In this week's podcast, Seth Robinson dives into a key challenge facing IT today: complexity.

Inspired by an AFCEA article on the military's need to reduce complexity for digital transformation, Seth argues that while complexity isn't going away, standardizing and managing it is crucial, especially after years of heavy investment in digital components. He also tackles the often-debated concept of Digital Transformation.

Drawing on CompTIA's framework, Seth breaks down digital transformation into four foundational components:

1. Cloud-Based Infrastructure: Moving beyond simple adoption to optimization, orchestration, and security, as the cloud enables access to more advanced technologies.

2. Software-Defined Processes: The core area where AI is making the biggest impact, accelerating everything from internal software development to business functions like content creation and data analysis.

3. Data-Driven Decision-Making: Requires a dual focus on Data Management (gathering, engineering, preparing) and Data Analytics (basic analysis up through advanced data science and statistical modeling).

4. Cybersecurity-Aware Operations: Expanding beyond the IT function, this involves integrating cybersecurity awareness into all company operations, covering technology, regulatory compliance, vendor selection, and daily employee behavior.

Ultimately, successful digital transformation—even amid a "cool down" in interest—means confronting and taming the underlying complexity as new technologies like AI continue to emerge.

Ready to start your own journey? Explore more at www.CompTIA.org

CompTIA Career Pathways: Discover various career pathways in the tech industry and find the right one for you.

CompTIA Certifications: Learn about the certifications that can help you advance your tech career.

CompTIA Resources: Access a wealth of resources, including articles, webinars, and guides to help you succeed in tech.

CompTIA Blog: Stay updated with the latest trends, tips, and success stories in the tech industry.

CompTIA Events: Participate in events and webinars to network with industry professionals and enhance your skills.

Connect with Us:

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/comptiaofficial/

💭 X: https://x.com/CompTIA

💌 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CompTIA

📲 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/comptia/

Why Choose CompTIA? CompTIA is the world's leading vendor-neutral information technology (IT) certification and training body.

CompTIA is a mission-driven organization committed to unlocking the potential of every student, career changer, or professional seeking to begin or advance in a technology career.

CompTIA's best-in-class learning platform, career resources, research, and community events equip individuals and companies with the tools to succeed. We're a hub for advancing the tech industry and its workforce through education, training, certifications, philanthropy, and market research.

Success Stories: Read about inspiring success stories from individuals who have transformed their careers with CompTIA certifications and resources. Whether you're just starting out or looking to advance your career, these stories will motivate you to take the next step.

Educational Resources: CompTIA offers a wide range of educational resources to help you succeed in your tech career. From online courses and study guides to practice exams and certification training, we provide everything you need to achieve your goals.

Contact Us: Have questions or need assistance? Contact our support team for help with certifications, resources, or any other inquiries. We're here to help you succeed.

In this episode of Trend Watch, Seth Robinson dives into CompTIA's annual State of Cybersecurity Report to explore the latest trends and shifts in organizational security.

Despite a slight warming in sentiment—where more business and technology leaders feel satisfied with their current cybersecurity posture—the reality is that change is constant. Cybersecurity is a continuous reaction to the new technologies companies adopt, and it's not a place to "fall asleep." Organizations must implement strong risk management and processes to ensure they are making the right investments.

The report identifies three major technology trends that are currently driving and shaping cybersecurity strategy:

1. Artificial Intelligence (AI): AI brings significant productivity potential but is a double-edged sword for security. While it can make security operations more efficient, it also supercharges cybercrime, making threats like phishing and ransomware more potent. Companies must prioritize securing their AI tools and preparing their professionals to react faster to AI-driven attacks.
2. Operational Technology (OT): Often described as the new Internet of Things (IoT), OT refers to technology integrated into physical environments (HVAC, lighting, sensors). As these systems become digitized, the historically separate IT and OT functions are converging. This creates a massive need for cross-training to manage unique vulnerabilities, threats, and the demand for extremely high availability in these critical systems.
3. Data: Data is the lifeblood of business. As organizations pursue data analytics and AI, they are discovering the crucial need for strong data management practices (database administration, cleaning, engineering). Data security is a central challenge in a post-perimeter world, requiring security on the data itself—whether it is at rest, in motion, or in use—especially as assets move into hybrid and public cloud environments.

As companies push forward with adopting AI, OT, and advanced data practices, they must pay close attention to the corresponding cybersecurity implications to safeguard their operations and assets.

Ready to start your own journey? Explore more at www.CompTIA.org

CompTIA Career Pathways: Discover various career pathways in the tech industry and find the right one for you.

CompTIA Certifications: Learn about the certifications that can help you advance your tech career.

CompTIA Resources: Access a wealth of resources, including articles, webinars, and guides to help you succeed in tech.

CompTIA Blog: Stay updated with the latest trends, tips, and success stories in the tech industry.

CompTIA Events: Participate in events and webinars to network with industry professionals and enhance your skills.

Connect with Us:

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/comptiaofficial/

💭 X: https://x.com/CompTIA

💌 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CompTIA

📲 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/comptia/

Why Choose CompTIA? CompTIA is the world's leading vendor-neutral information technology (IT) certification and training body. CompTIA is a mission-driven organization committed to unlocking the potential of every student, career changer, or professional seeking to begin or advance in a technology career. CompTIA's best-in-class learning platform, career resources, research, and community events equip individuals and companies with the tools to succeed. We're a hub for advancing the tech industry and its workforce through education, training, certifications, philanthropy, and market research.

Success Stories: Read about inspiring success stories from individuals who have transformed their careers with CompTIA certifications and resources. Whether you're just starting out or looking to advance your career, these stories will motivate you to take the next step.

Educational Resources: CompTIA offers a wide range of educational resources to help you succeed in your tech career. From online courses and study guides to practice exams and certification training, we provide everything you need to achieve your goals.

Contact Us: Have questions or need assistance? Contact our support team for help with certifications, resources, or any other inquiries. We're here to help you succeed.

In the age of AI, data is more critical than ever, but how is the data profession evolving? In this episode of TrendWatch, Seth Robinson dives into the job roles and skills shaping the data domain, drawing inspiration from a recent article on the rise of the data generalist.

The answer to whether companies need generalists or specialists largely depends on company size. Large enterprises often hire specialists for niche aspects, while smaller businesses typically require a data generalist to handle diverse responsibilities.

CompTIA has defined a taxonomy of five distinct data job roles across two pathways:

1. Data Management Pathway

Database Administrator (DBA): Manages data structures and databases (traditionally structured, now including unstructured data).

Data Engineer: Manipulates and moves stored data toward analysis (e.g., ETL, data pipelines, cleaning) to get it ready for analysis.

Data Architect: Defines the overall data strategy, classification, and how data relates to business decisions.

2. Data Analytics Pathway

Data Analyst: Analyzes various data types to learn from the past and predict the future—a popular and high-demand role.

Data Scientist: An advanced role that builds statistical models, often using machine learning and AI algorithms to go beyond simple pattern recognition.

There is significant opportunity in data—not just for analysis, but also for preparing and training AI systems. As companies increasingly invest in AI outcomes, foundational data skills become essential.

Ready to start your own journey? Explore more at www.CompTIA.org

CompTIA Career Pathways: Discover various career pathways in the tech industry and find the right one for you.

CompTIA Certifications: Learn about the certifications that can help you advance your tech career.

CompTIA Resources: Access a wealth of resources, including articles, webinars, and guides to help you succeed in tech.

CompTIA Blog: Stay updated with the latest trends, tips, and success stories in the tech industry.

CompTIA Events: Participate in events and webinars to network with industry professionals and enhance your skills.

Connect with Us:

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/comptiaofficial/

💭 X: https://x.com/CompTIA

💌 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CompTIA

📲 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/comptia/

Why Choose CompTIA? CompTIA is the world's leading vendor-neutral information technology (IT) certification and training body. CompTIA is a mission-driven organization committed to unlocking the potential of every student, career changer, or professional seeking to begin or advance in a technology career. CompTIA's best-in-class learning platform, career resources, research, and community events equip individuals and companies with the tools to succeed. We're a hub for advancing the tech industry and its workforce through education, training, certifications, philanthropy, and market research.

Success Stories: Read about inspiring success stories from individuals who have transformed their careers with CompTIA certifications and resources. Whether you're just starting out or looking to advance your career, these stories will motivate you to take the next step.

Educational Resources: CompTIA offers a wide range of educational resources to help you succeed in your tech career. From online courses and study guides to practice exams and certification training, we provide everything you need to achieve your goals.

Contact Us: Have questions or need assistance? Contact our support team for help with certifications, resources, or any other inquiries. We're here to help you succeed.

Bosses are seeking AI-literate candidates, but what does that really mean? Host Seth Robinson explores this question, arguing that AI is a collection of technologies, not a single skill, drawing an analogy to the internet.

Seth breaks down CompTIA's framework for AI skills into three layers:

Digital Fluency/AI Literacy: The foundational skill all workers need. This involves applying AI in a business setting, such as effectively using a chatbot and discerning its accuracy.

Targeted Skills: AI's influence on specific roles. For a software developer, this means coding algorithms or partnering with AI. For other roles like IT support, AI influences core functions but isn't always the central focus.

Advanced Skills: This is where specialization occurs. Robinson introduces CompTIA's domains like AI Security, AI DevOps, and AI Interaction (advanced prompt engineering), showing how these skills apply across job families like Cybersecurity and Data.

Discover why talking about "AI skills" requires a nuanced, layered conversation beyond simple literacy.

Ready to start your own journey? Explore more at www.CompTIA.org

CompTIA Career Pathways: Discover various career pathways in the tech industry and find the right one for you.

CompTIA Certifications: Learn about the certifications that can help you advance your tech career.

CompTIA Resources: Access a wealth of resources, including articles, webinars, and guides to help you succeed in tech.

CompTIA Blog: Stay updated with the latest trends, tips, and success stories in the tech industry.

CompTIA Events: Participate in events and webinars to network with industry professionals and enhance your skills.

Connect with Us:

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/comptiaofficial/

💭 X: https://x.com/CompTIA

💌 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CompTIA

📲 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/comptia/

Why Choose CompTIA? CompTIA is the world's leading vendor-neutral information technology (IT) certification and training body. CompTIA is a mission-driven organization committed to unlocking the potential of every student, career changer, or professional seeking to begin or advance in a technology career. CompTIA's best-in-class learning platform, career resources, research, and community events equip individuals and companies with the tools to succeed. We're a hub for advancing the tech industry and its workforce through education, training, certifications, philanthropy, and market research.

Success Stories: Read about inspiring success stories from individuals who have transformed their careers with CompTIA certifications and resources. Whether you're just starting out or looking to advance your career, these stories will motivate you to take the next step.

Educational Resources: CompTIA offers a wide range of educational resources to help you succeed in your tech career. From online courses and study guides to practice exams and certification training, we provide everything you need to achieve your goals.

Contact Us: Have questions or need assistance? Contact our support team for help with certifications, resources, or any other inquiries. We're here to help you succeed.

Stereotypical notions of IT departments exist, characterizing them as full of busy work. In this episode, Seth Robinson dispels that notion, showing how IT departments have changed drastically with the times.

Decades back, a first job in technology could be in IT support or network administration. But the landscape has widened dramatically since then, with additional entry points available in software development, cybersecurity, and data administration and analysis as well.

Ready to start your own journey? Explore more at www.CompTIA.org

CompTIA Career Pathways: Discover various career pathways in the tech industry and find the right one for you.

CompTIA Certifications: Learn about the certifications that can help you advance your tech career.

CompTIA Resources: Access a wealth of resources, including articles, webinars, and guides to help you succeed in tech.

CompTIA Blog: Stay updated with the latest trends, tips, and success stories in the tech industry.

CompTIA Events: Participate in events and webinars to network with industry professionals and enhance your skills.

Connect with Us:

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/comptiaofficial/

💭 X: https://x.com/CompTIA

💌 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CompTIA

📲 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/comptia/

Why Choose CompTIA? CompTIA is the world's leading vendor-neutral information technology (IT) certification and training body. CompTIA is a mission-driven organization committed to unlocking the potential of every student, career changer, or professional seeking to begin or advance in a technology career. CompTIA's best-in-class learning platform, career resources, research, and community events equip individuals and companies with the tools to succeed. We're a hub for advancing the tech industry and its workforce through education, training, certifications, philanthropy, and market research.

Success Stories: Read about inspiring success stories from individuals who have transformed their careers with CompTIA certifications and resources. Whether you're just starting out or looking to advance your career, these stories will motivate you to take the next step.

Educational Resources: CompTIA offers a wide range of educational resources to help you succeed in your tech career. From online courses and study guides to practice exams and certification training, we provide everything you need to achieve your goals.

Contact Us: Have questions or need assistance? Contact our support team for help with certifications, resources, or any other inquiries. We're here to help you succeed.

Welcome to the 2025-2026 season of Trend Watch! In this episode, your host Seth Robinson discusses career skills progression within the context of Digital Literacy and Digital Fluency.

Digital Literacy is the every day use of digital technology, such as your phone. Digital Fluency, however, is achieved when you become an expert in your chosen tools of the trade, as you move towards your career in the technology field.

Ready to start your own journey? Explore more at www.CompTIA.org

CompTIA Career Pathways: Discover various career pathways in the tech industry and find the right one for you.

CompTIA Certifications: Learn about the certifications that can help you advance your tech career.

CompTIA Resources: Access a wealth of resources, including articles, webinars, and guides to help you succeed in tech.

CompTIA Blog: Stay updated with the latest trends, tips, and success stories in the tech industry.

CompTIA Events: Participate in events and webinars to network with industry professionals and enhance your skills.

Connect with Us:

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/comptiaofficial/

💭 X: https://x.com/CompTIA

💌 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CompTIA

📲 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/comptia/

Why Choose CompTIA? CompTIA is the world's leading vendor-neutral information technology (IT) certification and training body. CompTIA is a mission-driven organization committed to unlocking the potential of every student, career changer, or professional seeking to begin or advance in a technology career. CompTIA's best-in-class learning platform, career resources, research, and community events equip individuals and companies with the tools to succeed. We're a hub for advancing the tech industry and its workforce through education, training, certifications, philanthropy, and market research.

Success Stories: Read about inspiring success stories from individuals who have transformed their careers with CompTIA certifications and resources. Whether you're just starting out or looking to advance your career, these stories will motivate you to take the next step.

Educational Resources: CompTIA offers a wide range of educational resources to help you succeed in your tech career. From online courses and study guides to practice exams and certification training, we provide everything you need to achieve your goals.

Contact Us: Have questions or need assistance? Contact our support team for help with certifications, resources, or any other inquiries. We're here to help you succeed.