The Wall Street Journal recently posted an article, based on research from the Burning Glass Institute, questioning the value of certs. The WSJ title was "Skill Certificates Rarely Pay Off."
Seems they did not clearly distinguish certificates from certifications.

This tool shows some interesting findings:

I recently visited a Canadian National Park. While in the visitor's centre, I stopped to take some of the pamphlets at the at the round information kiosk:

Lady behind kiosk: If you like, you can sign our visitor's guestbook over here.
Me: Sure, I'd like that.
Lady behind kiosk: So, where are you coming from today?
Me: Cambridge, in the Kitchener-Waterloo area of Ontario.
Lady behind kiosk: That's great - I have family who live in Waterloo and Guelph.
Me: So you know the area well, then!
Lady behind kiosk: I do. What does your shirt mean?
Me: Oh, that's a tech pun - I work in the tech industry and the shirts they give out at tech conferences usually have punny slogans.
Lady behind kiosk: You work in tech? Would you know why this iPad we have can no longer connect to the printer here?

Yes, I ended up fixing the DirectPrint settings in the app for their Brother printer.
If you work in IT, remember: No matter how far you go, the printers will find you...

Hello CINners,
I want to share with you another successful story that I have passed CompTIA SecurityX.
Huge thanks to @Stephen Schneiter for the voucher! Couldn’t have done it without this amazing community.

Hii @Stephen Schneiter

Just checking in on when the A+ core 1 & 2 vouchers are anticipated to go out.

Hi everyone,

I’m currently preparing to create training content for teaching students CompTIA Network+, and I’m looking for some help with developing the content and creating labs.

If you have any resources, tips, or lab ideas, I’d greatly appreciate your support.

Thanks in advance!

Below is the content of an email I sent yesterday to a fellow CompTIA instructor. Thoughts?

--------------------------------------------
Another good reason to be retired:

ChatGPT Request:

Identify five standard multiple choice questions that are likely to appear in the CompTIA SY0-701 exam?

ChatGPT said:​

Sure! I can create five sample multiple-choice questions similar to what you might see on the CompTIA Security+ SY0-701 exam. These questions are designed to reflect the core domains: Attacks, Threats, Vulnerabilities; Architecture and Design; Implementation; Operations and Incident Response; Governance, Risk, and Compliance.

---

Question 1: Threats and Vulnerabilities​

A network administrator notices unusually high outbound traffic from a workstation. After investigation, they find malware that is sending sensitive data to an external server. Which type of malware is most likely responsible?
A. Ransomware
B. Trojan horse
C. Worm
D. Spyware
Answer: D. Spyware
Explanation: Spyware is designed to gather information from a system without the user’s knowledge, often sending it to external servers.

---

Question 2: Architecture and Design​

Which of the following security controls is an example of defense-in-depth?
A. Deploying a firewall
B. Implementing antivirus software
C. Using multi-factor authentication, firewalls, and intrusion detection systems together
D. Requiring strong passwords
Answer: C. Using multi-factor authentication, firewalls, and intrusion detection systems together
Explanation: Defense-in-depth involves using multiple layers of security controls to protect systems.

---

Question 3: Implementation​

An organization wants to secure wireless network communications to prevent eavesdropping. Which of the following protocols provides the strongest encryption for Wi-Fi?
A. WEP
B. WPA2 with AES
C. WPA with TKIP
D. Open Wi-Fi with VPN
Answer: B. WPA2 with AES
Explanation: WPA2 with AES is currently considered the most secure standard for Wi-Fi encryption.

---

Question 4: Operations and Incident Response​

During an incident, a security analyst wants to ensure they capture volatile data before shutting down a compromised server. Which of the following should they collect first?
A. Hard drive logs
B. RAM contents
C. Backup tapes
D. System event logs
Answer: B. RAM contents
Explanation: Volatile data like information in RAM is lost when the system is powered down, so it should be captured first during incident response.

---

Question 5: Governance, Risk, and Compliance​

Which framework is commonly used to manage information security risk and provides guidelines for creating a comprehensive cybersecurity program?
A. GDPR
B. NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF)
C. PCI DSS
D. HIPAA
Answer: B. NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF)
Explanation: The NIST CSF provides a risk-based approach for organizations to manage and improve cybersecurity.

---

If you want, I can generate 20–30 more practice questions that cover all SY0-701 domains with the same style and difficulty level as the real exam. This would be very useful for focused study.
Do you want me to do that?

I have a couple of students who are telling me that on a practice exam they were asked to identify a particular NIST publication. While I have told them they need to know the talking points of all of the ones referenced in the course, would they be asked on the exam to call out that 800-53 is privacy controls while 800-61 is cyber risk management? I do not remember a question like that... although I think another exam I sat had them.

Thanks in advance!

There are multiple threads on Reddit (I know I really shouldn't keep visiting that site) that claim CompTIA has sent out notices that Project+ and Server+ are changing from "good for life" certifications to CE certifications on October 1, 2025. I personally did not receive any notification, nor can I find any reference to it outside of Reddit.

Can anyone definitively confirm or deny this claim?

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.

Just to show the Train the Trainer does a super job. Today I sat core 2 exam and passed 1 week after sitting core 1 exam. A big thank you to Stephen and TTT for all the training and support

I’ve been in a junior IT support role for about a year, and I’m debating whether going for the CompTIA A+ is still worth it at this stage. My day-to-day already covers a lot of hardware, OS, and networking basics, but I’ve noticed the exam objectives still focus heavily on legacy systems and older troubleshooting methodologies.

For those who’ve taken it recently, did you find the content aligned with current workplace realities, things like cloud-based endpoint management, MDM tools, and modern security protocols? Or did it feel more like a formal check-the-box credential for HR filters?

I found one training program that integrates real-world simulations and labs that mimic enterprise environments (instead of just rote Q&A drills). That hands-on approach sounds promising, but I’m wondering if the A+ itself goes deep enough to make it worthwhile in 2025.

How frequently do you teach each of the following CompTIA courses per year? When was the last time you taught each one? How many CompTIA certifications do you have where you have never taught the class?

CompTIA's current portfolio of certification classes is as follows;

A+ (Core 1 and Core 2)
Cloud+
CloudNetX
CySA+
Data+
DataSys+
DataX
Linux+
Network+
PenTest+
Project+
Security+
SecurityX
Server+
Tech+

When I go to resources all I see is past TTT sessions. Where can I find the next course, or how to get notified for the coming classes?

Saul M.

Hi everyone,

Was wondering where I can access the PDF for the Instructor Guide and the Official PowerPoint slides for Training.
How do we usually get these materials? Are they provided after enrollment, or do we need to request them separately?

Any help or guidance would be greatly appreciated.


Thank you in advance!

Future TTT courses should include a session on how to answer a mock simulation question in exam so we can train our students well or can tell what they will looking for in the simulation exam. Most of students get scared when they think the simulation will be like lab exercise.

In TTT we should be trained on our training a mock simulation exam, it will be very helpful to trainer when teaching the course.

I was able to complete this lab but don't understand where Telnet and SSH factor in. The lab states that only these commands should be allowed on the network but the solution doesn't require specifying Telnet or SSH, nor their ports 23 and 22. It seems that the solution allows ANY traffic into these networks.

Hi everyone! I am not a new teacher, but I am new to teaching IT classes. I've taught math mostly and some PLTW computer science/programming-focused courses the last several years. Our district realized that while our community has very little need for programmers, we have a tremendous need for IT workers in all sectors. Additionally, new dual credit partnerships with the local community college have come in and out with PLTW and in with CompTIA! The district actually purchased TestOut licenses, but...

This year I will have 3 levels of IT classes - the classes were determined by the District and Community College
Year1: Tech+ (and other intro to computers skills MS Office suite, HTML)
Year2: A+
Year3: Net+ (1st sem) and Linux+ (2nd sem)

I am still relatively new to the world of IT myself - I took my A+ Cert last with the students! I do have some experience and interest in the IT world, but I am more broad than deep. I plan to do the same route for certification this year with Net+ and Linux+, but I am looking for suggestions from the more experienced teachers that might be here as to how best to run the "day to day" with my students.

Do you use digital notebooks? Do you use CertMaster (or another program)? Last year I showed videos from TestOut, pausing them for discussions and connections, but students filled out guided note sheets that I created. The notes followed the videos and then forced them to scavenger hunt the "text". It was a ton of work for me, but it did work well.
What works well for you?

I also want my students to have some hands-on and authentic experiences, but I do not have much in the way of resources. My 1st year students always take apart and reassemble old computers and laptops - they don't work however. For A+, I gave my students a box of parts and had them assemble the computer as a review, but they were the same old computers my first years use. I also had my A+ students last year make patch cables and test them. I am absolutely looking for any other low-cost, easy-to-implement hands-on labs/activities.

Finally, this year I should have access to 20-ish working computers obsoleted from the district, but they have been completely erased - NO Windows OS, and I am not allowed to reconnect them to the district network. Aside from installing Linux on them (which is very likely) are there any free resources you would suggest I put on them? Ultimately, these older laptops will probably have to serve my classes for several years - and I want them secured so that I can do that, but I also need some ideas of what I can actually DO with them.

Thank you all for reading through this and for any help and suggestions you might offer!

So, it would seem that I'm starting to reach artifact status here in the CIN....today, this came through:



So, hurriedly, I thought I'd check my new pixel acquisition and:



*sigh* Oh well - womp-womp.

Oh well. I guess that means @Stephen Schneiter owes me beer now.

/r

Hey guys, is pentest+ lab moved to latest version v3 moved to compTIA platform or still on LOD

Hello,

I’ve created a new Canvas course for the 1200 series and would like to know if there’s a way to smoothly migrate students from my existing 1100 series course while preserving their progress in the new shell.

Has anyone successfully done this before, or is there a recommended method to handle this type of transition?

Thank you!

I am sure William Shakespeare would agree that it does not matter, but as I preen over passing CAS-005 yesterday, I wonder if CompTIA's marketing department might not have taken a wrong turn on this one.

Certified Advanced Security Practitioner... it sounds reverential - a title to be respected. When the Advanced Security Professional walks in you step aside and follow his lead because he (or she) knows of what they speak.

SecurityX... I don't know... it sounds a bit millennial. If you think that might be a compliment then get off my lawn! I was not involved in the conversations around it but I am trying to wrap my head around the thinking on this one. What is CompTIA trying to do with this name? Can anyone explain it? I would love to put the old cert on a business card but this... I really don't know.

Contractor Position – Covered 6 Cyber Security Technician (CST) Program - Assistant Instructor​

Location: Primarily Remote / Occasional Travel to Ventura, California (Up to 15%)
Duration: 5-week cycles (200 hours total per cohort)
Hours: Average of 25 hours a week
Compensation: Competitive contractor rate dependent on experience.

About the Program​

The Covered 6 Cybersecurity Specialist Training (CST) Program is a 5-week, 200-hour intensive course designed to prepare students for careers in cybersecurity and IT. The program blends classroom instruction with hands-on labs, ensuring students are ready for industry-recognized certifications including CompTIA A+, Network+, and Security+. For more information, please visit https://www.covered6.com/.

Position Overview​

We are seeking an experienced cybersecurity lab instructor to deliver high-quality instruction to adult learners preparing for careers in IT and cybersecurity. This is a remote contractor role, though occasional on-site teaching in Moorpark, CA is required (travel included). The instructor will lead daily live lab sessions, facilitate discussions, and ensure students are prepared for CompTIA certification exams.

Key Responsibilities​

• Deliver hands-on labs covering CompTIA A+, Network+, and Security+ objectives.
• Lead students through real-world exercises in hardware, networking, security, and troubleshooting.
• Occasionally cover lecture content of CompTIA material.
• Provide mentorship, guidance, and exam preparation strategies for learners of diverse backgrounds.
• Collaborate with program staff to refine curriculum and align labs with industry best practices.
• Assess student performance through quizzes, lab evaluations, and practical scenarios.
• Travel to Southern California as needed for in-person lab delivery or events.

Required Qualifications​

• Current CompTIA A+, Network+, and Security+ certifications (or higher-level certifications with ability to teach fundamentals). Will consider experience in lieu of certifications.
• 2-5 years of professional experience in IT support, networking, or cybersecurity roles.
• 2-5 years of instructional or training experience, ideally with adult learners or veterans. Will consider relevant education as experience.
• Strong command of provided lab-based teaching methods and hands-on exercises.
• Excellent communication and facilitation skills.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, cohort-based program environment.

Preferred Qualifications​

• Experience with other CompTIA certifications or related credentials.
• Background in curriculum development and instructional design but not required.
• Familiarity with virtual lab platforms and blended learning delivery.
• Prior work in educational institutions, defense, or law enforcement environments.

How to Apply​

Please submit the following to [email protected]

1. Resume or CV
2. List of current certifications and expiration dates
3. Brief cover letter highlighting relevant teaching and cybersecurity experience
4. At least one reference from a training or technical role
5. Must be a US. Citizen and willing to travel

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

The new CompTIA Data+ V2 (DA0-002) will launch in October 2025. Join the CompTIA Instructor Network and special guest @James Stanger and @Kwabena Fred as they take a Sneak Peek into changes with the new exam vs. the current version. 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 Sneak Peek: Data+ V2
When: Thursday, August 28, 2025, 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM CDT
Who: Dr. James Stanger and Fred Anaafi
Where: ON24
Register Now

The CompTIA AI Essentials will start soon don’t forget to join the sessions