Security+

[Stetson]

Does anyone have this certification?

I ask because all gov't jobs, in IT, are requiring this cert and I don't have it.  A company is offering to pay for the testing but I have to pay for the study materials on my own.  I don't have the money to do that.  Does anyone know of any free (online or other) study guides?

Thanks

[Ben]

I have it. Same thing as you -- because Uncle Gov told me to. There's very little free study material out there (at least that I could find). When I get to the office tomorrow, I'll see if I still have any of the free stuff I found, and I think I may have a practice test CD too.

I highly recommend the book:
CompTIA Security+: Get Certified Get Ahead: SY0-201 Study Guide
http://www.amazon.com/CompTIA-Security-Certified-Ahead-SY0-201/dp/1439236364/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1308606216&sr=8-1

That book and the little free stuff I found was all I needed. Me and Hot Ukrainian Coworker used it and both of us scored 835 on the exam. Not great I guess, but good enough to pass. You need a minimum of 750 I think.

I would loan you the book, but one of my coworkers in FL has it and I can't get him to send it back.

ETA - Also, you shouldn't even worry about not doing the CompTia online study thing. My agency paid for the whole kit and kaboodle, but we really didn't get anything helpful out of the CompTia training, at least regarding the test. Most of the CompTia stuff was logging into their virtual classroom and doing hands on computer stuff like setting up security configs, creating virtual machines, honeypots, stuff like that. Good knowledge to have, but again, nothing that was actually on the stinkin' test.

[Stetson]

I think I'm going to order the book from Amazon.  That CD would be helpful, if you can and want to send it.

I would appreciate ALL the help I can get.  I have done most of the things they talk about I just didn't know the names of the protocols and procedures.

[Ben]

I actually found the CDs here at home. PM me an address and I'll get them out to you. I'll also shoot you a PM with what I remember was helpful and not from the study guide.

[RevDisk]

Does anyone have this certification?

I ask because all gov't jobs, in IT, are requiring this cert and I don't have it.  A company is offering to pay for the testing but I have to pay for the study materials on my own.  I don't have the money to do that.  Does anyone know of any free (online or other) study guides?

Thanks

Security+ is stupid easy.  I took the Network+ the day prior, said screw it, and took it 18 hours later.  Think I missed three questions, which was probably due to lack of sleep rather than lack of studying.

http://www.proprofs.com/mwiki/index.php/Comptia_Security%2B_Study_Guide

Short story long, if you have an IT or security background, just brush up on OSI model, common ports (especially crypto secure ports), network/host IDS/IPS (I have no idea why, but I had maybe a dozen questions on this), etc.  And buy one of the random books on it.  They're all roughly the same. 

[Stetson]

Stupid easy?  Those are the ones that scare me 

I have already helped rebuild the entire AD structure and login procedures for a HUGE company (55k+ employees), so some of this is easy to understand.  Crypto-hashing I understand but have never actively done it.  RB-RBAC, MAC etc.. just confuses me right now.

I haven't made it to the ports and configurations yet.

I appreciate what both of you have told me, so, thanks!

[Phantom Warrior]

I agree with what RevDisk said.  We have Soldiers take it all the time after a one week class.  Get some decent study materials, put in some time studying (especially the sections you are weak on), and if you have any kind of IT background you will probably be okay.