There are some things about the CertMaster Labs I really like, but there is one thing I can’t seem to figure out and therefore cannot explain to my classes.



In the Labs, there are four types of Labs (and I am referencing my most recent class, CySA+ 004). Lab, Live Lab, Applied Lab, and Challenge Lab.



The issue is with just the “Lab” activities. Neither I nor my students can find the detailed steps that help them perform the described scenario. The scenario gives a high level direction, but no specific steps. I’m at a loss as to where to find those steps. Help!?

This thread is intended for the purpose of making suggestions for the CompTIA web site at https://www.comptia.org

My first suggestion:

On the "Certifications" page at https://www.comptia.org/en-us/certifications/#all

Create separate pages for Certifications and COMPCERTS. Students, recruiters, hiring managers, and people in the industry don't know the difference between the two. Create two separate pages listing each so that people can make more informed decisions on which offerings work best for them.

In the Sec+ TTT session 1, @BrianFord went over how the products compare side by side and it was the best explanation I have seen so far. I know this is an area of confusion for many, including myself. CE and Practice I understood well enough. Perhaps it has come up before but I missed it if so!

I had a student test over the weekend for Network+ and he indicated that he actually had to open up machines and type commands to get information to the screen in order to answer the questions. Now I've been teaching CompTIA courses for nearly a decade, have many of the CompTIA certs and I don't remember, except for CASP (SecurityX) having to do actual interactive labs during the exam. Can anyone elaborate?

Hi Dear CIN members, one of my students has done Core 1 in German. He wants to know if he does Core 2 in English, will he still get his A+ certificate?

Greetings, Fellow Instructors!

I’ve been developing and will present the CompTIA Instructor Network (CIN) Security+ v8 Train-the-Trainer webinar series. The webinar series starts tomorrow, November 3, 2026, at 11 AM CDT and will run on Tuesdays and Thursdays for six sessions ending on Thursday, November 19. All sessions will be recorded via On24 and can be viewed by CIN members who registered after the live webinar using the link in your registration confirmation email. All the presentation materials will be available for download from the On24 webinar site.
If you are interested in teaching Security+ and haven't already, I urge you to register for the webinar series even if you cannot attend the live broadcast. This is true even if your organization doesn’t use CertMaster.

Our CIN Director and my co-host, Stephen Schneiter, will provide all registered participants with information on how to access CertMaster for your own learning and evaluation. Instructors who work with CompTIA Authorized Training Partners can also gain access to CertMaster by contacting their CompTIA Representative. I’ve been using CompTIA CertMaster Perform for Security+ v8, which includes access to the CertMaster Learn, Practice, and Lab tools. I’ve had the opportunity to review the online product and all the CertMaster resources included for instructors, and I’m excited to share them with you.

If you missed it, CIN hosted the Security+ Sneak Peek last month with Stephen, Dr. James Stanger, and me. If you want to go back and view that webinar, use your registration link or you can register using the link below:
https://event.on24.com/wcc/r/5493775/097E1919B5907F691ABAC4BC7D7446C4

If you have questions about the Security+ v8 TTT webinar you’d like to share with the CIN Community, please reply to this message.

Hello CompTIA Instructor Network Team,

I am currently participating in the CompTIA PenTest+ PT0-003 On-Demand Train-the-Trainer program.

As part of this program, I received an access code for CompTIA CertMaster Perform, which I am currently using to complete the training.

However, I have not received an exam voucher.

I would like to know whether an exam voucher is included in the On-Demand Train-the-Trainer program and, if so, whether it is issued upon completion of the training or must be requested separately through the CompTIA Instructor Network community.

I would appreciate your guidance on the appropriate process.

Thank you for your support.

Best regards,

I feel this is an area that will be of great interest. Most AI users are at the prompting level (ChatGpt, Claude, Gemini, Copilot) and are not moving beyond that. The AI value-add is moving from that "prompting" state to creating agents and agentic agents to assist with automation.

https://www.comptia.org/en-us/about...ort-to-define-workforce-skills-for-AI-agents/
CompTIA AgentOps+ is intended to establish a vendor-neutral standard for professionals who deploy, secure, monitor and govern AI agents.

I look forward to this new CompTIA suite of related learning products planned for release in Q2 2027.
What are your thoughts on this?

You heard it here! We will be livestreaming the CompTIA workshop on Wednesday at the AFCEA TechNet Indo-Pacific conference, for attendees and CIN members!

Join CompTIA for an interactive three-hour workshop that explores the intersection of Quantum Computing, Artificial Intelligence, and Zero Trust and their growing impact on cybersecurity, resilience, and workforce development.

Across three focused sessions, attendees will gain practical insights into the technologies, trends, and skills currently shaping our digital infrastructure. Quantum computing is being used to model complex systems and solve problems in supply chains, manufacturing, and cybersecurity. AI is playing an increased role in modern threat detection and cyber defense. Organizations are grappling with the challenges of securing industrial and critical infrastructure environments.

This workshop will provide a comprehensive snapshot at the realities organizations face today. Students, for example, will analyze packet captures and experiment with how AI tools perform in identifying attacks. We will be joined by representatives from Zscaler, Cyber Kraft, and SOFtact Solutions.

Designed for cybersecurity practitioners, technology leaders, operations professionals, and workforce development stakeholders, this workshop moves beyond theory to examine real-world use cases, implementation challenges, and actionable strategies that attendees can apply within their own organizations.

Participants will leave with:

• A practical understanding of quantum computing and its implications for cybersecurity, data science, and systems optimization.
• An overview of quantum-based activities, including user behavior modeling, incident response modeling, and network traffic analysis.
• Insights into how AI is transforming visibility, observability, threat detection, and incident response.
• The place of zero trust in critical infrastructure and the technical convergence of IT and Operational Technology / Industrial Control System environments.
• Strategies for addressing evolving attack surfaces, regulatory pressures, and critical infrastructure risks.

What: Livestreamed CompTIA Workshop
When: Wednesday, October 28, 1:30-4:30 PM HST
Where: ON24

Register Here

Greetings! If anyone is coming to the AFCEA TechNet Indo-Pacific conference in Honolulu next week, be sure to stop by the CompTIA booth, #TT81 in the Tapa Tower exhibits area. Would love to connect with fellow CINners in the area. We will also be livestreaming the CompTIA workshop, Securing Today's Critical Infrastructure on Wednesday 1:30-4:30 PM HST.

Hi all , where can i download the latest Pdf version of thi IT Careers Path Roadmap 2026. I can't find it on this link: https://www.comptia.org/content/it-careers-path-roadmap

I have a DataAI voucher to offer if anyone wants it. It expires November 25, 2026. I have higher priorities right now and will give the voucher to anyone who legitimately will use it. I am not asking for any money for the voucher. I just ask that someone use it to take the exam before November 25th.

Just wrapped another Security+ cohort here in Lagos and all three students who sat the SY0-701 this week passed. That keeps our 2026 pass rate at 100%.

Quick stats for fellow instructors:
• Cohort size: 5 (3 sat, 2 scheduling for next month)
• Prep time: 4 weeks, instructor-led + CertMaster Practice
• Weakest domain for this group: 2.0 (Threats, Vulnerabilities & Mitigations) — we spent extra lab time there
• Strongest: 4.0 (Security Operations)

Happy to share the study plan and lab schedule if anyone's prepping a cohort. What domains are your students struggling with most?

Hello fellow trainers! May I ask how did your assessment became available? I already done with the AI Essentials course. When I check, It told me that the instructor will be the one to open for me. btw, the courseware comes from the last TTT for AI.

Any help is very much appreciated. THank you so much!

I am available as an instructor for Security+ and CySA+.

If interested, please get in touch.
Thank you.

[email protected]

Hello CIN family,

Sharing a win from Lagos.

I recently wrapped a five day CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701) bootcamp with a brilliant group at Zenith Bank in Victoria Island, and the results are in: two more of my students, Kidochukwu and Loveday, have officially passed their Security+ exams this month.

That keeps my pass rate at 100% for the year, and honestly, I'm prouder of how they got there than the stat itself. Both of them put in the work every single day: evening study sessions, practice questions on weekends, and the kind of questions in class that tell you someone is thinking like a security professional.

A few things that made this cohort work:

- Two hours of structured daily study, not last-minute cramming. Consistency won every time.
- Every exam objective anchored to something real from their day jobs in SOC and IT operations.
- Practice tests treated as diagnostics, not verdicts. Every wrong answer became the next day's warm-up topic.

Kidochukwu is already applying his skills in SOC operations, and Loveday balanced a demanding job with daily study and still came out on top. Students like these are the best part of this job.

To every instructor mid-cohort right now: the results follow the process. Trust it.

On to the next cohort.

Ayomide

Hello CIN family,

Putting this out here for training coordinators and partners planning cohorts for the rest of the year and into Q1.

I'm Ayomide Oluwaga, a cybersecurity and AI trainer based in Lagos, Nigeria (CIN, CTT). I deliver CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701), CySA+, and broader cybersecurity and AI security training, both virtually and on-site.

A few things that define my delivery:

- Student results first. My most recent cohort wrapped their final week with multiple perfect assessment scores, and nobody finishing below 88%.
- I teach to the exam blueprint, but anchor every objective in real-world scenarios, so students leave able to do the work, not just pass the test.
- Comfortable adapting pace and depth for mixed-experience cohorts, from career starters to senior enterprise teams.

I'm currently open to:

1. Contract delivery for Security+ cohorts (virtual or on-site)
2. Corporate training engagements, including enterprise upskilling programs
3. Mentoring new instructors who are building their delivery confidence

If you're planning a cohort, need a reliable contract trainer, or simply want to compare notes on Security+ delivery, feel free to message me here or connect with me on LinkedIn. Happy to share references and sample session recordings on request.

Looking forward to collaborating with some of you.

Ayomide

Hello!

I completed both the CySa+ V4 and AutoOps+ CIN TTT series months ago, but I still haven't received a voucher for either of them.

Am i the only one? Do we know something, they still distribute vouchers or not?

Thanks!

Manasa V Karunasekarareddy

IT - Program Manager | Senior Business Analyst | Senior Project Manager |
2w • Edited
https://www.linkedin.com/in/manasa-v-k/
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Instructor Opportunity – Grant-Funded IT Training Program
We are running a grant-funded IT training program and are looking for qualified instructors to teach:

CompTIA Linux+
CompTIA Security+
ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity (CC) – Level 1

The ideal candidates should:
Hold the relevant industry certifications from CompTIA
Have at least 4–5 years of teaching or training experience
Have experience designing and developing curriculam
Possess strong subject-matter expertise
Be able to prepare students for certification exams
Demonstrate strong communication and classroom-management skills
Be available to travel to the training location and teach in person each day during the program

If you are a certified and experienced instructor interested in this opportunity, please send your resume and cover letter to:

[email protected]

The DataSys+ DS1-002 beta results were released today. I passed. This is the second version of DataSys+ that I've passed.

The new exam goes live today if you want to take it.

Bonjour à tous,

Je suis membre CIN et j’ai accès à la série CIN TTT - Security+ SY0-701 CML. J’enseigne le réseautage et je me prépare à enseigner Security+ et à passer la certification moi-même. J’ai trois questions :

1. Labs : Où puis-je trouver les laboratoires CertMaster pour Security+ SY0-701 ? Sont-ils inclus dans l’accès pour l’instructeur, ou ai-je besoin d’une licence séparée ? S’ils ne sont pas inclus, comment puis-je demander l’accès ?

2. Questions d’entraînement : Existe-t-il une banque de questions (par exemple CertMaster Practice) ou un ensemble imprimable de questions à choix multiples et de clés de réponses que les enseignants peuvent utiliser avec les étudiants ? Où puis-je télécharger les ressources pour l’instructeur (guide de l’instructeur, diapositives) ?

3. Certification : Comment puis-je m’inscrire à l’examen SY0-701 ? Y a-t-il une réduction ou un bon d’achat pour les membres du CIN ou les instructeurs ? Je suis basé à Dakar, au Sénégal, donc j’aimerais aussi savoir comment trouver un centre d’examen Pearson VUE ou passer l’examen en ligne. Enfin, avec l’arrivée prochaine du SY0-801, conseilleriez-vous de suivre le SY0-701 maintenant ?

Merci beaucoup pour votre aide.

Cordialement,
Aristide

Hello CIN Community,

After a dedicated 10-year tenure delivering technical instruction and curriculum design, I am officially opening my calendar and exploring new opportunities for instructional delivery, curriculum architecture, and technical consulting.

Over the past decade, I have specialized in taking enterprise, defense, and career-transitioning cohorts through mission-critical IT and cybersecurity frameworks. My instructional approach is hands-on and outcome-driven, prioritizing disciplined, practical execution over generic theory to ensure high student engagement and exceptional first-time exam pass rates.

Core Areas of Instruction & Expertise:​

• CompTIA Pathways: Security+, Network+, PenTest+, SecurityX (CASP+), CEH|CEI and emerging security frameworks.
• Networking & Infrastructure: Cisco CCNA, routing and switching topologies, and network architecture.
• Delivery Modalities: Experienced in live remote/virtual classrooms (Zoom, Teams, Webex), hybrid setups, and on-site corporate/defense delivery.
• Curriculum & Lab Architecture: Custom hands-on lab topology engineering, exam prep blueprint development, and student assessment workflows.

Engagement Availability:​

• 1099 Independent Contractor Delivery: Available for dedicated 5-day virtual or on-site cohorts, accelerated bootcamps, and evening/weekend modules.
• Curriculum Consulting: Lab design, course customization, and technical curriculum review.
• Full-Time Opportunities: Open to discussions for senior technical instructor, training lead, or instructional designer roles.

If your training organization, defense partner, or academic institution has upcoming scheduling gaps or needs immediate, reliable instructional support, I would welcome the opportunity to connect.

Feel free to send me a direct message here on CIN, connect on LinkedIn, or reach out directly at [email protected].

LinkeIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikewebler

Looking forward to collaborating with fellow instructors and training partners!

Best regards,

Michael Webler

Principal Instructor | CyberWeb Training

[email protected]

Join us for a Sneak Peek into the new CompTIA SecOT+ certification. We will be joined by Dr. James Stanger and John Cusimano who will discuss why CompTIA is offering this new certicication and the indsutry demand along with the job skills that go with it.

CompTIA SecOT+ validates your skills to secure and manage operational technology (OT) systems in manufacturing and critical infrastructure. This certification is designed for experienced professionals who need expertise in OT risk assessment, compliance, threat intelligence, architecture, and incident response. CompTIA SecOT+ is scheduled to launch on or around December 8, 2026,

Skills covered with SecOT+:

• OT safety and systems: Demonstrate safety, control, and architecture skills unique to OT.
• Risk and compliance: Assess risk, manage compliance programs, and align cybersecurity to business objectives in OT.
• Analyze and respond to threats using OT-specific frameworks, historical attack knowledge, and indicators of compromise.
• Build, harden, and operate secure OT architectures—including physical, network, hardware, and software security.
• Perform asset management, vulnerability assessment, and security monitoring in industrial setups.
• Prepare and execute OT-specific incident response—including for physical and cyber-physical events.

What: CIN Sneak Peek: SecOT+ V1
When: October 22, 2026 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM CDT
Who: James Stanger and John Cusimano
Where: ON24
Register Now

Is there a way for an instructor to experience what a student experiences in a class? I am teaching the Linux+ CertMaster Learn and would like to see what resources the students in the class have regarding checking completion and scores. I have a student who complained to me he was not able to track these. Of course, as an instructor I can run the Class Gradebook or Individual Scores by Course reports, but I don’t know what students have like these.

Thank you

I have purchased the material and didnt find the slides