x CompTIA Security+ Certification How to Become CompTIA Certified The Security Essentials textbook can help learners prepare for the CompTIA Secu- rity+ Certification SY0-601 Exams. The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) is a nonprofit information technology (IT) trade association. Its certifi- cations are designed by subject-matter experts. Each certification is vendor-neutral, covers multiple technologies, and requires demonstration of skills and knowledge widely sought after by employers in the IT industry. There are four general steps to achieving CompTIA certification: 1. Choose the desired IT certification from CompTIA 2. Gain familiarity with the exam, its objectives, and the types of questions used 3. Begin studying, learning, and preparing for the exam 4. Register for the exam, read and sign the Candidate Agreement, and take and pass the exam For more information about CompTIA certifications, such as industry accep- tance, benefits, or updates, visit www.comptia.org/certifications. Preparing for Your CompTIA Security+ Exam Preparing for an exam is a highly individualized activity, meaning each person pre- pares differently. However, the CompTIA organization recommends a simple strategy that you can follow to get, and stay, organized and prepared for a Security+ Certifica- tion Exam: ■ ■■ Understand what the exam will assess by reviewing the objectives. ■ Complete practice exams to determine what you already know and what you need to study. ■ ■ Obtain additional resources and continue practicing in problematic areas to help close the knowledge gap between what you already understand and what needs to be practiced. How Long Does It Take to Obtain Security+ Certification? The amount of time needed to obtain a Security+ Certification varies by person. It depends heavily on what a person already knows, how much has to be learned, and how quickly a person learns information. It can also be affected by how much con- fidence a person has in their ability to demonstrate their knowledge. It is recom- mended that you give yourself enough time to prepare for the exam thoroughly. CompTIA Security+ Correlation Charts A complete mapping (correlation chart) of the CompTIA Security+ Exam Objectives to the content of the Security Essentials textbook is located on the G-W website at www.g-w.com. The correlation chart lists the exam objectives and corresponding page numbers where the related content can be found. This correlation chart is also included as an Appendix however, the printed chart contains the correspond chap- ter number and heading, not an exact page reference.