CompTIA Network+® StudyGuide

Updates on CompTIA A+, Network+ and Security+ exams Carol Balkcom Director, Product Management CompTIA

A+ Certification For IT Helpdesk and Remote Support Professionals

http://www.testbells.com/vendor/CompTIA

2

CompTIA product stack

http://www.testbells.com/vendor/CompTIA 3

Employment of U.S. Workers in Core IT Positions SOC code Computer and IT Occupations

Employment

Average Annual Salary

2010-2020 Employment 2010-2020 Change Outlook

15-1150 Computer Support Specialists (A+ relevant here)

607,100

$46,260

110,000

18%

15-1132 Software Developers, Applications

520,800

$87,790

143,800

28%

15-1121 Computer Systems Analysts

544,400

$77,740

120,400

22%

15-1133 Software Developers, Systems Software

392,300

$94,180

127,200

32%

15-1131 Computer Programmers

363,100

$71,380

43,700

12%

15-1142 Network and Computer Systems Administrators Information Security Analysts, Web Developers, and 15-1179 Computer Network Architects 15-1111 Computer and Information Research Scientists

347,200

$69,160

96,600

28%

302,300

$75,660

65,700

22%

28,200

$100,660

5,300

19%

15-1141 Database Administrators

110,800

$73,490

33,900

31%

--

$73,710

--

22%

70,000

$98,810

6,300

9%

307,900

$115,780

55,800

18%

Computer Occupations, All 17-2061 Computer Hardware Engineers

11-3021 Computer and Information Systems Managers Total

3,954,100

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment Statistics, March 2012 CONFIDENTIAL – FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY UNTIL FINALIZED

IT Hiring

5

Investments by Firm Size

% expecting to increase investment

Staffing Levels

On the hiring front, medium size IT firms (100-499 employees) are most likely to add new staff over the next six months. With a range of new technologies sought by customers (e.g. cloud, big data, business process automation, mobility) IT firms must be vigilant in maintaining high levels of expertise through internal training and/or new hires.

Source: CompTIA IT Industry Business Confidence Index – Q3 Release, July 2012 Base: 445 U.S. IT industry executives 6

Case Study

Chuck Cooper, program director for certification at IBM believes: To be Proficient in Technology…. you need to build your skills and take training Certifications - are a baseline measurement of skills and a consistent measure that validates the skills you achieve Certifications - build confidence on the part of prospective customers, sellers and business partners Certifications - listed on a proposal denote people with whom you can collaborate

http://www.testbells.com/vendor/CompTIA 7

CompTIA A+ Certification

Vendor Neutral Certification

2 exams 220-801 220-802

A+ Knowledge and Skills • Installation, configuring and troubleshooting of the following: • PC hardware (including laptops and mobile devices, and custom configurations

ISO Certified ANSI Accredited Kept current via Continuing Ed program

Measures Necessary Competencies for today’s Entry Level IT Professionals

• Printers • Networking components • Operating systems including Windows 7 Enterprise

• Operational procedures including safety, environment and customer communications • Security (22% of exam 802) 8

Career Advancement for IT Professionals Target Audience Individuals working in or planning to work in technical support roles such as:

Field Support Technician

Desktop Support Technician

Bench Technician

Helpdesk Technician

http://www.testbells.com/vendor/CompTIA 9

2011 IT Technician Job Role Survey Survey respondents chose the following job roles for which A+ is most often required  PC Technicians (71%)  Field Support Technicians (65%)  Help Desk Technicians (64%)

 Customer Service Technicians (48%)  Network Support Technicians (41%) 10

Why A+

Over 900,000 A+ Certified IT Professionals Among Top 10 certifications in the industry (DICE TechRepublic, New Horizons) Companies such as Ricoh, Dell and CompuCom Have Made A+ Certification Mandatory U.S. DoD 8570.1 Mandates A+ Certification for Level I Technical Personnel in Information Assurance CompTIA A+ Certified by ISO and Accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) 11

Organizations that Require or Mandate A+ Professionals Government Organizations

Corporate Organizations

12

POLLS

http://www.testbells.com/vendor/CompTIA 13

CompTIA Website: Companies that use A+

There is a page on the CompTIA website that lists companies that use CompTIA certifications, with specific certifications that they use. http://certification.comptia.org/ExploreCareers/whohires.aspx

http://www.testbells.com/vendor/CompTIA

14

A+ Exam Details Certification Requirement Exam Numbers Length Recommended Experience Passing Score

• 2 exams • 220-801 • 220-802

• Maximum of 90 questions for each exam; 90 minutes to take each exam • 12 months hands-on lab or field experience • 220-801: 675 • 220-802: 700 • (Scale of 900) 15

CompTIA A+ Objectives

A+ 220-801

A+ 220-802

PC Hardware

Operating Systems

Networking Security Laptops Mobile Devices Printers

Operational Procedures

Troubleshooting

16

Changes from the 700 series A+

1. Windows 7 Enterprise has been added to the covered Windows operating systems 2. Mobile Devices (802: 3.0) is a new subject matter domain. It includes Apple iOS and Android. Coverage includes just what a helpdesk technician would be expected to do: Establish network connectivity for the device, configure email, set up security, and troubleshoot. 3. Virtualization (802: 1.9) is new 4. All troubleshooting is in one exam (802: 4.0), more extensive, and organized by specific hardware/software area (e.g. hard drives, display, etc.) 5. Troubleshooting wireless (802: 4.5) is new 6. There is more coverage of troubleshooting security issues (802: 4.7)

7. SOHO-specific security is new (802: 2.5,2.6) 17

Exam objectives and other information For exam objectives and other information, go to this page http://www.testbells.com/vendor/CompTIA

18

Performance Based Questions

• For performance based items, the A+ candidate will be given a scenario/problem, and will be prompted to push a button to launch a simulated environment that is created via software.

PerformanceBased Question Description

• The simulated environment should be familiar to a PC support professional with the level of hands-on experience recommended for the A+ exam. • Once the simulation is launched, the candidate will need to perform whatever tasks s/he believes appropriate, based on the given scenario and the tools/information that are provided in the question.

19

Performance based questions in Network+, Security+

Timeframe and notes Performance based questions will be added to Network+ and Security+ on this schedule:  Network+: November 2012  Security+: January 2013  Same objectives  Same number of questions on exam (multiple choice will be reduced to accommodate performance based)  Hands-on training or experience becomes much more important http://www.testbells.com/vendor/CompTIA 21

New “demo” video of CompTIA exam experience Video demonstrates what a candidate can expect, from the beginning of a CompTIA exam to the end.

YouTube Video •

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NsbJLkHuuo

Performance based questions section • Begins at roughly the 5 minute mark CompTIA website (performance based portion only) •

http://certification.comptia.org/news/12-1009/What_Is_A_Performance-Based_Question.aspx

22

Why performance based questions?

• A better measure of skills, not just memorization • Represents CompTIA’s interest in using the latest in testing technologies to the benefit of the industry • Intended as a better indication of a certified candidate’s readiness for the job. In the words of a member of the CompTIA Security+ Certification Advisory Committee from the U.S. Navy: A certification is not intended to be the introductory training tool for an inexperienced and untrained individual.....a certification is intended to attest that the individual has already attained the requisite training and experience and has proven it with an industry-recognized standard (certification exam). http://www.testbells.com/vendor/CompTIA 23

Thank You! Back to Stick around & Q&As

http://www.testbells.com/vendor/CompTIA

24