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N+ VOUCHER :

A
Mike Huisman said:
@Stephen Schneiter - Sorry to bother you, but from what I am seeing many people have already got the information regarding vouchers for the Network+ TTT. Is that process still ongoing? Since the process started in early September, it feels like I may have been missed. I appreciate that you are coordinating and providing all of these TTT sessions in quick succession, so if there is a better person to contact please let me know!
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Same here. [email protected]
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Seeking CIN Interest in Supporting Underserviced Communities

Brandon Royal
Yes. I have received a formal letter of support from CompTIA regarding my initiative and struck an Academic Partnership. The program supports my non-profit (Cy6erForge Inc.), currently named the ForgePath Program. We're building a marketing campaign and will launch the first two 10-student cohorts at Coppin State University and Morgan State University in Spring '25.
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Seeking CIN Interest in Supporting Underserviced Communities

BrianFord
You said: " leveraging CompTIA's courseware and certifications as a central part of the curriculum.". Has anyone at CompTIA agreed to participate in order to leverage CompTIA'a courseware?

Does this initiative have a name? Is this initiative a not-for-profit?
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Brandon Royal
Community Goal
I hope to contribute meaningfully to the CIN by collabs, sharing insights & learning from you all. I’m passionate abt developing prgrms and inits that don't just train but empower individuals to thrive & lead in cyber & look fwd to working alongside each of you to contribute to building a stronger, more inclusive future for the cyber workforce.
Brandon Royal
My Passion & Vision (2/2)
As someone who has benefited and prospered from unique opportunities afforded to me in the past, my mission is to offer these opportunities in abundance to help bridge this gap by offering immersive, practical learning experiences that not only provide technical skills but also foster resilience, leadership, and adaptability -- key values I hold at the core of my teaching philosophy.
Brandon Royal
My Passion & Vision (1/2)
As a CIN member, I'm deeply committed to expanding access to IT and Cyber education, esp.in underserviced communities, (E.g., HBCUs); believing access to quality training, mentorship, and certifications can open new career pathways for students who have historically faced barriers in the tech field.
Brandon Royal
A Quick Intro (2/2)
I've had the privilege of working w/ high-profile orgs like ThreatConnect, FedData Systems & Exelon. I'm currently a Technical Director for the NSA & an Adj.Prof @ UMGC. My passion has also led to me starting Cy6er Consultancy LLC where I house a non-profit Cy6erForge Inc. to action my passion projects in incubating cyber talent.
Brandon Royal
A Quick Intro (1/2)
I'm excited to connect w/ this grp of dedicated professionals & share my journey/expertise/passion for teaching and advancing cybersec skills in diverse communities. With15+ YoE in the cyber field (I'm older than I look), I bring a bkgnd in compsci & cyber tech, along with extensive hands-on knowledge in digital network exploitation, threat analysis and adv. incident response.

N+ VOUCHER :

Mike Huisman
@Stephen Schneiter - Sorry to bother you, but from what I am seeing many people have already got the information regarding vouchers for the Network+ TTT. Is that process still ongoing? Since the process started in early September, it feels like I may have been missed. I appreciate that you are coordinating and providing all of these TTT sessions in quick succession, so if there is a better person to contact please let me know!
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Seeking CIN Interest in Supporting Underserviced Communities

Brandon Royal
Hello CIN Community!

I'm reaching out to connect with fellow instructors who share a passion for making a difference in underserved communities, particularly those at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). As members of the CIN, we have a unique opportunity to collectively empower those communities with the skills and certifications needed to excel in cybersecurity and IT.

I'm currently working on an initiative to develop and support cyber range and training programs for local HBCUs in Baltimore, MD. The long-term goal is to scale these programs across all 100+ HBCUs. The goal is to create immersive, hands-on experiences that span foundational IT skills to advanced cybersecurity certifications, leveraging CompTIA's courseware and certifications as a central part of the curriculum.

If you're interested in contributing to this vision or if you know of any similar programs in the space, I'd love to hear from you. Specifically, I'm looking to:
  • Identify CompTIA Instructors interested in partnering on or mentoring for these programs
  • Gather insights from those who may already be involved in similar initiatives
  • Source any existing resources, best practices, or ideas that would help make this program impactful and sustainable
Together, we can help bridge the IT and cybersecurity skills gap and open new doors for talented students in these communities. Please reach out here or via a direct message ([email protected]) if you're interested or have resources to share. In the meantime, I will be scouring the forums for ideas and similar discussions.

Looking forward to collaborating,

Brandon Royal, MSCy, CSIE, GSTRT, CISSP
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Cloud+ TTT vouchers, question.

Michael Schmitz
Fouad said:
Hi Stephen,

How long doe sit take to receive the Cloud+ voucher after the attendance records were pulled? Thanks
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From past expierence: 4-8 weeks, depending on good the Data is of the attendance records (email address matches CIN Accounts), if there are errors and for sur:, how busy stephan is. He needs to check the data, internal review, order vouchers and so on.. and since there are two other TTT running this month, and Datasys is not send out, it may be this year. but maybe not.. But that is my guessing from expierence.
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CE Maintenance Fees

Michael Schmitz
jarrelrivera said:
I suggest that you look at TTT sessions next year (2025)
By completing all sessions, you can use it for CEU points. You may also be able to get an exam voucher, i.e. Cloud+.

Per your transcript, Linux+ and Cloud+ are due for renewal on January 2026.
If you take Cloud+ in 2025, that also renews A+, Network+ and Linux+.
If you get an exam voucher from TTT sessions, then you renew it for free. ;)

OR, you can take Pentest+ in 2025, which then renews CySA+, Security+, Network+, A+
but it doesn't renew Linux+ tho... might just need to start with Cloud+ first.
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The Windows for the Cloud+ Voucher is already closed. He may view the 4 sessions and get 8 Points for it.
Pentest TTT will be in 2025. since the New Version will be released in Dec. 24.
Linux+ new Version is in Dev. so there should be in late 25 a TTT or in early 26..
Some time to get that done.
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Creating Engaging In-Classroom Labs for Demonstration

jarrelrivera
jcrochon said:
Fellow Instructors,

I’m curious about how you approach developing and delivering classroom labs, especially when there’s a need to differentiate from the provided CertMaster Labs or similar online lab environments. As we know, hands-on labs are essential for reinforcing concepts and giving students practical experience, but I want to explore ways to avoid redundancy while keeping the content engaging and effective.
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Preferred Lab Environment:
- Do you tend to use physical hardware setups, or do you prefer virtual machines and simulations? In Cisco instruction, for example, Packet Tracer allows us to demonstrate network configurations without needing physical equipment, but what’s your go-to?
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  • for intro courses such as Cisco's IT essentials or Cisco's CCST, packet tracer is alright.
  • for higher level certs, I prefer hands-on labs i.e. real routers and switches, co'z they need to know how to do tasks in real world scenario. The Cisco IOS commands doesn't change much so it is alright to keep the lab for years.
  • for security courses, virtual labs are preferred.
The platforms, apps, and interfaces frequently change hence, I like to use CertMaster instead, so as to minimize server and client administration on my part. I just need to enrol the students, and voila! the labs are set.

Guidebooks or Resources:
- Are there specific guidebooks, manuals, or resources you rely on for inspiration when designing in-classroom labs? I find that instructor guides provided by some vendors can be helpful, but I’m always looking for more diverse options that can complement the CertMaster Labs.
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  • For vendor-specific course deliveries, I prefer to use the vendor's documentation i.e. Microsoft, Splunk, Palo Alto, etc.
  • For Linux, I look at RedHat materials, and the guides from Linux Foundation.

Unique Lab Scenarios:
- How do you ensure the lab scenarios you create are unique and add value beyond what’s covered in CertMaster or other vendor-provided labs? For instance, do you design scenario-based labs that connect multiple topics together, or do you prefer to break down complex tasks into smaller, focused demos?
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It depends on the course delivery. If it is client-based, then you should tailor-fit the course to the apps / systems used by the client. i.e. for CySA+ delivery, if the client uses Nessus for vulnerability assessment, then we use Nessus. Otherwise, I might opt to use Greenbone's OpenVAS instead.

Balancing Physical and Virtual Components:
- How do you strike the right balance between using physical hardware versus virtual environments like Packet Tracer or VMware? I find that while virtual environments are convenient, physical hardware can sometimes provide a more tactile learning experience. What has worked best for you and your students?
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Budget and resources play a key role.
  • Do you have the resources to keep, update and maintain a physical lab? Then do so. That'd be your competitive advantage over others.
  • If you have the budget, but not the resources to update and maintain a physical lab, then you may opt to go for CertMaster labs instead.
  • If you don't have the budget nor the resources, then build your own lab with an LTSC license perhaps.


I hope these help.
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Certmaster Network+ N10-009 missing content

jarrelrivera
While I agree that token ring is no longer common in today's time, please be aware that ring topology still has uses in the current setting.

Have you encountered any token ring lately? No.
Do you know of any current network protocols that support a ring topology? Yes, i.e. MRP (https://webstore.iec.ch/en/publication/62849). See link for reference: https://www.perle.com/supportfiles/mrp.shtml

How about the bus topology? While bus ain't quite used anymore, its extended relative of tree topology however, is still used in today's time.

Meanwhile, I agree with the view @BrianFord, and I quote:
"I view that as an instructor opportunity, where you, as an instructor, can work with students to connect a protocol and a topology to an implementation."
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CE Maintenance Fees

jarrelrivera
Jeff Strain said:
So, I am really confused about maintenance fees. My understanding is we only pay for the most expensive cert and even then... Not sure how this works when you have multiple at the same level. I am also unsure when it starts. Looking at Continuing education, I have a lot of certifications, and I am confused about whether I need to pay anything this year.

I also see that most of my certs this year have not been sent to fulfillment. I think this is the paper certification.

Any way... I'm hoping I have a budget left over at work, and I can pay some of these, but I'm really confused as to what I should pay.

It looks like I partially paid Cloud+, and since it is listed in the professional series, is that the only one I need to care about?

Here is a transcript if you want to help me
www.certmetrics.com

Transcript for Jeffrey Lynn Strain

Check out my transcript to see all of my accomplishments.
www.certmetrics.com
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I suggest that you look at TTT sessions next year (2025)
By completing all sessions, you can use it for CEU points. You may also be able to get an exam voucher, i.e. Cloud+.

Per your transcript, Linux+ and Cloud+ are due for renewal on January 2026.
If you take Cloud+ in 2025, that also renews A+, Network+ and Linux+.
If you get an exam voucher from TTT sessions, then you renew it for free. ;)

OR, you can take Pentest+ in 2025, which then renews CySA+, Security+, Network+, A+
but it doesn't renew Linux+ tho... might just need to start with Cloud+ first.
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Cloud+ TTT vouchers, question.

F
Rick Butler said:
There is a two-week window between the last session and the time that the data is pulled of all the attendees. That window closed yesterday. After that, CompTIA has to run the list to make sure it's clean (which can take quite a bit of time to verify). After that, the order goes in and has to be cleared and processed.

In short, it can take about 6-8 weeks if the TTT was well-attended.

/r
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abiodun1991 said:
@Stephen Schneiter , thank you for the clear explanation about the voucher of cloud+,
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Hi Stephen,

How long doe sit take to receive the Cloud+ voucher after the attendance records were pulled? Thanks
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