CompTIA to expand training options to mobile, social and business

CompTIA, the Computing Technology Industry Association, recently announced plans to expand its technology and business training programs for information technology channel companies. According to a news release, the new training courses will include modules in mobility technologies, business foundations and social media.

The IT industry trade association already offers workshops in cloud computing, health care IT and unified communications, along with white papers and webinars on topics ranging from the managed services market to IT security.

The news of the developments comes from the association's 2011 Tech Summit Breakaway event in Washington, D.C. The new training programs, which are slated to begin sometime during the fourth quarter of 2011, are in response to customer demand, according to the news release.

"CompTIA has invested heavily in channel training and market intelligence to help you adopt new technologies and enter new markets," CompTIA president and CEO Todd Thibodeaux told Breakaway attendees. "We've committed more than $4 million to education, training, events and research projects in 2011."

A report from TMCnet.com indicated the Tech Summit sessions about breaking into the cloud computing market had "an overflow audience" and other sessions featuring channel training modules about cyber security and unified communications were also packed.

What CompTIA's commitment means to today's IT pros

CompTIA is a unique organization--a nonprofit trade organization that supports all factors of the IT industry. Members represent IT pros and end users alike. Its distinctive position makes CompTIA a recognized authority when it comes to training and education across the IT landscape.

For individual professionals, CompTIA is best known for its vendor-neutral certifications such as A+, Network+ and Project+. The new training courses join the group's solutions for IT entrepreneurs, consultants and value-added resellers (VARs) looking to offer their customers cloud computing setups, legal or medical office solutions, or other services.

"We aim to serve as a trusted resource and catalyst for change, delivering excellent training programs, serving as a passionate advocate, and always being neutral and transparent," Thibodeaux told the Breakaway audience.

Why CompTIA training works

Leaders in the IT field stress the fact that obtaining certifications, like those offered through CompTIA training programs, can open doors and prove authority. Maintaining certifications and obtaining new accreditations also demonstrates that IT professionals are committed to the future of their field. CompTIA training and certifications are especially valuable, according to some professionals, because the organization offering the training is so dedicated to ongoing growth.

Adam Barnhill, an IT engineer based in Poplar Bluff, Mo., stresses that CompTIA training builds upon itself and recommends that professionals start their careers with some kind of training from the organization. Barnhill holds the CompTIA's A+ endorsement, but he sees steep value in the other offered certifications as well--for all kinds of users.

"A+ has long been the de facto standard for entry-level certification and if tearing down and upgrading a PC sounds like fun, start here," he says.

"However, considering the impact of the Internet and the use of cloud services, Network+ is in part relevant to even the average home user. The same skills you use to troubleshoot your home network can be used in the business network. Video chat, multiplayer online gaming and online bill pay are all made possible by networks of varying sizes and complexity. I'm eager to see how the new training fits into the picture."