to a better project in the same organization or providing your CV with brownie points that will help you acquire a more satisfying and interesting job. With the high demand for tech sector workers, this seems to be the perfect t...

Prior to an outline of the Google cloud certifications list, it is important to reflect on the necessity of Google cloud certification. GCP certifications help you showcase proof of expertise and ability for the transformation of businesses with Google Cloud technology. Apart from the validation for your cloud expertise, GCP certification can also provide the following advantages for qualified professionals. Almost 87% of Google Cloud certified professionals express better confidence and command over cloud skills. According to the 2019 IT Skills and Salary Report of Global Knowledge, the Professional Cloud Architect certification fetched the highest salary in 2019. The findings from an independent survey of Google Cloud certified candidates in May 2019 reveal that 30% of Google Cloud certified candidates assumed leadership roles or more responsibility at the workplace. Types of Google Cloud Certifications You can clearly notice the career prospects associated with Google Cloud certifi...

Adding or replacing laptop components like memory or the motherboard have always been covered. Now you’ll also need to know how to install and configure video cards, Bluetooth modules, and cellular cards. Port replicators have been added but docking stations have not been dropped, you will need to know both. The USB-C cable / connector specification has been added in the mobile category and you will find it is addressed in the PC sections as well. Know its capabilities. Common safety procedures now include the waste handling of cell phones and tablets. New policies for handling regulated data pertain to: – PII (Personally identifiable information) – PCI (Payment Card Industry) – GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) – PHI (Protected Health Information) The basics of scripting is a new area and include: Script file types – Here know both the programs that create and use them. – .bat – .ps1 – .vbs Mobile device synchronization adds a new concept to the existing ones by requiring yo...

While more advanced and in-depth project management courses can help prepare you for projects of any scope and size, many businesses don’t require this level of expertise. This is especially true for small and midsize companies or those undergoing rapid growth — which are both commonly found in the growing technology sector of Washington, DC, and the surrounding area. For these companies, large-scale and long-term projects aren’t the focus. Instead, their priority is the rapid development, deployment, and completion of smaller-scale projects designed to boost efficiency or enhance industry impact. Here, CompTIA Project+ offers the best way to bridge the gap. Staff get the training they need to manage smaller projects, and when combined with their existing expertise, they’re able to ensure that project outcomes effectively meet real-world organizational demands. Created by CompTIA — the non-profit trade association also responsible for developing incredibly popular IT courses CompTIA A...

CompTIA Security+ is an internationally recognized, vendor-neutral certification from CompTIA that demonstrates competency in the baseline skills needed for a career in IT security industry. Earning this certification verifies your skills in the following areas based on the exam objectives: Threats, attacks and vulnerabilities: You can detect various kinds of compromise and have knowledge of penetration testing and vulnerability scanning. Technologies and tools: You can deploy various network components, as well as assess and troubleshoot problems to support operational and information security technology Architecture and design: You know how to implement a secure network architecture, cloud computing, virtualization technology and systems design. Identity and access management: You can implement access controls and identity management and access services, as well as management control Risk management: You understand risk management and data security best practices and their business ...