The events tab Is really helpfull.

You talk to someone and can immediately answer when the next event is and block their calendar.

Hi all,
My name is Pierre Kleine Schaars but just call me Pierre the chair while I am the chair of the Benelux Cyber Security Commitee.
Came in contact via a CompTIA event and really saw the value.
Hope to meet you all!
Ciao,
Pierre

Hey everyone

If you’re at YEPM and would like to join the ice breaker session happening now until 12 noon then please call either:

Kris Nagamootoo +44 (0) 7960 876 699 or
Michelle Cook +1 (336) 279 5073

And they will connect you with people to do this valuable exercise

This is an interesting article to read about Singapore's approach to Cybersecurity threats.

Were you involved in any of the teams in this simulation or do you know someone who was? We'd love to hear your perspective on this...

Hi everyone,

Attached in this post is the content from our ANZ Community meeting at the W Sydney on Oct 25th.

Please post any questions in this thread.

Thanks
Rose

Substrate chain deployment is a transformative process that turns a conceptualized blockchain into a functional, live network. It marks the transition from theoretical ideas to tangible solutions, allowing developers to showcase the practical applications of their innovations. Substrate chain deployment is the culmination of meticulous planning, coding, and testing, and it opens the doors to a decentralized world of possibilities.

Key Steps in Substrate Chain Deployment:

1. Define Use Case and Requirements: The deployment journey begins with a clear understanding of the use case and specific requirements of the Substrate chain. Developers must define the purpose, functionality, and goals to lay a solid foundation for subsequent steps in the deployment process.
2. Select and Customize Substrate Modules: Substrate offers a modular design with various pre-built modules that developers can choose from. These modules serve as the building blocks for custom blockchains. Developers select and customize these modules based on the features required for the targeted use case, optimizing the chain's functionality.
3. Define Consensus Mechanism: Substrate supports multiple consensus mechanisms, such as proof-of-stake (PoS) or proof-of-authority (PoA). The choice of consensus mechanism is a critical decision, impacting security, scalability, and the nature of the Substrate chain. Defining the consensus mechanism aligns the network with its intended characteristics.
4. Node Setup and Configuration: Nodes are the backbone of any blockchain network. Strategic node setup and configuration involve deploying nodes that validate transactions, participate in the consensus mechanism, and contribute to the overall security and reliability of the Substrate chain.
5. Genesis Block Creation: The genesis block is the foundational block of the Substrate chain, containing the initial state of the blockchain. Developers create the genesis block by specifying the initial distribution of tokens, validators, and other essential parameters. This block sets the stage for the Substrate chain's entire history.
6. Implement Governance Structures: Governance mechanisms are crucial for the functionality and evolution of a blockchain. Developers implement governance structures within the Substrate chain, determining how decisions are made, proposals are voted on, and upgrades are implemented. This step ensures adaptability and ongoing governance.
7. Testing and Optimization: Rigorous testing and optimization are essential before deploying a Substrate chain into production. Developers thoroughly test the functionality of the chain, identify and address potential issues, and optimize its performance for efficiency. Iterative testing ensures the Substrate chain meets desired standards.

Here we go, the slides you've all been waiting for. 5MB PDF, 102 slides.
Enjoy!

🚀 Embracing new technology is a bold step toward innovation, but it's not without its hurdles. In the latest CompTIA blog, we delve into the common challenges organizations face when adopting emerging technologies and, more importantly, how to overcome them.

From resistance to change to budget constraints, we're covering it all and providing actionable solutions to ensure your tech adoption journey is as smooth as possible. Whether you're a CTO looking to revamp your IT infrastructure, an IT professional aiming to stay ahead of the curve, or a business leader strategizing for the future, this article is for you.

🔗 https://www.comptia.org/blog/challenges-in-adopting-emerging-technology-and-how-to-solve-them

Let's turn challenges into opportunities and pave the way for a tech-empowered future! #EmergingTech #Innovation #TechAdoption #CompTIA #CompTIACommunity

Firms will soon be able to decode the unsaid when interacting with consumers – in fact, some already do.
Firms have so far used a mix of human intuition and traditional analytics to engage with their customers. But the advent of artificial intelligence (AI) and more sophisticated data interpretation is heralding a new era of business-customer interaction.

Instead of merely responding to expressed needs and wants, firms will proactively anticipate them, reaching a level of foresight never experienced before. This will revolutionize the nature of customer interactions and reshape industries.

Here are ten predictions as to how the multifaceted applications of AI – including generative AI – will transform marketing, and examples of how such changes are already underway.

1. Predictive analytics will anticipate clients’ desires

Forget mere lead scoring. AI-powered predictive analytics will anticipate desires before they are articulated. AI might craft multifaceted client profiles, predicting not just purchasing behavior's but also emergent needs. It will capture biometric signals, such as eye movement on a webpage or scroll speed, to decode a user's unsaid preferences and emotional reactions.

Consider the titan of streaming, Netflix. It already employs sophisticated machine-learning algorithms to anticipate viewers’ preferences. Beyond the shows a user has watched, it looks at subtler cues like when they paused a show, which episodes they skipped and how long they pondered over a particular title.
Such intricate data points allow Netflix to predict not just what a viewer might watch next, but also emerging content preferences. It can then tailor its original programming accordingly.

2. AI-driven content will birth next-generation storytelling

AI’s growing role in content generation will focus on resonance. AI might tailor content narratives in real-time, adapting to live user interactions. Such content will be based not just on overt actions but also on underlying subconscious preferences and unspoken sentiments of users.
In this regard, OpenAI stands out as a trailblazer. Its advanced language models have begun to lay the groundwork for content that dynamically adapts to user input by detecting underlying user sentiments and responding accordingly.
For example, these models can dynamically create short stories, adapt characters or even propose plot twists, while ensuring the narrative resonates with the user's unspoken preferences. Such innovations promise a future in which content, be it in literature, gaming or virtual experiences, can foster a high level of emotional connection between producers and end consumers.

Continue reading: https://knowledge.insead.edu/marketing/ten-ways-ai-transforming-marketing

From the moment hand prints emerged on cave paintings, language emerged as the advent of change. With the resulting unity of disparate cultures came the unison of different minds, creating an urge to change the world and birthing curiosity to develop an understanding of what’s around us. This linguistic evolution evolved into math, the first universal language that united the world through the desire to make change. With time came technological evolution, bringing about a digital era. As digital transformation started to knock, blockchain emerged, bringing more universal language and harmoniously weaving this new digital age.

In this article, we step into what will become a new historic moment for future generations to explore three of those transformative languages.

Solidity​

EthereumETH 0.0% brought about the advent of smart contracts that have transformed blockchain for the better. Smart contracts, which automate the mundane and facilitate the creation of a truly "trustless" ecosystem, can be implemented by the first universal language we will discuss - Solidity.

An object-oriented language, Solidity is a statistically typed language using an ECMA Script-like syntax with which web developers are already familiar. Solidity enabled the creation of complex smart contracts, which allowed blockchain technology to come out of its isolation and offer real-world benefits, complementing this ease of use.

Solidity’s Origins And Evolution​

A decade ago, the blockchain ecosystem was synonymous with BitcoinBTC 0.0%. People only came out of this gross misrepresentation after Vitalik Buterin pushed the envelope and brought Ethereum to the fold. However, while his dream of “one computer of the entire planet” was admirable, it was not plausible, not until Gavin Wood came to the fold and proposed a language that could help with the creation of smart contracts.

The goal was to create a language that was complex but expressive, easy to use but facilitated the creation of complex codes, and most importantly, compatible with the EVM (Ethereum Virtual machine).

Continue reading: https://www.forbes.com/sites/digita...ages-shaping-the-digital-age/?sh=6b7c5523b082

Wondering if you’ve got what it takes to be a project manager for a managed service provider (MSP)? The answer depends on how much you like pets. Or at least one particular activity involving one particular pet, because you’ll be doing a lot of it. Read full article here: https://connect.comptia.org/blog/what-its-like-to-be-an-it-project-manager-for-a-msp

Afternoon all

As part of our UK&I Community we have various committees that focus in on specific areas of interest such as Managed Services, Cybersecurity, Emerging Technology and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. We hold by-monthly calls, generally on a Wednesday, between 3-4pm and the calls are a mixture of guest speakers, discussions etc. The agendas are all led by the attendees. If you have an interest in any of these areas, then do join us. The schedule for the rest of 2024 is below:

Cybersecurity – 6 December 3-4pm (1st Weds every other month) https://connect.comptia.org/events/registration?eventid=ukicyb1206
Managed Services - 12 December 3-4pm (extra meeting to accommodate the Christmas break) https://connect.comptia.org/events/registration?eventid=UKI1212
Emerging Technology – 13 December 3-4pm (2nd Weds every other month) https://connect.comptia.org/events/registration?eventid=ukicyb1206

I'll be posting the 2024 dates soon so watch this space.... If you have any topics you would like discussed or any guest speakers you'd like to hear from then do let me know.

Thanks

Leanne

IT Nation Connect is a wrap! If you missed us there, ConnectWise offered a special discount code for MSP attendees, new to CompTIA, for annual CompTIA membership. Reply back for more details on this limited, attendee offer (expires November 30, 2023).

At https://blubrry.com/1470226/ you'll find a weekly Podcast by Wayne R. Selk, VP, Cybersecurity Programs & Executive Director, CompTIA ISAO.

Grab your tea or coffee & catch up on the latest from Wayne!

At https://blubrry.com/1470226/ you'll find a weekly Podcast by Wayne R. Selk, VP, Cybersecurity Programs & Executive Director, CompTIA ISAO.

Grab your tea or coffee & catch up on the latest from Wayne!

Just in case you missed it.​

CompTIA honours ANZ companies and individuals​

About our recent Spotlight Awards event held at the W Sydney on Oct 25th.

The CompTIA UK&I Community recently hosted a webinar with Nicholas Ashford about mergers and acquisitions and making your business as valuable as possible. This topic is something that is important and valuable to ALL MSP's.

*How your business is valued (EBITDA)
*What a multiplier is and how it's worked out
*It's worth spending money on a lawyer who has specific experience
*A broker isn't a better option than you selling the business yourself
And lots more.....

Why not browse some of our other on-demand webinars? 👉 https://lnkd.in/e_S4cnCn

Members can also discuss the webinar here 👉 https://lnkd.in/eCDPWWx5

💡Let us know if you have tips to share, or if there are topics you want us to cover - get the thread going. 🧵

Hey everyone

I'm currently working away trying to secure dates and locations for our 2024 meetings. Out of interest, where is the best location for you? Do you mind travelling to community meetings and are there some locations that are a hard fast no? Let me know, I'm interested in hearing your thoughts

Cheers

Leanne

If you missed our UK&I Community webinar on mergers and acquisitions then don't despair, I have the recording for you! It was an really informative session covering things like:

• How your business is valued (EBITDA)
• What a multiplier is and how its worked out
• Its worth spending money on a decent lawyer who knows what they're doing
• A broker isn't really a better option than you selling the business yourself
• And lots more.....

View the on demand recording for all the information,

Regards

Leanne

Hi everyone,

The attached Zip file contains PDFs of all the content presented at the May 2023 Community meetings hosted by Moheb Moses.

The files in the Zip include:
BlueRock - The Pros and Cons of Cyber Insurance
Cognition360 - Key trends for MSPs and IT service providers
CompTIA - ANZ Community Meeting (May 2023)
Microsoft - How AI is impacting the channel
Nortec - Insurance Implications of a Mass Scale Ransomware Attack
SherpaTech - Cyber insurance Tips & Tricks for Success

Hey everyone

Our elections for the 2 open positions we have on our UK&I Executive Council for 2024 are in full swing. You should have received an email from surveygizmo on 24 October asking you to vote. If you haven't yet seen this email then please check your Spam folders and failing that do let me know. Remember - if you don't vote then you don't get a say!

Thanks

Leanne

Here's a selection of notes taken by attendees at the various sessions. If you have any questions or would like more information then do let me know!

A journey to inner greatness: Your personal flight to self-discovery and leadership

Hans Demeyer

Belonging to something

Taking risks is crucial

Breathe breathe, breathe, and move on

Overcoming fear, with the right resources

Feel free to think out of the box

How to ensure you have the right resources onboard?

Fear, grief and anger - paralysis, addiction, passivity

Reframing - what to get away from but don’t always know where to go next

Score method: cause, situation, resources, outcome and effect

Does this serve me? (Can vary from personal to business decisions)

Take it slow to evaluate your options

How do you want to feel / what would be the best outcome?

Rephrase what you’ve heard - find a way to weigh up your options and make a decision

How to Use Machine Learning and AI in your Organisation

Hollie Whittles – Presenter

Introduction

Examples of AI that we would know in our day-to-day: Chatbots and Digital Assistants

Chatbots – can program them with an FAQ.

Will save time with repeatable tasks.

AI will help do our jobs better, it won’t replace you.

The Turning Test

Having conversations with AI machines like they are humans.

Helped in WWII.

The Turing test, originally called the imitation game by Alan Turing in 1950, is a test of a machine's ability to exhibit intelligent behaviour equivalent to, or indistinguishable from, that of a human.

Machine Learning

Learning by example or supervised learning.

Unsupervised learning – look for patterns.

Customer behaviour – can use data in a model to predict outcomes.

Use the machines to make better decisions.

How Can AI Help Run Your Business

ChatGPT has been around for 16 years, but only recently went public.

Smart email marketing.

Mailchimp

Social media

Understand Your Customers Journey on their Website

Revolutionized HR

Using AI to look through CVs.

But it will adapt biases once programmed.

Using AI in your Org.

Create an architecture.

Need buy0in and need help with data scientists.

Helps empower employees.

Will help with your job, not replace you.

Committee Call Focus

Process automation

Finding opportunities and identifying issues and then present to clients.

Data Protection

IP and PII

CompTIA Charity Updates

Charlotte Hooper – Cyber Helpline

The charity started 6 years ago to help deal with online harm, hacked social media accounts, Cyberstalking and financial attacks. They currently support across the UK and have just launched in the US.

They help victims identify what has happened to them online and being able to prevent this going forward.

CH have 120 volunteers which help with their helpline. Users must be aged 13 and over.
Over 300 victims have been helped by CH.
Funding helps their charity continue. It cost £750 per year, per volunteer cost. 1 volunteer will be responsible for helping around 50 victims per year.

Maggie Philbin – Teen Tech

Teen tech started in 2008 and so far have impacked 750,000 + students, aged 8-18. They aim to help students understand and invest into tech opportunities. Whether this is by attending one of TT festivals, awards or teens simply taking part in their projects and competitions.

Maggie brought Ali and Thamina – 2 students who have worked with TT for a number of years and described how much the charity impacted them and their future careers / education.

Ali – Young man who had entered a competition regarding using tech in a toothbrush and that it can identify cavities etc. Very excited about tech in healthcare in the future. His invention won the competition, he was then invited to attend and present future awards for TT. Explained how he has personally contacted CEO’s of technology companies to introduce his innovative ideas and work with them for research and opportunities. A very confident young man, with a keen passion and interest in wanting to pursue in medicine in the future. I noticed the likes of Tracy Pound mention how confident and inspiring Ali was, from his short time speaking on stage.

Thamina – A young lady who had never considered herself to have an interest in technology in school. She also entered one of TT’s competition and subsequently won the award. This gave her so much confidence and potential to look at other industries, when deciding to choose her subjects and study areas. She mentioned her background often made her believe she was limited in options for her future but TT really believed and inspired her to go forward and start a career in Engineering.

Personally, I found both charities extremely passionate and inspiring with the work that they do and the plans they have for the future. I understand CompTIA must have an impossible decision choosing which charities are selected for funding each year, however it is evident to see that the funding really does make such a difference.

You had me at hello: What you’re actually saying with your body language.

Adrianne Carter – The Face Whisperer

Adrianne delivered a presentation and discussed facial expressions specifically and how we can learn a lot from how someone is feeling especially, from their facial expressions.

Main areas were Contempt, Disgust. Fear, Happiness, Comfortable and Uncomfortable. She gave some strong examples and explained how we can use identifying these feelings, to our advantage.
For example, if a business are discussing an upcoming project and a team member makes a brief face of ‘disgust’, this often means they disagree but are often to polite to say. If we notice this behaviour, it is recommended to ask questions such as ‘Do you have any questions on how we are going to be executing this task’ or specifically ask the person ‘How do you feel about X aspect’.

It was good to learn Adrianne’s thoughts and experiences on being able to read someone’s facial expressions. This can help when doing business with a new person or everyday in the office.

Humans need to feel seen and heard

You can tell emotion on faces

43 muscles in face, 16,500 expressions, 3,000 for emotion

Body language is culturally specific but face expressions are universally specific

7-8 example types of emotions

Gave examples of recognising facial expressions

Examples of experiments on subconscious engagement, we make decisions based on subconscious thought

Ask questions until you elicit

Be conscious of your body language

Look for signs of comfort, being genuine

Look for signs of engagement

If people’s feet are pointing away, they want to leave so let them go

Winning Formula - people buy off people they know, they like and they trust

Get comfortable with eye contact

Triumph Over Adversity

Chris Ward – Moderator

Richard Tubb – Panelist

Leigh Wood – Panelist

Amanda Stewart – Panelist

Richard Tubb – “depression is a liar.” Told audience he is clinically depressed and says that he would never speak to another person the way he speaks to himself. He says that his depression tells him awful things about himself, but knows he is strong and will get through dark times and not to believe the awful things he tells himself about himself.

Panelists were asked how they coped with a bad day before they opened up about the depression, anxiety and stress they were experiencing. The responses ranged from:

Just had to suck it up.

No real support from family.

Doctor just wanted to prescribe medication.

Panelists knew they just needed to find the right people to talk to.

Key takeaways from the panelists were:

Learn how to be vulnerable as it will open lines of communication with friends/family.

Leigh said he was open about his anxiety/stress with his team and asked for their help. He reassured the team that he wanted the company to work for everyone involved, he just needed help to deal.

Leigh also said learning more about the business, example, P&Ls. He just asked the team to help walk him through this. Said by knowing more, it decreased his levels of anxiety and stress.

Panelists said we put so much pressure on ourselves to make sure everyone else is doing ok, but you must make time for yourself and make sure you’re ok first.

Mental health is understood by more people than in the past and should not be ignored or treated the way it was even a decade ago. Example: when the panelists said they had to “suck it up.” Now there are several places like therapy, groups, communities, someone can explore to get the help they need.

Overall Advice received from the session:

Pay attention to the “flags.” Don’t wait until the red flags appear. Notice the orange ones which means you’re headed down a bad path and it’s time to take a pause.

Reg flags mean you’ve already pushed yourself too far and need to seek help at this point.

Talking to friends and family and therapists is a good idea. Be open with them.

Problems are just temporary.

Richard starting journaling and writing down every morning what he is grateful for and he says it really helped him with his depression.

Building Cybersecurity Best practices - Key Takeaways

Chris Johnson, CompTIA

It was a fully packed room and an audience that is very aware of frameworks and legislation that help them protect themselves and their clients. Areas that the audience showed interest in getting help with Incident Response Planning, Risk Policies, and an overall challenge with how frameworks align with CompTIA Cybersecurity Trustmark. Overall the premise of continuing to go beyond frameworks and legislative requirements improve your overall cybersecurity maturity and sets you apart from your competitors.

Hey everyone

You can access the slides and session notes from our EMEA Conference here. If you attended then you'll know how much quality content was available. If you didn't attend, then you missed out! Take a look around the resources and if you have any questions please do let me know. Mark your diaries to join us next year. Our EMEA Conference 2024 will be held 21-22 October at the Park Plaza Westminster Hotel in London.

Have a look at the winners of the ANZ Spotlight Awards for 2023! This could be you or your organisation next year!

🎉🙌 A heartfelt THANK YOU to all the fantastic participants who joined us at the CompTIA North America Community meeting in the stunning city of Vancouver, BC., on October 19th!

Our very owm Wayne Selk took the stage and expertly navigated us through his immersive four-part Cybersecurity course workshop. The focus? A deep dive into understanding risk and the ripple effect it can have on your business and your clients.

Thank you for your active participation from our attendees! 💼🔒💻. If you attended, let us know your feedback!