The CompTIA Cybersecurity Career Pathway
IT Fundamentals > A+ > Network+ > Security+ > CySA+ or PenTest+ > CASP
With cybercrime on the rise and vulnerabilities constantly being exposed, it is imperative that organizations take a proactive stance to protecting assets and employing skilled cybersecurity professionals. In fact, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the number of information security jobs will increase 28 percent from 2016 to 2026, making it one of the fastest-growing fields. Jobs requiring cybersecurity skills continue to grow rapidly, with more than 313,000 cybersecurity job openings, according to Cyberseek. Employers, from government to Fortune 500 companies, value CompTIA as an authority in cybersecurity certifications.
How to Get into Cybersecurity
The CompTIA Cybersecurity Career Pathway helps IT pros achieve cybersecurity mastery, from beginning to end. The centerpiece is the CompTIA Security+ certification. It establishes the foundational knowledge required of any cybersecurity role and provides a springboard to intermediate-level cybersecurity jobs. With performance-based questions, it emphasizes the hands-on practical skills used by junior IT auditors, systems administrators, network administrators and security administrators.
After earning CompTIA Security+, cybersecurity professionals can take the next step by pursuing an intermediate skills-level cybersecurity certification, such as CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+) or CompTIA PenTest+.
The CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst certification assesses the skills needed to apply behavioral analytics to networks to improve the overall state of IT security. The certification covers tools such as packet sniffers, intrusion detection systems (IDS) and security information and event management (SIEM) systems. After the seminal Target attack of 2014, the security analyst job role has gained more importance, making these skills essential for most organizations.
While CySA+ focuses on defense through incident detection and response, CompTIA PenTest+ focuses on offense through penetration testing and vulnerability assessment. It involves launching attacks on systems, discovering the vulnerabilities and managing them and is intended for cybersecurity professionals tasked with identifying, exploiting, reporting and managing vulnerabilities on a network.
The progression from CompTIA Security+ to CompTIA CySA+ and/or CompTIA PenTest+ is logical because Security+ assesses the knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) an IT professional demonstrates after two years of cybersecurity field work, and CySA+ and PenTest+ assess three to four years of cybersecurity field work.
IT pros can pursue CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP+) to prove their mastery of cybersecurity skills required at the 5- to 10-year experience level. CASP+ is the pinnacle of cybersecurity certifications and includes performance-based questions. It is intended for those who wish to remain immersed in hands-on enterprise security, incident response and architecture, for example, as opposed to strictly managing cybersecurity policy and frameworks.
Total Seminars has video courses, TotalSims, lab simulations and Total Tester, practice tests to prepare you for each of the Cyber Security Pathway certifications. Click here to get CompTIA Discount Exam Vouchers.
The Building Blocks of Cybersecurity
But how do you get into cybersecurity with no experience? If you have limited experience in IT and aren’t quite ready to start with CompTIA Security+, then you’ll want to start earlier on the pathway.
CompTIA A+ validates the skills employers look for in new and aspiring IT support professionals. In addition to covering today’s core technologies in operating systems, cloud, data management and more, the new CompTIA A+ Core Series covers baseline security skills at the end point device level, including malware detection and removal, privacy concerns, physical security and device hardening.
Where CompTIA A+ considers connectivity from the perspective of the user and their device, CompTIA Network+ focuses on the connections from (and between) the core systems to the endpoint devices. It validates the essential knowledge and skills needed to design, configure, manage and troubleshoot wired and wireless networks. To best support and ultimately secure the systems that exchange information on your network, you must first understand how the network functions.
CompTIA A+ and CompTIA Network+ follow a progression consistent with the KSAs an IT professional exhibits as they move from an early career technical support role with 9 to 12 months of general IT experience to one with 1 to 2 years of general IT experience, and with a significant part of that specific to network support and administration.
CompTIA Network+ is also an important and strongly recommended prerequisite to CompTIA Security+. Before you can secure a network, you must understand how it functions. In other words, you shouldn’t skip algebra to start with calculus. Otherwise, you are learning security skills and applying them to a network you don’t understand.
Now that we’ve covered the certifications in the cybersecurity pathway, let’s explore some of the common questions surrounding it.
Questions About the CompTIA Cybersecurity Career Pathway
Where should I start on the CompTIA Cybersecurity Career Pathway?
The pathway is intended to help people get into the field of cybersecurity. IT pros can enter at any point, depending on their IT experience, existing certifications or course of study. There are no required prerequisites for these CompTIA certifications. For example, if you have two years of IT security experience or equivalent knowledge, you can jump into the pathway at CompTIA Security+ to prove your knowledge. If you already have CompTIA Security+, you can jump in at CompTIA CSA+, etc. See the CompTIA Cybersecurity Career Pathway graphic to find your place on the pathway.
Do I need to take these certifications in order? Do I need to take all of them?
No. This is a recommended pathway, but it’s not a requirement. It depends on your job needs or interests. In general, the pathway follows a hierarchy of skills needed for IT security; each certification builds upon the skills from the previous one. You can find the recommended level of experience for each certification on the page, Which Certification Is Right for Me?
Can I take these exams with no IT or cybersecurity experience?
es, you can, however we recommend a minimum amount of hands-on experience before taking any of our certifications. (Each one has different recommendations, found in the Exam Details section of the certification webpage.) But hands-on experience doesn’t have to be on-the-job experience. It could mean any hands-on work, including practical experience gained while taking a class or through self-study or by helping friends, family or local nonprofits with their IT and cybersecurity issues. CompTIA certifications mirror the current job roles of IT professionals, so it makes sense to earn these certifications to validate the knowledge and hands-on skills currently being used in the workforce, whether you have job experience or not.
Do these certifications replace on-the-job experience?
If you are an IT professional or an employer, you understand the value of on-the-job experience. IT certifications are a great place to start, but they do not replace hands-on experience. If you have CompTIA certifications and on-the-job experience, you have the best of both worlds. In summary, the recommended CompTIA Cybersecurity Career Pathway offers guidance for IT pros, employers, instructors and students. You can start wherever it makes sense, depending on your personal background, job requirements or course of study. The pathway is unique because it offers vendor-neutral skills for IT professionals to achieve cybersecurity mastery, from beginning to end.
CompTIA Exams Now Available Online with OnVUE
For a limited time, Total Seminars is rolling back our discount voucher prices to last year’s prices.
CompTIA is now offering their exams delivered online 24/7. Beginning April 15, 2020 CompTIA is delivering their exams using VUE’s online testing platform, called OnVUE.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic CompTIA is allowing students to take their exams 24/7 from the security and privacy of their own homes.
All existing vouchers are good either at a VUE testing center or online through OnVUE. The OnVUE platform uses live proctors and AI to monitor your test. There are only three simple requirements:
- Quiet, private location
- Reliable device with a webcam
- Strong reliable internet connection.
Not all candidates will be able to test online 4/15. US only at first with the rest of the word rolling out later. Note: Server+ available 5/1 and CIT+ and site licenses available in the fall.
Exams will be available in various languages, but proctors speak English only.
NOTE: OnVUE requires your system to install their software. Be sure you have permission to install software on your system.
To get started purchase a Discount Voucher to save on the cost of the exam. Then go to the OnVUE web site to schedule your exam. There are three steps:
- Run a system test. Make sure you do this well ahead of scheduling or taking the exam. This will confirm that your system will work properly during the online exam. Be sure to run your test on the same network and computer you will use on exam day.
- Schedule your exam. Create or Login to your account to schedule an OnVUE exam. After you’ve selected the exam you want to take, choose the “home or office” option. Follow the remaining prompts to complete the scheduling process. Once you have successfully scheduled your exam appointment, you will be sent a confirmation email that will provide you with your appointment details and important things to know for your exam.
- Take your online exam. When it is time to take your exam, login to your account to begin the exam.
Discount CompTIA Exam Vouchers
Save on your CompTIA exams by purchasing vouchers from Total Seminars web site.
Try our TotalSims
Prepare for performance-based questions and do hands-on exercises to reinforce concepts while studying for the exams.
Try our TotalTester
Hundreds of questions with customizable exams. Each new exam is pulled from a pool of questions, so each exam is different. Create exams by objectives or by chapter. Take your custom test in Exam mode or in Practice mode with hints, explanations and study references. Get results graded by exam objective so you know where to focus your review. The best way to prepare for the exam questions is to practice as many questions as you can.
FAQ
System requirements:
| Operating System | Windows 10 Windows 8.1 (32-bit and 64-bit) Mac OS 10.13 and above (excluding beta versions) |
Note: Windows Operating Systems must pass Genuine Windows Validation.
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| Firewall | Do not take your exam in a setting with a corporate firewall (including VPN), or, alert your Network Administrator to the network configuration requirements. We recommend testing on a personal computer. Work computers generally have more restrictions that may prevent successful delivery. |
| RAM | OS specified minimum RAM
4 GB RAM or more |
| Display | Minimum Resolution: 1024 x 768 in 16-bit color.
Additional monitors are forbidden. |
| Internet Browser | The newest versions of Microsoft Edge, Safari, Chrome, and Firefox or Internet Explorer 11. |
| Internet Connection | A consistent connection speed of 1 Mbps down/up is required.
We recommend testing on a wired network as opposed to a wireless network. Tethering to a mobile hotspot is explicitly prohibited. |
| Webcam | Webcam must have a minimum resolution of 640×480 @ 10 fps. Webcam may be internal or may be external and connected to the computer.Mac users may need to allow OnVUE within their ‘System Preferences: Security & Privacy: Privacy’ settings for Microphone, Camera, Automation and Input Monitoring. |
| Sound & Microphone | Verify the audio and microphone are not set on mute in Windows.
Mac users may need to allow OnVUE within their ‘System Preferences: Security & Privacy: Privacy’ settings for Microphone, Camera, Automation and Input Monitoring. |
| Browser Settings | Internet Cookies must be enabled. Any Pop-Up blocking setting(s) must be disabled. |
| Device | All tablets are strictly forbidden, unless it has a physical keyboard and also meets the operating system requirements mentioned earlier. |
| Power | Ensure you are connected to a power source before starting your exam to avoid draining your battery during the exam |
Policies and Procedures:
Q. Where can I test?
A. You can test at home or in your office. Wherever you test, you should be in a walled room, with a closed door and without distractions. No one else is permitted in the room with you while you are testing.
Q. How do I know my computer will work with the online proctored software?
A. Perform a system test to download the OnVUE online proctoring software in advance to ensure that your system will work with our software. Please check our list of minimum system requirements and shut down all non-essential applications before launching the software.
Q. Can I receive any exam assistance during the exam?
A.
- You may not receive any assistance from other individuals while taking the exam, and you may not allow other individuals to see the computer screen that presents the exam questions.
- If another person enters the room while you are testing, your exam will be terminated.
- The proctor cannot answer questions related to exam content.
Q. Is technical software assistance available during the exam?
A. Most technical issues can be avoided by completing a system test in advance. Common technical issues are lack of a stable internet connection and running illegal applications during the exam, both of which the system test can indicate. Either way, staff is on hand to support the issue. Please see the customer service information on this page if you require assistance.
Q. What other important information do I need to know?
A.
- By taking this exam, you acknowledge that the proctor will continuously monitor you by video and audio while you take your exam, and you acknowledge and consent to audio and video recording of your face, voice, the physical room where you are seated, and the location during exam delivery. You recognize that you have no right to privacy at your current location during exam delivery and that you waive any and all claims asserting a right to privacy. If you do not wish to be recorded (either by video or audio), please notify the proctor immediately of your intent not to proceed with the exam.
- If you do not follow the online proctored policies or are suspected of cheating or tampering with Pearson VUE’s or its subcontractor’s software, or if a third party is detected in the physical room where you are seated during the exam, the exam will be immediately terminated. This will be reported to Pearson VUE and the testing sponsor/program, along with audio and/or video evidence of the infraction. Your exam may be invalidated, and the testing sponsor/program may take other action, such as decertifying you and precluding all future participation in the testing program.
Q. Where do I go to schedule my exam?
A. Sign in to your web account to schedule your exam. After you’ve selected the exam you want to take, choose the “home or office” option. Follow the remaining prompts to complete the scheduling process. Once you have successfully scheduled your exam appointment, you will be sent a confirmation email that will provide you with your appointment details and important things to know for your exam.
- Is my workspace okay for testing?
- During the check-in process, you will be asked to take photos of your work area, which will be checked by a proctor prior to exam launch. Please ensure that your desktop is clean and that you are not within arm’s reach of books, notepads, sticky notes, papers, pens, pencils, and other writing instruments/objects. Additional monitors and computers must be unplugged and turned off. Items on the wall with writing on them, such as whiteboards, will be inspected. If your workspace does not pass a room scan, you are not permitted to proceed with taking the exam.
Q. What type of identification will I be required to present?
A. You are required to present a current government-issued ID. The name on your ID must match the name in your web account profile and in your appointment confirmation email.
Acceptable forms of identification include: driver’s license, military ID, identification card (national/state/province identity card), alien registration card (green card, permanent resident, visa), and government-issued local language ID (not in roman characters and accepted only if issued by the country in which you are testing).
Minors who are under the age of 18 are permitted to present a valid student ID as a form of identification. A minor’s guardian must also present a valid ID and provide verbal consent during the check-in process.
Q. How do I check in for my test on exam day?
A. You will be able to start checking in for your exam 30 minutes ahead of your scheduled appointment time. To start, click the “Sign in” button on this page to sign in to your web account.
- The exam you are scheduled to take will appear once you log in to your account under “Open Online Exams.” Select the exam link and then select “Begin exam.”
Important: if the “Begin exam” button is not visible, you are either too early or too late for your exam. Please check your appointment details to make sure you’re trying to start at the proper time. - You will be asked to download OnVUE, the online proctoring software, if you haven’t before. Follow the prompts in the application to complete the required check-in steps.
- Have your acceptable identification available so that the proctor can verify your identity.
- Shut down any non‐essential applications such as email, chat, Facebook, and Skype.
- You will be placed in a queue and connected with the next available proctor to begin your exam.
- The check-in process takes approximately 15 minutes for candidates who have previously completed a system test.
- Being late is not an option. To allow time for the check-in procedure, please be ready when the check-in window opens 30 minutes before the exam start time.
Q. What are the exam rules on personal belongings?
A.
- During the exam, you may not access the following types of personal items: mobile phones, headphones or headsets (wired or bluetooth), handheld computers or other electronic devices, pagers, watches, wallets, purses, hats (or other head coverings), bags, coats, books, notes, or any other materials not specifically approved.
- During the exam session, you are not allowed to use exam-specific materials or scratch paper, erasable whiteboards, or any other physical writing object, such as a pen, marker, or pencil.
- Watches must be removed and placed out of sight/reach during the exam.
- You may have the option to use the whiteboard feature in the OnVUE software while taking the exam online. Read more about this feature.
Q. Can I eat, drink or take a break during the exam?
A. CompTIA does not allow breaks for any reason during delivery of any CompTIA exam. If you leave your computer during your exam the proctor will end your session, you will be unable to continue testing and you may forfeit your exam fee. We recommend you use the restroom prior to checking in with the online proctor to initiate your CompTIA exam. Water in a glass is allowed during testing; however, eating, smoking, and chewing gum are prohibited.
Q. Are accommodations available for online proctored exams?
A. ADA accommodations continue to be available through Pearson VUE Testing Centers. Other accommodations may be available on a case by case basis for online proctored exams. To request other accommodations for online proctored exams, candidates should follow the process to request an accommodation with Pearson VUE.
Discount CompTIA Exam Vouchers
Save on your CompTIA exams by purchasing vouchers from Total Seminars web site.
Try our TotalSims
Prepare for performance-based questions and do hands-on exercises to reinforce concepts while studying for the exams.
Try our TotalTester
Hundreds of questions with customizable exams. Each new exam is pulled from a pool of questions, so each exam is different. Create exams by objectives or by chapter. Take your custom test in Exam mode or in Practice mode with hints, explanations and study references. Get results graded by exam objective so you know where to focus your review. The best way to prepare for the exam questions is to practice as many questions as you can.
Testing Strategies for CompTIA Exams
CompTIA includes performance-based questions on their exams to make them more practical and keep up with trends in certification testing. Knowing what to expect and how to approach these question types is key to your success in passing the exams. First, let me fill you in on some facts about the exams.
Exam facts:
There are several different types of questions you may see in your CompTIA exam:
- Multiple choice – the standard question, choose the right answer
- Multiple response – choose all answers that apply with more than one correct answer
- Fill in the blank – fill in the answer to the question
- Drag-and-drop – image or question where you drag answers to match the image or text
- Exhibits – answer questions relating to an attached picture or diagram (variation to multiple choice)
- Performance-based – detailed question, open dialog boxes or other configuration windows and configure as needed
CompTIA has added more of the newer drag-and-drop and performance-based questions to their exam pool. You may get as few as 2-3 or as many as 10-12 of these type of questions depending on which exam you are taking. The more of these questions you get, the fewer of the traditional multiple choice, multiple response or exhibit-type questions you will have, depending on the difficulty of the performance-based questions you get.
Save on your CompTIA exams by purchasing from our web site
How new question types are graded:
Two important pieces of information about the new drag-and-drop and performance-based questions that you need to know:
- Partial credit – Scoring credit may be offered if a candidate answers only part of a question correctly.
- No negative credit – CompTIA does not employ negative scoring on exam questions, so you won’t lose points for incorrect answers. A candidate should answer every exam question, even on the ones where they are not sure of the answer.
Testing strategies:
The new question types, like drag-and-drop and performance-based questions, show up at the beginning of the exams. These questions can be more complex and take longer to answer than traditional multiple-choice questions. DON’T GET BOGGED DOWN WITH THE PERFORMANCE-BASED QUESTIONS. You can skip questions and come back and answer them at the end. Here are some strategies to use when taking the exams:
- Skip the performance-based questions and come back at the end to answer them so you aren’t bogged down and run out of time
- Count the performance-based questions as you skip them so you know how many you have to do when you come back to them at the end
- Read over all the performance-based questions and answer the ones you are most comfortable with first; leave the ones you are less confident about until the end
- If you are not sure about some of the steps in the performance-based or drag-and-drop questions, give it your best guess, you may receive partial credit.
CompTIA provides information that may be helpful in preparing for the exams at the following links:
- CompTIA Exam Taking Tips: http://certification.comptia.org/testing/about-testing
- Performance-Based Questions (PBQs) – http://certification.comptia.org/testing/about-testing/performance-based-questions-explained
Prepare for performance-based questions and do hands-on exercises to reinforce concepts while studying for the exams
Hundreds of questions with customizable practice exams, the best way to prepare for exam questions is to practice as many as you can
Never Pay Full Price for CompTIA Exams
We are holding last year’s prices. CompTIA raised Prices in January but we have rolled back our voucher prices to help you through this Covid-19 turmoil.
Online Testing is now available. Take you CompTIA exam online at home. Here’s a link to a video introducing OnVUE.
You don’t have to pay full price for CompTIA Exams. You can purchase Discount Exam Vouchers and save on the cost of the exams. CompTIA partners can provide discount prices on exam vouchers and pass the savings along to their students.
Here’s how it works: CompTIA member companies like Total Seminars are able to purchase vouchers for the CompTIA exams and resell them to our students at a discount to the full price you would pay when you register with VUE or buy at the CompTIA web store.
Before you register for your CompTIA exam, go to Total Seminars web site and purchase a Discount Voucher. Your order will be processed, and you will receive an email with your voucher number.
When you register for your CompTIA exam online at the VUE web site, you have an option to pay by credit card or by voucher. Select “voucher” and type in the voucher number you received by email when you purchased the Discount Vouchers from Total Seminars.
Total Seminars’ vouchers are only good in the US and Canada. If you live outside of the US or Canada search the web for CompTIA discount vouchers in the country where you live.
When you purchase a discount voucher it is good for up to 11 months (the exact date the voucher expires is included in your email). You must register for your exam online with VUE before the date the discount voucher expires.
Discount Exam Vouchers
Save on your CompTIA exams by purchasing vouchers from Total Seminars web site.
Try our TotalSims
Prepare for performance-based questions and do hands-on exercises to reinforce concepts while studying for the exams.
Try our TotalTester
Hundreds of questions with customizable exams. Each new exam is pulled from a pool of questions, so each exam is different. Create exams by objectives or by chapter. Take your custom test in Exam mode or in Practice mode with hints, explanations and study references. Get results graded by exam objective so you know where to focus your review. The best way to prepare for the exam questions is to practice as many questions as you can.
CompTIA online testing coming April 15th
CompTIA Online testing coming April 15th
CompTIA uses Pearson / VUE testing centers to administrate their Certification Exams. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic many of the VUE testing centers have closed around the world. In response to this, CompTIA is working with VUE to launch their online testing program.
CompTIA has been working on creating an online testing alternative for over a year and hoped to launch it by the end of 2020. Due to the Covid-19 issues they have accelerated the launch of their online testing program and CompTIA will be launching online testing April 15th.
CompTIA is partnering with VUE to use VUE’s new OnVUE platform to administer the online exams. You can learn more about OnVUE HERE.
Here are some details from CompTIA:
- Online Testing: StartingApril 15, 2020, CompTIA will be offering online testing, with remote proctoring, that will allow candidates to take their CompTIA exam at home, anytime, while maintaining a secure testing environment.
Note: Please be aware there is high demand for online testing with remote proctoring. Candidates will be able “schedule” their exam starting April 15th; however this does not mean that candidates will all be able test on that date.
- Online testing will NOT be available: Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, Syria, Japan, Slovenia, China and South Korea. Pearson OnVUE platform is not available in these select locations.
- Exams Available:All exams are available, with a few exceptions. Server+ won’t be available until May 1st, 2020. Not Available: CTT+ and any site licenses.
- Languages:Remote tests are available in all languages for which the exam is currently offered, however the proctors are English speaking only. The Pearson OnVUE platform is also English only.
- Rescheduling Exams: Candidates may reschedule an exam at a Pearson VUE testing center at any time. If candidates would instead like to take an online exam, please reschedule your exam on or after April 15, 2020.
We will update this blog as additional information becomes available next week.
Discount CompTIA Exam Vouchers
Save on your CompTIA exams by purchasing vouchers from Total Seminars web site.
Try our TotalSims
Prepare for performance-based questions and do hands-on exercises to reinforce concepts while studying for the exams.
Try our TotalTester
Hundreds of questions with customizable exams. Each new exam is pulled from a pool of questions, so each exam is different. Create exams by objectives or by chapter. Take your custom test in Exam mode or in Practice mode with hints, explanations and study references. Get results graded by exam objective so you know where to focus your review. The best way to prepare for the exam questions is to practice as many questions as you can.
