COMPTIA NAMES NEW STRATEGIC BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER FOR CANADA

CompTIA, the leading technology industry association, today announced the appointment of IT training industry veteran Al Nasturzio as its new strategic business development manager for Canada.

Nasturzio will manage CompTIA’s existing partner-led and direct business in Canada and serve as the association’s chief liaison to the workforce development, academic, education, corporate and government sectors across the country.

“Al has played a leading role in the development of the IT training industry in Canada,” said John McGlinchey, CompTIA’s executive vice president for global certification. “Beyond his strong track record and experience, he has a genuine commitment and passion for training, professional development and learning. We’re extremely pleased to welcome Al to our team as we work with public and private entities to bring new talent into the Canadian technology workforce.”

Net tech employment in Canada totals an estimated 1.2 million workers, or approximately 8.4 percent of the overall Canadian workforce, according to CompTIA’s Cyberprovinces™ 2018 report. Projections from Statistics Canada indicate the base of tech occupations is projected to increase by nearly 8 percent between 2018 and 2026.

“The tech sector in Canada and around the world offers a wealth of career opportunities in a range of disciplines,” Nasturzio said. “CompTIA is committed to helping people join our thriving industry by offering them training and certification in leading technology skills, as well as opportunities for mentoring and networking with fellow IT professionals.”

During his career Nasturzio established Canada’s first privately-owned computer training center, Ivy Computer Centers in Toronto and Ottawa. He has worked in senior management with major corporations such as SHL and Ingram Micro, as well as leading learning and development organizations, including Global Knowledge and Canadian Management Center.

Nasturzio also brings insight into private and not-for-profit organizations, having served on the boards of several organizations, including Young Navigators, Tourette Syndrome Foundation of Canada, and CNEA (Canadian National Exhibition Association). He currently sits on the Curriculum Review Committee at the University of Toronto, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education. 

About CompTIA

The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) is a leading voice and advocate for the $4.8 trillion global information technology ecosystem; and the more than 35 million industry and tech professionals who design, implement, manage, and safeguard the technology that powers the world’s economy. Through education, training, certifications, advocacy, philanthropy, and market research, CompTIA is the hub for advancing the tech industry and its workforce.

Our experts say about CompTIA Certification Exams

CompTIA A+ Certification - CompTIA A+ Exam Dumps and Comparison

The new CompTIA A+ certification was designed to ensure that IT pros are equipped to handle complex problems successfully. This entry-level IT certification helps individuals demonstrate their skills and develop a vast understanding of cloud, virtualization, cybersecurity and more.

“You may be very capable, but an employer can’t be sure of that unless you have the certification to prove it,” CompTIA Senior Director, Certification Products, Teresa Sears explained on the CompTIA Volley podcast on November 30. “[CompTIA] A+ levels the playing field. It’s a tool the employer can use to determine a candidate’s skill set and have some evidence of what a person knows.”

A New CompTIA A+ for Today’s Tech Support Pro

The number of job openings in the area of technical support is vast and projected to grow much faster than average over the next 10 years. As systems become more complex, the need to have IT workers who can quickly solve problems is intense. Sears said that that’s exactly what CompTIA A+ validates to employers: that an information technology professional is proficient in problem solving.   

The new CompTIA A+ offers a sizeable ROI for both the IT pro and employer.

Information technology workers can gain the following from the new CompTIA A+:  

• Creative problem-solving skills
• Strategies for resolving cybersecurity issues
• Knowledge of cloud and virtualization
• Exposure to a variety of IT functions

“The new [CompTIA] A+ will open up avenues for career development,” Sears mentioned. “A+ holders might end up working in cybersecurity, network engineering, network administration, business analysis or data analytics. It’s not a direct path, but it exposes technical workers to the functions of IT that really can open up some exciting career opportunities.”

The redesigned entry-level IT certification benefits employers as well. For example, when an entry-level worker who has earned CompTIA A+ is able to address complicated IT issues, senior-level employees are afforded the time and resources to work on higher-level projects that enable business and impact a company’s bottom line.  

“Now that you have more empowered help desk people who can identify problems and fix them, you are freeing up senior IT employees to work on more strategic projects,” said CompTIA Senior Director, Industry Analysis, Carolyn April, who co-hosts the podcast with Senior Director, Technology Analysis, Seth Robinson.

CompTIA A+ and Cloud Computing

Today’s entry-level IT workers are dealing with increasingly difficult problems. They are slowly taking over the domain, at least in part, of network administrators. This reflects how swiftly the workforce is morphing as digital transformation becomes a higher priority for companies. Taking this into consideration, CompTIA redesigned A+ with a greater focus on cloud computing and virtualization.  

It’s vital that tech workers are able to troubleshoot any issue an end user could experience with software as a service (SaaS) applications. To equip IT pros with these specific skills, the new CompTIA A+ certification emphasizes knowledge of cloud and virtualization.

“With the new A+ certification, there’s attention payed to devices other than laptops and mobile phones,” Sears explained. “There is discussion of how to support IoT devices. It all ties back to an increase in the sophistication of these technological environments.”

CompTIA A+ and Cybersecurity

The refreshed CompTIA A+ not only focuses on cloud and virtualization, but also cybersecurity. CompTIA A+ has always included cybersecurity skills, but the new version takes them to a new level.

“In the [900 series] of A+, you had to be able to recognize malware,” Sears said. “In the new series, you not only need to recognize it, but you need to be able to detect and remove it.”

In the information technology industry, there is a broadening and deepening of cybersecurity expertise that the new CompTIA A+ certification will ensure IT workers have.

Success Secrets: How you can Pass CompTIA Certification Exam in first attempt