u/Tas42

Sometimes students come to our tech support desk saying they need help installing software. Usually that is no big deal . . . except when the student pulls a completely new laptop out of its box, a laptop that has never even been turned on. That student has NO IDEA what they are asking us to do.

Student: I just want you to install this one program.

Tech: Sorry, it is no longer just a matter of installing one piece of software. We need to get this laptop through the setup screens, setup the Microsoft account, and likely run through some system updates, before it even lets us install that program. This could take a few hours.

We can and do assist with these projects, but we prefer to have an appointment for something this big.

I do tech support at a college. As is common in tech support roles, we get many calls that are completely unrelated to tech support (because tech support apparently handles everything), and so we need to redirect them.

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Example 1:

Sometimes people argue and insist that we should fix the issue. If it involves the website in any capacity whatsoever, then obviously tech support should fix it.

Me: You need to talk to enrollment (or financial aid, or bursar, etc)

Student: “But this is a tech issue. . . “
- “But when I hit the Confirm button, it does not work. Shouldn’t tech support fix this?”
- “But I get a restriction error when I try to sign up for this class.”

Me: We cannot fix this. You need to speak with [fill in blank]

Student: “But this is a tech issue”

(around again we go)

In tech support, we are very careful to stay in our lane and not try to assist in issues that are outside our department because of the risk of giving wrong answers on issues in which we have not been trained. Problems that appear to be tech issues to students are often cause by problems in their records, holds on their account, etc, things other departments handle.

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Example 2:

One of my pet peeves is how people respond after they ask for a phone number. Suppose they need the phone number to the Bursar office:

Student: What is the number?

Me: 555 . . .

Student: Hold on, let me get a pen.

Me: [eyeroll] (Then I must start over and give the number again)

….

Seriously? Why would you ask for a phone number, if you are not ready to write it down? It happens all the time.

I am looking at CySa+ now. I was thinking of trying to get version 3 before the test expires because there is more prep material for it. However, today I was speaking to a man who works in cybersecurity who recommended becoming familiar with how AI handles log analysis. That is covered in version 4.
How big is AI on log analysis now, and how important will that knowledge be for employers? His suggestion makes me think it may be better to pass up version 3 and just go for version 4.

How much time did you need to study for CySa+? I am deciding which version to take. There is more study material for v3, but I am approaching this with no SOC experience, and I doubt I will have enough time for study before that test expires in December.

I saw online that SOC experience is recommended when taking the CySa+ exam but not necessary. What is your opinion? I have A+/Network+/Security+, and some beginner level cloud certs. I currently work in IT help desk and do basic volunteer security work for a non-profit where I assist the CISA in the security reports for an Azure & M365 environment.

Also, what is your opinion on v3 vs v4? Is it still worth getting v3? Will I be able to learn what I need to take it before the test expires in December? Or would you recommend just going for v4?

I need to pay off some medical debt. This is taking everything I have left at the end of each month. I have more medical procedures that I need done and other expenses to handle when this is paid off.

I have read a lot of scifi recently (with a little Lovecraft), and now I am in the mood for some high fantasy. Much of my previous fantasy reading has been from Tolkien, Weis and Hickman, and Raymond Feist. The first book of Wheel of Time is in my TBR list, but I am not in the mood for something that long (though I intend to read it eventually). Here is what I am thinking:
- High fantasy with abundant magic
- Emphasis on travel to other planes of existence
- Preferably from the 80s or 90s, but that is not required
- Preferably no sex scenes
- Can be stand-alone or part of a series

What is your opinion of “The Every” by Dave Eggers? I enjoyed “The Circle.” It was an interesting story of a big tech company that was growing too large, the dangers of social media addiction and social media mobs, and people who want to disconnect. (I actually heard the audiobook and later bought a print copy) How well does “The Every” measure up?

Who has read the Tripods series by John Christopher? I decided to read it because I remember reading the comic book version in Boy's Life magazine back in the 80s. I only read pieces of the comic version and never all the way through, and so I did not get the entire story (and the comic version did not include the prequel which was not yet published), but I still enjoyed it back then.

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I am now in the last book after they have captured a Master and are planning their attack on the Masters' cities. Things are getting interesting with how humanity is rediscovering its lost technology and using it to fight back.

I am putting every spare dollar into paying off the current debt, but I expect more to come.

My step-mother was in a bad traffic accident today. I do not know the full extent of the injuries.

Can someone recommend an edition of Pilgrim's Progress with both stories, written for adults in modern English but faithful to the original (not altering the story)? I have a friend who wants to read it who probably would not want one written in the more archaic English.