CIN TTT Series: AutoOps+ V1

Join us for the new CompTIA Expansion Series certification launch for AutoOps+ V1! Our guest instructor, @Tyler Harris, will lead us through the six-session series covering the exam objectives and provide hands on examples as you strengthen your DevOps skills pertaining to cybersecurity. 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.

CompTIA AutoOps+ validates your skills to automate, secure, and optimize IT operations across cloud and hybrid environments. As part of CompTIA’s new Expansion Series, AutoOps+ is designed to augment your core IT competencies with specialized expertise in automation, scripting, and infrastructure management. Gain hands-on experience to bridge traditional IT roles with modern DevOps practices.

What:
CIN TTT Series: AutoOps+ V1
When: June 23rd - July 9th, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM CT
Who: Tyler Harris, Instructor, ARIMA Consulting, LLC
Where: ON24
Register Here

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CIN TTT Series: Linux+ V8

It is time for the next TTT series! Join the CompTIA Instructor Network and special guest @jasoneckert as he Leads the Linux+ TTT series. Jason will cover the exam objectives and provide hands on examples as you strengthen your Linux 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.

What: CIN TTT Series: Linux+ V8
When: September 9 - October 9, 2025 (Ten sessions), 6:00 - 8:00 PM CDT
Who: Jason Eckert
Where: ON24
Register Now

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CIN The Pulse: The ai-augmented thinker: Where does the human belong today?

Tech industry leaders are clear, and to the point: The most important skills today center around critical thinking. For the next installment of “The Pulse,” Join Cengage author @Jill West and CompTIA’s @James Stanger as they delve into one of the most pressing issues facing today’s instructors: If the human should be in the information technology loop, then what are the best ways to teach students to use AI , rather than simply rely on it? Topics will include:
  • Strategies for teaching critical thinking in the age of AI
  • Typical issues instructors face when using AI in the classroom, from policy blocks to cheating
  • How to teach students so that they don’t engage in “superficial intelligence”
  • Practical classroom solutions instructor can consider
What: CIN The Pulse: The ai-augmented thinker: Where does the human belong today?
When: September 23, 2026 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM CT
Who: Dr. James Stanger, Jill West
Where: ON24
Register Here
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Successfully Earned CompTIA CySA+ (CS0-004)!

I am excited to share that I have successfully earned the CompTIA CySA+ (CS0-004) certification!

A sincere thank you to CompTIA and the CompTIA Instructor Network (CIN) for providing the Train-the-Trainer (TTT) series and the exam voucher, making this achievement possible.

Special thanks to @Nick Pierce , the CompTIA CySA+ (CS0-004) instructor, for the excellent training, and to @Stephen Schneiter for the support throughout the journey.

Looking forward to applying these skills and continuing to grow in cybersecurity.

Linux+ study advice

I'll be taking the Linux+ XK0-006 exam this week. I have to admit that my Linux experience isn't on par with my Windows experience, but I do know a lot about hardware, software, scripting, security, networking, IAM, etc.

Do you have any advice that might help me prepare for the Linux+ exam? I have access to the CertMaster Learn, Labs, and Study materials. I also have access to the Instructor PDF and the slide decks for the class. Any sage advice, tips and tricks, "must-know" topics, or hints you can provide (without violating the NDA) would be greatly appreciated.

IBM Z Educator Experience

To my fellow members of the CompTIA Instructor Network community,

If you're looking for ways to introduce enterprise computing, hybrid cloud, cybersecurity, and large-scale transaction processing concepts into your curriculum, this is an opportunity worth exploring.

The 𝗜𝗕𝗠 𝗭 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 – 𝗖𝗼𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝟮 runs from 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟭𝟬 𝘁𝗼 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟭𝟴, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲, and is designed to help educators bring IBM Z and mainframe technologies into the classroom.

What you'll get:
✅ 15-week structured learning program
✅ IBM Z and mainframe skills development
✅ Self-paced learning with expert-led sessions
✅ Classroom-ready teaching resources
✅ Recognition as an IBM Z Educator

Key dates:
📣 Applications Opened: June 15, 2026 (replay here: https://shorturl.at/WjIu9)
🔒 Applications Close: August 26, 2026
📚 Program Kickoff: September 10, 2026
🏁 Program Ends: December 18, 2026
🏆 Recognition Ceremony: January 7, 2027

As technology educators, we play an important role in preparing students for the skills that enterprises continue to rely on today. IBM Z remains a critical platform across banking, insurance, government, healthcare, and many of the world's largest organizations.

If you're interested in expanding your teaching portfolio and exposing students to enterprise computing, I encourage you to take a look.

𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲: https://ibm.biz/ibmz-ee2026

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Exam Rules - BEWARE!

In the Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT) Forums recently a trainer too us through the saga of his breaking the exam rules and being blocked from testing for a period of time (possibly two years). While this specific case was about Microsoft exams, I feel it is important that we all know the importance of following the exam rules... especially when we are taking Remote-Proctored exams instead of going into an testing centre.

I wrote this article about the incident: https://garvis.ca/2026/06/29/exam-rules/

Folks, the rules are clear, and when you register you will be told what they are. Whether this is your first or your hundredth exam, take the time to review the rules and make sure you can abide by them. For instance (a big one, and in this case the reason behind the issue): Touch screens are forbidden. Your proctor will see second monitors and make sure you disconnect them, but they will not see that your screen is a touch screen. That is on you to know.

I am happy that I have never been accused of breaking the rules... but I confess, when I heard about this incident I went back and reread the rules to be sure I did not accidentally do so. I have not taken a CompTIA exam since, but will do the same... every single time.

2025-2026 Experienced Certified Trainers needed for multiple courses

We're looking for experienced trainers/mentors to join our team and teach a variety of CompTIA IT / Cyber / Cloud / PMP / CSM / Azure certification courses, including:
  • CompTIA A+
  • Network+
  • Security+
  • Cloud+
  • PenTest+
  • CySA+
  • PMP
  • ITIL
  • Scrum
  • Azure
About Us
We are a well-established post-secondary tech training school located in Tampa, FL. Our mission is to empower students to achieve their tech career goals. With consistent cohorts throughout the year, we provide a supportive and flexible teaching environment providing consistent teaching gigs throughout the year. This assignment would be contract work, part time. Active certification maintained through CEU's works or certified in the latest version of the above certifications. No degree required. No clearance is necessary but would be a bonus. Local trainers would be ideal and training is remote. We are in FL so Eastern Standard Time. Language would be English.

What We're Looking For
  • Experienced Instructors: Prior hands on experience in the field as well as teaching, training, and mentoring experience in all of the above.
  • Certifications: Must hold current certifications in what you will be teaching.
  • Flexibility: Local trainers are preferred but delivery is remote for the right candidate and can work around your schedule as we have day and evening cohorts
  • Engaging Educators: Trainers who can inspire and guide students, ensuring strong engagement and high pass rates as well as job placement rates.
  • Looking for our trainers to be part of our team for the long haul. I will always try to keep the gigs coming!
  • If you can bring your ideas to the table to make processes better, classes engagine and outcomes for students more successful, let's talk.
Why Join Us?
  • Flexible Scheduling: Work around your other gigs or commitments.
  • Competitive Pay: Starting at $30/hour with opportunities for increases/bonuses based on performance, student engagement, after class attention to student needs, pass rates and job placement rates. Time can be spent assisting the school in process improvements, new ideas to attract new students and provide successful outcomes for all.
  • Future Growth Opportunities: We’re expanding our course offerings in 2025 to include ITIL, Scrum, and PMP, Azure and end of 2025 looking at adding AWS, CISM, CISSP, CASP. If you’re certified in these areas, we’d love to chat!
Next Steps
If you’re interested in being part of our team or would like to learn more, please reply.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Errors in SecAI+ Certmaster activity "Threat Model Analysis"

Just a quick note for anyone using or doing this specific activity, there are errors that I have reported that you should be aware of. For two of the scenarios I was given for the section 2.1.7 Activity: "Threat Model Analysis", the answers that I initially selected and should have been correct, were instead marked as incorrect. I had to select other options until I was able to get what it incorrectly thought was right before I could move to the next question. It clearly stated in the feedback for each that my initial answer was actually true, so there is a mismatch happening somewhere in the program. As it can take a bit of time for these things to get addressed, just consider that before blindly accepting the outputs are true.
  • Like
Reactions: BrianFord

  • Question
1201/1202 student material - Academic Partner Price increases?

Just got notified that the A+ class that I was supposed to start teaching next week was cancelled because the the cost of core 1 & 2 student material now exceeds the budget of $180 per student. Does anyone have a copy of the Academic Partner price list? Maybe I can cobble together something on the cheap, or at least verify that they are looking at Academic Partner pricing. I've been teaching this class for this institution for 2 years, 1st time with this problem.

  • Question
Linux +V8

Hello Everyone,
Greetings,
I have joined CompTIA Instructor network (CIN).
I need some guidance on how to get Instructor materials like slides, instructor book, labs etc for teaching CompTIA trainings Linux +V8
I tried searching but haven't got appropriate answer.
Would you please guide me on this.
Regards

CIN Sneak Peek DataSys+ V2

Join us for a Sneak Peek of the new version of CompTIA DataSys+ V2 certification! @James Stanger and @Stephen.Patton will join us as they introduce the updated certification exam, talk about the need for these job skills and take a deeper look into the exam objectives.

CompTIA DataSys+ is a vendor-neutral certification designed for professionals with approximately 2–3 years of hands-on experience in database administration. The updated DataSys+ V2 validates the knowledge and skills required to design, deploy, manage and maintain databases across on-premises, cloud and hybrid environments. It ensures candidates can work with relational and non-relational databases, develop and run SQL and basic scripts, monitor performance, and implement security and business continuity best practices.

DataSys+ V2 expands beyond traditional DBA responsibilities to cover data acquisition and integration, scripting and programming concepts, and the impact of ORMs and application code on database performance. The exam tests the ability to secure data at rest and in transit, apply encryption and key management, implement identity and access management (IAM) and Zero Trust concepts, and support backup, restore, disaster recovery and high availability.

What: CIN Sneak Peek DataSys+ V2
When: August 27, 2026 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM CT
Who: Dr. James Stanger, Stephen Patton
Where: ON24
Register Here
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  • Question
Exam Voucher got Expired

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Hi CIN CompTIA Team! I hope you are doing well.

I am currently waiting for my CySA+ exam voucher.
While checking my email for updates, I discovered that I had previously been issued an A+ exam voucher.
Unfortunately, I was not aware that I had received it, and I only noticed it after it had already expired last month.

I understand this was completely my oversight, and I'm sorry for missing it.
I know the voucher has already expired, and I completely understand if it can't be reissued.
I just wanted to ask if there might be any chance of renewing or reissuing it. I would greatly appreciate your consideration and any assistance you can provide.

Thank you so much!

Review My Flashcards?

Hello, fellow CINers!

Since we don't have a subforum for SecAI+ (and I don't believe we need one since SecAI+ is a Security 'expansion' certification), I wanted to post this here.

I've been a flashcard user and developer forever. I've always given my students pointers to flashcards I've developed. This past year I've soured on the web-based flashcard application that I had been paying for and using. After looking at several alternatives, I chose Brainscape. Why Brainscape and not something else? I've used Quizlet for years, but its flashcard capabilities haven't really changed. Instead, they seem to focus on other aspects of gamification and different audiences (school-age children and learner groups). The open-source solution is Anki, but I found it exposed a lot of capabilities, and it was hard for someone who just wanted to study with my decks to get started. I've also been using Kahoots, but it feels like they abandoned flashcards and went headfirst into gamification for groups of learners.

I've developed and now deploy flashcards in Brainscape, using their web interface as well as on Apple iOS and Android. It all works.

I've published my SecAI+ flashcards, and you can try them out by clicking here. I'd appreciate any feedback on these decks. Thanks!

Brian

Successfully Earned the CompTIA SecAI+ Certification (CY0-001)!

I am excited to share that I have successfully earned the CompTIA SecAI+ Certification (CY0-001) with a score of 868, well above the passing score of 600.
This achievement is the result of 2-3 months of focused preparation, learning, and hands-on practice in the areas of Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity.
Through this journey, I gained valuable knowledge in:
  • AI-powered threat detection and security operations
  • Securing AI and machine learning systems
  • Risk assessment and incident response
  • Security analytics and threat intelligence
  • Governance, compliance, and ethical AI practices
A heartfelt thank you to my colleagues, mentors, and everyone who supported and encouraged me throughout this learning journey.
I'm excited to apply these skills in real-world environments and continue growing at the intersection of AI and Cybersecurity.

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7490064208525529088/

Courseware Quality... is it only me seeing it getting worse?

I just go through the CySA V4 Slides, again after the TTT,
but dear, are they getting bad..
Graphics that in that size are unreadable, lot of information that is wrong or outdated.
Like WSUS at some point.
Ebook is even worse..
It still says: Twitter (since 2023 is it X).
No Chapter Numbering in the Index.
And then often this:

Examine a Forensic Drive Image with Autopsy
For guidance in using interactives in Heretto, refer to the Style Guide Documentation Heretto for Video.

and it says: 6604 Pages...
( i do not list all my findings here)


I start to update and correct the Slides now, and will improve then maybe later again,
but as they are ootb: not good..

It is not only CompTIA, but the AI Generated Content is really worse for Courseware Content.

Renewing CloudNetX

My CloudNetX expires on August 9, 2027. There are no higher CompTIA certs that renew the certification. There are no non-CompTIA certs that offer full or partial CEUs. You can only apply webinars for 20 of the required 75 CEUs. Are there any realistic options for the rest of the CEUs or do I have to wait until the next version comes out and pass it again?

CompTIA doesn't seem to have a very good renewal path for CloudNetX or any of the Data pathway certifications.

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