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The State of Social: Still a Divided Union

Posted on May 17, 2013 by Bob Fine

The State of Social: Still a Divided Union

Social media has come a long way since its inception. While increasingly central to our lives, it is still predominantly used for personal social networking as opposed to business and commerce. Facebook still leads the way in personal social media adoption at 66%. Microblogging sites such as Twitter, despite their growing name recognition, trail further below at only 22%. Professional use of social media trends in a distinctly different direction, with 39% of use centering on LinkedIn followed by 31% each for wikis and Skype, with participation in internal social networking sites landing much further down the ladder at a mere 10%. And many employees, unlike their managers, are still barred from using social media in the workplace.

Curious to glean more insight on the state of social today? Have a look at Urban Cloud‘s infographic below along with some of their recommendations for bridging the personal-commercial divide in social media to everyone’s benefit.

The State of Social Media infographic by Boris Benko.

FBI, Government Task Force Pressure Facebook, Google to Allow Wiretapping

Posted on May 17, 2013 by Bob Fine

FBI, Government Task Force Pressure Facebook,
Google to Allow Wiretapping

A government task force is preparing legislation that would fine tech companies like Facebook and Google if they did not allow authorities access for wiretapping purposes, according to a recent report in The Washington Post. In an age where online communications are becoming the norm, the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) is afraid that, by not being able to tap social media sites, they’re missing out on a vast trove of potentially valuable information. Law enforcement officials typically back off from private companies, but they now say that their inability to listen in to crooks on the web, or the “going dark” problem, is beginning to hurt their efforts.

“The importance to us is pretty clear,” said Andrew Weissmann, the FBI’s general counsel. “We don’t have the ability to go to court and say, ‘We need a court order to effectuate the intercept.’ Other countries have that. Most people assume that’s what you’re getting when you go to a court.”

Until this point, tech companies have had the ability and leverage to say no to law enforcement officials. However, the proposed legislation could fine companies like Facebook tens of thousands of dollars for failing to comply with wiretap orders, and companies that did not comply could face a judicial inquiry. However, the proposed legislation would allow each website to build their own wiretapping technologies based on their structures and needs, so long as it obtained the desired information for the feds. No matter what the nitty-gritty details of the law are, one thing is certain: as more criminals take their activity online, law enforcement officials will seek any and all ways to catch them.

“Today, if you’re a tech company that’s created a new and popular way to communicate, it’s only a matter of time before the FBI shows up with a court order to read or hear some conversation,” Michael Sussmann, a lawyer who represents technology firms, told The Washington Post. “If the data can help solve crimes, the government will be interested.”

This article was originally published by our friends at Facecrooks.

CompTIA A+ Certification
Celebrates 20th Anniversary

Posted on May 17, 2013 by Bob Fine

CompTIA A+ Certification Celebrates 20^th Anniversary
By Todd Thibodeaux

In an industry where product lifecycles are often measured in months, finding an IT certification program that matches the rapid fire of technological advances is a daunting task. One stands out among the crowd, holding its standing as the best, foundational step an individual can take towards launching a career in information technology: CompTIA A+.

Today’s IT professionals still heavily rely on CompTIA A+, now celebrating its 20^th anniversary, as an entry point to an IT career and a stepping stone to professional advancement. In fact, 56 percent of CompTIA A+ certified individuals took the exam to improve their employment opportunities.Offered in 124 different countries by CompTIA, the non-profit association for the IT industry, CompTIA A+ remains the industry’s only vendor-neutral, ISO/ANSI accredited certification program that validates foundational industry knowledge and skills necessary for a career in IT service and support. To date, more than 936,000 IT professionals have risen to the challenge and become CompTIA A+ certified.

Launched in 1993, the credential was originally established to address the industry’s need for skilled PC technicians. It has since become a critical asset for potential applicants to have at their disposal in order to qualify for higher wages and to generate better job prospects. According to Redmond Magazine, 49 percent of certified individuals believe that their certification has led to employment retention during the past economic recession, a promotion, and even a better paying job at another firm.

CompTIA A+ certifications are mandatory in order to work for certain organizations, like Lenovo, which requires it of every authorized service technician. Other companies reward existing employees if they become certified. Dell is just one example. The tech bellwether offers compensation incentives to its support personnel who take the time to become CompTIA A+ certified. With the IT industry constantly evolving and competition becoming increasingly steep, a credible skillset is vital in order to earn a top-paying job at a top-level firm.

Not only do credentials like the CompTIA A+ benefit employees, they also give HR managers the ability to set firm benchmark qualifications for their entry-level IT hires. Having clear candidate preferences from the start saves hiring managers’ time when weeding through stacks of resumes. According to a 2011 CompTIA study, 64 percent of IT hiring managers rated certifications as having extremely high or high value in validating the skills and expertise of job candidates.

CompTIA A+ in particular has been identified as an industry standard for buffing up IT workers’ foundation at the beginning of their careers. And as the IT skills gap continues to grow globally, the reliance on certifications like the CompTIA A+ by employers will only increase.

Technology has become pervasive in a way that most IT professionals didn’t contemplate 10 years ago. As technology continues to change at a rapid fire pace—posing both new challenges and opportunities—the demand for employees with top-tier IT pedigrees is only going to increase. CompTIA A+ will continue to be a relevant standard for technological literacy for years to come.

Todd Thibodeaux is the president and chief executive officer of 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.