Rick Butler said:

With change comes opportunity. Just my 2 cents.

Click to expand...

All of those are fair and level-headed points Rick.

Gregory Childers said:

I don't get it. PDFs are a cost-effective way to distribute content.

Click to expand...

I agree.
I do everything non-profit for teaching my students.

This is a big blow to everything

Emmanuel Phakula Mandala said:

@Trevor Chandler

1. Reduced Risk of Data Breaches: Since passkeys are unique to each site and can't be reused, they minimize the risk of data breaches.
2. Cross-Device Compatibility: Passkeys can be synchronized across multiple devices, ensuring seamless access without compromising security.
3. Regulatory Compliance: Implementing passkeys can help organizations meet stringent security and privacy regulations.

Click to expand...

Many thanks Emmauel for your reply!!!

Rick Butler said:

I thought "passing the keys" were something you're supposed to do when you've had one too many...?

/r

Click to expand...

Mr. Rick Butler, I'm going to report you to the CIN community authorities!!!! Ah, I'm not sure who to contact. Can I get your assistance on this, please

If you're wondering which companies are in the Thoma Bravo portfolio, there is a list here.


H.I.G.'s portfolio is here.

Krose said:

I wanted to know if any Career Center Instructors that cover the Network+ and Security+ curriculum uses a Capstone project to help the students go more in depth and hone their strenghts and weaknesses. Do you have any documentation that you would be willing to share to get me started. I was thinking of having the Networking students create and harden, and have the Cyber students try to pick it apart and find weaknesses.

Thanks in advance for pointing me in the right direction.

Click to expand...

I used to use capstone projects for my Network+ classes back in the day - one of which involved setting up a campus network for a multi-building layout.

For security+, I used to have small hacking challenges that would lead to students being able to take their final with the answer key - if they could bust through the challenges.

I'll have to look around and see if I still have this material - it was some time ago and it may be dated.

I thought "passing the keys" were something you're supposed to do when you've had one too many...?

/r

Tess Sluijter said:

That wouldn't be likely, since the capital went into the non-profit organization, which no longer owns the training and certification products.

Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure that the acquisition of the training arm of CompTIA would also have the benefit of additional funding. While the capital went one way, I'm sure that doesn't preclude any additional funding for training and certs.

A concern though is that if there is MORE funding available now to buttress CertMaster and CompTIA's training, that will make it tougher for the other content producers, either independent or affiliated with a publisher to compete. I heard this complaint during Summit from a few of them that I spoke with - that earned their living on making content, only now feeling like they are in full on competition with CompTIA now. I personally don't have a dog in that fight - as I am part of a college, so we just consume the products which make sense for our school. But I'm not ignorant to that dynamic, for sure, as I believe that good competition creates better training products.

CompTIA has had to keep training up with the 3 year certification cycle and with the incorporation of LabSIM, I'm sure the costs of doing that part of business, as well as overall headcount, have gone up considerably. Having the funding will allow that to happen without running into funding shortfalls.

But I think our concerns overall will be to the neutrality that CompTIA has always had. I do not know what other entities that HIG/TB owns. But the concern that we seem to have is with certifications, for example, drifting towards one company or another - one entity or another, rather than remaining in the middle, folks will begin to lose confidence in those certifications. I prefer to believe that this would not be in HIG/TB or CompTIA's interests, so I am refraining from any cynicism on the matter.

We're all also speculating based on the content of a press release and missives received through our BDM's - so I'm pretty sure we don't have ALL the information yet. The same thing happened in the community with the TestOut acquisition. So, I would probably suggest we all continue to share thoughts and experiences as we learn them - but look at the positive benefits and opportunities that we all have as educators, content developers, and other interested parties.

With change comes opportunity. Just my 2 cents.

/r

Gregory Childers said:

I reached out to my contacts with the CompTIA Adjunct Instructors but they haven't had any official information other than the public information that we all have access to.

I also haven't received a letter from CompTIA yet. I guess I'm not a most valuable customer.

Click to expand...

In the interest of full disclosure, that email went to my son (ITF+ certified as a sophomore in high school), not to me

I reached out to my contacts with the CompTIA Adjunct Instructors but they haven't had any official information other than the public information that we all have access to.

I also haven't received a letter from CompTIA yet. I guess I'm not a most valuable customer.

I was waiting for a reply on a separate thread, but I also have not received the Network+ voucher yet.

jcrochon said:

My hopes is that this injection of capital will allow EDU’s to get a significant discount.

Click to expand...

That wouldn't be likely, since the capital went into the non-profit organization, which no longer owns the training and certification products.

Unfortunately, for the cost of certifications and training. I was cutting half of my curriculum into open education resources to reduce student’s cost. I’m still keeping: A+, Network+, Security+, Pentest+, Data+, and CySA+.

If the cost was lower for educational institutions, I would add back: ITF/Tech+, Server+, Cloud+, Linux+, Project+, DataSys+, and CASP+

My hopes is that this injection of capital will allow EDU’s to get a significant discount.

Bradley Haynes said:

Here is the email I received today from CompTIA...

Click to expand...

Yup, got that one too... I guess all of us are "one of their most valuable customers".

I agree with Jill though, this part is confusing:

The sale proceeds will allow the Association to pursue three key objectives: 1) provide financial assurance and solvency for the foreseeable future, 2) allow for substantially more charitable giving, and 3) position the CompTIA brand for much greater growth possibilities.

The last point is key. For CompTIA to maximize its potential and continue to expand our solution offerings to meet the needs and demands of the market, the acquisition will provide capital for business growth to serve you better.

Click to expand...

Step 1 I understand, they need money, especially after buying TestOut etc. Step 2 is lovely and while they don't mention the lobbying they do, I guess that's also in there somewhere.

Step 3 is what confuses me, because the email says:

They are strictly purchasing the CompTIA brand and the accompanying certification and training products and services.

Click to expand...

So ... the non-profit gets money for the brand, which they will then use to promote the brand... which they've sold?

EDIT:
Oh right, forgot about this part from the earlier announcement:

“Following the closing of the transaction, CompTIA will operate as a for-profit company under H.I.G. and Thoma Bravo’s ownership. Its existing membership-based, 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization will be separated from CompTIA and continue its mission of service to the IT industry.”

Click to expand...

So they're not promoting the brand they sold off, but the brand of the trade association / non-profit part... which I guess will also still be called CompTIA.

I just received the same email from CompTIA...I feel more confused than before, lol. If the certification and training portions are sold, but the same teams will administer the products... and also we continue to be members... What will the new non-profit be called? Is that still CompTIA? Will the certs no longer be CompTIA certs, but something else?

Here is the email I received today from CompTIA...

As a side note. I have seen other platforms like that have thousands of labs online but it came out to cost us $320,000 per year. No thanks. I would rather buy a $200 guide on building labs and then pay $20,000 for equipment.

Retro-HiDef said:

Another low hanging fruit approach is creating interactive PowerPoint presentations in where students choose the correct options to move ahead. I've created some of these for lessons and have received positive feedback from my students. Just a thought and I want to add that I like to see teachers/instructors thinking of ways to create interactive lesson plans. This is a great way to teach students who learn by doing. Whatever you decide to do please share with us, thank you.

Click to expand...

Can you share an example of one you have created or share any documentation on how you create these, I'm curriously interested in this.

Thanks.

Gregory Childers said:

I can't listen to @drushtx any more. He shills for Professor Messer nonstop.

My concern is for the quality and value of the certification programs for the students as well as the organizations that have placed their trust in CompTIA.

Click to expand...

You don't have to listen to him, or like the guy... just showing one post that answered the question that was stated: "what else is there to CompTIA?"

Gregory Childers said:

To add some context to the discussion, OffSec was acquired by Leeds Equity Partners in October 2024.

Click to expand...

Mind you, OffSec were always private and for-profit.

@Trevor Chandler

1. Reduced Risk of Data Breaches: Since passkeys are unique to each site and can't be reused, they minimize the risk of data breaches.
2. Cross-Device Compatibility: Passkeys can be synchronized across multiple devices, ensuring seamless access without compromising security.
3. Regulatory Compliance: Implementing passkeys can help organizations meet stringent security and privacy regulations.

Chukwunwike_Ndukaji said:

Yes it has. Got the email shortly before I posted the update. Check your company email, or your CIN account details to see if the email was updated

Click to expand...

but i hope @Stephen Schneiter will work on it ASAP..

Chukwunwike_Ndukaji said:

Yes it has. Got the email shortly before I posted the update. Check your company email, or your CIN account details to see if the email was updated

Click to expand...

I Had to check on the mails and see if there is any changes but still..

Tess Sluijter said:

As @drushtx mentions over here -> Login to view embedded media
There's a whole lobbying part to CompTIA.

Click to expand...

I can't listen to @drushtx any more. He shills for Professor Messer nonstop.

My concern is for the quality and value of the certification programs for the students as well as the organizations that have placed their trust in CompTIA.

To add further context to the discussion, EC-Council sold a significant equity stake to EQT Private Equity in September 2021.


STOCKHOLM, Sept. 27, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- EQT is pleased to announce that the EQT Mid Market Asia III Fund ("EQT Private Equity") has made a significant investment in EC-Council (the "Company"). EC-Council's founder, Malaysian technopreneur Jay Bavisi, will retain a majority stake in the Company and remain as the Group Chief Executive Officer.

Established in 2001, EC-Council develops and provides proprietary cybersecurity training and certification programs for customers in more than 145 countries around the world, both directly and through more than 700 partners. The Company has experienced strong growth in recent years driven by a rising need to protect corporations against increasingly complex cyber threats and a widening gap in the supply and demand of digital talent in the cybersecurity industry. Today it has a global presence with offices and operations in the US, Asia and Europe, employing about 500 people worldwide.

EQT will support EC-Council in its next chapter by leveraging EQT's experience developing cybersecurity companies, its global advisory network and in-house capabilities within digitalization and sustainability. To further support the Company on its next stage of growth, EQT is happy to announce that Andrew Wait, former President of Lynda.com and EF Englishtown and former SVP and general manager at Ancestry.com, will join EC-Council's board of directors.

EC-Council's training and certification programs help to equip students and professionals with both foundational and advanced skill sets required to thrive in the cybersecurity industry. The Company's first and most well-known certification, the Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), specializes in ethical hacking and provides students with an understanding of various cyber-attack vectors and preventative countermeasures and regularly ranks among the top ten certifications that are highly sought after by employers in the cybersecurity industry.

EC-Council programs set the cybersecurity bar globally and are trusted by seven of the top ten Fortune companies and 47 of the top 100 list. The Company is also supporting public organizations and governmental bodies, including the US Department of Defense (DoD), various agencies in the global intelligence community, NATO, and more than 2,000 of the world's top universities, colleges and training companies.

Since its inception, EC-Council has grown into a platform that aims to not only educate and certify, but also to provide a holistic ecosystem for current and aspiring cybersecurity professionals worldwide. The Company now has dozens of certification programs worldwide designed to expand and advance skillsets cybersecurity professionals need. The Company's EC-Council University, an accredited institution of higher learning in the US, provides certificate, undergraduate and postgraduate programs in cybersecurity.

Brian Chang, Partner, Head of Southeast Asia and Investment Advisor within the EQT Private Equity Advisory Team, said, "EQT Private Equity is excited to invest in EC-Council at this pivotal stage of the Company's growth. We have been impressed with EC-Council's development in this high-growth sector and its role in expanding the talent pool in the global cybersecurity industry. We see immediate opportunities to apply our digital skillset as well as our industry network and sector expertise to support EC-Council's ambitious vision and growth plans. We look forward to partnering with Jay and his management team to develop its full potential going forward." Jay Bavisi, Founder and CEO of EC-Council, said, "Over the past two decades, the entire EC-Council team has dedicated itself to the mitigation and remediation of the cyber plague that remains an ever-present challenge to organizations in all geographies and industries across the globe. We are excited to partner with one of the world's largest and most highly respected private equity institutions, EQT, to further accelerate our growth and increase our positive impact to the global community. By expanding our cybersecurity product portfolio and increasing the accessibility of online cyber preparedness training and testing tools, we hope to accelerate the development of cyber talent worldwide while encouraging the participation of more diverse communities in this growing industry."