CompTIA Volley

Carolyn and Seth talk with Steve Petryschuk, Technology Advocate at Auvik, about some of the latest trends in network management based on data from Auvik's Network Field Report 2021. Steve talks about the importance of network visibility, especially as companies move to more remote work, and he also discusses the need for network engineers to communicate, especially as applications encounter downtime beyond their control. He also discusses the balance of proactive and reactive work and how companies can utilize third parties to find the correct balance.

Auvik's Network Field Report 2021: 

Carolyn and Seth welcome Kelly Stone, CompTIA's senior director of digital strategy, for a discussion on how social media has evolved. The conversation starts at a high level, touching on the different parts of social media that have been underestimated, then moves into best practices for businesses. Rather than treating social media as a separate initiative, companies should be sure that their social efforts are integrated with overall marketing and content plans.

For more, check out Kelly's post on the CompTIA World blog: https://connect.comptia.org/blog

Carolyn and Seth start the show with a lightning round covering the GameStop stock saga, Jeff Bezos stepping down as CEO of Amazon, and the Apple-Facebook feud over privacy. Then they turn their attention to CompTIA's latest data on managed services. While most MSPs seem to have weathered the COVID storm successfully, there have been changes to pricing model and a shift to higher-level services. MSPs are also getting more serious about their own cybersecurity so that they do not become an entry point for hackers to access all their clients.

Carolyn and Seth talk with Mark Brigman, founder and CEO of Partnernomics, about building successful partner programs. As the value of partnering has shifted away from pure distribution of physical products, there are new considerations that must go into growing through partnerships. From finding partners to aligning goals, Mark talks about the different aspects of partnering in a digital environment.

Partnernomics: https://partnernomics.com/

Carolyn and Seth discuss the Solarwinds attack that has affected a wide range of companies. For both MSPs and end users, there are many things to consider, starting with the need to take extra action to verify technology products. Thanks to the potential for cyberattacks to now spread to so many companies, there is a pressing need to share information across a broad network. In addition, companies are working on building out their cybersecurity function, including a larger focus on dedicated skills. The CompTIA ISAO provides an avenue for networking, and CompTIA training and certs provide opportunities for individuals looking for new career options.

CompTIA ISAO: https://www.comptiaisao.org/

CompTIA Cybersecurity Career Info: https://www.comptia.org/content/it-careers-path-roadmap/cybersecurity-specialist

Carolyn and Seth take a look back at the big tech stories of 2020. Without dwelling too much on COVID or elections, there were plenty of other things happening. Whether it was ripple effects of the pandemic (like rapid digital transformation), stories that slid under the radar (like the Tiktok saga), or things that were notable by their absence (like massive product announcements), 2020 was a year that dramatically changed the technology industry.

Carolyn and Seth take a look at the changes that have taken place in the business world due to COVID and share their opinions on whether those changes will stick or be reversed when the pandemic finally comes to a close. From workplace dynamics to business travel to employee relations, the post-pandemic choices will not necessarily be driven by a single factor such as finances. There are many variables to consider, and businesses will have to think carefully about how they balance their options.

Carolyn and Seth take a look at CompTIA's latest research, the IT Industry Outlook for the upcoming year. As always, the Outlook report covers 10 trends that CompTIA expects to define the year ahead. The discussion in the podcast covers a few of these--the fact that there is no normal, the dynamics taking place in the IT channel, the focus on zero trust cybersecurity, and the need for professional skills to complement technical skills. The two also talk about the budgets that IT pros expect to be working with in the year ahead and the plans by channel firms to grow business opportunities within their existing set of clients.

IT Industry Outlook 2021: https://www.comptia.org/content/research/it-industry-outlook-2021

Carolyn and Seth welcome Randy Gross, CompTIA's CIO and EVP of Certification Operations, for the annual holiday episode. For Halloween, the scary thing about tech is the lack of trust that people have in the technology industry and the difficulty companies will have in building that trust. For Thanksgiving, there is gratitude for the way technology has been able to support work, school, and life in the midst of a global pandemic. And for the end of the year, the wish list item is for the technology industry to focus more on societal needs such as rural broadband or climate change.

Carolyn and Seth give their review of the technology issues that should be considered by candidates running for office in the upcoming U.S. election. Breaking up huge tech companies seems to be on the mind of many candidates and officials, but simply breaking up companies might not get at the root issue. Instead, new forms of regulation need to be considered. Cybersecurity and data privacy are two specific areas that need attention, with data acting as personal currency for the digital economy. Another critical issue is the inclusion of broadband access in any plans for national infrastructure. Finally, climate change and the shifts to sustainable resources have a technology component.