A+ netwrok+ Security+ challenging areas

[markwheatland]

Hi All,

We are looking to focus some of our training in 2026 and I'd be interested to know if you as a community have identified specific concepts with the domains for A+ Network+ and Security+ that always cause learners problems.

eg in A+ and Network+ we often find that our learners struggle with the DNS concepts more than most others.

Do you find there are key subjects you always have to go over or explain in more details across the above three certifications.

I appreciate this is a little vague but I would value the community's thoughts and feedback.

Many thanks

Mark

 

[precious]

Yes three are many topics that are challenging for students to understand and some of the topics they are hard from A+ to Security for exam, DNS TXT records (SPF/DKIM/DMARC) and the we have subneting in CompTIA Network plus, Cryptography in Security plus.... I use analogies.

Imagine your email domain is a house, and the internet is a big neighborhood
- SPF = List of Approved Delivery Guys
- DKIM = Signature on the package, puts a tamper-proof signature on each mail you send
- DMARC = The House Rules on What to Do with fake mail, decides what happens to suspicious mail
For Subnetting,
 Imagine a big city (a network) with thousands of houses (IP addresses). If the city is too big, managing houses becomes confusing.So we create suburbs/subdivisions (subnets)
Cryptography- Locking a Message in a Box with a Key, anything is secure because of it

Though not enough info but it assist students to understand underlying idea.

 

[Shea Bennett]

Yes three are many topics that are challenging for students to understand and some of the topics they are hard from A+ to Security for exam, DNS TXT records (SPF/DKIM/DMARC) and the we have subneting in CompTIA Network plus, Cryptography in Security plus.... I use analogies.

Imagine your email domain is a house, and the internet is a big neighborhood
- SPF = List of Approved Delivery Guys
- DKIM = Signature on the package, puts a tamper-proof signature on each mail you send
- DMARC = The House Rules on What to Do with fake mail, decides what happens to suspicious mail
For Subnetting,
 Imagine a big city (a network) with thousands of houses (IP addresses). If the city is too big, managing houses becomes confusing.So we create suburbs/subdivisions (subnets)
Cryptography- Locking a Message in a Box with a Key, anything is secure because of it

Though not enough info but it assist students to understand underlying idea.

Very good! I will bootleg it. ;-)