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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+...