The IT Nerd

 CompTIA A+, the globally recognized skills certification for technology professionals who provide technical support, has been updated to align with the changing nature of the hybrid workforce.

CompTIA, the nonprofit association for the information technology (IT) industry and workforce, announced today that the new version of CompTIA A+ (220-1101 and 220-1102) is available worldwide. CompTIA A+ is trusted by employers around the world as validation of IT professionals’ ability to think on their feet and perform critical support tasks.

The new CompTIA A+ certification exam:

• Reflects the increased reliance on software-as-a-service applications for remote work.
• Includes more focus on troubleshooting and remotely diagnosing and correcting common software, hardware or connectivity problems.
• Places greater emphasis on changing core technologies, from cloud infrastructure and IoT device security to data management and scripting.
• Expands coverage of major operating systems, their use cases and how to keep them running properly.

The new exam also recognizes the changing nature of the tech support job role, where many tasks are sent to specialized providers. CompTIA A+ certified personnel are better able to assess whether it is best to fix something on site, or to save time and money by sending proprietary technologies directly to vendors.

Individuals who achieve CompTIA A+ certification have demonstrated the skills to install and configure end-user devices and software; connect devices to networks; perform basic cybersecurity mitigations; troubleshoot common problems to diagnose and resolve issues; and demonstrate basic knowledge of scripting, the cloud, and virtualization.

Accompanying the release of the new exam is the availability of a comprehensive suite of learning and exam preparation resources including:

• CertMaster Learn for A+, an interactive online learning experience featuring videos, performance-based interactives and practice questions.
• CertMaster Labs for A+, hands-on 3D workbench simulations and virtual machine-based labs.
• CertMaster Practice for A+, an adaptive test prep tool that assesses knowledge and exam readiness.

Complete details on CompTIA A+, including exam objectives, practice questions and exam study resources, are available at  https://www.comptia.org/certifications/a.

CompTIA, the leading provider of vendor-neutral skills certifications and education for technology workers, this week expanded its credentialing program into the data skills arena with the introduction of CompTIA Data+.

CompTIA Data+ is a data analytics certification for professionals tasked with developing and promoting data-driven business decision-making. It validates the ability to mine, analyze and interpret data in a clear, consistent way that produces insightful observations about the business.

For employers, CompTIA Data+ can help them solve a problem common in many organizations – the inability to translate data into good decision making. Just one in four companies report being exactly where they want to be with their utilization of data, with the majority recognizing a need for improvement, according to a January 2022 CompTIA survey of 500 businesses on their data management and analysis practices and challenges.

Anyone working in a role that analyzes business-specific data, provides management with data analytics on business functions, or analyzes and monitors dashboards, results and trends can benefit from becoming CompTIA Data+ certified. Its value extends well beyond the IT team to employees in finance, marketing, manufacturing, operations, sales and other departments tasked with data responsibilities.

The drive toward making greater use of data in decision making impacts both external initiatives and internal operations. In the CompTIA survey 60% of companies said they have increased their focus on data to understand customers better, and 53% are doing so to improve day-to-day operations.

For individuals currently in a job role with data duties, or those ready to join the workforce, CompTIA Data+ training and certification will help them better understand how to organize, mine and analyze data. Mastery of these concepts through learning and validation through certification demonstrates to current and future employers that they have the knowledge and ability to interpret insights from data and communicate those insights in a way that helps the organization.

Accompanying the release of the new exam is the availability of a comprehensive selection of related CompTIA CertMaster learning and exam preparation resources, including:

• CertMaster Learn™ for Data+, a comprehensive, interactive and self-paced eLearning solution.
• CompTIA Labs™ for Data+, hands-on lab simulations to build knowledge and skills.
• CertMaster Practice™ for Data+, an adaptive online companion tool that assesses knowledge and exam readiness.
• Study guides for Data+ for those who prefer traditional textbook style learning.

CompTIA Data+ is the first of four planned data-related certifications that CompTIA intends to develop. Future certifications will focus on data science (CompTIA DataSci+), systems (CompTIA DataSys+) and foundational knowledge (CompTIA Data Foundations). Complete details on CompTIA Data+ are available at https://www.comptia.org/certifications/data.

Twenty women are preparing for careers in cybersecurity through a training program offered by the Women CyberSecurity Society (WCS²), Canada’s first and only nonprofit organization dedicated to attracting more women to pursue and excel in cyber careers, and CompTIA, the nonprofit association for the information technology (IT) industry and workforce.

The two organisations have partnered to address the dual challenges of training and certifying more cybersecurity professionals and bringing more women into the tech workforce. 

Women comprise just 10% of Canada’s cybersecurity workforce. Even more alarming, an estimated 50% of women in ICT drop out of the tech workforce in the first four years of their careers. While data shows that working women have been among the demographics hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, the field of cybersecurity offers a unique opportunity for women everywhere looking to skill, upskill and find employment in a new occupation.  

The International Women in Cyber Day Scholarship was created to provide training, certification, mentoring and career skills to diverse candidates seeking to advance their cybersecurity careers. Nearly 150 women applied for scholarships. The women selected for the scholarships are at various stages in the careers. Some currently work in technology and are looking for advancement opportunities, while others are transitioning from jobs in different industries to join the tech workforce for the first time.

Between January and March, scholars in this program are working to earn the coveted CompTIA Security+ credential, using CompTIA CertMaster Learn with integrated labs, and CertMaster Practice learning resources to help them progress. Their training is delivered via a series of workshops led by veteran cybersecurity lecturer and IT trainer, Rebecca Harrop.

The Women CyberSecurity Society is Canada’s first and only non-profit offering support through programs and services to women and underrepresented groups interested in a cybersecurity career. Our mission is to increase the representation of women globally by advancing, retraining and retaining women throughout the lifecycle of their careers. Resulting in a more diverse and inclusive global community. Visit https://womencybersecuritysociety.org/.

The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) is a leading voice and advocate for the $5 trillion global information technology ecosystem; and the estimated 75 million industry and tech professionals who design, implement, manage, and safeguard the technology that powers the world’s economy. Through education, training, certifications, advocacy, philanthropy, and market research, CompTIA is the hub for advancing the tech industry and its workforce. Visit  https://www.comptia.org/.

Information technology (IT) professionals with a year or more of on-the- job experience working with Linux servers are invited to serve as beta testers for a new version of the CompTIA Linux+ certification exam, CompTIA, the nonprofit association for the IT industry and workforce, announced today.

CompTIA Linux+ is intended for early career IT professionals who support Linux systems in a range of applications, including the cloud, cybersecurity, mobile and web administration. The beta test is a precursor to the new CompTIA Linux+ exam scheduled to debut in June 2022.

Beta testers have the opportunity to take the new CompTIA Linux+ exam before it is generally available for the discounted price of $50. Individuals who pass the beta test will earn their CompTIA Linux+ certification. Beta test results will not be revealed to test-takers until the new exam launches in June 2022. To register for the CompTIA Linux+ beta exam visit https://home.pearsonvue.com/comptia.

CompTIA recommends that beta test takers have at least 12 months of hands-on experience working with Linux servers in a junior Linux support engineer or junior cloud/DevOps support engineer job role. Certification in CompTIA A+, Network+ and Server+ or similar certifications and knowledge are also recommended.

CompTIA Linux+ is the only job-focused Linux certification that covers the current foundational skills demanded by hiring managers in concepts such as system management, security, scripting, containers and automation and general troubleshooting. The exam includes performance-based and multiple-choice questions. It covers tasks associated with all major distributions of Linux, establishing a solid baseline of knowledge.

The CompTIA Linux+ beta exam may be taken online from home, a closed-door office or any private location with an internet connection. In-person testing at any of the thousands of Pearson VUE test centers around the world is also an option. For more details on test-taking options visit https://www.comptia.org/testing/testing-options/about-testing-options.

Employers across Canada are accelerating their recruitment and hiring of technology workers, according to a new report from CompTIA, the nonprofit association for the information technology (IT) industry and workforce.

Job postings for tech occupations jumped 42,100 year-over-year in the first three quarters of 2021, a 65% increase, CompTIA’s “Canadian Tech Industry and Workforce Trends 2021” report reveals. It’s a signal that many employers are resuming hiring activity in conjunction with the recovering Canadian economy.

The CompTIA report estimates that tech employment in Canada will increase by 15,000 positions this year, with the bulk of hiring occurring in three provinces – Ontario (+7,545 new hires), British Columbia (+3,144) and Quebec (+3,008).

Over the past five years, Ontario accounted for 55% of net tech employment job gains, followed by British Columbia (22%) and Quebec (19%). The Toronto metro area alone accounted for nearly half of all net tech employment job gains during this period.

On a sector basis, the IT services and software categories are projected to account for 82% of job gains in 2021, reflecting the ongoing trends of IT modernization and digital transformation. On an occupation basis, the systems analysts and cybersecurity category will contribute a projected 34% of job gains for the year followed by software and web developers (30%) and the IT and network support personnel (14%).

At year’s end Canada’s tech workforce is projected to total 1,146,270 employees, approximately 6% of the Canadian labour force. The estimated median tech wage of $81,751 is 47% higher than the median national wage for all Canadian workers. Salaries for experienced tech workers or those with select skills are notably higher at the 75^th and 90^th percentiles.

The tech industry accounts for about 5.1% of the total Canadian economy, which translates to $96 billion CAD. There are an estimated 50,401 tech business establishments across the country. The highest concentrations are in Ontario (26,683), Quebec (10,011), British Columbia (5,834) and Alberta (5,031).

The complete “Canadian Tech Industry and Workforce Trends” report, with comprehensive national, province and metro area data on average wages, business establishments, job postings, emerging tech metrics and more, is available at https://www.comptia.org/content/research/canadian-tech-industry-and-workforce-trends-2021.

Information technology (IT) channel companies in Canada are cautiously optimistic as they refocus on growth opportunities in 2021 and beyond after the unprecedented events of 2020, according to new research from CompTIA, the nonprofit association for the IT industry and workforce.

Ninety percent of Canadian channel executives believe the channel maintains its relevance in the IT universe, CompTIA’s “International State of the Channel 2021” report finds. But they are split when asked about the channel’s health: 43% say it is holding steady in its current form, 47% say it’s rapidly changing.

Asked about the steps they are taking to maintain relevance Canadian executives say they are enhancing the customer experience to create a competitive differentiator. Also top of mind are becoming a trusted, go-to source for cybersecurity and implementing consultative selling that’s aligned with shifting customer demographics and buying behaviors.

The channel’s cautious optimism is bolstered to some degree by forecasts for global IT spending of more than $5 trillion this year, based on the feeling that customers will resume their spending on software, devices, hardware infrastructure and IT services. 

But channel executives acknowledge that some customers may still be reluctant to buy, including small businesses and industry sectors hit hardest by the pandemic (hospitality and retail, for example). Among all countries surveyed four in 10 executives express concern about the continuing impact of COVID-19 on customers’ ability or willingness to invest in new technology solutions. 

The CompTIA report gauges executives’ views on other key factors that impact the IT channel, including:

What are you selling?

Canadian respondents predict positive revenue potential over the next two years from a variety of service offerings with data services leading the list. Other services expected to generate solid business include cloud, digital marketing services and IT solutions.

About those emerging technologies

Involvement with emerging technologies was yet another disruption that channel firms encountered in the past year, causing 38% of Canadian companies to pause  their emerging tech efforts temporarily or indefinitely or pull the plug entirely. On the positive side, 35% of companies stayed the course on what they were doing with emerging tech (actively selling, using internally or experimenting) and 20% ramped up their work in areas such as the internet of things, robotics, 5G wireless networks and artificial intelligence.  

The channel and cybersecurity

When it comes to cybersecurity services offerings a majority of Canadian channel companies say they are ahead of the game (8%) or on target with their plans (49%). But a significant number of firms (43%) say they are just beginning to formulate a cybersecurity strategy and portfolio, are behind schedule or are not involved in cybersecurity at all. 

Vendor-partner relationships

Channel firms’ satisfaction generally with their vendors remains fairly high, with 72% of Canadian respondents saying they’ve been either satisfied or very satisfied with their vendors in the last two years. Asked what they want from their vendor partners, the most sought-after items are business-oriented: sales, marketing and operational training and services. This is forcing vendors to re-evaluate traditional partner program resources and incentives to meet new expectations.

CompTIA’s “International State of the Channel 2021” report is based on a Q2 2021 survey of 880 IT channel professionals in Canada, United Kingdom, United States, Benelux (Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg), Australia and New Zealand. 

Canada’s technology industry recorded another year of steady growth in 2019, according to Cyberprovinces™, the annual report on the size and scope of the country’s tech industry and workforce published by CompTIA, the nonprofit association for the global technology industry.

Net tech employment increased by nearly 60,000 positions in 2019, a growth rate of 3.6% over the previous year, and now totals an estimated 1.72 million workers. Since 2011, net tech employment in Canada has increased by an estimated 282,000 net new jobs. The figures include technology professionals working in technical positions and business professionals employed by technology companies.

Canada’s tech sector accounted for 4.7% of the overall Canadian economy in 2019, up slightly from 2018. There are approximately 73,154 tech business establishments with payroll located throughout Canada.

Eight provinces recorded gains in technology employment in 2019, led by Ontario (+31,735), Quebec (15,937) and British Columbia (+12,323).

The media annual wage for a technology worker in Canada is $76,471 CAD compared to $54,483 CAD for all occupations.

CompTIA’s Cyberprovinces report is based on data available through the end of 2019. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Canadian technology industry and workforce will not be fully understood until complete 2020 labour market data is available.

Double-digit growth is projected for the period from 2019 through 2027 for several occupations, including database analysts and administrators (22%), systems analysts and consultants (17%), software engineers (16%) and user support technicians (15%).

Technology job  postings through the first half of 2020 were down from the same period in 2019, but still totaled more than 54,700.      

The report notes that employer demand for skills in areas such as machine learning, robotics, augmented and virtual reality, blockchain, internet of things and related emerging technologies increased by 36% percent in 2019. Though still a relatively small subset of overall job postings, it is an indicator of where business investment in tech may be headed.

The complete Cyberprovinces 2020 report, with comprehensive national and province level data on average wages, business establishments, job postings, emerging tech metrics and more, is available at https://www.comptia.org/content/cyberprovinces-2020.

More than 61,000 new workers joined Canada’s technology workforce in 2018, according to a new report from CompTIA, the leading trade association for the global tech industry.

CompTIA’s “Cyberprovinces™ 2019” reveals that net tech employment across Canada totaled an estimated 1.66 million workers at the end of 2018, a 3.8 percent increase over the prior year. Since 2010 net tech employment has increased by an estimated 249,000 new jobs.

The report also finds that tech wages averaged $78,070 CAD in 2018, some 51 percent higher than the average private sector wage of $51,794 CAD.

The outlook for future employment growth appears positive, according to the report. Even with the addition of 61,000-plus tech workers last year, Canadian employers posted job openings for some 116,000 tech positions in 2018. Employer demand for emerging technology skills in areas such as machine learning, robotics, augmented reality/virtual reality, blockchain, and the Internet of Things increased by 23 percent from 2017 and 2018.

Several critical technology occupations are projected to experience double-digit growth between 2018 and 2026, including database analysts and administrators (24 percent), software engineers (20 percent), systems analysts and consultants (20 percent), and computer user support technicians (18 percent). By comparison, Canada’s overall base of employment is projected to increase by nearly 10 percent during the same period.

More from Cyberprovinces 2019

• Ontario led the nation in tech employment growth in 2018 with 36,698 new jobs, followed by British Columbia (10,840) and Quebec (10,774).
• On average tech industry wages are highest in Alberta ($81,967) followed by Ontario ($81,726) and British Columbia ($78,927).
• There are estimated 70,189 tech business establishments – companies with payroll – across Canada. Nearly two-thirds of these firms are located in Ontario and Quebec.

The complete Cyberprovinces 2019 report, with comprehensive national and province level data is available at https://www.comptia.org/content/cyberprovinces-2019.

Tech employment in Canada expanded by nearly 45,000 jobs in 2017, to an estimated 1.2 million workers, according to Cyberprovinces™ 2018, published today by CompTIA, the leading technology industry trade association.

Net tech employment accounted for approximately 8.4 percent of the overall Canadian workforce in 2017

The outlook for technology employment points to a continuation of the growth trend, which has seen tech jobs increase by about 32,000 each year since 2010. Projections from Statistics Canada indicate the base of tech occupations is projected to increase by nearly 8 percent between 2018 and 2026.

The growth projections for many technology occupation categories exceed the national benchmark, and in some cases, by a significant amount. For example, database analysts and administrator roles are projected to grow at three times the rate as the national average. Software, systems analysts, which includes cybersecurity roles, and user support technicians will also experience notable gains through 2026.

Beyond the raw numbers of new jobs, many of these positions have salaries well above those in other industries. According to Cyberprovinces 2018, the average annual wage in the tech industry is $76,200; 51 percent higher than the average annual wage for all jobs ($50,400).

Among other key findings from Cyberprovinces 2018:

• The top provinces when it comes to Net Tech Employment are Ontario and Quebec. The greatest number of jobs were also added in these provinces when compared to 2016.  Tech employment also represents about 10% of the total employment in these provinces.
• When compared to the other provinces Ontario stands apart for the number of jobs in tech with 44.6 percent of Canadian net tech employment coming from this province. This is consistent with Ontario’s population ratio (about 37 percent of the country), and economic impact (about 39 percent). Anchored by Canada’s most populous city, Toronto, the province of Ontario also accounted for a significant portion of tech employment gains during 2017.
• Tech business establishments tend to be concentrated in population centers and in locations that are close to the customers they serve. Combined, Ontario and Quebec account for nearly two-thirds of the total tech business establishments with payroll in the country.
• There are approximately 69,000 tech business enterprises with payroll located throughout Canada. This is supplemented by self-employed tech workers, which are classified separately by Canadian government sources.
• According to data from Burning Glass Technologies Labor Insights, the number of job postings by Canadian employers for tech occupations reached nearly 114,000 during 2017. This figure was roughly in line with the rate from the previous year.

Cyberprovinces 2018 is based on CompTIA’s analysis of data from Statistics Canada, EMSI, Burning Glass Technologies Labor Insights, and other sources. Estimates for 2017 are subject to change as government data is revised and updated. The complete Cyberprovinces 2018 report, with complete national and province level data, is available at https://www.comptia.org/resources/cyberprovinces-2018.

Tech employment in the United States expanded by nearly 200,000 jobs in 2017, to an estimated 11.5 million workers; and at $1.6 trillion, the tech sector is one of the largest components of the nation’s economy, according to Cyberstates™ 2018, the definitive annual analysis of the nation’s industry published today by CompTIA, the world’s leading technology industry association.

The economic might of the tech industry is felt in nearly every state. The industry is a top-five economic contributor in 22 states; and in the top 10 of 42 states.

The outlook for technology employment points to a continuation of the growth trend, which has seen tech jobs increase by about 200,000 each year since 2010. Projections from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicate the base of tech occupations will increase by 626,000 jobs by 2026. When factoring in the need to replace retiring or career-change workers, the total potential tech workforce reaches  1.2 million through 2026.

Beyond the raw numbers of new jobs, many of these positions have salaries well above those in other industries. According to Cyberstates 2018, the average annual wage in the tech industry is $112,890; 107 percent higher than the average annual wage for all jobs ($54,420).

Among other key findings from Cyberstates 2018:

• 38 states saw positive tech employment growth in 2017, slightly better than 2016, when 36 states experienced growth. The top five states for net job gains in 2017 were California (43,600), Texas (13,400), Michigan (13,200), Florida (12,000), and New York (10,400).
• On a percentage change basis, the top five states for 2017 tech job growth were Utah (+ 3.6 percent), Michigan (+ 3.4 percent), North Carolina (+3.1 percent), Washington (+ 2.9), and Idaho (+ 2.8 percent).
• At 10.6 percent, Massachusetts has the highest concentration of tech workers relative to its overall employment base. Following are Washington (9.9 percent), Virginia (9.9 percent), the District of Columbia (9.7 percent), and Colorado (9.7 percent).
• Nationally, the composition of the tech sector workforce is 66 percent men and 34 percent women, unchanged from 2016. The District of Columbia (39.8 percent) has the highest concentration of women in its tech workforce, followed by South Dakota, North Carolina, Wisconsin, and Missouri.
• The number of tech business establishments across the country grew for the sixth consecutive year, and now totals nearly 503,000 businesses.

Cyberstates 2018 (#cyberstates) is based on CompTIA’s analysis of data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, EMSI, Burning Glass Technologies Labor Insights, and other sources. Estimates for 2017 are subject to change as government data is revised and updated. The complete Cyberstates 2018 report, with complete national, state and metropolitan level data, is available at http://cyberstates.org/