In December 2015, we launched the latest version of CompTIA A +. The 900 series extends its coverage of new and diverse technologies to reflect the current organizational IT environment. If you took an earlier version of CompTIA A + or heard from people who did, you may be surprised to learn everything that covers now. Here are five things you may not know about CompTIA A + that help IT professionals gain critical knowledge to start their careers.
1. It is not just Windows and PC. While earlier versions of the A + certification exams focused on backing Windows-based desktops and laptops, the current version reflects a major change in the IT support function. Instead of a PC break model that drives the required skills, the 900 series focuses on supporting the user's ability to access the necessary information, regardless of the device. This change in support philosophy means that IT professionals must be familiar with multiple operating systems.
Therefore, in addition to several flavors of Windows, CompTIA A + now includes knowledge and skills related to Apple OS X, Linux, iOS, Android and Windows Mobile. Wearables, tablets and smartphones are covered together with the ubiquitous PC. And, managing mobile devices, hardware, data and connections is an increased point of emphasis.
2. IT support and problem resolution are at the center of certification. Technical support and problem solving are among the top three skills requested in job postings for entry-level IT professionals. And with good reasons. It is one thing to understand how something works, but it is quite another to be able to solve problems when something goes wrong.
Previous versions of the CompTIA A + certification included problem solving, but the 900 series places special emphasis on the ability to solve problems. The domains of each of the two exams form the problem-solving domain. Certification candidates must not only install and configure, but must identify the source of the problems and resolve them, regardless of whether the problem is related to the device, the data connection or the application.
3. Cyber security is a big problem. Once it was believed to be the domain of the IT security specialist, there is growing awareness that IT security is a responsibility shared by everyone, from the end user in accounting to the CEO. IT professionals, especially those in technical support and technical support positions, bear the burden of being on the front line in the battle against unauthorized intrusions.
The new CompTIA A + recognizes the fundamental role played by technical support in protecting the digital assets of an organization. In fact, eight of the nine certification domains have a goal or sub-goal related to security, privacy or risk mitigation. As the attack surface of a typical organization has increased, the depth and breadth of knowledge required in the technical support job position also increases. CompTIA A + reflects this reality.
4. The cloud and virtualization are in the mix. Gone are the days when most organizations simply experimented with cloud computing. As companies rely more on cloud-based technologies to run mission-critical IT systems, the need to support those systems becomes critical. CompTIA A + introduces the basic concepts of virtualization, cloud computing and desktop imaging, and deployment: the knowledge needed to support today's IT infrastructures.
By introducing basic infrastructure concepts, the CompTIA A + certification also establishes a foundation upon which a more advanced experience can be built. It opens the door to new studies in areas such as endpoint support, physical server maintenance, virtual systems management, network configuration and storage planning, all the basic skill sets in IT system operations.
5. Sets the stage for IoT support. According to Gartner, 25 billion connected devices will be in use by 2020. These range from home automation systems and autonomous vehicles to children's toys and household refrigerators. What happens when users can not connect these devices to their networks? Who will be contacted?
In the same way that A + lays the foundation for developing infrastructure skills, it also establishes the basic knowledge necessary to support the Internet of Things (IoT). The connected devices depend on several stratified technologies, including the device itself (both its hardware and software), a network, an Internet connection, backend services in the cloud and a user interface. With its coverage of different form factors of the device (think of smartphones, tablets, portable devices), numerous operating systems, network fundamentals and problem solving, and fundamentals of cloud computing, A + lays the foundation for the construction of IoT capabilities.
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