CompTIA Volley

Carolyn and Seth take a look at CompTIA's latest research on the technology usage of small and mid-sized businesses. Technology is playing a huge role in these firms as they apply new models to business priorities with limited resources. The research covers the technology gaps that SMBs face, the desire to use emerging technology, and the usage of outside partners to accomplish technology strategy. CompTIA's Tech Buying Trends Among Small and Medium-size Businesses: https://www.comptia.org/resources/smb-technology-buying-trends

Carolyn and Seth review the highlights from CompTIA's latest research on Internet of Things, including adoption rates and skills that companies need for their projects. Then they take a brief look at a recent article from the New York Times covering the way that technology is dividing the workforce. CompTIA's 2019 Trends in Internet of Things: https://www.comptia.org/resources/2019-trends-in-internet-of-things "Tech is Splitting the U.S. Workforce in Two" from NYT: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/04/business/economy/productivity-inequality-wages.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage

Carolyn and Seth discuss the challenges with massive tech platforms, including unintended consequences, changes to the model, and the potential for lockin. Both consumers and businesses have more responsibility than ever to evaluate the platforms they are using and build exit strategies for when things go wrong. Farhad Manjoo on Twitter and journalism: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/23/opinion/covington-twitter.html Casey Johnston on Gmail storage limits: https://theoutline.com/post/6997/why-is-my-gmail-suddenly-full?zd=1&zi=dhzqdvrj Kashmir Hill on blocking Amazon: https://gizmodo.com/i-tried-to-block-amazon-from-my-life-it-was-impossible-1830565336 David Samuels on technology surveillance: https://www.wired.com/story/is-big-tech-merging-with-big-brother-kinda-looks-like-it/

Carolyn and Seth give a preview of CompTIA's 2019 IT Industry Outlook, looking at three of the trends that will be featured. Cloud computing, edge computing, and 5G will form the new economic infrastructure. IoT and AI will drive advances in ambient computing. Companies enabling the business of technology will grow their skills and change their models to sell and support emerging technology. The IT landscape continues to change, and there are growing opportunities and growing responsibilities for IT professionals.

Carolyn and Seth take a look back at the year in technology. As tech has become more ingrained in business and society, the big story is that there is no single event or innovation that stands on its own. From social media to emerging technology, the discussions happening in the IT industry are becoming broader and more concerned with wide-reaching consequences, and the industry will have to adjust its approach and its skills in order to deal with the implications of a digital revolution. 2018 CompTIA highlights: https://www.comptia.org/about-us/newsroom/blog/comptia-blog/2018/12/03/read-all-the-ways-comptia-advanced-the-business-of-technology-in-2018

Carolyn and Seth talk with Teresa Sears, CompTIA's senior director of product development, about the upcoming A+ certification. The A+ certification is designed to build problem solvers for today's digital world, moving past traditional help desk activities to embrace a wide range of IT functions. The updated A+ will launch in January 2019, and Teresa describes some of the changes that IT pros can expect to see.

Carolyn and Seth review some work done by CompTIA's board of directors around successful vendors and MSPs. In building partner programs and working with clients, there are some new things to consider based on the changes in the IT industry. Vendors should think carefully about how they want to balance direct and indirect efforts, and MSPs must decide how they can fit into an end user's technology system.

Carolyn and Seth sit down with Nancy Hammervik, CompTIA's Executive Vice President of Membership. Nancy describes the 2019 strategies that came out of the recent membership planning meeting, where CompTIA's volunteer leaders set a course to improve the adoption of technology and the customer experience.

Carolyn and Seth take a look at the technology landscape through the lens of the upcoming holidays. We talk about one thing that scares us about the current tech scene, one thing that we're thankful for, and one thing that we have on our wish list.

Carolyn and Seth talk about CompTIA's latest research report, which focuses on how companies are forming teams focused on cybersecurity. Improving skills and defining metrics are two key parts of creating effective teams, which often mix internal and external resources depending on the size and technical capabilities of an organization. 2018 Trends in Cybersecurity report: https://www.comptia.org/resources/cybersecurity-trends-research Slideshare: https://www.slideshare.net/comptia/2018-trends-in-cybersecurity-building-effective-security-teams

Carolyn and Seth talk with Charles Eaton, Executive VP of Social Innovation for CompTIA and CEO of the Creating IT Futures Foundation. Charles talks about CompTIA's philanthropic efforts, including a partnership with the Tech Students Association, work with employers around non-traditional career paths, and the IT Ready program from Creating IT Futures that provides an on-ramp for adults seeking a new career in technology. Creating IT Futures: https://www.creatingitfutures.org/ Technology Student Association: http://tsaweb.org/ Charles's book, How to Launch Your Teen's Career in Technology: https://www.amazon.com/Launch-Your-Teens-Career-Technology/dp/1643168894/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1535374165&sr=8-10

Carolyn and Seth give a preview of CompTIA's upcoming research study on the state of the IT channel. Emerging technology and vertical specialization are driving new dynamics among traditional channel firms, and a wide range of companies providing technology enablement are creating a more diverse environment. The new study will be available on comptia.org the week of September 18. Previous research on SaaS firms: https://www.comptia.org/resources/why-software-as-a-service-benefits-advantages-of-saas-trends-report CompTIA podcast landing page: https://www.comptia.org/events/podcasts

Carolyn and Seth welcome their daughters Olivia and Kate to the podcast. As the girls head off to college, we have a discussion about technology usage and viewpoints.

Carolyn and Seth welcome Bryn McCoy, founder of LuxLab, to talk about incorporating human values into technology design. As AI and IoT create new and more complicated interfaces for technology interaction, it is becoming more important than ever to consider the impact and usability of the technology products being created.

Carolyn and Seth give a preview of CompTIA's ChannelCon event, taking place July 31-August 3 in Washington, DC. Catch a sneak peek of sessions covering IoT, operational efficiency, emerging technology, and diversity. There is much more happening onsite and online! ChannelCon main site: www.comptia.org/channelcon ChannelCon online registration: www.comptia.org/channelcon/agenda…channelcon-online

Carolyn and Seth interview CompTIA's Patrick Lane about the new certification coming at the end of the month. PenTest+ certifies skills that are used to proactively test internal networks for vulnerabilities. The cert is a companion to CySA+, which performs network analytics in order to detect vulnerabilities.

Carolyn and Seth chat with Tim Fitzgerald, VP of Cloud Channel Sales at Ingram, about the evolution of the distributor in the modern IT industry. As actual distribution of products becomes a less critical part of the ecosystem, distributors still play a role in aggregating solutions, simplifying complexity, and assisting technology firms as they meet the needs of end users.

Carolyn and Seth welcome Gail Holmberg, area managing partner at Fortium Partners, to discuss the shift companies are taking towards strategic IT. CompTIA's most recent whitepaper explores this topic, and Gail shares her experiences in working with clients and seeing the hurdles they encounter as they pursue digital transformation. CompTIA's Using Strategic IT for Competitive Advantage whitepaper: www.comptia.org/resources/using-s…etitive-advantage

Carolyn and Seth welcome Randy Gross, CompTIA's CIO and EVP of Certification Operations, to discuss the impact of GDPR on data policies and the greater degree of focus that companies are placing on data management.

Carolyn and Seth take a look at CompTIA's latest research study focusing on cloud computing. After a decade of experience with cloud, companies are moving to a new stage of adoption where cloud is not just a new way of running existing IT applications, but a new way of thinking about IT. Technical professionals and technology providers need to discover how to add value in this new environment, where IT has become a strategic asset. Cloud Computing and IT Operations report: www.comptia.org/resources/cloud-c…and-it-operations

Carolyn and Seth talk about the latest research from CompTIA, exploring operational efficiency within IT channel firms. If customer demand is driving transformation, that transformation may be happening at a portfolio level or business model level, and true digital transformation of operations requires channel firms to examine their internal processes and apply the same technology they are selling. Operational Efficiency in the Channel research report: www.comptia.org/resources/analysi…-in-it-businesses

Carolyn and Seth welcome Forrester's Jay McBain live from Channel Partners Conference and Expo in Las Vegas. The three analysts discuss the IT channel and the way it is changing--including whether it should even be called "the channel" anymore. The modern IT industry has evolved over the past decade, and a new set of relationships and value-add opportunities is now in place.

Carolyn and Seth discuss the growing pains that are taking place as the tech sector reaches a new stage of maturity and achieves unprecedented scope. Since technology has become a major drive in the economy rather than a niche player, the behavior of tech companies is evaluated differently. And since technology is becoming more integrated with everyday life, reliability must be prioritized over experimentation. Ultimately, the high tech sector needs to consider the impact on humanity and not just push the envelope of technical capability. WSJ on tech's outsize market impact: www.wsj.com/articles/warning-si…article_email_share Slate on the impact of tech on real life: slate.com/technology/2018/04/s…ally-killing-us.html

Carolyn and Seth welcome CompTIA's Sr Vice President of Research, Tim Herbert, to discuss the upcoming Cyberstates report. Cyberstates is CompTIA's premier guide to technology activity from state to state, covering workforce issues, patents, and economic contribution of technology. On the podcast, Tim gives a preview with discussion of overall trends across different job categories and the issues that companies are facing as they search for new talent. Cyberstates (new report goes live 3/27): www.cyberstates.org/

Carolyn and Seth welcome Aaron Leveston, national account manager at RingCentral. The three of them take a look at CompTIA's latest research, Diversity in the High Tech Industry, and discuss why diversity is such a problem for the tech sector, what changes could be made in the recruiting process, and how diversity should be connected to revenue. CompTIA's report: www.comptia.org/resources/technol…iversity-research

Carolyn and Seth talk about how technology has changed the Olympic experience. When time zones can be flattened and attention spans are shorter, the old broadcast model doesn't hold up. This has implications for advertisers as they consider how to work with different formats, and it circles back to content creators as they try to deal with audiences that have a variety of interests.

Carolyn and Seth discuss whether or not Apple has had missteps with the iPhoneX, given the disappointing sales numbers and the rumors of cuts in production ahead of the fall lineup. They highlight one possible variable in the equation as being fatigue with technology, as people decide that constant upgrades are not needed and even look for ways to meter their technology usage.

Carolyn and Seth welcome fellow CompTIA researcher Anna Matthai to talk about Anna's latest study on Youth and Technology. The interest in technology remains high, but the new news in this study is a significant spike in interest in tech careers. There are still some gaps in knowledge and some IT myths out there, but the industry is starting to see the fruit of educational efforts, especially around getting more girls interested in tech careers.

Carolyn and Seth preview CompTIA's 2018 IT Industry Outlook with a look at two of the trends in the report. First, they talk about the democratization of technology: the idea that it has become much easier for different people to create technology tools, and so solutions are becoming more diverse. Then they discuss how that diversity leads to a new consumption model as companies procure technology on a subscription basis, leading to new challenges for tech providers.

Carolyn and Seth look back at the big technology trends from 2017. First they discuss the reputation of the technology industry and how it has been somewhat damaged by bad behavior. Then they look at the #MeToo movement and talk about the ways that workplaces are changing. Finally, they cover the growing complexity of technology and the changes needed to handle modern systems.

Carolyn and Seth give a quick review of iPhone X based on Seth's first impressions of the new phone, then discuss the different variables in the argument over net neutrality and which regulations should be applied to Internet Service Providers. NYT on net neutrality: www.nytimes.com/2017/11/29/techno…t-neutrality.html Stratechery on net neutrality: stratechery.com/2017/pro-neutrality-anti-title-ii/

Carolyn and Seth talk about the potential confusion surrounding emerging technology. Rather than talking about individual topics, conversations may be better off focusing on business solutions or corporate structures. Then they discuss the recent flood of public awareness around sexual harassment and abuse. Social media has helped give everyone a voice, and society is recognizing that there must be changes in order to provide equality and safety for everyone.

Carolyn and Seth talk through various pros and cons of telecommuting, looking at how companies must balance the culture they want with the flexibility employees want. Then they talk about the recent merger between Datto and Autotask, which reflects some of the changes happening in the IT channel and the IT function.

Carolyn and Seth review some of the major themes from this week's Cyber Security Chicago event, such as automation and cloud configurations. Then they turn their attention to Big Data and discuss the problems that have kept companies from realizing all the potential that data analysis has promised. WSJ article on data in baseball: www.wsj.com/articles/the-downsi…s-action-1507043924 Slate article on Big Data: www.slate.com/articles/technolog…d_to_big_data.html

Carolyn and Seth welcome Sal Patalano, Chief Revenue Officer for Lenovo Software. They start with a discussion about the changing nature of the IT channel--how are traditional firms changing and how are new types of firms adding to the ecosystem. Then they turn to emerging technology and the reality of implementing the multitude of new possibilities.

Carolyn and Seth welcome their research colleague Amy Carrado to the podcast to discuss workforce issues. What is the root cause?Is there such a thing as a skills gap? Who shares the burden for the solution? As we live through another technological shakeup, there are many questions to be resolved. The Myth of the Skills Gap from MIT Technology Review: www.technologyreview.com/s/608707/the…-skills-gap/ Assessing the IT Skills Gap research from CompTIA: www.comptia.org/resources/assessi…the-it-skills-gap

Carolyn and Seth discuss the upcoming research report from CompTIA, which looks at how traditional channel firms are incorporating SaaS into their portfolios. Then they discuss a recent NY Times article that looked at the work-life balance (or lack thereof) in many Silicon Valley Firms. NYT article on work-life balance: www.nytimes.com/2017/08/31/opinio…ife-balance-.html

Carolyn and Seth talk about CompTIA's latest research study, Planning a Modern IT Architecture. Cloud computing and IoT are driving a need to be more proactive about architectural planning, and companies need to start thinking strategically about planning their infrastructure. Then they look at the expansion of technology companies into everyday life, as Google partners with Walmart on shopping via voice and Amazon prepares to transform the Whole Foods experience Planning a Modern IT Architecture: www.comptia.org/resources/plannin…n-it-architecture

Carolyn and Seth give their review of ChannelCon17, touching on the expansion of the IT channel, the focus on operations for technology firms, and the differences between emerging tech and day-to-day tech. The discussion ends with diversity, which was the theme of the CEO keynote and a major headline this week thanks to the Google memo. WSJ article on passwords: www.wsj.com/articles/the-man-wh…v-r-m1-d-1502124118

Carolyn and Seth welcome Geoff Lane from CompTIA's advocacy team to discuss The CHANCE in TECH Act. This proposed legislation aims to simply the processes in the Registered Apprentice program, particularly around the skills gaps needed for technical jobs in the new digital economy. More on The CHANCE in TECH Act: www.comptia.org/about-us/newsroom…hance-in-tech-act

Carolyn and Seth look at some of the big announcements coming out of the Microsoft Inspire partner event, including the Microsoft 365 bundles, the One Commercial Partner model, and consumption-based compensation.

Carolyn and Seth review three different articles with different takes on Amazon's acquisition of Whole Foods, eventually discussing possible implications of massive internet companies that influence every aspect of daily life. Slate/Last mile problem: www.slate.com/articles/business/…_mile_problem.html Stratechery/New customer approach: stratechery.com/2017/amazons-new-customer/ NY Times/Consumer data: www.nytimes.com/aponline/2017/06/…tml?smid=tw-share

Carolyn and Seth review the current mess that Uber is facing and discuss why it's become such a big deal and how we are treating technology these days. Then the conversation turns to the need for rural broadband, as thinly populated areas struggle to compete without modern Internet infrastructure. Rural broadband story from WSJ: www.wsj.com/articles/rural-amer…utm_campaign=buffer

Carolyn and Seth wish a fond farewell to Walt Mossberg and discuss his final column, which looks forward to a world filled with ambient technology. Walt's final column: www.recode.net/2017/5/25/1568909…berg-final-column *Apologies for some audio issues in this episode.

Carolyn and Seth start with a quick discussion on last week's ransomware attacks (get off Windows XP, people). Then they dive into the new research from CompTIA looking at technology purchasing behavior among non-IT business units. Finally, they cover the big theme coming out of Google IO: artificial intelligence.

Carolyn and Seth are joined by TC Doyle, Senior Director of Content for Penton and co-author of The Digital Revolution, to discuss digital disruption. The ESPN layoffs were the latest example of a company trying to adjust for a new world order. What is driving this change, and what should the response be?

Carolyn and Seth give a preview of CompTIA's upcoming research study, The Evolution of Security Skills. Then they turn their attention to Amazon and Facebook, asking whether or not they are monopolies, and what exactly those companies might be monopolizing.

Carolyn and Seth take a look at the agenda for the Channel Partners conference taking place April 10-13. Carolyn will be speaking on channel trends, and there are several dynamics at play throughout the other sessions. Then they turn their attention to the dynamics being created in the tech industry as products reach massive scale and introduce new capabilities, often leading to unforeseen results. Uber/Lyft background checks: www.bostonglobe.com/business/2017/0…9fON/story.html Online harassment: www.nytimes.com/2017/04/04/magazi…inside-nyt-region

Carolyn and Seth share their thoughts from CompTIA's Annual Member Meeting, then they review some upcoming studies on cloud and Internet of Things with the help of some insights from CompTIA members.

Carolyn and Seth welcome CompTIA's James Stanger to discuss the recent revelations of CIA hacking and the implications for product security. Then the discussion shifts to education and the methods that institutions should consider to help build the technical skills we need in our digital society.