I have earned both the CompTIA Security+ and CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst certifications.
I hope that sharing the tools and resources that I used will help you learn and get certified
as well.
Links are included in the video description for your convenience.
I first started at Lynda.com because I already had a subscription.
Mike Chapple's prep course is logically broken down and follows the exam objectives nicely.
He is a well-respected IT professional at Notre Dame, has worked extensively with various
agencies, and holds numerous designations.
Chapple's course on Lynda/LinkedIn Learning will give you a rock-solid foundation and
if you want additional study tips and questions you can subscribe to his personal site (CertMike)
for free.
Courses from Lynda are also on LinkedIn Learning.
Both sites feature a month long free trial and it's easy to cancel if you don't want
to continue with a paid subscription.
CertMaster is a paid service that I personally found extremely useful.
It has hundreds of questions that are written by the same people that write the actual CompTIA
exams.
I have seen some reviews online from people who may not have liked it but I learned quite
a lot from it and being able to cycle through questions over and over reinforced my knowledge
tremendously.
CertMaster is available as a standalone purchase or as part of a package from the CompTIA store.
The Kindle version of Darril Gibson's book, "CompTIA Security+ Get Certified Get Ahead:
SY0–501 Study Guide," cost me less than $10.
Not only does Gibson go into appropriate depth with explanations and examples, the book has
two 75 question practice tests, and chapter quizzes.
No conversation about preparing for this exam would be complete without mentioning Professor
Messer.
He has free training videos on his site and on YouTube for not only the Security+ but
also for the A+ and Network+.
He goes into excellent detail while also keeping the subjects approachable and within bite-sized
chunks which makes it extremely easy to learn at your own pace.
GoCertify's site has quite a few 10 question sample tests for both the current exam version
and the one that was just retired.
Even though some of the old 401 version topics are not covered in the 501 I still found it
beneficial to also take a peek at the 401 samples because there is still some overlap.
In addition to watching videos and taking quizzes I made flashcards to help reinforce
my learning.
These really came in handy when keeping the specifics about types of cryptography separated.
These also allowed me to study at traffic lights on my way to work or whenever I had
a few spare minutes.
Important Note: Mike Chapple's class, Darril Gibson's book, and Professor Messer provide
discount codes for a percentage off the CompTIA exam price.
Be sure to see their links for more details.
From the first day of starting to learn to passing the exam it took me under two months.
Of course the length of time may be different depending upon your background but I hope
this guide and the resources listed below help you learn and become certified.
Good luck and I wish you the best!