CCNA Security Certification meets the needs of IT professionals who are responsible for network security. It confirms an individual’s skills for job roles such as Network Security Specialists, Security Administrators, and Network Security Support Engineers. This certification validates skills including installation, troubleshooting and monitoring of network devices to maintain integrity, confidentiality and availability of data and devices and develops competency in the technologies that Cisco uses in its security structure.

Students completing the recommended Cisco training will gain an introduction to core security technologies as well as how to develop security policies and mitigate risks. IT organizations that employ CCNA Security-holders will have IT staff that can develop a security infrastructure, recognize threats and vulnerabilities to networks, and mitigate security threats.

More info here

How do you define optimism?

A banker who irons 5 shirts on a Sunday.

 Of course the average techie doesnt iron any shirts at all

Pupils will be taught about blogging and podcasts as part of a new literacy drive by the Scottish Government. 

Ministers want teachers to pay attention to basics like spelling, comprehension and punctuation under the new Curriculum for Excellence. 

However, Schools Minister Maureen Watt said pupils would also be asked to look at how they communicate online. 

She said they would be failing pupils if they ignored new developments like blogging and social networking sites. 

“Communication in the modern workplace is essential. Employers expect and are demanding core literacy skills from school leavers,” she said.

‘More relevant’ 

“Young people are immersed in technology and the tools that help them create websites, blogs, videos and podcasts also allow them to be authors and publishers. 

“They can reach a worldwide audience, so we have to teach them to do this well. We would be failing them if we just stand by and ignore these developments.” 

Youngsters will also be taught when the use of text-speak is acceptable. 

The new guidance forms part of English literacy “draft outcomes” which are published as part of the government’s plans to introduce a more “holistic” approach to education for children aged three to 18. 

Improve your project management skills by becoming a registered PRINCE2 Practitioner The demand for project management training and in particular, PRINCE2™, has never been greater than it is today. It is estimated that 40,000 individuals attend a PRINCE2™ Practitioner course every year in the UK. The PRINCE2™ methodology has been widely deployed by many of the UK’s leading private and public sector organisations.

 More information on Prince 2 Taining

Since its acquisition by a US Private Equity firm in late December 2006, PPI Learning Services has engaged in several partnerships with key Learning Solution providers. In particular, its new HowDoI™ based on the LearningGuide is being introduced to its large strategic clients in order to deploy custom designed training rollouts and to increase Help Desks efficiency.

“Our customers are seeking new and better ways to train and support their staff as new enterprise solutions and processes are introduced to increase their employees’ productivity in view of the increased competition from Emerging Markets” says Dr Marie-Paule Donsimoni-Bupp, Chairman and CEO of PPI Learning Services. “We need to maintain our leadership position in the traditional IT Professional and end-user Training but to also expand our offering to include new Learning Solutions and new Financial mechanisms.”

To that effect, PPI Learning Services has concluded its first acquisition with the merger of Exchange Group Corporate Sales which offers employers a unique approach to their employee training needs, delivering a broad range of services into the heart of the community. They have a range of flexible courses leading to recognised qualifications particularly in the Microsoft arena.

A key outcome of the acquisition is that Roy Sunley will join PPI Learning Services as its new Managing Director. “Mr. Sunley’s wealth of experience is a real asset to the company and with his forward thinking management strategy and the backing of a committed and enthusiastic workforce and investors, I am convinced that he will propel PPI Learning Services to the very top of the Learning industry” said Dr. Donsimoni-Bupp.

Mr Sunley brings 25 years of experience in the strategic IT training market. Prior to being Managing Director at Exchange Group Corporate Sales, he was CEO of Computeach International and prior to that, spent eight years as Vice President and Managing Director of Thomson NETg International.

In addition, the continued partnership with Exchange Group means that PPI Learning Services will now have the benefit of government funded training for those clients that have a requirement for very basic skills which may be covered under government funded schemes. Finally, via Exchange Group, a new set of European investors have entered into the capital of PPI Learning Services, opening the doors for acquisitions not only in the UK but also in the rest of Europe.

About PPI Learning Services

PPI Learning Services is an enterprise learning integrator that manages some of the country’s largest learning and performance-development contracts. It integrates learning technologies and tools, methods and services together to provide world-class learning solutions. PPI Learning Services offers IT training around the UK via prestigeous training centres and its fleet of mobile coaches and provides on site learning services. Learning partner accreditations include: Microsoft, Oracle, Citrix, PRINCE, ISEB and CompTIA.
About PPI Learning Services:
PPI Learning Services is an enterprise learning integrator that manages some of the country’s largest learning and performance-development contracts. It integrates learning technologies and tools, methods and services together to provide world-class learning solutions. PPI Learning Services offers IT training around the UK via prestigeous training centres and its fleet of mobile coaches and provides on site learning services. Learning partner accreditations include: Microsoft, Oracle, Citrix, PRINCE, ISEB and CompTIA.

The Institute of IT Training (IITT) has selected the Enterprise Study Network system to provide a nationwide schedule of accredited training.

The new service provided via the Institute’s website enables training buyers to search a wide range of courses from its list of Accredited Training Providers in one place. “Many buyers use a variety of sources to search for training but often find the process time consuming and end up with no way to assure the quality of the supplier they eventually select,” outlines Colin Steed, CEO of the ITTT. “The new free course search and booking service offered via our website not only provides an easier way to source training, it also gives buyers the confidence of purchasing from only IITT accredited organisations.”

“The Institute is delighted to work with Enterprise Study to provide this service and we are confident that it will be a valuable tool for the training industry,” concludes Steed. “Source: Training Press Releases”

The IT skills gap, a phenomenon of the 1990s, is on the increase again, exposing a significant shortfall of skills in advanced networking technologies.

A report by IDC and Cisco has demonstrated that the skills gap is very much alive with a shortage of 230,000 networking specialists today rising to 615,000 in 2008. This is quite frightening given the reliance that business and government places on the Internet.

In the late 90s, entry into IT careers was difficult and the skills gap was wide open between the haves and have-nots. Today, more people have a basic knowledge of PC hardware and software, yet networking technology remains an unknown for many. “Source: Training Press Releases”

The IT skills gap, a phenomenon of the 1990s, is on the increase again, exposing a significant shortfall of skills in advanced networking technologies.

A report by IDC and Cisco has demonstrated that the skills gap is very much alive with a shortage of 230,000 networking specialists today rising to 615,000 in 2008. This is quite frightening given the reliance that business and government places on the Internet.

In the late 90s, entry into IT careers was difficult and the skills gap was wide open between the haves and have-nots. Today, more people have a basic knowledge of PC hardware and software, yet networking technology remains an unknown for many.

A recent survey has found that up to 75% of IT workers are ready to quit their jobs while additional figures suggest that over half of all IT workers are actively on the lookout for a new job and are registered with an employment agency.

Exchange Group believes that investing in training IT staff can have a significant impact on staff retention and satisfaction. This in turn has a clear and measurable cost saving to organisations that identify and implement career progression training for their key staff.

“We are very pleased to have formed this partnership with Exchange Group. We firmly believe that we share the same values and vision and that this joint initiative for the IT professional will bring measurable benefits to both the learner and their employer.”

Editors notes

Exchange Group
• Training 30,000 people a year
• One the UKs leading training providers
• 92% completion rates as audited externally by Baker Tilly, Learndirect and the Adult Learning inspectorate
• Investors in People accreditation
• Reed SME employer of the year
• Microsoft IT academy program member, in partnership with Microsoft Gold members
• British Computer Society Member
• Matrix Accredited
• Certification provided by City & Guilds

“Source: Training Press Releases”

Custom Virtual Instructor-Led Training (VILT) initiatives reduce helpdesk call volume by 74% at a large pharmaceutical company.

Productivity Point International (PPI), a leading provider of certified and custom training programs in the UK and US, today announced the results of custom training initiatives on reducing helpdesk call volume at a large pharmaceutical company. After replacing traditional classroom training with Virtual Instructor-led Training (VILT), a 74% reduction in helpdesk call volume was realised. As well, training costs per student were reduced by 70% and accessibility to training was expanded. Up to 100,000 students, in multiple locations across the world, were able to access the training.

“We have delivered Virtual Instructor-led Training to thousands of customers, so we knew going in that it was the right solution. However, it’s always great to see our success - in real numbers - and show the positive effect we have on customers.” “Source: Training Press Releases”