Credentials
🔗 Certificate
🔗 Credly Badge
Introduction
Hi everyone arbaaz here, I am very glad to announce that I have achieved CompTIA Security+ certification on 27th-July-2024, I would encourage people who are interested in cybersecurity to pursue this certification as it consists of all the fundamental and theoretical knowledge needed to in the field of cybersecurity, it gives you a broad spectrum knowledge of this field. Following I am going to describe how I was able to pass and achieve this certification.
What is CompTIA Security+ Certification
CompTIA Security+ certification is a global certification exam that validates the baseline skills you need to perform core security functions and pursue an IT security career.
CompTIA Security+ emphasizes hands-on practical skills, ensuring the security professional is better prepared to problem solve a wider variety of issues. It is the first security certification IT professionals should earn and establishes the core knowledge required of any cybersecurity role to provide a springboard to intermediate-level cybersecurity jobs. Cybersecurity professionals with CompTIA Security+ know how to address security incidents, not just identify them.
Exam Format
The CompTIA Security+ exam has no more than 90 questions. After completing the exam, you will be asked to fill out some optional exit survey information about your study practices and why you decided to get certified. This will consist of about 12 multiple-choice questions.
The CompTIA Security+ exam includes a combination of multiple-choice questions, drag and drop activities, and performance-based items. The multiple-choice questions are single- and multiple- response. Performance-based items test your ability to solve problems in a simulated environment.
Remember to manage your time wisely when solving these problems on your exam. Most of these questions will appear at the beginning of the exam and you won’t be able to see a clock when working on the items.
My Preparation Strategy
I used to dedicate 3 hours daily as the course is easy but there is too many theoretical concepts to understand it takes time. As I am a morning person I like to study during early mornings so I used to study from 6.00 am to 9.00 am with 10 minutes break after every 50 mins.
I would suggest you to find the most optimal point in your schedule where your mind is refreshed and to plan accordingly. It took me 10 days in total, 7 days to understand the fundamentals and 2 days to take the mock tests, I scheduled my exam on the 3rd day that is the last day (26th-June-2024).
I booked the exam on 20th-June-2024 the exam can only be booked in a weeks gap.
Taking the Test
There are two modes to take the test online and offline both exams are taken by Pearson VUE.
[1] Offline (in-person) - You have to arrive at center 30 mins prior to you scheduled timing, you have to carry an acceptable id (passport, state id, license, adhaar card).
[2] Online (Proctored) - You have to check in 30 mins before you scheduled timing, complete the check-in procedure read the terms and conditions of the online test.
Tips for taking the Security+ exam
The first thing I did was to search for notes on SY-601, given below are the links to the notes I used to study from:
[2] https://www.diontraining.com/courses/comptia-security
I refered these notes and created notes of my own, my tip would be to understand the material from above links thoroughly and then summarize it in your own simple language. Focus on the concept try to understand how you would implement it in a real life practical scenario.
Second thing I did was, I bought practice tests from the following links they are rather cheap than expensive:
[1] https://www.udemy.com/course/security-601-exams/ (Udemy- 480 mock questions)
[2] https://testoutce.com/pages/free-comptia-security-practice-test-sy0-601-exam-1
[3] https://crucialexams.com/study/tests/comptia/security/sy0-601/configure-auto-test
Mock tests help you anlayze what sections are you lacking in and what sections you should focus on these tests give you feedback and also provide you with correct answers with their explaination.