Show of hands, how many people reading these words have been doing some or all of their day job from home since early-to-mid-March? Some certified IT professionals already have a great deal of experience with such conditions. For the benefit of those for whom the past few weeks have amounted to terra incognita, however, tech industry association CompTIA has stepped up in recent weeks to offer help. In the first of two related articles to appear on the CompTIA blog in recent weeks, blogger Ashley Watters reviews important information for organizations shifting their workers to remote locations. Watters' tips relate to computer networking – Are employees familiar with VPN access? – while blogger Scott Campbell reviews a series of cybersecurity recommendations. Campbell, for example, reminds workers doing their job at home to shred printed business documents instead of throwing them in a garbage or recycling bin. There are some good reminders here for anyone who's still getting up to speed with the rigors and challenges of working at home.
ISACA Shifts Training, Testing, Events to Online Venues
Across the certification industry, the global COVID-19 pandemic has affected numerous aspects of business as usual. Organizations are responding, including cybersecurity and governance association ISACA. In a recent post to the ISACA Now Blog, ISACA Chief Learning Officer Nader Qaimari explains how his organization is implementing changes across the board. Qaimari said that, in the short term, all certification exams will be delivered online via remote proctoring – a model, he explains further, that ISACA may adopt on a permanent basis if it proves successful. The shift to new models of doing business, at least temporarily, isn't limited to testing. As Qaimari writes, "Further, all our courses, conferences and learning offerings are moving online."
Microsoft, Oracle Announce Changes to Certification Testing
Microsoft and Oracle are also shifting their certification exams to online proctored environments until further notice. There are only a few additional details in Oracle's announcement, including notification of countries where remote testing is not available and details about webcam requirements for exam candidates. The announcement from Microsoft, in addition to disclosing conditions of exam proctoring, says that fees for rescheduling or canceling exams have been temporarily waived. In addition, turning on a dime from its recent announcement that all MCSA, MCSD, and MCSE will retire at the end of June, Microsoft Learning has moved back the retirement date to Jan. 31, 2021. A similar extension period has been applied to role-based credentials set to expire Sept. 30. Those certifications (and their exams) will now remain available until March 30, 2021.
Certification Magazine Launches New Certification Survey
The team at Certification Magazine gets the most attention for its annual Salary Survey, which gathers salary information from certified IT professionals. In addition to the Salary Survey, however, Certification Magazine conducts three other surveys each year to collect data from certified IT professionals about their certification experience. Earlier this week at CertMag.com, the second such survey of 2020 was announced, with computer networking as the subject. The Computer Networking Certification Survey will remain open through May 29. Those wishing to participate must have at least one current computer networking certification.
That's all for this edition of Certification Watch. Please keep your certification news and tips coming to the GoCertify News Editor.
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