The Computing Technology Industry Association has acquired a Massachusetts-based software developer as part of the group's effort to build an online testing platform for the information technology industry.

The company, Metacog, develops real-world assessment, certification, evaluation and training products using artificial intelligence and big data, according to a statement by CompTIA. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the association said it plans to incorporate Metacog's technology into a forthcoming online platform that will give individuals pursuing careers in IT the ability to take tests from wherever they have an internet connection.

"CompTIA recognizes the need to support all those wanting to pursue a career in technology, regardless of where they live or when they make their career decisions," said Randy Gross, chief information officer at CompTIA. "By making remote testing widely available we'll provide equal access to a tech career on-ramp for those individuals who may not have easy access to a brick-and-mortar testing center."

Internet-based exam delivery is where the industry is heading but adoption has been slow due to a variety of factors, said John McGlinchey, executive vice president for global certification at CompTIA. Poor design, a lack of scalability and security issues are just some of the problems.

"CompTIA's online testing platform will be enterprise grade, with a comprehensive feature set of data analytics and reporting options; the ability to expand and scale as needed; and, most importantly, robust security and privacy protections," he said.