Knoxville IT Professionals

Q3 Staffing from a CIO perspective

2012-06-28T11:17:00.002-04:00

Most chief information officers plan to maintain their current IT staffing levels in the third quarter of 2012, according to the recently released “IT Hiring Index and Skills Report ” by Robert Half Technology.

In the latest quarterly survey, 5 percent of CIOs interviewed said they expect to expand their IT departments and 4 percent anticipate cutbacks, for a net 1 percent projected increase in hiring activity. Eighty-nine percent of those surveyed plan no change in personnel levels, up four points from the second quarter.

In the same study, 76 percent of technology executives said they are somewhat or very optimistic about their companies' growth prospects in the next three months, and 82 percent feel confident in their firms' third-quarter investment in IT projects.

The report is based on telephone interviews with more than 1,400 CIOs from companies across the United States with 100 or more employees. Executives are asked whether their companies plan to increase or decrease the number of full-time IT personnel on their staff during the coming quarter.

Key Findings

• The net 1 percent increase in anticipated IT hiring activity is down two points from last quarter's projection.

• Eighty-nine percent of CIOs plan to maintain their current staffing levels, up four points from the Q2 forecast.

• Networking, data/database management and help desk/technical support professionals are in greatest demand, according to survey respondents.

• Seventy percent of survey respondents said it's challenging to find skilled professionals today, up five points from last quarter.

• Seventy-six percent of CIOs are somewhat or very confident in their companies' growth prospects in the next three months, compared to 87 percent in the prior quarter.

• Eighty-two percent of technology executives expressed confidence that their firms would be making investments in IT projects in the third-quarter, up five points from last quarter.

"Although most organizations are keeping staff levels constant, our research suggests larger companies may hire more actively in the third quarter," said John Reed, senior executive director of Robert Half Technology. "Firms with 1,000 or more employees plan a net 10 percent increase in hiring next quarter, up from a net 5 percent increase projected for this quarter."

Confidence in Business Growth and IT Investments

Seventy-six percent of CIOs reported being somewhat or very confident in their companies' prospects for growth in the third quarter of 2012. Eighty-two percent of technology executives expressed confidence in their firms' third-quarter investment in IT projects, rating the likelihood that their companies would be investing in IT projects a three or higher on a five-point scale, with five being most confident.

Skills in Demand

Executives said it is most challenging to find IT professionals in the functional areas of networking (19 percent), data/database management (16 percent) and help desk/technical support (16 percent).

Data/database management is the skill set in greatest demand, cited by 55 percent of CIOs. Network administration and Web development/Web design followed, with 48 percent and 33 percent of the response respectively.

Industries Hiring

Executives in the finance and business services industries expect the most IT hiring in the third quarter. A net 5 percent of CIOs in each of these sectors plan to expand their IT departments. This is followed by the construction industry, where a net 4 percent of technology leaders anticipate adding staff

2012-03-28T09:58:00.000-04:00

Takeaway: The certification landscape changes as swiftly as the technologies you support. Erik Eckel looks at the certs that are currently relevant and valuable to IT pros.

When it comes to IT skills and expertise, there are all kinds of “best certification” lists. Pundits are quick to add the safe bets: Cisco’s CCIE (Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert), Red Hat’s RHCE (Red Hat Certified Engineer), and other popular choices.

This isn’t that list.

Based on years of experience meeting with clients and organizations too numerous to count, I’ve built this list with the idea of cataloging the IT industry’s 10 most practical, in-demand certifications. That’s why I think these are the best; these are the skills clients repeatedly demonstrate they need most. In this list, I justify each selection and the order in which these accreditations are ranked.

1: MCITP: Enterprise Administrator on Windows Server 2008

I love Apple technologies. The hardware’s awesome, the software’s intuitive and their systems make it easy to get things done fast while remaining secure. But it’s a Windows world. Make no mistake. Most every Mac I deploy (and Mac sales are up 20 to 25 percent) is connected to a back-end Windows server. Windows server experts, however, can prove hard to find.

IT pros who have an MCITP (Microsoft Certified IT Professional): Enterprise Administrator on Windows Server 2008 accreditation demonstrate significant, measurable proficiency with Active Directory, configuring network and application infrastructures, enterprise environments, and (if they’ve chosen well) the Windows 7 client OS.

That’s an incredibly strong skill set that everyone from small businesses to enterprise organizations require. Add this line to your resume, and you may be all set to find another job should your current employer downsize.

Honorable mentions for the top spot include the MCITP: Virtualization Administrator on Windows Server 2008 R2 and MCITP: Enterprise Messaging Administrator on Exchange 2010. Microsoft Exchange owns the SMB space. Virtualization initiatives are only getting started and will dominate technology sectors for the next decade at least. Administrators who can knowledgeably navigate Microsoft’s virtualization and email platforms will only grow in importance.

2: MCTS

Not everyone has time to sit as many exams as an MCITP requires. The MCTS (Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist) certification is among the smartest accreditations an engineer can currently chase. As mentioned above, it’s a Windows world. Adding an MCTS certification in Exchange, SharePoint, Virtualization, Windows Client, or Windows Server will strengthen a resume.

There is no downside to any of these MCTS accreditations. Each of the above tracks provides candidates with an opportunity to demonstrate proficiency with specific technologies that organizations worldwide struggle to effectively design, implement, and maintain every day.

3: VCP

Virtualization is all the rage. It makes sense. Hardware manufacturers keep cranking out faster and faster servers that can store more and more data. Tons of servers sit in data centers using just fractions of their capacities. Virtualization, which enables running multiple virtual server instances on the same physical chassis, will continue growing in importance as organizations strive to maximize technology infrastructure investments.

VMware is a leading producer of virtualization software. Tech pros earning VCP (VMware Certified Professional) certification give employers (both current and future) confidence they can implement and maintain VMware-powered virtual environments. And if you talk to the techs responsible for maintaining data centers, you’ll frequently hear that VMware remains a favorite over Microsoft’s Hyper-V alternative, although most sober IT pros will have to admit Hyper-V is improving and closing the gap.

4: CCNA

The next politically correct certification to list is the CCIE (Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert). However, that’s a massive exam that few professionals realistically will ever have an opportunity to obtain. And while Cisco equipment frequently composes the network backbone, fueling numerous medium and large organizations, most organizations don’t need a CCIE and don’t have the resources to pay one.

That’s why I believe the more fundamental CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate) certification is a smart bet. A CCNA can help technology pros better familiarize themselves with the network OS’s fundamentals, while simultaneously strengthening their resume. Particularly motivated candidates can proceed to earn a CCNA Security certification, as the network security focus is a critical component of enterprise systems.

5: CSSA

In early 2012, Dell announced its pending acquisition of SonicWALL. There’s a reason Dell is buying the hardware manufacturer: SonicWALL has made great strides within the SMB unified threat management market.

Someone needs to be able to configure and troubleshoot those devices. The CSSA (Certified SonicWALL Security Administrator) certification not only proves proficiency in installing and administering the company’s devices, certified professionals receive direct access to tier two support staff and beta testing programs.

Organizations are always going to require network devices to fulfill firewall, routing, and threat management services. SonicWALL has carved out quite a bit of market share — so much so that it will now have the marketing might of Dell helping fuel additional growth. Knowing how to configure the devices will help IT pros, particularly those who support numerous small businesses.

6: PMP

Too many chiefs isn’t an IT problem I hear or read much about. Instead, it seems there’s a lack of IT pros capable of sizing up a project’s needs, determining required resources and dependencies, developing a realistic schedule, and managing a technical initiative.

The Project Management Institute is a nonprofit group that administers the PMP (Project Management Professional) certification. The exam isn’t designed to earn a profit or motivate IT pros to learn its product and become unofficial sales cheerleaders. The PMP certifies candidates’ ability to plan, budget, and complete projects efficiently, on time, and without cost overruns. Those are skills most every medium and large business needs within its IS department and such ability isn’t going to be replaced by an app or third-party developer in our lifetimes.

7: CISSP

If you want to specialize in security, the (ISC)² (International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium, Inc.), which administers the CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional) accreditation, is your organization. Its vendor-neutral certification has a reputation as one of the best vendor-neutral security certs.

Organizations’ data, networks, and systems are increasingly coming under attack due to the value of personal, corporate, customer, and sensitive proprietary information. So individuals who demonstrate measurable success and understanding in architecting, designing, managing, and administering secure environments, developing secure policies, and maintaining secure procedures will stand out from the pack. In addition, the knowledge gained while earning the certification helps practitioners remain current with the latest legal regulations, best practices, and developments impacting security.

8: ACSP

There’s more to the energy surrounding Apple than pleasant tablet devices, intuitive smartphones, and a stunning stock price. The company continues chewing up market share and shipping computers at rates 10 to 12 times greater than PC manufacturers.

The ACSP (Apple Certified Support Professional) designation helps IT pros demonstrate expertise supporting Mac OS X clients. Engineers, particularly Windows support pros and administrators increasingly encountering Macs, will be well served completing Apple’s certification rack for technical support personnel. Benefits include not only another bullet for the resume but an understanding of Apple’s official processes for installing, setting up, troubleshooting, and maintaining Mac client machines.

9: Network+ / A+

Yes, CompTIA’s Network+ and A+ designations are, technically, two separate certifications. But they’re both critical certs that test absolute fundamentals that every IT pro needs to completely understand.

In fact, there’s an argument to be made that all IT pros should have both of these accreditations on their resumes. CompTIA is a well-respected, vendor-neutral (though vendor-supported) organization that continually develops and administers relevant certifications. The network, hardware, and software skills tested on the Network+ and A+ exams are basics that every self-respecting tech professional should master, whether they’re performing budgeting tasks, deploying client machines, managing site-wide migrations, overseeing security, or administering networks and servers.

10: CompTIA Healthcare IT Technician

With an aging population, U.S.-based IT pros (in particular) should consider earning CompTIA’s Healthcare IT Technician credential. Obviously, if you work in manufacturing, the credential may be a stretch. But manufacturers frequently lay off staff. And many others produce material for health-related purposes.

See where I’m headed?

The interest surrounding health-related technology is almost unparalleled. Look around the city where you live. During the recession, where have you seen growth? Are there lots of new bookstores opening? How about new single-family home developments? Seeing lots of new manufacturing centers?

Doubtful. Like many, you’re probably seeing new medical services offices, immediate care centers, hospitals, outpatient facilities, dental practices, and similar health-related businesses.

They all need IT support. Support technicians, administrators, engineers, managers, and especially consultants who want to position themselves well for the future will do well to demonstrate their proficiency with health care technology’s regulatory requirements, organizational behaviors, technical processes, medical business operations, and security requirements. IT pros could do worse with their time, that’s for sure.

Original article: http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/10things/the-10-best-it-certifications-2012/3138?tag=nl.e101

By Erik Eckel

March 26, 2012, 6:34 AM PDT

Mobile App Developer CompTIA Certification

2012-02-16T11:04:00.000-05:00

A new credential intended for mobile application developers is being created by CompTIA, the nonprofit association for the IT industry, and viaForensics, a digital forensics and security firm.

“The mobile app development world is a vast arena for innovation, but too often security has been a secondary concern in the rush to bring new apps to the market,” said Todd Thibodeaux, president and chief executive officer, CompTIA.

“Because mobile devices typically combine both personal and corporate data, they’re a rich target for cybercriminals and hackers,” he said. “CompTIA and viaForensics intend to elevate the level of security awareness among mobile app developers.”

The secure mobile application developer credential and corresponding testing services — scheduled for availability in the first half of 2012 — are intended to meet the growing needs of software application vendors in their pursuit of qualified professionals to work in the fast-growing mobile apps market.

Research firm IDC estimates that the number of annual mobile app downloads will grow from 10.7 billion in 2010 to nearly 183 billion by 2015. Other industry observers predict similarly epic numbers of users of these handy, but potentially risky applications.

“Over 45 million smartphones are in use, not only by U.S. consumers, but at companies and government agencies across the nation,” said Andrew Hoog, chief investigative officer, viaForensics. “Vulnerabilities found in these mobile devices place their owners, companies and our country at risk.”

CompTIA and viaForensics intend to offer secure mobile application developer credentials and testing services for both the iOS and Android operating environments. This effort combines CompTIA’s standing as a provider of vendor-neutral skills certifications for IT professionals with ViaForensics’ appSecure service, appWatchdog and other mobile security intelligence.

“CompTIA’s global distribution and partnering programs will provide scale and access for the programs, while the depth of viaForensics’ secured applications expertise will afford user access to industry best services,” said Terry Erdle, executive vice president, skills certification, CompTIA.

The announcement is part of CompTIA’s broader initiative to address issues impacting companies doing business in the mobility marketplace. CompTIA is developing a new mobility curriculum, consisting of educational programs, workshops, how-to guides and other resources, to meet the specific needs of IT channel companies.

Early this year, CompTIA is scheduled to publish new research on mobility, telecommuting and remote workforce trends

New Credential for Health Care IT Workers - Certification Magazine

2012-02-16T10:58:00.000-05:00

New Credential for Health Care IT Workers - Certification Magazine

Seven In-Demand Tech Jobs for 2012 - Certification Magazine

2011-12-22T22:26:00.001-05:00

Seven In-Demand Tech Jobs for 2012 - Certification Magazine

New CompTIA Cloud Certification

2011-12-02T21:56:00.000-05:00

CompTIA — a provider of vendor-neutral skills certifications for the global IT workforce — and ITpreneurs — a provider of competence development products for IT best practices — announced they are collaborating on a new cloud computing skills credential.

The CompTIA Cloud Essentials exam , scheduled for availability in December, will validate knowledge and understanding of cloud computing principles and concepts, including what cloud computing means from a business and technical perspective and what’s involved in moving to and governing the cloud.

“The value and benefits of cloud computing are quickly becoming apparent to organizations of every shape and size, from the largest enterprise to the smallest business,” said Terry Erdle, executive vice president, skills development, CompTIA. “But there is no one-size-fits-all blueprint for moving to the cloud. It requires thoughtful evaluation, comprehensive planning and technical savvy.”

“A principal understanding of cloud computing, and its related skill set, is essential for a well-managed implementation of any cloud project,” said Sukhbir Jasuja, chief executive officer, ITpreneurs. “This credential demonstrates IT professionals’ understanding of the key concepts, themes and issues around cloud computing, including definitions, organizational readiness, operating in the cloud and governance and security of the cloud model. It is also driving agreements around definitions of key concepts across major vendors, and encouraging the whole industry to cooperate with each other through the Cloud Credential Council as the preferred forum.”

Exam content is based on consultation and insights from subject matter experts and organizations in the cloud computing market, including Amazon, Cisco, Citrix, EMC, Google, HP, IBM, Microsoft, Rackspace and VMware.

Potential candidates for the new credential include IT professionals in companies utilizing cloud computing today or contemplating doing so as well as individuals involved in selling cloud services. Though not required, it’s recommended that candidates for the exam have a working knowledge of how an internal or external IT organization operates and have at least six months of experience in an IT environment with direct involvement in IT-related tasks, responsibilities and decision making

Get the exam specifics here: http://certification.comptia.org/getCertified/certifications/cloud.aspx

Microsoft finalizes Windows Thin PC1

2011-06-07T17:26:00.000-04:00

Microsoft has released to manufacturing its Windows Thin PC client, and plans to make it available to Software Assurance customers starting July 1, company officials said on June 7.
Windows Thin PC (WinTPC) is the successor to Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs (WinFLP). Whereas WinFLP was based on the Windows XP SP3 platform, WinTPC is based on the Windows 7 platform.
Windows Thin PC (WinTPC) allows users to repurpose older PCs as thin clients, something that a number of users seemingly want to do in order to save money and avoid having to upgrade users to new PCs.
PCs with WinTPC will not require the VDA (Virtual Desktop Access) license that regular thin clients will need to access VDI desktops, Microsoft officials have said. Microsoft officials said today that they are planning to add Forefront Endpoint Protection (FEP) support for WinTPC in the third calendar quarter of 2011.
In a blog post on the “Windows For Your Business Blog,” Microsoft officials noted the approved uses for WinTPC:

“WinTPC is designed to be a thin client device, and therefore only applications that fall into the certain categories are enabled. These categories include security, management, terminal emulation, Remote Desktop and similar technologies, web browsers, media players, instant messaging clients, document viewers, NET Framework and Java Virtual Machine. If customers want to locally run productivity applications such as Microsoft Office, or any other application that does not fall into the categories mentioned above, they would be better off using a PC, as thin client computing may not be the best fit for their scenarios.”

Microsoft released a first test build of WinTPC in March 2011. While the test build was available to the general public, the final product is limited to volume licensees with Software Assurance only.
Update: A couple more tidbits from Microsoft’s blog post today: WinTPC and Citrix’s Receiver technology will work together, enabling XenApp or Xendesktop via WinTPC. And System Center Configuration Manager and the Windows Embedded Device Manager 2011 products can be used to manage WinTPC clients.

original article by By Mary Jo Foley | June 7, 2011, 10:30am PDT http://www.zdnet.com/blog/microsoft/microsoft-finalizes-windows-thin-pc-available-july-1/9634?tag=nl.e019

IT hiring outlook

2011-04-05T16:30:00.000-04:00

A new CareerBuilder survey indicates that IT hiring and compensation is on the uptick for 2011.
CareerBuilder conducted its national annual IT hiring poll among more than 170 IT employers between November 15 and December 2, 2010. The results were that two in five (42 percent) of IT employers plan to increase the number of full-time, permanent employees this year (this is up from 32 percent who said the same last year).
Here are some other employment trends to follow in 2011, according to the survey:

•Sixty-six percent of those polled said they will increase compensation for their existing staff in 2011. The good news is that 13 percent expect the average increase will be five percent or more. The bad news is that most estimate the average raise will be 3 percent or less.

•One-third (33 percent) state that they currently have open positions for which they can’t find qualified candidates. Thirteen percent said they will be hiring outside the U.S. for workers to work in their U.S. offices. This is an interesting disconnect: Employers are saying they can’t find qualified workers, but there are a ton of IT pros out of work.

•Nearly half (49 percent) of IT employers are hiring contract or freelance workers in 2011, up from 47 percent in 2010. Forty-six percent of IT employers plan to hire temporary workers on a permanent basis in 2011.

•More than one-third of IT employers (38 percent) voiced concern over worker burnout within their organizations, as heftier workloads and longer hours take their toll on worker morale. Nearly the same amount (34 percent) reported that maintaining productivity levels is one of the top staffing challenges for the new year. The first part of this paragraph sounded kind of nice until you saw the concern was linked to almost the same percentage of employers looking to maintain productivity, didn’t it?

•Forty-four percent of IT employers stated that they will be placing a greater emphasis on social media in 2011.

Original article: http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/career/it-compensation-and-hiring-trends-for-2011/2726
About Toni Bowers

Toni Bowers is an award-winning writer and Head Blogs Editor for TechRepublic.

New Security Certifications from Cisco

2011-02-04T11:10:00.001-05:00

New Security Specialist certifications cover IOS, firewalls and VPNs

Cisco lists certifications in two broad categories: career certifications and specialist certifications. The career certifications include the broad and more commonly known certifications, like the CCNA, CCNP, and so on. The specialist certifications cover a narrower range of topics - sometimes directly overlapping with the technology in the career certifications, and sometimes covering topics outside the career certifications.

Before this week, Cisco already had several specialty certifications related to security. Cisco's adding three back to the mix this week:

Cisco IOS Security Specialist
Cisco Firewall Security Specialist
Cisco VPN Security Specialist

How do you get these? Well, you simply pass one or two of the current CCNP Security exams, and meet the pre-requisite of needing a current CCNA Security certification. These certs map directly to the exams in the new CCNP Security certification. If you pass all four exams to get your CCNP Security cert, you could earn 5 total specialty certs - the three above, plus the IPS and ASA specialty certifications.

Cisco announces new CCNP Security career certification

Why the Focus on Security?

The bigger question that comes to mind is why all this focus on security?

1) Security Requires Role redundancy: Simply put, you can't go without a qualified person for short to medium periods of time. Everyone has to have some time off, go to classes and meetings, and so on, and the risk associated with having your only skilled person gone and unavailable is too much. The solution? At least have role redundancy, that is, have multiple people with real skills for each part of the security puzzle. Common sense, but this is one of the reasons highlighted by Cisco.

2) Security Personnel Turnover Expected to Increase: Cisco reviewed generally the assertion that demand for network security engineers will exceed the supply for the foreseeable future, and that Cisco was trying to help the market through these new exams and courses (last fall) and these new specialty certifications. Taking that at face value, it's a microeconomics 101 issue: demand exceeds supply, which drives up how much security engineers are paid. That means turnover as more security engineers go for new higher-paying jobs. And it creates an opportunity to learn security and get dragged along into job opportunities and higher pay.

Then, you tag team that idea with the chance of going months without key network security personnel after someone goes to a new job, then the need for role redundancy is greater - which means most organizations should be scrambling to increase security skills of the existing staff.

So, that's some of the substance of what I heard from Cisco. However, I was a bit skeptical, and asked if they had any publicly available data to back up the baseline assumption: security personnel demand does/will exceed supply. Cisco cited three references:

A 2010 CCIE survey, which showed that security is the top skill needed over the next 5 years. (Survey is dated Feb 2009.)

A 2009 Forrester research study, published on Cisco's web site. This survey asserts that managers need to focus on roles, coverage, and that managers claim that they look at certifications to validate skills. If you look closely, those certs follow behind the idea of looking for experience. (I have to admit, reading the report, it made me wonder if the objective was to favor certifications, but you can make your own assessment.)

An article on the HomelanSecurityNewsWire.com web site, which has some real evidence of the demand exceeds supply argument. In particular, this article sites competition with the private sector for security engineers and that the candidates currently filling the technical security jobs simply aren't technical.

origianl article by Wendell Odom http://www.networkworld.com/news/2011/020311-cisco-announces-three-security-certifications.html?page=1

5 ways to speed up your PC

2010-12-17T15:10:00.000-05:00

By following a few simple guidelines, you can maintain your computer and keep it running smoothly. This article discusses how to use the tools available in Windows 7, Vista, and XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) to more efficiently maintain your computer and safeguard your privacy when you're online.

1. Free up disk space

The Disk Cleanup tool helps you free up space on your hard disk to improve the performance of your computer. The tool identifies files that you can safely delete, and then enables you to choose whether you want to delete some or all of the identified files.

Use Disk Cleanup to:

Remove temporary Internet files.
Remove downloaded program files (such as Microsoft ActiveX controls and Java applets).
Empty the Recycle Bin.
Remove Windows temporary files such as error reports.
Remove optional Windows components that you don't use.
Remove installed programs that you no longer use.
Remove unused restore points and shadow copies from System Restore.

Tip: Typically, temporary Internet files take the most amount of space because the browser caches each page you visit for faster access later.

2. Speed up access to data

Disk fragmentation slows the overall performance of your system. When files are fragmented, the computer must search the hard disk when the file is opened to piece it back together. The response time can be significantly longer.

Disk Defragmenter is a Windows utility that consolidates fragmented files and folders on your computer's hard disk so that each occupies a single space on the disk. With your files stored neatly end-to-end, without fragmentation, reading and writing to the disk speeds up.

When to run Disk Defragmenter

In addition to running Disk Defragmenter at regular intervals—monthly is optimal—there are other times you should run it too, such as when:

You add a large number of files.
Your free disk space totals 15 percent or less.
You install new programs or a new version of Windows.

3. Detect and repair disk errors

In addition to running Disk Cleanup and Disk Defragmenter to optimize the performance of your computer, you can check the integrity of the files stored on your hard disk by running the Error Checking utility.

As you use your hard drive, it can develop bad sectors. Bad sectors slow down hard disk performance and sometimes make data writing (such as file saving) difficult, or even impossible. The Error Checking utility scans the hard drive for bad sectors, and scans for file system errors to see whether certain files or folders are misplaced.

If you use your computer daily, you should run this utility once a week to help prevent data loss.

Run the Error Checking utility:

Close all open files.
Click Start, and then click My Computer.
In the My Computer window, right-click the hard disk you want to search for bad sectors, and then click Properties.
In the Properties dialog box, click the Tools tab.
Click the Check Now button.
In the Check Disk dialog box (called Error-checking in Windows 7), select the Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors check box, and then click Start.
If bad sectors are found, choose to fix them.

Tip: Only select the "Automatically fix file system errors" check box if you think that your disk contains bad sectors.

4. Protect your computer against spyware

Spyware collects personal information without letting you know and without asking for permission. From the websites you visit to usernames and passwords, spyware can put you and your confidential information at risk. In addition to privacy concerns, spyware can hamper your computer's performance. To combat spyware, you might want to consider using the PC safety scan from Windows Live OneCare. This scan is a free service and will help check for and remove viruses.

Download Microsoft Security Essentials for free to guard your system in the future from viruses, spyware, and other malicious software.

5. Learn all about ReadyBoost

If you're using Windows 7 or Windows Vista, you can use ReadyBoost to speed up your system. A new concept in adding memory to a system, it allows you to use non-volatile flash memory—like a USB flash drive or a memory card—to improve performance without having to add additional memory.

10 free Microsoft products for IT and home users

2010-11-17T13:17:00.000-05:00

Microsoft doesn't earn billions of dollars every month by giving away its software. But even Microsoft is no stranger to offering freebies in a bid to increase customer loyalty.

There was CEO Steve Ballmer handing out new Windows Phone 7 devices to every developer at the recent Professional Developers Conference at Microsoft headquarters – and all 89,000 Microsoft employees will get their own free Windows phone. (See also Microsoft Windows after 25 years: A visual history)

But you don't have to trek all the way to Redmond or work for Microsoft to take advantage of free technologies from one of the world's largest software companies. Let's take a look at some of the free Microsoft products that might appeal to IT pros, business users and consumers alike.

Security Essentials

Microsoft's free anti-malware product for Windows PCs was first released in September 2009, and Microsoft recently altered the licensing agreement to let small businesses run Security Essentials on up to 10 computers. Microsoft also offers EMET (Enhanced Mitigation Experience Toolkit), a free download that can harden legacy applications and generally make it more difficult for attackers to exploit software vulnerabilities.

Network Access Protection

This "free, basic NAC for Windows-only shops" is included with Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008. "Features are relatively primitive," according to Network World tester Joel Snyder, who says "Microsoft NAP will work best in an all-Microsoft operating system environment where all devices are joined to a Windows domain."

Windows Phone 7 development tools

To prepare for the WP7 smartphone launch, Microsoft released free versions of development tools Visual Studio 2010, Silverlight 4 and Expression Blend 4 to help developers build apps for the new mobile devices. While the phones themselves are definitely not free, there are numerous examples of Microsoft offering free development tools. The main .Net Framework and related Silverlight platform are free, and Microsoft offers a free "Express" version of Visual Studio.

Office Web Apps

Microsoft's free online versions of Word, PowerPoint, Excel and OneNote launched this year when the company started offering Office Web Apps, a cloud-based consumer service. The free version of Office Web Apps is not intended for business use, but could be enticing to home users. However, some of the early reviews of Microsoft's cloud-based Office tools indicate that Google Apps is still superior.

Hyper-V

Microsoft's answer to VMware, the Hyper-V server virtualization platform is available for free, and also within new versions of Windows Server. Although most customers use Hyper-V to virtualize Windows, Microsoft has submitted source code to the Linux kernel to let Linux run on Microsoft’s hypervisor.

Windows Live Essentials

Designed to boost Windows PCs with several free programs, Windows Live Essentials includes a photo gallery, movie maker, instant messaging, e-mail and social networking. Also included is Live Writer for bloggers, and Live Mesh for syncing photos and documents between personal computers and the Microsoft SkyDrive cloud service.

Windows Azure Platform Introductory Special

Windows Azure itself is not free, but Microsoft is offering free access in a special offer that expires on March 31, 2011. The offer includes 25 hours of a small compute instance each month along with 500MB of storage and 10,000 storage transactions.

SQL Server 2008 R2 Express

Microsoft makes plenty of cash by selling SQL Server, but does offer this free version for "developing and deploying desktop, web, and small server applications." While not as fully-featured as paid versions, the free download offers 10GB of database storage, the same core database engine used in other versions of SQL Server, and is compatible with SQL Server 2008 and the SQL Azure Database cloud service. Separately, Microsoft offers SQL Server Compact, a free database for building mobile, desktop and Web applications.

Search Server 2010 Express

Microsoft unveiled a free search server in 2007, and has continued updating its free search capabilities, now available with Search Server 2010 Express. The software requires Windows Server 2008. Think of it as Google (errr… Bing) for your business systems.

BizSpark

BizSpark is not a single product. Instead, Microsoft says it is a free three-year program designed to help software start-ups grow by offering them access to "development tools, platform technologies and production licenses of server products (including Windows Azure Platform)." To qualify, start-ups have to be fewer than 3 years old and have less than $1 million in revenue. By nurturing the next generation of tech start-ups before they're profitable, Microsoft is really hoping to create future waves of paying customers.

Leftovers

Not everything that's "free" is really free. Internet Explorer is free, of course, but only officially works on Windows PCs, and IE9 only works on Windows 7 and Vista. Microsoft also boasts of the free System Center Virtual Machine Manager Self-Service Portal, but the system requirements show that customers must first acquire Windows Server, Virtual Machine Manager 2008 R2 Administrator Console and SQL Server 2008.

However, Microsoft does offer a 180-day trial for System Center VMM and similar trials for numerous other products.

Microsoft also offers free training programs to those who have paid for its software, including a set of free end-user training tools released this year for Microsoft Office and Windows 7.

Microsoft also offers some free tools for migrating users to Windows 7, such as the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit and the User State Migration Tool. (See also: 11 tools for Windows 7 migrations)

Those Windows 7 licenses will cost you $200 to $300 apiece, however.

Follow Jon Brodkin on Twitter: www.twitter.com/jbrodkin

original article via Network World:http://www.networkworld.com/news/2010/111710-microsoft-free-products.html?hpg1=bn

CompTIA A+ to add content on Windows 7

2010-10-07T08:26:00.000-04:00

Oakbrook Terrace, Ill., September 28, 2010 – CompTIA, the leading provider of vendor neutral skills certifications for information technology (IT) professionals, announced today it will update its flagship CompTIA A+ certification exams with new content related to the Windows 7 operating system.

The Windows 7 content will be integrated into existing CompTIA A+ exams beginning in January 2011.

"The ever accelerating technology adoption curve places increasing importance on the need to continually update the skills of the high-tech workforce," said Terry Erdle, senior vice president, skills certification, CompTIA. "CompTIA is committed to helping IT professionals keep their skills current and fresh through regular updates of the content of our certification exams."

The changes were recommended by the CompTIA A+ Certification Advisory Committee, which includes representatives from ASI Electronics, HP, Lenovo, Ricoh, Sharp and other organizations that support the certification.

Introduced in 2009, Windows 7 is the latest release in a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops, netbooks, tablet PCs and media center PCs.

Windows 7 content will be added to both tests required to achieve CompTIA A+ certification: CompTIA A+ Essentials (220-701) and CompTIA A+ Practical Application (220-702).

The new content will appear in the following objective domains:

•CompTIA A+ Essentials (220-701) – Objective Domains 3.0 (Operating Systems) and 4.0 (Software and Networking)

•CompTIA A+ Practical Application (220-702) – Objective Domains 2.0 (Operating Systems) and 4.0 (Security).

The new content will be added as a rolling change to the existing exams beginning in January 2011. Training providers and courseware publishers have been notified of the upcoming changes and are making any necessary adjustments to their existing programs.

"CompTIA A+ delivers a comprehensive measurement of the core skills and knowledge that are universal for any IT technician, regardless of job role or responsibility," Erdle said. "It's recognized throughout the industry as the best credential an individual can obtain to launch a career in IT."

CompTIA A+ certification is an ISO/ANSI accredited exam that validates competence in areas such as installation, preventative maintenance, networking, security, troubleshooting, customer service and communications. More than 750,000 people worldwide have become CompTIA A+ certified since the program’s inception in 1993.

CompTIA certifications are globally recognized in the private and public sectors and are required or recommended by many employers, certifying and educational bodies. Because all CompTIA certifications are vendor-neutral, they're relevant across multiple networks, operating systems and product lines; and they equip IT workers with greater versatility and a broader set of business and technical skills. More than 1.85 million CompTIA certifications have been awarded to IT professionals around the world.

About CompTIA

CompTIA is the voice of the world's information technology (IT) industry. Its members are the companies at the forefront of innovation; and the professionals responsible for maximizing the benefits organizations receive from their investments in technology. CompTIA is dedicated to advancing industry growth through its educational programs, market research, networking events, professional certifications, and public policy advocacy. For more information, please visit www.comptia.org.

Original article release: http://www.comptia.org/news/pressreleases/10-09-28/CompTIA_A_Certification_Exam_Update_Planned_with_New_Content_on_Windows_7_Operating_System.aspx

Most In Demand Certifications in 2010

2010-08-24T17:05:00.000-04:00

An industry-recognized certification can provide you with a competitive edge whether you’re looking for a new position or trying to advance within your current firm. However, the biggest challenge when it comes to earning a professional designation is often determining which one to pursue.

Here are the four most in-demand certifications, according to Robert Half Technology’s staffing and recruiting professionals across the United States:

Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP): Offered by the International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium (ISC)², this vendor-neutral information security accreditation covers 10 domains, including access control, cryptography, operations security, and security architecture and design. To earn a CISSP, you must meet certain experience requirements and achieve a scaled score of 700 or greater on the CISSP exam. The credential also must be renewed every three years. According to CIOs polled for the latest “Robert Half Technology IT Hiring Index and Skills Report,” the second most challenging functional area to fill is security, increasing the appeal of job candidates with a CISSP designation.

Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE): This certification focuses on the design and implementation of these particular infrastructures. It’s recommended that you have one to two years of experience working with network systems before pursuing the accreditation. Earning the MCSE certification demonstrates a commitment to professional development because you must have a wide range of knowledge and pass seven exams to obtain it.

Although the MCSE designation is in particularly high demand, job candidates who have earned any Microsoft certification have an edge in the job market. Because of the ubiquity of Microsoft applications, accreditations that demonstrate your knowledge of these technologies will continue to be sought by employers.

Project Management Professional (PMP): If you want to validate your project management abilities, this credential, offered by the Project Management Institute (PMI), may be for you. You must have between three and five years of project management experience to take the exam, and the certification must be maintained by earning 60 Professional Development Units over a three-year period. The increasing complexity of IT projects, and the need to involve individuals from all over the organization in these engagements, has led to the demand for verifiable project management skills.

Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA): This vendor-specific accreditation authenticates the bearer’s ability to administer medium-size route and switched Cisco networks. To earn the certification, you can either pass the 640-802 CCNA exam or both the 640-822 Interconnecting Cisco Networking Devices Part 1 (ICND1) and 640-816 ICND2 exams. The CCNA designation is valid for three years, after which you must pass one of various possible exams to renew it.

Fifty-eight percent of CIOs polled for the “Hiring Index” ranked network administration as the technical skill set in greatest demand within their IT departments, further demonstrating the marketability of professionals with the CCNA credential.

Although earning one of the above certifications could be advantageous for your career, that doesn’t mean doing so is the necessarily the best move for you to make. Before pursuing any professional designation, you must ask yourself the following questions:

• Which certification is right for me? Take into account your experience, current position and future professional goals. For instance, if you have a project management background and want to further your career in that area, a PMP certification could be extremely valuable. However, if you have no networking experience, it’s unlikely that a CCNA accreditation will boost your marketability. It’s important to understand that a certification can’t take the place of experience. Rather, it is best used to support relevant experience you already possess.

• How much time and money are involved? Between books, study aids, training courses and exams, there will be costs involved. But there may be ways to reduce these expenses. If you’re currently employed, your company may offer financial assistance with your education. If you’re unemployed, you might consider registering with an IT staffing firm, some of which offer free training courses, test preparation and sample exams.

The time commitment can vary dramatically depending on the designation you are pursuing. The MCSE certification requires you to take seven exams, for instance, while the CCNA designation will perhaps only require one. Also keep in mind that some credentials require ongoing study to remain valid.

• How much of an impact will a certification have on my career? This question is hard to answer. According to the “Robert Half Technology 2010 Salary Guide ,” a credential can increase starting salary by up to 10 percent. But not all certifications are created equal. Those less in demand may not boost your compensation at all or increase your appeal to potential employers by any noticeable amount. You may want to consult members of your professional network, especially those who have earned a certification you hope to obtain, or an IT recruiter for additional insight.

Dave Willmer is executive director of Robert Half Technology, a provider of IT professionals for initiatives ranging from e-business development and multiplatform systems integration to network security and technical support. He can be reached at editor@certmag.com.

Justifying Ongoing Training

2010-06-11T12:00:00.000-04:00

Sometimes it seems like you barely have time to think when you’re in the office. If you’re like many technology professionals, you’re still feeling the effects of the recession on your job. Whether your team is smaller, resources are harder to come by or you’re doing the work of several people, the point is you’re busier than ever, and the day-to-day responsibilities of your role are just about all you can focus on.

Although it’s easy to do, falling into this type of situation can be extremely dangerous for your career. Why? Because you’re ignoring your need to continually update your skill set and continue moving forward professionally. Changes in technology and the IT industry happen quickly, so you must keep up to date with new trends and developments as they emerge if you hope to remain at the forefront of the field.

Pursuing training on an ongoing basis also can help your job security. The employment market is not the only place where companies look for individuals with the most advanced abilities — your current employer also appreciates workers who make the effort to keep their skills sharp and can help the firm remain competitive.

Perhaps most important, training helps ensure you are always prepared for the next step in your career. Learning new skills can allow you to take on additional projects and more demanding — and rewarding — assignments with your current organization. If you decide to explore job opportunities outside your firm, possessing up-do-date skills will increase your marketability.

Here’s how you can secure the training you seek:

Be proactive. Above all, it’s important to remember that you must take an active role when it comes to pursuing training opportunities. Rarely will others tell you exactly what type of professional development to pursue and how to go about doing it. Before exploring potential avenues for professional development, determine in which areas you need to strengthen your skill set. Are you struggling with .NET? Are you hoping to transition to a management position and want to develop your leadership abilities? Keep in mind that the type of training you seek should align with your current job or future career goals.

Explore internal resources. Next, find out what resources are available within your firm that would allow you to pursue your professional development goals. Even though many firms have cut back on training budgets during the downturn, don’t assume you have to go outside your company to find the support you need. In fact, 21 percent of CIOs polled by Robert Half Technology said they plan to offer more training and professional development for their staff this year. Are there seminars, training presentations or courses available through the organization’s intranet site, for example? Also remember that many businesses provide assistance to employees by offering tuition reimbursement, subsidized membership to professional organizations or the opportunity to attend industry conferences. Speak to your manager about the internal options.

Build your case. To improve your chances of securing the support you seek, explain to your manager how training in a certain area could help you perform your job better or benefit the company. You might also note that you can share what you learned with others in the department. After attending a conference on information security, for instance, offer to host an informal brown bag lunch for colleagues who could also benefit from the information. If your manager is still not convinced, consider a compromise. For instance, you could volunteer to stay late or work through lunch to make up for time you’ll spend in training classes.

Strike out on your own. If your company is not able to support your professional development efforts, you need to do some digging to identify avenues for skill building that you can pursue on your own. Local colleges, learning centers or even the public library may offer classes in your area of interest. Professional associations also frequently host seminars by industry experts or offer training classes and certificate programs for members. And, of course, don’t forget: Should you run out of options in your neck of the woods, you’re just a few mouse clicks away from a wealth of online classes.

Remain committed. Once you enroll in a training program, don’t let the opportunity go to waste. Take things seriously and maintain your focus. If you’ve chosen to enroll in a certificate program, for instance, complete all the required steps to earn it. If you signed up for classes or workshops, attend them all. And afterward, try to identify immediate opportunities to put the new skills you’ve acquired into practice to further develop them.

original article: http://certmag.com/read.php?in=3945
Dave Willmer is executive director of Robert Half Technology. He can be reached at editor@certmag.com.

Microsoft Software Assurance Overview

2010-06-03T16:58:00.000-04:00

Software Assurance Gives You a Business Edge

Businesses rely on Microsoft software to help achieve objectives, solve business problems, and gain an edge in today's competitive environment. As software continues to evolve and improve, businesses and IT professionals would like tools and assistance to facilitate deployment and maximize operational efficiency. With Microsoft® Software Assurance, you can acquire tomorrow's technology at today's prices, and access training and deployment resources that enable employees to work more efficiently than ever.

In listening to our customers and understanding how technology is used, Microsoft strives to develop software that meets your organization's ever-changing needs. An important part of maintaining a business edge is the ability to keep software and technological assets current in the most cost-effective manner possible. This is why the Volume Licensing programs available from Microsoft, in conjunction with Software Assurance, are powerful resources to help your organization maintain a competitive advantage.

Software Assurance gives your business the edge to:

•Succeed in the competitive business world by taking advantage of the latest technology and the ability to spread payments annually.
•Respond to your customers' demands for real-time business solutions using the latest Microsoft software.
•Capture new business opportunities quickly and effectively by greatly streamlining the procurement process.

Software Assurance can help you realize more value from your software with several key benefits that can save time and money and help your business realize its fullest potential.

Facilitates Deployment

Tools included with Software Assurance make it easier for IT professionals to deploy new product versions, updates, and other content to all desktops and servers, at their own pace. As a result, you save time and resources, and ensure that all employees are working in the same software environment.

Offers Access to Latest Software

Software Assurance gives you the rights to run new versions of licensed software as they become available during the term of your agreement. You can reduce the costs associated with acquiring new version releases and avoid lengthy purchasing cycles, while still reaping the benefits of technology that helps you stay competitive.

Enables Easier Budgeting

For companies that want greater flexibility in managing technology expenditures, Software Assurance lets you spread payments annually, instead of incurring one up-front payment. This lets you reduce initial costs and forecast annual software budget requirements up to three years in advance.

Extends the Workplace to the Home Office

Software Assurance provides a simple way to help increase employee productivity and maximize the value of your Microsoft Office investment by enabling employees to work at home. Through the Home Use Program, your employees can get a licensed copy of select Microsoft Office desktop programs for which they are licensed at work to install and use on a home computer.

Enhances Productivity Through Training and Support

Software Assurance not only provides your employees with the latest software, it also offers eLearning and instructor-led training so they can quickly take advantage of the most innovative technology and work more efficiently. IT professionals also have convenient access to support resources to stay up to date on the latest technical information, find answers to their questions, and get problem resolution support to help keep business systems running.

original article: http://www.computertrainingmag.com/article.php?id=16

Needs assessment & IT Training program

2010-05-21T09:30:00.001-04:00

More corporate IT departments are realizing that technology training should be addressed by IT with a process that goes beyond simple budgeting and fulfillment.

One reason is limitations of corporate training departments when it comes to prescribing and monitoring technical training. A second reason is the rapidity of technology change that IT must keep pace with. In the past three years alone, virtualization (which demands new thinking about network management), new OSs and servers (like Microsoft Vista and Server 2008), new security requirements (for emerging areas like social engineering, DNS attacks, etc.) and new Web services deployments, have all presented technologies that factor into the IT workload.

How do you create a training program that infuses these critical new technology skillsets into your staff and projects?

THE CORNERSTONES OF IT TRAINING

Effective IT training rests on four cornerstones:

1.Clear Goals

IT managers and staff should determine which types of training will be purchased or performed, who is going to receive the training, and who is going to ensure that the knowledge transfer from the training occurs.

2.Timely Investment

Training is optimized when it is immediately applied. IT managers must ensure that this happens if maximum results from training are to be attained.

3.Calculated Returns

For every training planned, IT managers and staff should define beforehand how the training will be used in the projects it is applied to. This creates training metrics that results can be tracked against.

4.Process Improvement

Training and projects should be reviewed annually to see which training and projects really went well and which can be improved. The end goal is continuous improvement of the training Process—from planning and procurement through knowledge trans-fer to projects.

SETTING UP YOUR TRAINING FUNCTION

IT can take these steps to assure a results-oriented program:

Meet with Managers to determine needs and budget

Most IT departments take their closest looks at training investments during annual budget cycles. They assess staff skills shortfalls, look at staff, and decide who should be trained in which skills areas to improve overall IT performance. The process succeeds in identi-fying and budgeting for training—but it often fails to follow the process once training is completed. Process monitoring is essential to assure that skills transfer takes place. This follow-up should be with both the trainee and with the project mangers that the trainee is expected to bring his newly developed skills to.

Identify training objectives by project or function

One way to facilitate the tracking of training results is to ask IT managers to match training investments to projects as well as to em-ployees. In the end, managers must ask themselves if the training delivered the desired value to the projects. This ensures that training investments match up with business and technology needs.

At the same time that IT managers identify the specific projects and initiatives that they expect the training to deliver value to—they should furnish timelines of when the projects requiring training will be coming online. In this way, the timing and the budgetary in-vestment of the training can be matched to the anticipated start dates of the projects that the training is intended to benefit.

Set metrics

CIOs should have high expectations of both their line managers and their training partners. One way to facilitate this is to ask managers to draw up lists of very specific goals where training will benefit the projects they are charged with. In other words, instead of stating a project need for training as “ability to interact with end users,” the training goals for that overall need might be expressed as a set of specific skills and capabilities such as:

•Ability to give an oral presentation;

•Ability to produce Microsoft Powerpoint presentations;

•Ability to conduct meetings;

•Ability to write a system requirements document;

•Ability to use a project management software to input and maintain project tasks;

•Ability to conduct a system review and/or test with end business users.

By breaking down overall objectives into more specific and project-directed goals, the organization (and the employee) are better able to communicate with professional trainers to let them know exactly what the company expects from the training.

Talent-scout your organization and set development objectives with staff

If you have mentors, set mentor objectives, such as training a specific employee to be able to handle day to day network management duties within six months. Managers should also be tasked with employee development objectives. These begin with effective “talent scouting” of staff to determine who is best suited for roles on projects (e.g., you might have a solid programmer who has demonstrated the ability to easily work with users, and who might with soft skills development be turned into a project man-ager in a year). In this way, you can specify a particular training regime and the goals and time frames in IT projects that the training must deliver results to. The training should be included as an objective in the employee’s personal goals for the coming year that will be assessed during his annual performance evaluation. This process lets the employee know that you are investing in him, and that you also have expectations in return.

Identify an internal resource who can coordinate training

IT departments with effective training programs assign an internal resource person who schedules training and tracks training results against projects in the same way that resources are on staff to track projects and budgets. In very small IT departments, this might mean a general administrative person who also maintains a spreadsheet or a database with training prescriptions, metrics and results. Larger staffs often hire an individual with both a training/education and a technology background who conducts the training function on a full-time basis, and who also provides consultation services to employees and managers. In either case, the training administration, metrics and results tracking process is greatly facilitated if there is administrative support and follow-up with line managers. Designating one person with administrative authority for the training function establishes a central control whenever training-related questions arise.

Partner with training vendors that share your commitment

Choose training vendors that are results-oriented and that can work with you. The best way to do this is to personally meet with ven-dors and share your specific project and training needs, along with performance-related goals and training expectations. You should ask the vendor about its training methodology, and how it can work with you to deliver skills that will support your projects and your em-ployees. Last but not least, ask the vendor for a list of references. These references will tell you how effective the training was in deliv-ering immediate value and results to their project goals.

Original article: http://www.computertrainingmag.com/article.php?id=79
Creating an Effective Internal IT Training Function

By Mary Shacklett

Closing the Security Skills Gap

2010-05-06T15:40:00.000-04:00

Security tops the list of the technology skills that are most important to organizations today, according to a survey of more than 3500 technology professionals in North America, Europe and Asia. In the same survey, 73 percent of participating organizations also identi-fied firewalls and data privacy as the IT skills most critical to their organizations.

However, the same survey, along with new research commissioned by the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA), indicated that there is a widening gap in the technical security skills that employers want, and the corresponding skills that workers bring to the job.

This heightened interest in security is reflected in a 2007 CompTIA study, which found that the management of 78 percent of organi-zations considered information security a top priority. With so much at stake, it is incumbent on organizations to implement compre-hensive security training programs and making training a requirement for IT staff.

The benefits of such training are clear. Among organizations that have provided security training for IT staff, the 2007 CompTIA study found that an impressive 81 percent believed that security training improved security practices in their organizations.

In corporate IT, security training:

•increased awareness of security issues;

•improved the ability of IT staff to pro-actively identify potential security risks;

•enabled IT to respond more quickly to security issues.

Despite these findings, specialized training for IT staff is still the exception rather than the rule in many organizations. Less than half of all companies surveyed by CompTIA require IT security training, while about one-third have made security training a requirement for both new hires and existing IT employees. Overall, IT security training is mandatory to some degree for 47 percent of organizations.

Organizations with security training programs in place agree that security training has been beneficial, and that they have also realized financial savings. The average estimated average cost savings that organizations attribute to their IT security training programs is around $352,000 annually. These same organizations spend an average of $90,000 per year on security-related training, so the corre-sponding return on investment is rather compelling.

Among organizations that require security certifications, more than eight out of ten (84 percent) believe they improved their com-pany’s overall IT security. More than two-thirds believe that having IT staff with security-related certifications enables the or-ganization to pro-actively identify potential security risks—and a similar percentage of organizations also feels that security training also allows them to respond quickly to potential security risks. Organizations that lack a formal strategy for security-related training may be placing themselves at significant financial risk.

In addition to these benefits, the estimated cost savings associated with having IT staff with security certifications are even more com-pelling. Respondents estimate that the cost savings associated with having IT employees with security certifications is $656,000, which is 80 percent higher than the savings for organizations that have implemented only IT training initiatives. For the individual worker, attaining a recognized security certification or credential is a strong indicator to employers of you security expertise.

One such certification is CompTIA Security+, which validates foundation-level knowledge of communication security, infrastructure security, cryptography, operational security, and general security concepts. It is an international, vendor-neutral certification for security professionals with two years of hands-on experience in networking, with a focus on security. It is recognized by the technology commu-nity as a valuable credential that proves competency with information security.

As the information security market evolves and the types of threats expand, organizations must seek out the correct balance of technology and training solutions. The benefits of security-related training and certification for IT staff are real and compelling, and the cost savings are undeniable.

original article: http://bit.ly/cnUJXP

John Venator is the president and chief executive officer of the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA), the leading trade association representing the business interests of the global information technology (IT) industry. He is responsible for leading strategy, development and growth efforts for the association and its 20,000-plus member organizations around the world.

Comments? Questions? Send them to editor@technologytrainingmag.com.

CompTIA's explanation of Certification policy changes...

2010-03-22T09:57:00.000-04:00

Earlier this year, CompTIA announced it would start requiring certificants — even those already holding CompTIA certifications that had been billed as lifelong — to renew their certifications.

Two weeks later, the association reversed this decision somewhat, saying that previous CompTIA certification holders and those studying for its exams this year would be certified for life. Effective Jan. 1, 2011, all new CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+ and CompTIA Security+ certifications will be valid for three years from the date the candidate becomes certified.

According to Terry Erdle, senior vice president of skills certification for CompTIA, the decision was originally brought about by advice from the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). “The way they explained it to us is: ‘We really should start to push you guys into line with everybody else, which is a three-year or least some kind of recertification process. Your IT certifications can’t go on forever; lifetime certification is just not something that we’re going to stand behind anymore,’” Erdle said.

So CompTIA developed a continuing education process and a policy of requiring recertification. One of ANSI’s requirements was that such a policy be applied evenly across the association’s entire database.

“Well, the announcement went out, and we certainly heard from a number of people,” Erdle said. “I wouldn’t say it was a majority, but a vociferous number of them who said, ‘You know, this really isn’t fair.’”

IT pro Walter Byrd was one such protestor. When Byrd first heard he’d be required to recertify, he was angry. “I felt it was unfair,” he said. “I felt that I was being cheated because they were always very insistent that their certifications were lifetime.”

Byrd pointed to language on CompTIA’s Web site that had declared, “Our certifications are good for life. Once you are certified, you are certified for life. The certifications do not have an expiration date nor do you have to retake a test after an upgrade.”

CompTIA reported these frustrations on the part of its certificants to ANSI, which in turn agreed to allow CompTIA to revise its policy to allow former certificants to retain their lifetime certification and to start implementing the new policy in 2011.

CompTIA certificants were relieved, Erdle reported.

“We got a lot of ‘tears of joy streaming down my face’ kind of comments,” he said.

Byrd’s reaction to the policy revision was a bit more understated. “That was fine,” he said. “If they want to change their policy for certifications going forward, I have no problem with that at all. But I don’t think it’s fair for them to do that retroactively.”

Erdle understands frustration with the initial policy announcement. “We probably pulled the rip cord on the first policy a little too quickly, and we’ve learned from that and we’re going to take a slightly more conservative policy change process approach in the future, knowing how hot an issue this is for some people,” he said.

According to Erdle, a policy of recertification goes beyond meeting standards requirements; it enhances the value of CompTIA certs overall since employers generally insist IT professionals keep their skills current. “This is a good thing overall, to get to the point where we’re keeping people’s certifications fresh,” he said. “We’re recognizing that IT content changes rather dramatically every three to five years and that people should provide some level of credible assurance that they have stayed current.”

Byrd isn’t so sure this is significant. “I think it will make some difference, but only with certain employers,” he said. “For example, for a DOD employer it might matter. Most employers I don’t think will even know the difference.”

A key question is whether this new policy will create a skills gap between previously and newly tested CompTIA certificants, as holders of the old certs will be date-stamped to when they were tested and holders of the new certs will be forced to continually update their skills.

“Well, [it’s the] same kind of testing process [and the] same content, [though] obviously the content continues to change,” Erdle said. “It’s up to the individual to decide how current their skills need to be, whether they need to recertify. It probably sounds more onerous than it is when people first look at it and think, ‘Ugh, I have to retest every few years.’ And that’s really not the point.”

He pointed out that most IT pros already engage in a process of updating their skills as needed, which likely includes certification beyond their original education in the field.

“I don’t think anybody who plays in the IT space would think that the same technology, even the fundamentals that I learned 20 years ago, [is] completely relevant today,” he said. “I mean cloud computing and just the basic platforms that people use today are wildly different in terms of how they handle.”

Original article: By Daniel Margolis — March 22, 2010 ~ Certification Magazine http://www.certmag.com/read.php?in=3938

Changes to CompTIA A+ exam

2010-03-02T09:30:00.000-05:00

CompTIA’s A+ certification has been used for years as a stepping-stone into the world of IT. It primarily tests knowledge of computer hardware, including installation, maintenance and troubleshooting. It’s been well-regarded across the industry, and those who obtain it are often rewarded with entry-level jobs on a help desk, or promotion or raise if they already work in the field.

The A+ hasn’t been updated 2006, a long time in IT years. Because of that, CompTIA has done a complete refresh of the A+. Here’s what you need to know about the brand-new A+ certification.

Test Details: The new A+ consists of two tests: CompTIA A+ Essentials (220-701) and CompTIA A+ Practical Applications (220-702). Passing for the Essentials test is 675, and 700 for the Practical Applications test; that’s on a scale of 100-900. Each exam is 100 questions, and candidates have 90 minutes to take the test. Exam objectives can be downloaded from the CompTIA website.

Current A+ certification holders: Candidates certified on A+ may not have to take both exams to remain current. Those certified on the 2006 A+ objectives can take a single exam, called the “2009 Edition Bridge Exam.” It’s an 85-question exam with a required passing score of 500 on a scale of 100-900.

What has changed: The focus of the new A+ certification is more on problem-solving, and also reflects new operating systems. The objectives, for example, often start with “Given a scenario…” In other words, you need to know how to apply the knowledge in a real-world setting.

In addition, Windows Vista is now tested under the operating system knowledge requirements. The previous version of the A+ only required XP know-how (hopefully, future versions of the A+ won’t take as long to include Windows 7 knowledge as it took to update the tests to include Vista).

Why the test has changed: CompTIA needs to update the test at least every three years to comply with its ISO 17024 accreditation. This accreditation gives the A+ certification a certain status in the community. CompTIA adds that the new credential “reflects changes in technologies and covers the latest skills needed by IT technicians.”

The previous A+ certification required a core test and one of three electives, depending on which track a candidate wanted to pursue: IT Technician, Remote Support Technician or Depot Technician. Those designations are outdated, as a qualified technician should be able to provide support for multiple areas.

Note that if you’re currently in study or training for the old tests, they will still be offered until July 31, 2010. If at all possible, however, it’s worthwhile to move to the new tests, as they will test more current technology, making you more employable or valuable if you’re currently employed. After all, a lot has changed in IT since 2006.

original article: http://certification.about.com/od/techcertbasics/a/AplusChanges.htm

Cisco Refreshes Certifications for Increasing Network Engineering Jobs

2010-01-25T09:39:00.001-05:00

(Cisco Networkers) -- In response to growing demand for highly qualified professionals capable of designing, implementing, securing and operating increasingly sophisticated networks and technical infrastructure, Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) today announced a new Service Provider (SP) Operations certification track as well as a major revision of its popular CCNP® certification.

Key Facts/ Highlights

The growing complexity of corporate IT (information technology) networking, coupled with the demands of telecom-IT convergence and relentless pressure to reduce costs within the enterprise, continues to stimulate interest in managed services. Canalys research predicts that the worldwide service provider market will grow by 7.5 percent year-on-year in 2010.*

The new Cisco® Service Provider Operations certification track, the first of its kind in the networking industry, verifies that the certificate holder has completed a program to attain the knowledge and skills required for operating an extensible service provider infrastructure to deliver rich managed services.

The CCNP revision reflects the evolving job tasks of global network professionals, including a greater emphasis on highly secure, complex routing and switching, support for branch offices and mobile workers, and the delivery of voice and video services.

CCNP offers a development path for CCNA® certification holders, the world's single largest group of networking professionals, and a solid foundation for those interested in pursuing expert-level certification.

Sixty-six percent of managers believe IT certifications improve the overall level of service and support offered to end users, and 75 percent say certifications are important to team performance, according to IDC.**

Service Provider Operations Certifications

Designed specifically for Cisco service provider customers, partners and Cisco networking engineers, the new Cisco SP Operations track is focused on developing the capabilities to operate complex service provider Internet Protocol Next-Generation Network (IP NGN) infrastructures.

The Cisco CCIE® SP Operations certification assesses and validates core IP NGN service provider network operations expertise, including the skills required of an expert (Tier III or Tier IV support) operations engineer to troubleshoot and maintain complex service provider IP NGN core (PE-PE and PE-CE) network infrastructures in both Cisco IOS® and Cisco IOS XR operating environments. In addition, it validates broad theoretical knowledge of operations management processes, frameworks and network management systems.

The Cisco CCNP SP Operations certification validates the knowledge and skills required of a professional-level (Tier II or Tier III support) network operations engineer to isolate network performance problems and to implement proactive fault-prevention measures using operations management processes, frameworks and network management systems.

The Cisco CCNA SP Operations certification targets entry-level students with a foundation of network operations skills in SP IP NGN environments required of associate-level (Tier I support) operations personnel.

CCNP

Cisco has updated its CCNP certification with a significant amount of new content through a comprehensive process involving customers and partners from around the globe. The revision focuses on the competencies that are needed to plan, implement, verify and troubleshoot the networks of today and is designed to be more predictive of job readiness.

Extensive hands-on labs, e-learning lessons and self-paced demos reinforce maintenance and troubleshooting skills.

The CCNP certification is designed for network engineers with at least one year of professional work experience who are ready to advance their skills and work independently on complex network solutions.

Three new courses provide the skills required to plan, configure and verify complex routing and switching solutions and utilize an ITIL®-compliant approach to network troubleshooting. The courses are ROUTE v1.0 -- Implementing Cisco IP Routing, SWITCH v1.0 -- Implementing Cisco IP Switched Networks, and TSHOOT v1.0 -- Troubleshooting and Maintaining Cisco IP Networks.

The revised CCNP certification requires three 120-minute exams -- ROUTE #642-902, SWITCH #642-813, and TSHOOT #642-832 -- that validate the key competencies of network engineers.

Availability

The revised CCNP courses and e-learning materials are available now. The exams are scheduled to be available in March/April 2010.

The CCNA Operations certification is scheduled for release in the second quarter of 2010.

The Cisco CCNP SP Operations certification is scheduled to be available in the third quarter of 2010.

The CCIE SP Operations written exam is scheduled for release in the second quarter of 2010. The practical exam is scheduled for release in the third quarter of 2010.

Original article: http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/marketwire/0579534.htm

2010! What skills will be needed to remain relevant in the IT Market?

2010-01-06T09:01:00.002-05:00

Everyone knows that 2009 was challenging for workers. And despite some initial signs that the economy may be turning around, 2010 looks to be another difficult year. But not everything is doom and gloom. Research conducted for the “Robert Half Technology 2010 Salary Guide” suggests that bright spots do exist for IT professionals. Here’s a look at the IT job market for the coming year.

While starting salaries for most positions within IT will stay at current levels or dip slightly, some will see modest gains in 2010. Networking- and security-related jobs, in particular, remain in demand. Here are some of the most promising roles:

• Information systems security manager: With new threats continually emerging, every company needs to protect the confidentiality, integrity and availability of its information, both from internal and external breaches. As a result, security professionals are highly sought out by organizations in a variety of industries. According to CIOs surveyed by Robert Half Technology, information security topped the list of IT projects executives expect their firms to invest in during the next 12 months. Starting salaries for information systems security managers will range from $96,500 to $130,750 in 2010.

• Network administrator: The complexity of networks and the requirements placed on them have increased due to technologies such as cloud computing, voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) and software as a service (SaaS). In addition, 69 percent of CIOs surveyed for the fourth-quarter “Robert Half Technology IT Hiring Index and Skills Report” said network administration is the most in-demand skill set. These professionals can expect starting salaries ranging from $54,500 to $80,250.

• Systems engineer: Businesses continue to put new technologies into practice, meaning the role of systems engineer remains critical. These individuals develop and maintain the technical infrastructure, hardware and system software components supporting various IT projects. The position also topped Money magazine’s list of “Best Jobs in America,” based on pay and growth prospects. Starting salaries for systems engineers will range between $64,250 and $93,250.

Growth Industries

Despite the economic slowdown, IT hiring and technology investments remain strong in several industries. Some of this growth is the result of the U.S. government’s stimulus package, which is expected to boost IT spending in certain sectors.

Following are a few industries in which job prospects for technology professionals are brightest:

• Education: Three main factors — money from the government’s stimulus package, increased enrollment (in part due to job losses) and the expansion of e-learning programs — are leading to an upward trend in hiring and spending on technology in the education sector.

• Financial services: Due to pressures being put on financial services organizations following the global financial crisis, firms are placing increased focus on meeting reform and compliance requirements, generating investments in IT.

• Health care: An aging population and the government’s push to digitize health records are creating job opportunities for IT professionals at hospitals, physicians’ offices and other health care facilities.

Sought-After Skills

As technologies change, so do the skills that are most highly sought out. Here are a few that are currently in the greatest demand:

• Applications and Web development: With social media and other interactive Web technologies growing rapidly, those with applications and Web development skills will continue to generate interest from employers. One of the most sought-after skills is .NET development, and those who possess it may see starting salaries that exceed average levels by up to 7 percent.

• Help desk and desktop support: Companies continue to implement new technologies, which can lead to a sharp learning curve for customers and other end users. As a result, IT professionals with help desk and desktop support experience, and who remain up to date on new developments, are highly valued.

• Virtualization: The combination of being able to lower costs — along with space and energy requirements — and increase hardware utilization has companies buzzing about virtualization and IT professionals with this skill set.

In addition to proven technical abilities, hiring managers seek IT professionals with solid interpersonal skills who can interact with colleagues throughout the organization to ensure business needs are met. Individuals also need to understand how IT projects relate to larger business goals. And, of course, employers always look for new hires who can help the firm reduce costs, increase profitability and enhance efficiencies.

original article written by: Dave Willmer w/ Certification Magazine http://www.certmag.com/read.php?in=3930

CompTIA Strata certification helps bridge the skills gap IT employers are needing.

2009-12-15T14:54:00.000-05:00

The paradox appears on a regular basis in the business news headlines.

Unemployment in the United States jumped to double digits in October for the first time in more than a quarter century, reaching 10.2 percent.

Yet hiring managers continue to find it difficult to fill positions requiring certain high-tech skills.

According to the latest Yoh Index of Technology Wages, a poll of more than 9,000 hiring managers in more than 15 metropolitan areas across the U.S., companies continue to struggle to find workers with Java and .Net/C+ development skills, as well as IT security engineers, network engineers, software engineers, quality assurance professionals and project managers.

And the gap between tech job openings and qualified people to fill them appears to be growing, not shrinking.

Global IT research firm International Data Corporation (IDC) and Microsoft Corp. released a study in early October 2009 that suggests the IT industry will create 5.8 million new jobs over the next four years. That projected growth rate of 3 percent a year is more than three times as fast as the growth of total employment.

Now for paradox two.

Young people today are the most tech-savvy generation ever. Yet many continue to shun careers in high tech, even at a time when 21st-century employers desperately need new workers with technology skills.

Connecting these two groups is the challenge that will define the future. It’s a challenge that must be addressed with new solutions.

Strata Rolls Out

Last year, the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA), a trade association for the global IT industry, took a major step to address this challenge with the introduction of its CompTIA Strata certificate program.

Rather than focusing narrowly on specific computer applications, CompTIA Strata is designed to offer a broad introduction to technology — the core terminology, uses and types of technology deployed today. The exams do not certify technical skills, but demonstrate that an individual has knowledge of IT terms, equipment and functions.

Why the emphasis on broad, fundamental technology skills? There are two reasons.

First, the service technician, help desk, support role, which requires a broad set of basic skills, remains the best avenue to begin an IT career.

Second, employers of all sizes and across many industries have identified this job as one they are looking to fill immediately.

According to the latest Robert Half Technology IT Hiring Index and Skills Report, a survey of more than 1,400 CIOs from companies across the U.S., when asked which technical skill sets are most in demand in their IT departments, 64 percent of respondents cited desktop support. Help desk and technical support and networking are the two job areas experiencing the most growth, with 18 percent of the response each.

Get on the Information Superhighway

CompTIA Strata is designed to be an on ramp to a career in technology, something students or adult career changers can use to gauge their aptitude and interest for IT. With a basic understanding of PC and networking fundamentals, these individuals will have the confidence to pursue more advanced skills certifications and will have a credential to prove to prospective employers that they’re ready to enter the IT workforce.

“We’ve been looking for a level one technical course for a while, and this suits our needs as it’s vendor-neutral,” said Stuart Philip, IT curriculum leader at Highlands College, Jersey, U.K. “It provides a good all-round platform to more technical qualifications.”

The CompTIA Strata Fundamentals of IT Technology exam is designed to show that the successful candidate has the knowledge to identify and explain technology basics, including the characteristics and functions of laptops, desktops and smart phones. Individuals must be able to understand the functions of internal and external storage devices, such as CDs, DVDs, USBs and hard drives. The exam also covers green IT: Individuals will have to know how to use and dispose of equipment in an environmentally friendly way.

Topical Discussion

Topics covered in the exam include:

• Technology and computer hardware basics (40 percent of exam content).

• Compatibility issues and common errors (13 percent).

• Software installation and functions (11 percent).

• Security risks and prevention (16 percent).

• Green IT and preventative maintenance (20 percent).

The CompTIA Strata IT Technology exam (FC0-U41) is a 60-minute test that includes 70 questions. A passing score of 70 percent or higher is required. Individuals who pass the exam will receive the CompTIA Strata certificate of completion.

The recommended number of hours needed to prepare for the exam varies based on each candidate’s existing level of knowledge and the type of exam prep they’re engaged in. For example, commercial training could be completed in four days. At the college level, about 48 hours of classroom or lab experience is the norm. For high school students, one semester of instruction (five hours per week for 18 to 19 weeks) is the recommended preparation time before sitting for the exam.

A second exam, CompTIA Strata IT Technology for Sales (FC0-TS1), is designed to show that successful candidates have the knowledge to engage a customer on a professional basis using proper communication skills, qualify the type of technology user, provide appropriate solutions based on a customer’s needs and coordinate with technical staff throughout the sales process.

This test assesses a candidate’s knowledge in areas related to ongoing customer care and engagement and ensuring proper customer satisfaction. This test is intended for candidates considering or currently in a technical sales role with the potential for future sales, project management or technical training.

Domains in the CompTIA Strata IT Technology for Sales exam include:

• Technology and computer hardware basics (48 percent).

• Compatibility issues and software compliance (16 percent).

• Preventative maintenance and green IT (18 percent).

• Sales and communication skills (18 percent).

The exam is a 60-minute test that includes 70 questions. A passing score of 70 percent or higher is required.

CompTIA Strata exams are delivered at Pearson VUE and Prometric testing centers around the world. Courseware is available from Axzo Press and Element K.

Employment Takeaway

For individuals, CompTIA Strata is a way to prove to employers or potential employers that they can handle an IT-related job. It’s also good preparation for CompTIA A+ or other advanced IT certifications.

For employers, CompTIA Strata can ensure that employees have baseline knowledge of computers and how to use them. This can help reduce unnecessary troubleshooting requests and increase the bandwidth of IT staff.

Now more than ever, companies value employees who can think strategically and communicate effectively, as well as those who possess strong business fundamentals. IT workers who understand how to use technology to meet business goals, and who can articulate this understanding, are golden in the eyes of employers.

A certificate such as CompTIA Strata makes an individual more marketable. Unless the employer is familiar with the school the job candidate attended or the organizations the candidate worked for, the hiring manager has no independent means of knowing how rigorous the program or experience is. When a job candidate comes to an employer with a recognized and accepted professional credential, it gives the employer more to go on.

For workers new to the employment market without a great deal of past experience, an industry-recognized credential puts the worker in a stronger position when looking for a job.

Individuals who are securing jobs in today’s tech workplace are equipped with greater versatility and a broader skill set than was required in the past. People who want to be in IT need an edge, a means of proving they can do the tasks assigned. CompTIA Strata is a step toward that proof.

IT Certifications...worth the time & money? Survey says Yes!

2009-11-30T12:33:00.000-05:00

An in-depth three-year IDC study provides real data that shows the relationship between training, certification and the functional performance of teams of IT professionals. The results of this study are in the November 2009 report by Cushing Anderson called "Impact of Training on Network Administration: Certification Leads to Operational Productivity."
IDC's 36-month study involved surveying more than 1,100 IT managers who are responsible for more than 3,000 teams. The survey asked for details about more than 80 IT performance metrics in 26 different functional domains, which include deployment, development, management, security, storage and support. Having analyzed all that data, IDC has come to the conclusion that certification in relevant areas matters, and here's why.

Increasingly, companies are relying on their IT departments to go beyond simply deploying and operating IT systems. IT departments are often included in business transformations and process improvements that will help the business grow and become more profitable. This means the department needs to have a staff of people with both business acumen and IT knowledge and skills. Anderson writes, "Organizations focused on driving growth, managing risks, and cutting overhead expenses rely on IT departments to manage convergence, complex infrastructures, and the proliferation of sophisticated edge devices (e.g., notebooks and PDAs). IT talent must combine technical capabilities with the ability to manage projects and complex situations that bring alignment with business goals."

This IT talent is often organized in teams -- groups of people who collaborate on projects to bring about the best results possible. IDC's research has shown that high-performance teams are comprised of individuals who possess current and relevant skills and knowledge. What's more, the team members' skills must be complementary and comprehensive enough for the project at hand. "Training and certification are effective measures of how well team members can work with specific technologies, hardware, and software," Anderson writes.
"Used properly, certifications play key roles at the convergence of business and IT trends. IDC research shows a direct relationship between higher levels of certification and improved performance -- when team skills improve, organizational performance increases proportionally," according to Anderson. "The percentage of relevant certifications a team holds is a reliable measure of an IT team's functional capability. Each new certification increases team performance."

In a 2008 IDC Training Impact Survey, nearly 61% of the respondents ranked "skill of the team" as the factor that contributes most to the success of technology functions. "The support of the technology vendor ... the effort of the team," and other factors ranked far below the value of the team's skills in determining a successful outcome of an IT project. In most cases, certification is a fairly good measure of skill.

The IDC study looked at the impact of certifications on network administration functions, focusing on five common activities:

* Network security performance -- Teams with more certifications had about 10% more devices in full compliance with security policies on average.

* Server and client application deployment -- Applications and network capabilities were deployed on time and on budget about 10% more frequently at organizations with greater concentrations of certified staff.

* Network availability-- Unscheduled downtime was about 20% lower at organizations with more certified IT staff.

* Budget spent on external support for network management -- Organizations with a higher percentage of certified staff spent about 20% less on support costs for general network management.

* Budget spent on external support for network security -- Organizations with higher concentrations of certified staff spent about 30 percent less on external support for network security activities.

The report draws the conclusion that certification helps achieve business goals. Anderson writes, "To achieve top-tier performance, organizations should strive for most of the team to be certified in relevant technologies and processes." I've always had that belief, but now we have the actual data to back it up.

Original article: http://bit.ly/6FZOPw

LinkedIn's platform debut: Late but important

2009-11-24T09:15:00.000-05:00

LinkedIn has opened its platform so developers can integrate the site into business apps and Web sites. Think Facebook Connect for professionals.

A little late? You bet. Important. You bet.

In the end, there’s a lot of me-too in LinkedIn’s announcement. LinkedIn APIs and widgets are now available to connect folks. For the business-to-business world, this LinkedIn integration could be notable.

So why does all this networking matter? LinkedIn has never been more important as the unemployment rate rises. Facebook keeps you up to date, but LinkedIn can help you get a job.

As comScore noted back in September, LinkedIn “has become more important than ever for those looking for job opportunities and it has the growth to show for it.”

Simply put, LinkedIn may be late, but for the site’s popularity the timing may be just right.

Original article: http://blogs.zdnet.com/BTL/?p=27741&tag=nl.e019

ORNL's Jaguar supercomputer moves to # 1 on list of World's Fastest Computers

2009-11-16T09:07:00.000-05:00

OAK RIDGE - After a year at No. 2, Oak Ridge National Laboratory's Jaguar has emerged as the world's fastest computer, according to the Top500 rankings unveiled today.

The newly updated Cray XT5 system passed a benchmark test at 1.759 quadrillion mathematical calculations per second - or 1.759 petaflops. That easily surpassed the IBM Roadrunner at Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico. Roadrunner's qualifying speed, 1.04 petaflops, actually declined slightly from the last ranking because of a reconfiguration of the computer.

The University of Tennessee's Kraken supercomputer, another Cray XT5 system that's housed at ORNL and was upgraded at the same time as Jaguar, rose to third on the worldwide list with a benchmark rating of 832 teraflops - or 832 trillion calculations per second.

Release of the new list, which is put together every six months by an international team (that includes UT's Jack Dongarra), was embargoed until early this morning. The formal announcement of the new rankings is to take place this week at the world supercomputing conference in Portland, Ore. Former Vice President Al Gore is scheduled to be a keynote speaker.

Jeff Nichols, ORNL's scientific computing chief, and others from the Oak Ridge lab planned to attend the supercomputing conference.

In an interview before he left for Portland, Nichols was thrilled about Jaguar's No. 1 ranking, which he said would draw more attention to ORNL's leadership role in scientific computing and help continue a strong trend of attracting top talent to the Oak Ridge laboratory.

Mostly, however, Nichols said he wanted to emphasize the importance of the science research that's being conducted with Jaguar and the stable of other supercomputers at ORNL. Researchers are using Jaguar to tackle some of the grand scientific challenges, such as understanding and predicting climate change, developing new energy sources, and helping design new materials that may improve consumer products or save human lives.

Nichols said the new Jaguar system is running chemistry codes with remarkable ease, opening up new research possibilities.

ORNL's Jaguar Cray XT5 system has a theoretical peak speed of 2.332 petaflops, and an earlier version of Jaguar, a Cray XT4, is still highly ranked (No. 15) and a valuable research tool. It's conceivable that the Oak Ridge lab could link the two Jaguar systems together, with an operating capability of 2.595 petaflops.

Even when Jaguar was ranked No. 2, Oak Ridge officials claimed the machine was clearly the world's best computer because of its broad research capabilities and 362 terabytes of memory, which is reportedly almost triple that of any other machine.

Jaguar was upgraded last summer with new six-core processors - code-named Istanbul - from AMD. The upgrade was funded by the U.S. Department of Energy with nearly $20 million in Recovery Act funding.

The Kraken was upgraded with the same processors, making it the world's fastest computer for academic uses. UT's machine was funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation.

With Jaguar and Kraken housed on the Oak Ridge campus, ORNL is the only institution in the world with two petascale supercomputers - each capable of more than a quadrillion (or 1,000 trillion) calculations per second. A third petascale computer is expected to be operating within the next year, thanks to a new $215 million agreement with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. NOAA has already provided ORNL with more than $70 million to purchase a new supercomputer that will be dedicated to climate research, and the lab is expected to issue a request for proposals from computer vendors by the end of the year.

Original article: http://bit.ly/2hmVxL