Hello CINners,

I can see why I'd want to use a VPN when I'm away from home.
However, I ain't thinking about using a VPN when I am at home.

Is there anyone in the community that uses a VPN, when on their
home Internet connection - simply because the OS on the computer
is Windows?

Hello CINners,

What would you say are the top 8 cyberattacks that have occurred in 2024 thus far?

Of those top 8, which is #1?

Hello CINners,

Have you been to the Dark Web? How did you get there?
I'd like to pay it a visit.. What's are the logistics? What is
the process? What are the mechanics? What's the address?

I'm looking for responses from those who have ACTUALLY
been. Please don't provide me a response that you retrieved
from your favorite search engine!!!!

Thank you

I've been avoiding an online bickering with someone on Reddit. Thought I'd put it to my co-teachers instead.

The gist of it:

• Person A asks "I have read the exam objectives, but what takes priority based off of the older exam?"
• I respond that we cannot divulge such information due to our NDAs; we cannot say what the exam focuses on or covers.
• Person A responds that they're not looking for dumps or cheat sheets, just for guidance on which topics to focus study on.
• I counter again that this is still contrary to our NDAs: everything on the objectives is fair game and the objectives provide weighting per objective.
• Person B chastises me, saying "Instructors and fellow learners can absolutely make suggestions on topics that should be focused on, like Linux file permissions".

That's where I cut out and decide not to continue.

Me personally I hard disagree with B, because that would still be using my inside knowledge to steer someone's learning. I know exactly which topics were focused on in the exams I took, but I'm not going to tell because that laser focuses the students the "the right" parts of the exam. Sure the exam objectives are supposed to be evenly used, but from experience I know certain topics will get priority.

So what's your take on this?

Thoughts?

I wanted to know if any Career Center Instructors that cover the Network+ and Security+ curriculum uses a Capstone project to help the students go more in depth and hone their strenghts and weaknesses. Do you have any documentation that you would be willing to share to get me started. I was thinking of having the Networking students create and harden, and have the Cyber students try to pick it apart and find weaknesses.

Thanks in advance for pointing me in the right direction.

Hello Community,

I was reading a little something about passkeys, and I saw the following comment:
"According to Google, the most immediate benefits of passkeys are that they’re
phishing-resistant and spare people the headache of remembering
numbers and special characters in passwords."

Anyone have any additional benefits of this authentication method???

a) Live Webinar
b) Training course

For the purpose of re-certification CE credits?

Thanks for your attention to this matter

SAN FRANCISCO, MIAMI, and DOWNERS GROVE, Ill., Nov. 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- H.I.G. Capital ("H.I.G.") and Thoma Bravo are pleased to announce the signing of a definitive agreement to acquire the brand and world-leading information technology (IT) certification and training business and products of the Computing Technology Industry Association ("CompTIA").


CompTIA is a global leader in IT certifications and trainings, focused on promoting industry growth and skills development across the $5 trillion global IT ecosystem and its 38 million professionals. It provides comprehensive education, training, certifications, and market research, across areas including cybersecurity, emerging technologies, networking, cloud computing, and technical support. As the largest vendor-neutral credentialing program for technology workers, CompTIA has awarded over 3.5 million globally recognized certifications to professionals across the full range of technology companies. It also maintains a strong global partner program with thousands of academic institutions, non-profits, job corps centers, and other organizations, focused on developing and certifying the next generation of technology talent. Following the closing of the transaction, CompTIA will operate as a for-profit company under H.I.G. and Thoma Bravo's ownership. Its existing membership-based, 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization will be separated from CompTIA and continue its mission of service to the IT industry.


"We are thrilled to be joining forces with two leading, experienced investors in the technology space, whose expertise and resources will allow us to expand our impact on the global IT industry," said Todd Thibodeaux, President and CEO at CompTIA. "Through this transaction, we will be well-positioned to accelerate and expand the rollout of products and services to train the highly skilled workers of the future, and further strengthen our reputation across the industry as the leading provider of certifications and trainings."


"The Association's Board of Directors is very excited to be working with H.I.G. Capital and Thoma Bravo in this transformational process for the Association and also for the CompTIA business," said Tracy Pound, Chair of CompTIA's Board.

"This transaction will allow the Association to chart an expanded course of service to the global IT industry while making a substantial new commitment to charitable impact," added Scott Barlow, Vice Chair of CompTIA's Board.

"We are delighted to partner with Todd and the rest of the CompTIA team," said Matthew Robinson, Managing Director at H.I.G. "We look forward to embarking together with management on CompTIA's next phase of growth as a business fully dedicated to advancing the careers of IT professionals globally."

"Global education is continually evolving to become more skills-based, and CompTIA is powering that shift with partnerships spanning academic institutions, private enterprises, government entities, and training delivery partners," said Matt Hankins, Managing Director at H.I.G. "CompTIA's educational training content and certifications are enabling people across the world to gain entry and advancement in the IT space to unlock personal earning potential."

"The technology landscape is evolving quickly, and it is more important than ever that IT professionals have the skills needed to solve not only today's challenges, but also those expected to emerge in the future," said A.J. Rohde, Senior Partner at Thoma Bravo. "We view our investment in CompTIA as an important opportunity to capitalize on this growing need while investing in the development of the industry as a whole."

"CompTIA is a trusted name in IT, with significant partnerships across sectors and industries," said George Jaber, Principal at Thoma Bravo. "We look forward to working with CompTIA to invest in further developing its suite of industry-leading training and certification products, creating the next generation of resources that the industry needs while upholding CompTIA's global reputation."

The transaction is expected to close in early 2025 and is subject to customary regulatory approval.

Macquarie Capital, Ropes & Gray LLP, and Polsinelli LLP are serving as advisors to H.I.G. and Thoma Bravo. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC is serving as exclusive financial advisor to CompTIA and Husch Blackwell LLP is serving as legal advisor.

About CompTIA

The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) is the world's leading information technology (IT) certification and training body. CompTIA is a mission-driven organization committed to unlocking the potential of every student, career changer or professional seeking to begin or advance in a technology career. Millions of current and aspiring technology workers around the world rely on CompTIA for the training, education and professional certifications that give them the confidence and skills to work in tech. For more information, visit comptia.org.

About H.I.G. Capital

H.I.G. Capital is a leading global alternative investment firm with $65 billion of capital under management.* Based in Miami, and with offices in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco in the United States, as well as international affiliate offices in Hamburg, London, Luxembourg, Madrid, Milan, Paris, Bogotá, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Dubai, and Hong Kong, H.I.G. specializes in providing both debt and equity capital to middle market companies, utilizing a flexible and operationally focused/value-added approach:

• H.I.G.'s equity funds invest in management buyouts, recapitalizations, and corporate carve-outs of both profitable as well as underperforming manufacturing and service businesses.
• H.I.G.'s debt funds invest in senior, unitranche, and junior debt financing to companies across the size spectrum, both on a primary (direct origination) basis, as well as in the secondary markets. H.I.G. also manages a publicly traded BDC, WhiteHorse Finance.
• H.I.G.'s real estate funds invest in value-added properties, which can benefit from improved asset management practices.
• H.I.G. Infrastructure focuses on making value-add and core plus investments in the infrastructure sector

Since its founding in 1993, H.I.G. has invested in and managed more than 400 companies worldwide. The Firm's current portfolio includes more than 100 companies with combined sales in excess of $53 billion. For more information, please refer to the H.I.G. website at hig.com.

*Based on total capital raised by H.I.G. Capital and affiliates.

About Thoma Bravo

Thoma Bravo is one of the largest software-focused investors in the world, with approximately $160 billion in assets under management as of June 30, 2024. Through its private equity, growth equity and credit strategies, the firm invests in growth-oriented, innovative companies operating in the software and technology sectors. Leveraging Thoma Bravo's deep sector knowledge and strategic and operational expertise, the firm collaborates with its portfolio companies to implement operating best practices and drive growth initiatives. Over the past 20+ years, the firm has acquired or invested in more than 490 companies representing approximately US$265 billion in enterprise value (including control and non-control investments). The firm has offices in Chicago, London, Miami, New York and San Francisco. For more information, visit thomabravo.com.

I am eager to attend

Greetings!!

@Stephen Schneiter

I wanted to follow up regarding my request to update my email for my CIN membership. It’s been some time since I initially reached out, and the change still appears to be pending.

@Stephen Schneiter
Greetings!
I've been monitoring my email for the voucher and not received as today. Can you inform when will it be available?

Hello, I'm searching for an CompTIA A+ instructor to teach our online courses to our students in Cape Town, South Africa.

Hello CIN Community!

I'm reaching out to connect with fellow instructors who share a passion for making a difference in underserved communities, particularly those at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). As members of the CIN, we have a unique opportunity to collectively empower those communities with the skills and certifications needed to excel in cybersecurity and IT.

I'm currently working on an initiative to develop and support cyber range and training programs for local HBCUs in Baltimore, MD. The long-term goal is to scale these programs across all 100+ HBCUs. The goal is to create immersive, hands-on experiences that span foundational IT skills to advanced cybersecurity certifications, leveraging CompTIA's courseware and certifications as a central part of the curriculum.

If you're interested in contributing to this vision or if you know of any similar programs in the space, I'd love to hear from you. Specifically, I'm looking to:

• Identify CompTIA Instructors interested in partnering on or mentoring for these programs
• Gather insights from those who may already be involved in similar initiatives
• Source any existing resources, best practices, or ideas that would help make this program impactful and sustainable

Together, we can help bridge the IT and cybersecurity skills gap and open new doors for talented students in these communities. Please reach out here or via a direct message ([email protected]) if you're interested or have resources to share. In the meantime, I will be scouring the forums for ideas and similar discussions.

Looking forward to collaborating,

Brandon Royal, MSCy, CSIE, GSTRT, CISSP

So, I am really confused about maintenance fees. My understanding is we only pay for the most expensive cert and even then... Not sure how this works when you have multiple at the same level. I am also unsure when it starts. Looking at Continuing education, I have a lot of certifications, and I am confused about whether I need to pay anything this year.

I also see that most of my certs this year have not been sent to fulfillment. I think this is the paper certification.

Any way... I'm hoping I have a budget left over at work, and I can pay some of these, but I'm really confused as to what I should pay.

It looks like I partially paid Cloud+, and since it is listed in the professional series, is that the only one I need to care about?

Here is a transcript if you want to help me

Hi All,
I would have sworn they discussed having example videos for the various labs in Net+ 009 CM Perform. I can't find them for the trees - so to speak.
Can someone point me in the right direction?

Also, are there any explanations or videos for the few PBQs in the CM Perform final?

I trying NOT to reinvent the wheel if they are already somewhere I'm over looking.

Thanks in advance CINners,
Amy

I'd like to get some input from the CIN community regarding Cyber Threats.
What do you see as top ones???

I’m thrilled to have been part of this incredible CompTIA EMEA partner conferences as a speaker! The energy was amazing, and I had the chance to meet some truly inspiring people. This experience has left me more motivated than ever. Can’t wait to step back onto that big stage next year!

Great job @Stephen Schneiter

I attended the Cloud+ TTT sessions. How do I go about claiming my voucher? Appreciate the support, I am new here so not familiar with the process.

Hello,
I am an instructor at a CompTIA Corporate Partner. Is there a way that instructors can get free access to labs. While I can create an own environment when teaching, it takes time to build and also since I don't have access to the student labs, it becomes difficult to support my students when they are stuck. It doesn't make sense for the organization to buy me a lab every time I am delivering a class.

Hello,

I am wondering if anyone is facing the same issue? CertMaster Labs is not accessible. We have tried to access the lab using different accounts using the office internet, and also from the home internet. The link to the instructor guides is working though.

I have only recently started going through the material for Certmaster N10-009, and already I am getting the feeling that this course may be lacking content that may be useful to students. Just in the first section where it discusses topologies, it does not cover ring and bus topologies, which even though those topologies are relatively old and unused, I feel like they should still be included in the material. On top of that, one of the practice questions uses a logical topology as one of it's answers, which was not covered at all. Is this a consistent theme throughout the course, or am I just off to a bad start? Let me know what you think of the new Certmaster Network+ N10-009.

Fellow Instructors,

I’m curious about how you approach developing and delivering classroom labs, especially when there’s a need to differentiate from the provided CertMaster Labs or similar online lab environments. As we know, hands-on labs are essential for reinforcing concepts and giving students practical experience, but I want to explore ways to avoid redundancy while keeping the content engaging and effective.

Here are some points to consider:

Preferred Lab Environment:
- Do you tend to use physical hardware setups, or do you prefer virtual machines and simulations? In Cisco instruction, for example, Packet Tracer allows us to demonstrate network configurations without needing physical equipment, but what’s your go-to?

Guidebooks or Resources:
- Are there specific guidebooks, manuals, or resources you rely on for inspiration when designing in-classroom labs? I find that instructor guides provided by some vendors can be helpful, but I’m always looking for more diverse options that can complement the CertMaster Labs.

Unique Lab Scenarios:
- How do you ensure the lab scenarios you create are unique and add value beyond what’s covered in CertMaster or other vendor-provided labs? For instance, do you design scenario-based labs that connect multiple topics together, or do you prefer to break down complex tasks into smaller, focused demos?

Balancing Physical and Virtual Components:
- How do you strike the right balance between using physical hardware versus virtual environments like Packet Tracer or VMware? I find that while virtual environments are convenient, physical hardware can sometimes provide a more tactile learning experience. What has worked best for you and your students?

Please feel free to share your strategies, experiences, and any tips for creating in-class labs that are engaging, challenging, and complementary to the existing CertMaster content.

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!

Prof. Jason C. Rochon, CISSP

Hello everyone. I"m teaching the Network+ N10-009 course. I want to insure that my students have the most effective tools to use for the training. I've purchased the bundle for other courses in the past,, CompTIA A+, Learn, Practice Labs and Voucher. I hear that Perform is a new tool that has other features that may replace Certmaster Learn.

In your estimation, should I stick with the original bundle of Certmaster Learn, Practice, Labs and Voucher or purchase Perform, Practice and Voucher. Again, this is for Network+ N10-009.

Lastly, I want to confirm that when I purchase either of these bundles, there's an instructor or organization access key and student access key for all products. I need to make this purchase immediately.

With Appreciation,

Bobbie

The three CompTIA certifications you mentioned—Data+, DataSys+, and DataX—cater to different levels of expertise and specializations within the data and IT fields:

1. CompTIA Data+: This is an entry-level certification aimed at individuals who want to start their careers in data analysis. It covers foundational skills such as data mining, visualization, governance, and statistical analysis. It's ideal for those seeking roles like data analysts or business analysts, as it focuses on using data to generate actionable insights and reports. Data+ is a good starting point for those new to the field, with about 18-24 months of relevant experience being recommended.
   
   
2. CompTIA DataSys+: This is a more advanced certification focused on data systems management. It covers topics such as database architecture, cloud integration, and data security. DataSys+ is geared towards professionals responsible for managing and securing data storage and processing systems. It's suitable for roles like database administrators, data architects, and IT security specialists, as it requires deeper expertise in managing data infrastructures.
   
   
3. CompTIA DataX: This is an expert-level certification for professionals with at least five years of experience in data science or related fields. DataX is part of the Xpert series and covers advanced concepts in mathematics, machine learning, and specialized data science applications. It targets seasoned professionals who want to validate their expertise in high-level data science operations. This certification is designed to demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of critical data science tools and concepts and is ideal for advanced roles such as data scientists.
   
   
   In summary, Data+ is for foundational data skills, DataSys+ is for managing data systems, and DataX is for expert-level data science skills.