Cybersecurity Goal
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I am looking to achieve the CompTIA Security + cert and I was wondering the best path to take...
I was going through the A+ modules and felt a little unsure on things so I just went back to CompTIA Fundamentals. (completed)
Now, is it best to take both A+ courses first before going into Network+ followed by Security+ ??
I know someone in the Cybersecurity industry that says A+ is not necessarily needed..
Also is it realistic to complete all this within this year (2024) ? I am dedicating 3-4 full days a week to studying and going through material.
Thank you all for the great videos and responses !
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Hi Keifer,
I would suggest that all courses from A+, Net+ and Sec+ would be required. They all build upon each other and prior knowledge is assumed. Speaking as someone who has been in the industry for the last 15 years knowing the basics of how an operating system work or how to troubleshoot and yes, even printers would be valuable knowledge when getting ready for a Cybersecurity role. I would also add in there knowing how to code is a great skill to have so learning Python or some other language would be a good idea.
I'd be curious to see what others have to say as well. Maybe my experience is out of date and I'm an "old" now. But, I would argue that it would be incredibly difficult to get a job in Cybersecurity with only a Sec+ and no experience in the field.
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@Keifer-Rector, these are great questions; I can offer some advice on this.
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1) A+ (and relevance): A+ is a great choice for those that are new to the industry. When someone first steps into the IT industry (like I did!), they will need to learn to identify the IT computing landscape. This is where CompTIA’s A+ has a tremendous value. However, there are many out there that “skipped” the pursuit of an A+ certification. This can be for many reasons, some valid and some (in my opinion) invalid. The valid points I have heard that are already working in the industry for years, building computers as a hobby for 10 years.
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2) Network+: This is the second of CompTIA’s core certifications. This exam will contain some of the networking requirements that you will have tested for in A+ , so you will already have a basic introduction to networking concepts. This will help you to learn the language of networking.
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3) Security+: This is the third certification in CompTIA’s core foundation. CompTIA’s Security+ will help you to learn about the cybersecurity aspect of the IT industry. Once you have validated your knowledge by passing A+ and Network+ it will be time to turn the focus to securing these technologies. You will see security concepts tested in A+ and Network, so just like Network+, you will have already seen a small portion of these concepts.
This has been a great set of certifications that can help you to come to a “nexus” in your training. In other words, after these you can focus on vendor specific technologies such as AWS/Azure, Windows Server, Cisco…etc.
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I would also agree, like many, the best path to assure the most solid understanding of the topics would be:
CompTIA ITF+
CompTIA A+
CompTIA Network+
CompTIA Security+Things in ITF+ are discussed in the A+. Some foundational things from A+ are on the Net+, etc. You get the idea. Those who have at least 12 months' worth of experience/understanding of IT principles may choose to skip the ITF+.
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Thank you guys very much for these responses.
I am a "career changer" so I know it's best to start from the ground up. I had previously been a gamer and was much more computer savvy about 10 years ago. How things change though!
Hearing it from the IT pros ( you guys ) helps assure me what path to take.
Thank you again!
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@Keifer-Rector Good luck, buddy!
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@Keifer-Rector welcome to the world of IT! Enjoy your learning journey and feel free to reach out here again if you are stuck about anything :)
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@Keifer-Rector, you mentioned "realistic," remember to set goals that are achievable (based on the time you have). Try not to put too much pressure on yourself. Focus on them one at a time. I look forward to hearing from you.