CompTIA Volley

Carolyn and Seth talk with MJ Shoer, the executive director of the CompTIA Information Sharing and Analysis Organization (CompTIA ISAO, formerly Technology Solution Provider Information Sharing and Analysis Organization or TSP-ISAO), about the state of managed services during the COVID-19 pandemic. MJ covers the ups and downs for MSPs as they continue to work with their clients and the opportunities they should be exploring as they plan for the future.

Carolyn and Seth welcome Tim Herbert, CompTIA's executive vice president of research, to discuss the new IT employment report. Using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and Burning Glass Labor Insights, CompTIA compiles a monthly report looking at both employment in the high tech industry and employment of technology professionals across all industries. While the April report may not capture the most recent disruptions from the coronavirus outbreak, it shows some resilience among technology professions. Tim discusses the sectors that have seen the biggest impacts, the reliance on technology skills for transforming business process, and the specific technology roles that remain in high demand.

CompTIA's April IT Employment Tracker: https://www.slideshare.net/comptia/comptia-it-employment-tracker-april-2020

CompTIA resources for displaced workers: https://www.comptia.org/resources/coronavirus-(covid-19)-and-tech-for-displaced-workers

Technologist Talk podcast: https://blubrry.com/technologisttalk/

Carolyn and Seth tackle a topic on everyone's mind: remote work. With so many people working remotely thanks to COVID-19, there are a lot of challenges for both businesses and employees in staying productive. The two hosts share their own personal experiences with working remotely, talking through technology issues, physical setup, and the fact that the right path is different for everyone.

Other CompTIA resources on remote work:

Your Computer Networking Checklist: 10 Things to Prepare for Remote Work: https://www.comptia.org/blog/computer-networking-checklist-for-remote-workforce

Connecting Your Newly Remote Workforce: 4 Things Companies Need to Do Now: https://www.comptia.org/blog/how-companies-can-connect-newly-remote-employees

LinkedIn Live discussion with Randy Gross and James Stanger: https://www.linkedin.com/video/live/urn:li:ugcPost:6647930710990565376/

Carolyn and Seth take a look at CompTIA's new research, Trends in Managed Services. The managed services space has become very complex, with most firms offering a wide variety of options for clients beyond the management and automation of routine services. Two areas of specialized growth are Internet of Things and security, where companies are looking for strategic consulting and solutions that might not fit the strict definition of a managed service. Whatever name it goes by, companies that are driving the business of technology have many opportunities.

Trends in Managed Services report: https://www.comptia.org/content/trends-in-managed-services