Saturday, March 31, 2012

Cloud Computing

Cloud computing is the allocation or lease of computer services and can include computation, software and data storage/access, which allows companies and individuals to access these functions from a remote location. In many instances, cloud computing allows for a “pay-as-you-go” solution to a variety of computing features and is the next big thing in personal and commercial computer solutions.

The most obvious advantage to cloud computing is the amount of money that a business or individual can save by switching over from a traditional infrastructure. Instead of directly buying software/hardware directly employing technicians, users of the cloud can simply purchase access to these elements and get only what is needed.

Another advantage to using the Cloud is the ease of scalability. Depending on the client’s needs, services can be quickly added or removed and the amount of data storage can be increased or decreased. This provides more flexibility when it comes to changing budgets, unexpected volume shifts or unforeseen circumstances; simply change the setup and subscription and the cloud setup is now suited for whatever situation life throws at it.

What does all of this mean for the average person? For individuals on a budget, cloud computing gives access to a variety of software and storage capabilities that they otherwise would not be available or affordable. Someone who cannot afford to spend $400 for Microsoft Office might have had to do without before, but with cloud computing, they can “rent” access to the program for a very low monthly or yearly fee. Someone who needs a lot of storage that could not afford physical hard drives will now be able to purchase the space for a far more reasonable price, will have access to that data from anywhere on the planet and can share it with anybody else.

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Business Operations Impacted by Widening IT Skills Gap

Business Operations Impacted by Widening IT Skills Gap

Eight in ten organizations say their business operations are impacted by gaps in the skill sets of their IT staffs, according to new CompTIA research. The dynamic, fast-changing nature of technology and a lack of training resources are the biggest factors contributing to the skills gap, CompTIA’s State of the IT Skills Gap study reveals.

To close the gap, a majority of companies surveyed say they intend to devote more resources to training. IT skills shortcomings impact staff productivity (cited by 41 percent of responding companies), customer service and engagement (32 percent) and security (31 percent). It also impacts speed to market for IT businesses at a higher rate (34 percent) than other industries (20 percent). 

Visit TrainingPlanet.com to get that training and certification!

Sunday, March 25, 2012

Security Threats Go Global

As technology permeates every functional area of a business and more company staff assumes the role of a knowledge worker, organizations across the globe must contend with new security threats and vulnerabilities. CompTIA’s 9th Annual Information Security Trends finds that like in the United States, information security is the top strategic priority in Brazil, India, Japan, South Africa and the United Kingdom. Professionals responsible for information security in these countries also expect IT budgets to increase in 2012.

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Leading Cybersecurity Certification Groups Form Industry Collaborative

Global leaders in vendor-neutral, standards-based cybersecurity credentials announced the creation of the Cybersecurity Credentials Collaborative (C3), a new effort to promote the benefits of certifications in the skills development of information security professionals around the world. Inaugural members of C3 include ASIS International, CompTIA, EC-Council, GIAC, IAPP, IEEE Computer Society, ISACA, (ISC)2 and NBISE. By bringing these credentialing groups together under the C3 banner, the group hopes to provide a more coherent and disciplined picture of cybersecurity certifications and the value these credentials deliver to individual workers and the organizations that employ them.

Monday, March 19, 2012

CompTIA Certification Testing Moving to a Single Vendor

CompTIA Certification Testing Moving to a Single Vendor
To simplify the overall testing experience for our certification candidates, CompTIA exams will be delivered exclusively with Pearson VUE via their network of more than 5,000 testing centers in 165 countries, effective July 9, 2012. CompTIA certification exams will no longer be available at Prometric testing centers at that time. Moving to Pearson VUE for exclusive worldwide delivery of CompTIA exams will provide our candidates with one point of contact to serve all of their testing needs.  May 4, 2012, is the last day to buy a voucher from Prometric, and July 8, 2012, is the last day to test at a Prometric Test Center.  Pearson VUE has been delivering CompTIA exams since 2003, and you can take all CompTIA certification exams at a Pearson VUE Authorized Test Center now.

Saturday, March 10, 2012

How Apple is changing your IT Certifications




For as long as I can remember Windows and Linux based PC’s have been the staple of the technology and business sectors. With the popularity of the iPhone and iPad, Apple is becoming a more prevelent name in the office. As windows based systems are being pushed out the door, so are the certifications that used to equate to higher pay and hireability. Premium pay for certification based jobs has dropped between 4.6% and 6.4% over the last two years, the highest loss being to those with database certifications due to outsourcing to India. So is there no hope for those attempting to prove their knowledge base but have a shortage of work experience? Of course there is…Apple.

Of course the question is, which Apple certifications are the best? Well that depends on what you’re going for. If you work for a company that is considering transitioning to a Mac based workforce, then get the Mac Integration Basics Certification. This certification specializes in integrating a Mac machine into a Windows based network and confronting the issues that may present themselves during the process. Or maybe you’re wanting to change jobs and you’re looking to be valuable to a company that has already made the shift. Then go for the Apple Certified Macintosh Technician (ACMT) Certification. A ACMT certification shows prospective employers that you’re not going to get hired and start complaining about how compact and “busy” the inside of a Mac is. You’ve seen it all before!. You could also go with one of the three OS X Lion Certifications offered.

Thursday, March 08, 2012

Notebook and Laptop Repair Videos


 IF YOU REPAIR (OR WANT TO) THIS VIDEOS OF COMPUTER NOTEBOOK REPAIR & TROUBLESHOOTING KNOWLEDGE IS NOT TO BE MISSED...













•Do you want to learn how to fix laptops?


•Are you afraid to work on laptops for fear of breaking them?


•Do you want to expand your skill set so you can make big money fixing laptops instead of sending the business away?




Screenshot to get an idea of the size and clarity of the videos 


What do you get in this package? You'll see in full 960x540 HD video:

•How to replace a motherboard
•How to replace an LCD Screen
•What to do when the laptop keeps shutting down
•How to fix DC power jacks
•The crucial difference between a bad screen and a bad inverter board
•How to replace hinges
•Where I buy all my parts
•The best way to go about taking a laptop apart
•How to solder
•The art of fixing AC adapters
•How to handle a laptop that has had liquid spilled in it
•what to do when a laptop overheats
•how to replace CD/DVD drives, RAM, processors, hard Drives and wireless cards
•and much, much more!!


There are 40+ videos in this collection, totaling over 10 hours of HD video. Yes, I said 10 hours. 



  Here's a list of just some of the videos included in this collection:  


•Introduction

•Tools

•Batteries

•CD/DVD Drives

•Motherboards

•How to Take a Laptop Apart

•Power Problems - Gateway Laptop

•Toshiba Laptop Power Jack Fix

•Motherboard Replacement - HP DV6000

•Key Not Working- Sony Vaio

•Replace Keyboard - Gateway Laptop

•Vaio Ribbon Repair

•Power Jack - Dell B130

•Power Jack Repair - Gateway Laptop

•Testing a Hard Drive With KNOPPIX

•Replace Cracked Screen - Aspire 3680

•Won't Boot Up - HP DV6000

•Replace LCD Cover - Acer Aspire 3610

•Replacing a Keyboard - Dell Inspiron 1521

•Screen Back Cover - Dell Inspiron 1521

•Screen Replacement - Toughbook CF-W5

•Power Jack Fix - Acer Aspire 3680

•Touchpad Buttons Not Working

•Vaio Laptop Power Jack Repair

•Water Damaged Laptop - Toshiba

•HP DV8000 - Spilled Iced Tea - Keys Not Working

•Spilled Beer on a Dell Inspiron 1525

•Checking a DC Jack on an HP DV5

...And That's Not Even Nearly All Of Them!
 
These videos have been years in the making. These are not your low quality, inexperienced YouTube videos you've probably seen in your travels. Steve Cherubino is a laptop specialist who has had people send him laptops to fix from all over the world. These are real repairs from a real technician who has owned his very own computer repair shop in Philadelphia PA, and has taken apart and repaired hundreds of laptops!



BUY Notebook and Laptop Repair Videos TODAY




"I have never wrote a company about a product before and I was hesitant to buy the videos, but after watching the first few I was in awe of the clarity and amount of detail made this maybe the best choice of my tech career.
Anyone of any level can watch, learn and make money hand over fist just by watching these videos, the camera work and the voice narration made it very clear and easy to understand, I have told every tech I know that they need to buy this, at least to fix their own laptops, the cost savings is unprecedented, I have never seen something so affordable save me and earn me so much money.
Bottom line it is the best money I have spent since I bought my wifes wedding ring!
Thanks for all your hard work, p.s. the bonus videos are great!"




Still Thinking About It? These Videos Pay For Themselves!

 In the scheme of things this is minimal seeing as how you can recoup the cost of these videos in just one job! Also, realize this is a master course in laptop repair, one that you would have to pay many thousands of dollars at any technical institution to get! Buy these videos and expand your knowledge and your business today!


NEW ALSO AVAILABLE ON DVD-ROM!


Podnutz Laptop Repair Videos Released On DVD


Thanks for your interest in the Laptop Repair Video Collection on DVD. It has been popular demand that the videos be released on DVD, as I know many of the videos are large and can take some time to download.

Because of the size of the videos, putting them on DVD has been quite a task but it is finally completed! I also wanted to make sure that the DVD set came with a full menu system for easy navigation and that the quality of every movie was the best it could possibly be. This has all been accomplished as you can see below.

Included is:

•4 jam packed discs containing the full Laptop Video Collection
•Full menu system for easy video locating
•Introductory screen w/music for every disc
•Perfect and crisp DVD quality in every video
•Will work in your standalone DVD player
Massive 4 Disc Set!

You'll be receiving the discs in a massive 4 disc collection. Each disc with it's own introduction screen and menu system. Slim DVD case included for easy storage. Finally, play the Podnutz Laptop Repair Videos on your DVD player with this professionally assembled video collection.



Introductory Offer!

The 4 DVD set is a massive collection that retails normally for $129.95. But...for a limited time I'm offering you the introductory price of $79.95 + shipping. In the scheme of things this is minimal seeing as how you can recoup the cost of these videos in just one job! Also, realize this is a master course in laptop repair, one that you would have to pay many thousands of dollars at any technical institution to get! Buy these videos and expand your knowledge and your business today!

Tuesday, March 06, 2012

New Certification on the Block – EC Council’s CCISO

 “This one’s too technical”, “that one’s not technical enough” – “ah, this one’s just right”. And some would argue that holders of certain “gold-standard” certifications are not necessarily security-savvy. It goes on and on and on.


Over the years there has been a lot of ink spilled, keys clicked and blood shed over the morass of information security-related professional certifications that have popped up across the landscape like proverbial weeds in the garden.


From my perspective, certifications are analogous to a college degree. There are incredibly smart and capable people that do and do not have degrees. There are no guarantees when it comes to a person’s knowledge, experience, and capabilities.


However, if one does have a college degree it reflects that some commitment had been made by the individual to study and earn the degree. And depending on the quality of the school and program, one would expect there has been some standard of study attained as part of their chosen course of study.


Likewise, pursuing professional certifications reflects one’s commitment to earning the certification, adhering to some standard or body of knowledge that is the foundation for the certification, and typically maintaining the certification by renewal/retesting or continuing education requirements.


This leads me to EC Council’s new C|CISO – Certified Chief Information Security Officer certification.



When the C|EH first came out, I was enamored with the idea of certifying and codifying a body of knowledge around the algorithmic-like steps involved in breaching networks and systems for the sake of understanding the process and defending one's environment. 

EC Council's development of this and the evolution of their other security-related professional certifications have resulted in a truly well-rounded and quality suite of certification and educational offerings. 

I was delighted to learn of their new CCSIO certification which is comprised of five domains: 

(1) Governance (Policy, Legal, and Compliance)
(2) IS Management Controls and Auditing Management (Projects, Technology, and Operations) 
(3) Management - Projects and Operations
(4) Information Security Core Competencies, and
(5) Strategic Planning and Finance.