Episode 214: Counting the Costs of AI

Carolyn and Seth talk about the changes HR teams will need to make as their organizations pursue skills-based career development. Similar to technology investments, skills-based methodology investments have been growing in recent years, and companies will start asking about the returns on these investments. HR teams need to align systems and processes to a skills-based approach, not just for hiring but also for internal development. Some of the key challenges ahead include building out skills taxonomies, ensuring consistency across departments, and providing transparency to employees.

Carolyn and Seth talk about the tech skills landscape as businesses head into another year of digital transformation. Although AI is casting questions around the quantity and quality of skills an organization will need in the future, the current state of skill demand remains very healthy. Hiring was somewhat choppy in 2024, but trend lines for most job roles were net positive. Companies are looking for skills in all areas of technology, and they continue to debate the best approach between finding perfect candidates and building internal talent.

Carolyn and Seth talk through the issues surrounding standardization or regulation of the MSP industry. Unlike many other professional service sector, ranging from electricians to accountants to lawyers, managed services providers have no formal structure in place to validate their ability to manage networks or secure data. There are many complicating factors, including the focus on the individual workers vs. the broader organization and the appropriate body that might oversee such activity. However, cybersecurity is looming as a possible concern that will push this ongoing debate to some type of resolution.

Carolyn and Seth share some news about the new entities of CompTIA Inc. and Global Technology Industry Association, then they dive into the challenges surrounding AI adoption. From CompTIA's IT Industry Outlook, companies are expected to encounter more hurdles in 2025 as they implement AI. These include cybersecurity, finding proper use cases, and the cost of infrastructure, but the most significant challenge will likely be around reimagining workflow with AI capability.

Carolyn and Seth take a look back at 2024's biggest tech stories. From the ongoing hype around AI to the Crowdstrike incident, technology professionals have dealt with growing complexity, which opens more opportunities for strategic work. On the channel side, the regulatory environment following the U.S. elections and the repercussions of M&A activity create new concerns for service providers, especially smaller firms. As we turn the corner into 2025, there will undoubtedly be new issues that drive more opportunity across the tech landscape.

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.