CIN Livestream: Securing today's critical infrastructure: Quantum, AI, and Operational Technology in the age of connected risk

You heard it here! We will be livestreaming the CompTIA workshop on Wednesday at the AFCEA TechNet Indo-Pacific conference, for attendees and CIN members!

Join CompTIA for an interactive three-hour workshop that explores the intersection of Quantum Computing, Artificial Intelligence, and Zero Trust and their growing impact on cybersecurity, resilience, and workforce development.

Across three focused sessions, attendees will gain practical insights into the technologies, trends, and skills currently shaping our digital infrastructure. Quantum computing is being used to model complex systems and solve problems in supply chains, manufacturing, and cybersecurity. AI is playing an increased role in modern threat detection and cyber defense. Organizations are grappling with the challenges of securing industrial and critical infrastructure environments.

This workshop will provide a comprehensive snapshot at the realities organizations face today. Students, for example, will analyze packet captures and experiment with how AI tools perform in identifying attacks. We will be joined by representatives from Zscaler, Cyber Kraft, and SOFtact Solutions.

Designed for cybersecurity practitioners, technology leaders, operations professionals, and workforce development stakeholders, this workshop moves beyond theory to examine real-world use cases, implementation challenges, and actionable strategies that attendees can apply within their own organizations.

Participants will leave with:
  • A practical understanding of quantum computing and its implications for cybersecurity, data science, and systems optimization.
  • An overview of quantum-based activities, including user behavior modeling, incident response modeling, and network traffic analysis.
  • Insights into how AI is transforming visibility, observability, threat detection, and incident response.
  • The place of zero trust in critical infrastructure and the technical convergence of IT and Operational Technology / Industrial Control System environments.
  • Strategies for addressing evolving attack surfaces, regulatory pressures, and critical infrastructure risks.
What: Livestreamed CompTIA Workshop
When: Wednesday, October 28, 1:30-4:30 PM HST
Where: ON24

Register Here

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AFCEA TechNet Indo-Pacific

Greetings! If anyone is coming to the AFCEA TechNet Indo-Pacific conference in Honolulu next week, be sure to stop by the CompTIA booth, #TT81 in the Tapa Tower exhibits area. Would love to connect with fellow CINners in the area. We will also be livestreaming the CompTIA workshop, Securing Today's Critical Infrastructure on Wednesday 1:30-4:30 PM HST.

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DataAI voucher ---- OFFER EXPIRED. SOMEONE TOOK THE VOUCHER.

I have a DataAI voucher to offer if anyone wants it. It expires November 25, 2026. I have higher priorities right now and will give the voucher to anyone who legitimately will use it. I am not asking for any money for the voucher. I just ask that someone use it to take the exam before November 25th.

CySa+ V4/AutoOps+ vouchers not received

Following this — same situation on our side for the AutoOps+ batch here in Lagos. Has anyone had luck going through the Partner Support route instead of waiting on the automatic distribution? I'll update here if ours land.
No Response when we reached when our instructors that attended CYSA+ live TTT didn't get a voucher. Thank you and kindly update incase you get yours

Three more Security+ passes in Lagos — still 100% for the year 🎉

Just wrapped another Security+ cohort here in Lagos and all three students who sat the SY0-701 this week passed. That keeps our 2026 pass rate at 100%.

Quick stats for fellow instructors:
• Cohort size: 5 (3 sat, 2 scheduling for next month)
• Prep time: 4 weeks, instructor-led + CertMaster Practice
• Weakest domain for this group: 2.0 (Threats, Vulnerabilities & Mitigations) — we spent extra lab time there
• Strongest: 4.0 (Security Operations)

Happy to share the study plan and lab schedule if anyone's prepping a cohort. What domains are your students struggling with most?

Do we know when the CompTIA Sec+ TTT is happening?

Free Comptia Books/Instructor guides

Never argue with getting free stuff! I know when I did reviews for Redmond Magazine, I always loved getting free copies of books. In fact, I have several still on my shelf (including my old Sybex Server+ 001 book and two others for Red Hat Linux - meanwhile, I went down the Debian road...).
I typically donate my older tech books to the local library so they can sell them during their book sales. Most of the books on my shelf are less than four years old, although every now and then I find one that sticks around longer.

I THINK I'M DEAD!

I'll agree that there are lots of shady training companies. Just like there are shady institutions of higher learning. I see ads on social media from colleges and universities that have "Zero to Hero" programs guaranteeing that people will not only get certified, but also get hired right away for high paying careers.

As we all know, it doesn't work that way. I'm straightforward and honest with all my students. It takes hard work and commitment. There are no easy roads.
Exactly. We had a college here in the Springs (who shall remain nameless here), who, back in the day, was touting fast-track paths to MCSE and the $65,000 starting salaries, etc etc. Even when I got my MCSE+I, I didn't see $65k for quite a long while.

Working in a for-profit higher ed institution, I, personally, have been very sensitive about not making promises that I know couldn't be kept, as well as delivering on what I could realistically do. I got our admissions team mad at me on a couple of occasions because I told a student prospect, "this is something you will have to work at" and "it's NOT going to be easy-peasy-lemon-squeezy", only to watch that prospect walk out the door, afraid of a real challenge.

I remember one interaction where an admin rep was peeved because I "lost one of their prospects". My simple retort was, "well, I'm not going to lie to them, just to get them in the seat, only to watch them drop the program two terms later."

We come to this topic regularly here on CIN and I think it continues to serve as a great reminder to all of us that there is a lot of sweat labor that comes from this work. And unlike all those out on the CompTIA subreddit that are looking for the quick and easy way, we keep holding the line.

Because if it was 'easy', everyone would do it, right?

Free Comptia Books/Instructor guides

I love getting promo copies. I just picked up a PMP exam prep book. I don't know if I'll use it for class, but it might make a good supplement for the students.
Never argue with getting free stuff! I know when I did reviews for Redmond Magazine, I always loved getting free copies of books. In fact, I have several still on my shelf (including my old Sybex Server+ 001 book and two others for Red Hat Linux - meanwhile, I went down the Debian road...).

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