Booked the wrong exam! Security+

I accidently booked one of my students for Security+ SY0-701, but he wanted to write 601 while it's still available.
(And that's the content he's studied for)
We run our PearsonVue test center, so I think there is an option to cancel the order.
But I'm worried that the voucher will not be available again. (or will it be usable again so I can book him for the correct exam?)
Can anyone confirm this?
Thanks!


EDIT: I phoned pearsonvue and they were going to get me a new voucher code. While on the phone, I cancelled the order, and then re-tried to book with the correct exam, and the voucher code worked again! So all is good.

Philadelphia Area Adjunct Instructor Needed - A+ (1101 and 1102) - Fall 2024

Hello,

Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia, PA, is currently seeking an adjunct instructor (or instructors) for Fall 2024 interested in teaching in-person Introduction to Hardware and Perpherials (A+ 1101) and Applied Operating Systems (A+ 1102). The courses are scheduled to run MWF and are in 1-hour blocks. Time is to be determined. There is an opportunity to teach one day a week synchronously/asynchronously. A Master Degree or Higher is necessary.

Opportunities for teaching in Spring 2025 may also be available for Database Design/Implementation and Database Security. Both courses have the potential for DataSys+ integration.

Please private message your resume if any of these courses are of interest.

Thank you!
Andrea

  • Question
CompTIA Exam Discount Codes?

In the past Academic Partners were able to receive discount codes for the CompTIA exams. However, now we cannot get the codes. Trying to figure out why. Any attempt to get answers, well.... there are none. In the previous year, requesting the codes only took a day or two. Now, we have been requesting for weeks and still no resolution. We have numerous students waiting to test and without the discount codes, financially, there is no way for them to test otherwise. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Do you teach students that encoding is the same as encrypting?

Topic 3A in the 701 course uses "encoding" and "encryption" as synonyms. I think students should understand the difference between the two terms.

I would appreciate knowing what other instructors think about these terms. Does encoding = encryption?

I would also appreciate feedback from a CompTIA SME. What is CompTIA's definition of encoding, and CompTIA's definition of encryption?


My notes on the use of "encoding" in Topic 3A [edited 2/15/2024 to distinguish my opinions from the CompTIA course content]:

The Official CompTIA Security+ Instructor Guide (Exam SY0-701)

Lesson 3: Explain Cryptographic Solutions, Topic 3A, Slide 4

CompTIA content:

"Cryptographic Concepts
Encryption and decryption—encoding and decoding
Plaintext is the unencoded message
Ciphertext is the coded message"

I think this content is misleading, unhelpful, or inaccurate because:
Students need to learn the difference between encoding and encryption. This slide should not confuse encryption and decryption with encoding and decoding. If encoding is mentioned at all, the slide should point out that encoding is not cryptography or encryption.

Lesson 3: Explain Cryptographic Solutions, Topic 3A, Page 38, first paragraph

CompTIA content:

“A cryptographic algorithm is the particular operations performed to encode or decode data.”

I think this content is not accurate because:
Encoding is not the same as encrypting.
Encryption uses a cryptographic key as one of the inputs to a cryptographic algorithm. Encoding does not use a cryptographic algorithm or require the use of a cryptographic key. Geeks for Geeks has an explanation of the difference.
One example of encoding is the use of ASCII codes to represent letters of the alphabet. No cryptographic algorithm or cryptographic key is used.

Page 38, second paragraph:

CompTIA content:

‘Cryptography, which literally means “secret writing,” is the art of making information secure by encoding it. ‘

I think this content is not accurate because:
Cryptography is “transformation of data in order to hide their semantic content, prevent their unauthorized use, or prevent their undetected modification.” Encryption and hashing can provide this confidentiality or integrity, however encoding does not.
Using ASCII or Morse code are examples of encoding; however they are not examples of cryptography.

Lesson 11: Enhance Application Security Capabilities | Topic 11A, page 317, Question 2

CompTIA content:

“the session key does the actual data encoding”

I think this content is not accurate because:
First, the answer should say “encryption,” not “encoding.”
Second, the key does not do the actual encryption. The encryption algorithm does the encryption, using the key as one of the inputs.

Project+ Success!

When the boss asks me to run a project... No problem!

Sat and passed Project+ yesterday! Woohoo!

CompTIA Project+
is critical for successful project implementation as it equips professionals with essential skills in project management, ensuring effective planning, communication, and risk management throughout the project lifecycle. 👍

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Prepping Students for Tech Roles (CompTIA Volley)

Last year I was able to see Brad Chamberlain from Maricopa High School in Arizona present at ACTE CareerTech Vision 2023 in Las Vegas. Brad was part of a panel of presenters talking about instructional delivery methodologies for students. Brad has unique approach to helping students get ready for entering the workforce buy running a student-led business called 24PinTech where students have the opportunity to gain real world expereince troubleshooting and servicing computers.

Earlier this week Brad appeared on CompTIA Volley and talked about his program. I thought I would share the podcast here for anyone show might be interested. Login to view embedded media
Do you offer something similar? Share you comments here.

14 active certifications......for now

At this time, there are 14 recognized active CompTIA certifications:

A+
CASP+
Cloud+
Cloud Essentials+
CySA+
Data+
DataSys+
IT Fundamentals+
Linux+
Network+
PenTest+
Security+
Server+

There are also 12 recognized active CompTIA stackable certifications:

CompTIA IT Operations Specialist
CompTIA Systems Support Specialist
CompTIA Cloud Admin Professional
CompTIA Network Infrastructure Professional
CompTIA Linux Network Professional
CompTIA Secure Infrastructure Specialist
CompTIA Secure Cloud Professional
CompTIA Security Analytics Professional
CompTIA Network Vulnerability Assessment Professional
CompTIA Network Security Professional
CompTIA Security Analytics Expert
CompTIA Secure Infrastructure Expert

CompTIA Technical Trainer (CTT+) is good for life, but has been retired.
New versions of Network+, Cloud+, and PenTest+ will be launching this year.
DataX will be launching this year.

How many of the recognized active CompTIA certifications do you have? How many retired CompTIA certifications do you have?

When to switch to teaching new exam revision?

Hi all --

I have 4 students taking the Security+ this semester. I am going to have them all take the 601, since they will all be done long before July. A primary factor for my decision is that our university purchases Skillsoft/Percipio as our employee learning platform (which all students have access to as well), and all the Security+ materials on there are 601 materials (video courses, AIO textbook, Sybex textbook). But it does not necessarily follow this this is the best decision, just perhaps the most convenient one.

I was wondering what factors you all use to determine when to make the switch to teaching a new exam revision.

Networking Concepts in Security+

So, here is a question for those that teach Security+ before Network+. How do you handle networking concepts that are included in Security+ objectives? Do you just cover them as you come across them, or do you offer a basic networking modular component as an add on to Security+? Thanks in advance! Inquiring minds want to know! 😁

CompTIA 2024 Partner Pricing

So, this email went out today:

Dear CompTIA Authorized Partner,

CompTIA is committed to providing our Partners with innovative, best-in-class training and the most current, high-quality certification exams. To continue to provide you and your learners with excellent experiences and leading services and solutions, effective February 1, 2024, we are increasing pricing for Authorized Partners.

Updated pricing allows us to improve industry standards, expand our services and solutions, and unlock the potential of even more learners.

A follow-up communication will be sent out on February 1, 2024 to direct to the latest Partner price sheets.

Please connect with your CompTIA business development manager with any questions or submit a help request if you need further assistance.

Thank you for your continued partnership!

Sincerely,
Your CompTIA Authorized Partner Program Team

What does this mean for exam pricing?

  • Question
CompTIA Roadmap

Hi All. Happy New Year. I was looking for information including dates on the transition from ITF to Tech+ and for details of any update for Network+. Is there one place I can find a roadmap for CompTIA courses with these and other course information and any associated Train the Trainer sessions? I can see that some of this stuff was announced at the CompTIA summit last year which I wasn't able to attend. Thanks in advance.

3rd Party Training Materials or Official CompTIA Learn & Labs

I'd like to ask why some trainers/colleges choose to use 3rd party training materials over CompTIA's official Learn & Labs and Practice. My thoughts are, since CompTIA is the certifying body, doesn't it make sense to use their materials? They are guaranteed to cover the necessary topics right?

With all the different 3rd party training options out there, what makes them better the CompTIA's? I know everyone wants to create their own and make some coin but I wouldn't go to a Chevy shop to fix my Ferrari. :) (I don't have a Ferrari) Maybe I would if I created my own study materials.......

I just ran an A+ class using L&L and it went great. Their supplied slides are crap and need a lot of mods but they flow with the lessons.

Thoughts anyone and thank you.

j

I have not received my exam voucher.

Hello, I would like to inquire about the exam voucher. I don't know if anyone has received the CAPS+, Cloud+, and Network+ vouchers. It's been a long time now. I have not received my exam voucher. What should I do? I have contacted as suggested by someone. but still, no feedback back How long do I have to wait? So what should I do? Thank you.

Seemingly unauthorized resellers: how do they do it?

I've been talking to my usual CompTIA rep (aka "business development manager") via email and they were stimied by this one.

There's CompTIA exam voucher resellers who offer certification vouchers in ways that seem hard to compete with. These folks do not appear on CompTIA's registered partner list. Their websites also don't mention a parent company which could be on the list. What's more, their websites don't actually much of anything about the company! No registration information, no address.

Your initial thought might be "scammers", but supposedly plenty of folks on Reddit and elsewhere report getting their vouchers just fine. So payments are processed and working vouchers are delivered and used.

One example are voucherplex.com. They offer most vouchers at more than the usual 20% CompTIA partner discount. This might mean that they have a higher partner tier and thus get more discounts. But then why are they not on the partner list?

Another example is supervoucher.com. They are an even more interesting case! They offer exam vouchers with differing lifetimes, offering higher discounts for shorter lifetime vouchers. They also offer vouchers on a global level, so not just US/CA, but also UK, EU, Emerging markets etc, which should be impossible. I guess Supervoucher buy vouchers in bulk every month, selling them FIFO (first in first out) and then selling left-overs at reduced prices while they're almost expiring.

But again... they're not on the partner list, while they make claims about such status. They also don't list a parent company. No nothing.

Both companies, after some sleuthing, appear to be in Canada. One in Ontario, the other in Toronto.

I'm very curious about your insights... How the heck are companies that appear to not be registered partners buying vouchers in bulk? And how is one of them buying vouchers across the globe, instead of only in their own market?

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