If You Had to Restart Security+, What Would You Do Differently?

[profgibs12]

Seeing so many people sharing their Security+ journeys here is motivating

Quick question for those who’ve already passed or are deep into studying:

If you had to start Security+ all over again, what would you do differently?

Would you:

• Focus more on practice exams?
• Spend more time on hands-on labs?
• Use fewer resources but go deeper?
• Or follow a completely different study strategy?

I’m especially interested in real-world advice (what actually helped you pass, not just what sounds good).

Also, for those who passed recently — how long did you study and what resources made the biggest difference?

Appreciate any insights

 

[Gregory Childers]

The best preparation for me was as follows:

Studying and passing the A+ exams
Studying and passing the Network+ exam

Those two exams gave me the necessary foundation and vocabulary to prepare for the Security+ exam.


Personally, I don't use practice exams. First, I've never seen an exam bank that was remotely close to the actual exam questions. Second, I've gotten much better at identifying my own blind spots.

The labs are useful for making the theory more concrete. You can see how things work. However, the exam doesn't ask you how to do anything step-by-step.

I'd find one single comprehensive resource and start there. A good, comprehensive exam preparation book is better than dozens of online videos.

 

[Roger Whyte]

1. more emphasis on foundational concepts (CIA, Threat, vulnerability, Risk)
2. More hands-on and scenario-based labs
3. exam prep at the end
4. concentrate on very few resources (not to be overwhelmed)
5. use real case scenarios

 

[Kristina N]

1. more emphasis on foundational concepts (CIA, Threat, vulnerability, Risk)
2. More hands-on ...

I think Roger Whyte has it. I don't have much to add to it. Just the following thoughts.

1. Can never do enough practice exams - obviously the better written ones would resemble the real exam, but do as many practice exams to learn new topics, not to memorize a bunch of answers - focus on what you don't already know
2. labs, labs, labs - comptia devleoped some really great labs. They are a pleasure to work through and play around with the tools. You aren't stuck just doing the lab. Do as much as you want with those Kali linux machines and what they have installed on them. Play around with dvwa and any of the interfaces and learn and play and learn some more.
3. Don't forget to research the simulations that are actually covered the exams. Make sure you know them well. The CompTIA official labs should have covered all of them.
4. I don't mind hearing the same information from two different sources, but usually I just stick with a really good reference book and wikipedia. Hearing the same thing from two different perspectives gives me a deeper understanding, but I have limited time and want to maximize the use of the limited time I have. So reference manual for depth, and wikipedia for the high level overview that I need to have to understand the main point. Otherwise, I'm old enough that sooner or later I see the same crud on yet another textbook.