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Victor Treat · 2026-11-09T23:09:04-0600

Brian, you are correct. In Security+ you have three types of labs, like you mentioned: Assisted, Applied, and Challenge.

In the new CySA+ 004 class there is a fourth type of lab simply called "Lab". Sometimes, it has drag and drop items, but most of it you configure a server or a service. For instance, configure a GPO to... There are no steps to explain beyond the scenario stated on what you are supposed to do at a high level. No detailed "click-click". If you already know how to do the scenario, you probably don't need the lab...

Anyone have any idea on where the students get guidance on how to do these labs.
And please dont' tell me to walk them through the exercise - there are probably 25+ of these along with the three other conventional labs the Brian mentions!

BrianFord · 2026-11-09T14:53:39-0600

Great question. I haven't looked at the CertMaster CySA product yet, but I am working with the latest CertMaster for Security+ (Perform and Labs).

I believe a 'lab' is a simulation. It's a program that runs and looks like a live OS environment. It's not.

There are 'Live' labs. They run virtual machine images from a cloud-based data center. You'll see a 'building the lab' message when you start these.

There are three types of 'Live' labs: Assisted, Applied, and Challenge. Assisted labs (Assisted Live Lab) give you instructions and help you conduct or complete the lab exercise. In the past, these labs often contained info icons (lowercase 'i' in a circle) that, if selected, provided some instructions.

Applied labs often follow one or more 'Assisted' labs and provide a lab environment and objectives. The goal is to apply what you learned to complete the lab. These labs also have info icons.

The Challenge lab was the last lab exercise, and it tested what you learned in the course. It provided goals drawn from all the course materials and previous labs. Not just the last lab, but all of the labs.

The Security+ Labs product includes more labs than the Perform offering. The Learn product (I believe) includes only lab simulations, not Live Labs. The Perform product contains Assisted and Challenge Labs.

I hope this helps.

Brian

Rick Butler · 2026-11-09T10:18:58-0600

Gregory Childers said:
I wish CompTIA had more CEU options for the Data+/DataSys+/DataAI and Net+/Cloud+/CloudNetX series. For DataAI and CloudNetX, the only viable options are retesting.

You've mentioned this one before. And you're right - there aren't a lot of CE options for those newer, higher certs. SecurityX is pretty good, but the others, not as much or not really at all. The way I see it, if CompTIA uses a CE program, it has to allow folks to get 'continuing education', not a rehash of what is already known; that's the very definition of Continuing Education.

Aya AlKhateeb · 2026-11-09T01:33:11-0600

BrianFord said:
Greetings, Fellow Instructors!

I’ve been developing and will present the CompTIA Instructor Network (CIN) Security+ v8 Train-the-Trainer webinar series. The webinar series starts tomorrow, November 3, 2026, at 11 AM CDT and will run on Tuesdays and Thursdays for six sessions ending on Thursday, November 19. All sessions will be recorded via On24 and can be viewed by CIN members who registered after the live webinar using the link in your registration confirmation email. All the presentation materials will be available for download from the On24 webinar site.
If you are interested in teaching Security+ and haven't already, I urge you to register for the webinar series even if you cannot attend the live broadcast. This is true even if your organization doesn’t use CertMaster.

Our CIN Director and my co-host, Stephen Schneiter, will provide all registered participants with information on how to access CertMaster for your own learning and evaluation. Instructors who work with CompTIA Authorized Training Partners can also gain access to CertMaster by contacting their CompTIA Representative. I’ve been using CompTIA CertMaster Perform for Security+ v8, which includes access to the CertMaster Learn, Practice, and Lab tools. I’ve had the opportunity to review the online product and all the CertMaster resources included for instructors, and I’m excited to share them with you.

If you missed it, CIN hosted the Security+ Sneak Peek last month with Stephen, Dr. James Stanger, and me. If you want to go back and view that webinar, use your registration link or you can register using the link below:
https://event.on24.com/wcc/r/5493775/097E1919B5907F691ABAC4BC7D7446C4

If you have questions about the Security+ v8 TTT webinar you’d like to share with the CIN Community, please reply to this message.

Hi Brian,

Thank you for organizing the Security+ v8 Train-the-Trainer sessions.

I noticed that the Closed Captions (CC) option is not available in the recorded videos, although it was available during the CySA+ sessions and was very helpful for translation.

Stephen also mentioned during the session that captions would be available.

Could you please clarify if this is a technical issue or if CC will be enabled later?

Thank you for your support!

Victor Treat · Sunday at 10:16 PM

There are some things about the CertMaster Labs I really like, but there is one thing I can’t seem to figure out and therefore cannot explain to my classes.

In the Labs, there are four types of Labs (and I am referencing my most recent class, CySA+ 004). Lab, Live Lab, Applied Lab, and Challenge Lab.

The issue is with just the “Lab” activities. Neither I nor my students can find the detailed steps that help them perform the described scenario. The scenario gives a high level direction, but no specific steps. I’m at a loss as to where to find those steps. Help!?

Gregory Childers · Sunday at 5:06 PM

Mat Gardam said:
Fair answer but not always possible in the U.K. as some coincide with my corporate business meetings.

You don't have to attend the sessions live, but I'd recommend attending them within 24-48 hours.

Mat Gardam · Sunday at 2:28 PM

Gregory Childers said:
Attend the TTT

Fair answer but not always possible in the U.K. as some coincide with my corporate business meetings.

Adeboye · Saturday at 2:25 PM

I will love to learn more about these innovation

Thor (Thoke) Pedersen · Saturday at 2:19 PM

I agree, this is a much clearer overview.

Gregory Childers · Saturday at 8:36 AM

Rick Butler said:
I just wish the CE CertMasters were available for all certs...

I wish CompTIA had more CEU options for the Data+/DataSys+/DataAI and Net+/Cloud+/CloudNetX series. For DataAI and CloudNetX, the only viable options are retesting.

Gregory Childers · Saturday at 8:34 AM

Mat Gardam said:
Is there any way to obtain access to the instructor material and slide decks for this course ?

Attend the TTT

VICTOR CHIDI OKPURUKA · Saturday at 4:30 AM

Gregory Childers said:
It appears that the most significant change is the emphasis on AI Security and AI-assisted operations.

Yes, as expected. its an AI era - so all the tech certifications out there have to factor that into the curriculum

VICTOR CHIDI OKPURUKA · Saturday at 4:29 AM

Gregory Childers said:
This thread is intended for the purpose of making suggestions for the CompTIA web site at https://www.comptia.org

My first suggestion:

On the "Certifications" page at https://www.comptia.org/en-us/certifications/#all

Create separate pages for Certifications and COMPCERTS. Students, recruiters, hiring managers, and people in the industry don't know the difference between the two. Create two separate pages listing each so that people can make more informed decisions on which offerings work best for them.

Agreed and additionally - on this same page lets have the pathway for each track( as most vendors have theirs)

Not any other page. This same page students, recruiters should be able to see how each of the certs stack to the Pro level i.e Xpert series

Bundling everything in 1 place even the Comp Cert not a good idea if you ask me ( IMO)

Bruce Weaver · Friday at 5:30 PM

Nick Anthis said:
Thanks, I've seen the PBQs. I saw lots of fill in the blanks, drop downs, drag and drop, I guess I don't remember having one where I needed to type in commands to get data to show up on the screen. I've written PBQs before for Pen Test+ and Sec+, but I never created one where they interacted with a simulated command prompt. That's a new one for me.

This advice I can offer since your students will get it direct from CompTIA if they read everything without me violating test integrity stuff. Always use the help command for the full list of simulated commands available.

Mat Gardam · Friday at 2:57 PM

Is there any way to obtain access to the instructor material and slide decks for this course ?

Bruce Weaver · Friday at 2:38 PM

Rick Butler said:
I just wish the CE CertMasters were available for all certs...

I agree! Although I take the trifecta every time they comes out to keep me sharp and grounded on the current focus, since employer is paying. Seems like money left on the table for CompTIA to NOT have CE ones for each.

Gregory Childers · Friday at 8:15 AM

In past versions, A+ and Network+ had CLI emulators for troubleshooting scenario PBQs.

Gregory Childers · Friday at 8:14 AM

It appears that the most significant change is the emphasis on AI Security and AI-assisted operations.

Nick Anthis · Friday at 8:09 AM

Thanks, I've seen the PBQs. I saw lots of fill in the blanks, drop downs, drag and drop, I guess I don't remember having one where I needed to type in commands to get data to show up on the screen. I've written PBQs before for Pen Test+ and Sec+, but I never created one where they interacted with a simulated command prompt. That's a new one for me.

Gregory Childers · Friday at 6:50 AM

This thread is intended for the purpose of making suggestions for the CompTIA web site at https://www.comptia.org

My first suggestion:

On the "Certifications" page at https://www.comptia.org/en-us/certifications/#all

Create separate pages for Certifications and COMPCERTS. Students, recruiters, hiring managers, and people in the industry don't know the difference between the two. Create two separate pages listing each so that people can make more informed decisions on which offerings work best for them.

PJ_ZW · Friday at 6:46 AM

Like always, cryptography is a bit challenging.

Gregory Childers · Friday at 6:34 AM

I used AI agents but would love to learn more ways to become more efficient.

Fanuel · Friday at 5:18 AM

Congratulations, Continue the good work...its a calling.

Fanuel · Friday at 5:17 AM

@Gregory Childers, we need more offers like that.

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