Perceptum Learning

14/02/2025

Longish sort of time since we posted anything here, so apologies to our visitors who drop regularly by to see if we've updated anything. The reason we haven't is that there hasn't really been anything to post about; and the reason for that is that Alan has decided to wind Perceptum down and take early retirement. He plans to use the extra time writing, playing music, going on holiday and all the things he likes best.

When asked if this was really 'it' about not doing any more training, a profession he's loved for decades, his response was 'never say never', but other than carrying out some work for one or two special clients that's already been agreed, Perceptum's diary is looking pretty barren.

We'd like to say thanks for tagging along with us to our clients, suppliers, partners and the freelancers who've worked with us - not to mention everyone who stops by every now and then to see what we've been up to, or to read one of Alan's blog posts. It's been a great few years. But for now, it's Thank You and Good Night from Perceptum Learning.

04/08/2024

Alan has recently carried out some CompTIA Network+ training for Cerco, a local training company based in Crewe, only a 7-mile drive away, and he's been asked to follow it up with some Security+ for Cerco's own network engineers soon.

He also found his old pass certificate from the very first Network+ exam he passed, back in 1999. The exam is now in its eighth - soon to be ninth - incarnation (yes, like Dr. Who, it keeps regenerating into something recognisable but different) and comparing then and now was a bit of a revelation. The 1999 objectives had no hint of Gigabit Ethernet, Software Defined Networking, Application Programming Interfaces and lots more stuff. Coax-cabled bus networks and IBM Token Ring all seemed so much simpler, even if a young network engineer at the start of his or her career today wouldn't have a clue what those words meant.

14/05/2024

It's a few years since Perceptum did any work for Hewlett-Packard Enterprise in the Czech Republic, so a little bit surprising to get a phone call today enquiring about Alan's availability to lead a couple of courses for them over the summer. Remote delivery sadly, so no trip to Prague for him this time, but Alan is very much up for this one.

22/12/2023

Well, that's it for Perceptum for another year. In January we'll be doing some more CompTIA A+ training for a Greater London Council programme, and picking up some online mentoring for Cloud and Cybersecurity technologies for a new client (yay!)

We haven't posted anything for a while, despite seeing fairly regular views of this page so, whether you're a frequent visitor or a first-time surfer, Perceptum Learning wishes you a very Merry Christmas.

18/06/2023

Quite some time since we posted anything on here! Alan has been keeping busy though - he's currently delivering A+ bootcamps online for a training organisation based in London, which is going to keep him busy for pretty much the entire summer. He reports that the latest incarnation of A+ (version 11) is probably the most challenging release ever. Although positioned as an entry-level qualification, it now includes fairly sophisticated technologies such as Software Defined Networking and Digital Forensics, both of which have been in the more advanced courses Network+ and Security+ for the past couple of versions. We've also had an enquiry for a couple of Microsoft technical courses which will mean Alan hitting the books and updating a certificate or two. Good thing he still enjoys studying...

30/04/2022

The organisation that retained us to deliver cybersecurity training to the governments of Saudi Arabia and Somaliland has tentatively enquired whether we're keen to do the same courses in Libya. Two weeks of face-to-face training in sunny Tripoli, with extravagant sums of money being mentioned.

Well, like most commercial operations, Perceptum doesn't normally like to turn business down but, for some reason, Alan has decided to decline on this occasion.

25/03/2022

Alan is busy preparing to deliver CompTIA Network+ to VMWare in Ballincollig, Co. Cork next week. First time he's delivered the latest incarnation of the exam which was updated last year to reflect the many technical advances in networking and datacomms since the last update four years ago.

02/03/2022

This week we began a 16-week mentored learning programme for Hewlett-Packard staff in the USA and Europe for both CompTIA A+ and Security+ which will run until June. In between those dates we'll also be running some Network+ classes for VMWare in Ireland, a client we first worked with five years ago. Good times!

20/02/2022

Two years ago. Winter in Dammam, where Alan and Mark were delivering cybersecurity training to the Saudi Arabia National Cyber Agency.

Looks like our trainer Mark has gone native a little bit.

08/02/2022

The first CySA+ (CompTIA Cyber Security Analyst) course we've ever delivered came to an end last week and, with it, the three-month programme Alan has been delivering for his cohort of US military veterans.

Looks like we'll be doing some more work for VMWare in Ballincollig, Co. Cork soon. Alan's looking forward to that one - last time he delivered a course there, he got a spontaneous round of applause at the end of the five-day course.

01/01/2022

Happy New Year to you all. Alan is currently preparing in readiness to start a new course on Monday 3rd January 2022.

23/12/2021

Well, that wraps it up for another year at Perceptum, as Alan's deserted desk suggests. Alan will be continuing the cybersecurity journey with his group of US military veterans in January, and we've already been asked about agreeing another contract with Hewlett Packard next year.

Whether you're a regular visitor or just passing by out of curiosity, a Merry Christmas to you from Perceptum Learning.