Skillsoft New IT & Desktop Videos

Skillsoft introduced two new collections of on-demand IT and desktop performance support videos. The Skillsoft IT and Desktop Videos are captivating, 3-5 minutes of targeted learning experiences, covering a variety of desktop and IT topics. The videos, which complement other Skillsoft content and are available on Skillport® Skillsoft's Learning Management System, highlight specific tasks and features, and cover nearly 1,000 topics. In order to support busy professionals, Skillsoft has made the videos so that they are available on mobile devices, including tablets and smartphones.
The Skillsoft IT and Desktop Videos are the latest additions to Skillsoft's dynamic portfolio of video based learning assets. Skillsoft has been incorporating video into its learning solutions since 2006, initially with the introduction of its media-rich Business Impact and Challenge series products, and most recently with the addition of video in hundreds of its Business Skills courses. The Skillsoft Leadership Development Channel™ and 50 Lessons offers over 2000 videos, featuring world renowned business and global thought leaders.
Skillsoft introduced 75 videos in September, which address Microsoft® Office applications and mobile application development. Additional videos will be made available with a total of nearly 1000 videos released by the end of January. Topics will include: desktop applications, design & media applications, programming & web development and other IT topics such as security, virtualization and cloud technology.

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Skillsoft IT Video: Click here to Launch IT Video
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IT Certification and Training For More Secure Data

By Jim Zimmermann
I was just reading about the theft of the personal medical records of 1.7 million patients from New York City hospitals. In addition to basic contact information, the records contained social security numbers, dates of birth and mothers’ maiden names – all things that can be used to steal identities. To make the theft even more serious, the records contained the full medical records of the individuals.
So what does this have to do with learning? Proper IT certification and training in information  security methods could have mitigated, or virtually eliminated the threat posed by this theft.
The article reported that the data “wasn’t in plain text, so it appears the data is somewhat hard to access … However, the data was not encrypted. The hospital group said it will ‘expedite plans’ to encrypt all future backup tapes.”
The article also reported that “data breaches cost the health care industry $6 billion annually”, according to a study by the Ponemon Institute. Proper training of IT staff on security techniques can dramatically lower the risk for health care institutions, and for your company as well.
SkillSoft offers a number of popular IT certification training solutions that can help your company protect its valuable IT and data assets. Looking at the top 100 SkillSoft IT training courses from 2010, 13 of the top 100 courses were security related:

1. CompTIA Security + 2008: Threat Mitigation
2. Introduction to information security
3. Cisco ICND1 1.0: Switch Optimization, Security, and Troubleshooting
4. CompTIA Security + 2008: Cryptography
5. CISSP Domain: Information Security and Risk Management
6. CompTIA Security + 2008: Wi-Fi and Remote Access
7. Security, Safety, and Communication
8. CompTIA Security + 2008: Messaging, User, and Role Security
9. CompTIA Security + 2008: Authentication Methods
10. CompTIA Security + 2008: Public Key Infrastructure and Access Security
11. CompTIA Security + 2008: Risk Analysis, Vulnerability Testing, IDS, and Forensics
12. CompTIA Security + 2008: Ports, Protocols, and Network Security
13. CompTIA Security + 2008: Auditing, Security Policies, and Disaster Recovery

A review of the SkillSoft Course Catalog identifies at least 150 security-related titles.
On Books24x7 site, seven of the top 100 titles in ITPro for 2010 were security-related:

1. CompTIA Security+ All-In-One Exam Guide. Second Edition by Gregory White; Wm. Arthur Conklin; Dwayne Williams; Roger Davis and Chuck Cothren. © 2009
2. CISA Review Manual 2009 by ISACA. © 2008
3. CompTIA Security+ Study Guide. Fourth Edition by Emmett Dulaney. © 2009
4. Information Security Management Handbook. Sixth Edition by Harold F. Tipton and Micki Krause. © 2007
5. CISSP: All-in-One Exam Guide. Fourth Edition by Shon Harris. © 2008
6. CISSP in 21 Days: Boost Your Confidence and Get a Competitive Edge to Crack the Exam by M. L. Srinivasan. © 2008
7. CISM Review Manual 2009 by ISACA. © 2008

In total, the Books24x7 ITPro collections contain 995 security-related titles in a number of categories (number of titles per category appear in parentheses):

Many new and hot security titles were added to ITPro in 2010 – here are just five of them:
Computer Crime, Investigation, and the Law
Cengage Learning
Offering a broad introduction to the field of computer crime, this book introduces you to the specific techniques of hackers and shows you some of the tricks they use to infiltrate computer systems to help you defend against such attacks.


Principles of Computer Security: CompTIA Security+ and Beyond, Second Edition
McGraw-Hill/Osborne
Discussing communication, infrastructure, operational security, and methods for preventing attacks, this guide teaches the fundamentals of computer and information security while presenting the objectives for the CompTIA Security+ exam.


Hacking Exposed Wireless: Wireless Security Secrets & Solutions, Second Edition
McGraw-Hill/Osborne
Discussing the latest developments in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, ZigBee, and DECT hacking, this guide explains how to perform penetration tests, reinforce WPA protection schemes, mitigate packet injection risk, and lock down Bluetooth and RF devices.


Microsoft ForeFront Threat Management Gateway (TMG) Administrator's Companion
Microsoft Press
Presenting the real-world insights, implementation, configuration and management best practices you need for on-the-job results, this guide will help you get your Web, network perimeter and application layer security gateway up and running.


Information Security Risk Management for ISO27001 /ISO27002
IT Governance
Explaining in practical detail how to carry out an information security risk assessment, this book offers expert guidance on planning and implementing a risk assessment and protecting your business information.






Contact Information:
TRACK Learning Solution
Sharq, Ahmad Al Jabber Street Kuwait City, Kuwait
T: +965 223 22 591
F: +965 223 22 590
Website : www.trackls.com
Email: Consultant@trackls.com

Skillsoft Named to "Top 20 Content Development Companies List" by TrainingIndustry.com

Skillsoft Recognized as Industry Frontrunner for Comprehensive Content Offering

NASHUA, N.H.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Skillsoft announced today that TrainingIndustry.com has named the organization to its "2012 Top 20 Content Development Companies List." Building on the company's achievement of being named to TrainingIndustry.com's "Top 20 Leadership Training Companies List" this recognition further exemplifies Skillsoft's history as a pioneer in the field of learning, its long history of innovation and as a provider of solutions for its customers worldwide, spanning global enterprises, government, education and small to medium sized businesses.

"We pride ourselves on staying on the top of the industry's trends and needs, and providing content that maps to our customers' business goals and interests," said John Ambrose, senior vice president, Strategy, Corporate Development and Emerging Business, Skillsoft. "We are proud to be recognized for our commitment to providing comprehensive, engaging content, as well as for the depth and breadth of our subject matter expertise."

This is Skillsoft's first year being honored by TrainingIndusty.com for their outstanding content development, as well as training outsourcing and leadership training. The company was acknowledged the last two years for their learning portal and was recognized three years in a row for their IT training solutions.

June 04, 2012

Do You Think Your Executives Won’t Use e-Learning? Think again.

By Kieran King

While the tsunami of information available on the internet may seem like a goldmine, it is costly to find the bit of information that you need when you need it.  In fact, in the paper, “How Executives Stay Informed: A Study of Resources Used and Time Spent Locating Critical Business Information” by Bersin & Associates revealed just how intense this problem is.

Approximately one-third of executives are spending more than four hours per week searching for answers, another third are spending two to four hours per week. 

Why is this a problem?  Because the productivity loss executives incur searching for credible information is astounding.  If an executive’s salary is $153,000 per year, and if they are losing two hours a week on an information quest, that adds up to the equivalent of $7,600 in opportunity loss.  Chump change you say?  Extrapolate this out to just 200 executives it quickly eclipses $1.5 million. 

Where is the opportunity?  Address the executives’ time challenge with e-learning. 

As I travel the world talking with large multinationals, a common remark that I hear is this one…“Our executives won’t use e-learning.”

“Really?” is my routine retort, “Do your leaders ever use Google?” 

My question is always met with the same surprised response: “Well, of course.”   At this point I explain that if an executive is turning to a browser in search of information, then they are already well practiced e-learners.  At its core, e-learning is simply taking a digital route to answer a question or develop a skill.

The old-school prejudices that surround leadership development and technology-enabled learning simply ignore reality. 

So, your opportunity, and your obligation, is to give your executives the best source of authoritative, trusted information to optimize their productivity.  Doing so provides them with time back, reducing the highly expensive opportunity loss.

Have you seen what technology enabled learning looks like today?  This is not your father’s e-learning.  At Skillsoft, cloud-based learning takes many forms.  Our video leadership solution catches on like wildfire.  Within it, highly credible business leaders, influential experts from prominent business schools, and leadership gurus provide actionable answers and insights within 2-10 minutes.  Who wouldn’t want Lynda Gratton, Ram Charan, and Patrick Lencioni at their fingertips and accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from anywhere in the world?  Another solution is a portal rich with leader resources such as case studies, 20-minute audio summaries of influential business books designed for a smart phone or iPod, global satellite speaking events with instant Q&A, and highly challenging on-demand simulations.  And if you need courses, today’s course is a highly modularized experience, customizable to the organization, full of rich media and challenging assessments. 

The cloud-based leadership resources are also highly complementary within blended programs, reinforcing skill transfer and increasing the ROI of the class event.

It’s likely your leaders are out there searching the Internet right now.  Still think they won’t use e-learning?   Think again.

Creating Effective Learning Cultures

Studies show that making learning a priority can positively affect your organization in a number of ways. Employee engagement improves and there is higher retention and satisfaction. Business processes also become more efficient and streamlined, resulting in a higher ROI and long-term success. Research from Bersin & Associates indicates that companies with learning cultures have higher financial returns over a 10-20 year period. To achieve these desired outcomes with learning, your organization needs to encourage continuous learning and create a supportive environment.
When learning is a part of your company culture and supported from the top down, employees can make learning a frequent part of their routine. According to a recent blog post by Ladan Nikravan, from Chief Learning Officer, “creating a culture focused on continuous education and skill building can help an organization adapt during unanticipated dilemmas.”

In a global economy where competition is fierce, only the smart will survive. Continuous learning helps your organization remain innovative and stay at the forefront of your industry. With established learning cultures, there are no boundaries within departments: employees can problem solve with other groups, promoting a fresh flow of ideas and perspectives. This type of environment makes your employees more inclined to receive feedback and accept changes that could positively affect your business.To maximize the effectiveness of learning programs, it’s important for managers to communicate with their direct reports on how their roles contribute to your overall business goals. With this information, learners can be more productive with their training because they understand what their manager believes is most important in terms of organizational priorities. By partnering with their employees, managers can define a practical implementation plan for applying new skills in their roles.
Given the constant changes with our economy, competencies required for a position today could easily change tomorrow. By designing a culture of continuous learning, you are encouraging your staff to maintain knowledge and skills. Those that view training as an annual event may just fall behind in the marketplace.
For more information on how to create an effective learning culture at your organization, check out the resources on the SkillSoft e-learning best practices microsite.
Share your tips on how to build successful learning cultures!
To register for the 2012 Annual Perspectives User Conference please visit: http://perspectives.skillsoft.com/2012/?srcid=blog

SkillPort 8: A Revolution in Learning

SkillPort 8 is easy to implement, easy to navigate and easy to manage. Whether you're deploying courseware only or designing fully customized, multi-modal curricula, SkillPort can be up and running in as little as a few weeks!

Leadership Advantage is Great! So How Do I…? - E-learning blog: Learning re-imagined

Leadership Advantage is Great! So How Do I…? - E-learning blog: Learning re-imagined

Creating Effective Learning Cultures - E-learning blog: Learning re-imagined

Creating Effective Learning Cultures - E-learning blog: Learning re-imagined

SkillSoft Customer Survey Finds Increasing Importance of Learning Solutions as a Strategic Business Tool

SkillSoft today announced the results of its sixth annual customer satisfaction survey, which was conducted in partnership with TNS, an independent research firm. SkillSoft’s 2011 Annual Customer Satisfaction Survey, tapped into SkillSoft’s customer base, which includes more than three thousand companies and 10 million users across the globe, for feedback regarding customer service, product quality, ease of doing business, product preference and intent to repurchase.

The survey found that 96 percent of customers surveyed feel that SkillSoft’s solutions will remain as important or become more important to their business over the next 12 months.

SkillSoft uses the feedback and data from the Customer Satisfaction Survey to continuously drive improvements across the organization. Coming off a year of strong momentum with key customers, SkillSoft received high levels of overall satisfaction scores, exceeding results from previous years. Key results from approximately 500 respondents across North America, Europe and Asia Pacific include:

• Overall satisfaction is up from previous years: 96 percent of customers indicated that they were satisfied with SkillSoft’s overall performance.  Satisfaction levels increased on all key measurements.
• Referral percentage remains high: 97 percent of customers are likely to recommend SkillSoft to a friend or colleague.
• Product quality continues to impress customers: 98 percent of customers responded favorably on SkillSoft’s product quality.

Keep Your CompTIA Certifications Up-To-Date

CompTIA certifications have become a critical component of many corporate and government information technology and cyber security training and education programs, and once certification is earned it is important to maintain it through continuing education.

To help ensure renewal success, SkillSoft, an authorized CompTIA partner, and Tara Dean of CompTIA, will be hosting a complimentary webinar, “Meeting CompTIA Continuing Education Requirements with e-Learning.”The webinar, scheduled for Tuesday, March 13 at 11 a.m. EST, will review CompTIA's recertification requirements, including the CompTIA continuing education (CE) program. Participants will also learn how SkillSoft e-learning can provide an economical and effective way to keep the following certifications current and active:

• CompTIA A+
• Network+
• Security+
• CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP)

Contact Information:
TRACK Learning Solution
Sharq, Ahmad Al Jabber Street Kuwait City, Kuwait
T: +965 223 22 591
F: +965 223 22 590
Website : www.trackls.com
Email: Consultant@trackls.com