Preparing for the CompTIA Security+™ Certification Exam

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this course about? This comprehensive course prepares individuals to take and pass the CompTIA Security+ Certification Exam. Interactive demonstrations and numerous practice quizzes reinforce the concepts and provide the framework for a personalized study plan for exam success. Who will benefit from this course? This course is beneficial to those who wish to obtain the CompTIA Security+ Certification Exam, including security professionals, government and military personnel, and civilian contractors who must fulfill the Department of Defense 8570.1 Directive. Security personnel and managers with previous technical skills or background who are looking to enhance their careers through certification, will also benefit greatly. What background do I need? There are no specialized security requirements. However, a fundamental knowledge of networking and a background in information assurance issues are assumed. What is the DoD 8570.1 Directive? In 2004, the United States Department of Defense established the 8570.1 Directive that requires all DoD Information Assurance personnel to meet training and certification objectives. It identified two career tracks (Management and Technical), dividing each into three distinct levels. Passing the CompTIA Security+ Certification Exam meets the requirements for Management Level-I and Technical Level-II. Other civilian government groups at the state, county and municipal levels have followed the federal government's lead by also establishing these requirements. How does Learning Tree prepare you to meet the DoD 8570.1 requirements? This course prepares exam candidates in three ways: Detailed lectures cover the testing objectives as set forth by CompTIA Demonstrations are performed to illustrate selected security concepts that are best learned visually Practice exam drills are held throughout the course to reinforce knowledge and assess readiness Learning Tree also offers the following courses that help meet the DoD requirements: Course 445, Preparing for the CompTIA A+® Certification Exam: Hands-On Course 451, Network Configuration and Troubleshooting: Hands-On, combined with an accompanying exam study guide, fully prepares you for the CompTIA Network Certification Exam Course 958, The (ISC)2® CISSP® CBK® Review Seminar Course 959, The (ISC)2® SSCP® CBK® Review Seminar For more information on these courses, please see the individual Course Q&As. Does this course offer practice exams? Yes. Question drills are held throughout the course, totaling more than 200 example questions and scenarios. Your score is given immediately and is followed by a detailed review. Along with the in-class practice exams, a third-party electronic exam is provided to all attendees to take home, along with two books containing additional references and questions. More than 700 sample exam questions are available to attendees. How much post-course study is involved in passing the CompTIA Security+ Certification examination? While much of this depends upon the background of the individual, certification candidates are encouraged to take the exam soon after the class. It would be helpful to review the class information and additional practice exams prior to taking the CompTIA exam. Does Learning Tree offer the CompTIA Security+ Certification Examination at the end of this course? No. However, exam vouchers are provided to all attendees and included in the cost of the course. You may schedule to take the exam at any time after the last day of class. Does this course include exam vouchers or other test preparation materials? Yes. This course includes a CompTIA Security+ Certification Exam voucher and Transcender prep materials to help you prepare for the Security+ Certification Exam. I have taken other lecture-based exam preparation courses. How is this course different? This is a highly interactive course that involves demonstrations, practice drills and student workshops. All activities are aimed at retaining knowledge, increasing exam confidence and giving you the best preparation to pass the CompTIA Security+ Certification Exam. How long is the CompTIA Security+ Certification exam, and how many questions does it include? Those taking the exam are given 90 minutes to complete 100 multiple-choice test items. The test comprises the following domains: General Security Concepts Communication Security Infrastructure Security Basics of Cryptography Operational/Organizational Security Each domain is covered in detail in this course. How much time is spent on each topic? Content Hours Blueprint of the exam 3.0 General security concepts 6.0 Communication security 5.0 Infrastructure security 4.0 Cryptography 5.0 Operational and organizational security 3.0 Final preparation and review 3.0 Times, including the workshops, are estimates; exact times may vary according to the needs of each class. What kind of workshops/demonstrations are in this course? This course is designed to be an interactive experience. The majority of class workshops involve test question drills. Computer-based demonstrations are performed by the instructor, interactively and with student input. Lastly, subject matter is reinforced by the use of workshops aimed at reinforcing lecture material and identifying likely test questions. How does this course relate to other Learning Tree courses? The following courses help you prepare to meet other requirements of the DoD 8570.1 Directive: Course 445, Preparing for the CompTIA A+® Certification Exam: Hands-On Course 451, Network Configuration and Troubleshooting: Hands-On, which helps you prepare for the CompTIA Network Certification Exam Course 958, The (ISC)2® CISSP® CBK® Review Seminar Course 959, The (ISC)2® SSCP® CBK® Review Seminar To learn more about Learning Tree's complete suite of Security courses, please ask a customer service representative for the Learning Tree Security Curriculum Q&A.

CompTIA Security+ is a trademark of the Computing Technology Industry Association, Inc.