Episode 204: A Manager's View on Certifications

Carolyn and Seth continue their overview of CompTIA's IT Industry Outlook 2025 report by lookin at the big issues facing IT channel firms in the new year. Channel firms feel very positive about their prospects, driven largely by the expectation that they will reach new customer segments. This expansion will require more growth in areas that have been priorities in the past, such as marketing and internal efficiency. While customer relations and business processes will tend to be focal points, channel firms also need to invest in the same technical training as every other industry in order to remain competitive.IT Industry Outlook 2025: https://www.comptia.org/content/research/it-industry-trends-analysis

Carolyn and Seth give a preview of CompTIA's upcoming IT Industry Outlook report, focusing on the prospects for IT pros. Most IT pros are optimistic about the future of their career, driven by a high demand for technical skills, opportunities for flexibility, and the chance to build things that benefit business and society. However, the environment around IT work may be challenging in some ways, as companies adda a degree of caution to their spending plans and look for more justification for technology investment.

Carolyn and Seth welcome Ryan Sutton, Executive Director of Technology for Robert Half, to discuss findings from Robert Half's 2025 Technology Salaries and Hiring Trends guide. The group discusses the importance of teamwork skills alongside technical skills, the variables that influence salary decisions, and the challenges involved with deciding employee location.Robert Half 2025 Technology Salaries and Hiring Trends: https://www.roberthalf.com/us/en/insights/salary-guide/technology

Carolyn and Seth welcome back Randy Gross, CompTIA's Chief Information Security Officer, for their annual holiday episode. The group talks about one thing in tech that is scary (the disruption AI may cause to entry-level jobs and small businesses), one thing they are thankful for (the appetite for technology that constantly drives innovation), and one thing on their wish list (for AI to improve in usability and reliability).

Carolyn and Seth welcome Brad Powell, cofounder of ThreatCaptain, to talk about the cybersecurity skills needed in the market. CompTIA's State of Cybersecurity 2025 report suggested that companies are struggling to fully understand the details of skill gaps, and many cybersecurity professionals need to build a blend of technical and business skills in order to help establish best practices and then help drive ongoing operations.

Carolyn and Seth walk through the highlights of CompTIA's new State of Cybersecurity 2025 report. This annual study explores attitudes, strategies, and tactics around cybersecurity. This year's report uses the enterprise architecture model to lay out an organizational approach, starting with establishing priority at the business level, then moving through workflow considerations that include risk management and AI integration. At a more tactical level, companies then have to work through a process for data management and the details of securing all assets.State of Cybersecurity 2025: https://www.comptia.org/content/research/cybersecurity-trends-research

Carolyn and Seth talk with Suzanne Ricci, Chief Success Officer at Computer Coach, about the value of joining communities for IT professionals. In addition to her role at Computer Coach, Suzanne leads several meetups in the Tampa area as well as the online community Tech Success Network. Suzanne gives some ideas for finding a community for the first time, tips for the best ways to engage with an online community, and the benefits that communities bring IT pros as they start or build their careers.

Carolyn and Seth take a look at the biggest tech issues that will face government officials with the U.S. election coming up in November. Ai has dominated regulation discussion, but business owners should be sure to pay attention to the full range of regulations that require compliance. Antitrust is making more and more headlines, and there are major challenges in determining anti-competitive behavior. Infrastructure bills have begun expanding the country's digital footprint, but overhauling established systems isn't easy and new technology brings new cybersecurity threats. Through all these issues, there are questions of how to operate and cooperate internationally.

Carolyn and Seth take a listen to some audio captured during CompTIA's interview at RSA with Jason Bentley, director of security operations at UST HealthProof. Jason shared his perspective on the value of certifications in building and developing a technical team. Carolyn and Seth share their thoughts around the issues of certifications as one piece of the recruitment puzzle, the use of training/certifications to invest in long-term career growth, and the different formats of training that appeal to either individuals or managers.

Carolyn and Seth talk about CompTIA's recent data looking at technology trends across verticals. While many of the differences between industries are subtle, the motivations behind tech adoption and skill building can drive decisions. Across verticals, some of the common themes are balancing strategy and tactics with technology, a high level of interest in AI/automation, and building broad foundational skills before focusing on advanced specializations.