CompTIA Security+ Certification Study Guide

There are multiple career opportunities for information and cybersecurity professionals. If you don’t know where to start and fill this void, start with the CompTIA Security+ certification. This certification course allows you to enhance your knowledge of a wide range of topics such as:

• Threats
• Vulnerabilities and attacks
• Network security
• Network infrastructure
• Access control
• Cryptography
• Risk management
• Organizational security.

CYBERSECURITY AND COMPTIA SECURITY+:

Cybersecurity is an emerging and continuously evolving field with a need for more and more security experts in all industries and types of facilities. One of the greatest hurdles in curbing cybercrime is the lack of capable and skilled professionals specialized in cybersecurity.

CompTIA Security+ SY0-501 exam is an internationally recognized certification to boost fundamental-level security artifacts and knowledge, utilized, and implemented by organizations and security professionals all over the world. This course covers a range of all related topics and mold students’ skills following the security plus certification exam.

COURSE OUTLINE:

MODULE-1: Threats, Attacks, and Vulnerabilities

PART-1:

• Indicators of Compromise
• Why is Security Important?
• Security Policy
• Threat Actor Types
• The Kill Chain
• Social Engineering
• Phishing
• Malware Types
• Trojans and Spyware
• Open Source Intelligence

Labs

• VM Orientation
• Malware Types

PART-2:

• Critical Security Controls
• Security Control Types
• Defense in Depth
• Frameworks and Compliance
• Vulnerability Scanning and Pen Tests
• Security Assessment Techniques
• Pen Testing Concepts
• Vulnerability Scanning Concepts
• Exploit Frameworks

Lab

• Using Vulnerability Assessment Tools

PART-3:

• Security Posture Assessment Tools
• Topology Discovery
• Service Discovery
• Packet Capture
• Packet Capture Tools
• Remote Access Trojans
• Honeypots and Honeynets

Labs

• Using Network Scanning Tools 1
• Using Network Scanning Tools 2
• Using Steganography Tools

PART-4:

• Incident Response
• Incident Response Procedures
• Preparation Phase
• Identification Phase
• Containment Phase
• Eradication and Recovery Phases

MODULE-2: Identity and Access Management

PART-1:

• Cryptography
• Uses of Cryptography
• Cryptographic Terminology and Ciphers
• Cryptographic Products
• Hashing Algorithms
• Symmetric Algorithms
• Asymmetric Algorithms
• Diffie-Hellman and Elliptic Curve
• Transport Encryption
• Cryptographic Attacks

Lab

• Implementing Public Key Infrastructure

PART-2:

• Public Key Infrastructure
• PKI Standards
• Digital Certificates
• Certificate Authorities
• Types of Certificate
• Implementing PKI
• Storing and Distributing Keys
• Key Status and Revocation
• PKI Trust Models
• PGP / GPG

Lab

• Deploying Certificates and Implementing Key Recovery

PART-3:

• Identification and Authentication
• Access Control Systems
• Identification
• Authentication
• LAN Manager / NTLM
• Kerberos
• PAP, CHAP, and MS-CHAP
• Password Attacks
• Token-based Authentication
• Biometric Authentication
• Common Access Card

Lab

• Using Password Cracking Tools

PART-4:

• Identity and Access Services
• Authorization
• Directory Services
• RADIUS and TACACS+
• Federation and Trusts
• Federated Identity Protocols

PART-5:

• Account Management
• Formal Access Control Models
• Account Types
• Windows Active Directory
• Creating and Managing Accounts
• Account Policy Enforcement
• Credential Management Policies
• Account Restrictions
• Accounting and Auditing

Lab

• Using Account Management Tools

MODULE-3-Architecture and Design

PART-1

• Secure Network Design
• Network Zones and Segments
• Subnetting
• Switching Infrastructure
• Switching Attacks and Hardening
• Endpoint Security
• Network Access Control
• Routing Infrastructure
• Network Address Translation
• Software-Defined Networking

Lab

• Implementing a Secure Network Design

PART-2:

• Firewalls and Load Balancers
• Basic Firewalls
• Stateful Firewalls
• Implementing a Firewall or Gateway
• Web Application Firewalls
• Proxies and Gateways
• Denial of Service Attacks
• Load Balancers

Lab

• Implementing a Firewall

PART-3:

• IDS and SIEM
• Intrusion Detection Systems
• Configuring IDS
• Log Review and SIEM
• Data Loss Prevention
• Malware and Intrusion Response

Lab

• Using an Intrusion Detection System

PART-4:

• Secure Wireless Access
• Wireless LANs
• WEP and WPA
• Wi-Fi Authentication
• Extensible Authentication Protocol
• Additional Wi-Fi Security Settings
• Wi-Fi Site Security
• Personal Area Networks

PART-5:

• Physical Security Controls
• Site Layout and Access
• Gateways and Locks
• Alarm Systems
• Surveillance
• Hardware Security
• Environmental Controls

MODULE-4 – Security methodologies

PART-1:

• Secure Protocols and Services
• DHCP Security
• DNS Security
• Network Management Protocols
• HTTP and Web Servers
• SSL / TSL and HTTPS
• Web Security Gateways
• Email Services
• S/MIME
• File Transfer
• Voice and Video Services
• VoIP

Labs

• Implementing Secure Network Addressing Services
• Configuring a Secure Email Service

PART-2:

• Secure Remote Access
• Remote Access Architecture
• Virtual Private Networks
• IPSec
• Remote Access Servers
• Remote Administration Tools
• Hardening Remote Access Infrastructure

Lab

• Implementing a Virtual Private Network

PART-3:

• Secure Systems Design
• Trusted Computing
• Hardware / Firmware Security
• Peripheral Device Security
• Secure Configurations
• OS Hardening
• Patch Management
• Embedded Systems
• Security for Embedded Systems

PART-4:

• Secure Mobile Device Services
• Mobile Device Deployments
• Mobile Connection Methods
• Mobile Access Control Systems
• Enforcement and Monitoring

PART-5:

• Secure Virtualization and Cloud Services
• Virtualization Technologies
• Virtualization Security Best Practices
• Cloud Computing
• Cloud Security Best Practices

MODULE-5 – Risk Management

PART-1:

• Forensics
• Forensic Procedures
• Collecting Evidence
• Capturing System Images
• Handling and Analyzing Evidence

Lab

• Using Forensic Tools

PART-2:

• Disaster Recovery and Resiliency
• Continuity of Operations Plans
• Disaster Recovery Planning
• Resiliency Strategies
• Recovery Sites
• Backup Plans and Policies
• Resiliency and Automation Strategies

PART-3:

• Risk Management
• Business Impact Analysis
• Identification of Critical Systems
• Risk Assessment
• Risk Mitigation

PART-4:

• Secure Application Development
• Application Vulnerabilities
• Application Exploits
• Web Browser Exploits
• Secure Application Design
• Secure Coding Concepts
• Auditing Applications
• Secure DevOps

Lab

• Identifying a Man-in-the-Browser Attack

PART-5:

• Organizational Security
• Corporate Security Policy
• Personnel Management Policies
• Interoperability Agreements
• Data Roles
• Data Sensitivity Labeling and Handling
• Data Wiping and Disposal
• Privacy and Employee Conduct Policies
• Security Policy Training

HOW TO MASTER COMPTIA’s SECURITY+ CERTIFICATION:

Everyone’s path to cracking CompTIA’s Security+ exam is different, but the following are much-needed steps that will launch you for the flight of success.

STEP-1: Overview and Learn About the Topics Covered on the Test:

Before you start your preparation for a test, you must become familiar with the course content that we already discussed above. It would be highly recommended to master these topics.

STEP-2: Study plan and strategy

A disciplined approach to cracking any exam needs a written practice. With a proper study plan, you can efficiently dedicate segments of time to preparing for the test so as not to intervene with your routine. Your study plan should possess:

• Evaluation of your current knowledge and skills
• Practice with a score goals
• Financial resources available to back your preparation
• Identify preparation and practice methods that best suit your study habits
• Follow schedule

Honestly, design your study plan following the self-evaluation of your current skillsets and how much more you need to crack the exam.

STEP-3: Structure of the Exam

CompTIA’s official site provides lengthy information regarding the Security+ exam. It includes training partners, sample papers, course details, practice questions, and other relevant study stuff as well as time management and prerequisites. The more you know what would be asked in the exam, the less surprised you will be on the day of the exam.

STEP-4: Practice Exams

It’s highly recommended to attend the simulation of real-life examination environments, to curb doubts and get rid of anxiety as taking practice exams repeatedly can help reinforce memory following the amount of time dedicated to each question. It allows you to proceed with accuracy, build confidence, easily paving the way to success. It is recommended to attend the exam related to a specific domain to increase mastery of each topic, and after you have mastered each domain, then move to practice full exam so you can join together all your separate skills as one unit. CompTIA’s official site contains practice questions to prepare for the exam.

STEP-5: Free Exam Preparation

Must go through free exam preparation resources available on the internet, from CompTIA’s Security plus exam objectives to its previously referenced practice papers.

STEP-6: Attend Exam Preparation Course

Self-preparation serves many, but not all. If you can learn more by a hands-on approach, consider enrolling in a suitable certification preparation course that allows you to work with an experienced teacher familiar with the course content and exam itself.

STEP-7: Joining the Online Community

There are a variety of Security+ forums and social media groups that allow both test takers and experts to connect. Enjoy the benefit of these platforms. You learn from the mistakes of others who appeared in the exam before you as knowing what practices to avoid helps you a lot.

STEP-8: Stay up to date

While preparing for fundamental security topics, do not leave the latest and trending topics. Some important topics to prepare includes:

• Elliptic Curve Diffie-Hellman Ephemeral
• Crypto service provider
• Crypto modules
• Hardware Security Modules
• Continuity of operations planning
• Forensic strategic intelligence
• Privacy impact and threshold assessment
• Driver manipulation (shimming and refactoring)
• Configuration compliance scanners
• Data Loss Prevention
• Internet of Things
• SCADA
• Ping
• Netstat
• Tracert
• nslookup/dig
• arp
• ipconfig/ip/ifconfig
• tcpdump
• Nmap
• netcat

Utilities including:

STEP-9: Getting Relaxed

Before the exam, make time for relaxation. Do a last-minute review of topics in the morning, and arrive early to avoid extra stress from traffic jams or other factors as little disruptions can turn into bigger problems if you neglect them.

CONCLUSION:

In the modern era, organizations focus so much on securing their hardware and software resources from cyber-attacks. Cybersecurity is crucial because it helps the facility in protecting and securing its sensitive information and data assets from cyber-attacks that could cause immense destruction to the organization or individuals if placed in the wrong hands. Armed forces, Medical, Aviation, Government, Corporate, and Financial domains all hold sensitive information that needs to be protected and secured heavily.

CompTIA’s security plus certification course is outlined for cybersecurity support with in-depth knowledge of network and security components. For those, who are willing to boost their expertise and knowledge of broad network security concepts and enrich their skill set for a successful launch in the career of cybersecurity, can go for this CompTia’s security plus certification.