CIN Security+ v8 TTT Info and Q&A

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.

CertMaster Lab differences

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!?

Is there a way to extend CertMaster access?

So I had CertMaster for CySA and SecOT, but I had a bad term and 8 weeks of no studying. Both of those access credentials expired, and I'm wondering if there is a way to get those back. If not, that's fine, but how long does access actually last? Is there a way to get access back without spending money? If I have to spend money, that will be good for me to know.

Thanks
Dan

SK1-006: open beta Server+

Beta-testers, start your engines! 🏎️ CompTIA have another open beta exam! This time it's SK1-006, the next version of their generic server sysadmin certification exam. For $50 you can have a light-hearted shot at the exam, help them improve their question banks and get certified. Because yes, if you pass the beta, you'll be certified for real!

I've got mine booked for next weekend. :)

The best explanation of the CertMaster products I have seen to date

In the Sec+ TTT session 1, @BrianFord went over how the products compare side by side and it was the best explanation I have seen so far. I know this is an area of confusion for many, including myself. CE and Practice I understood well enough. Perhaps it has come up before but I missed it if so!

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Two more Security+ passes in Lagos — still 100% for the year

Hello CIN family,

Sharing a win from Lagos.

I recently wrapped a five day CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701) bootcamp with a brilliant group at Zenith Bank in Victoria Island, and the results are in: two more of my students, Kidochukwu and Loveday, have officially passed their Security+ exams this month.

That keeps my pass rate at 100% for the year, and honestly, I'm prouder of how they got there than the stat itself. Both of them put in the work every single day: evening study sessions, practice questions on weekends, and the kind of questions in class that tell you someone is thinking like a security professional.

A few things that made this cohort work:

- Two hours of structured daily study, not last-minute cramming. Consistency won every time.
- Every exam objective anchored to something real from their day jobs in SOC and IT operations.
- Practice tests treated as diagnostics, not verdicts. Every wrong answer became the next day's warm-up topic.

Kidochukwu is already applying his skills in SOC operations, and Loveday balanced a demanding job with daily study and still came out on top. Students like these are the best part of this job.

To every instructor mid-cohort right now: the results follow the process. Trust it.

On to the next cohort.

Ayomide

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Contract CompTIA Instructors Wanted – A+, Network+, Security+ (Delaware or Virtual)

Hi everyone,


I’m Jordan Eldridge, Lead Instructor at Code Differently, a workforce development organization in Delaware. We’re building our 2027 CompTIA boot camp calendar and are looking for contract instructors to teach alongside our team.


What we’re running
  • CompTIA A+, Network+, and Security+
  • Full courses for beginners and career changers
  • 5-day exam preps for working IT professionals
  • Mostly weekday daytime boot camps, with some Friday and evening cohorts for employer groups

Format: In person in Wilmington, DE, or live virtual. We’re open to both.


Timing: Starting Q1 2027 and running throughout the year


What we’re looking for
  • CompTIA certified in the cert(s) you’d teach
  • Experience teaching adult learners, ideally exam prep
  • Comfortable teaching with CertMaster (Learn, Labs, Practice)

What we provide
  • Curriculum, lab plans, and practice tests
  • CertMaster setup for each cohort
  • An on-site Pearson VUE testing center for learners

If you’re interested, or know someone who might be a good fit, send me an email at [email protected] with:
  • Which certs you hold and teach
  • Whether you prefer in person, virtual, or both
  • Your general availability for 2027

Thanks!

CIN TTT Series Security+ V8

Join the CompTIA Instructor Network and special guest @BrianFord as he Leads the Security+ TTT series using the CompTIA CertMaster Learn content. Brian will cover the exam objectives and provide hands on examples as you strengthen your cybersecurity analytics skills. We will discuss how to cover the content with students and suggest various labs to let students gain hands-on experience as they prepare for certification.

The new CompTIA Security+ (SY0-801) represents the latest and greatest in cybersecurity, covering the most in-demand skills related to current threats, automation, zero trust, IoT, risk – and more. Once certified, you’ll understand the core skills needed to succeed on the job – and employers will notice too. The Security+ exam verifies you have the knowledge and skills required to:

What:
CIN TTT Series: Security+ V8
When: November 03 - November 19, 2026 (Six sessions), 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM CDT
Who: Brian Ford
Where: ON24
Register Now
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CompTIA launches effort to define workforce skills for AI agents

I feel this is an area that will be of great interest. Most AI users are at the prompting level (ChatGpt, Claude, Gemini, Copilot) and are not moving beyond that. The AI value-add is moving from that "prompting" state to creating agents and agentic agents to assist with automation.

https://www.comptia.org/en-us/about...ort-to-define-workforce-skills-for-AI-agents/
CompTIA AgentOps+ is intended to establish a vendor-neutral standard for professionals who deploy, secure, monitor and govern AI agents.

I look forward to this new CompTIA suite of related learning products planned for release in Q2 2027.
What are your thoughts on this?

CompTIA web site suggestions

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.

  • Question
PBQs

I had a student test over the weekend for Network+ and he indicated that he actually had to open up machines and type commands to get information to the screen in order to answer the questions. Now I've been teaching CompTIA courses for nearly a decade, have many of the CompTIA certs and I don't remember, except for CASP (SecurityX) having to do actual interactive labs during the exam. Can anyone elaborate?

Three more Security+ passes in Lagos — still 100% for the year 🎉

Just wrapped another Security+ cohort here in Lagos and all three students who sat the SY0-701 this week passed. That keeps our 2026 pass rate at 100%.

Quick stats for fellow instructors:
• Cohort size: 5 (3 sat, 2 scheduling for next month)
• Prep time: 4 weeks, instructor-led + CertMaster Practice
• Weakest domain for this group: 2.0 (Threats, Vulnerabilities & Mitigations) — we spent extra lab time there
• Strongest: 4.0 (Security Operations)

Happy to share the study plan and lab schedule if anyone's prepping a cohort. What domains are your students struggling with most?

DataAI voucher ---- OFFER EXPIRED. SOMEONE TOOK THE VOUCHER.

I have a DataAI voucher to offer if anyone wants it. It expires November 25, 2026. I have higher priorities right now and will give the voucher to anyone who legitimately will use it. I am not asking for any money for the voucher. I just ask that someone use it to take the exam before November 25th.

AFCEA TechNet Indo-Pacific

Greetings! If anyone is coming to the AFCEA TechNet Indo-Pacific conference in Honolulu next week, be sure to stop by the CompTIA booth, #TT81 in the Tapa Tower exhibits area. Would love to connect with fellow CINners in the area. We will also be livestreaming the CompTIA workshop, Securing Today's Critical Infrastructure on Wednesday 1:30-4:30 PM HST.

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Clarification on PenTest+ PT0-003 Exam Voucher - On TTT

Hello CompTIA Instructor Network Team,

I am currently participating in the CompTIA PenTest+ PT0-003 On-Demand Train-the-Trainer program.

As part of this program, I received an access code for CompTIA CertMaster Perform, which I am currently using to complete the training.

However, I have not received an exam voucher.

I would like to know whether an exam voucher is included in the On-Demand Train-the-Trainer program and, if so, whether it is issued upon completion of the training or must be requested separately through the CompTIA Instructor Network community.

I would appreciate your guidance on the appropriate process.

Thank you for your support.

Best regards,

CIN Livestream: Securing today's critical infrastructure: Quantum, AI, and Operational Technology in the age of connected risk

You heard it here! We will be livestreaming the CompTIA workshop on Wednesday at the AFCEA TechNet Indo-Pacific conference, for attendees and CIN members!

Join CompTIA for an interactive three-hour workshop that explores the intersection of Quantum Computing, Artificial Intelligence, and Zero Trust and their growing impact on cybersecurity, resilience, and workforce development.

Across three focused sessions, attendees will gain practical insights into the technologies, trends, and skills currently shaping our digital infrastructure. Quantum computing is being used to model complex systems and solve problems in supply chains, manufacturing, and cybersecurity. AI is playing an increased role in modern threat detection and cyber defense. Organizations are grappling with the challenges of securing industrial and critical infrastructure environments.

This workshop will provide a comprehensive snapshot at the realities organizations face today. Students, for example, will analyze packet captures and experiment with how AI tools perform in identifying attacks. We will be joined by representatives from Zscaler, Cyber Kraft, and SOFtact Solutions.

Designed for cybersecurity practitioners, technology leaders, operations professionals, and workforce development stakeholders, this workshop moves beyond theory to examine real-world use cases, implementation challenges, and actionable strategies that attendees can apply within their own organizations.

Participants will leave with:
  • A practical understanding of quantum computing and its implications for cybersecurity, data science, and systems optimization.
  • An overview of quantum-based activities, including user behavior modeling, incident response modeling, and network traffic analysis.
  • Insights into how AI is transforming visibility, observability, threat detection, and incident response.
  • The place of zero trust in critical infrastructure and the technical convergence of IT and Operational Technology / Industrial Control System environments.
  • Strategies for addressing evolving attack surfaces, regulatory pressures, and critical infrastructure risks.
What: Livestreamed CompTIA Workshop
When: Wednesday, October 28, 1:30-4:30 PM HST
Where: ON24

Register Here

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CIN Sneak Peek: SecOT+ V1

Join us for a Sneak Peek into the new CompTIA SecOT+ certification. We will be joined by Dr. James Stanger and John Cusimano who will discuss why CompTIA is offering this new certicication and the indsutry demand along with the job skills that go with it.

CompTIA SecOT+ validates your skills to secure and manage operational technology (OT) systems in manufacturing and critical infrastructure. This certification is designed for experienced professionals who need expertise in OT risk assessment, compliance, threat intelligence, architecture, and incident response. CompTIA SecOT+ is scheduled to launch on or around December 8, 2026,

Skills covered with SecOT+:
  • OT safety and systems: Demonstrate safety, control, and architecture skills unique to OT.
  • Risk and compliance: Assess risk, manage compliance programs, and align cybersecurity to business objectives in OT.
  • Analyze and respond to threats using OT-specific frameworks, historical attack knowledge, and indicators of compromise.
  • Build, harden, and operate secure OT architectures—including physical, network, hardware, and software security.
  • Perform asset management, vulnerability assessment, and security monitoring in industrial setups.
  • Prepare and execute OT-specific incident response—including for physical and cyber-physical events.

What: CIN Sneak Peek: SecOT+ V1
When: October 22, 2026 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM CDT
Who: James Stanger and John Cusimano
Where: ON24
Register Now
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