The IT Certification Thread

[Koldov]

Arrived in my email yesterday, not sure what to make of it....

 

Pretty small demographic for phishing I would have thought.... But I took my A+ over 8 years ago!

 

 

[Kitkatninja]

Arrived in my email yesterday, not sure what to make of it....

 

Pretty small demographic for phishing I would have thought.... But I took my A+ over 8 years ago!

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]51587[/ATTACH]

 

 

Comptia are now issuing badges via Acclaim - you can use these badges on various social & professional networking sites like Linkedin, they only just started this month. I did my A+ in 2004, Network+ in 2004, Server+ in 2009 and Security+ in 2007 and I received badges for all of them

 

Those that did the CE version, will get slightly different badges (it states CE on them)...

[Harry1980]

Hi All,

 

I know its been a while since anyone has posted on this thread. I have been in IT for the past 7 years, learnt mostly on the job. I did do the MCDST course many many years ago but didn't sit the exam. I have a lot of gaps in my knowledge and I was wondering if anyone could advise on which courses to do? I want to go towards the Cyber Security route. I have found a course through IT Certify which includes the following:

 

Our Cyber Security Practical Experience Programme includes all of the below so that you can begin your career in Cyber Security:

 

• 
  
  • 11 essential Cyber Security courses:
    
  • Part 1
    
  • CompTIA IT Fundamentals
    
  • CompTIA A+
    
  • CompTIA Network +
    
  • CompTIA Cloud +
    
  • Windows 10
    
  • Information Technology Infrastructure ITIL Foundations
    
  • Cisco CCENT
    
  • Part 2
    
  • CompTIA Security +
    
  • CompTIA Linux +
    
  • CompTIA CySA + (Cyber Security Analyst)
    
  • CCKK Cloud Computing Security Knowledge
    
  • Ethical Hacker
    

   

  [*]Cyber Security Practical Experience with two Live Practise Labs worth £198

  [*]Professional CV Consultation worth £149

  [*]CompTIA A+ Exam included (Both parts) worth £340 with unlimited Mock Test support

  [*]All with one years access for Part 1, plus one years access for Part 2.

[Davit2005]

Hi All,

 

I know its been a while since anyone has posted on this thread. I have been in IT for the past 7 years, learnt mostly on the job. I did do the MCDST course many many years ago but didn't sit the exam. I have a lot of gaps in my knowledge and I was wondering if anyone could advise on which courses to do? I want to go towards the Cyber Security route. I have found a course through IT Certify which includes the following:

 

Our Cyber Security Practical Experience Programme includes all of the below so that you can begin your career in Cyber Security:

 

• 
  
  • 11 essential Cyber Security courses:
    
  • Part 1
    
  • CompTIA IT Fundamentals
    
  • CompTIA A+
    
  • CompTIA Network +
    
  • CompTIA Cloud +
    
  • Windows 10
    
  • Information Technology Infrastructure ITIL Foundations
    
  • Cisco CCENT
    
  • Part 2
    
  • CompTIA Security +
    
  • CompTIA Linux +
    
  • CompTIA CySA + (Cyber Security Analyst)
    
  • CCKK Cloud Computing Security Knowledge
    
  • Ethical Hacker
    

   

  [*]Cyber Security Practical Experience with two Live Practise Labs worth £198

  [*]Professional CV Consultation worth £149

  [*]CompTIA A+ Exam included (Both parts) worth £340 with unlimited Mock Test support

  [*]All with one years access for Part 1, plus one years access for Part 2.

 

Just wondering how much they are charging for all this? That seems a lot to cram in for 1 year even 2 surely depending on previous experience.

[LukeRowberry]

Depending on your knowledge I'd recommend

 

The PEH course here (there are always discount codes available) https://academy.tcm-sec.com/p/practical-ethical-hacking-the-complete-course

Then for a cert either CEH of OSCP

[Harry1980]

Just wondering how much they are charging for all this? That seems a lot to cram in for 1 year even 2 surely depending on previous experience.

 

It was £2846 but now £749. I found it through reed.co.uk website. This includes the CompTIA exam fee as well (both parts). The other areas do not include exams. They are more to get a feel of the topic and then decide which area you want to focus more on.

 

I phoned another company yesterday and just to do the CompTIA A+ is £699 including both exams.

[notsogenius]

It strikes me from what I read of the above that you're paying for a year/two years access to the courses listed above? Would you be able to pass all of that in two years. I don't know you but its an awful lot especially if you're working full time.

 

Personally, depending on your experience I'd start with an exam you're interested in. Comptia A+ is a good foundation but I'd think someone with good experience probably wouldn't need it - others may disagree.

 

From there, I'd pick a video course provider - I love CBT Nuggets and I believe they cover all the courses you listed. I'd then pick up a relevant book, the Sybex books are awesome for the Microsoft Certifications and they do cover other subjects - i've picked one up for the CCNA for example. I think you'd get better value from this than one of the all you can eat courses. I find personally I burnout after a period of time of study and tend to take an exam then take a month or two off. In your scenario (assuming I've not misunderstood the info above) you'd lose access to the course material in two years.

 

Hope that's helpful - just an opinion, I think its more cost effective and I think you'll get better results. Depending on the course you may need to factor in labbing equipment as well.

[Harry1980]

It strikes me from what I read of the above that you're paying for a year/two years access to the courses listed above? Would you be able to pass all of that in two years. I don't know you but its an awful lot especially if you're working full time.

 

Personally, depending on your experience I'd start with an exam you're interested in. Comptia A+ is a good foundation but I'd think someone with good experience probably wouldn't need it - others may disagree.

 

From there, I'd pick a video course provider - I love CBT Nuggets and I believe they cover all the courses you listed. I'd then pick up a relevant book, the Sybex books are awesome for the Microsoft Certifications and they do cover other subjects - i've picked one up for the CCNA for example. I think you'd get better value from this than one of the all you can eat courses. I find personally I burnout after a period of time of study and tend to take an exam then take a month or two off. In your scenario (assuming I've not misunderstood the info above) you'd lose access to the course material in two years.

 

Hope that's helpful - just an opinion, I think its more cost effective and I think you'll get better results. Depending on the course you may need to factor in labbing equipment as well.

 

Thanks for your response. The course main focus is on the CompTIA A+ where they provide you with lab work and the exam certification. With all the others i think they are more like taster course and if you interested in a specific area you will do the proper course where you will also do the certification exam.

 

One of my friends given me the CBT Nugget videos for Server 2012 many years ago. They are really good. Do you know how much it costs to access the CBT Nugget program?

[notsogenius]

Thanks for your response. The course main focus is on the CompTIA A+ where they provide you with lab work and the exam certification. With all the others i think they are more like taster course and if you interested in a specific area you will do the proper course where you will also do the certification exam.

 

One of my friends given me the CBT Nugget videos for Server 2012 many years ago. They are really good. Do you know how much it costs to access the CBT Nugget program?

 

Believe it's about 30 to 40 pounds a month. You can trial cbtnuggets for 7 days free - cbtnuggets.com. They do an A+ course there. Add in the cost of the Sybex book for the course as well - I always find personally that it's worthwhile having two resources to learn from. Aside from that you'd just have to pay for the exam - if your employer is nice they might offer to cover it for you under professional development.

 

I would have a little look through the A+ course material though, i'm not completely convinced you're going to get great value out of it if you've already been in the field for a while. I don't know the cyber security field but i'm sure someone else could point you down a good path for trying to get into the field. I've heard it suggested if you're aiming to do a security certification then one of the 2 'major' network qualifications -CCNA or Network + would be a good starting point but i can't say if that's true.

 

Regardless of which way you go I think you get better value out of picking up a book/video provider and studying rather than buying one of the bundles like you've linked above. I've passed my MCSA in Win 7 and Win 10 and an MCSE Server 16 using CBTNuggets/Sybex(cybex?) books and lab environments. If you take 3 months to pass that exam for example it's simply the book cost, 3 months of your video provider and the exam cost, which looks to be much cheaper!

[Harry1980]

Believe it's about 30 to 40 pounds a month. You can trial cbtnuggets for 7 days free - cbtnuggets.com. They do an A+ course there. Add in the cost of the Sybex book for the course as well - I always find personally that it's worthwhile having two resources to learn from. Aside from that you'd just have to pay for the exam - if your employer is nice they might offer to cover it for you under professional development.

 

I would have a little look through the A+ course material though, i'm not completely convinced you're going to get great value out of it if you've already been in the field for a while. I don't know the cyber security field but i'm sure someone else could point you down a good path for trying to get into the field. I've heard it suggested if you're aiming to do a security certification then one of the 2 'major' network qualifications -CCNA or Network + would be a good starting point but i can't say if that's true.

 

Regardless of which way you go I think you get better value out of picking up a book/video provider and studying rather than buying one of the bundles like you've linked above. I've passed my MCSA in Win 7 and Win 10 and an MCSE Server 16 using CBTNuggets/Sybex(cybex?) books and lab environments. If you take 3 months to pass that exam for example it's simply the book cost, 3 months of your video provider and the exam cost, which looks to be much cheaper!

 

Good point, probably much cheaper. ON CBT Nugget do they have lab work and sample mock tests? You mentioned about Sybex books, i tried to google it and it came up with prams!! lol Do you have details of the books?

[notsogenius]

Good point, probably much cheaper. ON CBT Nugget do they have lab work and sample mock tests? You mentioned about Sybex books, i tried to google it and it came up with prams!! lol Do you have details of the books?

 

Sybex - Comptia A+ books - https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=sybex+comptia+a%2B&ref=nb_sb_noss_2 I don't know which A+ exam is most recent and which book is most recent. You'll have to find that out.

 

I think they do mock tests on cbt, i think it varies from course to course. You can get a 7 day trial - give it a go!

 

**Forgot the link**!!

Edited April 21, 2021 by notsogenius

[Ditto]

The recently announced gov scheme for over 19's who don't have a level 3 (A' level etc.) qualification may mean you can pursue some free training.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/find-a-free-level-3-qualification/list-of-free-level-3-qualifications-available-to-eligible-adults#digital

There looks to be a decent mix of academic and vocational options.

 

 

 

Skills bootcamps also an option, but awaiting more details.

 

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/national-skills-fund#skills-bootcamps

Edited May 14, 2021 by Ditto