CompTIA Volley

Carolyn and Seth take a look at the year's biggest technology stories, with many of those being among the biggest overall headlines in 2023. AI dominated technology discussions, but how is it actually changing business? Social media came under the spotlight for many reasons, and the future of the sector may be in question. After the year started with layoffs from large technology firms, technology jobs across the economy continued on a strong growth path. Other topics that get a quick look include the post-pandemic work environment, the constant drumbeat of cybersecurity incidents, and the growing focus on building and distributing technology components.

Carolyn and Seth give a preview of CompTIA's upcoming IT Industry Outlook 2024 research report. After starting with an overview of the positive sentiments shared by IT pros and IT channel firms, the discussion turns to two of the major areas covered by trends in the report. AI continues to be the biggest topic in technology, and while the hype may fade to some degree in 2024, AI will continue to drive changes to workflow. From a cybersecurity perspective, governance will get more attention as operations around cybersecurity and data management require a more rigorous approach, and the need to build skills will become more critical, especially for channel firms who may need to take a more strategic approach with their clients.

Carolyn and Seth talk with James Stanger, CompTIA's Chief Technology Evangelist, about the steps companies are taking to make IT a strategic imperative. The shift from tactical IT to strategic IT has been taking place for some time now, and there are two main issues businesses have been running into. First is Shadow IT, where business units procure their own technology. Second is Cowboy IT, where IT departments have to skip steps and incur technical debt as they scramble to meet objectives. To mitigate these issues, companies should focus on strong two-way communication, skills-based career development, and best practices for governance.

Carolyn and Seth welcome back Randy Gross, CompTIA's CISO, to take a tech-flavored tour of the upcoming holidays. The group chats about the frightening possibilities of cyberattacks on mobile devices, as that platform appears to have reached a tipping point in terms of cybercrime. Then they shift gears, highlighting AI as something to be thankful for. Even with many questions left to answer, AI is poised to be a revolution in work, opening new opportunities for IT pros and IT industry firms. Finally, they cover an item on the wish list: major progress in skills-based workforce development. While skills-based hiring has a strong foothold among major enterprises, there is more work to be done in driving adoption among SMBs and extending the practice to career development.

Carolyn and Seth welcome Chris Cochran, Cofounder of Hacker Valley Media and Advisory CISO at Huntress, to discuss some real-world cybersecurity issues. The group talks about the biggest challenges in cybersecurity, especially for small businesses trying to change their mindset. They also touch on the demand for cybersecurity skills and the implications of AI for cybersecurity strategies.

Carolyn and Seth review the highlights from CompTIA's State of Cybersecurity 2024 research report. As companies are taking a more strategic view of technology, they are also taking a more strategic view of cybersecurity. This means adopting a risk management approach to define cybersecurity initiatives and building cybersecurity processes that drive decisions throughout the organization. At a tactical level, there is a greater focus than ever before on skills, and firms are building their talent pipeline with early-career professionals. Of course, AI is the main topic at the product level. The cybersecurity toolbox continues to have a wide array of choices for managing different aspects of cybersecurity, and AI is poised to impact all of them as it drives a higher degree of automation.

State of Cybersecurity 2024: https://www.comptia.org/content/research/cybersecurity-trends-research

Carolyn and Seth talk with Teresa Sears, CompTIA's VP of Product Management, about the upcoming Xpert Series certifications. Companies of all sizes and industries are increasing their demand for technical expertise, including the highest level of specialists. These experts in infrastructure, data and cybersecurity create long-term strategic plans that align with business objectives and oversee implementation. The group talks about the typical progression of technology careers and the skills that can be validated with certifications.

Learn more: https://www.comptia.org/certifications/xpert-series

Carolyn and Seth talk about key items that should be considered by anyone thinking about starting up a tech services business. The environment has changed dramatically over the past 20 years, and alongside the specific technology services to be offered, there are four critical components to getting started in the tech space. Business functions such as finance, HR and legal must be integrated into planning beyond the bare minimum requirements. Marketing strategy will help establish an identity and build a plan for reaching customers across multiple channels. Alliances throughout the technology ecosystem will help offerings be more robust. And cybersecurity is a topic that every firm must be fluent in whether they are offering cybersecurity services or something different.

Carolyn and Seth step into the time machine to explore a nearly-forgotten buzzword: SoCloMo. The concept--combining Social, Cloud, and Mobile--may not have lasted long, but it represented a possible inflection point for IT. Many believed that these three trends would usher in an era of consumerization of IT, where line-of-business employees would be driving technology procurement and utility. That hasn't quite happened. While technology discussions today are much more collaborative, IT is still in the driver's seat when it comes to produces a secure enterprise architecture. Each of the three trends individually has had some degree of impact, though often not in the way people were predicting ten years ago.

Carolyn and Seth welcome Jabu Dayton, Principal of Jabu HR and CompTIA board member, to discuss the issues managed service providers are facing as they try to cultivate a strong workforce. Jabu describes how many MSP issues are similar to general SMB issues, where some type of formal HR function is increasingly necessary to handle the changing needs of the workforce. As employee expectations are changing, especially in an era of remote and hybrid work, it is critical for organizations to practice transparency around career pathways while finding new ways to invest in recruiting and retention.