…and the 250,000th winner is: you?
As you sit by your computer, smartphone or tablet reading my latest blog, you may not be aware of a substantial milestone about to occur. CompTIA is set to announce the 250,000th IT professional gaining its Security+ certification.
Wow. This really is a milestone worth celebrating. To mark this achievement, CompTIA and Knowlogy Corporation will award one year of free IT training to the person gaining the quarter of million number accolade.
This landmark achievement has got me thinking about how our industry has changed since Security+ was introduced back in 2002. Also, it’s crossed my mind just how important it will prove to be in the future.
When this certification was introduced, cyber security was a term not many of us knew. Certainly not outside of tech circles, anyway. It was a term and indeed a threat that we as industry had the foresight to plan against. When there’s a new threat on the horizon, it’s always tough to predict how damaging this could be.
At the time, we didn’t have the level of access to the internet that we have today. Just look around you. If you’re at work, on the bus or sneakily tapping away at the cinema, it’s apparent that the internet has become ubiquitous.
We’re now dealing with a very different threat of attack than say five or ten years ago. The term cyber security is everywhere in the media. Just take a moment to reflect; a few years ago the term was only the realm of computer trade magazines and perhaps the serious ‘big’ papers. Now it’s the domain of mainstream breakfast television shows and light-hearted entertainment magazines.
The threat of such attacks is becoming more complex, more sophisticated; it’s no longer one person locked in a dark bedroom with only the glare of the PC monitor screen for company. This new threat is why CompTIA will continue to evolve and innovate its Security+ certification.
Another thought that has sprung into my head today is just how many people we’ve helped become more employable via Security+. This surely is the key strength of its impact to industry. We all know there’s a skills gap and that demand for security skills is set to increase. By setting a high standard in this field, I feel CompTIA is helping worldwide economies by developing security professionals across all avenues of employment.
So there you have it. A milestone worth celebrating whilst looking ahead to 500,000 trained under Security+ in the future. Good luck to those about to sit Security+. If you’re not the lucky winner, rest assured your career will be more rewarding and prosperous once you get yourself certified.
Make Every Day in the Workplace Worthwhile – Part 2
So, since my last blog, I hope some of you have had time to digest the first five commandments of the worthwhile workplace. If not, don’t worry, there’s still plenty of time to do so. For those that have done this, here are the final five…
Let’s kick off with a golden rule that’s still so important today: achieve work life balance. We work long hours, but family and friends – and your pets – need your attention too! Also, we’re all guilty of claiming to be too busy to leave our desks and go for a walk at lunch for even five minutes. Seriously, get up and take that time, your corporate world will not fall apart if you do this! You will feel better for taking that mini break.
Enjoy living the moment, in the present day. It’s very easy to reminisce about how great the past was, or how you preferred working for ‘X’ company back in the day. Make your present job the best it can be. Savour the now and the positives you get from going to work. Try not to dwell on what could have been; instead, concentrate on the present and how you can make fresh business connections that will serve your future well.
Where appropriate, in the right context, touch can break down barriers and provide benefits for the mind and spirit. This facet of communication helps us to engage at work and at home, enabling better connections to be made, essential to our success in life.
If possible, investigate meditation and reap the benefits. Once – unfairly – seen as a hippy activity, reflective exercise is quickly becoming a regular part of medical and well-being treatments. The ability to relax the body and mind is vital to performance. Even if you’re flat out during your working day, set aside five minutes (see above) to mediate. This will lead to better concentration and performance.
Finally, think creatively. Where possible, gather team members together for a brainstorm. Many heads are better than one. It’s important to remember that creativity does not have to be limited to those in the artistic world. We can all think with imagination and apply the outcome in the workplace.
So there you have it. Why not try to incorporate one, or all ten, ideas into your work and private lives. You’d be amazed how a new way of thinking can unlock new ideas and improve your output. Feel free to challenge the set way of completing a task, especially if it has always been tackled in the same way day after day, year after year. I’d be interested to hear back form you in the future with feedback on how you get on. Good luck and have fun with this new approach to your corporate and personal lives.