CISA creates Jobs in Cyber Security

On December 18, 2015, United States Congress passed the Cyber Security Information Sharing Act known as CISA. CISA, in its current form will create numerous changes to the field of cyber security and these changes will create many cyber security jobs.

CISA makes it easier for the federal government to obtain information from private citizens through the creation of information portals, which law enforcement can access without a warrant. The new legislation will force the government to examine numerous amounts of data, which might not be relevant to any type of investigation. Having to analyze such data will make it necessary to hire countless security professionals to evaluate this information.

This information, which can be accessed by law enforcement, can be protected. The question of who can protect company information and how can this be done will be answered in the paragraphs below.

The field of cyber security is creating over 50,000 new cyber security jobs in the coming 12 months. For example Chase bank is increasing spending for its cyber security penetration team from five hundred million in 2015 to eight hundred million in 2016. Bank of America has announced the same amount of spending. Banks, financial institutions, insurance companies and countless organizations in the health care industry are forced to follow suit. Cyber security jobs are exploding at hospitals because of HIPAA regulations. Campuses of universities and colleges throughout the US are now hiring network administrators who are certified for cyber security. A breach in a college’s network will result in a massive lawsuit against the institution who allowed the breach to occur. This creates a strong need to hire professionals with the right skills who can ensure network break INS do not happen.

Cyber security certifications

Network administrators who hold certifications including the MCSA, MCSE, and Network+ generally work as network administrators or in desktop support. Companies who have data to protect want their network administrators to hold additional certifications for advancement in their corporate structure.

The entry-level certification into the cyber security field is the CompTIA security plus, which provides a network administrator with a strong background in basic network security. Network administrators wanting to advance their skills can obtain the Certified Ethical Hacker, which opens the door to numerous security jobs. Finally we have the CISSP or Certified Information Security Systems Professional, which is a very high level certification. Holders of the CISSP often manage network penetration teams, which analyze networks for their vulnerability to cyber attacks.

The Cyber Security Information Sharing Act is forcing companies to invest large sums of money in cyber security. In fact companies contracting with the US government for many projects must submit proof their network administrators have cyber security certifications. CISA is another example of the large amounts of money spent on security in 2016.

Join an elite group of professionals who have the credentials to work in a CISA work environment.

Contact ABCO Technology for a list of cyber security courses in 2016. The right certification in cyber security will open the door to the job of your dreams. Call ABCO Technology between 9 AM and 6 PM Monday through Friday. You can reach us by phone at (310) 216-3067. Email us for our student catalog at:info@abcotechnology.edu.
Start your new career in 2016 in Cyber Security, the fastest growing field of information technology.

Ref: CISA Law Passes through Senate with Flaws

9 Essential IT Job Skills for 2015

The IT industry is in a time of transition these days, with cloud computing, the bring your own device (BYOD) phenomenon, and a host of other factors putting pressure on IT professionals on every rung of the corporate ladder. While industry turmoil creates stress for a lot of system administrators on the career front, that disruption also creates opportunities for those that want to invest time and effort to learn in-demand IT skills.

Over the last few months I’ve spoken with HR consultants, hiring experts, and employers across the career spectrum to try and spot what the in-demand skills are for IT professionals these days. What follows is a list of nine of the hottest IT skills, especially for Windows Server-focused system administrators.

1. Windows PowerShell

The word “PowerShell” has been used so frequently at recent Microsoft conferences and events that you could be forgiven for shouting “drink!” every time that word is mentioned. In case you’ve been living behind a server rack for the last few years, you’ll know that Windows PowerShell is a command-line-based task automation framework that can — using just a few lines of code and a handful of PowerShell cmdlets — make tedious IT tasks more manageable.
Microsoft is pushing PowerShell knowledge as a vital IT skill, with Microsoft’s Jeffrey Snover telling me in an interview at TechEd 2014 that his advice to IT professionals concerning PowerShell knowledge would be to “…get with the program.”
Not all system administrators are on board with PowerShell, as one told me at that same TechEd Conference that if he “…wanted to spend all my time at the command line I would have been a Linux administrator.”
Command line criticisms aside, PowerShell is quickly becoming a must-have skill for any IT professional that has to manage anything in the Windows Server stack, which translates into PowerShell-savvy candidates getting a leg up on their CLI-phobic peers for career advancement.
http://www.abcotechnology.edu/MCSA-2012-Server-Infrastructure/Installing-Configuring-Windows-Server-2012-Exam410

2. Cloud Computing: Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services, and the Google Cloud Platform

Years ago, many IT professionals were wary of the cloud, afraid to move IT resources into a datacenter owned — and managed — by someone else. While cloud services aren’t infallible— see our coverage of the Microsoft Exchange Online outage in the Summer of 2014 for evidence on that point — usage of them is becoming much more ubiquitous in IT departments everywhere. Forrester Research has even gone as far to recently claim that cloud adoption is in “hyper-growth” mode, stating that CIOs need to “Shift into the driver seat, or others will.”
While the cloud isn’t a solution for every problem, IT professionals that become in-house experts on deciding what should (and should not) be moved to the cloud are enhancing their value to the organization. You don’t want to be “that guy” that refuses to trust any IT resources that he can’t physically see and touch. The best solution is to become knowledgeable about cloud infrastructure as a service (IaaS) offerings like Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services, and the Google Cloud Platform, then use that information to help educate business stakeholders on what will (and won’t) work for your business in the cloud. Knowledge is power, and a knee-jerk refusal to learn about the cloud could have severe ramifications for your career.

3. Security

“IT security is crucial, and demand for security professionals has really come to the fore,” says John Challenger, CEO of IT placement firm Challenger, Gray, and Christmas. “We’ve all heard about the hacking at Target, and the never-ending stream of bad news related to IT security breaches.” Challenger says that he’s seen increased demand for specific IT security careers — like Chief Information Security Officers (CISO), Network Security Engineers, Security Administrators, and Systems Security Analysts — but also increasing demand for security skills and experience in other disciplines as well.
IT professionals interested in adding more security credentials to their resume can pursue certain security certifications, like the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and Systems Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP) certifications offered by ISC2. Other possibilities include certificate programs offered by the Cloud Security Alliance (CSA), including the Certificate of Cloud Security Knowledge (CCSK), which can help IT staff get up to speed on the best practices and latest trends in cloud security.
http://www.abcotechnology.edu/Computer-Security-Training

4. Compliance

Another career segment of the IT industry boasting rapid growth is compliance, according to John Challenger. Most mid- to large-enterprises must abide by a host of regulatory demands, ranging from Sarbanes-Oxley to the The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI-DSS). All of these rules and regulations need IT staff to interpret and implement them, which has resulted in a boom in IT careers specifically related to making sure that corporations and their IT infrastructures are in compliance with state, federal, and — where applicable — international law.
Challenger says that some large enterprises have office floors full of compliance employees, particularly in banking and health care sectors. Sample job titles in this area include Chief Compliance Officer (CCO), Director of Sarbanes-Oxley Compliance, Corporate Compliance Office, Risk Analyst, and more. A recent article over at the Wall Street Journal about the booming demand for compliance professionals drives the point home, so IT professionals looking to learn marketable skills may want to brush up on the lucrative intersection between compliance and IT.
http://www.abcotechnology.edu/courses_home.html

5. Office 365 and Google Apps

Another segment of the IT industry experiencing stratospheric growth is the market for cloud-based email and productivity software, headlined by Microsoft Office 365 and Google Apps for Business. For many organizations, having an on-premise mail server — either in the form of Microsoft Exchange or some other email server platform — isn’t the most cost-effective solution. Both Office 365 and Google Apps can fill email and productivity software needs for many organizations, and the move to those services requires IT professionals that know how to migrate from legacy systems to these new cloud-based alternatives.
While Microsoft and Google may be battling server and mailbox for market share in this segment, IT professionals that know the advantages and disadvantages of each platform will be in the best position to advise their employers, and learn valuable skills on how to manage these platforms in the process. Both Microsoft and Google also offer certification programs geared towards their respective platforms, which I’ve linked below.
http://www.abcotechnology.edu/courses_home.html

6. Mobile App/Device Management

During a keynote address at the 2014 Microsoft World Partner Conference, Microsoft COO Kevin Turner mentioned a statistic — almost in passing — that reveals just how much of an impact mobile devices have had on the world of IT over the last few years. Turner mentioned that Microsoft still enjoys a 90% market share on desktop PCs, but also stated that — when you factor in smartphones, tablets, and other devices — Microsoft’s market share of all computing devices drops to a humbling 14%.
So what does that mean for the careers of Microsoft-focused IT professionals? It means that learning how to research, purchase, deploy, manage, and secure the plethora of mobile devices that today’s modern knowledge worker brings to the office is fast-becoming a must-have skill for every IT professional. Whether you’re using Microsoft’s Enterprise Mobility Suite, Windows Intune, or VMware’s Airwatch, getting up to speed on the tools and services that will help you manage all these mobile devices is a must. http://www.abcotechnology.edu/courses_home.html

7. IPv6 and Virtual Networking

Two big changes have swept over the world of computer networking in the last few years: The arrival of IPv6 and the rise of virtual networking. Knowledge of the former is a must for any network administrator, and one can make the same case for the latter as well.
While knowledge of IPv6 is arguably the more fundamental of the two IT skills, virtual networking is quickly becoming a requirement as well. Network virtualization promises to do for hardware networking what server virtualization did for physical servers, and is helping make on-premise IT even more flexible and responsive. Both of these technologies help enable the rapid advance of cloud computing services, so a network administrator who has a strong working knowledge of both is well-positioned for the future.
http://www.abcotechnology.edu/courses_home.html

8. Virtualization: Hyper-V and VMware

Despite all the hullabaloo about cloud computing, many IT departments are still looking for help in managing their on-premise virtualized environments. As David Davis notes in his opinion article about why you should choose VMware over Hyper-V, VMware administrators are always in demand, and that “…virtualization experts are finding that there are many more job openings for those with vSphere knowledge than with Hyper-V knowledge (which results in higher pay).”
http://www.abcotechnology.edu/courses_home.html

9. ‘Soft’ Skills

While all of the aforementioned skills are important, many IT hiring managers I’ve spoken with over the years place a great deal of importance of the so-called “soft” skills, which are classified as good communication skills, a strong work ethic, being a willing team player, and having strong character attributes.

Los Angeles is the next Silicon Valley, how does this effect your career?

Hey Angelinos, here’s another reason to get certified in Technology in 2015 - “Los Angeles is to become the next Silicon Valley”; Are YOU ready for your Career Upgrade?

Powered by video and fed by stars, a startup boom in west Los Angeles is giving California a second high-tech mecca

Los Angeles County was home to 368,580 high-tech jobs in 2014, more than other regions that boast strong high-tech sectors, according to figures released by Mayor Eric Garcetti and local economists.

The Los Angeles area had more high-tech jobs than Boston-Cambridge, New York City and Santa Clara County, according to the Los Angeles Economic Development Center’s “High Tech in L.A.” report funded by JPMorgan Chase & Co. “This watershed study puts the exclamation point on what we already knew anecdotally, but hadn’t yet quantified about L.A.’s high-tech and innovation revolution -- namely, L.A. is innovating and applying technology at an unprecedented rate to create thousands of new, well-paying high tech sector jobs and to transform its leading industries, such as entertainment, health services, aerospace and manufacturing,” said Bill Allen, president of the LAEDC. 

“We have two things we hold dear here,” says Tradesy co-founder and CEO Tracy DiNunzio, 35. “Catered food delivered for all meals and being close to the ocean. “Such is life in Silicon Beach, a stretch of roughly four miles from Venice to Santa Monica that has become the heart of Los Angeles’ fast-growing tech scene. Thanks in part to Hollywood’s proximity and a climate that sells itself, there are some 800 startups in the area that have attracted about $1.3 billion in venture capital since 2011, according to a report from PricewaterhouseCoopers and the National Venture Capital Association. Silicon Beach’s ranks include social-media companies like Whisper and Snapchat, which reportedly turned down a $3 billion acquisition offer from Facebook in 2013. And that’s not the only attention the area has drawn from its namesake 400 miles to the north. Google occupies 100,000 sq. ft. of Venice office space, including some in the iconic Frank Gehry–designed Binoculars Building. Facebook opened an office in nearby Playa Vista in 2012.

All this has helped turn a patch of sun-soaked coast better known for beachfront promenading into an unexpected model of growth for the new digital economy. A 2012 report from the business-data organization Compass ranked L.A. as the third largest tech ecosystem in the world, behind only Silicon Valley and Tel Aviv. And as startups multiply along the Pacific Coast Highway, developers have scrambled to meet the surging demand for housing and office space and the increasingly high prices they command.

Silicon Valley still dwarfs all other domestic tech sectors–Internet companies in and around Palo Alto drew $3 billion in venture capital last year alone–but the explosive growth of Silicon Beach is the latest sign that some of the features that lured tech companies to Northern California are beginning to be replicated elsewhere. Innovations in open-source software and cloud storage make launching a tech company anywhere easier and cheaper than ever.

“There’s all this stuff I can take off the shelf that used to require hundreds and hundreds of people,” says Michael Heyward, the 26-year-old CEO of Whisper, an app that allows users to post anonymous messages on a social network. The company, which just leased a 14,000-sq.-ft. Venice home once owned by Anjelica Huston, raised more than $20 million in venture capital last year. “I think great companies can get funded anywhere,” says Heyward. “Silicon Valley does not have a monopoly on good ideas.”

We shouldn’t be surprised that the LA-led Southern California region is once again emerging as the next Silicon Valley. After all, the region boasts three structural advantages.

1. Entrepreneurial culture. Southern California has long been a place where independent minds come together to collaborate and create, where visionary entrepreneurs build lasting companies. We’ve seen it in aerospace, apparel, and entertainment and now increasingly in technology. The innovative thinking and design talent has found an outlet in the Internet to impact a new set of industries, including commerce, games, video, and data. Los Angeles is different than New York and Boston, where professional service industries and corporate headquarters still shape the tone for the region. In those cities, big companies often overshadow entrepreneurship and creative endeavors. In Los Angeles, entrepreneurship is pervasive. New York is home to 45 Fortune 500 companies. Despite its comparative size, Los Angeles is home to only 5. Moreover, according to a recent Kauffman Foundation study measuring levels of new business creation across the United State, Los Angeles had the highest rate of entrepreneurial activity from the period between 2011 and 2013. Simply stated, people don’t come to Los Angeles to work for big companies, they come to LA to create them. 
2. Significant technical talent. With a heritage of engineering and technical innovation, Los Angeles continues to develop technical talent. Universities in Los Angeles produce more engineering graduates than any other county in California—including in Silicon Valley. These graduates provide the skill and energy that is vital to the growth of technology companies. In addition, LA is increasingly attracting graduates and other experienced technologists from across the country and the world. More venture capital is invested into software in the region than any other sector—more than three times the amount invested into media and entertainment. Google’s significant presence in the region is composed of a majority focused on technical and product. And the company is rapidly growing in LA.
3. Availability of capital. There are strong investors emerging in LA to partner with entrepreneurs building technology companies in the region. While entrepreneurs in both New York and New England can find local capital partners, entrepreneurs in Los Angeles have an advantage in their proximity to the Valley. By far the largest concentration of venture capital firms are in Silicon Valley. And as the venture capital industry has consolidated over the last decade, the concentration of capital in Silicon Valley has increased even more. According to the NVCA, of the 38 firms that successfully rose new funds this past quarter, five accounted for nearly 80% of the total dollars raised. All five were either based in Silicon Valley or had a significant presence. 

The bottom line is this: through the cycles, the structural advantages enjoyed by Los Angeles and the surrounding region has it once again attracting more venture capital than any other outside of Silicon Valley. It is these same dimensions that create a long-term advantage. Lasting technology companies from ActivisionBlizzard to Qualcomm were built in Southern California. Amazing entrepreneurs are building the next slate today.

For information on technology training and certifications visit http://www.abcotechnology.edu

Eight Search Engine usability tips to improve your website’s ranking

Eight Search Engine usability tips to improve your website’s ranking

When analyzing your website’s search engine rankings, most of the emphasis has been placed on developing excellent content. The phrase “content is king” is found in numerous articles, which discuss search engine optimization. Unfortunately the concept of usability is rarely discussed. Usability is important and the major search engines are emphasizing this idea. Panda 4.0 is mainly about content, but several aspects of the Panda 4.0 2014 update focus on usability. In this article we will provide eight solid suggestions, which you can use to improve the user experience for your webpages.
1. Find accessibility issues
Google Webmaster Tools is the best place to search for any accessibility issues your website could possibly have. This free software will help you understand what is going on with your website.

A partner to Google Analytics, Webmaster Tools is more focused on the technical aspects of your website.
Google discovers your site’s content by sending out what is often known as a ‘spider’ to crawl your site’s pages. This bot moves around from link to link, cataloguing and/or indexing what it finds. When the spider attempts to look at a page, your server will return a HTTP status code in response. This code gives the Google spider key information about your page.
Once you are logged into your Webmaster Tools account you can check to see if Google’s spider has found any crawling errors on your website. For example, it may find a ‘404 error’ which means ‘your page is not found’.

2. Simplify your URL structure

Having a good site structure will greatly improve your chance of ranking well in Google’s results. By making your URL structure clear will simply allow search engines to easily find your most important content as well as helping your users to enjoy an excellent user experience.

I recommend using a simple structure. All of your important content should be positioned within two clicks of your homepage when this is possible.

Your users will likely assume that your most important content is close to your homepage, as will search engines. Successful search engines are designed to copy user behavior.

3. Create an XML sitemap

Another way to let Google know which pages you consider important is by creating an XML sitemap.

An XML sitemap is a text file that maps your site and makes sure search engines crawl and index your pages on your website efficiently. Google has a free XML sitemap and I’ve personally observed that when a website adapts Google’s XML sitemap their rankings greatly improve. It stands to reason because the sitemap is created by Google.

Your sitemap will communicate other useful information to Google – such as which pages you consider to be the most important and which have been changed recently.

4. Check your robots.txt file

A standard method of communicating with Google’s spider is to use a Robots.txt file.

This is a text file that allows you to tell search engines which of your site’s pages you want to crawl and which not to index. If your site already has this file, it’s usually found at yoursite.com/robots.txt

Here is an example of what your robots file may say:

User-agent: *

Disallow: /

The “Disallow: /” line tells the spider not to crawl the site. In practice this means you’re instructing Google not to include any of your pages to be indexed in their search results.

5. Identify duplicate content

Duplicate content is a very important SEO issue.

Google may not show your pages in its results if it finds multiple versions of a page. This means your site is likely to suffer.

A common example of duplicate content is as follows:

www.yoursite.com www.YOURSITE.com

You may believe these are one of the same but this is not necessarily the case. Google could see each version as a separate page. This would cause a problem with your rankings.

Other common duplication examples are listed below:

I. Architecture

Duplicate content is common on ecommerce sites. This problem commonly occurs when a product on the site is placed into more than one category with the site’s architecture not correctly setup to accommodate this properly.

Although this may make sense to a user, from a search engine’s point of view it is classed as duplication.

ii. HTTP vs HTTPs

HTTPs session can also cause duplicate content. HTTPs pages are secure, often for logins, shopping baskets and payment transactions – they provide an encrypted connection, making them more secure than a typical HTTP page.

If a page is accessible via both HTTP and HTTPs this may cause duplication issues.

iii. Pagination

Another error is when content is spread over multiple pages. This is common on ecommerce sites that offer lots of products.



It is possible that Google will view these long blog posts as duplicates.

iv. URL capitalization

Capitalized letters in the URLs are another cause of duplication problems. Examples as follows:

www.example.com/abc
www.example.com/ABC
www.example.com/Abc

This issue can easily be resolved.

v. Click and session tracking

Some websites create ‘sessions’ for reasons such as tracking customers’ behavior. Such instances include when ecommerce sites create a session when a user is adding a product to their shopping cart. This session allows the user to continue shopping and browsing the site while maintaining their product(s) in the shopping cart.

A new URL will often be created when a new session has been created to allow the website to track the users’ activity. This makes it a duplication issue.

6. Use redirects correctly

There are a number of reasons why you may redirect content:
•When moving an old site to a new domain
•Directing traffic from one page to another
•Moving traffic from an expired page to an existing page
•Broken links on a page that you want to move to an alternative

There are a few different ways to redirect pages and it is advisable that you do so to avoid wasting traffic and losing your position in Google’s search results.

7. Check your internal linking

Internal links on your site will be an important factor in your site’s overall SEO. Links are not only a good navigational source for users but they also tell Google which of your pages are important.

Make it as easy as possible to help Google understand the purpose of each link. Here are the different kinds of links you will find:

II. Nofollow

The purpose of a Nofollow link is to tell Google that this link should be given no SEO benefit (for example, an advertorial). Adding this code in the HTML prevents the link from receiving any benefit.

All you need to do to create a Nofollow link is to add rel=”nofollow” in the HTML code. It is recommended to Nofollow a link in the following situations:
•The link is a paid advertisement
•The links are in a comments or forum section of your site
•You’re linking to a site that may not be entirely reputable

I have seen links that have inappropriately had a Nofollow tag added to them. As a result, link value is lost.

ii. JavaScript or flash links

Links using JavaScript or Flash are not crawled in the same way as HTML links. While Google does not have the ability to read most JavaScript links it is still recommended to use HTML where possible as JavaScript can still make it difficult for search engines to find your content.

8. Structured data (rich snippets)

Rich Snippets are a good way of helping your website to stand out in Google’s search results. These enable Google to show additional information, including images, as part of your listing.

Pages that use structured data, such as authorship mark up (example below) receive higher click through rates from Google than pages that don’t. Similar to listings with images – they attract approximately 25% more clicks.

Rich Snippets can be used to mark up the following:
•Events
•People
•Places
•Local Businesses
•Products
•Offers
•Reviews
•Music

The results of adding structured data to your pages increases your visibility and generates more traffic. If you want to learn more about rich Snippets, visit:
www.schema.org.

Search Engine is not rocket science. Learn to optimize your website today. Calll ABCO Technology at: (310) 216-3067 Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 6 PM. If you want to email our team for a class schedule, please email to:
info@abcotechnology.edu
Start optimizing your website today.


For more information visit ABCO Technology's reviews below.


ABCO Technology - Better Business Bureau

ABCO Technology - Yellow Pages

ABCO Technology - CitySearch

Ecommerce classes, Google’s product feed

Google Product Feed

Did you know that Google has a large portion of their website where they sell products? Naturally they do, you laugh to yourself, they have everything… with all joking aside, this is a serious topic for your business, because it can help you increase sales for your website, and that should be your goal.
Google Product Optimization Factors

As usual, Google is very tight-lipped about what it takes to get products to the top of Google’s Product Search. To clarify, we are discussing this in the following article.

Here are the main factors to just only having your products show up, but excelling in the Google product search index.

Product Title
Just like regular search engine optimization, you are going to want to strategically place your keyword in the title. This will increase your chances for ranking for that term.

Product Description
Product description is another factor for Google Product search engine optimization. Make sure your description also contains the keywords you would like to rank for.

Product Price
Price is a fairly significant factor in this equation. If your price is low, it will result in your product ranking higher.

Feed Attribute Data
Within your Google Product feed, whether it’s programmed in XML or CSV, you have the option of adding certain fields that identify your product. Some of these fields are mandatory and some are not, but the more accurate and information rich identifiers you list the more information Google will have to rank your product.

Product Identifiers

Category
You must choose from one of the four categories. Each category requests certain information.
• Media (i.e., Music, Movies, and Video Games): Must list UPC, EAN or JAN see types of unique product identifiers
• Books: ISBN (Either ISBN-10 or ISBN-13. Exceptions apply for books published before 1970.)
• Apparel: Type of Brand
• Custom made goods: Lucky, no identifiers are required at the moment
• All Other: You need to list at least 2 of the following: UPC, EAN, or JAN, Brand or MPN

The more data fields you fill out the better!

Fresh Google Product Feed Data
Google wants to see this feed refreshed and resubmitted on a regular basis. Make sure you set up a feed refresh, automatic crawl and submission process for your feed. If you do this once a week or so you should be in good shape.

Reviews of your Google Shopping Products
Getting positive reviews is one of the most important factors. This also plays a role in organic search engine optimization in some ways, so you really can’t go wrong with reviews. Those being the case, reviews are very important to Google Product optimization. In particular, the Google product search engine likes Google Checkout reviews.

Google Product Reviews
As you will come to learn, Google Product SEO is a project within itself. However, with a little work in this area you could be making more sales online before you know it.

Learn to promote your website or business online. ABCO Technology has an excellent curriculum of Ecommerce Classes. Call us Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 6 Pm or email us at:
info@abcotechnology.com

Start beating your competition today!

More about ABCO Technology

ABCO Technology - Better Business Bureau

ABCO Technology - Yellow Pages

ABCO Technology - CitySearch

DOD 8570 Definition & TRAINING IN LOS ANGELES

It pays to be both cleared and certified
DOD 8570 cyber security professionals are in high demand in numerous businesses and organizations including government, private industry, education and science. Protecting proprietary data is vital to any business or organization working in the information technology security field. A key question asked by many of our students concerns how can they find a fulfilling career in the information security industry? The following article will answer this question by explaining the DOD 8570 security clearance as it relates to information technology.

Beginning in 2003 the United States government began to implement information assurance qualifications. Persons who were trusted to protect proprietary data were considered as information assurance professionals. In 2005 the DOD developed the 8570 information assurance security clearance. The Department of Defense in 2011 required anyone charged with the job of protecting classified information must have the DOD 8570 clearance. We will describe the information technology certifications, which will be considered valid for DOD 8570 classification.

What is Dodd 8570?
Department of Defense Directive 8570 (DOD 8570) provides guidance and procedures for the training, certification, and management of all government employees who conduct Information Assurance functions in assigned duty positions. These individuals are required to carry an approved certification for their particular job classification. Dodd 8570 certifications are among those required for Technical and Management jobs working with companies who are under contract to the United States government.

Who is affected by Dodd 8570?
Any full or part-time military service member, contractor, or local nationals with privileged access to a Dodd information system performing information assurance (security) functions -- regardless of job or occupational series.

•Office of the Secretary of Defense
•Military Departments
•Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
•Combatant Commands
•Office of the Inspector General of the Dodd
•Defense companies & Agencies
•Dodd Field Activities
•All other organizational entities in the Dodd
Dodd 8570 Requires:
•By the end of CY 2010, all personnel performing IAT and IAM functions must be certified.
•By the end of CY 2011 all personnel performing CND-SP and IASAE roles must be certified.
•All IA jobs will be categorized as 'Technical' or 'Management' Level I, II, or III, and to be qualified for those jobs, you must be certified.
How can you benefit from this information?
Information technology professionals who have DOD 8570 clearance will be placed at the top of the list when applying for jobs with companies who are government contractors. Some firms advertise openly for DOD 8570 cleared professionals. Other companies will simply list an information technology position and place 8570 candidates at the top of the list. You can find companies advertising for DOD 8570 professionals at:www.indeed.com, www.monster.com andwww.careerbuilder.com. After viewing the job titles listed on these web sites, you will soon discover DOD candidates are in high demand. Obtaining a DOD 8570 clearance will place your application into a new category, which is not known to the general public.

What are the top certifications for DOD 8570 clearance?
The top three certifications under DOD 8570 are CompTIA’s A+, Network+ and Security+. The government considers the CompTia certifications to be mission critical because CompTia is vender neutral. A vender neutral certification makes a security professional highly flexible because the government can purchase computers from any vender and be assured the employee is cleared to work on that particular machine or network

Companies wanting to hire information assurance professionals value the Certified Information Systems Security Professional certification as critical to 8570 security standards. The CISSP is a management level certification. The CISSP receives its credibility when a candidate holds the CompTia certifications of A+, Net+ and Security+, which were listed above.

The Cisco Certified Network Associate is next on the list for DOD 8570 because holders of this Cisco certificate are certified to protect routers, which serve as an organization’s gateway to the Internet. Governments are moving to voice over IP, which increases the importance of protecting router information.

Industry and government organizations are now under considerable pressure to improve efficiency. The DOD 8570 added the Project Management Professional certification as a key component for 8570 clearance. Project managers have access to entire divisions of companies and agencies while they work on assigned projects.

Finally the Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert completes the list for DOD 8570 standards. Numerous government agencies and defense contractors are using Microsoft’s cloud network to store and manage their critical data.

ABCO Technology in Los Angeles, California offers the essential certifications for DOD 8570. Classes are offered year round.

Call ABCO Technology today for information about DOD 8570 training and clearance. You can reach us by phone at (310)-216-3067 Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 6 Pm.
To contact us by email please email to:
info@abcotechnology.com

Start your security career path today. Let us help you to obtain the best certifications and DOD 8570 clearance.

DOD 8570 Definition & TRAINING IN LOS ANGELES
It pays to be both cleared and certified
DOD 8570 cyber security professionals are in high demand in numerous businesses and organizations including government, private industry, education and science. Protecting proprietary data is vital to any business or organization working in the information technology security field. A key question asked by many of our students concerns how can they find a fulfilling career in the information security industry? The following article will answer this question by explaining the DOD 8570 security clearance as it relates to information technology.

Beginning in 2003 the United States government began to implement information assurance qualifications. Persons who were trusted to protect proprietary data were considered as information assurance professionals. In 2005 the DOD developed the 8570 information assurance security clearance. The Department of Defense in 2011 required anyone charged with the job of protecting classified information must have the DOD 8570 clearance. We will describe the information technology certifications, which will be considered valid for DOD 8570 classification.

What is Dodd 8570?
Department of Defense Directive 8570 (DOD 8570) provides guidance and procedures for the training, certification, and management of all government employees who conduct Information Assurance functions in assigned duty positions. These individuals are required to carry an approved certification for their particular job classification. Dodd 8570 certifications are among those required for Technical and Management jobs working with companies who are under contract to the United States government.
Who is affected by Dodd 8570?

Any full or part-time military service member, contractor, or local nationals with privileged access to a Dodd information system performing information assurance (security) functions -- regardless of job or occupational series.

•Office of the Secretary of Defense
•Military Departments
•Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
•Combatant Commands
•Office of the Inspector General of the Dodd
•Defense companies & Agencies
•Dodd Field Activities
•All other organizational entities in the Dodd
Dodd 8570 Requires:
•By the end of CY 2010, all personnel performing IAT and IAM functions must be certified.
•By the end of CY 2011 all personnel performing CND-SP and IASAE roles must be certified.
•All IA jobs will be categorized as 'Technical' or 'Management' Level I, II, or III, and to be qualified for those jobs, you must be certified.

How can you benefit from this information?
Information technology professionals who have DOD 8570 clearance will be placed at the top of the list when applying for jobs with companies who are government contractors. Some firms advertise openly for DOD 8570 cleared professionals. Other companies will simply list an information technology position and place 8570 candidates at the top of the list. You can find companies advertising for DOD 8570 professionals at:www.indeed.com, www.monster.com andwww.careerbuilder.com. After viewing the job titles listed on these web sites, you will soon discover DOD candidates are in high demand. Obtaining a DOD 8570 clearance will place your application into a new category, which is not known to the general public.

What are the top certifications for DOD 8570 clearance?
The top three certifications under DOD 8570 are CompTIA’s A+, Network+ and Security+. The government considers the CompTia certifications to be mission critical because CompTia is vender neutral. A vender neutral certification makes a security professional highly flexible because the government can purchase computers from any vender and be assured the employee is cleared to work on that particular machine or network.

Companies wanting to hire information assurance professionals value the Certified Information Systems Security Professional certification as critical to 8570 security standards. The CISSP is a management level certification. The CISSP receives its credibility when a candidate holds the CompTia certifications of A+, Net+ and Security+, which were listed above.

The Cisco Certified Network Associate is next on the list for DOD 8570 because holders of this Cisco certificate are certified to protect routers, which serve as an organization’s gateway to the Internet. Governments are moving to voice over IP, which increases the importance of protecting router information.

Industry and government organizations are now under considerable pressure to improve efficiency. The DOD 8570 added the Project Management Professional certification as a key component for 8570 clearance. Project managers have access to entire divisions of companies and agencies while they work on assigned projects.

Finally the Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert completes the list for DOD 8570 standards. Numerous government agencies and defense contractors are using Microsoft’s cloud network to store and manage their critical data.

ABCO Technology in Los Angeles, California offers the essential certifications for DOD 8570. Classes are offered year round.
Call ABCO Technology today for information about DOD 8570 training and clearance. You can reach us by phone at (310)-216-3067 Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 6 Pm.

To contact us by email please email to:
info@abcotechnology.com

Start your security career path today. Let us help you to obtain the best certifications and DOD 8570 clearance.

For more information visit us online

ABCO Technology - Better Business Bureau

ABCO Technology - Yellow Pages

Demand for Internet Security Professionals continues to increase

On August 28, 2014 the news was filled with stories about United States banks being hacked by government sponsored hackers believed to be from Russia. Reports stated at least five major U.S. banks have been hacked.
Jamie Dimon chief executive officer for Chase bank told reporters that the bank had been the victim of a major hack attack. Mr. Dimon went on to say that Chase bank currently employs 1,000 information technology professionals strictly devoted to the task of network security. Mr. Dimon told reporters the bank will be doubling the size of this security work force over the next 18 months.
Bank of America, Wells Fargo and U.S. Bank were also hacked. Professionals representing these banks stated their cyber security teams would be doubled and possibly tripled in size over the next two years.
Major hospitals, insurance companies and even universities are under cyber-attacks from government sponsored hackers.
Cyber-attacks are now a major weapon of war in the twenty-first century. Russia is in a dispute with the world regarding the country’s activities in the Ukraine. Russia along with other countries believes a cyber-attack will cause more destruction than an invading army under certain circumstances. The need for companies, organizations and governments to defend against these attacks is now a key component for survival in this century. The need for Internet professionals who understand cyber security will continue to expand.
If you are a network administrator, want to become one or own a company having critical data that needs protection the field of cyber security is essential to the future of your business.
Types of Internet Security certifications available.
The information technology field has many certifications, which will help you protect your network. At the beginner level CompTIA offers an excellent curriculum to introduce you to cyber threats and some excellent strategies to reduce them. CompTIA’s course provides students with a strong overview of the field.
The CISSP or Certified Internet Systems Securities Professional is your next step on the ladder to becoming a cyber-security professional. Organizations and companies large and small highly value this certification. Students will learn the finer points of Internet Security.
The Certified Ethical Hacker is at the top of the list. In this course students learn how to think like a government sponsored hacker. The course will show you several solid strategies, which network security professionals use to defend a network against a hacking attack.
The old folk song, which said “for the times they are a changing” echo throughout the field of cyber security. Gone are the teenage hackers with nothing but time on their hands. The teenage hacker has been replaced by highly trained professionals who are sophisticated.

ABCO Technology located at 6733 S Sepulveda Blvd. in Los Angeles teaches all of the certifications mentioned in this article. Call our team from 9 AM to 6 PM. Monday through Friday at (310) 216-3067. You can email us for a schedule of current classes to: info@abcotechnology.com
Bring your security skills up-to-date today!

For more information visit us online
ABCO Technology - Better Business Bureau

ABCO Technology - YellowPages

Cyber Security classes and certification courses in Los Angeles.

For the past decade cyber security has been a hotly debated topic regarding jobs in information technology. The key questions asked by information technology professionals concerns, which certifications are in demand and where can I find employment after training is completed. On May 19, 2014, the United States Department of Justice filed major indictments against five leading government Chinese officials for cyber stalking and hacking. The United States government by filing these charges officially admitted a major Internet cold war is in progress. Secretary of State Chuck Hagel is tripled his staff to combat this serious securities threat. As a cyber-securities professional, you can find work in this growing field because of the demand, which now exists. We will reprint the Fox news story below and follow it up with some suggestions regarding, which certifications will benefit you in this present environment.

DOJ brings cyber-espionage case against Chinese officials
The Justice Department on Monday announced a first-of-its-kind criminal cyber-espionage case against Chinese military officials, accusing them of hacking into major U.S. companies to steal trade secrets.
Prosecutors described the alleged crimes as "21st century burglary."
Attorney General Eric Holder and other federal law enforcement officials revealed the indictment Monday morning, accusing five Shanghai-based Chinese officials of targeting the U.S. nuclear power, metals and solar products industries. The alleged victims include major U.S. firms like Alcoa, Westinghouse and United States Steel.
Holder said the hackers were targeting a total of six American companies, stealing information deemed useful to companies in China, including state-owned firms. He stressed that the alleged hacking is far different than the type of intelligence gathering conducted by governments around the world, in that this involved cyber-espionage for the sheer purpose of gaining the commercial upper hand against U.S. businesses.
"This is a tactic that the United States government categorically denounces," Holder said. "This case should serve as a wake-up call to the seriousness of the ongoing cyberthreat."
The charges were described as the first such case brought against state actors. The specific charges relate to cyber-espionage and theft of trade secrets.
John Carlin, recently installed as head of the Justice's National Security Division, had identified the prosecution of state-sponsored cyberthreats as a goal for the Obama administration.
"For the first time, we are exposing the faces and names behind the keyboards in Shanghai used to steal from American businesses," he said Monday, accusing the Chinese officials of "stealing the fruits of our labor."
The charges are being brought in a federal court in Pittsburgh, Pa. Holder, who acknowledged the defendants have never set foot in the United States, was pressed Monday on whether there's any hope that the Chinese government would hand over the five officials charged in the indictment.

Holder said the "intention" is for the defendants to face the charges in a U.S. court, and he hopes to have Chinese government cooperation.
U.S. officials have accused China's army and China-based hackers of launching attacks on American industrial and military targets, often to steal secrets or intellectual property. China has said that it faces a major threat from hackers, and the country's military is believed to be among the biggest targets of the NSA and U.S. Cyber Command.
Last September, President Obama discussed cybersecurity issues on the sidelines of a summit in St. Petersburg, Russia, with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
White House spokesman Ben Rhodes said at the time that Obama had addressed concerns about cyber threats emanating from China. He said Obama told Xi the U.S. sees it not through the prism of security, but out of concern over theft of trade secrets.
In late March, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel revealed that the Pentagon planned to more than triple its cybersecurity staff in the next few years to defend against Internet attacks that threaten national security.
Hagel's comments at the National Security Agency headquarters in suburban Washington came as he prepared to visit China.
"Our nation's reliance on cyberspace outpaces our cybersecurity," Hagel said at the time. "Our nation confronts the proliferation of destructive malware and a new reality of steady, ongoing and aggressive efforts to probe, access or disrupt public and private networks, and the industrial control systems that manage our water, and our energy and our food supplies."
Fox News' Shayla Bezdrob and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
What certifications will benefit you as an information technology professional?
There are three certifications, which are in high demand for those who want to work in cyber security. They are: the CompTIA Security+, The Certified Internet Systems Securities Professional/CISSP and the Certified Ethical Hacker. Companies needing employees with the capability to protect their data will look for people who hold these credentials.
ABCO Technology located at 6733 S Sepulveda Blvd. in Los Angeles offers classes for all three certifications mentioned above. Call us from 9 AM to 6 PM Monday through Friday at: (310) 216-3067. You can email us at:
info@abcotechnology.com
Join the Internet security industry today!

Check out our Reviews
ABCO Technology - Better Business Bureau

ABCO Technology - Yellow Pages

Career Advancement through certification programs

Certification programs are often lumped in with higher education options but a certificate is not an academic degree. A certificate is professional qualification, proof that individuals are knowledgeable and proficient in a specialized skill, trade, or profession according to standardized requirements. Standards are regulated by accredited professional organizations or associations. In some professions, certification is required for employment, similar to licensure. Licensure, however, is a legal requirement for certain professions and is regulated by the government via state agencies, primarily to ensure public safety. Registration is another form of regulation, requiring professionals to file and comply with regulatory agencies.


In many professions, certification isn't required but voluntary, a career tool, one that defines and affirms your abilities, one that allows you portability in the field, and one that can lend you a competitive edge in the workplace. Expertise and experience can be subjective, relative to the places you have worked and how your jobs functioned within individual workplaces. Certification is an objective declaration of your credentials, particularly helpful for employers that are unfamiliar with the context of your experience.


Specialization is often key to certification programs. While professionals may have earned academic degrees that prepared them for entrance into an industry or practice of a certain occupation, professional mobility and advancement is dependent on job-related expertise and discrete skill sets. An entire subset of certification is product-specific. Information technology is a field rife with certificate programs. IT professionals are pursuing certification in hardware or software specialties.


According to Quint Careers and the Career Masters Institute, certification is increasing in visibility and number in a few particular fields: Information Technology, Financial Management & Planning, Safety, Healthcare, Human Resources, Hospitality, Internal Auditing, Manufacturing, Homeland Security, Training & Instructional Design, Automotive, Administrative, Project Management, Fitness Training, and Real Estate.


Certification Program Basics


Make sure that you choose a program that is accredited within your industry. Your human resources manager may be able to provide guidance. Professional association and organization websites provide extensive resources and links to help direct you to accredited programs. ABCO Technology has a helpful list of accredited certification programs for the Information Technology industry - http://www.abcotechnology.edu

1. Pay close attention to prerequisite requirements. Enrollment in certificate programs may require a prerequisite academic degree, workplace experience or achievement, letters of recommendation, or other requirements unique to your profession.
   
2. Certification programs typically prepare students for national credentials exams. Know how and when exams are administered, if there are fees attached to exams, and whether you can retake exams in the case of poor performance.
   
3. In many professions, certification needs to be renewed after a certain amount of years, and renewal may require education upkeep.
   
4. Different programs come with different costs and fees. Comparison shop, not for a bargain but for value: the elements and benefits of a program should match the price.
   
5. Certification should directly correspond to your career. The cost and effort you put into a certificate program should be useful and resonant. Ask yourself if certification is a redundant effort, if it is a vanity effort, if it is a misdirected effort, or if it genuinely offers you a professional advantage.
   
6. Consider consulting your employer about financial assistance. Many companies have tuition reimbursement programs and even those that don't may be amenable to funding certification programs that directly boost employee expertise and job-related skills.
   
7. Certain professions lend themselves to online education. Online certification programs can provide the necessary flexibility for full-time professionals.

Customer Relationship Management classes in Los Angeles

In today’s Internet business environment, customers are an extremely valuable asset of any business or organization. Numerous articles correctly state that keeping an existing customer or client is far more cost effective then attracting new customers. Translated into simple everyday language, we’re discussing repeat business, which is the key to any company’s survival. This article will define and discuss customer relationship management, which is commonly referred to as CRM.
CRM is the common abbreviation for customer relationship management. CRM entails all aspects of interaction that a company has with its customers, whether we’re talking about sales or service-related activities. While the phrase customer relationship management is most commonly used to describe a business-customer relationship, CRM systems are also used to manage your business contacts, clients, contract wins and sales leads. Forward thinking companies and organizations regard CRM as a valuable business asset, which must be protected at all possible costs.

The Customer Relationship Management Business Strategy

Customer relationship management is often thought of as a business strategy that enables businesses to:
1. Understand the customer.
2. Retain customers through better customer experience.
3. Attract new customers.
4. Win new clients and contracts.
5. Increase profitability.
6. Decrease customer management costs.

How Customer Relationship Management (CRM) is Used Today
Customer relationship management solutions provide your business with the customer support data to help you provide services or products, which your customers want, deliver better customer service, cross-sell and up sell more products or services effectively, close deals, retain current customers and better understand who your customers are.

Organizations frequently looking for ways to personalize online experiences (a process also referred to as mass customization) through tools such as help-desk software, email organizers and different types of enterprise applications rely heavily upon CRM tools and services to facilitate their operations.
What is a Dashboard as it relates to CRM?

Dashboard is a term that is widely used to describe an application interface that provides users with quick access to information or common tasks generated by CRM software. In CRM (customer relationship management) the dashboard is used to monitor business performance and CRM data and reports are often shown in the dashboard to provide a quick and easy overview of current business customer related activities and performance using charts, graphs, and maps.

A CRM dashboard is designed to let users perform some specific actions and tasks with a single mouse-click from the tool’s interface. For example, a click from the CRM dashboard could provide you with a detailed report on any lead follow-ups that are scheduled for today. Advance applications will make suggestions regarding cross or up-selling products.
ABCO Technology located at 6733 S Sepulveda Blvd. STE 106 in Los Angeles offers detailed information about Customer Relationship Management in the Ecommerce Course. Please call us between 9 AM and 6 PM Monday through Friday at: (310) 216-3067.
Email us for class schedules at:

info@abcotechnology.com.
Improve your CRM performance today!


ABCO Technology Reviews from City Search

ABCO Technology Reivews City Search

Crowd funding in 2014, the New Ecommerce strategy to gather capital for your project!

The twenty-first century, with break-throughs in technology has created innovative strategies for small and medium-sized businesses to raise capital to fund their projects. Conventional banks and lending institutions are crippled by extensive regulations including Dodd-Frank, which limits the amount of financial risk banks can take for small companies who want to market their product or service. As a result of this vacuum the need is being filled by the emergence of crowd funding. Crowd funding is becoming a lucrative source of capital for small businesses. This article will briefly look at 10 websites who are active players in this new industry. The Internet is filled with discussions about crowd funding. Fox news recently featured a 3D printing company who used crowd funding to bring their new $199 3D printer to market. New ideas create excitement and this draws millions of potential businesses and investors to this market place. Unfortunately we have found over 700 websites who claim to provide crowd funding. Our research has limited this number down to ten sites who are crowd funding sites with a strong track record of providing accurate and complete information to investors.
Let us ask the question… what crowd funding site is best for you?
As a crowdfunding industry reporter, I wanted to provide you an easy guide for which site to visit for your crowdfunding needs.

I’ll begin with a small overview of this industry, a short primer on the different kinds of crowdfunding models so you can find what you’re looking for, and then I’ll get to specific site recommendations.

The base of the Crowdfunding Industry
Collaboration on the web is an area of tremendous growth. Crowdfunding, or collaborative funding via the web, is one of the standouts for growth in this evolving collaborative economy.

The Crowdfunding Industry Report by Massolution provided data showing the general crowdfunding industry has raised $5.7 billion in 2013, across more than 2 million individual campaigns globally. In 2014 the industry is projected to grow to $7.1 billion.

Some of the most interesting developments in crowdfunding, which are expected to grow in the months and years ahead, include: investment crowdfunding, which is simply (becoming a shareholder in a company), localization (funding focused on participants in specific cities and neighborhoods), mobile solutions, and group-based approaches.

The JOBS Act that was passed in April of 2012 paved the way to investment crowdfunding; however, the JOBS Act Rulings by the SEC have yet to be fully implemented to formally start the market. Expect big movement and activity in this area in 2014 and 2015.

Crowdfunding Models
There are 2 main models or types of crowdfunding. The first is what is known as donation-based funding. The birth of crowdfunding has evolved through this model, where funders donate via a collaborative goal based process in return for products, perks or rewards.

The second and more recent model is investment crowdfunding, where businesses seeking capital sell ownership stakes online in the form of equity or debt. In this model, individuals who fund become owners or shareholders and have a potential for financial return, unlike the donation model.


Crowdfunding Sites You Can Choose From
Business owners are using different crowdfunding sites than musicians. Musicians are using different sites from causes and charities. Below is a list of crowdfunding sites that have different models and focuses. This list can help you find the right place for your crowdfunding goals and needs.

1. Kickstarter
Kickstarter is a site where creative projects raise donation-based funding. These projects will range from new creative products, like an art installation, to a cool watch, to pre-selling a music album. It’s not for businesses, causes, charities, or personal financing needs. Kickstarter is one of the earlier platforms, and has experienced strong growth and many break-out large campaigns in the last few years.

2. Indiegogo
While Kickstarter maintains a tighter focus and curates the creative projects approved on its site, Indiegogo approves donation-based fundraising campaigns for most anything — music, hobbyists, personal finance needs, charities and whatever else you could think of (except investment). They have had international growth because of their flexibility, broad approach and their early start in the industry.

3. Crowdfunder
Crowdfunder is the crowdfunding platform for businesses, with a growing social network of investors, tech startups, small businesses, and social enterprises (financially sustainable/profitable businesses with social impact goals).

Crowdfunder offers a blend of donation-based and investment crowdfunding from individuals and angel investors, and was a leading participant in the JOBS Act legislation. The company has localized crowdfunding and investment to help develop entrepreneurial ecosystems and access to capital outside Silicon Valley. Its unique CROWDFUNDING initiative in cities across the US and Mexico connects local investors with local entrepreneurs both online and offline, and does the work to validate top local companies in each city across the US and Mexico.

4. RocketHub
RocketHub powers donation-based funding for a wide variety of creative projects.

What’s unique about RocketHub is their FuelPad and LaunchPad programs that help campaign owners and potential promotion and marketing partners connect and collaborate for the success of a campaign.

5. Crowdrise
Crowdrise is a place for donation-based funding for Causes and Charities. They’ve attracted a community of do-gooders and fund all types of inspiring causes and needs.

A unique Points System on Crowdrise helps track and reveal how much charitable impact members and organizations are making.

6. Somolend
Somolend is a site for lending for small businesses in the US, providing debt-based investment funding to qualified businesses with existing operations and revenue. Somolend has partnered with banks to provide loans, as well as helping small business owners bring their friends and family into the effort.

With their Midwest roots, a strong founder who was a leading participant in the JOBS Act legislation, and their focus and lead in the local small business market, Somolend has begun expanding into multiple cities and markets in the US.

7. appbackr
If you want to create the next new mobile app and are seeking donation-based funding to get things off the ground or growing, then check out appbackr and their niche community for mobile app development.

8. AngelList
If you’re a tech startup with a shiny lead investor already signed on, or looking for Silicon Valley momentum, then there are angels and institutions finding investments through AngelList. For some time AngelList didn’t say that they did crowdfunding, which makes sense as they have catered to the investment establishment in tech startups, but now they’re getting into the game. The accredited investors and institutions on AngelList have been funding a growing number of select tech startup deals.

9. Invested.in
You might want to create your own crowdfunding community to support donation-based fundraising for a specific group or niche in the market. Invested.in is a Venice, CA based company that is a top name “white label” software provider, giving you the tools to get started and grow your own.

10. Quirky
If you’re an inventor, maker, or tinkerer of some kind then Quirky is a place to collaborate and crowdfund for donation-based funding with a community of other like-minded inventors. Their site digs deeper into helping the process of bringing an invention or product to life, allowing community participation in the process.

These 10 crowdfunding sites cover most campaign types or funding goals you may have. Whether you’re looking to fundraise or not, go visit the sites listed in this article that grab your attention and become involved in this collaborative community.
ABCO Technology offers classes for Ecommerce and crowd funding strategies. Please call us at (310) 216-3067 between 9 AM and 6 PM Monday through Friday. You can Email us at: info@abcotechnology.edu for a schedule of classes.
Bring your new idea or project to market today.

For more information Visit us Online @
ABCO Technology City Search Review

ABCO Technology - Better Business Bureau Reviews

CompTIA Security+ course information for Los Angeles

This week ABCO Technology has been focusing on the field of Internet security due to the DOJ’s indictment of five Chinese government officials for hacking into several large United States corporations.

Today’s article will discuss the entry-level certification for an information technology professional to enter the growing field of Internet security.

The CompTIA Security+ is vender neutral and offers a student an excellent opportunity to experience Internet security from the ground floor.

Why Security+?

•Approved by U.S. Dept. of Defense to meet IA technical and management certification requirements
•Chosen by professional staff at Hitachi Information Systems (Japan), Prestariang Systems Sdn. Bhd. (Malaysia) and U.S. government contractors such as CSC, General Dynamics and Northrop Grumman

•Updated every 3 years and part of the CompTIA Continuing Education program
Relevant Job Titles
•Security Engineer
•Security Consultant
•Network Administrator
•IA Technician or Manager
Plan your Career Path
Certification Information
The Security+ exam covers the most important foundational principles for securing a network and managing risk. Access control, identity management and cryptography are important topics on the exam, as well as selection of appropriate mitigation and deterrent techniques to address network attacks and vulnerabilities. Security concerns associated with cloud computing, BYOD and SCADA are addressed in the SY0-401 exam.

While there is no required prerequisite, Network+ or the A+ certification is recommended before taking the Security+ exam.
CompTIA is an ANSI accredited Certifier - 0731. The CompTIA Security+Ce program is included in the scope of this accreditation. The CompTIA Security+ certification may be kept current through the CompTIA Continuing Education program.


Test Details

Number of questions Maximum of 90 questions
Type of questions Multiple choice and performance-based
Length of test 90 minutes
Passing score 750
(On a scale of 100-900)

Recommended experience Minimum of two years of experience in IT administration with a focus on security
Languages English initially; other languages to follow

Exam codes SY0-401

ABCO Technology offers a wide range of Internet security courses, which includes the CompTIA Security +. Please call us to day for more information about our Internet Security program. You may phone us between 9 AM and 6 PM Monday through Friday at: (310) 216-3067. If email is your preferred way to communicate, please email us at:
info@abcotechnology.com.

Become an internet Security Professional today. This field is in demand.

Article by Melissa Waltch

For more information visit us online @

ABCO Technology - Yahoo Local

ABCO Technology - Crunch Base

Certified Ethical Hacking course for Los Angeles Explained

Today’s network environment is dominated by the threats of networking penetration, social engineering and direct fraud. Network professionals are required to possess a wide variety of skills to protect a network against attack. The United States government has indicted five Chinese government officials for hacking into the networks of United States private companies. Hackers are after information, which they believe to be highly profitable.

The practice of hacking once carried out by youth with a lot of time on their hands has given way to highly trained and professional hackers who are backed by major companies and governments having one goal in mind, which is stealing information, which will bring a large profit to the organization who can obtain this information.

Companies having proprietary data to protect are requiring their network professionals to have a certification demonstrating skills and knowledge in the field of computer hacking. This certificate is the Certified Ethical Hacker sponsored by EC Counsel. In this article we will provide an overview of the specific skills, which are required for the Certified Ethical Hacker Certificate.

Certified Ethical Hacker
Course Description

The Certified Ethical Hacker Program certifies individuals in the specific network security discipline of Ethical Hacking from a vendor-neutral perspective. A Certified Ethical Hacker is a skilled professional who understands and knows how to look for the weaknesses and vulnerabilities in target systems and uses the same knowledge and tools as a malicious hacker.
Course Duration

40 hours
Target Student: The Certified Ethical Hacker certification will fortify the application knowledge of security officers, auditors, security professionals, site administrators, and anyone who is concerned about the integrity of the network infrastructure.

Delivery Method: Instructor-led, group-paced, classroom-delivery learning model with structured minds-on and hands-on activities.

Benefits: This class will immerse the student into an interactive environment where they will be shown how to scan, test, and secure their own systems. The lab-intensive environment gives each student in-depth knowledge and practical experience with all current essential security systems. Students will begin by understanding how perimeter defenses work and then be led into scanning and attacking their own networks. Students then learn how intruders escalate privileges and what steps can be taken to secure a system. Students will also learn about intrusion detection, policy creation, social engineering, open source intelligence, incident handling, and log interpretation.

What's Next: The CEH Program certifies individuals in the specific network security discipline of Ethical Hacking from a vendor-neutral perspective. The Certified Ethical Hacker certification will significantly benefit security officers, auditors, security professionals, site administrators, and anyone who is concerned about the integrity of the network infrastructure.

Course Objectives:
• Developing the hacker's mind.
• Network surveying.
• Port scanning.
• System identification/OS fingerprinting.
• Vulnerability research and verification.
• Service identification.
• Internet application testing.
• Document grinding.
• Recognizing security issues within an organization.
• Performing legal assessments on remote/foreign networks.
• Examining an organization for weaknesses as through the eyes of an industrial spy or a competitor.
• Implementing the right tools for each task of the Methodology
• Competitive Intelligence.
• Exploiting vulnerabilities remotely.
• Examining appropriate countermeasures to thwart malicious hacking.

ABCO Technology offers a complete program to assist students interested in network security, which includes the Certified Ethical Hacker Certification. Call our school from 9 AM. To 6 PM. Monday through Friday at (310) 216-3067 to obtain more information about this program. You may Email our team at:

info@abcotechnology.com. ABCO Technology is located at 6733 S Sepulveda Blvd. Ste 106 Los Angeles, Ca. 90045.

Improve your network security skills today!

Article by Melissa Waltch.

For more information visit us online:

ABCO Technology - Yahoo Local

ABCO Technology - Crunchbase

Apple’s new iPhone six could be a real game changing device in Apple’s brand history.

With the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C, which were simple updates to previous models, there's a lot of pressure placed on the birth of the iPhone 6.

As per the norm, the internet is filled with rumor, speculation and some might say lies over this next-generation handset, which is why we spent our time reading through each nugget of information, debating its merits and curating it into this easy-to-read article for the technical land of iPhone 6.

According to a survey of 4132 US consumers, the iPhone 6 is the most anticipated Apple smartphone in the company’s history, with interest easily outstripping that of the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5.

Let’s peak at what Apple may have in store for us on the iPhone 6, thanks to the announcement of iOS 8 at WWDC.

  From a bigger screen and camera to health monitoring and more storage capacity.

•What iOS 8 tells us about the iPhone 6

Some of you might have been expecting the iPhone 6 to have debuted in 2013, but given the iPhone's past history, from the 3G onwards, there's always been a half-step S model before the next numbered iPhone.  We were never going to receive the iPhone 6 until 2014. In fact, it will actually be the iPhone 8 when the new product finally launches. But, who’s counting iPhones these days?

One thing is for sure, with the Samsung Galaxy S5, Sony Xperia Z2 and HTC One M8 now out, Apple needs to be on its game with the new iPhone - and many believe a bigger screen is simply a must have.

Let’s cut to the heart of the matter

•What is it? A major revision of the iPhone including entire design
•When is it out? September 2014 seems most probable
•What will it cost? Expect luxury pricing for a premium smartphone

Latest update: Taiwanese driving and movie star Jimmy Lin has posted some images to social network Weibo apparently showing off the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 alongside the iPhone 5S 
 IPhone 6 release date

The iPhone 6 release date will be in 2014 and it's looking increasingly likely that we'll see it in September, which would fit in nicely with the rollout of the newly announced iOS 8.

Apple has launched the last several iPhones at a special event in September, so the smart money has always been on September 2014 for the iPhone 6's birth.

Not to mention the fact that according to ifun.de, Apple is restricting holidays during September for employees at German Apple Stores, which strongly suggests a new hardware launch just might take place

What does all of this mean to an information technology professional?

The iPhone six will create the need for countless new applications.  New hardware always opens the door for programmers to create those killer applications. The article mentioned health monitoring; do you have a new idea? If you are reading this article and have a strong desire to learn computer programming, you could be a future talented person who will design the next block buster application for the iPhone 6. 

ABCO Technology located at 6733 S Sepulveda Blvd. Ste #106 in Los Angeles, Ca. 90045 offers a wide variety of computer programming courses.  Call us today at (310) 216-3067 from 9 AM. To 6 PM. Monday through Friday.  You can email us for a schedule of classes to:

info@abcotechnology.com.

Start developing innovative applications today!

Article by Melissa Waltch

For more information visit us online -

ABCO Technology - Yahoo Local


ABCO Technology - Crunch Base

CRM development Classes in Los Angeles

Would you like to become an experienced developer who understands customer relationship management software systems? ABCO Technology will offer you courses that will give you the knowledge, experience and qualifications to implement a CRM system, which will work for you as a web developer. Here is some basic information about customer relationship management systems below so you can determine if you want to build a customer relationship management application for your clients.
Customer relationship management, CRM is a process implemented for managing a firm’s interactions with current and future customers. CRM involves using information technology to organize, automate, and synchronize sales, marketing, customer service, and technical support. There are significant differences concerning how a customer relationship management system is implemented between business to business or B2B and business to customer or B2C organizations. CRM Differences
B2B and B2C marketing operates differently, that is why companies are unable to use the same software for both business models. The differences are focused on the approach of these two types of business processes.

B2B companies generally have a smaller contact database than B2C firms.
The amount of sales in B2B is relatively small
In B2B there is less business propositions, but in some cases they cost a lot more than B2C merchandise.
Business relationships in the B2B environment are built over a longer period of time.
In the B2C model transactions will occur as a result of impulse purchases involving price instead of relationships.

When you become a B2B or B2C CRM developer, it is important to insure that you understand the major differences, which exist between Business to business and business to consumer CRM business models.
The Ecommerce and Web Development program offered by ABCO Technology will teach you the differences between the two business management systems. You will learn how to implement them for the benefit of your clients. A customer relationship management system will make or break any business. Learn to build an effective one to day. Please call us Monday through Friday from 9AM to 6PM to obtain class scheduling along with other important information you will need.

You can reach us at (310)216-3067 or Email us at:
info@abcotechnology.com

For more information visit us Online -

ABCO Technology - Pinterest

ABCO Technology - City Search


ABCO Technology - IT Training For Veterans

Content Length Long Verses Short

For many years the deep secret of blogging was the 500-word blog post. It was the winning formula. These posts worked every time. Until it didn't.

Then in August 2013, Google updated their algorithm for showing search results for in-depth articles. Google explained this by saying that "up to 10% of users' daily information needs revolve around learning about a broad topic." And so we saw an influx of brands publishing upward of 2,000 words per post!
So, going forward, which form of content should you focus your content creation energy on: short or long, or perhaps a mix? If you go for a mix, then at what ratio? Let's look at some factors you need to consider that will help you make this decision.

A caveat before we proceed: I think we can all agree that content length for the sake of length is not just a dumb strategy, but it will backfire all of the advantages discussed below. So we'll continue this analysis with the hypothesis that all content being created, whether long or short, meets quality criteria (i.e., it is valuable, helpful, entertaining, etc.)
Marco Arment quote
Long-Form Content
Long-form content is described as content that is typically 2,000 words in length or thereabouts and makes for a compelling, insightful read. Examples of long-form content include whitepapers, e-books, guides, resources, videos, and webinars.


Pros:
•Google has a dedicated ranking mechanism for long articles.
•Keeps audience on site longer, increases engagement.
•Supports evergreen, foundational content.
•Presents a broader, deeper view on the topic.
•Caters to a deeply invested audience.
•Provides quality backlinks.
•Establishes credibility and thought-leadership.


Cons:
•People don't always have time to read.
•Short attention spans.
•Typically less shareable.
•Probably won't go viral.
•Length itself doesn't guarantee higher ranking.
Here's what experts in the long-form content camp have to say about its value:

Neil Patel quote
Marcus Sheridan quote
Short-Form Content

According to Matt Mullenweg, founder of WordPress, "The average post on WordPress is 280 words long, and that's remained 'relatively constant' over the past few years." Examples of short-form content include blog posts that are less than 1,000 words, list posts, Vine videos, and infographics.

Pros:
•People scan online, rather than read.
•Lends itself to being shared.
•Mobile-friendly.
•Attract more eyeballs.
•Potential to go viral.
•Fun!

Cons:
•Spouts me-too content.
•People have become blind to formulaic posts.
•Can't go in-depth into topic.
•Too shallow.
•May not provide enough info about topic.
People in the short-form content camp include Mark Schaefer and Jakob Nielsen.
Jakob Nielsen Quote
Mark Schaefer quote

Long vs. Short Content: Which Should You Create More of?

So, which form of content should you be focused on creating? Common sense would dictate that you produce both types of content because both serve a different need. But how you decide what ratio they should be in? How much long-form and how much short content should you be producing?
It really depends on six questions:

1. What Stage of Business Are You At?
Early-stage start-ups may not have the resources or time required to produce long-form content. They would be looking to gain traction sooner rather than later and so might prefer shorter stories that would be more likely to be shared.

Conversely, a business that's an industry heavyweight would have both the expertise and the resources to produce foundation-building evergreen long-form content.

2. What's Your Personality & Style?
Seth Godin produces blog posts in small spurts. That's his style. Is that your style? Does that suit your business's tone and voice?

Your decision to go long or short will also depend on what matches the style that is most authentic to your personality. You will attract an audience who loves you for your style and personality, rather than the other way around of building a style to support an audience you feel you should be catering to. I'm a big believer in being authentic because anything else is not a sustainable strategy.

3. What's the Goal of Your Content?
Your answer may be different if your goal is to be a NY Times best-selling author versus becoming your industry's go-to news guy. What are the goals you wish to achieve with your content: engagement, discussion, industry status, shareability, traffic, search rankings, or more?

It's OK for goals to evolve and change with time as your business grows. Develop content according to the goals it can achieve today.

4. What Platform Will It Be Consumed On?
It's a no-brainer to remember that people prefer consuming short-form content on their mobiles while they are on-the-go.

Tablets are traditionally used to read e-books and watch movies since we're comfortable with holding the lightweight devices in our hands for a longer time.

Desktops and laptops can potentially be used to consume both short-form (Twitter Web) and long-form (downloadable guides) content.

5. Who's the End Consumer?
Who's your audience: people bored on the Internet looking for something funny or industry professionals? The length of your content and therefore, its appeal, would depend on what kind of material your customer most prefers.

6. What Are the Topic's Requirements?
What does the topic itself require? For example, if you're tackling an ultimate guide that would naturally demand long-form content versus if you're writing about celebrity gossip.

Although for some businesses it makes sense to produce only long-form or only short-form content, for most of us, it makes sense to choose both.

So what should the ratio be? Some businesses might be more suited to producing more of long-form than short, while others may benefit from shorter bite-sized nuggets.

Summary
Analyze your business and decide for yourself how these six fields may influence your content length decision:

Long-Form vs Short-Form Content
These are rough guidelines, but you can use them as a starting point when deciding which type of content to produce. Ultimately, though, whichever form of content you create, it must meet your current goals.

Improve your website content today. Contact ABCO Technology Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 6 PM at: 310-216-3067 or email us at:

info@abcotechnology.com. Improve your content writing today.

For more information check out our reviews online -

ABCO Technology - Pinterest

ABCO Technology - Citysearch

ABCO Technology - Veterans It Training Los Angeles-

Content Length Long Verses Short

Content Length Long Verses Short

For many years the deep secret of blogging was the 500-word blog post. It was the winning formula. These posts worked every time. Until it didn't.

Then in August 2013, Google updated their algorithm for showing search results for in-depth articles. Google explained this by saying that "up to 10% of users' daily information needs revolve around learning about a broad topic." And so we saw an influx of brands publishing upward of 2,000 words per post!
So, going forward, which form of content should you focus your content creation energy on: short or long, or perhaps a mix? If you go for a mix, then at what ratio? Let's look at some factors you need to consider that will help you make this decision.

A caveat before we proceed: I think we can all agree that content length for the sake of length is not just a dumb strategy, but it will backfire all of the advantages discussed below. So we'll continue this analysis with the hypothesis that all content being created, whether long or short, meets quality criteria (i.e., it is valuable, helpful, entertaining, etc.)
Marco Arment quote
Long-Form Content
Long-form content is described as content that is typically 2,000 words in length or thereabouts and makes for a compelling, insightful read. Examples of long-form content include whitepapers, e-books, guides, resources, videos, and webinars.

Pros:
•Google has a dedicated ranking mechanism for long articles.
•Keeps audience on site longer, increases engagement.
•Supports evergreen, foundational content.
•Presents a broader, deeper view on the topic.
•Caters to a deeply invested audience.
•Provides quality backlinks.
•Establishes credibility and thought-leadership.

Cons:
•People don't always have time to read.
•Short attention spans.
•Typically less shareable.
•Probably won't go viral.
•Length itself doesn't guarantee higher ranking.
Here's what experts in the long-form content camp have to say about its value:

Neil Patel quote
Marcus Sheridan quote
Short-Form Content

According to Matt Mullenweg, founder of WordPress, "The average post on WordPress is 280 words long, and that's remained 'relatively constant' over the past few years." Examples of short-form content include blog posts that are less than 1,000 words, list posts, Vine videos, and infographics.

Pros:
•People scan online, rather than read.
•Lends itself to being shared.
•Mobile-friendly.
•Attract more eyeballs.
•Potential to go viral.
•Fun!

Cons:
•Spouts me-too content.
•People have become blind to formulaic posts.
•Can't go in-depth into topic.
•Too shallow.
•May not provide enough info about topic.
People in the short-form content camp include Mark Schaefer and Jakob Nielsen.
Jakob Nielsen Quote
Mark Schaefer quote

Long vs. Short Content: Which Should You Create More of?

So, which form of content should you be focused on creating? Common sense would dictate that you produce both types of content because both serve a different need. But how you decide what ratio they should be in? How much long-form and how much short content should you be producing?
It really depends on six questions:

1. What Stage of Business Are You At?
Early-stage start-ups may not have the resources or time required to produce long-form content. They would be looking to gain traction sooner rather than later and so might prefer shorter stories that would be more likely to be shared.

Conversely, a business that's an industry heavyweight would have both the expertise and the resources to produce foundation-building evergreen long-form content.

2. What's Your Personality & Style?
Seth Godin produces blog posts in small spurts. That's his style. Is that your style? Does that suit your business's tone and voice?

Your decision to go long or short will also depend on what matches the style that is most authentic to your personality. You will attract an audience who loves you for your style and personality, rather than the other way around of building a style to support an audience you feel you should be catering to. I'm a big believer in being authentic because anything else is not a sustainable strategy.

3. What's the Goal of Your Content?
Your answer may be different if your goal is to be a NY Times best-selling author versus becoming your industry's go-to news guy. What are the goals you wish to achieve with your content: engagement, discussion, industry status, shareability, traffic, search rankings, or more?

It's OK for goals to evolve and change with time as your business grows. Develop content according to the goals it can achieve today.

4. What Platform Will It Be Consumed On?
It's a no-brainer to remember that people prefer consuming short-form content on their mobiles while they are on-the-go.

Tablets are traditionally used to read e-books and watch movies since we're comfortable with holding the lightweight devices in our hands for a longer time.

Desktops and laptops can potentially be used to consume both short-form (Twitter Web) and long-form (downloadable guides) content.

5. Who's the End Consumer?
Who's your audience: people bored on the Internet looking for something funny or industry professionals? The length of your content and therefore, its appeal, would depend on what kind of material your customer most prefers.

6. What Are the Topic's Requirements?
What does the topic itself require? For example, if you're tackling an ultimate guide that would naturally demand long-form content versus if you're writing about celebrity gossip.

Although for some businesses it makes sense to produce only long-form or only short-form content, for most of us, it makes sense to choose both.

So what should the ratio be? Some businesses might be more suited to producing more of long-form than short, while others may benefit from shorter bite-sized nuggets.

Summary
Analyze your business and decide for yourself how these six fields may influence your content length decision:

Long-Form vs Short-Form Content
These are rough guidelines, but you can use them as a starting point when deciding which type of content to produce. Ultimately, though, whichever form of content you create, it must meet your current goals.

Improve your website content today. Contact ABCO Technology Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 6 PM at: 310-216-3067 or email us at:

info@abcotechnology.com. Improve your content writing today.

Check us out online -
ABCO Technology on Pinterest

ABCO Technology on LinkedIN