Latest activity

dlross · Oct 6, 2024

Gregory Childers said:
Meyers and Chapple are great resources. I strongly recommend both.

I've never used Prowse, or Parker and O'Shea, so I can't comment on them.

I stopped recommending Messer a while back. Too many new learners exclusively watch his extremely abridged video series, take his practice exams, and exam-cram their way to a barely passing score while learning nothing meaningful that will help them be more productive at work. Not to mention that Messser keeps spinning yarns that 50% of the exam objectives change every three years, which is completely nonsense.

Definitely take a look at Prowse and Parker/O'Shea. They are really good resources.

I never recommend Messer exclusively. Like many pointed out, using only one resource is not advantageous As an instructor who is thorough and wanting my students to use other resources than the books we use, I find that my students do exactly that, and they do better on the exams as a result. It's all in how you frame your narrative when you give them supplemental materials.

James Arn · Oct 6, 2024

James Arn said:
I use chapters but yeah. We have been teaching the 008 for the last 2 years or so.

We have a testing center on-site and they can test on Friday here if they wish, or at a later time

James Arn · Oct 6, 2024

Gregory Childers said:
Take the number of pages of the book (or the slide deck if you don't have a book).

Divide the number by five.

That is how much you should cover per day. By any means necessary.

I use chapters but yeah. We have been teaching the 008 for the last 2 years or so.

Gregory Childers · Oct 6, 2024

Take the number of pages of the book (or the slide deck if you don't have a book).

Divide the number by five.

That is how much you should cover per day. By any means necessary.

Gregory Childers · Oct 6, 2024

dlross said:
When my students ask, I recommend a few, trusted resources:

Mike Meyers: All-in-One Certification Exam Guide

Mike Chapple: CompTIA A+ CertMike: Prepare. Practice. Pass the Test! Get Certified

David Prowse: Exam Cram

Professor Messer- his website: www.professormesser.com. Encourage them to purchase the bundle with the notes and practice test. Also, better to watch from his website. If you watch from youtube.com, then you get all the crappy commercials.

Jeff T Parker, Audrey O'Shea: CompTIA A+ Practice Tests: Core 1 Exam 220-1101 and Core 2 Exam 220-1102, 3rd Edition. The book has a great online test bank that will give you 1400 questions spread across Core 1 and Core 2 (about 13, 70 question exams, and it will track how many unanswered questions you have, how many answered questions you have, and how many wrong answers you have for the questions banks, plus give you the option of setting up which of these banks you want to use to create questions, and you can do them in exam mode or in practice mode).

My favorite of all of them are either Professor Messer, if you're pressed for time, or Exam Cram, if you've got time to spare. I recommend using them together to supplement each other, and then use the Sybex as a starter test bank, then move to Professor Messer in exam mode (where you have to time the exam yourself) as you are closer to the exam. Now, if your students use Sybex for their test bank, they will need to use their own timer, because Sybex automatically gives 2 minutes per question. That's tomfoolery. They should set their clocks for 1 minute per question and set the alarm to go off for the appropriate time. I recommend for 70 questions, because it's the most realistic. Realistically, you'll get (usually, I guess) 3- 5 PBQs. That leaves 70 questions for Core 2 and 65 questions for Core 1.

As an extra push for Exam Cram- David Prowse is my man! He is on point! And I believe you get access to his online content when you buy the book, which is excellent. He broke down those laser printers, and it was real! I just frikkin' love his book so much.

DLRoss

Meyers and Chapple are great resources. I strongly recommend both.

I've never used Prowse, or Parker and O'Shea, so I can't comment on them.

I stopped recommending Messer a while back. Too many new learners exclusively watch his extremely abridged video series, take his practice exams, and exam-cram their way to a barely passing score while learning nothing meaningful that will help them be more productive at work. Not to mention that Messser keeps spinning yarns that 50% of the exam objectives change every three years, which is completely nonsense.

Gregory Childers · Oct 6, 2024

dlross said:
My A+ instructor does the opposite. He goes in, does all the PBQs immediately, then does like the first 20 or questions, depending on how many PBQs he gets, and leaves. He passes every time. I'm too paranoid to do what either of you do.

PBQs take longer to answer than M/C questions. I do all the M/C questions first, preferably spending no more than 30-40 seconds on each and then use the remaining time on the PBQs. I usually end the exam with plenty of time to spare.

precious · Oct 6, 2024

Dan said:
I'm not sure where you found that information, but what you said about Security+ isn't correct as per Comptia.

as per https://www.comptia.org/certifications/xpert-series:
CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP+) is the expert version of CompTIA Security+ and will be re-branded to SecurityX , with the next exam version. This name change will not affect the status of current CASP+ certification holders and those with an active CASP+ certification will receive a SecurityX certification

CloudNetX is a new certificate, not a stacked cert.

Ooh thanks now I understand

Gregory Childers · Oct 6, 2024

Dan said:
not only that, but people think that if they pass CASP+, they can get a job in security... despite most security jobs requiring several years of experience.

These cybersecurity bootcamps and universities are doing the same thing with graduate degrees in cyber security: give us lots of money, we will give you a piece of paper, and since there is such a skills demand, you will join a growing field.... completely ignoring the fact that most new grads won't get a security role without years of experience, even if they graduated from a BootCamp or have a masters in cybersecurity.

I tell current college students and college graduates that a degree guarantees nothing. They still have to get experience, and that usually starts at the bottom.

Dan · Oct 6, 2024

precious said:
CompTIA didn't rename CASP+ to CompTIA Security X. CompTIA SecurityX is part of the CompTIA Xpert Series certifications that are designed for experienced IT professionals seeking to validate their advanced expertise in essential business technologies. The series will launch with certifications in data, cloud networking, and cybersecurity.

1. CompTIA DataX
-CompTIA DataX is a new advanced-level data science certification. (think of it as advanced Data+)

2. CompTIA CloudNetX
-Cloud plus and Network plus re-branded to CloudNetX

3. CompTIA SecurityX
-CASP plus + Security plus re-branded to SecurityX

I'm not sure where you found that information, but what you said about Security+ isn't correct as per Comptia.

as per https://www.comptia.org/certifications/xpert-series:
CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP+) is the expert version of CompTIA Security+ and will be re-branded to SecurityX , with the next exam version. This name change will not affect the status of current CASP+ certification holders and those with an active CASP+ certification will receive a SecurityX certification

CloudNetX is a new certificate, not a stacked cert.

precious · Oct 6, 2024

@Dan I mean like the first post "CompTIA renaming CASP+ to SecurityX"

precious · Oct 6, 2024

Dan said:
With Comptia rebranding the CASP+ exam to the SecurityX exam, (with the feedback being questionable at best, as per Login to view embedded media , Login to view embedded media , and Login to view embedded media ), and ITF being rebranded as Tech+ ( https://www.comptia.org/blog/comptia-tech-vs-comptia-itf-for-it-basics-whats-the-difference), is it time for the CompTIA A+ course to be rebranded CompTIA ITsupport+? or Support+?

I know the A+ has been around for ~30years, and has a history, but the A+ description doesn't really explain what the course does... with the other fundamentals being about Networking and Security, changing the A+ certification to be more descriptive of what the course covers, might make it more recognizable to HR recruiters and IT managers.

Just something to ponder

CompTIA didn't rename CASP+ to CompTIA Security X. CompTIA SecurityX is part of the CompTIA Xpert Series certifications that are designed for experienced IT professionals seeking to validate their advanced expertise in essential business technologies. The series will launch with certifications in data, cloud networking, and cybersecurity.

1. CompTIA DataX
-CompTIA DataX is a new advanced-level data science certification. (think of it as advanced Data+)

2. CompTIA CloudNetX
-Cloud plus and Network plus re-branded to CloudNetX

3. CompTIA SecurityX
-CASP plus + Security plus re-branded to SecurityX

precious · Oct 6, 2024

Dan said:
my students get free access to https://www.oreilly.com/online-learning/, LinkedIn learning, and some other resources, as part of their enrollment in the program. Here is the list of resources I share with them, in case they want to use other resources

Amazing resources. Thanks for sharing

Dan · Oct 6, 2024

With Comptia rebranding the CASP+ exam to the SecurityX exam, (with the feedback being questionable at best, as per Login to view embedded media , Login to view embedded media , and Login to view embedded media ), and ITF being rebranded as Tech+ ( https://www.comptia.org/blog/comptia-tech-vs-comptia-itf-for-it-basics-whats-the-difference), is it time for the CompTIA A+ course to be rebranded CompTIA ITsupport+? or Support+?

I know the A+ has been around for ~30years, and has a history, but the A+ description doesn't really explain what the course does... with the other fundamentals being about Networking and Security, changing the A+ certification to be more descriptive of what the course covers, might make it more recognizable to HR recruiters and IT managers.

Just something to ponder

Dan · Oct 6, 2024

Bert313 said:
I am considering hiring an A+ instructor. He received his cert back in 1999 but has other IT exoerience. . Does he need to take the course again or is the TTT sufficient?

I know this is a necrobump, but A+ has changed quite a bit since 1999...

Would I ask a prospective instructor to take the entire course again? absolutely not! In fact, if an employer told me to take an entire A+ course, just to teach a course for that employer, I'd tell them thanks but no thanks, and withdraw my application.

the TTT would be nice, but that wouldn't be something I mandated... but it should be in the resources I profile him)

What I would do is require any new instructor to hold a current cert for the course they are going to teach (and GFL and ce certs are not the same). I'd provide the voucher so he wouldn't have to buy it himself, but no one should be teaching a course unless they have passed that exam. When I started in my current role, my director told me I needed to take the ITF exam to teach the course. I have ~20 years in IT... and passed the exam

here is my perspective: if he has 20 years of experience, and he is up to date on his knowledge, then he should have no issues passing the exam.

If he can't, do I really want him teaching a course for an exam that he couldn't pass?

precious · Oct 6, 2024

You're right @Dan—experience is often the missing link for many entering the cybersecurity field. To address this, candidates should complement their certifications and degrees with internships, hands-on projects, or part-time roles to build practical skills. Engaging with professional networks and seeking mentorship can also help bridge the experience gap and improve job prospects.

Dan · Oct 6, 2024

my students get free access to https://www.oreilly.com/online-learning/, LinkedIn learning, and some other resources, as part of their enrollment in the program. Here is the list of resources I share with them, in case they want to use other resources

Dan · Oct 6, 2024

Gregory Childers said:
I've found that to be true for every CompTIA course. I get people with no technical experience taking CySA+ or beyond. CompTIA should start enforcing prerequisites. Failure to do so is doing a disservice to the students. Too many unscrupulous training companies and salespeople are telling students they can sign up for any class they want, which leaves the trainers stuck with students who can't handle the materials.

not only that, but people think that if they pass CASP+, they can get a job in security... despite most security jobs requiring several years of experience.

These cybersecurity bootcamps and universities are doing the same thing with graduate degrees in cyber security: give us lots of money, we will give you a piece of paper, and since there is such a skills demand, you will join a growing field.... completely ignoring the fact that most new grads won't get a security role without years of experience, even if they graduated from a BootCamp or have a masters in cybersecurity.

dlross · Oct 5, 2024

Chris Posey said:
When students reach out and ask me for additional training materials, we often share Jason Dion in Udemy and Mike Meyers. Does anyone else have a go-to training program that they share that doesn't go against CompTIA guidelines?

When my students ask, I recommend a few, trusted resources:

Mike Meyers: All-in-One Certification Exam Guide
Mike Chapple: CompTIA A+ CertMike: Prepare. Practice. Pass the Test! Get Certified
David Prowse: Exam Cram
Professor Messer- his website: www.professormesser.com. Encourage them to purchase the bundle with the notes and practice test. Also, better to watch from his website. If you watch from youtube.com, then you get all the crappy commercials.
Jeff T Parker, Audrey O'Shea: CompTIA A+ Practice Tests: Core 1 Exam 220-1101 and Core 2 Exam 220-1102, 3rd Edition. The book has a great online test bank that will give you 1400 questions spread across Core 1 and Core 2 (about 13, 70 question exams, and it will track how many unanswered questions you have, how many answered questions you have, and how many wrong answers you have for the questions banks, plus give you the option of setting up which of these banks you want to use to create questions, and you can do them in exam mode or in practice mode).

My favorite of all of them are either Professor Messer, if you're pressed for time, or Exam Cram, if you've got time to spare. I recommend using them together to supplement each other, and then use the Sybex as a starter test bank, then move to Professor Messer in exam mode (where you have to time the exam yourself) as you are closer to the exam. Now, if your students use Sybex for their test bank, they will need to use their own timer, because Sybex automatically gives 2 minutes per question. That's tomfoolery. They should set their clocks for 1 minute per question and set the alarm to go off for the appropriate time. I recommend for 70 questions, because it's the most realistic. Realistically, you'll get (usually, I guess) 3- 5 PBQs. That leaves 70 questions for Core 2 and 65 questions for Core 1.

As an extra push for Exam Cram- David Prowse is my man! He is on point! And I believe you get access to his online content when you buy the book, which is excellent. He broke down those laser printers, and it was real! I just frikkin' love his book so much.

DLRoss

James Arn · Oct 5, 2024

Rasheed Koudmani said:
Hi James. If you mean the official exam at Pearson Vue to get the certification then the students don’t do this on the Friday they get to do it in their own time after class completion. We do however get them to do the end of course practice exam that is in the learning portal on the last day to see how much they learnt.

Thank you. I was curious as we have our first 009 class starting the 21st.

Rick Butler · Oct 4, 2024

Mark Anthony Germanos said:
We'll be looking for your playlist on Monday morning. Good day Rick.

Well, so it begins - the beginnings of my first album, Vegas is for Losers - everything in big band jazz with a cynical tone

Vegas is for Losers by @agentb | Suno

Suno is building a future where anyone can make great music.

suno.com

Jill West · Oct 4, 2024

Congrats, that's awesome! What did you think of the exam?

Rasheed Koudmani · Oct 4, 2024

Hi James. If you mean the official exam at Pearson Vue to get the certification then the students don’t do this on the Friday they get to do it in their own time after class completion. We do however get them to do the end of course practice exam that is in the learning portal on the last day to see how much they learnt.

ecnal1951 · Oct 4, 2024

I noticed the same lack of slides for 4.6.

Latest activity

Latest activity

​

Attachments

​

Filter