CYBERSECURITY JOB HUNTING GUIDE
Comptia Security+
Short review
Author: Stefan Waldvogel
Overview
Security+ lays the foundation to talk like a professional. You get a wide area, and you learn many terms.
How to prepare
As usual, Professor Messer is one way to go:
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLG49S3nxzAnkL2ulFS3132mOVKuzzBxA8
He is very close to the exam objectives, and you learn the things you need to pass the exam. He has excellent notes. I think they are about $30.
You can learn with books, but most books add a ton of unrelated stuff. The additional knowledge is helpful for a job but not for the exam. I used Darril Gibson's Security+ book, and it helped me. Another option is Mike Meyer's book. Both are similar in knowledge, but the style is different.
How long do you need to get exam ready?
This depends on your skills and time. Everything between 2 weeks and 6 months is possible. Most need over a month.
Advantages
This certification is the introduction to Cybersecurity. Bigger IT companies often require this certification, or you have to take it in the first 6 months. With this certification, you can apply for many entry-level jobs, or you stand out if you have it.
If your employer pays for this certification, take it. You will learn a lot about how you can secure your systems.
Disadvantages
Some people think, with this certification, they made it to Cybersecurity and earn the big bucks. If you are lucky, it works, but most likely, this cert is not more than a starting point.
Most CompTIA's certifications are valid for 3 years. There are multiple ways to renew but all cost money.
Price
$370
What next?
This certification is a "paper" certification and most likely one of the last "paper" certifications you take. If you move up, you take hands-on certifications. Maybe go for TCM Security, INE/eLearnSecurity or OffensiveSecurity.
Conclusion
This certification is a solid start in Cybersecurity. You get the big picture and the theoretical knowledge to understand more details.
Security+ lays the foundation to talk like a professional. You get a wide area, and you learn many terms.
How to prepare
As usual, Professor Messer is one way to go:
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLG49S3nxzAnkL2ulFS3132mOVKuzzBxA8
He is very close to the exam objectives, and you learn the things you need to pass the exam. He has excellent notes. I think they are about $30.
You can learn with books, but most books add a ton of unrelated stuff. The additional knowledge is helpful for a job but not for the exam. I used Darril Gibson's Security+ book, and it helped me. Another option is Mike Meyer's book. Both are similar in knowledge, but the style is different.
How long do you need to get exam ready?
This depends on your skills and time. Everything between 2 weeks and 6 months is possible. Most need over a month.
Advantages
This certification is the introduction to Cybersecurity. Bigger IT companies often require this certification, or you have to take it in the first 6 months. With this certification, you can apply for many entry-level jobs, or you stand out if you have it.
If your employer pays for this certification, take it. You will learn a lot about how you can secure your systems.
Disadvantages
Some people think, with this certification, they made it to Cybersecurity and earn the big bucks. If you are lucky, it works, but most likely, this cert is not more than a starting point.
Most CompTIA's certifications are valid for 3 years. There are multiple ways to renew but all cost money.
Price
$370
What next?
This certification is a "paper" certification and most likely one of the last "paper" certifications you take. If you move up, you take hands-on certifications. Maybe go for TCM Security, INE/eLearnSecurity or OffensiveSecurity.
Conclusion
This certification is a solid start in Cybersecurity. You get the big picture and the theoretical knowledge to understand more details.
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