CIN Sneak Peek - Security+ V8

Join us for a Sneak Peek of the next version of CompTIA Security+ V8 certification! Dr. James Stanger and Brian Ford will join us to discuss changed to the updated certification exam, talk about the need for these job skills and take a deeper look into the exam objectives.

CompTIA Security+ is the premier global certification that establishes the essential skills required for core security functions and a career in IT security. It showcases professionals' capabilities in securing networks, applications, and devices, ensuring data integrity, confidentiality, and availability. CompTIA Security+ focuses on practical, hands-on skills to tackle real-world challenges.


What: CIN Sneak Peek: Security+ V8
When: September 24th, 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM CT
Who: Dr. James Stanger and Brian Ford
Where: ON24
Register Here
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Passed Linux Plus

Today I just passed Linux +. One needs to be on top of things to pass Linux + , its not an easy exam. Thanks Steve, CIN Director and Jason for all the resources and support. Its full of commands and hands on application of Linux stuff. One really needs to know what is happening otherwise, you can be left off guard.

Thanks Thanks

SecAI+

Interesting... I don't see a thread about this reasonably new certification?

OUR STORY SO FAR:

It was Friday afternoon when the training broker emailed me to ask if I have this certification, and if I am available the weeks of September 28 and October 5. Available? YES. Certified? No... but it is a mesh of cybersecurity and AI so it shouldn't take much. 'Can you be certified by Tuesday?' Wow, that's cutting it tight... but who needs a weekend when Monday is the holiest day of the Jewish year, right? Fine... I booked my exam appointment and downloaded the courseware.

I blazed through the course manual and PowerPoints over the weekend, and by the time I lit the candles I was comfortable in where I was. I would have another hour or two to study Monday night after breaking the fast, and then if I felt I needed it again on Tuesday morning.

(I did not count on getting sick Sunday evening and spending a lot of the next 36 hours very under the weather)

Tuesday morning I scrambled to arrange my makeshift exam area in the hallway; I made sure my son would take his German Shepherd out for a couple of hours, and I bribed my (much smaller) dog with treats so that she would let me sit the exam undisturbed.

It was one of those exams when I was not sure what the final page would say... but when I clicked and it read that I passed I was relieved. Also... it was not a borderline pass. Yay.

This marks the eleventh CompTIA exam that I have passed. To date my record is 11-0, which is much better than my record on Microsoft exams.

I realized as I booked the exam that this is the first version 1 of a CompTIA certification that I have ever taken. I never sat a CompTIA exam until 2021... my Network+ was the 98th certification exam I ever sat. I may have come late to the party with CompTIA, and while I might regret not starting sooner, I am glad I started. I am enjoying the vendor agnostic nature of the certifications that I never had with Microsoft or VMware... and there seems to be a lot more teaching opportunities for CompTIA these days than some other vendors.

Now let's see how much I enjoy delivering the SecAI+ in person next week!

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.

Remote Security+ Instructor

I am looking to hire a security+ instructor. The instructor will teach two live online sessions per week, review practice questions, explain key exam objectives, and help students prepare confidently for the certification exam. Remote opportunity with the potential for ongoing cohorts.

Interested instructors, please send me an email at [email protected] with your experience, availability, and expected rate.

Thanks,

Instructor for AI Fundamentals

I recently enrolled in the CompTIA AI Fundamentals Competency Certificate through the Train The Trainer Webinar Series.


During enrollment, I reached a step asking me to select the instructor who teaches my class, as shown in the attached screenshot. However, when I search for an instructor, “No matches found” appears.

I am a CIN community member and instructor, and I would appreciate guidance from anyone who has completed this course or encountered the same enrollment issue.

Thank you for your help!


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  • Question
In-person Instructors Wanted — Upcoming Training Engagement (Delta State, Nigeria)

Acquire Nexus is putting together a pool of qualified trainers for an upcoming training engagement in Delta State, Nigeria.
We're looking for certified/qualified instructors across the following areas:
  • Tech Support (CompTIA A+, ITF+, Network+, Digital Literacy, CCNA)
  • AI Applied / Agents (CompTIA AI Agent Essentials, AI prompting, Microsoft AI-900/AI-102, AWS Certified AI Practitioner)
  • Business & Management (CompTIA Project+, PMI PMP, Business Essentials, Soft Skills Essentials)
  • Security (CompTIA Security+, CySA+, PenTest+ SecAI+, )
  • Cloud & Server (CompTIA Cloud+, Server+, AWS/Microsoft Azure Associate)
  • Software Development (Microsoft Certified: Azure Developer Associate, AWS Certified Developer)
  • Data Analysis & Science (CompTIA Data+, Microsoft Certified: Data Analyst Associate, DataAI, Datasys+)
  • Office Productivity (Microsoft Office Specialist / Microsoft 365 Certified)
What we're looking for:
  • Relevant certification(s) and hands-on experience in your subject area — credentials noted above are a plus, but equivalent certifications (PECB, Cisco, Google, etc.) or demonstrated expertise are also welcome
  • Comfortable delivering instructor-led sessions to real cohorts
  • Based in or able to work within Delta State, with willingness to travel roughly 18–60 km to the training location
  • Availability for up to 2 days per week for the engagement
This is an initial call to identify interested and qualified trainers — details on schedule, compensation, and specific tracks will be shared directly with shortlisted candidates.

Interested? Send your CV, certifications, and area(s) of expertise to [email protected].

Smh and Not sure where to go with this one

Hi-

I am about to start our next A+ cohort. There's someone in there who took the 1101/1102 already back in 2024. In our bootcamps, we give the vouchers out with the classes and prep them hard to pass. This guy has some kind of degree in the field, and I think in his own country where he's from (I think it's India), he's worked in this field in some capacity. I have not started teaching yet, but I've seen some really weird, questionable conversations in the Teams chat- where he seems to present himself as an authority on all things IT, especially Security+ (he does not have anything other than A+ and he took a course on CCNA and got a certificate of completion). I feel like he's a bit prideful and will be a handful as well. And he does a lot of pushback with the organization who runs the bootcamp as well. He will be a firecracker!

Anyway, based on how he writes, the level of writing he has doesn't seem mature. But my bootcamp thinks that if he doesn't want to retake the 1201/1202, or do the CertMaster CE, perhaps he could do the industry experience (assuming he gets a job) or do this last part: Publish relevant articles, white papers, blog posts, or participate in recognized industry activities. I just don't see anyone who doesn't have writing experience being waved through to having their certification renewed. Is this pretty common? We are trying to decide which way to push him over the next couple of days. He's proven to be quite the arguer when presented with a situation he doesn't like or want to do!

Thanks!

DLRoss

  • Question
AI Fundamentals Final Assessment Scheduling

Hello CIN Community,

I recently enrolled in a CompTIA CompCert course through the CompTIA Instructor Network (CIN) after attending the AI Fundamentals Webinar.

During the enrollment process, I was asked to select an institution for the CompCert exam. However, my university was not listed among the available institutions, so I selected another institution that may not currently be operational or may not be able to schedule the exam. I have completed the course waiting for my exam to be scheduled in the assessment tab. I have added a screenshot of exam assessment.

I would appreciate advice from anyone who has experienced a similar situation:

  • What options are available if the selected institution cannot schedule the CompCert exam?
  • Can a CIN member select a different active/operational institution, including one located outside their country, to facilitate or schedule the exam?
  • If this is allowed, which institution should I select?
I would be grateful for any guidance or experience you can share.
Thank you!
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Def Con 34

Anyone heading to Las Vegas for Def Con August 6-9? If so, let's connect! I will be hanging around the Noob Village (https://www.noobvillage.org/) with @GingerHacker. I will actually be giving a workshop around SecAI+ on Friday at 12:00pm.

Be sure to reach out if attending! CINners unite!!


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CIN TTT Series: CySA+ V4

Join us for the CIN TTT series covering the next release of the CompTIA CySA+ certification. Our guest instructor, @Nick Pierce , will lead us through the eight-session series covering the exam objectives and provide hands on examples as you strengthen your cybersecurity analysis 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.

CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+) is the premier certification for cyber professionals tasked with incident detection, prevention, and response through continuous security monitoring. It validates a tech professional's expertise in incident response and vulnerability management processes, emphasizing the critical communication skills necessary for effective security analysis and compliance.

Skills covered in this series:
  • Enhance security operations processes, differentiate threat intelligence and threat hunting, and identify malicious activity using appropriate tools.
  • Conduct vulnerability assessments, prioritize vulnerabilities, and recommend effective mitigation strategies for vulnerability management.
  • Apply attack methodology frameworks, perform incident response, and understand the incident management lifecycle to handle security incidents effectively.
  • Utilize communication best practices to report on vulnerability management and incident response, providing stakeholders with actionable plans and meaningful metrics.
What: CIN TTT Series CySA+ V4
When: June 8 through July 1, 2026, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm CT
Who: Nick Pierce
Where: ON24
Register Here
(Please note, registering will automatically register you for all 8 sessions. You will be able to add each session to your calendar on from the confirmation email.)

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Passed Linux + V8

Greetings all,
25th August 2026, I passed my Linux+ exam after 15 days (full-time) of preparation. I used Certmaster only, along with the lab.
What I did
1. Printed the eBook and studied offscreen.
2. Set up the lab (Fedora and Ubuntu ) and did all practicals. (LAB is the key to success)
3. Target 2 modules / Day (reviewed all modules 2 times)

It was not easy, but if you take your time reading Certmaster, it helps a lot.

Thank you, @Stephen Schneiter @jasoneckert

Thank you, TTT team.

CISSP Curriculum Developer & Instructor (remote)

Hi, all.
My community college is seeking an experienced cybersecurity professional with a current CISSP license to develop curriculum (with the possibility of later teaching) a CISSP prep course. Please reach out to [email protected] for details.
Thank you!

Free Linux+ XK0-006 Mock Exam Tool for Self-Assessment

Hey fellow Linux+ candidates 👋

I wanted to share a free resource that’s been super helpful in my prep for the XK0-006 exam:🔗 Skunkworks Academy Linux+ Mock Exam Tool

It’s a browser-based readiness tracker that lets you:
  • Run randomized assessments (20–25 questions recommended)
  • Track your best and latest scores locally
  • Identify domain gaps across all exam objectives
  • Export/import your progress between machines
💡 Tip: For a realistic exam feel, set it to “Timed = Yes” and “Show answers = No.”

It’s not a replacement for hands-on labs, but it’s great for quick self-checks and building confidence. If you’ve tried it, I’d love to hear your thoughts or suggestions for improvement!

Happy studying and good luck to everyone aiming for Linux+ 💪

  • Question
Score vs Save on Assessments

Over thae past couple of years I have noticed some changes to the platform that seem to create issues when my students are completing both the labs and assessments on the new Labsim platform. The biggest of course is the Score button vs Save button on the assessments. I don't remember the Save option available in the past. When I pull the grades for my students, they tell me that the assignments were completed, but I don't see them on my end. What I am learning after talking with them is that they are selecting Save instead of Score. This is the same issue I had last year with the change on the labs where they select Check Answers, then have the option to Keep Working or Score Lab. In my opinion, the extra buttons are making things a little more difficult on both the students and the instructors. Is anyone else seeing this?

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