701 content question (answer for exam or job interview)

If the question shown below were asked in a job interview, which answers would you advise students to select? Would your advice be the same if the question were on the 701 cert exam? Given the definition of "cryptographic algorithm" in the 701 manual, I don't know which answers would be scored as correct on the 701 exam.

Question:
Laws and regulations require your organization to use cryptographic algorithms to secure some data. Which of these are cryptographic algorithms? (Select all that apply)

Answers:
A. Hashing
B. Encoding
C. Decoding
D. Encryption
E. Decryption
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Control Categories (Operational vs Managerial)

I noticed a lot of discussion about how Comptia determines the differences between Managerial and Operational Controls?
On example is Awareness Programs (Training) because depending on the author, some categorize them as Managerial while others consider it as an Operational Control.
What are your thoughts? and what are your recommendations on how to better explain this to students (and even to explain them why testout content differs from most internet sources)?

CIN Sneak Peek: Network+ N10-009

Yes, it is time to talk about the next version of Network+! The new version will launch in mid-may 2024! Join CIN and special guest @Hod Berman as he takes a Sneak Peek into the changes in the new exam objectives. 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.

Networking is networking! Or is it! Come join us to hear how things are changing!

What: two-hour webinar investigating updated Network+ exam
When: Tuesday, March 5, 10:00 AM CST
Where: ON24
Who: Hod Berman
Register Now

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CompTIA Partner Summit - Save the Date!!

IT'S TIME! Mark your calendars and start planning! CompTIA is thrilled to invite you to the upcoming CompTIA Partner Summit in Atlanta, GA, from July 31 to August 1, 2024, at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta. This event is a tribute to our shared mission of fostering innovation, overcoming challenges, and creating new opportunities in IT education. It's time to sync in and align our efforts for a transformative future.

At the Summit, as a partner, you will have the opportunity to:

  • Connect with other educators and industry professionals, building valuable relationships that will enhance your network.
  • Share and receive powerful insights and successful teaching strategies, allowing you to align with the latest trends and practices in IT education.
  • Explore the latest methods for engaging and effective IT instruction, ensuring you're in tune with the most effective teaching techniques.
Be sure to join us for a CINfull good time!!

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Pursuing CompTIA and being a Pearson Vue Certified Proctor

Hello,

I am sure I am not the only person with this problem. I am currently teaching an equivilent course in A+. I am also a certified proctor at the Certification Center that I also management.

Is there anyway other then drooping down as a Certified Proctor for Pearson Vie that I could take the A+ exam?

Any comments?

Russell

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.

Free VMs with Walk Throughs:

Greetings,
I publish a couple of times a month on the page below. I try to make sure the skills emphasized are aligned with Sec+/PenTest+, but are on level with what one might expect on an exam like the OSCP. I do teach cybersecurity certification classes and I find that labs like these work really well for individuals who want to go beyond the test training, apply what they are learning, and develop notes that are easily referenced when tackling challenges on sites like Hack-the-Box.

Perhaps someone out there will find these labs useful either individually or in the classroom!
https://medium.com/@josh.beck2006

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CONTENT QUESTION

SINCE THE A+ 2001 CORE1 SCSI HAS BE IN THE IN THE Curriculum and the 220-1101 while it has appeared both the 2001 and 220-1101 as some who also goes out to clients to sort their Desktop PCS I am yet I see one any where in the field once SATA came I am yet a physical with SCSI,

The last question I got book and the objectives covers IDE 40 pin cable. I think back I have had to work on most PCs with Sata , So I dont recall getting a machine to fix with scsi and IDE 40pin,

Can any share where we have these and don't make use of this ? in my filed work with desktops?

thanks
Peter
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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.

CIN Instructor Toolbox: Practical AI for Instructors

During the last TTT series, John Guise was talking to me about how he was using AI to help with lesson plans and how his organization is adopting AI from an instructor's point of view. I thought it was very interesting and have asked John if he would be will to share and demonstrate some of the practices they are adopting and utilizing as they develop courses for their students. Join us for our first CIN Instructor Toolbox of 2024 as we take a look at how instructors can utilize AI.

What: two-hour webinar highlighting tools and best practices for implementing AI in your training environment.
When: Wednesday February 28, 2024, 1:00 p.m. CST
Where: ON24
Who: John Guise, ECPI University

Register Now

https://event.on24.com/wcc/r/4486710/09C0D5E67B6F30021526550AD7534FC3
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*** 701 PASSED ***

Team, I sat and passed the new 701 Security+ exam. Very nice exam! I only used TestOut, which I had access to via TTT. TestOut covers all and beyond with this exam. I thought the PBQs were fair and fun to do. I had plenty of time to answer the multiple-choice questions, review flagged questions, tackle the PBQs and review them.

As long as you know the testing objectives, you should be good to go! I hope this helps those that are pursuing this exam.

~Russ

Assisted Lab: Using Virtualization Private Switch and External Switch procedure Mismatch

After Configuring the Private Switch immediately the procedure tells you to configure an External Switch and then you are instructed to go to the Virtual Machine and do IP config command. When command is done it does not show any IP address yet the following instruction tells you to put an IP address that you find. Then later instructions flow to change the Network Adapter based on the specified IP Addresses. and then tells you that the IP address will not show up, later to change to external switch. so confusing for someone. Did you meet the same challenge.

However based on My experience in working with Virtual Machines, I knew what was going on and managed to work around.

Instructors Needed in the Maryland (USA) Area

QUANTUM INTRINSIX is looking for instructors (USA only) that can teach various CompTIA courses. It is preferred that the instructors reside near the Maryland / DC / VA area. However, QUANTUM INTRINSIX would be willing to work with instructors that can deliver remotely. The instructor would be a 1099 contractor. If you are interested, please send a private message to us via Inbox.

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

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