CertMaster Lab differences

[Victor Treat]

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!?

 

[BrianFord]

Great question. I haven't looked at the CertMaster CySA product yet, but I am working with the latest CertMaster for Security+ (Perform and Labs).

I believe a 'lab' is a simulation. It's a program that runs and looks like a live OS environment. It's not.

There are 'Live' labs. They run virtual machine images from a cloud-based data center. You'll see a 'building the lab' message when you start these.

There are three types of 'Live' labs: Assisted, Applied, and Challenge. Assisted labs (Assisted Live Lab) give you instructions and help you conduct or complete the lab exercise. In the past, these labs often contained info icons (lowercase 'i' in a circle) that, if selected, provided some instructions.

Applied labs often follow one or more 'Assisted' labs and provide a lab environment and objectives. The goal is to apply what you learned to complete the lab. These labs also have info icons.

The Challenge lab was the last lab exercise, and it tested what you learned in the course. It provided goals drawn from all the course materials and previous labs. Not just the last lab, but all of the labs.

The Security+ Labs product includes more labs than the Perform offering. The Learn product (I believe) includes only lab simulations, not Live Labs. The Perform product contains Assisted and Challenge Labs.

I hope this helps.

Brian

 

[Victor Treat]

Brian, you are correct. In Security+ you have three types of labs, like you mentioned: Assisted, Applied, and Challenge.

In the new CySA+ 004 class there is a fourth type of lab simply called "Lab". Sometimes, it has drag and drop items, but most of it you configure a server or a service. For instance, configure a GPO to... There are no steps to explain beyond the scenario stated on what you are supposed to do at a high level. No detailed "click-click". If you already know how to do the scenario, you probably don't need the lab...

Anyone have any idea on where the students get guidance on how to do these labs.
And please dont' tell me to walk them through the exercise - there are probably 25+ of these along with the three other conventional labs the Brian mentions!