What's in a name?

[Mitch Garvis]

I am sure William Shakespeare would agree that it does not matter, but as I preen over passing CAS-005 yesterday, I wonder if CompTIA's marketing department might not have taken a wrong turn on this one.

Certified Advanced Security Practitioner... it sounds reverential - a title to be respected. When the Advanced Security Professional walks in you step aside and follow his lead because he (or she) knows of what they speak.

SecurityX... I don't know... it sounds a bit millennial. If you think that might be a compliment then get off my lawn! I was not involved in the conversations around it but I am trying to wrap my head around the thinking on this one. What is CompTIA trying to do with this name? Can anyone explain it? I would love to put the old cert on a business card but this... I really don't know.

 

[Curtis Whipple]

It was my understanding that it was part of a 'rebrand' of eXpert series of certifications. That was the reasoning. DataX, CLoudNetX, SecX

 

[Rick Butler]

CompTIA has been adjusting the certification program for quite a while now, and, as I could tell, wanted to create classes of certifications based on bands of proficiency, from 'essentials', 'pro', and 'experts'.

And the 'X' certs do have a certain edginess to them - just ask this guy:



I'm sure someone thought of X-Men, but that might not live up to the inclusive language standard and Disney may throw a fit.

/r

 

[jasoneckert]

From a Linux perspective, SecurityX sounds a bit outdated. SecurityWayland is more modern.

 

[Rick Butler]

From a Linux perspective, SecurityX sounds a bit outdated. SecurityWayland is more modern.

You'd be proud of me, Jason - I crafted that particular response...on my old Surface 5 - running Linux Mint.

We could always go with X - but then Elon Musk might have something to say about it.

 

[Gregory Childers]

Now that CompTIA is being run as a for-profit organization, I wouldn't be surprised to see some of their current certifications to get retired.

A+/Network+/Security+ have always been the most popular, but traditionally CompTIA has done a very poor job of marketing the rest.

 

[Mitch Garvis]

It was my understanding that it was part of a 'rebrand' of eXpert series of certifications. That was the reasoning. DataX, CLoudNetX, SecX

That makes sense… but the Advanced Security Professional still sounds more dignified

Now that CompTIA is being run as a for-profit organization, I wouldn't be surprised to see some of their current certifications to get retired.

A+/Network+/Security+ have always been the most popular, but traditionally CompTIA has done a very poor job of marketing the rest.

I confess that as I was looking for something else yesterday I came across a page with a bunch of CompTIA certs that I did not even know existed... so I am sure that you are right about that!

 

[Rick Butler]

Now that CompTIA is being run as a for-profit organization, I wouldn't be surprised to see some of their current certifications to get retired.

A+/Network+/Security+ have always been the most popular, but traditionally CompTIA has done a very poor job of marketing the rest.

I think there are some certs that have held their value. I think getting rid of CTT+ was a big mistake, but, well, not my mistake to make. I quite literally got mine done on the very last day of eligibility - mostly because I told myself for years I was going to get it.

I wonder if something is going on with Project+, it certainly doesn't have the brand penetration as PMI CAPM, although I'd see them on equal footing. Maybe CompTIA might downgrade Project to 'essentials' and let the 'plus' cert float away. Server+ has always been on the edge, mostly because folks are doing less with on-prem servers and relying on cloud SaaS (unless they have a particular slant against the cloud - ran into a school here a few months ago that 'doesn't want any of its services on the damned cloud'. I guess they were adamant.

I would agree on this, Greg. With CompTIA being for-profit now, I think we'll see every cert evaluated for its profitability.

That makes sense… but the Advanced Security Professional still sounds more dignified

I would agree. And there's nothing that says you can't just say CASP+ in conversation or in a random signature block - although CASP has had to contend with CISSP for brand recognition, so perhaps that edgier name may help with that. Since we're basically finishing the first round of 'X' certs, it might be a good study to see how they are relating to the ecosphere.

I confess that as I was looking for something else yesterday I came across a page with a bunch of CompTIA certs that I did not even know existed... so I am sure that you are right about that!

If Partner Summit '22 or '23 showed me anything, it's that CompTIA is looking to try to create its own ecosphere of role based certifications, taking a page out of the Microsoft playbook. As you, particularly, are aware, MSFT shifted from technologies to roles when they said goodbye to the venerable MCSE program, for which a lot of us were proud of those credentials. But that's tech evolution for you. New and shiny for a while, then it goes into a box in the garage and we forget about it, because...something else new and shiny.

Anyway, what certs are you going for now, after being a newly minted SecurityX?

/r

 

[Sivanesan]

My understanding last time alot of companies thought CASP+ was the same like CISSP or CISM. When Comptia changed to Security X the rebranding was showing its Comptia trademark. Previously alot of students complain employer was thinking it was cissp by isc2 or cism by isaca which made students explain what is CASP+.

Now it's easy for them SecurityX is highest Security eXpert in cybersecurity track by Comptia

 

[Sivanesan]

SecurityX is the only highest cybersecurity certification which covers theory and practical. Other certification only teach Security management the theory side of it.

 

[Rick Butler]

My understanding last time alot of companies thought CASP+ was the same like CISSP or CISM. When Comptia changed to Security X the rebranding was showing its Comptia trademark. Previously alot of students complain employer was thinking it was cissp by isc2 or cism by isaca which made students explain what is CASP+.

Now it's easy for them SecurityX is highest Security eXpert in cybersecurity track by Comptia

SecurityX is the only highest cybersecurity certification which covers theory and practical. Other certification only teach Security management the theory side of it.

I can see that. With the proverbial alphabet soup of certifications out there, it's hard to differentiate who is 'technical' and who is 'managerial' focused.

I see that most with HR staffers who latch onto a cert, such as Security+, thinking that they want their Level 1 helpdesk people to have Sec+ to make the job description more eyecatching (or something). The big thing there is that a lot of people who qualify people for roles have no idea what each certification means. Instead, they get lost in the alphabet jumble.

 

[Gregory Childers]

I wonder if something is going on with Project+, it certainly doesn't have the brand penetration as PMI CAPM, although I'd see them on equal footing. Maybe CompTIA might downgrade Project to 'essentials' and let the 'plus' cert float away. Server+ has always been on the edge, mostly because folks are doing less with on-prem servers and relying on cloud SaaS (unless they have a particular slant against the cloud - ran into a school here a few months ago that 'doesn't want any of its services on the damned cloud'. I guess they were adamant.

I would agree on this, Greg. With CompTIA being for-profit now, I think we'll see every cert evaluated for its profitability.

Having both the Project+ and the CAPM, I'd say that the Project+ need some development before anyone would consider it on equal footing with the CAPM. The training content for Project+ is scattershot and flows poorly. The exam has much less rigor than that of the CAPM. I think it can be a much better certification if CompTIA is willing to commit to that goal.

I'm surprised Server+ lasted as long as it did. I thought it would be retired with Storage+.

 

[Gregory Childers]

My understanding last time alot of companies thought CASP+ was the same like CISSP or CISM. When Comptia changed to Security X the rebranding was showing its Comptia trademark. Previously alot of students complain employer was thinking it was cissp by isc2 or cism by isaca which made students explain what is CASP+.

Now it's easy for them SecurityX is highest Security eXpert in cybersecurity track by Comptia

Having passed the CASP+/SecurityX, the CISM, and the CISSP, I can tell you for a fact that they're not equivalent.

On a scale of most technical to most managerial, it would SecurityX as the most technical, CISSP as the most balanced, and CISM as the most managerial.

On a level of rigor, the CISSP and CISM are much more challenging than the SecurityX. Both are considered more prestigious as well. Their equivalent certifications would be the GIAC Security Leadership (GSLC), the GIAC Strategic Planning, Policy, and Leadership (GSTRT), and the GIAC Information Security Professional Certification (GISP).

 

[Sivanesan]

Having both the Project+ and the CAPM, I'd say that the Project+ need some development before anyone would consider it on equal footing with the CAPM. The training content for Project+ is scattershot and flows poorly. The exam has much less rigor than that of the CAPM. I think it can be a much better certification if CompTIA is willing to commit to that goal.

I'm surprised Server+ lasted as long as it did. I thought it would be retired with Storage+.

Server+ is very relevant to on premises technical team. In malaysia we still running this course actively. Alot of corporate companies sending their staff for training.